New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 14, 2021) visited Tamil Nadu ahead of the state's Assembly elections and said that it is evolving as a Tank manufacturing hub of India.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several key projects and handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Army in Tamil Nadu's Chennai.

He said, "Today, I am proud to dedicate to the country one more warrior to protect our frontiers. I am proud to handover the indigenously designed and manufactured 'Main Battle Tank Arjun Mark 1A'. It also uses indigenous ammunition. Tamil Nadu is already the leading automobile manufacturing hub of India.

"Now, I see Tamil Nadu evolving as the Tank manufacturing hub of India. A tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used in our northern borders to keep the nation safe. This showcases India's united spirit  Bharat's Ekta Darshan."

A special day in our journey to become Aatmanirbhar in the defence sector. Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) was handed over to the Army. A tank made in Tamil Nadu will protect our borders. This is a glimpse of Bharats Ekta Darshan. pic.twitter.com/dlIjTX38ct  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

PM Modi added, "We will continue working to make our armed forces one of the most modern forces in the world. At the same time, the focus on making India Aatmanirbhar in the defence sector moves with full speed."

PM said that the country's armed forces signify India's ethos of courage and expressed, "They have shown time and again that they are fully capable of protecting our Motherland. Time and again they have also shown India believes in peace. But, India will protect our sovereignty at all costs."

The Prime Minister said that he's happy to be in Chennai and thanked the people of the city for the warm welcome they gave him on Sunday.

"This city is full of energy and enthusiasm. It is a city of knowledge and creativity. From Chennai today, we begin key infrastructure projects. These projects are symbols of Innovation and Indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu," PM Modi said.

Thank you Chennai! Overwhelmed by the affectionate welcome. pic.twitter.com/IKMzIUxNw9  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

Prime Minister Modi also expressed, "It is our honour to work towards preserving and celebrating the culture of Tamil Nadu. The culture of Tamil Nadu is popular globally. Today, I have a delightful message to convey to the Devendrakula Vellalar community sisters and brothers in Tamil Nadu. The Central Government has accepted their long-standing demand to be known as Devendrakula Velalar. They will now be known by their heritage name and not the six to seven names listed in the Schedule to the Constitution."

PM also met Bangaru Adigalar and said that it was an honour to interact with him. "His efforts to serve society are inspiring," PM Modi said.

It was an honour to interact with respected Bangaru Adigalar Ji in Chennai earlier today. His efforts to serve society are inspiring. pic.twitter.com/Qww7n4i1fZ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

PM Modi's visit comes ahead of the much-awaited Tamil Nadu assembly polls, which are likely to take place in April or May.

In the Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2021, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will continue its alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). This is to be noted that the AIADMK had allied with the BJP, as a part of the NDA to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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Five years have passed by after the senseless and tragic loss of my sister, Papiya. Over this time I have had to accept that I will not be able to see her or get a bear hug (as she used to call her hugs) from her. Yet it is difficult for me to think of Papiya in the past tense.

She used to live alone in our parental house after the passing of our mother. Malti Devi who had been a domestic help in our house since 1964 was also tragically murdered at the same time as Papiya. I used to worry about the possibility of robbery in the house. However, I had never imagined that Papiya and Maltas lives would be extinguished in such a violent manner. Our hometown has not witnessed a crime of this nature as far as recalled by octogenarians who have lived at Patna almost all their lives. Yet there has been hardly any consistent expression of quest for investigations for this outrageous crime in the local civil society or in the local media.

Papiyas physical body suffered much in the hands of the criminals who took her life. I often dream of her valiantly and single handedly fighting the criminals. Ultimately she succumbed to the physical assaults from the criminals. However, her spirit will live on amongst all of lives were touched by her. Papiya was seven years younger than me. I treated as one of my kids in some ways. I used to be reminded by her that she is not a "kid". I feel blessed to have Papiya as my sister. She was also my friend, philosopher, spiritual advisor, counselor for dealing with lifes adversities and much more

We were also partners in finding humor in the trials and tribulations of everyday lives. Her hearty laughter still rings in my ears. Our mother used to say that Papiya is the epitome for an old Sanskrit adage that roughly translates to embracing all citizens of the world as relatives (Basudhaiv kutumbakam).

Papiya touched the lives of the large circle of friends, acquaintances and professional colleagues in an extraordinary manner. She had worked very hard to maintain the friendships with persons living in different cities in India and in the far flung corners of the globe. She never failed to wish anyone for the significant days in their lives; their birthdays or anniversaries and even their childrens birthdays.



Over the years we were used to receiving calls from Papiya to wish us before anyone else did. I have heard that the ability to listen to others stems from their ability to love others. Papiya was extremely generous to anyone who needed to open their hearts no matter. From this perspective she gave her love unconditionally. Anyone who had got an embrace (or rather a bear hug Papiya would fondly refer to these hugs) can recall them being long, warm and full of genuine affection. Underneath her tough exterior lay a very kind, gentle and totally compassionate heart. She had a tremendous love for music (of a diverse genre), poetry, arts, theater, films good books travel and all things cultural. She was indeed a true bibliophile. Additionally, she went through many different newspapers and magazines-much more than any one I have ever known.

Papiya did not like school when she was very young. I am quite sure this had to do with almost rigid personality of her teachers in the first year of school. She used to send notes to our mother through Sitab Gope (he used to bring the afternoon lunch for my sisters to their school). The notes had a common theme: something to the effect of please come and get me out of school. Little did we know that Papiya would become an internationally renowned scholar historian and academician.

After the tragic loss of our father in 1957, our mother started to teach in Bankipur Girls School at Patna. We used to take turns falling sick throughout the school year. Ma had limited number of casual leave days off from her work. Ma asked one of our family friends, Mrs. Pratima Baksi, to come by to our house and watch Papiya when she was convalescing because Ma was running low on the number of days available for casual leave. Baksi Aunty read stories to Bumble, feed her and be with her all day till Ma came back from work. We soon realized that Baksi Aunty started calling Papiya Dost and insisted that Papiya should call her Dost. Baksi Aunty was a wonderful person. She herself went through a number of trials and tribulations in her personal life. For many years she never failed to send card to her Dost for her birthday. The spirit of true Dosti grew on Papiya.

Papiyas nick name was Guddu. Our father happened to be away on tour to Godda subdivision of Santhal Parganas, shortly before her birth. This nickname perhaps had something to do with our fathers tour to Godda shortly before her birth. Our Mother also used to call her Gora. I cannot recall exactly we had started calling her Bumble. This is how the sisters addressed her. There was some connection with Bumble bee and the Bee got dropped from her growing list of nick names (a tradition in our family)!

Papiyas kindness to the domestic helpers in our house was evident at a very young age. Our dhobi, Doman Lal, was always giving us grief by losing clothes or bed linen. Of course this made our mother upset. However, Papiya was sympathetic to Doman Lal and his large family. She used to ask him all kinds of questions to make him to feel at ease. Doman Lal confessed only Guddu Baba talks to him. He told her that he was a dhobi in the Indian Army and had been to Singapore. We had no way to check the authenticity of what Doman Lal was saying to Bumble.

Bumble seemed to able to get extract information from Doman Lal. Later Bumble had come up with the name Neanderthal Man for Doman Lal. Doman Lal would have been fired from his job had it not been Bumbles persuasion with Ma to have his family employed for the bulk washing jobs in our household for many years. After Doman Lal passed away, one of his sons (Ramesh) continued to provide Dhobi Service to our household.

Bumble had named our cook, Jetha Hansda (a native of Santhal Parganas) Bok. I do not recall exactly how this nomenclature came about. Bok was from her birthplace, Dumka. There was a special rapport between Bumble and Bok. Bumble used to engage Bok all kinds of interesting conversations about his village and his family back in Santhal Parganas.

Our Ayah, Ramdi, was very fond of Guddu and Tuktuk. She used to wait with Keya, Papiya and Tuktuk for the School Bus. She also waited for the school bus to drop them off. She was very protective of all of us. Malti Devi started working for our household in the summer of 1964. She had three young kids in the village and had recently lost her husband. Malti used to be the quite a worker in the initial years in our household. After ayahjis departure in the early 70s, Malti took on more responsibilities in running our mothers household. After our Mothers passing in 1997 Malti stayed on with Papiya.

Shortly after our mother passed away, Malti had a severe heart attack. Papiya took excellent care of her. From this point Maltis health declined. Papiya was always there for her every time she ran into a health problem. Malti received much loving care and nursing from Bumble. She made sure Malti received the best possible medical care whenever she was not well. Maltis grandsons often were negligent towards her ill health. But Papiya stood by her. She used to call Malti every day whenever she was out of town.

In later years in her school she had an outstanding teacher, Mrs. Marie Pereira. Under Mrs. Pereiras guidance Papiyas academic talents really blossomed. Also, she started to participate in debates and school plays. Additionally she was selected as the Head Girl for her class in the final year of her school. I had been to see of plays and debates in which Papiya participated. I felt very proud to watch her talents being nurtured at school.

Mrs. Pereira had taken her neighbor, Vaishali, and Papiya to Bombay for about ten days during one summer vacation. None of her siblings had been to any metro cities other than Kolkata. After Papiyas return from this trip she narrated the details of her trip in great detail. I was pleasantly surprised at her capacity to absorb the smallest of details and the ability to express her experience in an articulate manner.

I recall two incidents about Bumbles fondness for movies. During one of our visits to Kolkata we were planning to go to see the movie Summer Holiday with one of our cousins (Anjalidi). Bumble found out our plans not to include the little sisters in this outing. She made sure we took her along to see the movie. She liked the songs from this movie. She used to love the theme music from the movie Come September. There was not much chance to watch English movies at Patna. Either you could catch them at a10 AM show on Sundays or rarely they would be shown during the evening shows months after they had been shown in the major metros.

Once again Keya and I were planning to go see this movie by ourselves. But we could not go without including Bumble. She came with us and thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the music. Bumble had begun developing her own lingo by the time she was in her teen years. This lingo was included words from Hindi, Bengali, English and Magahi and Bhojpuri. She was developing knack of coming up with unique nicknames for many persons.

By the time Bumble got to the upper school her circle of friends was pretty big. She also developed a small circle of close friends with whom she remained in touch constantly. She did very well in her ISC exams. She had six months of free time before the start of College. She decided to take a teaching job in Notre Dame Academy, Patna. She also took typing lessons and took Sitar Lessons. I still recall her sitting on the bed and practicing sitar in the morning hours on holidays. She became very good at playing the Sitar. Ma had asked Bumble to buy something for herself when she started earning salary from the teaching job at Notre dame. She did not buy anything for herself. She took care of the lamination of the dinner table. She was only sixteen years at the time. But her sense of responsibility towards to the family was already deeply rooted and this was very much very much on her mind. She was the epitome of the adage of simple living and high thinking from a very early age.

She joined Patna Womens College in 1970. In addition to being excelling in studies, she also took part in organizing programs for the student body in the college. Our father was a student of History. Keya was studying History Honors at Patna College. Papiya also loved History as a subject and decided to pursue the honors program in History for her Bachelors degree. She did very well in her studies. She was an excellent organizer of events for the student body at the College. She was elected the College Premier for her third year in the college.

Either in 1969 or 1970 Bumble and Tuktuk started to write letters to the Kookie Kol featured in the Junior Statesman, an English periodical that was popular among younger generation living mostly in the major metro cities and too some extent in the provincial towns. I must admit I did not always understand the message conveyed in these letters. Nevertheless I was very proud of my sisters who were submitting letters that were being read all over India. I used to have fun introducing myself as the older sister of Papiya and Tuktuk. They were cultural icon of sorts in the print media popular with some sections of the India youth!

In September 1971 I left for Canada to pursue a Ph.D. degree. This was the time when we relied almost exclusively on the exchange of letters to stay in touch. Letters took anywhere between ten to fourteen days to make their trip between India and Canada. There was no satellite driven phone calls. I used to yearn to hear the voices of my mother and sisters. Phone calls were too expensive and it took days to get through an operator assisted call. I used to receive daily mail from my mother and sisters during most of stay this time. None of my fellow students from India received as many letters as I used to receive from home.

I regret having missed out on seeing my younger sisters go through college. As fate would have the two older sisters left home within a span of one and half months. Keya was married in mid October, 1971.

There was much unrest in Bihar starting in 1973. This was the movement led by Late JP Narayan. This movement engaged the attention of college and university students all over Bihar and especially at Patna. Academic calendars were disrupted for indefinite closure of colleges. Given the uncertain academic environment in Patna, Papiya went to Delhi University to pursue the Masters degree in History. I was able to see my family only in September 1975 after I finished the Ph.D. degree. By this time I had married Om Bansal whom I had met at McMaster University, Canada.

Bumble was already in Delhi. Om and I visited her in Delhi November 1975 after we visited Keya, Manas and Saurav in Bangalore. She had made a remarkable adjustment in to life in the Post Graduate domain of Delhi University (both academically and in living in the PG Womens Hostel). Everyone seemed to know Bumble in the hostel. She took us to the spots she used to like to visit-the Tibet Mon, Nirulas, Wengers and Bankura restaurant in the Old Cottage Industries Emporium location in the short time we spent with her.

Bumble really liked the book of English translation of the Japanese Haiku poems I had brought for her. She was interested to know about our experience of the Canadian university we had attended. It was clear that she had already embarked on a life long journey of learning  not just the subject of her study in its narrow context but to know things beyond the chronological narration of events. The academic environment at Delhi was definitely more conducive to the learning process than the one at Patna.

I had spent some more time with Bumble in April 1976 just before her MA Final papers. I was in Delhi chasing papers needed for the visa for my return to Canada. This was a huge distraction from her studies because I was in the hostel room with her. But Bumble never let me feel this. I also noticed that she was being sought out by many of the students for pouring out their hearts. Bumble dealt with them with much patience and understanding of their personal predicaments.

I feel that these students felt comfortable with Bumble and were able to get a big picture analysis of whatever it was that was bothering them.

Bumble worked very hard and earned three degrees from Delhi University (MA, M.Phil and PhD) over the ensuing years. She also started teaching History at Hindu College (Delhi) after her MA degree. She was doing very well in teaching. She could have stayed in Delhi or sought out assignments abroad but she decided to return to Patna in 1979 to be with her mother and Kaku who were advancing in age. She joined her alma mater, Patna Womens College, as a lecturer in History. She taught at Patna Womens College for eleven years before being transferred to the Post Graduate Dept of History, Patna University after a promotion. She was an avid reader of books, magazines, journals and as well as many newspapers. She was always aware of current developments in many fields. Over the years she had built up a huge collection of books on a wide variety of topics.

Papiya was a very dedicated teacher. She prepared for hours for lecturers. Her lectures on the same topic were not recycled. She always introduced current materials into her lectures. She often used her own money to make photocopies of materials for her students. The academic environment at Patna was fraught with lack of leadership at the university level, exploitation of unrest among students and teachers by elements outside the university. Papiya was determined to carry on her research in the history of Bihar. Very few of her colleagues appreciated her enthusiasm for improving teaching standards at Patna. Nor did they appreciate her research interests in the history of Bihar or its people. Teaching did not leave much time for research. But she managed to collect a lot of research materials from the Archives of Bihar Government. She went though many hurdles to get access to the papers that were related to her research subjects.

She had spent three months with us in the US in the summer of 1986.We all have very precious and fond memories of her stay with us. We traveled to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal, Boston and New York with her. She loved the Niagara Falls. She loved the Boston Tea party site. We walked around the Harvard Campus with her. She loved the Broadway theater district and the Times Square. She had also traveled to the San Francisco area to spend some time with her childhood friend, Reshma Nigam. Our children had an opportunity to spend some time with Bumble. Bumble was not just a Masi for them but also their friend. She could relate to them in a special way.

She took a leave of absence from Patna University to do some work at the Nehru Memorial Library (New Delhi) in 1992-93. She wrote several articles based on her research work. These works were published in reputed journals. She received two fellowships from the Rockefeller Foundation - one for three months in 1994 (University of Chicago) and in 1996-97 (South Asia Consortium, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC). She used this time to research on the Post Partition South Asian Diaspora. She also received a fellowship to work in her research topics at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla (1993-94) and again in 1998. She was planning to publish a trilogy of books to summarize her research on the Diaspora. The first one was published posthumously a few weeks after her tragic loss of life.

Papiya took on all of the responsibilities of running mas house after Mas passing on in 1997. She did not have any reliable help in running the establishment. She had to attend to many maintenance issues related to the sprawling establishment at Patna. She did not have much time for research work after taking care of the household chores and after spending time in commuting to the university. Yet I never found her complaining about the fact that she was left alone to take care of the entire establishment by herself. The atmosphere at the university was hardly of an academic establishment. Her professional colleagues did not appreciate her suggestions to bring the curriculum on par with other academic centers in India. Nor were they appreciative of the research she was doing. She was basically to navigate through this difficult path totally on her own. Only some of the students appreciated her efforts. Between 1998 and 2004 she had some major surgeries and had other health issues. None of this could detract her from her dedication to teaching and research. Her sense of humor was absolutely buland through all of the trials and tribulations.

We had a chance to spend some time with Papiya during the early part of 2002. She was here to present a paper at a conference at the University of Pennsylvania and to chair a session at a conference in Washington DC. We took Bumble to see the Cherry Blossom Festival at Washington DCs tidal basin area. This is one of my most memorable times spent with Papiya.

I was not able to spend as much time as I would have liked to spend with Papiya Bumble during my trips to India in Early 2000s. But during these short stays we talked endlessly, sort of caught up, learnt yoga positions, shared a lot of laughter about many things (including the computer conundrums) - things that could not be done either through her daily e-mails or our phone conversations. She used to make so many arrangements for all of us whenever we went to Patna. Just like Ma, she used to make sure our favorite dishes were cooked at home. She took us around for temple-hopping (in her parlance) and drove us around to wherever we wanted to go despite being so overworked. Bumble loved new gadgets but almost had a phenomenal fear of all things technological. We used to tease her about this.

After the year 2000, lawlessness in Patna was rampant. I used to worry about her and Malti being alone. I brought up the topic of considering a night guard during one of my later trips. She was a courageous person and turned down the idea of keeping a guard.

Papiya was a spiritual person. She was inspired by the ideas presented in Sufism. She also very disciplined person in every sense. She planned for things ahead of time and always punctual. She did not like to waste time. She was an inspiring figure in our lives and the focal point of our family. She derived pleasure out of the small and simple things in life. She picked up unique gifts for all of us and for her friends wherever she went. She was honest at core - a rare trait in todays time. Papiya gave us unconditional love and did not expect anything in return.

She wanted us very much to visit India in the summer of 2006. I regret not being able to do so due to some reasons beyond my control.

The last time I saw Papiya was in August 2005. I had spent five days with her in Patna. Before leaving for the US, I had a chance to see her over three days in Delhi. She was there for a conference. She wanted me to join for walks through the Lodi Gardens early every morning. I was not able to rise up in time to join her. Little had I realized that I will never get this opportunity again. One of these days Bumble and I had lunch at the Hotel Imperial on Janpath. We had heard that our father used to like this hotel. We went to the Parliaments press gallery to view the proceedings and went to visit our youngest sister Tutuk in her office in the Parliament. At that time she was serving as the Principal Secretary to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. We felt very proud of our sister and exchanged meaningful glances while we were in her office.

Bumble had treated me to breakfast before I took the S. I had promised that I will visit her soon most likely in 2006. But that did not happen to materialize.

I am borrowing a poem (by Constance Parker Graham) to convey my feelings about Bumble:



Special People

Some people

Have a special gift

Of giving other hearts a lift,

Roses, rainbows, a sunny smile

Whatever makes a day worthwhile

They give warmth

And understand,

The art of lending a friendly hand

They always know

What help you need

They are very special people indeed,

Who somehow

always seem to guess

Just to bring you happiness.



Yes indeed Papiya is a very special person. Her loss is irreparable for our family. Now we are left only with her memories of her laughter, voice, gestures and her whole being. There are many things that remind me of her every day. Her life was extinguished in a matter of hours.

What is most regrettable is that this heinous crime was carried out at a location that is about 100 meters from the nearest police station and is on a major intersection of roads. Papiya was possibly overpowered by the criminals and she never had a chance to use her cell phone to call or just shout for help.

We had hoped that justice would be delivered. However, time will tell us whether that happens or not. Our family will carry forward Papiyas legacy and honor her memory in as many ways we possibly can.
A few days ago, an email from Zahra Takhshid (granddaughter of Mohammad Yazdi, former head of the Islamic Republic's judiciary) was sent to some people, and I was one of the recipients. In this e-mail, a plan for the Islamization of information technologies in the field of law, especially sharia, was proposed. This is apparently the research project of Takhshid as one of the lecturers at Harvard Law School. Harvard University, which once trained members of the U.S. Supreme Court, is at one of its lowest points today, where the Islamicization of the internet and information technology has been promoted by the granddaughter of one of the founders of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Harvard University has an Islamic law program at its law school that spends millions of dollars a year rereading and trying to modernize sharia. It is within this framework that people like Zahra Takhshid are hired  not to reinvent the wheel (it could be useful and teach them something), but to invent something that is supposed to work like the wheel but is not a wheel. The ideologues want to reinvent sharia as a system of law to legitimize their totalitarian power and wealth. Basically, the plan to Islamize science has been a political plan from the beginning to gain power by eliminating the empiricist and rationalist approaches to science.

During its work, Harvard Law School's Islamic Law Program has not provided a single report on the inconsistency of sharia or its interpretations with human rights; the brutality enshrined in Islamic sharia rulings in the judicial realm; and the record of the Taliban, ISIS, and the Islamic Republic of Iran in judicial affairs, as if these phenomena do not exist. Despite the New Left (Adorno, Foucault, and Gramsci) claiming a critical approach to society and politics, this approach has been completely ignored in the humanities and social sciences, as any criticism would ultimately offend a group and disrupt the political coalition of the left. The thin-skinned ruling Islamists in Iran would also be hurt. The record of such centers, which work on the basis of identity politics, shows what a failure this ideology has delivered in the field of research and education.

The idea of a quantum internet project focuses solely on injecting Islamic teachings into it. The advertisement for student recruitment for this delusional project speaks of "Islamic digital humanities/data science space" that exists only in a fantasy world unless we study the filtering, censorship, and hacking of Islamists in this category. The author, like the students of Shi'i seminaries, calls "use of a data science/digital humanities tool, method, or a data set to answer novel questions in the fields of Islamic law or history" (in fact, using digital tools to search for Islamic legal texts, jurists' fatwas, and religious books) and cataloguing them as "Islamic digital humanities." This naming happened after buying thousands of computers for seminaries in Iran.

Another discussion of this educational project is "principles of Artificial Intelligence in Islam," which should probably be found in the works of Shi'ite imams (1100 to 1300 years ago) by digging in religious texts. Since the 1950s, Islamists have sought to find all the achievements of modern civilization in Islam. This effort has not only not pushed religion and knowledge forward, but has sparked a wave of religious totalitarianism around the world. Islamists have extracted all the principles of the world of technology, art, literature, and science from Islam in the last sixty years and have increased their power and wealth. When you believe that in one book, all the knowledge of the world is hidden, you start digging and digging to extract everything from it, and the Harvard donors and the oil revenues of the Iranian people will provide for it.

The author of the plan for this class claims she wants to extract the moral and legal principles of artificial intelligence from Islam, as Munir al-Din Hosseini did at the Academy of Islamic Sciences and Mesbah Yazdi at Baqir al-Uloom Institute in Iran (they both failed). The Islamists' preconceived notion is that Islam is a moral school (assuming that religion and morality are the same) and human intellect and experience are unable to regulate these areas. If this is taken seriously, eventually, Takhshid and her comrades will set up an Ifta Council and later a Guardian Council in Harvard to extract all principles and policies from the Quran and hadith, because the non-jurist has no authority to work in these areas and cannot attach the terms of Islam to his interpretations.

In the last six decades, Islamists have not proposed any educational or research program without Islamization at the core. They think this is an alternative plan, the importance and fruitfulness of which Western societies and educational environments have not realized. The research project that has been a waste of resources in universities in Iran has been brought to Western universities today and has found a place to be presented under the ideology of identity politics. Today's generation in these universities is oblivious to the fact that this plan was copied from the Marxist (ideological) plan of science, which itself has caused scandals for a hundred years.

Islamists have been successful in packaging and promoting their snake oil. Munir al-Din Hosseini, who wanted to create Islamic electronics and chemistry in addition to Islamic sociology and psychology, named his institute "the Academy." This name does not fit much in the Islamists' anti-Westernism and avoidance of Western concepts, but it gives legitimacy to his institution in the eyes of the Muslim masses. Mesbah called the activity of Islamization of sciences under his supervision "cooperation between the seminary and the university," which no one has a problem with, but the type of activity had no legitimacy. Zahra Takhshid at Harvard also calls her activity the "Islamic Law Lab." In fact, there is no laboratory, but the classroom is called a laboratory to gain more attention and give it experimental value.

Before the domination of the ideology and discourse of identity politics in the academic space (modernist discourse), Muslims, like other religious scholars, followed the scientific method and had positive achievements, such as Abd ul-Salam (a Pakistani scientist) in the field of physics. Identity-oriented science has seriously damaged both Western universities and Muslim participation in the world's educational and research institutions.

For forty-two years, the Iranian people have been paying the price for Islamicizing everything from politics, art, science, and academia to architecture, family, city squares, and even mountains and deserts by daily suppressing their rights and wasting their financial and institutional resources. Harvard executives still do not have a grasp of it. They have not been commanded that science cannot be ideologized or mixed with religion or identity.

The whole Islamization project has been a big business for devouring Muslims' wealth and prestige in the Middle East. Unfortunately, today, Harvard financiers and executives have fallen to a level of followers and imitators of the Shi'ite clergy in Iran who sell Islam for their own interests.

Image via Max Pixel.
As the historic winter storm makes its way into Houston, area shelters and cruelty task force agencies will be on the lookout for animals left out in the freezing temperatures.

Houston pet owners could face criminal charges for leaving their animals out in the cold. According to Texas law, it is illegal for owners to leave a dog outside in extreme weather conditions, including temperatures below 32 degrees. Houston is expected to see below-freezing temperatures, with some areas possibly receiving up to 2 inches of snow. from Sunday to Monday.

The Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce said it will have a "zero-tolerance" approach for owners who leave their animals outside during the cold snap. The agency will be working with Harris County Constable Precinct 5, Houston Police Department, BARC, Houston Humane Society and Harris County Public Health to check on animals left outside, officials said in a Facebook post. The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will also be investigating any reports of animals left outside, according to a release.

Do not disregard or abandon your pet, especially during this freeze, as it could have dire consequences, said Adam Reynolds, chief animal cruelty Investigator for the Houston SPCA said. Not only is it cruel, but it's against state law.

Houston residents who spot unattended animals may report it to the taskforce by calling 832-927-PAWS or the Houston SPCA at 713-869-7722.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A major winter storm is heading for Houston. Here's how you can prepare for the freeze.

Animal rescues are already underway. Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputies on Friday rescued a dog found in distress after being left outside in a crate in the cold rainy weather, police said in a Facebook post. The dog was released to a family member and the owner is being charged with animal cruelty.

The cold snap also threatens the lives of area wildlife animals. The Houston SPCA Wildlife Center of Texas is asking residents to keep watch for wildlife that may appear in their yards during the freeze. The center recommends the following ways to help wild animals:

Pour warm water into birdbaths to melt frozen water.

Put out extra birdseed or suet in your yard.

Make a shelter for small mammals, like opossums, by cutting a hole in a cardboard box or plastic drink cooler and filling it with straw or soft blankets.

Carefully place cold and wet baby animals in a box with soft rags and a warm (not hot) water bottle, rice sock, or low heating pad until it is safe to get them to the Houston SPCAs Wildlife Center of Texas. Do not feed or give water to any injured or orphaned wildlife.

The center can be reached at 713-861-9453.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
Delivery drivers working for Amazon have told how they found themselves working for just two pounds an hour due to the demands placed on them.

The self-employed couriers, who are subcontractors to the internet retailer, have called the work 'slave labour', with one telling the Mirror that pressures to deliver 250 packages in nine hours led him to consistently break road speed limits.

Andy Cooper, 56, a former oil industry project manager, was told he could make 127 a day delivering packages for Amazon.

But after hiring a van for 207 a week he was given just two shifts, leaving him with 48 in one week, Mirror reports.

An Amazon driver delivers a parcel to a customer's home during the Coronavirus lockdown, April 2020, Basingstoke, Hampshire (stock image)

Mr Cooper, who quit after three months in the job, told the publication: 'It's slave labour. I'd never had a speeding ticket before but I got three in three months. I'd deliver my first parcel at 7.30am and be lucky to have done 80 by midday. Then I'd have more than 150 left to do.'

He added that he felt his safety was overlooked as some drivers left their seatbelts undone so they could easily get in and out to deliver packages.

Mr Cooper explained that any parcels he failed to deliver would be taken on by another courier, but that 1 was taken from his pay for each undelivered parcel.

It comes as Amazon's sales in Britain increased by 51 per cent last year to 19.5billion, as Britons turned to home deliveries during lockdown (stock image)

One driver said he felt his safety was overlooked as some drivers left their seatbelts undone so they could easily get in and out to deliver packages (stock image)

Another courier showed the publication a payslip that amounted to just 1.83 an hour after costs, minimum wage is 8.20.

It comes as Amazon's sales in Britain increased by 51 per cent last year to 19.5billion, as Britons turned to home deliveries during lockdown.

Unite leader Sharon Graham told the Mirror that the alleged working conditions were 'awful' and '21st century Britain meets Charles Dickens'.

An Amazon spokesperson told MailOnline: We are committed to ensuring that the people contracted by our independent delivery providers are fairly compensated and are treated with respect, and this is reflected by the positive feedback we receive from drivers every day.

'Drivers also have a number of ways to share comments or concerns, including escalating any challenges to Amazon through a 24/7 hotline, which works quickly to investigate any concerns.'

MailOnline has contacted Unite for comment.
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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

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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 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

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Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

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US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

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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

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"Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump took in the win at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by friends and family. His lawyers celebrated with hugs and smiles. One joked, "Were going to Disney World!

Now acquitted in his second Senate impeachment trial, Trump is preparing for the next phase of his post-presidency life. Feeling emboldened by the trial's outcome, he is expected to reemerge from a self-imposed hibernation at his club in Palm Beach, Florida, and is eyeing ways to reassert his power.

But after being barred from Twitter, the former president lacks the social media bullhorn that fueled his political rise. And he's confronting a Republican Party deeply divided over the legacy of his jarring final days in office, culminating in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol. Searing video images of the day played on loop during his impeachment trial, which ended Saturday.

Trump remains popular among the GOP base, but many Republicans in Washington have cooled to him. Never before have so many members of a president's party  seven GOP senators, in his case  voted for his removal in a Senate trial.

Some may work to counter efforts by Trump to support extreme candidates in next year's congressional primaries.

Undeterred, friends and allies expect Trump to resume friendly media interviews after weeks of silence. He has met with political aides to discuss efforts to help Republicans try to take control of the House and Senate in the 2022 midterms elections. He remains fixated on exacting revenge on Republicans who supported his impeachment or resisted his efforts to overturn the results of the November election won by Democrat Joe Biden.

I imagine youll probably be hearing a lot more from him in the coming days, senior adviser Jason Miller said.

In a statement after the vote, Trump offered few clues, but was defiant as he told supporters their movement has only just begun.

In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, he said.

Story continues

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spoke with Trump on Saturday night, acknowledged that Trump is mad at some folks, but also ready to move on and rebuild the Republican Party and excited about 2022."

In their conversations, Graham has stressed to Trump, who has threatened to start his own party to punish disloyal Republicans, that the GOP needs him to win.

I said, Mr. President, this MAGA movement needs to continue. We need to unite the party. Trump-plus is the way back in 2022, Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News Sunday.

"My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda Ive seen coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden. We cant do that without Donald Trump, so hes ready to hit the trail and Im ready to work with him, Graham said.

Graham said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who voted to acquit but then delivered a scalding denunciation of Trump, got a load off a chest, obviously. Graham said later in the interview: If you want to get something off your chest, fine, but I'm into winning."

At his Palm Beach club on Saturday night, Trump was in a joyous mood as he enjoyed dinner on a patio packed with people. After a mellow last several weeks, one member described a party atmosphere not felt since before the election.

Still, Trump isn't in the clear yet. No longer protected by a Justice Department opinion against the prosecution of sitting presidents, he now faces multiple ongoing criminal investigations.

In Georgia, the Fulton County district attorney has opened a criminal investigation into attempts to influence the election, including Trump's call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger demanding that the official find enough votes to overturn Bidens victory.

In New York, Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether Trump and his company improperly inflated the value of his assets on annual financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain tax benefits. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. continues his own investigation, which has included grand jury testimony.

He didnt get away with anything  yet," McConnell, R-Ky., after the vote. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one."

McConnell voted to acquit Trump on the grounds the trial was unconstitutional because he is no longer in office, but insisted, Theres no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day."

That sharp rebuke from his once-loyal defender underscores how dramatically Trump's stock has fallen in Washington since his first impeachment trial just over a year ago. But the desire to be rid of Trump is not shared across the country, where Republicans who have dared to admonish him have faced swift rebuke.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was forced to defend her third-in-line leadership position after she voted in favor of impeachment. On Saturday, Louisianas Republican Party quickly censured Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the seven Republicans senators who voted for Trump's conviction.

In an interview Sunday with ABCs This Week, Cassidy seemed at peace with his decision.

I think his force wanes, he said of Trump. The Republican Party is more than just one person. The Republican Party is about ideas.

But how long Trump retains his grip remains an open question, especially with a slew of likely 2024 candidates now trying to take the mantle.

Some, like Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, are advocating a clean break from Trump, who ended his presidency with a record low 34% approval rating according to Gallup polling. Others have stressed the need to keep his voters engaged, perhaps with candidates who trumpet the policies Trump championed, but with a less caustic style that might win back suburban voters.

In a sign of his enduring power, the Republican National Committee and other groups spent the trial sending fundraising appeals urging their followers to Stand with Trump and SAVE President Trumps Legacy, in the words of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Oh, time is going to take care of that some way or another," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters Saturday. "But remember, in order to be a leader you got to have followers. So were gonna find out, whoever leads. But everybodys going to be involved. Were a big tent.

While the Senate failed to bar Trump from running again for office, many believe he has done too much damage to be a credible candidate himself in 2024.

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who is retiring, said Trump's refusal to accept the results of the election had very badly damaged his reputation," eclipsing his accomplishments in office.

Instead, Toomey said, "hell be remembered throughout history as the president who resorted to nonlegal steps to try to hold on to power.


Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size There are things I barely remember and things I would rather forget. Heres what happened. I ran back into the burning house to save my dog. Its still a trauma that I didnt make it. But heres the other trauma: had I made it, Id be dead too. I woke to a flash of flames. It was around 3am. Smoke. Fire. Explosions. I was at Dads place, the house he and Mum built in 1961. I remember Dad getting out and safe. And then I had to go back for Miss Maudie. She was at the front of the house, trapped and terrified in the dark because the power had blown. Windows and bottles and heaven knows what else were exploding with frightening roars as the heat and smoke engulfed us. The only light we had was the torch on my phone. Dad, 84 and with emphysema and a recent veteran of major lung surgery and a quadruple heart bypass, made it out to the back deck in pyjamas and bare feet. He struggled about in the dark to find a safe place. I ran back in to save the dog. The room in Neil McMahons home where the fire began. Thats the last thing I remember. I was, according to the firies who found me, unconscious and nearly dead in the hall. Had I made it to Maudie - who had taken shelter in a bathroom - Id be dead, because I would have had to run through the fire. And another minute or two in the smoke would have killed me.

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My last memory is the scald of the most intense heat imaginable. I think I screamed. If I didnt, I should have. I still remember and feel that terrifying heat. Maudie died. I lived. So did Dad. They found him in the dark out the back, after they found me and they told him: We found the bloke at the front. Come with us. They carried him out to the street, where they were trying to revive me. I salute the ambos, who out on the street made sure I would live before they took me anywhere. We lived to tell the tale, which is one of great good fortune as well as great sadness. The home Dad and my late Mum had built was burned beyond salvation, the result of an electrical fault with a power board, the investigators said. It was demolished just before Christmas. Dad, losing his home of 60 years, took all this in remarkable and admirable stride. I spent weeks in induced comas. Three comas, and apparently they dont like putting you in the second one because it often doesnt end well. I was in a very bad way. Lungs shot. Kidneys failing. My insides were smoked and screaming. On the first morning, and many mornings after, they thought I might not survive. I was at the Alfred in Melbourne. They put me in high-level ICU  where youre not just unconscious, but these days a COVID risk. You dont go into normal ICU until they clear you as COVID-free. Outside, the phones were ringing. Some family and friends first learned of it on breakfast television, who had the run-of-the-mill overnight fire cameras out the front of the house, or heard it on morning radio, where the unusual street name gave it away, and the call chain began. They thought Maudie might have run away, so siblings and cousins and friends took to the streets looking for her.

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I was on a speaker-phone call to the family and asked: I wonder what happened to little Maudie? Credit:Meredith O'Shea But later that morning, back at the smouldering home, they found her. She was dead in the bathroom. She didnt have a burn on her. The smoke would have taken her quickly. The smoke is the killer: my hospital records tell me I even had cyanide poisoning, a common result of house fires. You dont expect to face such things  the heat, explosions, the terror that your Dad might die, that you might die saving your dog, cyanide poisoning and what in the almighty hell is going on  outside of a movie. Or a story you read that makes you shake your head and think: Thank God that wasnt me. Over the years, Ive written more of those stories about other people than I can count. The first thing I remember after that is a few weeks later  October 18  and speaking to my sister, Caroline, on a phone handed to me by a nurse. Its my birthday, Caroline said. I had no idea then that shed been at my bedside almost every day, when she was allowed. When she said it was her birthday I knew the date, even if I was confused about almost everything else. Good God, I thought. What had happened in the meantime?

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I remembered thered been a fire, but then ... nothing. Has anyone looked for Scout? I asked. Scout was the dog I had before Miss Maudie. I had it in my head then that Scout must have run away. Scout had died in sad circumstances in 2017. I now know we had this conversation many times. The doctors told Caroline not to tell me the truth because I was too delusional to retain that or any other information. Then one day, as I started to turn the corner, I was on a speaker-phone call to the family and asked: I wonder what happened to little Maudie? I cried. Surely not. Surely shed have run away from the fire? But I knew this bit was true. Of course she hadnt lived. It was the slow dawn of reality. That is my broad memory of the conversation  there were many conversations like this, where I was not at all with it. I am reflecting them here as I remember them, for better and mostly worse.

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At one point I imagined I had skipped hospital and caught a plane to China. At another, I was in Bali, wearing bandages and explaining them away like a con-man in a cheap movie. Doctors would come to my bedside and ask if I knew where I was and what had happened to me. In reply, Id tell them that I had been in a fire but in these fantasies, I was rarely at the Alfred Hospital. I was in Shanghai or Denpasar. I met one of those doctors a couple of months later and he smiled and shook his head and said: Boy, you were in a bad way. Oddly, I did remember one thing very clearly: COVID lockdown. For all my fantasies that I had absconded to China or Bali, I also imagined that I was going to have a hell of a time getting home from China and Bali, due to pandemic restrictions. I fretted over how I would explain myself to the authorities and my family. I berated nurses and doctors. One night, I insisted I was expected at a party and that a taxi was waiting. I was very sorry, but I had to leave now. Old habits die hard. I tried to rip my tubes out. They prevailed and kept me where I was. At other times I was calm. I remember the night of the AFL grand final and me and the nurse conjuring a better TV connection in the ward so we could watch it. That really happened. The Tigers won another flag. When I regained some sense of sanity, they still wouldnt let me have a phone or computer in case I tweeted a bunch of mad things. That ship has long sailed, I thought, thinking back on my decade on Twitter. Im glad they deprived me of my phone, because any posts might have been filled with madness. But I knew one thing, and I told them so: I want my phone back by November 3; if you stop me watching the US presidential election I will riot.

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The Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba, has urged Nigerians, especially Christians, to ensure that they are inoculated against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic when general vaccination commences in the country.

Mr Ndukuba, a most reverend, said this at the February 2021 Standing Committee meeting of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, which began on Feb. 8 and ended on Feb. 14, with a church service at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra.

A full text of the meeting obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday quoted Mr Ndukuba as saying that many Nigerians had become complacent about COVID-19 because of the unfounded campaign against the vaccines.

COVID-19 is already in our villages and communities; we have lost some members to COVID-19 infections. Many people are very complaisant and careless because they believe it is a rich peoples disease or it is not real.

COVID-19 is real and it kills. Some people are peddling unfounded campaign against the COVID-19 Vaccines; they suggest that anyone receiving the vaccine will receive the anti-Christ number 666.

Let it be clear that COVID-19 is a virus that is ravaging the world and killing people. We give glory to God that we have higher survival rate in Nigeria, he said.

This disease is like Polio, Yellow Fever and other virus diseases that we receive vaccines to prevent. Those who are infected are being treated and many recover.

`The medical personnel administer drugs to cure them which does not initiate them with the 666. This vaccine is like any other that we receive to prevent diseases caused by virus.

The End Time signs are here but the severe persecutions and tribulations have yet to come fully. We should be careful not to propagate stories that are not true and which can only be destructive to the lives of our people.

He urged Nigerians to live in faith and righteousness, and also engage in fasting and prayer to fight the pandemic.

The Anglican Primate also urged Nigerians to always observe the protocols as issued by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Everyone should keep the non-Pharmaceutical procedures such as keeping social distance, use of face mask, hand washing with soap under running water, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and others.

It is a virus and an enemy of our lives and at the name of Jesus Christ, COVID-19 must be destroyed; God has preserved our lives till today and He will protect and keep us till the end.

We plead that the federal and state governments should procure vaccines and give to all our citizens, especially the most vulnerable group. The incidence of the COVID-19 has exposed the poor state of Nigerian healthcare delivery system, he said.

He appealed to Anglican dioceses and parishes to intensify the establishment of health clinics and hospitals that would cater for members, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Mr Ndukuba appreciated all doctors, nurses and frontline health workers who had bravely stood for the sick and citizens infected with coronavirus.

We commiserate with all those who lost their dear one in this pandemic. May God stand by us and carry us through this challenging period victoriously, he added.

(NAN)

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Kevin Geist

The freshman duo ofandtallied victories in the 200 yard breaststroke and the 200 yard backstroke, respectively, as Villanova (0-1) opened the 2021 season with a dual meet against Delaware (1-0) at Rawstrom Natatorium on Saturday afternoon. The host Blue Hens won the meet by a final score of 169-87.Nolan touched the wall in the 200 breast in 2:08.65 and had a strong collegiate debut which also included runner-up finishes in both the 1000 yard freestyle and the 200 yard individual medley. He posted a time of 9:55.49 in the 1000 free and recorded a mark of 1:56.80 in the 200 IM. In addition to winning the 200 back in 1:56.92, Danus finished third in both the 200 yard butterfly (1:56.26) and the 200 IM (1:57.17). He also swam the leadoff leg of the 200 yard medley relay to kick off the meet and posted a split of 26.39 over 50 yards in the backstroke.The meet began with the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events on Friday afternoon. Juniorand freshmanwere the lone men's competitors in those events, with Ackert finishing first in each and the pair combining for 26 team points towards the Wildcats final score.Saturday was also a busy day for sophomorewho finished second in the 100 yard butterfly (51.88) and third in the 200 yard freestyle (1:45.32) in addition to swimming legs of both the 200 medley relay and the 400 yard freestyle relay. He anchored the 400 free squad to a second place finish with a time of 3:16.75, including a split of 47.80 on the anchor leg.Juniorled off the 400 free relay and was followed by senior, seniorand Geist. The 200 medley relay squad of Danus, Prikasky, Geist and seniorcame in second in 1:47.48.
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Incredible 'then and now' comparisons of old and new photographs show how much Melbourne has changed over the years.

Images shared by Old Vintage Melbourne highlight the city's development, with some showing the Victorian capital when it was just a fraction of the size it is now.

Creator Chris Machera runs the page to bring attention to Melbourne's heritage, and matches archival images to present-day shots taken from the same places.

And while most of the photos show stark differences, especially to the skyline, others reveal that some parts of Melbourne have not changed much at all, but for the upgraded trams, newer cars and modern fashion.

Chris Macheras excitingly runs the account to share Melbourne's heritage ranging from iconic buildings such as Flinders Street Station or popular shopping strips like Bourke Street.

The collection includes a 1934 image of Bourke Street looking east towards Spring Street and Parliament taken during the centennial celebration of the founding of the city of Melbourne.

Almost 87 years later, a colour photograph shows a few new buildings that have popped up since then, and the upgraded tram system.

A black-and-white aerial photograph of Melbourne taken in 1950 shows Fitzroy Town Hall in the bottom left-hand corner when Melbourne was just a quarter of the size it is today.

Seventy years later, an aerial photo taken in the same spot shows a forest of new skyscrapers dominating the skyline, but many smaller historical buildings remain.

One of the older photos, taken in 1900 on Bourke Street shows crowds celebrating the Relief of Mafeking in the Boer War near the corner of Elizabeth Street.

Men dressed in suits and hats are seen in the streets and on buildings celebrating the military victory, which involved 1,400 Australian volunteers of the Citizen Bushmen Contingents.

The buildings have since been revamped with a Chemist Warehouse and a Vodafone store popping up on the popular shopping strip street.

This image of Bourke Street looking east towards Spring Street and Parliament was taken at 3.20pm in 1934, during the centennial celebration of the founding of the city of Melbourne

Almost 87 years later, a photo shows a few new buildings that have popped up since 1934, and an upgrade of the tram system

A black-and-white aerial photograph of Melbourne taken in 1950 shows Fitzroy Town Hall in the bottom left-hand corner when Melbourne was just a quarter of the size it is today

Seventy years later, an aerial photo taken in the same spot shows a forest of new skyscrapers dominating the skyline, but many smaller historical buildings remain

This photograph taken 163 years ago in 1858 shows Swanston Street lined with two and three storey buildings with no clear sign of a tram line

Swanston Street has since had a complete makeover with modern office buildings taking over the street, including popular fashion store Dior, the introduction of a tram and the clock tower of Melbourne at Town Hall

One of the older photos, taken in 1900 on Bourke Street shows crowds celebrating the Relief of Mafeking in the Boer War near the corner of Elizabeth Street. Men dressed in suits and hats are seen in the streets and on buildings celebrating the military victory, which involved 1,400 Australian volunteers of the Citizen Bushmen Contingents

121 years later the buildings have since been revamped with a Chemist Warehouse and a Vodafone store popping up on the popular shopping strip street

A black-and-white aerial shot taken in 1969, shows East Melbourne over St Patrick's Cathedral looking towards the CBD. East Melbourne was one of the city's earliest suburbs and one of the first residents was Charles La Trobe

Half-a-century later, St Patrick's Cathedral is still standing surrounded by the trees seen in the before photo but now there are even more skyscrapers

This 1900 photograph shows the intersection of Moreland and Sydney Road between the suburbs of Brunswick and Coburg. Coburg was surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1837 where he designed a 327acre village with two roads for the district known as Bell Street and Pentridge Road, later called Sydney Road

In 2021, the fancy street light was removed and some of the shops remained the same but with a modern upgrade. Electric lines for the trams are seen cris-crossed from different power poles to ensure they don't break down on their journey

Melbourne's skyline in 1960 overlooking the Princes Bridge and into the CBD shows what was one of the state's first skyscrapers. Contruction of the CRA building with the crane hovering over was started in 1959. The building was then demolished in 1988.

In the CRA building's place today stands the 101 Collins Building, a 260m skyscraper with 50 floors. Melbourne boasts the most skyscrapers in Australia, with 67 buildings taller than 150m as of 2020

Essendon Fields Airport is set to celebrate 100 years on August 11 this year following its construction in 1921

Nowadays, the airport has had a massive improvement with the previous grass runways converted to concrete surfaces

Flinders Street Station is Australia's oldest train station, and can be easily recognised from its distinctive design, arched entrance, tower and clock

Flinders Street Station also boasts one of the longest platforms on Platform One at 708m long - the fourth longest in the world

Melbourne's iconic railway station is visited by tourists from all over the world who come to take photos in front of it

The station was completed in 1910 and is considered one of the busiest railway stations in the Southern Hemisphere with over 1,500 train and 110,000 commuters passing through

The University of Melbourne is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria, and is seen in this aerial shot from 1956

The university opened on July 3, 1854 and today boasts more than 50,000 students, and has a $1.335b endowment

This photograph small tram at the top of Collins Street at the intersection with Spring Street dates back to the year 1900

120 years later, Collins Street has been completely revamped and is a popular shopping popular strip including stores

Burgundy Street in Heidelberg was a dirt road in 1890. That area is now outside Austin Hospital, one of Victoria's largest health care providers

Austin Health employs over 8,500 staff across its sites, including over 1,300 doctors, and delivers a full range of leading edge clinical services

Bourke Street pictured in 1958 shows the street lined up with cars, the street bustling with people and no trees (left) compared to today where it is known as Bourke Street Mall thanks to its popular shopping strip

Bourke Street is named after Irish-born British army officer Sir Richard Bourke, who served as the Governor of New South Wales from 1831 and 1837.

In front of Elizabeth Street Station in 1935 are men digging up cable tracks to for the electric tram system installation

The street is famous as a retail shopping precinct and is connected with key shopping and tourist destinations

Spring Street around 1890 shows the newly completed Princess Theatre which was built in 1886 for only 50,000
Modi said the country's armed forces have shown time and again that they are fully capable of protecting the country

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to the CRPF jawans who were killed in the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir in February, 2019.

"No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations," he said at a function.

He said the country's armed forces have shown time and again that they are fully capable of protecting our motherland.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed in the terrorist attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama on 14 February, 2019.
More than two weeks days down the radical decision to demonetize the high value currency notes, it is now transparently clear that the government had not thought deeply enough. The myriads of problems that this move would throw up and the commensurate logistical response to it had not been visualized in all their multifariousness.

The woefully inadequate planning is the result of this paucity of thought. Bureaucracy has long since been depleted of talent because of the universal policy of opting for the pliant rather than the professional. Given the highly sensitive nature of the problem, the thought collective geared to this task was bound to be strictly limited, and the available talent further curtailed by the contingent nature of the choice.

Whether less radical measures were available, as the critics of the move have been suggesting, also may have some merit in it. Could it be that the political dividend at the end of the move is what blindsided and led to this unexceptionable decision in some hurry?

We are all eclipsed by the dark shadow that has fallen between a good idea and its shoddy execution. Even the large group of people who were its vocal supporters is beginning to be a little wary and the tentativeness of the government does not help matters much. It is very difficult to come by facts these days because facts are deployed in the service of particular causes; the supporters of government claim that the worst is over now and we shall live happily hereafter. Those opposed to the move claim that there is large scale despair and disquiet because the economic life of the country has stopped in its tracks. Facts have become Janus faced from one face they scowl at you from the other beam an endearing smile. But this much is clear that the disquiet and confusion at the national level is beginning to be felt and does not bode well. Now what?

For good or for bad, we are now committed to this course of action; rolling back would be an even worse option. Not only for the government - let it meet its just desert, who cares, but at an appropriate time - but for the nation at large. The nearest analogy to such a crisis one can think of is an ill-conceived and ill-timed war. But howsoever one may disagree with the war aims and its timing; one is obliged to lend full support.

Let us recall the national disgrace of 1962. The then PM is reported to have asked his Defence Minister to throw the Chinese, who were making border incursions, out. The Defence Minister went ahead and did what he was told. In a few days the stark situation was blown in the face of every countryman, including the folly of the lotus eating Defence Minister, yet the entire nation rallied behind the government, in an absolutely lost, hopeless cause.

What happened is now history but it has deeply scarred the psyche of a brave, professional army permanently. Those were uncomplicated times but democratic politics has immatured, repeat immatured, so much with time as to become unrecognizable. Nationalism, xenophobia and such other jingoistic traits have been long known to be minor neurotic disorders but in recent times it has bred its own anti dote, anti nationalism, a life style disease of the well heeled and very educated, so in the bitter feud between the nationalists and the anti nationals, the interest of the real, tangible nation which is home to 125 crore Indians, real people has been lost sight of.

The nature of our politics being what it is, the political parties would not allow Mr. Modi to walk with all the rewards should he pull it off without a major disaster and be left sucking their thumbs. To be fair, no opposition would have behaved any differently. Just as the government is invested deeply in the success of the programme, the political opposition - and those affected by it - sees rich dividends in its failure, in chaos and confusion. In the absence of a political consensus on any issue, it is like functioning in an atmosphere of 10 g. So an already difficult task becomes ten times harder.

The Indian poor are hugely inventive; they have seen calamities, food shortages, lack of basic amenities, official apathy. They have miraculously survived them all. Just let us think how best we, we who are a little better off, can make even a jot of difference to their situation. Their nerves are already jangled. Those who have a sense of history know that economic chaos is followed by political chaos, and political chaos is followed by restoration of order by some authoritarian agency. Those who are hoping for political gains out of economic chaos should think a few steps ahead. We are in the midst of a crisis because of a major goof up by the banking bureaucracy; do not seek to test the internal security apparatus. We who have seen it can tell them a thing or two.

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.

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George Clooney was a child when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. And at the time, Clooney did something so sincere, his father, Nick Clooney, was inspired to talk about it on his network news show. However, the broadcast didnt go over well with some local viewers. And they ended up protesting the sentiment.

George Clooney | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Robert F. Kennedy was shot on the eve of his primary victory

Robert F. Kennedy was an American politician who served as Attorney General of the United States under his older brother, President John F. Kennedy. A few years after John Kennedy was assassinated, Robert became a popular presidential candidate.

On June 5, 1968, Robert Kennedy was declared the winner of the California and South Dakota Democratic presidential primaries. But later that evening, he was fatally wounded in the kitchen of The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year old Palestinian, shot Robert Kennedy three times with a .22-caliber revolver.

Robert F. Kennedy at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968 | Bill Eppridge /The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

RELATED: Family Ties: Michael J. Fox Savagely Trolled a Network Exec that Insulted Him

The politician was pronounced dead the next day. Sirhan was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder. His sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He is currently confined at a correctional facility in San Diego.

George Clooney was seven years old at the time.

George was 7-years-old when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. His paternal aunt, actor Rosemary Clooney, and cousin, Maria, were part of the presidential campaign and were near the candidate when he was attacked. According to Nick Clooney, when George heard the chilling news, he did something no parent would expect.

Something very unusual occurred, Nick said in an interview with The Television Academy Foundation. My son, George, very young at the timehe was about 7-years oldhe was watching and listening to the coverageprobably too much.

Nick Clooney and George Clooney | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

RELATED: Why Sammy Davis Jr. Tried to Strangle His Bride on Their Wedding Day

But the day after, or perhaps two days after Robert Kennedy was killed, my son George came up to me and handed me every little toy gun that hed ever played with, he continued. He brought them up to me, and he said, Here Pop, I dont want these anymore.

At the time, Nick was the host of The Nick Clooney Show in Columbus, Ohio. And when talking about Robert Kennedys assassination on air, he mentioned young Georges reaction. But that story didnt sit well with NRA advocates, which led to many protesting Nicks show.

I told that on the air, Nick recalled. I thought it was important  Columbus was a very strong National Rifle Association headquarters. And we got quite a bit of protest over my doing that, quite a bit. Some encouragement as well, but the ones who protested were a little stronger.

George Clooney is still an advocate for gun control

mal Clooney and George Clooney attend the American Film Institutes 46th Life Achievement Award Gala | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner

Even now, over 50 years later, George continues to fight for gun control. In 2018, in the wake of the Parkland shootings, George and his wife, Amal Clooney, donated $500,000 to support students demanding political action on gun control. They also vowed to join students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for the March 24 rally in Washington D.C.

Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating 500,000 dollars to help pay for this groundbreaking event, George said in a statement at the time.
A Bexar County inmate died Sunday morning after suffering a stroke at University Hospital, officials said.

Gerald Irey, 71, was taken to the hospital on Feb. 8 and the next day was transferred to a secure part of the hospital for an altered mental status, Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference Sunday.

In the last couple of days, Irey had a stroke and was put in intensive care. His family decided to end life support and he died at 9:35 a.m., Salazar said.

Were handling this like any other custodial death, he said. We certainly dont know whether this gentleman had a pre-existing condition.

Irey was originally booked for assault of a security guard, criminal trespassing, making terroristic threats and assault to a public servant, Salazar said.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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This article offers a list of seven suggested "common core" actions deemed essential for election integrity. These actions need to be accomplished by state legislatures prior to the upcoming November 2022 congressional elections. Most, if not all, of the suggested actions could possibly be included in a single, comprehensive regulation or item of legislation, etc. (It is recognized that some legislatures most likely will not favorably consider many of the suggested "common core" actions, but concerned citizens should try to convince them!)

Various news reports and conversations between the author and numerous Americans of differing backgrounds, professions, ages, etc. indicate a strong, urgent demand for fair and honest elections, especially national elections. Americans want their votes to be correctly counted, and they want to trust that ballot tabulations are honest without fraud, cheating, or manipulation by foreign entities.

Fair and honest elections are essential for the ongoing survival of the American constitutional republic. Without such elections, the American republic will be in serious jeopardy, most likely resulting in continual one-party rule and, as history shows, eventual totalitarianism.

Most Americans realize that the United States Constitution assigns the fifty state legislatures the responsibility to determine and manage voting procedures and regulations for national elections. If citizens are dissatisfied with how voting and vote tabulation are accomplished in their state, they should strongly and effectively voice their grievances to their state legislators along with a list of corrective actions for the legislators to take.

The following seven actions are suggested as a "common core" for election integrity in national elections. As such, citizens need to effectively press (lobby) their state legislators to accomplish the actions prior to the 2022 elections:

1. Require and provide for voting and vote tabulation to be accomplished by paper ballots that will be manually hand-counted (no use of electronic voting and vote-tabulating capability).*

2. Require that in order to be counted as a legal ballot, a ballot must be cast and received by close of business on Election Day.

3. Require that absentee ballots, requested by registered voters, are the only mail-in ballots allowed.

4. Require that with the exception of absentee ballots, all voting must be accomplished in person at prescribed polling stations. Declare the practice of "ballot-harvesting" illegal.

5. Require that early in-person voting be allowed at prescribed polling stations up to 14 days prior to Election Day.

6. Prescribe substantial criminal and/or financial penalties for people committing voter fraud, cheating, or otherwise acting illegally prior to, during, and after an election, including actions by state or local officials that effectively modify election law independent of the state legislature.

7. Require a government-issued photo ID in order to vote in person.

* Future use of electronic voting and tabulation is dependent on adequate, comprehensive testing and security certifications of the intended machines and software.

Four additional action items to help ensure election integrity are 1) verify a person's U.S. citizenship, 2) verify the accuracy of voter registration lists, 3) prohibit early vote-counting; and 4) prohibit private donations to local election officials such as the reported $350 million recently donated to election officials in several states by an organization funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

In conclusion, state legislators throughout America need to be effectively lobbied to accomplish and implement, at a minimum, the above seven "common core" actions for election integrity. The four additional action items also should be accomplished. A single, comprehensive regulation or item of legislation might include most, if not all, of the above actions. Finally, actions need to be completed and implemented prior to the November 2022 elections.

Americans need to trust that their votes are correctly counted and honestly tabulated without fraud, cheating, or manipulation by foreign entities. The actions listed herein will substantially help to accomplish this goal.

Paul S. Gardiner is a retired Army officer, Vietnam veteran, and avid lover of America. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Alabama, and the United States Army War College.

Image: tom.arthur via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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MASON - Years ago, Masons favorite son  with a little help from Walt Disney - made youngsters cry. Fred Gipson, born on a farm near Mason in 1908 and a resident of the area off and on throughout his life, was the author of Old Yeller, the young-adult classic about a loyal and affectionate dog that looked after a frontier Hill Country family in the 1860s. When Old Yeller got into a tussle with a rabid wolf and had to be put down, kids across the country shed tears.

Some of those baby-boomers, senior citizens today, may have watched Disneys Old Yeller in Masons historic Odeon Theater on the picturesque courthouse square, where the movie had a special premiere in 1957. If theyve maintained ties to their Hill Country hometown, theyre likely shedding tears again after what happened on that square the night of Feb. 4. A local resident now in custody allegedly broke into the historic Mason County Courthouse, splashed an accelerant (probably gasoline) over carpets and dry, old wooden floors and set the building ablaze. Only the blackened sandstone walls and Doric columns remain standing.

Brent and Monica Hinckley watched in horror as the beautiful, old building burned. Thirty years ago, they had abandoned Dallas for this quaint town 42 miles northwest of Fredericksburg, looking for a place to raise their children in a small-town atmosphere. Theyve never regretted the move. The couple ran an old-fashioned dime store on the square for 20 years, and for 15 years Brent served as mayor, his term ending just a few weeks ago. These days, he and Monica run the Red Door Bed & Breakfast in a historic building across the street from the courthouse. They also live in the building, Masons only downtown residents.

Sirens and the bright-orange glow reflected through the front windows woke them. Seeing the dome, clock tower and third floor collapse, realizing there was nothing they could do to help firefighters from around the county, they wrapped themselves in a blanket, sat on a deck upstairs and watched the building die.

It was like the death of a loved one, Brent told me.

It reminded Monica of the fire scene in Gone With the Wind. Its so depressing, its horrible, she said. To know the people, the history.

I told a reporter from Texas Highways that rural men dont tend to cry, Brent said. We cried that night.

Jerry Bearden grew up in Brady and Colorado City, but hes lived in Mason since 1969. His sentiments echoed the Hinckleys. Cowboys dont cry, but judges do, he told me last week in a deep-voiced drawl.

Bearden should know. He has been a cowboy most of his life and Mason County judge for 18 years. Now hes heading up the effort to determine whether the venerable courthouse can be rebuilt.

For the past several years, Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd has been on a mission to photograph himself in or around every one of the states 254 courthouses. Hes on hold at county 224, he told me last week, because he was running for reelection last fall and because of the pandemic. Like most Texans, Boyd is drawn to the classical structures with their brick and stone towers, ornate cupolas and stately domes. Theyre still in use across Texas, in places like Hallettsville (Lavaca County), Waxahachie (Ellis County), La Grange (Fayette County), Marfa (Presidio County), Wharton (Wharton County), Houston (Harris County) and, until a few days ago, Mason (Mason County). Texas, not surprisingly, has more historic courthouses than any other state.

I would guess that most Austinites couldnt tell you where the Travis County Courthouse is, but when you go to these smaller towns, you realize that the courthouse is still the heart of the community, Boyd said.

Thats certainly the case in Mason, where every road into and out of town veers past the courthouse. The courthouse lawn is our front yard, Brent Hinckley said.

The courthouse square has been the site of an annual Mason County Roundup every July since 1958, sort of a combination reunion, parade and picnic. The courthouse itself is the centerpiece of Masons annual Light Up the Town event. Youngsters hunt Easter eggs on the lawn and visit Santa Claus at Christmas. Theres an Old Yeller Days parade and an Old Yeller look-alike contest in September.

And now that centerpiece is a blackened shell, a chain-link security fence keeping people out. That man [the arsonist] tore the heart out of this community, Bearden said.

The courthouse as town centerpiece is exactly what early Texans had in mind when they commissioned structures like Mason Countys, built in 1909 after two predecessors burned. In the latter years of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th, the courthouse was a symbol of civic pride. A tangible manifestation of self-governance, it had to be dignified and stately.

And so it was in Mason. The county hired a prominent courthouse architect named Edward C. Hosford, a Georgia native who had designed government buildings in Florida, Georgia and Texas. Hosford drew up a Beaux Arts-style building featuring two-story columns, a center dome and a clock tower. The handsome structure cost the county $39,796.

Rebuilding will cost several million, if rebuilding is even possible. The county has engaged an Austin architecture firm and is working with structural engineers and the Texas Historical Commission to determine whether the four walls are intact enough to remain standing. Bearden said hell know the answer in about a month.

Fortunately for Mason County, the courthouse has been undergoing major restoration funded by the Texas Historical Commission, so all the court records and historic county materials were moved last year to other buildings, where they remain safely in storage. County employees also relocated.

Another ray of hope rests in a courthouse nearly 200 miles to the east, in Hillsboro. In 1993, an electrical short on New Year's night reduced the Hill County Courthouse, 102 years-old at the time, to four limestone walls and a pile of blackened rubble. The building's iconic 70-foot-tall bell tower collapsed, and its 1,525-pound bell crashed through the roof, coming to rest in a courtroom. Unlike in Mason, county records were lost forever.

It took six years, $9 million and a couple of benefit concerts by a Hill County native named Willie for the courthouse to rise again. A melange of Second Empire, Italianate and Classical styles, the structure lost none of its Victorian-era charm, even as architects were able to incorporate modern conveniences into the reconstructed building. If you take the Hillsboro exit off I-35 and drive through downtown Hillsboro today, you would never know the beautiful building in the heart of town burned to the ground nearly three decades ago.

Back in Mason, Monica Hinckley is hopeful. In the end, our town is extremely resilient, she said. The people here are hard-headed Germans, and when they decide to do something, youre not going to get in the way.

I didnt think of it when I was talking to the Hinckleys, but later I flashed back to a long-ago birthday party at Wacos 25th Street Theater, Old Yeller on the screen. Watching the dog go down, I remember stifling a sob. Embarrassed, I glanced at my buddies on either side of me and saw tears glistening on their cheeks, as well.

Of course, the movie doesnt end with Old Yellers demise. A lively, yellow puppy, one of Old Yellers, squirms his way into the heart of the older dogs Hill Country family. Maybe that pup can be the Mason County mascot these days, a symbol of hope and new beginnings for a Texas county needing both.

djholley10@gmail.com

Twitter: holleynews
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.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will pose challenges for candidates in the May 18 primary election.

Gathering the needed signatures on nominating petitions could prove difficult, especially for candidates in county-wide races who need to collect 250 petition signatures to appear on the primary ballot.

Door-to-door campaigning will be limited and candidates will not have many opportunities to meet face-to-face with voters, because of pandemic-related restrictions.

Candidates and leaders of both major political parties say they will make it work.

The campaigning starts Tuesday, the first day candidates are permitted to distribute nominating petitions for the primary, which includes municipal, judicial, school district and county-wide races. The last day to return completed petitions to the county election bureau is March 9.

County parties

The Luzerne County Democratic Party will hold three walk-through petition signing events at its headquarters on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, party Chairwoman Kathy Bozinski said.

The party headquarters is spacious and will allow proper social distancing for dozens of people, though just one person at a time will sign petitions, she said.

The petition-signing events, on Feb. 18, Feb. 21 and March 4, will be limited to county-wide races such as county council, controller and judge, Bozinski said.

Every candidate is struggling with the means to safely gather 250 signatures, she said.

The county Republican Party will hold a petition-signing party at its headquarters on Wyoming Avenue in Kingston at 6 p.m. Tuesday, said party Chairman Justin Behrens.

Its open to anyone needing Republican signatures, he said.

To reduce virus transmission risk to a minimum, the party plans to hold drive-thru petition signing events, which will allow registered voters to sign petitions without getting out of their vehicles, Behrens said.

We will encourage people to come out and allow them an opportunity to sign safely, he said.

CandidatesGregory Wolovich, who is running as a Republican for county council, said he will rely on a team of friends and supporters to help him gather signatures on petitions.

The team consists of people Wolovich worked with during his two previous campaigns to win a seat on the 11-member council that serves as the legislative body of county government, he said.

Wolovich, 28, said he will only knock on the doors of people he knows personally.

Signature collection will be very difficult, he said.

Incumbent Councilwoman Sheila Saidman, a Democrat, said the challenges of collecting petition signatures and campaigning during the pandemic almost kept her from running for re-election this year.

At 71, Saidman said she will not go door-to-door, to protect the health of herself and others.

Like Wolovich, she will rely on a team of supporters to help collect signatures and get her message out to voters.

When I told them about the difficulty of collecting signatures, they told me not to worry, Saidman said.

Wolovich and Saidman said they enjoy meeting people and discussing county issues with concerned citizens in person.

Both said they will miss that this year.

It will be a completely different experience, Wolovich said.

I think everybody understands its a different type of campaign, Saidman said.
In recent months, the hatred of Fox News from the left has been almost matched by trending memes  from the right! Examples include (to paraphrase) Fox News has turned left. Fox News is being run by Disney. The woke wives of the Murdoch sons are running Fox. RINO Paul Ryan is running Fox News from his seat on the companys board of directors. And so on.

All of that is false. Total BS. How do I know? Unlike most of the new anti-Fox critics, I actually watch the Fox News Channel (FNC). I take notes. I have monitored the channel closely since its inception 24 years ago. And I have the tapes and digital recordings of Fox News going back to year one  thousands of hours worth  to prove it.

This fake Fox News has moved left meme started about three years ago. I addressed it in several articles at American Thinker in 2019, including here and here.

The fact is that Fox News has never been more conservative than it is right now. In the past, Fox News featured a variety of leftists and non-conservatives on its prime-time schedule. For two decades, Bill OReilly ruled the roost at 8 PM ET. He claimed he is not a conservative  instead, he described himself as a no spin guy who complimented Barack Obama for being a stand-up guy. Also in prime time on the channel starting in 1999 was Paula Zahn, who joined Fox after a stint at CBS News. She went on to host a program at CNN after she left Fox. Megyn Kelly, who outed herself as center-left after she went to NBC in 2017, was another prime time star at Fox News for a number of years prior to jumping ship.

Meanwhile, since the fall of 2017, following a year of turmoil and uncertainty, FNC has had the most rock solid conservative opinion show lineup ever in prime time on any channel, featuring hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham. All three of their (usually) live shows (8-11 PM ET) are repeated for West coast viewers starting at 9 PM PT. On weekends, FNCs superb hosts include Mark Levin (whose Sunday show features the best long form interviews on television), Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, and Greg Gutfeld.

The conservative critics of Fox News cherry pick a limited number of recent incidents and claim that they define FNC, including Melissa Francis shutting down a discussion of George Soros on Outnumbered (Soross influence has been covered at length on Tucker Carlsons and Steve Hiltons programs, among others); the Fox News Decision Desks early election night call of Arizona for Joe Biden  a prediction that held up (subsequently one of the experts who engineered that call has left the channel); and the sudden departure on February 5 of popular Fox Business host Lou Dobbs (reportedly in the works for some time, with one of his time slots given to Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council from 2018 to 2021 and a staunch defender of Donald Trump).

These and other conservative critiques ignore the bigger picture of what Fox News has achieved during its quarter century of challenging the mainstream media and what it is doing now.

A little history

Unfortunately, these days most people still rely on the old media a.k.a., the legacy media or the mainstream media (MSM) for their news. So it has been for the past century. Last year was the 100th anniversary of radio  an important anniversary of broadcasting that I didnt see mentioned anywhere. Radio morphed into TV, and now most videos are being viewed on the Internet. The more that technology advances, the more mediated (filtered and manipulated) the reality it depicts has become.

Commercial television broadcasting that the public could access on home receivers began in the U.S. in 1948, three decades after the introduction of broadcast radio. For the next three decades, there were essentially three TV channels: the mainstream alphabet networks (with PBS added in the 1970s) and their well-funded news departments. Some larger cities had at most six or seven channels. Television news since its inception was always a bit left of center, but the networks and local channels, and the rest of the MSM, still tended to adhere to a modicum of traditional journalistic standards.

There were examples of fake news, however. In 1964, right after Arizonas conservative Senator Barry M. Goldwater won the Republican presidential nomination to run against Lyndon Johnson, CBS Newss chief foreign correspondent Daniel Schorr produced a completely fake news piece that aired nationally on CBS TV. He claimed Goldwater would launch his presidential campaign by traveling to Germany to visit a site associated with Adolf Hitler. Despite the toxic, totally made-up nature of this story, Schorr was not held accountable. He remained with CBS for another decade and a half and then he closed out his career at NPR.

Back then, 50-60 years ago, there was a counterweight to the national MSM  the thousands of local TV and radio stations and newspapers around the country, most of which were independently owned. Many of them were conservative. By the 1980s and 90s with massive corporate consolidation, independent local ownership was becoming a thing of the past. For the most part, meaningful local media competition and independence no longer exist today.

In 1980, CNN  the Cable News Network  began. The brainchild of leftist globalist Ted Turner, it was the first 24/7 live news network. The Gulf War in 1990-1991 brought CNN to sudden international prominence.

In 1996, there was a sea change as two other well-funded players entered the cable news scene: MSNBC came on in July  a collaboration of Microsoft and NBC, hence MSNBC. (Today Microsoft is no longer a part of MSNBC.) In October 1996, the Fox News Channel premiered. It was the first mainstream media outlet that promised to be fair and balanced, while being open to and non-judgmental of conservative viewpoints. Fox News was run by Roger Ailes (a conservative media genius) as part of the communications empire of international conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

In January 2002, Fox News became #1 in the cable news ratings and it held that title for two decades through 2020 until the past month or two. In the calendar year just ended, Fox News had its highest ratings ever as the most-watched cable news channel.

Fox News has always been hated by the left  and the rest of the MSM. But starting in 2018, Fox inspired a legion of new enemies  on the conservative right.

Opposition to Fox News from the right

The conservative opposition to Fox has gained momentum lately. Critics cite the performance and the perceived left-wing bias of hosts Chris Wallace and Neil Cavuto, and the irritants of left side contributors like Juan Williams, Donna Brazile, Marie Harf, Jessica Tarlov, and some others. There have also been a lot of fake allegations made, for example that left-wing Disney is running Fox News  false  or that both of the sons of Rupert Murdoch are running Fox  half-true, only one son is, and hes the more conservative of the two (see below). Conservative critics have also cited RINO former Rep. Paul Ryans appointment to the Fox Corporation Board of Directors in 2019 as a sure sign that he is influencing if not running the channels coverage. That is not exactly how a corporate board works, however.

In fact, five days ago Fox announced a new multi-year contract with Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott. Scott has been with the channel since the beginning and she engineered the schedule change in 2017 that reinforced the conservative opinion hold on prime time.

The conservative critiques of Fox News strike me as ironic and suspicious, because Fox Newss opinion programs, and some of its news shows like Fox & Friends in the morning, and the output of the channel as a whole are bedrock conservative. One example of many: For the first 12 years, Sean Hannity had to share a prime-time marquee program with his leftist counterpart the late Alan Colmes. In January 2009 Hannity went solo with his program Hannity which has been the most-viewed show on FNC for much of the past decade.

In addition, Fox today also has Mark Levin, Jeanine Pirro, Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, Pete Hegseth, Steve Hilton, Tomi Lahren, and a number of conservative contributors like Victor Davis Hanson, Gregg Jarrett, David Webb, and Tammy Bruce. This is an A-list of conservatives in any media.

As much as President Trump has kvetched about Fox News, thats the only place he went on a regular basis for long form interviews. And it was Fox, and not CNN or MSNBC, that showed so many of President Trumps rallies and speeches live in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election.

During the past month under Scotts leadership, Fox News is reinforcing its conservative opinion in early prime and post-prime time. Last month, Fox News moved a news department show  The Story with Martha MacCallum  from 7 PM ET to 3 PM and in its place premiered a new conservative opinion hour, Fox News Primetime. On February 10, Fox News announced that starting this spring, Greg Gutfelds weekend conservative chat show will move to five nights a week at 11 PM ET  kicking another news program, Fox News@Night with Shannon Bream, back an hour to 12 Midnight ET. So now there will be eight continuous hours of conservative opinion shows in the evenings (five new hours in a row and then three that re-air for the West coast).

Almost three years ago, I broke a story at American Thinker based on a high level source who tipped me to an internal battle brewing at the channel between the opinion program hosts and some on-air personalities in the news department. The names that were mentioned were Chris Wallace and Shep Smith. Smith is now gone  to CNBC  but Wallace is still there. But other  in fact, most  people on the news side are very good, for example broadcast news veteran Brit Hume. Meanwhile, conservative opinion hosts are more entrenched than ever.

And for the record, yes, Fox News deserves criticism like everything does when its warranted. Nothing is perfect. I have written around 100 articles about cable news, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN. I have offered criticism when I felt Fox News deserved it. For example, I wrote several articles critical of Juan Williams after he strongly defended Louis Farrakhan.

Tucker Carlson

Any discussion of Fox News in 2021 needs to mention Tucker Carlson. The host of Tucker Carlson Tonight since 2017 at 8 PM ET, Carlson has had three decades of experience in Washington, D.C. as a leading conservative journalist, editor, and publisher, and hes also worked as a host for all three cable news channels. His nightly prime-time Fox News program has become essential viewing, as hes taken on issues and with a depth and a point of view that are closer to the truth than anyone else in the mainstream media. A sign of his success is that forces on the left are constantly trying to get his show boycotted by advertisers or canceled outright. A new campaign to cancel Carlson started on February 10 after he questioned the widely-reported cause of George Floyds death. Carlson also challenged the article of faith that held that the US Capitol Police officer who died the day after the January 6th incursion was killed by a protester. Carson said his staffs investigations found that the story that the officer was hit in the head by a metal fire extinguisher was fake news.

A strong runner-up in the truth-telling department at Fox News is Sunday night host Steve Hilton. For the past three Sundays, Hiltons The Next Revolution program has presented a trail of evidence linking Dr. Anthony Fauci to the origins of Covid19 at Chinas Institute of Virology lab in Wuhan. (Link to full episodes of The Next Revolution here.)

Conclusion

I would simply suggest to people who are now saying they are finished with Fox News: be careful what you wish for. Its great that One America News and Newsmax are out there  the more competition the better. But they are conservative opinion channels with limited reach  not full-service mainstream news channels. If thats your cup of tea, fine. But in terms of Fox, dont throw the baby out with the bath water. Meanwhile, Newsmaxs new fans must have been disappointed recently when the channel awkwardly shut down MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell as he insisted on discussing reports of fraud in the 2020 election.

Its also useful to keep in mind that conservative podcast hosts and online publications that are demanding that people boycott Fox News are essentially in competition with Fox News. Has anyone thought about that? They want viewers (and readers of Fox News dot com) to ditch Fox News and instead pay attention to  and support  them and their advertisers.

Theres one other thing: Two years ago, Fox News started a separate competitively priced subscription-based online streaming channel, Fox Nation. In October 2018, I described the announcement of Fox Nation here. The content is almost totally conservative, including documentaries, hard-hitting investigations (including by 60 Minutes alumna Lara Logan), programs honoring American history, and Bible study shows. Critics of Fox News on the right never mention Fox Nation.

Finally, according to Deadline (February 9), during an earnings call with Wall Street analysts, Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch had this to say about Fox News:

The success of Fox News throughout its entire history has been to provide the absolute best news and opinion for a market we believe is firmly center-right. . . [The center-right] is exactly where we should be targeted. We dont need to go further right. We dont believe America is further right. And were obviously not going to pivot left. All of our significant competitors are to the far left. So, well stick where we are. . . With that, well see a return to our ratings dominance.

I dont know what the future holds  for Fox News or for anything else. But in my opinion, Fox News as a mainstream complement to many other sources of news does not deserve to be totally shut out by people who think for themselves  at least not now.

Corrections: date of Fox News becoming number one corrected; host who shut down discussion of George Soros corrected.
According to a Tweet published by DIMDEX on February 14, 2021, the second of the four Doha-class corvettes for the Qatari Navy built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, the "Damsah" F 102 was launched on February 13, 2021, during a ceremony at the Fincantieri-Muggiano shipyard in Italy.

According to a Tweet published by DIMDEX on February 14, 2021, the second of the four Doha-class corvettes for the Qatari Navy built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, the "Damsah" F 102 was launched on February 13, 2021, during a ceremony at the Fincantieri-Muggiano shipyard in Italy.

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The official launching of the second Doha-class corvette Damsah for the Qatari Navy. (Picture source DIMDEX)

The official ceremony was attended by the Major General Mubarak Mohammed A.K. Al-Khayarin, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Logistics Affairs for Qatar Armed Forces, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, Italian Navy Maritime Commander of Area North, and Giuseppe Giordo, general manager of the naval vessel division of Fincantieri Shipyard.

In August 2017, Qatar has confirmed an order of seven vessels from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri following the signing of a preliminary contract in June 2016. The order included four air defense corvettes of over 100 meters in length, one amphibious vessel (LPD - Landing Platform Dock acting as a mobile radar station for the corvettes), and two patrol vessels (OPV - Offshore Patrol Vessel)The new multi-role corvette for the Qatari was unveiled during DIMDEX, a naval defense exhibition that was held in Qatar on March 2018. The first Doha-class corvette Al Zubarah was launched in February 2020.

The Doha-class corvette has a length of 107 meters, a beam of 14.70 meters, and a displacement of 3,250 tons. The ship is powered by a combined diesel and diesel turbine plant (CODAD) and can reach a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) She accommodate 112 persons on board, of whom 98 of the crew.

The Doha-class corvette is armed with one OTO Melara 76 mm gun, 16 Aster 30 Block 1NT surface-to-air missiles, eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, two Leonardo Marlin-WS 30 mm cannon remote-controlled weapon stations, and one RIM-116 Rolling Airframe anti-ship missile system.

The Doha-class is capable of operating high-speed boats such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern. The flight deck and hangar are sized for hosting one NH90 naval helicopter.

He's the controversial 'relationship expert' on Channel Nine's Married At First Sight, whose matchmaking skills leave much to be desired.

And on Sunday, John Aitken shared a rare insight into his own relationship as he shared a sweet tribute to his wife-of-14-years, Kelly Swanson-Roe.

Uploading a photo to his social media, the 50-year-old looked happier than ever as he cuddled up to his wife as they posed for a happy snap.

So sweet! Married At First Sight expert John Aiken [both pictured] offered fans a rare glimpse into his private life as he shared a sweet tribute to his wife Kelly for Valentine's Day on Sunday

In the photo, John is seen beaming alongside his glamorous wife.

'#MyValentine,' he wrote alongside the post.

The couple recently celebrated their 14-year wedding anniversary.

At least his marriage worked out! The couple recently celebrated their 14-year wedding anniversary

John and Kelly share two children: son Aston, eight, and daughter Piper, five.

He told 9Honey that the secret to their successful union was keeping his home and work lives completely separate.

'Right from the word go she said, "I don't want a therapist  cut the psychobabble,"' he said.

Family: John and Kelly share two children, son Aston, eight, and daughter Piper, five

John first saw Kelly on television in New Zealand, where she worked as a newsreader.

When they met in person, the relationship developed slowly from a friendship.

'She is a very resilient woman and quite inspiring to be around,' John said. 'Someone whom I look up to and whom I have a lot of respect for.'
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Ian Silverii, the wise-cracking, fast-talking political genius who ran the states largest leftie organization for the past five years, is moving on, which should come as a relief as Colorados ragtag Republicans attempt to get their act together.

Silveriis tenure at ProgressNow Colorado roughly coincided with the presidential election that led to Donald Trumps victory in 2016 and QAnon believer Lauren Boeberts election to Congress in 2020  bookends that revved up the liberal base and fattened the organizations coffer with donations.

Silverii, 35, who will stay on at ProgressNow until his successor is hired, says he isnt sure of his next career move.

The group was founded in 2003 as a foil to the Independence Institute, which bills itself as free-market and libertarian. Independence Institute President Jon Caldara  who, like Silverii, is a political jester  believes ProgressNow has helped turn Colorado into California.

But Caldara also ripped conservatives.

Progressives have taken control of all levels of power in state government as well as all urban areas because they and their financial backers think in terms of decades and about getting changes in policy, Caldara said. Conservatives have let this happen because they and their financial backers think in terms of only the next election and about getting personalities elected.

Silverii and I became friends after the 2010 election when House Democrats hired Silverii, who had worked on legislative races, as their deputy comms director. We talked all the time because a) I covered the Capitol for The Denver Post, and b) Silverii became my latest pro bono tech assistant.

Our decade-long friendship has survived ProgressNows unrelenting, over-the-top, vicious attacks on U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican who lost his re-election bid last year, and my run-ins with ProgressNow staffer Alan Franklin, who is even more juvenile and petty than I am, if thats possible.

Silverii and I actually agree on a number of things that I cant share because we confide in each other. But were on the same page when it comes to former Secretary of State Wayne Williams decency, the damage caused by Trumps presidency and how Silveriis son, Davis, might just be the cutest 1-year-old on Facebook.

And then theres our addiction to politics.

Theres nothing in the world like running a campaign and winning one, Silverii said. Theres a flood of serotonin to your brain thats incredibly hard to get elsewhere.

Silverii moved to Colorado in 2007 after graduating from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he loaded up on political science classes at the end. He grew up in New Jersey, which explains his habit of frequently using the F-word whether in complimentary or attack mode.

It is the most flexible word in the English language, he said.

Silveriis first win was in 2008 when he ran Rep. Gwyn Greens reelection campaign. The young Jew  Silveriis grandparents were Holocaust survivors  became close friends with the older Catholic public servant billed as the fighting Granny. He was inconsolable when Green died in 2018.

After Green's success in 2008, 2010 was a much tougher year for Democrats, in part because of concerns over President Obamas health care plan. Led by Reps. Frank McNulty and Amy Stephens, the GOP wrestled control of the state House by a one-vote margin.

I was convinced my short career in politics was over, said Silverii, who was the deputy director of the House effort to elect Democrats.

Instead he got the comms job and began aiming barbs at McNulty and other Republicans.

House Democrats took back the majority in 2012 and hold it to this day. When Boulder Democrat Dickey Lee Hullinghorst was nominated speaker by her caucus two days after the 2014 election, she tapped Silverii as her chief of staff.

It wasnt a perfect fit. Silverii developed stomach problems and his weight dropped to 145 pounds.

It was the best-worst job I had ever had, Silverii said. Im not a policy wonk, Im a campaign guy.

ProgressNow hired Silverii as its executive director in 2016.

The year after its founding, the organization pulled off an enormous upset, helping Democrats in 2004 win both the state House and Senate for the first time since 1960. But over the years, ProgressNows influence was questioned. A 2014 story in 5280 magazine by respected political reporter Eli Stokols asked, After playing a key role in turning Colorado blue, are the states best-known liberal hell-raisers losing their mojo?

Silverii inherited a two-member staff, including Franklin, and began hiring people to bridge the gap between the progressive nonprofit community and the new activists who were calling themselves the resistance.

Along the way, Silverii met another young Democrat, Colorado native Brittany Pettersen. He was outside the Capitol in late December 2009 when he encountered a really cold blonde in a big puffy ski jacket who was holding a clipboard.

She asked, Do you have a moment to Save the Children?  Silveri recalled. I took one look at her and just knew, right there. We stood in the light snow and talked for a few hours and she gave me her number.

That night he called his mother in New Jersey to say, I just met the woman Im going to marry. Seven years later they tied the knot at the governors mansion in front of a whos who of Democrats. By that time, Pettersen was a state representative from Lakewood. She was elected state senator in 2018 as part of the bluest wave to hit Colorado since the Depression.

When Silverii called to let me know that he was leaving ProgressNow and the news would be announced in a few days, I assumed he was going to work full time on his latest hobby: cooking.

He makes bagels and breads, and his smoked and marinated meats are so good that the couples babysitter recently sent home a note with Davis: Do you guys have a recipe you might be willing to share on the ribs & brisket that Davis brings? It looks and smells amazing!

Silverii always joked to Republicans that if they wanted to take him out of the political arena they should invest in a cooking startup for him. But, he said, that will continue to be his hobby, not his next job.

After his announcement, I reached out to conservatives for their thoughts on Silverii. Many asked, Whats he really going to do? One declined to comment, saying, I hate the bastard.

Kelly Maher, vice president of marketing for Caucus Room, a social media site for conservatives, used to appear on 9News with Silverii, providing the right-left perspective on political issues.

Ian has been a good friend and a worthy adversary over the years. We don't agree on much when it comes to politics but we agree on a lot when it comes to life, she said. I am a better person because Ian made me so.

I have to agree.
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As part of the ongoing disinfection of police facilities nationwide, the Bono East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police DCOP Asumadu Okyere Darko has disclosed that the region is currently processing 52 people to court over breaches of the Covid-19 safety protocols.



According to DCOP Darko, the 52 people were arrested because they failed to abide by the various safety protocols and are made up of 48 males and four female whose statement were taken and were later granted bail.



The police commander said the region is not relenting in it effort of enforcing the safety protocols of Covid-19.



After embarking on education and synthesization programmes about the need to follow the safety protocols, there were no other option than to enforce it hence their arrest, " he stated.



DCOP Darko revealed this statement to the media during the 2nd phase of nationwide disinfection of police facilities in Techiman, the regional capital of Bono East.



He said with the rising cases of the Coronavirus, the police administration saw the need to engage the waste management expert Zoomlion Ghana Limited to disinfect all police installations nationwide.



DCOP Darko said the region is made up of five divisions; Yeji, Atebubu, Kintampo, Techiman and Nkronsa, and the disinfection exercise is taken place in all these divisions.



He pledge the service readiness in the region to avail all their facilities for the disinfection exercise.



On his part, the Regional Manager for Zoomlion Ghana Limited for the Bono East Region, Mr George Manu said the exercise is taken place in 147 police installations, the Regional Police Command, all the five divisions, all districts police stations, barracks, police posts and rented private residents.



Mr Manu said the police are considered as one of the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19, hence the need for the disinfection.



He appealed to residents in the region to strictly adhere to the wearing of nose mask, washing of hands, practicing of social distancing and other safety protocols.



Background



Since the inception of Coronavirus in Ghana, the Police Administration together with their personnel have played a critical role in ensuring that citizens followed Government's approved protocols in other to be saved from contracting and spreading the virus.



The police administration is one of the agencies that is so much involved in making sure that people are safe and secure against this Covid-19 pandemic.



Base on the leading role the police played in the fight of Covid-19, the President together with the police administration thought it wise to protect personnel from contracting the virus by disinfecting all their facilities to enable them live a healthy life and be able to ensure that they carry out their legitimate duties of enforcing the restrictions.

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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Amazon orders appear to be largely unaffected by the new trading arrangements. (Aaron Chown/PA)

An SDLP MLA ordered First Minister Arlene Foster the book Brexit & Ireland to highlight that Amazon packages are being delivered to Northern Ireland.

South Belfast MLA Matthew OTooles effort came after DUP leader Mrs Foster claimed that both nationalists and unionists are suffering from Amazon delivery problems.

While the UK left the EU in January, Northern Ireland has remained in the EU's single market for goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol, meaning some checks are required on specific items moving from Great Britain into the region.

This has meant the creation of the de-facto border down the Irish Sea.

Read More

Amazon, however, appears to have escaped major disruption to supplies to Northern Ireland.

It is understood that the only items Amazon has had issues with shipping to Northern Ireland are beers, wines and spirits as there is concern excise duty will have to be paid twice on shipments of alcohol which are sent from GB across the Irish Sea.

Mr OTooles highlighted his Amazon experiment on Twitter on Friday, after the book he bought for Mrs Foster was delivered to her Enniskillen constituency office 36 hours after he placed the order.

He tweeted: For some reason they couldn't complete the delivery (in fairness the office will be closed like all MLA offices).

But the package got there. This isn't to be facetious but to correct the notion some politicians would have you believe we are close to a Berlin airlift.



Expand Close SDLP MLA Matthew OToole / Facebook

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Most frustratingly of all, Ive had to shop on Amazon.

Update on NI Amazon packages, which according to FM aren't getting to either 'Unionists or Nationalists' (unclear re Others)



I ordered @DUPleader a book on Amazon. It arrived at her constituency office in just over 36 hours.... pic.twitter.com/fBCHUySTaR  Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) February 12, 2021

However, Mr OTooles stunt was criticised by Environment Minister Gordon Lyons, who is responsible for border checks.

The DUP MLA took over from Edwin Poots, who was forced to step down from the role due to health reasons.

Mr Lyons stated: So this book made its way to Fermanagh so that means everything is ok. Total failure to recognise the real problems that exist. Condescending and belittling those who are struggling.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-15 06:04:02|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Former Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem died on Sunday at the age of 90 following heart complications, local media reported.

The former president died at the Los Arcos hospital in the city of Buenos Aires, where he had recently been admitted.

Menem, a member of the Justicialist Party that was founded in 1946, served as president between July 8, 1989 and Dec. 10, 1999. His first presidential term ran from 1989 to 1995 and he was re-elected for a second four-year term.

He also served as a national senator for the province of La Rioja from 2005 until his death.

The current President Alberto Fernandez said of Menem on Twitter: "With deep regret, I learned of the death of Carlos Saul Menem. Always elected in a democracy, he was governor of La Rioja, president of the nation, and a national senator." Enditem
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 14, 2021) visited Kerala and said that the Centre is undertaking many efforts to improve tourism-related infrastructure in the southern state.

PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various projects in Kochi and said, "The inauguration of Sagarika, the International Cruise Terminal in Kochi is one example of this. Sagarika Cruise Terminal brings both comfort and convenience for tourists. It will cater to over a lakh cruise guests."

The govt of India is undertaking many efforts to improve tourism-related infrastructure in Kochi. The inauguration of Sagarika - the International Cruise terminal in Kochi - is an example. Sagarika Cruise Terminal brings both comfort & convenience for tourists. - PM Modi pic.twitter.com/jYxctQcAZd  BJP (@BJP4India) February 14, 2021

The Prime Minister started his speech by greeting 'Namaskaram Kochi, Namaskaram Kerala' and expressed that the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' is wonderful as always.

"Being among you all makes me very happy. Today we have gathered here to celebrate development. Development of Kerala and India. The works being inaugurated today cover a wide range of sectors. They will energise the growth trajectory of India," said PM Modi.

He asserted that Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP), inaugurated today, will help strengthen India's journey towards being Aatmanirbhar as it will save foreign exchange.

Today, we dedicate to the nation the Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical complex of the Kochi refinery. This project will help strengthen our journey towards becoming Aatmanirbhar. - PM @narendramodi #NamaskaramModi pic.twitter.com/Trz5EArKd1  BJP (@BJP4India) February 14, 2021

"Kochi is a city of trade and commerce. The people of this city understand that time is of the essence. They also appreciate the importance of proper connectivity. That is why the dedication of Ro-Ro Vessels to the nation is special," said PM Narendra Modi.

He further informed that a distance of almost thirty kilometres on road becomes three point five kilometres through waterways.

"This means convenience up, commerce up, capacity building up, congestion down, pollution down and transport costs down," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister also outlined India's plan for the development of the Blue Economy and said, "Our vision and work in this sector include: more ports, improving infrastructure in current ports, ff-shore energy, sustainable coastal development and Coastal connectivity."

He said that the work is underway to make India a hub for sea-food exports.

My speech at a programme in Kochi, Kerala. https://t.co/6uPmgDtThd  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

Prime Minister Modi stated that Budget 2021 has devoted significant resources and schemes that will benefit Kerala.

"This includes the next phase of the Kochi Metro," he said.

Referring to India's spirited response to the COVID-19 outbreak, PM Modi recounted the Government's effort to help Indian diaspora especially in the Gulf.

He said that India is proud of its diaspora in the Gulf and also thanked various Gulf nations for their sensitive approach to the government of India's effort to get released several Indians who were in prisons there.

"Gulf kingdoms responded to my personal appeals and took special care of our community. They are giving priority to the return of Indians to the region. We have set up air bubbles to facilitate that process. Indians working in the Gulf should know that the full support of my Government is there to ensure their welfare," PM Modi said.

India is proud of its diaspora in the gulf. It has been an honour for me to be able to spend time with them. Over 50 lakh Indians came back home under the Vande Bharat Mission during the pandemic and several of them were from Kerala. - PM @narendramodi #NamaskaramModi pic.twitter.com/ienaYVE5IR  BJP (@BJP4India) February 14, 2021

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If you live in India, 14th February must have had a special significance. And it's not just because of the greeting cards, flowers, and chocolates.

In fact, it is all of that, peppered with fear.

Why fear, you ask? Well, that's how it works in this 'sanskari' country. The flutter in every teenager's heart for their crush has often been replaced by a cold shiver down their spine when they think of the consequences of their romance if they who-should-not-be-named finds out. And often, it's not just their parents.

And over the years, while the world celebrated Valentine's Day, India didn't. But then, how can we not celebrate when the world is celebrating, right? Therefore, to compensate, there came along many other 'days'.

1. Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas, or Mother-Father 'Puja' Day

In 2012, Asaram Bapu gave the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadava the idea that Valentine's day should be celebrated as 'Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas.'

The aim was simple - to inspire the youth and free them from the awful, morally paralyzing influence of evil 'western customs'.

However, while this was just a piece of advice, this turned into a legit (and terrifying) reality.

Starting this year, Rajasthan schools will be celebrating 'Matri-Pitri Pujan Diwas.'

An order which was issued stated that on this 'special day', parents would be invited to the schools where their wards would honor them. They would also get an opportunity to spend some time on the school campus and interact with teachers.

Imagine finding the courage to walk up to your crush and handing them a rose, only to turn around and find your parents giving you a disappointed glare. Major oops!

2. Black Day

Shiv Sena activists including Bal Thackeray, had said Valentine's Day should be observed as 'black day' as Bhagat Singh and two other freedom fighters were awarded the death sentence on the day in 1931.

Claiming that a section of "misguided" youth celebrates the occasion as "love day" under the influence of western culture, the outfits even organized functions in 2016 to honour these martyrs.

The outfit claimed that the trio were awarded death sentence in the Lahore conspiracy case on February 14, 1931 even though they were hanged on March 23 later that year.

"Ashleelta nahi shaleenta' (civilised behaviour, not vulgarity) should be the hallmark of February 14," they had added.

So this February 14, you can take your pick between patriotism or personal. Both require selfless love anyway.

3. Lathi Puja

Ahead of Valentines Day in 2018, members of Shiv Sena in Muzaffarnagar conducted a 'lathi puja' and declared that the sticks would come in handy to "teach a lesson" to couples being affectionate in public.

Dozens of members of the party including its senior leaders organized the ritual at its office in Prakash Chowk in the city, and announced they would go out on the streets to stop "celebrations" on February 14 in public places, and will continue it next year, which brings us to another day instead of Valentine's day you can celebrate in 2019!

"Celebration of Valentine's Day increases the occurrence of love jihad. This is not our culture. Our people will be deployed in parks and schools. If we find someone in an objectionable position, we will teach him a lesson," Lokesh Saini a member of the party had said.

Well, at least now you have a list of where not to go.

4. Disciplinary Day

This isn't as much of a legitimate 'celebration' as it is the opposite of it. Lucknow University in 2018 issued an advisory to its students to not to roam inside the premises of the university on Valentine's Day, else disciplinary action would be taken against whosoever is found violating the advisory.

Discipline, it seems, is the way to really deal with your love.

5. Maybe your wedding day?

Whether you're planning on tying the knot soon or not, Bajrang Dal will ensure that if you are caught somehow romancing the love of your life, or well, anyone for that matter, you will be forced to marry them right there, on the spot. No take backs, no refunds.

If you think this sounds a little impossible, well, the Hindutva outfit has that covered. Last year, they even said that they would carry around priests to ensure that any couple who was spotted could instantly be married on the spot.

On the plus side, maybe you could use this as an opportunity to get a free wedding ceremony, if your dream destination wedding is one which involves kicks, punches, tears and absolutely no family what-so-ever. We hope you won't be in Two States about this.

Bonus idea: Sister's Day

While this isn't technically Indian yet, the debatable factor here is 'yet.' A Pakistani university will celebrate Sisters' Day on February 14 to promote "Islamic traditions" starting this year.

Female students can be gifted scarves and Abayahs (clothes) as decided by Vice Chancellor Zafar Iqbal Randhawa of the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad and other decision makers. The vice chancellor of the Unviersity believes it is "compatible with Pakistan's culture and Islam."

Will this be appropriated by India soon? We can't definitively say 'no' for sure.

All these other days, however, bring up a very important and valid point: People will go extreme lengths, call it a series of other names, and do absolutely anything to address what it is known across the world for - Valentine's Day.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 21:52:06|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The top 30 Chinese mobile game publishers reported a surge in revenue last month thanks to their overseas market expansion.

These game developers raked in over 2.3 billion U.S. dollars in worldwide revenues in January, a surge of 47.3 percent year on year, according to Sensor Tower, a mobile app data analysis firm.

The figure accounts for 28.8 percent of the total revenue in the global mobile gaming market during the period, the firm said.

Tencent, NetEase, miHo Yo, Lilith Games and FunPlus are among the top five Chinese developers on the list.

The top eight mobile game releasers are deploying global businesses, and four of them have focused on overseas markets, Sensor Tower said.

The income from overseas markets has become the most powerful growth engine for these Chinese game publishers, it added.

Thirty-six Chinese mobile game developers are on the top 100 list worldwide in terms of earnings in January, said the firm. Enditem
In Week 1, we put a roof over your head and in Week 2, we made it nice to live in. This week, its time to get you connected to essential services, such as power and communications. Basically, were talking electricity, gas, internet and phone  all services where it pays to regularly shop around for the best deals. However, before we start, take a moment to marvel at the wonders of modern technology. No, really. Think about it A century ago, your budget would not be burdened by expenses such as electricity and internet. Youd be living by candlelight; communicating by carrier pigeon. Weve come a long way, baby!

But with that extra technology comes extra costs, which  if youre not careful  can end up costing you unnecessarily. The good news is that todays energy and internet markets are competitive landscapes, with new deals available all the time. When I moved home just over a year ago, I switched from a big energy retailer to a small online player I found at the top of the list of cheapest providers on the federal governments energymadeeasy.gov.au website. If you havent already visited the site: run, do not walk.

The government has done an admirable job of cutting through all the jargon, misleading discounts and complicated tariff structures to enable you to compare the out-of-pocket dollar cost of different suppliers. But its not perfect. In particular, retailers are not prohibited from offering special below-the-line deals  not listed on the site  to potential customers who contact them directly. Sneaky, right? You can use this to your advantage. This week, my continually roving eye landed on an advertisement for a special discount with a major power retailer. I rang to see if it would, indeed, be cheaper. With the help of my last monthly bill, the nice man on the phone did all the work for me and calculated the cost of their plan compared to mine. Turns out, it wasnt as good. But wait, theres more! Is there anything more you can do to get me a cheaper deal? I asked, politely.

Loading Yes, give me a moment, I can probably do better, came the reply. And he did. You really just have to ask, sometimes. Ive come out on a deal with a daily supply charge of 66.3 cents and a usage charge of 22.66 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Be careful! Some retailers will quote you figures including GST (like the above) and some excluding GST, so you have to adjust them to truly compare.

Overall, it works out only about $2 cheaper per month than my old deal. Worth it to switch? Well, given Id already invested the time of calling  about 30 minutes  and given they said theyd organise everything, I figured why not? My money mantra, after all, is dignity in every dollar and its good practice to start playing the field. Look, it can go wrong. Telco companies, in particular, have a way of stuffing things up  interrupting your service, requiring a new modem etc. Hopefully, my lights stay on when the switch occurs later this month. For your telco services, the best place to start shopping around is whistleout.com.au. I used it last year to switch to an NBN 25 Mbps speed, unlimited data plan for $49.90 a month for the first six months, reverting to $59.90 after that. From the looks of it, you can now get as low as $44.90 a month for a similar period, albeit at slightly slower speed.
McConnell told Republican senators shortly before the vote that he would vote to acquit Trump. In a blistering speech after the vote, the Kentucky Republican said the president was practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day but that the Senates hands were tied to do anything about it because Trump was out of office. The Senate, in an earlier vote, had deemed the trial constitutional.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was one of seven Republicans who voted Saturday to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, breaking with most of his party and likely closing the book on a winding and complicated relationship between the two.

Toomey, who is not seeking reelection when his term ends after 2022, was one of 57 total votes in favor of conviction, though that fell short of the two-thirds, or 67, needed to convict Trump, leading to his second impeachment acquittal.

But Toomeys vote added to what was ultimately the most bipartisan Senate vote to convict a president in history, and amounted to a stark condemnation of a president he had supported.

A lawless attempt to retain power by a president was one of the founders greatest fears, Toomey said after the vote, later adding, His betrayal of the Constitution and his oath of office required conviction.

While Trumps defense team argued there was no way to draw a line between his words and the deadly riot, Toomey held Trump directly responsible  both for spreading dishonest claims that he had won the election, and then stirring supporters to action.

President Trump summoned thousands of people to Washington, D.C., inflamed their passions by repeating disproven allegations about widespread fraud, Toomey said. He urged that mob to march on the Capitol for the explicit purpose of preventing Congress and the vice president from formally certifying the results of the presidential election. He did all this to hold on to power despite having legitimately lost.

Toomeys stand stood in sharp contrast to that of most other Pennsylvania Republicans. Eight of the states nine GOP House members supported a challenge to the states electoral votes, and all nine opposed impeachment.

In a sign of a possible backlash at home to come, Pennsylvania GOP chairman Lawrence Tabas said he shared the disappointment of many of our grassroots leaders and volunteers over Toomeys vote.

 READ MORE: First it was fraud, then they just didnt like the rules: How Pa. Republicans justified overturning an election

Every Senate Democrat voted to convict Trump, including Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and New Jersey Sens. Bob Mendez and Cory Booker.

Toomey was one of the few senators whose votes were unclear before Saturdays roll call.

He voted for Trump twice, but signaled for weeks he was open to conviction, saying days after the riot that Trump committed impeachable offenses. He was one of six Republicans who voted to proceed with the trial, rejecting the argument that it is unconstitutional to try a former president.

But as a juror hearing evidence, he said little during the trial and hadnt declared how he planned to vote on the impeachment article itself.

Over the years, Toomey supported the vast majority of Trumps policies. But he also criticized some of the former presidents most incendiary conduct, and made clear his anger at the GOP attempt to throw out Pennsylvanias election results.

Before the attack, Toomey delivered a point-by-point rebuttal of the push by Trump and other Republicans to nullify his states electoral votes. When the Capitol had been cleared and lawmakers returned, protected by security in tactical gear, Toomey directly blamed Trump.

We saw bloodshed, because a demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans, Toomey said that night on the Senate floor.

 READ MORE: Senate acquits Trump in his second impeachment trial, a coda to a tumultuous presidency

Toomey had also called for Trump to resign, much to the ire of some Pennsylvania Republicans, some who condemned Toomey for it  a contrast with the liberal critics who for years said he was too supportive of Trump.

Trumps lawyers said that his speech was protected by the First Amendment, that the trial was unconstitutional, and that Democrats had engaged in equally inciting behavior while lusting after impeachment.

Toomey agreed that Trump had been badly treated by Democrats and the mainstream news media, and that there was a double standard applied to violent conduct on the left. But he said none of that justified Trumps actions.

I was one of the 74 million Americans who voted for President Trump, in part because of the many accomplishments of his administration, Toomey said. Unfortunately, his behavior after the election betrayed the confidence that millions of us had placed in him.

Instead of being remembered for his accomplishments, Toomey added, Trump will be remembered throughout history as the president who resorted to nonlegal steps to try to hold on to power.

 READ MORE: Pat Toomey is ready to work with Joe Biden. A little.

Toomey has long had an uneven relationship with Trump. As he ran for reelection in 2016, Toomey ducked questions about whether he would support Trump until hours before polls closed on Election Day. He pledged to be an independent voice.

Once Trump was in office, Toomey sided with him often in the name of advancing conservative policies. He wrote much of Trumps signature tax cuts and his attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and backed the presidents push to appoint conservative judges. He voted with Trumps position roughly 85% of the time, according to the website FiveThirtyEight. Toomey also opposed Trumps first impeachment, saying the president had behaved inappropriately in pressuring Ukrainian leaders to smear Joe Biden but that his actions didnt meet the high bar for removing a president from office.

But Toomey also criticized some of Trumps personal conduct, including his equivocal response after neo-Nazis clashed with counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, and a tweet urging four Democratic women of color to go back to the crime infested places from which they came.

The riot proved to be the final breaking point.
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Bengaluru, Feb 14 : Expanding its regional network among sellers, e-commerce major Amazon on Sunday announced that sellers will be able to register on the Amazon.in marketplace and manage their online business in Marathi.

"The launch of Marathi breaks the language barrier for lakhs of Indian entrepreneurs, MSMEs, local shops and retailers from Maharashtra to benefit from e-commerce," said a company statement.

Over 85,000 existing Amazon sellers and lakhs of new sellers from tier-I and other markets like Kolhapur, Nashik, Satara, Aurangabad, Solapur, Nagpur, Jalgaon among many cities in Maharashtra will benefit with the launch of seller registrations and account management services in Marathi.

The features range from registering as an Amazon seller for the first time, to managing orders, inventory management and accessing performance metrics, all in Marathi. This experience has been made available on the Amazon seller website as well as on the mobile app. Amazon also provides Seller Support Services and Seller University videos and tutorials in Marathi, it added.

The development follows the recently launched seller registrations and account management services in Hindi, Kannada and Tamil, which saw over 50,000 new Amazon sellers sign up on the Amazon.in marketplace in a language of their convenience.

Pranav Bhasin, Director for MSME & Selling Partner Experience, Amazon India said, "The launch of the vernacular registration and account management experience for sellers in Marathi is a major step in that direction and in line with our pledge to digitize 10 million MSMEs by 2025."
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High hopes are pinned on Vietnams rice exports in 2021 when major export markets such as the Philippines and Africa continue to sign contracts to buy rice from Vietnam,

while many others have great demand for fragrant rice and sticky rice  which are advantageous staples of Vietnamese enterprises.

Rice for export being stockpiled at SongHau Food Company in Can Tho city (Photo: VNA)

The bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries such as the EU-Vietnam and the UK-Vietnam FTAs with preferential tariffs would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese rice to compete with that from rival countries, the Vietnam Food Association said.

According to the Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong, rice shipments to the country this year will sharply rise against 2020. He added more UK firms will purchase Vietnamese rice under the UK-Vietnam FTA, creating a chance for Vietnamese rice to expand its market share in the UK this year.

In 2019, rice exports from Vietnam to the UK had a leap forward with a turnover growth of 376 percent. That meant the UK has great potential as a rice export market for Vietnam.

In order to tap into the advantages under FTAs, rice export giants such as Intimex JSC, Loc Troi Group, VRICE Co, Trung An High Technology Agriculture JSC are planning to seek new customers in markets where Vietnam had signed FTAs, especially in the UK.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it would provide rice export firms with information about the market demand situation in a timely manner while implementing trade promotion activities to help Vietnamese rice exporters better access customers.

Detailed information about the regulations and barriers under these FTAs commitments will be also offered by the ministry so that businesses can improve their understanding and draw up suitable business plans.

As part of its efforts to facilitate Vietnam's rice exports, the VAF has built up online sales channel and participated in online trade seminars to develop the rice industry.

It suggested rice exporters focus on high quality products with good export results, ensuring food hygiene and safety to be able to enter fastidious markets such as Europe, America and Canada.

Experts have said that if Vietnam wants to maintain rice export growth in 2021 it needs to focus on building a complete rice value chain and controlling quality in production, processing, and distribution.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnams rice output totalled 42.8 million tonnes in 2020, down about 0.2 percent because of the shrinkage of some 192,000 hectares in farming areas. However, the productivity rose 50kg per hectare from a year earlier.

The areas of high-grade rice varieties have expanded to 74 percent, compared to 50 percent in 2015, as a result of the countrys efforts in improving the value of the Vietnamese rice.

Thanks to that, the shipments of high-grade rice made up more than 85 percent of the total, resulting in the growth of average rice price from 440 USD per tonne in 2019 to 496 USD per tonne in 2020.

The country exported 6.15 tonnes of rice for 3.07 billion USD last year, down 3.5 percent in volume but up 9.3 percent in value year-on-year.

The Philippines was Vietnam's leading rice importer, making up 34 percent of the total. Rice exports to this market in 2020 reached 2.22 million tonnes and 1.06 billion USD, up 4 percent in volume and 19.3 percent in value compared to 2019.

Other outlets with significant export growth in 2020 were Indonesia, (nearly triple 2019's figure) and China, up 93 percent year-on-year.

VFA Vice Chairman Do Ha Nam described 2020 as a successful year for Vietnams rice exports, which he attributed to increasing demand in many countries and the improved competitiveness of Vietnamese rice around the world.

Amid the difficulties posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rice exporters quickly made appropriate adjustments and actively sought new markets while fully tapping into the advantages brought about by FTAs.

The EU-Vietnam FTA had created a major opportunity for Vietnamese rice to enter European markets and then make inroads into other choosy markets, Nam said./.VNS
Democrats are renewing calls for a September 11-style commission over the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol.

Following Donald Trumps acquittal in his second, historic impeachment trial on Saturday, some lawmakers have urged Congress to initiate a commission to uncover evidence and create a complete narrative of the riots by a pro-Trump mob on 6 January.

Delaware Senator Chris Coons said that a 9/11 commission for the assault would make sure we secure the Capitol going forward and that we lay bare the record of just how responsible and how abjectly violating of his Constitutional oath Trump really was.

He told ABCs This Week on Sunday that theres still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear.

Read more: Follow live updates following Trumps impeachment trial

Madeleine Dean, one of the House impeachment managers who served as prosecutors in the trial, said of course there must be a full commission, an impartial commission, not guided by politics, filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their conviction.

Hundreds were injured, people lost fingers, lost eyesight ... the Capitol was desecrated, people were terrorised, she said.

Tom Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton chaired the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, which sought to assemble a complete account of the preparedness and aftermath of the attacks on 11 September, 2001.

On Friday, Mr Kean and Mr Hamilton wrote to congressional leaders and President Biden, calling for an independent and bipartisan commission to lead a similar investigation for the Capitol attacks.

The 9/11 commissions final report concluded that US intelligence agencies and federal law enforcement failed to anticipate terror threats. The commission took more than two years to complete the report.

In their letter, the former commission chairs wrote: The shocking and tragic assault  requires thorough investigation, to ensure that the American people learn the truth of what happened that day. An investigation should establish a single narrative and set of facts to identify how the Capitol was left vulnerable, as well as corrective actions to make the institution safe again.

Mr Trump was acquitted after just seven Republicans joined all Senate Democrats in finding him guilty of a months-long campaign to undermine the 2020 election, and encourage violence leading up to a powder-keg rally as Congress certified the results.

House impeachment managers secured a vote to bring witnesses in the trial following a statement from Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler about a heated phone call between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Mr Trump during the insurrection.

Democrats argued that additional testimony  and more details about Mr Trumps calls to lawmakers during the assault  would reveal his complicity.

They ultimately backed away from their request, as lawmakers and Mr Trumps defense counsel worked out a last-minute agreement to read Ms Herrera-Beutlers statement into the record.

In her statement, she said: When McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the Capitol. McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters. Thats when, according to McCarthy, the president said: Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.

Subsequent reporting has claimed Mr McCarthy responded to the president: Who the f*** do you think youre talking to?

Impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett told CNN on Sunday that we didnt need more witnesses... we needed more senators with spines.

I think what we did was we got what we wanted, she said. Which is her statement, which is what she said, and had it put into the record, and being able to say it on the record, out loud.

Senator Coons echoed the sentiment: What we all needed was more Republican courage.

Witnesses in a Senate impeachment trial do not take the stand and face senators acting as a jury. In order to begin calling witnesses, Democrats and Republicans would have needed to come together on a bipartisan deal governing the deposition process since any resolution would need to clear the chambers traditional 60-vote threshold.
Just weeks into the rollout of vaccines to combat Covid-19, researchers are shifting their focus to a new class of potential shots to take on the threat posed by fast-spreading mutations.

Dangerous coronavirus variants identified in Africa, Europe and South America are carpeting the globe, pushing scientists in the U.K. and elsewhere to target multiple versions of the pathogen in a single shot and perhaps head off more lethal foes that may emerge.

A variant that arose in South Africa has already shown itself capable of partially evading defenses raised by several vaccines. The country paused rolling out a shot from AstraZeneca Plc because it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate illness cause by the mutant, called B.1.351. With a spreading virus comes an increased risk of more alarming mutations.

We cannot be complacent that weve got the vaccines we need and its just a matter of time to ending the pandemic  its not, said Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which has worked to accelerate development of Covid inoculations. Were in a race with the virus and weve got to get ahead of it.

Britain snapped up huge Covid vaccine supplies early and became the first Western country to approve a shot. Now its seeking to catch up with the outbreak and sustain its momentum in the next phase of the crisis, a difficult task as the virus runs rampant.

Blunted Optimism

The government last week announced a pact with CureVac NV to tackle variants, pairing artificial intelligence to predict future mutations with messenger RNA technology that can rapidly generate new vaccines. After a once-promising partnership with Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc. ended and separate trials with Sanofi ran into delays, London-based GlaxoSmithKline Plc is also working with CureVac on mutant-quelling vaccines.

Meanwhile, countries across the European Union, which has lagged the U.S. and U.K. in immunizations, have raised questions about the blocs strategy on mutants. At a meeting of ambassadors Wednesday, countries including Malta and Germany urged the European Commission to ensure contracts with manufacturers cover sufficient batches if booster shots are needed, according to a cable seen by Bloomberg.

The new variants, including the B.1.1.7 lineage that surfaced in southern England, have blunted the optimism that greeted highly-effective mRNA shots from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. late last year. The variant is likely to be associated with a greater risk of hospitalization and death than earlier versions, according to a report published Friday by the government.

Theres a possibility that B.1.1.7 is dampening host antiviral responses and moving deeper into the lungs more quickly, said Julian Hiscox, a University of Liverpool coronavirus specialist and member of a U.K. advisory group, calling the increased risk of death slight.

If required, companies should be able to quickly redesign their inoculations based on the distinctive spike protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells, according to Michael Kinch, a vaccine specialist at Washington University in St. Louis. While scientists have the tools to keep pace, further mutations call for alternative approaches, he said.

The bad news with these particular variants, and the reason many of us are nervous, isnt that the vaccines will suddenly not work, Kinch said, but that they will slowly become obsolete.

Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have said theyre starting work on developing booster shots or other efforts to bolster their vaccines. AstraZeneca and partner Oxford aim to have a tweaked version tailored to new variants available by fall.

One problem drugmakers confront in the quest for a single shot that covers different strains is that they dont yet know which ones will be the most prevalent in the months to come, according to Andrew Pollard, the lead investigator on the Oxford trials.

We know today which ones you would choose, but the virus is likely to continue to evolve under pressure from human immunity and so that could change over time, he said.

Researchers are considering a number of ways to overcome the challenges. Another strategy involves including a variety of antigens, the molecules in the vaccine that provoke an immune response, Kinch said. Although the spike protein has proven to be a good target, other surface proteins in the viruss envelope and membrane could turn out to be important, too.

Almost Job Done

Vaccines based on the spike protein are the first out the door, said Hiscox, the University of Liverpool professor. The next round could add the N  or nucleocapsid  protein, whose job is to bind viral RNA, he said. With both S and N proteins, thats almost job done, he said.

Traditional methods that use the virus itself in a weakened or inactivated form and provide a broader choice of potential targets  like those used by some Chinese developers including Sinovac Biotech Ltd.  could also play a more significant role, Kinch said.

CEPI, the Oslo-based group that has funded a number of Covid vaccine programs, has set a goal of developing strain changes within 100 days if needed, Hatchett said. Pfizers partner BioNTech SE has said that if their vaccine turns out to be ineffective against a new strain, they could, in theory, produce an updated shot targeting that variant within six weeks.

For years, multivalent flu vaccines targeting three or four versions of the pathogen have provided protection against multiple strains circling the globe. Glaxo and CureVac plan to rely on mRNA technology to develop a product that addresses multiple variants in one Covid vaccine. If the work is successful, a vaccine could be ready next year.

That could still have a big impact given how many countries lack access to vaccines, said Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer for Glaxos vaccines unit. One of the big flu vaccine suppliers, Glaxo is used to altering vaccines quickly, he said.

Following partnerships with the U.K. and Glaxo, CureVac has been approached by other governments, said Mariola Fotin-Mleczek, its chief technology officer.

The virus will mutate further, and therefore we need to re-invest now, she said.

Some scientists, including a team at the University of Cambridge, are exploring vaccines that could protect against multiple coronaviruses to prepare for future pandemics. Backed by U.K. funding, the Cambridge group is developing technology that could be plugged into any platform to fight multiple variants and other coronaviruses, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Theyre planning to start human trials in the spring.

Pressure Rises

We need to bring on the next generation that are going to work against not only these variants, but the next pandemic, said Jonathan Heeney, the Cambridge professor leading the study.

Combinations are another avenue drugmakers are pursuing. Oxford is launching a trial bringing AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines together to determine whether two shots of different products yield better results. Russia also plans a study mixing the Astra vaccine with its Sputnik V shot.

As the work progresses, the pressure is rising. New strains could make it more difficult to achieve a sufficient level of immunity needed to get control of the virus, Hatchett said.

Every responsible observer is concerned about what were seeing. Were going to get an awful lot of mileage out of the vaccines that we have, he said. But we also need to be ready.

(CNN)The final five-time champion of "Jeopardy!" while Alex Trebek was still host died unexpectedly last week, according to a statement from his mother.

Brayden Smith, of Las Vegas, was 24 years old when he died on February 5. The family did not release the cause of death.

"We are so grateful that Brayden was able to live out his dream on @jeopardy," Smith's mother, Debbie, tweeted Friday morning.

Smith won $117,798 on the program, with his final appearance taking place in Alex Trebek's final week on the air. The shows were recorded in October and Trebek died of pancreatic cancer November 8.

Smith's six episodes were broadcast December 15-18 and January 5-6.

"I'm really grateful for everything, all the opportunities that I had," he said in a video posted on the Jeopardy website. "I'm just glad that we were able to do it and I'm glad I was able to show what I was capable of."

Smith was an intern with the Cato Institute in Washington, according to the obituary his family provided to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and he had planned to attend law school to become a government attorney.

"He was a voracious reader and autodidact, a lover of knowledge and an advocate for justice," the obituary read.

Smith was a 2020 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant," the producers of "Jeopardy!" tweeted Friday. "Our deepest condolences go out to Brayden's family."

In the video about his time on the show, Smith said he was looking forward to appearing on a Jeopardy tournament of champions.

"The tournament of champions was my favorite tournament every year since I was a kid," he said. "These people are some of my trivia idols."
It is a different format, a bit like a poker game. If you want a chair at the table, you put up your money and see what happens.

Standardbred owner Brad Grant may not have had a direct stake in Venerate, winner of the inaugural Mohawk Million last September, but his six-figure buy-in for the starting slot which Venerate ultimately occupied undoubtedly proved to yield a favourable investment.

Grant, along with eight others, ponied up $100,000 (U.S.) last February for the rights to a spot on the starting gate in the Mohawk Million, a brand new race for two-year-old trotters contested at Mohawk Park. Unlike most races, which require specific horses to be nominated, the buy-in model allowed for slot owners to declare a horse of their own, sell the slot to other connections, or broker a deal with outside connections  as Grant did with Venerates group.

I reached out to the people with Venerate, and this was before he won the Kentucky Sire Stakes final at The Red Mile in Lexington (Ky.), Grant, who purchased one of the nine spots in the Million in hopes of having a top rookie trotter, told the Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator. I believed he was the best colt out there, and we came to an agreement about the spot.

Venerate, whom Andy McCarthy drove for trainer Julie Miller and the ownership group of the Pinske Stables and Andy Miller Stable Inc., won the Million  and the winners share of the $1 million (U.S.) purse  in 1:53.2. And, results aside, Grant feels the Million is sure to build even more momentum in its second renewal  not just for itself, but for the other kingpin in Canadian rookie trotting events: the William Wellwood Memorial, the winner of which gains the tenth and final spot in the Million at no cost.

It is not inexpensive, but Im sure it led more people to try to race in the Wellwood in the hope of getting a free spot into the Million, Grant said.

Declarations for slots in the 2021 Mohawk Million  selling at $100,000 (Canadian)  close Monday (Feb. 15), and its likely that the interest will turn out to be the same  or greater  than the races successful inaugural run.

It worked out great for me because he won, Grant said. But regardless, it was a great format, a great event, and I see no reason why it will not be so again.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Troops have found the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens abducted by Kurdish insurgents in a cave complex in northern Iraq, the Turkish defense minister said Sunday.

Hulusi Akar said 12 of the victims were shot in the head and one died of a shoulder bullet wound. They were discovered in the Gara region near the Turkish border during an operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, launched on Feb. 10.

Operation Claw-Eagle 2 led to the deaths of 48 PKK militants, including three senior members, and the capture of two insurgents, Akar said.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Guler said the operation covered an area of 75 kilometers by 25 kilometers (47 miles by 15 miles), one of the largest areas to be targeted in recent campaigns against the PKK.

In searches of a cave, which was taken under control after intense clashes, the bodies of 13 of our abducted citizens were found, Akar said from an operations center in Sirnak on the Turkish side of the border.

The victims had been killed at the start of the operation to seize the cave complex, Akar said, adding that all the terrorists in the cave have been neutralized.

The identity of the Turkish citizens was not revealed and Akar said their kidnapping had not previously been disclosed due to security reasons.

There was no immediate statement from the PKK on the killings.

Officials said the underground cave system, which had three entrances and nine separate chambers, was manned by ten insurgents, two of whom were captured before the cave was stormed by Turkish troops.

Ammunition stores and PKK bases in the mountainous region were destroyed in the operation, which deployed air strikes and helicopter-borne soldiers. The PKK uses bases in northern Iraq to launch cross-border attacks against Turkey.

Three Turkish troops died during the operation and three others were wounded, Akar said.

Ruling party spokesman Omer Celik said the hostage killings were an attack on all humanity while Devlet Bahceli, who leads a nationalist party allied to the government, described the incident as like a fireball that has crashed on the nation's hearts.

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu offered his condolences to those killed by the treacherous terrorist organization.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union, began an insurgency in Turkeys majority Kurdish southeast region in 1984.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-13 22:08:22|Editor: huaxia

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Members of the Republican National Guard arrive to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Lisbon, Portugal, on Feb. 13, 2021. Portugal started vaccinating the country's security forces on Saturday, with around 20,000 people scheduled to be immunized over the next three weeks. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

LISBON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Portugal started vaccinating the country's security forces on Saturday, with around 20,000 people scheduled to be immunized over the next three weeks.

"In this first phase, essentially two priorities were defined: vaccinating people who have a higher risk of infection and vaccinating people who are essential to protect in order to protect us," said Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who was present at the headquarters of the Republican National Guard (GNR) in Lisbon.

According to the prime minister, both the GNR and the Public Security Police "have been indispensable to manage this pandemic since the beginning."

Costa also announced that "all those over 80 and over 50 years old who have a risk disease" have been vaccinated, as well as "health personnel, considered a priority to face the pandemic."

He said that Portugal, with a population of 10.3 million, hopes to achieve the goal of vaccinating 1.4 million people by the beginning of April.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is also underway in some other countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 242 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Tuesday. Enditem

Leo Varadkar said he has contacted Gardai through his solicitors after they launched an investigation into his leaking of a confidential document.

The Tanaiste has denied any wrongdoing, and offered meet with Gardai to answer any questions they may have.

The controversy relates to the leaking of a GP contract for the Irish Medical Organisation to the head of a rival group by Mr Varadkar in 2019, while he was taoiseach.

My legal advice is that I have committed no offence. I look forward to the matter being concluded. Leo Varadkar

It is understood the investigation arose following a complaint from an employee in the Department of Health.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said: The gardai have to do their job and investigate that complaint. I would expect nothing else.

They have not been in contact with me about the matter, but I have, through my solicitors, made contact with them and I have offered to meet with them, answer any questions they may have, and provide a statement on the matter.

The facts are no different to those set out by me in the Dail last November.

My legal advice is that I have committed no offence. I look forward to the matter being concluded.

Given the circumstances, I wont be making any further comment.

Earlier on Sunday, the Health Minister has said he will co-operate with a Garda investigation into matter if asked.

Stephen Donnelly said he was not made aware of a complaint from a whistleblower in his department that has prompted the Garda investigation.

He said he has not been approached to speak to Gardai, but will do so if asked.

I think a complaint has been made to the guards, they're looking into it, and I think we need to let them just get on with their inquiries. Stephen Donnelly

On Sunday, Mr Donnelly said no one in his department had made him aware of a complaint to Gardai.

He told RTEs The Week in Politics: Im not aware of anything like that.

I think a complaint has been made to the guards, theyre looking into it, and I think we need to let them just get on with their inquiries.

He added: The first I heard about it was was it being reported through the media.

Asked if he had been approached by the Gardai, Mr Donnelly said: No, I havent. Obviously I will, it goes without saying, if they do.

This did happen I think, quite some time before I came into came into the role. But needless to say, I will if theyre looking for anything.

A spokesperson for the Gardai said: An Garda Siochana has received correspondence which is currently being assessed to determine what if any Garda action is required.

An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time.

Expand Close Stephen Donnelly has said he will cooperate with the Garda investigation if asked (Julien Behal/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stephen Donnelly has said he will cooperate with the Garda investigation if asked (Julien Behal/PA)

Mr Varadkar has previously admitted to giving a copy of the document to his friend Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, who at the time was president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), a rival of the IMO, in April 2019.

The Fine Gael leader came under fire for passing the documents, regarding a GP pay deal with the Irish Medical Organisation to a rival organisation.

The Government won a confidence motion in Mr Varadkar on the issue by 92 votes to 65 in October last year.

The Tanaiste said he recognised his actions were not best practice, but insisted he had nothing personally to gain from the leak and said he did so in order to secure backing for the deal from all GPs.
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel thinks the COVID measures put in place by the government of Jamaica is just another means of basic domination of the masses and Slavery 2.0 as he calls it in a recent Instagram post.

Adidja Azim Palmer, aka Vybz Kartel, has always been the outspoken type and a well-known advocate for the inner city folks that are usually overlooked in society. He posted a video clip a few days ago of a woman expressing perplexity regarding the current curfew hours. This comes on the heels of the latest announcement from the Prime Minister to tighten the curfew hours.

Due to the increased number of cases reported across the island, the curfew will now commence at 8:00 p.m. instead of 10:00 p.m. nightly and end at 5:00 a.m. the following morning. The new changes took effect on Wednesday (February 10) and will end on February 24, 2021.

In the IG clip Kartel shared, the woman said, The curfew a foolinish  Corona nuh walk a day? A daytime everybody bungle up, is a mess in a town. Night time we fi leave the road, why? Corona nuh walk a night? asking her questions rhetorically to drive her point that implementing a curfew at night will not affect the change in the spread of the virus.

Vybz on the other hand had a different rationalization and posted his answer to the very question she asked.

Answer: Because the system run by Bakras & Boasty Slaves Puppets for the western powers  & overall common criminals. He said, to insinuate that the local government was just following suit to a higher command, the western world (Europe, Northern America and Australasia) and in the process have positioned themselves like common criminals in their own society by holding back the people and restricting their livelihood.

He explained this further, When is not limiting access to education, employment, basic stuff like roads electricity & running water, or even our pursuit of wealth, its limiting we very physical movement, disrupting the ppls economic lifeline.

This the deejay sums up as basic domination of the Masses. Slavery 2.0. A traitor dem!

Though the Worl Boss tends to keep things light on social media, typically groveling in his own music and the fans reaction to it, every now and then you can expect him to tap into whats going on in the streets and fully speak his mind on any injustice he feels needs his input.

His latest track, Force with Sikka Rymes dropped on Thursday and is available for streaming, watch it here-
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said it will take three weeks to carry out the vaccination of the over-85 age group against Covid-19.

He said that the next seven days will mark an important week in the fight-back against the virus, with the further roll-out of the vaccination programme to the general population.

The first phase of the vaccination programme had focused on long term residential care and on frontline health care workers.

Under the next phase which begins tomorrow, just over 70,000 people over the age of 85 who havent yet been vaccinated, will receive the jab.

"It will take three weeks. This coming week, there will be about 20,000 vaccines distributed to 84 GP practices, the largest practices, that will be in about 20 counties, Mr Donnelly said.

The following week, the programme will be ramped up further, getting to another 384 practices. On the week of March 4, the balance of the practices will receive their deliveries of the vaccine.

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He said GPs have started contacting the people on their books to organise for them to come in.

Meanwhile, Mr Donnelly said that it is too early be able to give accurate predictions as to when the country can exit Level 5 restrictions.

"I think what we are dealing with here is the challenge of an awful lot of uncertainty."

He said that a briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had informed him that about seven in every 10 of the new cases, are the UK variant of the virus.

"We know that its much more aggressive. So there are two things happening here at the same time. We have got this much more contagious variant in the country, but at the same time we are rolling out a vaccination programme with highly effective vaccines.

"So, specifically what month different parts of the economy will be able to open up at this point is certainly difficult to say, but for the moment, certainly the public health advice to me and to Government is unambiguous which is, the case numbers, while very, very good and steady progress is being made, the case numbers are still very high.

He pointed out that Nphet is forecasting that if we manage to continue suppressing the virus at the rate we have been, that we could be somewhere between 200-400 cases a day by the end of February.

"We need to keep pushing down much more than that before we can begin to very, very carefully open up.

Speaking on RTEs This Week radio programme, the Minister was asked about how long more are we going to be living under Level 5 restrictions.

"I think thats the six million dollar question, and I would love to have an accurate answer, as would Government, as would Nphet.

"At the moment, Irelands in the same position as the rest of Europe whereby, with the amount of uncertainty there is between the vaccines and how much of an impact for example the vaccines have on transmissibility, and we hope they have a big impact, and then these variants and how quickly they can spread, its very difficult for anyone including our experts and our modelling teams to say exactly how long its going to take, but certainly we need to get it down much more than it is now.

He said that the results for Ireland at the moment are mixed, Mr Donnelly said, adding that steady progress is being made.

Thanks to everyone sticking with Level 5, we have got the biggest fall in Europe at the moment in our 14-day rate.

"However, I had a briefing with Dr Ronan Glynn after Nphet on Thursday and various points were raised. Close contacts are going up again, not a lot, but they are going back up again. The positivity rates remain high, particularly with close contacts, and the percentage of new cases coming from Dublin is rising.

"We think there is more opportunity in terms of workplaces to help people just add those extra protections as well, particularly with this new variant.

"So its far too early unfortunately, given all of that to be able to give accurate predictions as to when we can exit Level 5.

In relation to schools re-opening, he said, he said that Education Minister Norma Foley is involved in intensive talks with the stakeholders.

A Japanese man was discovered dead in a hotel in Hanoi on Saturday, with a conclusive COVID-19 test on him returning positive on Sunday, according to police officers and the Vietnam News Agency.

The man in question, 54 years old, was found dead at Somerset West Point Hanoi at 2 Tay Ho Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, police said.

He was born in 1967, the Vietnam News Agency reported, citing an epidemiological investigation.

The Japanese entered Vietnam on January 17 and was immediately sent to centralized quarantine in Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

He tested negative for COVID-19 on January 17 and 31.

He was allowed to leave his quarantine facility and caught a flight to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.

Saturday was the 13th day that he had stayed at Somerset West Point Hanoi.

Health authorities are conducting contact tracing to prevent coronavirus transmission.

The Ministry of Health announced 33 local infections on Sunday, including 31 in Hai Duong Province and two in Hanoi. The Japanese man was not counted in this group.

The ministry declared three patients free of the virus the same day.

The national patient tally has reached 2,228 cases, including 1,330 domestic infections, as of Sunday night, with 1,534 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the health ministry.

A total of 637 local infections have been recorded 13 provinces and cities since January 28, when Vietnam was hit by a new wave, including 461 in Hai Duong Province, 59 in Quang Ninh Province, 32 in Hanoi, and 36 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam has closed its borders to foreign visitors since March last year, only allowing entry to certain people like international experts and diplomats who will be quarantined upon arrival.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Novi, MI -- Ten-year-old Filip Ivanovic from Serbia has one of the rarest farms of cancer known. His parents have tried everything to help him, visiting doctors in Serbia and in Germany to seek treatment for this very difficult-to-cure cancer. Now, they've brought him to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston Texas, where he can receive the treatment needed to help his cancer.

"Filip was born a healthy child, carefree and happy," says his mother, Jelena Ivanovic. "He was rarely ever sick."

Then, in April 2019, his parents noticed a lump under his left armpit. He was diagnosed with a high-grade, malignant, vertebral cell tumor, a type of single-phase synovial sarcoma.

Filip underwent surgery in February 2020, and successfully completed his treatment in July, but at a regular check-up in October, twenty-four lung metastases were discovered. He was recently in Mannheim, Germany for treatment, where he received two chemotherapy treatments that didn't work.

Fortunately, the family connected with Dr. Mark Roby of Novi, MI. Roby, a stage-four cancer survivor himself, was also diagnosed with this same rare sarcoma in 2001. He hopes to use his knowledge and experience to help Filip.

"I was working as an emergency room physician assistant when I was diagnosed," says Roby. "One day I was out running, and collapsed. I was rushed to the hospital, where doctors told me I had a rare form of cancer in all four quadrants of my liver and all over my lungs. They gave me only a few months to live"

Roby, with his medical experience, refused to believe the terminal diagnosis, and began researching his rare tumor. What he discovered not only saved his life, but has given him the tools to help countless other cancer patients. Now, using his medical insider's knowledge, he works as a "cancer strategist," helping patients and their caregivers find the best treatment for their specific cancers.

"We have been fortunate enough to get an appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX," says Jelena.

Unfortunately, bringing Filip over here for treatment costs nearly $70,000 just for the examination and expenses. His parents Jelena and Ivan Ivanovic have overcome the difficult process of getting their travel visas in the middle of a global pandemic. What they need now is financial help to continue treatment for their son.

"I took out a second mortgage on my home and nearly went bankrupt when I was fighting my own cancer," says Roby. "I know all too well the financial cost of survival. I want to do what I can to help the family "

Roby has teamed up with the family on a GoFundMe to help cover Filip's expenses. He is also advising the family on medical options, and helping them navigate the difficult world of a cancer diagnosis.

"We are so grateful for any help," says Jelena.

To help Filip receive the treatment he needs, visit his GoFundMe page here

Media contact: Dr. Mark Roby is an integrative medicine doctor, a cancer strategist, and the best-selling author of Lifelines to Cancer Survival: A New Approach to Personalized Care. To contact him call 248-736-9623 or email cancerstrategist@yahoo.com.
Kurnool: Atleast 14 people were killed and 10 others injured in an accident between a bus and a truck near Madhapuram village in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool on Sunday early morning at around 4 am.

A tempo-lorry collided in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, eight females and a child among deceased.

Kurnool district SP, collector are at the accident site and are tending to the injured who have been admitted to Kurnool Government hospital.

All the victims are from Madanepally in Chittoor district and were proceeding in tempo towards Ajmer dargah.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep sorrow for the loss of human life in the road mishap at Madapuram of Veldurthi mandal in Kurnool district.

The Chief Minister instructed the concerned officials to take expedite relief and medical help and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members and wished speedy recovery of the injured.

The incident comes two days after eight people were killed and several injured when a bus carrying over 30 passengers fell into a gorge at Anantagiri near Araku in Visakhapatnam district.

(This is a developing story, more details are awaited)
The Michelin Group recently signed a transport commitment with the French shipping line NEOLINE. NEOLINEs decarbonized shipping service relies on wind energy as the main propulsion for its 136m cargo ships with 4200 m2 of sails.





The transport commitment signed by Michelin concerns the transport of tires loaded in containers from Halifax (Canada) to Saint-Nazaire - Montoir de Bretagne (France) on the pilot line opened by NEOLINE, which will also serve the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as Baltimore.

NEOLINE plans to open its transatlantic line with a first operating vessel in 2023. With the arrival of a second vessel, scheduled a year later, the Michelin group will gradually entrust NEOLINE with at least 50% of the groups containers transported on this line.

The NEOLINER will feature a hybrid auxilliary drive system comprising a controllable-pitch propeller with a 4000 kW main engine fueled by MGO Low Sulfur.





The ship is equipped with a duplex rigging and anti-drift fins, which favor regular and efficient navigation under sails. These elements are retractable to allow access to a majority of ports.

Equipped with 2 loading ramps, the NEOLINER can load cargo units of various sizes and types of packaging in 2 loading spaces, fully protected and secured in the event of rough conditions.

Using a set of mobile decks (car-decks), its transport capacities are optimized to load various types of freight, from light to heavy or oversized, up to 9.8m high and 200 tonnes, without any needs of lifting means.





In terms of volume, the NEOLINERs carrying capacity is:

Ro-ro: 1500 linear meters or 500 cars

Containers: 280 TEU ( twenty-foot equivalent unit)

Conventional: 5000 t

In the shipping industry, container ships can range from the very small (100-499 TEU) to the ultra-large (14,501 TEU and higher). The new Algeciras class ships, which entered service last year, have a maximum theoretical capacity of 23,964 TEU.

1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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A Shelby Township man arrested for allegedly breaking into the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot was released on bond after appearing in federal court Thursday.

James Allen Mels, 56, told FBI agents he traveled to Washington D.C. with 11 other like-minded Patriots he met online and said a prayer before entering the U.S. Capitol. Mels was arrested on Feb. 11 and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on two charges; knowingly entering a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Mels believed the presidential election was fraudulently decided, according to a criminal complaint. He is the third person to face federal charges for their involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The FBI received a tip that Mels had entered the Capitol from a person who had known Mels for several years. Member of an FBI task force used records kept with the Department of Motor Vehicles to identify Mels address and interviewed him outside his home in Shelby Township on Jan. 25.

Mels told FBI agents entered the U.S. Capitol with the intention of speaking with an officer to give them a copy of the U.S. Constitution and have his voice heard. Mels showed the FBI pictures he took from inside and outside the Capitol building.

Images included in the FBI special agents report show Mels was in the hallway of the Senate Wing, the first-floor Atrium, Hall of Commons and Capitol crypt. Mels told agents he was exposed to gas but did not engage in any violence.

Mels appeared in a virtual hearing before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Thursday. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Mels case is being transferred to federal court in Washington, D.C. He waived his right to a preliminary examination and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22.

The court ordered Mels to surrender his passport and enhanced drivers license and is prohibited from traveling outside the Eastern District of Michigan or District of Columbia for court purposes only. He is not allowed to possess a firearm and must submit to drug testing.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Judge dismisses charges against Michigan hair stylists who defied Gov. Gretchen Whitmer coronavirus orders

Feds want permission to share grand jury testimony of militia moles in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot case

Body camera video shows Michigan man attack police with hockey stick at Captiol riots
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Following the arrest of a top terrorist who had made a video of National Security Advisor Ajit Dovals office, it has come to light that Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad is planning a strike in Delhi, J&K police chief Dilbag Singh said on Sunday.

The Jammu and Kashmir DGP also disclosed that the terrorists in Kashmir have begun procuring weapons from Bihar and are using some students from Kashmir, studying in Punjab, for smuggling these illegal arms into the Valley.

DGP Singh made these revelations in a news conference over the arrest of self-styled chief commanders Hidayatullah Malik and Zahoor Ahmad Rather, respectively of terror outfits Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) and The Resistance Front (TRF).

Malik was arrested on February 6 by the Anantnag police from Kunjwani in Jammu district while Rather was apprehended on February 13 from Bari Brahmana area of Samba district. The UTs police chief said these two groups, LeM and TRF, are frontal organisations of Pakistan-based JeM and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) to give Kashmiri name' to their terror activities.

Malik has been leading LeM floated last August although he had been an active militant for a long time. He had worked as an overground worker and floated the group on the directions of JeM, said Singh.

Malik was also planning to set up a base in Jammu to carry forward terror activities in the region besides receiving arms and ammunition, being smuggled from Pakistan through underground tunnels on the border or being dropped by drones before being smuggled to Kashmir, he said.

Read | LeM chief arrested in Jammu; major terror strike foiled: Police

Singh said JeM was involved in various terror activities in 2018 and Maliks interrogation revealed that he was also a close associate of JeM commander Ashiq Nengroo who used to receive arms consignments from Pakistan in Jammu before escaping to the neighbouring country along with his family through an underground tunnel on the international border.

The BSF has detected six underground tunnels along the IB in Jammu region over the past six months.

After escaping to Pakistan, Nengroo alias doctor had been directing terror activities in Kashmir at the behest of Pakistani agencies, said the DGP, adding that Malik visited Delhi on Nengroos orders and forwarded him a video of the NSA's office after recceing it.

That means JeM is planning attacks on targets in Delhi as well, he said, adding that Maliks arrest is a big breakthrough for police as it has exposed the terrorist groups plan.

Malik, a resident of south Kashmir, had also set up a network to get weapons from Bihar and sourced seven pistols from there till now and got them distributed among militants, the DGP said.

He had also roped in some students from Kashmir, studying in Punjab, and had been using them for any action in Kashmir or Jammu or transporting weapons from outside, said Singh.

In this context, the DGP also cited the example of a Kashmir-based nursing student in Chandigarh college who was arrested along with a 7kg improvised explosive device from Jammus general bus stand area.

Also Read | Two Jaish terrorists, four terrorist associates held in J&K

The DGP said Malik was also involved in the looting of Rs 60 lakh from a banks cash van last November. This was established after the arrest of his four accomplices, including his wife, in this crime, he added.

Terming TRF chief Rathers arrest as another major achievement, Singh said he is a Pakistan-trained terrorist and is known by aliases Sahil and Khalid among militants.

He was also an active overground worker before crossing into Pakistan in 2002, where he underwent arms training and returned with five foreign terrorists through Rajouri route, DGP Singh said.

He, however, had surrendered in 2006 and remained inactive before resuming his activities in 2019, the police chief said, adding his handlers in Pakistan know his potential and that is why made him the TRFs chief.

The DGP said he had set up a vast network in Kashmir and so far eight members of the group have been identified at his disclosure and some have also been arrested whose interrogation is on in Kashmir.

Being a terrorist, who had surrendered earlier helped Rather escape security agencies suspicion, said the DGP, adding that the TRF chief was directly involved in the killing of three BJP workers in Kulgam and a policeman in Kokernag areas of south Kashmir last year.

Rather is being questioned at present and his interrogation is likely to reveal new things, the DGP said. The Union Territorys police chief also complimented his men for three major successful operations which led to the arrest of two self-styled commanders and recovery of IED to avert a major tragedy besides attempts by Pakistan to revive Al-Badr group.
Albor Ruiz, a prominent Cuban-born journalist whose columns for The Daily News, El Diario and Al Dia News advocated for Latino immigrants and demanded that the United States lift its longstanding trade embargo against his homeland, died on Jan. 8 in Homestead, Fla. He was 80.

His sister Enid Ruiz said the cause was pneumonia.

Mr. Ruiz reached his largest readership at The Daily News in New York, where for 23 years he was an editorial writer; the editor of its short-lived bilingual spinoff, El Daily News; and a columnist who wrote with passion about immigration, politics, education, housing, art, literature and racism.

Focusing largely on the borough of Queens and its enormous range of nationalities, Mr. Ruiz wrote often about Latinos. But he also described people of other backgrounds, like the four Polish immigrants who died in a fire in an illegal apartment in the Maspeth area of the borough  which reminded him of living illegally with seven friends in a small apartment in Miami after his escape from Cuba in 1961  and people with accents who are speaking loudly these days, like Pauline Chu, a Chinese-American woman who ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat in 1997.

People with myriad accents, he added, were adding music to the sounds of New York.

Sandra Levinson, the executive director of the Center for Cuban Studies in New York, said Mr. Ruiz had cared about being an immigrant and identified with every one.
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Currently, the main story on the news is the disjointed and inadequate distribution of vaccines. Vaccinating the country and the world is our most important and immediate national security concern, along with climate change, of which this pandemic is one symptom.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and other national labs, governed by the U.S. Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), have the resources and brainpower to address these issues. So what are they currently doing with the bulk of these resources?

Here in northern New Mexico, LANL is gearing up for industrial-scale production of the triggers for nuclear weapons, known as plutonium pits. Billions of taxpayer dollars are funneled into the lab to finance the proposed pit production mission targeted for 2026-30 and beyond. Construction operations and other activities supporting the new pit factory have begun at LANL, even though the contractually required LANL Site Plan on environmental impact and the congressionally required NNSA plan for plutonium pit production have not been provided to the public or, as far we know, to Congress or regional governments.

Ironically, the landmark United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons went into force on Jan. 22, 2021, making nuclear weapons illegal under international law.

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So, why continue along this obsolete and immoral path? Were brainwashed to believe its in our national interest when, in fact, it is mostly lining the pockets (vaults actually) of war profiteers, weapons manufacturers and the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about.

Meanwhile, great effort is focused on STEM education and recruiting our schoolkids into what is known in the world of national laboratories as the nuclear workforce development pipeline (an interesting choice of words  arent we trying to shut down pipelines?) to work on nuclear weapons modernization missions.

Are the labs fully informing young people about the health risks of these jobs? Everyone needs a job, so if the only choices are nuclear weapons or going into the military, the labs may indeed lure young people. But what if the government also facilitated pathways to medical research and delivery, nurses, techs, vaccine production, genomic sequencing for contact tracing and systems for efficient vaccine distribution?

Beyond or between pandemics, we need bio-remediation for cleanup efforts, solar and other renewable energies, adaptive architecture geared to the effects of catastrophic climate change and other technologies addressing our most pressing national security issues.

The government suggested using the military to administer vaccines. Probably not a good plan in this country due to fears about loss of rights and government overreach. Furthermore, vaccinating only the U.S. will not make us safe from the pandemic. Just as we see variants travel across oceans and borders, pandemics will continue to spread until the whole world is included in a massive medical effort. What if we called a ceasefire on wars and a halt to military engagements, and instead our soldiers administered vaccines overseas. What might that do to our standing in the world and regaining respect for our so-called humanitarian ideals?

What will it take to make these shifts? Answer: political will. The only way to influence that is through a grassroots groundswell of people demanding it. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. Its the only way change happens. First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. Then you win.

These are extraordinary times, and they demand extraordinary measures if we are to survive. Why not step up and demand life-affirming alternatives instead of the absurd waste of time and money, spending decades and trillions of dollars ramping up a new cold war?

To some, this may sound unrealistic and pie-in-the-sky, but if there was ever a time when extraordinary measures were needed, this is one! In the 1940s, we mobilized the Manhattan Project. Why not something similar now to save the world from a deadly pandemic and catastrophic climate change?

Jean Nichols lives in Llano.
India's Covid-19 infection tally climbed to 1,09,04,940 with 12,194 fresh cases recorded in the last 24 hours, while 1,06,11,731 people have recuperated so far, pushing the national recovery rate to 97.31%, according to Union Health Ministry data on Sunday.

In the last 24 hours, 92 people succumbed to the deadly virus while 11,106 were discharged from hospitals, according to the health ministry.

With this, the death toll due to the contagious virus has reached 1,55,642 in the country, taking the fatality rate to 1.43%.

The active number of coronavirus cases stands at 1,37,567 in the country, which comprises 1.26% of the total caseload, the data stated.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 20,62,30,512 samples have been tested up to 13 February with 6,97,114 samples being tested on Saturday.

India's coronavirus caseload had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

In addition, so far 82,63,858 people have been administered the Covid-19 vaccine under India's mega inoculation programme, the ministry said.

On Saturday, India started rolling out the second shot of coronavirus vaccine for the beneficiaries who were given jabs on 16 January when the drive began.

According to the doctors, the second round of Covid-19 vaccine booster dose is to be given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days.

All vaccines that are being administered require at least two doses for the immunity to kick in. The interval between the jabs varies between 12 to 28 days.

Experts have said that the first vaccine shot is designed to train your body to recognise the killer virus and ramp up the immune system, which is the body's defence system against the infection.

The second Covid-19 vaccine dose, which is called the booster shot, further boosts the immune system of your body. "Hence it is imperative to maintain COVID-19 appropriate behavior even after receiving the coronavirus vaccine," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said earlier.

However, experts have clarified that the second shot can be taken anytime between four to six weeks from the first dose.

With agency inputs

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2021 CSUB ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

This is one in a series of 2021 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame profiles. This years class will be inducted in a ceremony airing at 7 p.m. Saturday on KGET-TV 17. For more information, including ways to help honor the inductees and support alumni programs, go to csub.edu/alumni.
Rep Ilhan Omar's 'anti-American' 9/11 remarks have resurfaced as Fox News host, Pete Hegseth, slammed her promotion as 'absurd' amid a push by Republicans to oust her from House committees.

Omar was promoted to Vice Chair of the House of Foreign Affairs Committee's subcommittee on Africa and global human rights issues, according to The Star Tribune.

It comes just weeks after Republicans sought to remove her from House committees as part of revenge for the Democratic move to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from the Education and Labor committee and the Budget committee.

Since then, Omar's 2019 comments during the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have resurfaced.

At the time, Omar said that the council 'was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties'.

In response to Omar's appointment, Pete Hegseth, the co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend appeared on Fox News Primetime to tell host Mark Steyn: 'The idea that Ilhan Omar is even on the foreign affairs, foreign relations committee, is absurd.'

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Rep Ilhan Omar's 'anti-American' 9/11 remarks have resurfaced as Republicans slam her promotion to Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's subcommittee on Africa and global human rights issues as 'absurd'

Omar's 2019 comments during the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have resurfaced. At the time, Omar said that the council 'was founded after 9/11 (pictured) because they recognized that some people did something'

During the CAIR speech, Omar also said that Muslims in the US became 'second-class citizens' and had lost some civil liberties after the terrorist attacks.

Pointing to her remarks at CAIR, Hegseth continued: 'Now she's a vice chair of a subcommittee  This is the modern-day Democrat Party, anti-Americanism writ large.'

Omar faced stark criticism over the comments and at one point claims circulated that Omar said: 'My people did something.' But that was later proven to be false, according to the Associated Press.

'An image circulating on Facebook that shows the burning World Trade Centers twin towers with photos of Omar laughing, wrongly asserts that the Democratic congresswoman said, "My people did something,'" the AP said at the time.

Earlier this month Omar accused the Republican party of scapegoating her to distract from calls to fire Greene.

The 38-year-old Minnesotan said this was the 'Republican playbook' to try and blame Muslims, black people and women for the faults of their 'loony' members.

In response to Omar's appointment, Pete Hegseth (right), the co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend appeared on Fox News Primetime to tell host Mark Steyn: 'The idea that Ilhan Omar is even on the foreign affairs, foreign relations committee, is absurd'

The GOP was buckling under mounting pressure to remove Greene from committee assignments over her support for conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric.

Omar - who has traded in anti-Semitic tropes - was targeted by Greene's allies who argue that Democrats risk setting a dangerous precedent if they force her out.

Speaking to MSNBC Omar said: 'Sadly, this is the Republican playbook. We saw it with Donald Trump. Anytime they are faced with consequences for their actions to undermine our democracy, they blame Muslims, they blame immigrants, they blame black people, they blame women.

'I just happen to embody all of these identities and I want to make sure that we are clear on this.

'This is not about me and it should not be about me. This is about a member of the Republican caucus who has repeatedly incited violence and Republicans can't just wave a magic wand and attack the black congresswoman.'

Taylor was eventually removed from both her committees on February 4 after Democrats accused her of spreading hateful and violent conspiracy theories.

Nearly all Republicans voted against the Democratic move but none defended her lengthy history of outrageous social media posts.
More than 200 lawsuits have been filed by solar installation companies since 2017 against 19 different Connecticut municipalities.

The issue lies with a state law exempting renewable energy sources like solar panels installed for the generation of electricity for private residential use and whether that should cover systems that feed power onto the grid or are owned by a third party.

Most solar installations involve such third-party ownership agreements, due to the steep upfront costs, according to the Connecticut Green Bank, a quasi-public agency that arranges financing for clean energy projects.

Beginning around 2016, some assessors throughout the state began revoking previously exempt solar projects and denying applications for new exemptions.

That prompted many of the companies to file lawsuits, saying assessors were taxing them illegally.

Hearst Connecticut Media found 206 such lawsuits filed since 2017. The cases have all been sent to Waterbury Superior Court.

Some towns, like Stratford, have been moving to settle some of the lawsuits. Other cases remain pending.

Its a unique situation because of the consolidated nature of the cases, Ansonia Corporation Counsel John Marini said.

Ansonia is a defendant in 11 lawsuits filed by solar companies since 2018. Discovery is still ongoing, but there may be a potential for a resolution, Marini said.

One possible resolution to the perceived ambiguity of the state law is a proposed bill from the legislatures Planning and Development Committee that would clarify the exemption to include all solar installations that have been targeted in recent years.

A public hearing on the bill was held Feb. 3.

Lawsuits filed against Connecticut municipalities by solar companies since 2017 Ansonia: 11 Norwich: 3 Berlin: 4 Bloomfield: 26 Cromwell: 22 Deep River: 1 East Hampton: 10 Fairfield: 24 Greenwich: 6 Griswold: 3 Groton: 6 Killingly: 4 Madison: 2 Naugatuck: 4 Rocky Hill: 11 Somers: 5 Stratford: 43 Waterford: 6 Wethersfield: 15 TOTAL: 206 Source: State of Connecticut Judicial Branch website See More Collapse

Prospects for passage are unclear as yet. Similar efforts have stalled in past legislative sessions.

I dont know what the outcome will be, Stratford state Rep. Joe Gresko said.

It looks like its prospective, Gresko said of the bill proposed this year. Theyre closing the door behind them, saying this is tax-exempt going forward.

But that would still leave a question mark over what happens with past tax payments in dispute, he said. I think they should be exempt, he said. That was the legislative intent of the bill when it was written.

However, he said, he wouldnt want any solar companies who paid the taxes and might have passed the cost onto homeowners to get enriched unjustly.

The crux of the issue for me is I would love to get proof  and I dont know if there is any  that the cost the individual municipalities put back onto the solar companies wasnt in turn passed on to the customer, he said. Lets say a settlement is reached, and the solar company gets a windfall from the municipality. Whats the guarantee thats going to be passed on to the customer?

A spokesperson for the Sunrun, Inc. the countrys leading solar installer, which is involved with lawsuits against most of the 19 municipalities involved, said the costs of the unexpected property tax assessments arent being passed on to customers.

In testimony to lawmakers this month, Kyle Wallace, the companys senior manager of public policy, urged lawmakers to pass the bill.

He noted the bills prospective nature, and said adjudicating disputed tax payments made in the past would be best resolved in other venues.

All parties would benefit from the clarity provided in H.B. 6106 to avoid further litigation on this matter, Wallace said.

His testimony included a letter from state Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, the chairman of the Energy and Technology Committee, at the time the exemption was first enacted in 2007, which said the legislature did not intend to deny an exemption based on participation in net metering or ownership requirements that are not expressed in the statute.

Cromwell Tax Assessor Shawna Baron said the law isnt as clear as Duff and the solar companies make it out to be.

Its a very gray issue, she said. Theres many differences on these things.

Baron, a past president of the Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers, said assessors throughout the state are always reviewing state laws regarding exemptions.

With everything thats happening with state budgets and everything like that, everyone looks more closely at these statutes, she said.

Cromwell is facing 22 lawsuits that Baron said involve about $400,000 in disputed taxes since 2016.

She said state lawmakers could resolve the issue easily  but havent.

If you look at the statutes, some of these statutes are very clear, she said. If the legislature wanted solar to be exempt, it would be very easy for them to put in the statute: solar equipment is exempt. Thats not the case if you look in the statute. Theres all these qualifiers.
A son's cruel theft of 7,000 from his own mother's bank account left the 82-year-old 'a broken woman' incapable of recovering from his betrayal - the pensioner's daughter told the Sunday World.

Pictures taken of victim Eileen O'Keefe, 11 days before she realised her adopted son Martin 'Ginger' O'Keefe was stealing from her, show a happy confident woman enjoying her life.

But another, taken in hospital a month afterwards, reveals the terrible toll his betrayal exacted - daughter Jackie told this newspaper.

"What Martin did  it broke her," said Jackie. She went from being a happy, confident woman to someone who didn't want to eat or drink."

Expand Close Eileen O'Keefe pictured just 11 days before learning of her sons betrayal / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eileen O'Keefe pictured just 11 days before learning of her sons betrayal

Earlier this week musician Martin, a guitarist who formerly played alongside well known artists including Jack L, pleaded guilty at Sligo District Court to making 25 unlawful transactions from his mother's Bank of Ireland account between May 21, 2018 and July 10, 2018.

Expand Close Eileen OKeefe in hospital after the theft / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eileen OKeefe in hospital after the theft

O'Keeffe claimed that his life had 'imploded' at the time, he had addiction issues and up to the point he became his mother's carer, they had not had a familial relationship.

O'Keeffe told the court he was trying to finance a tour in Holland with the money.

He admitted the theft was "a terrible act" and said at the time his 'moral compass' was gone but had now returned.

He said he had cashed in an insurance policy in order to pay the compensation.

Judge Kevin Kilrane noted a probation report indicated the thefts may have been motivated by revenge.

Expand Close Jackie Smith said her brother Martins betrayal has had an horrific effect on her mother / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jackie Smith said her brother Martins betrayal has had an horrific effect on her mother

"He went to live with his mother when aged a year-and-a-half, and all was not entirely happy in the house," the judge said.

He said that although a 'lengthy' sentence would normally apply, O'Keeffe seems to be leading a quiet life now and had a "serious fall from grace".

He was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, suspended in its entirety.

Speaking with the Sunday World, Martin O'Keefe's adopted sister Jackie said:

"Martin was never her carer. He came up to give me a hand after our father died.

"I have MS and he said he hadn't realised I was doing it all on my own. First of all, he was looking for somewhere to stay and he asked to speak with my mam. And I asked her and she said 'no' because they had fallen out beforehand and hadn't spoken in 10 years.

"But then she warmed up to the idea and she spoke to him on the phone. And honestly she was so delighted to be able to talk to him again. She had missed him.

"In the beginning, he came up to stay for a day or two and then he'd go back to Sligo.

"And that went on  he'd come up for a day or two and then go back to Sligo  but he never stayed here continuously.

"I was still her carer  I brought her to her hospital appointments and did the shopping. When he stayed he did cook for her but I still came out and picked up her pension for her and did whatever else needed to be done."

Jackie said it wasn't until months later she and her mum realised that Martin was stealing from her.

"We finally figured out what he was really doing on Friday the 13th of July," Jackie said.

"Mam rang me because she had been in a pharmacy in Athy with her partner and she asked me to ring them to see if she had left her card there. And she hadn't.

"So I text Martin next and all I got back from him was a smiley face.

"Then, Mam came home, on either the Friday or the Saturday, and he had cleared out.

"He had cleared out all his stuff and also other things that didn't belong to him.

"So, we rang the gardai and that's when we got the bank statements and realised he had been dipping in.

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"If you saw the bank statements, it was unreal. Sometimes it was 200 or 300.

"But he took three 700 sums up at the bank in Sutton at 3am in the morning.

"He used to go for these walks and the rest was taken in a shop up around the corner.

"On one occasion he'd been in court in Sligo and was fined 500 and the very next day he withdrew 500 from my mother's account.

"And when we were clearing out whatever he'd left behind him in the room, we found a box of mobile phones and there were deliveries of micro-phones and stands coming to the house. It was crazy."

Asked about the effect this had on her mother, Jackie said the best way of explaining it was to look at pictures taken of the pensioner before and after she found out.

"If I showed you a picture of my mother 10 days before it happened and then I showed you a picture of her now, you wouldn't think it was the same woman. He destroyed her, mentally, physically and financially."

"In the court he said she was not his biological mother, but what had that got to do with anything?

"He said he didn't have a happy childhood but that's the first I ever heard about that. If my mother read what was said in that courtroom, it would put her over the edge.

"Martin has never apologised to my mother.

"He hasn't talked to either her or me ever since  and that was part of the bail conditions that he wasn't allowed near me or Mam. But what he did has had a horrific effect on her.

"She's been in and out of hospital since this happened.

"She's been on depression tablets. If you saw the state he left her in  she wouldn't eat; she wouldn't drink; she wouldn't do anything!

"My mam would never go out the front door unless she was well dressed and dolled up to the nines  her hair was done and her clothes had all the creases in the right places. Now she'll do nothing.

"She can't walk now  she let her health go  she just didn't care."

In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court, Eileen said she feels vulnerable and alone since the thefts, has trouble sleeping and suffered from depression.

"I feel if my own family treat me this way, "what will strangers do?

"I've lost confidence in myself and others," she said, adding that she has changed the locks of her house and no longer socialises with others."

Speaking of her own feelings towards Martin now, Jackie said: "I will never forgive him. To do that to his own mother, it's just so wrong."

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds celebrated the fifth anniversary of his superhero franchise Deadpool by sharing a lost fan letter. The 44-year-old actor, who plays the titular foul-mouthed superhero, shared the letter dated March 10, 2016, penned by a fan named Hunter. Five years later, Im still in awe of Deadpool fans. Hunter wrote me this letter after #Deadpool came out and somehow my response never got mailed. Holds up. Mostly, Reynolds wrote alongside photos of two letters typed on paper: one from Hunter and a reply from him, also dated March 2016.

Five years later, Im still in awe of Deadpool fans. Hunter wrote me this letter after #Deadpool came out and somehow my response never got mailed. Holds up. Mostly. pic.twitter.com/xYh1XChIb3  Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 13, 2021

In the letter, addressed to Dear Mr. Deadpool, Hunter asks for advice on being more bada** like you. In his response, Reynolds said Commit to one thing. For me, its acting. The Canadian actor added that acting and I are like Tom Brady and New England: together forever. The first Deadpool movie, produced by 20th Century Fox, came out in 2016. The film was a huge success and was followed a sequel in 2018. Deadpool was one of the few Marvel comic characters not owned by Disney, but after Foxs merger with the industry giant, it has become a Marvel Studios property. A third Deadpool movie is in the works with Emmy winning duo Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin and Wendy Molyneux attached to write the film.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial ended Saturday with an acquittal as both of New Mexicos two Democratic senators voted in a majority that fell short of the two-thirds needed for conviction.

Sen. Martin Heinrich said what happened Jan. 6 at the Capitol was a violent and bloody attack on our democracy (that) was cultivated by months of Donald Trump repeating a completely baseless lie of election fraud, over and over and over again.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said he took no pleasure in voting to convict President Trump for inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government. But Lujan added that there was no doubt that the former president did everything in his power to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

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As February 14, 2021, marks 2 years of the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 valiant Indian soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them, netizens took to Twitter to pay homage to the CRPF jawans who laid their lives for the nation. International sand artist and Padma Shri Awardee Sudarshan Pattnaik on Sunday paid tribute to the soldiers with his sand art. As of now, "#PulwamaAttack" is currently trending on Twitter with nearly 25,000 tweets.

READ | Chhattisgarh: CRPF Jawan Shoots Dead One Colleague, Injures Another

2nd Anniversary of Pulwama Attack: Netizens remember sacrifice of soldiers

2 years ago this very day many lost their fathers, brothers, sons and friends. What we loose, this country lost it's 40 sons who were unaware of the attack ahead. They weren't martyred on war zone, they were attacked from behind. This is will a #BlackDayForIndia #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/Gdf9XDIDae  Tushar Kant Naik$ (@TusharKant_Naik) February 13, 2021

#PulwamaAttack#PulwamaTerrorAttack #BlackDay !!

14 February 2019

Never Forget ,Never Forgive 

The Moment When Whole India Cried !! pic.twitter.com/IAOVx398gS  Ayush Vaishnav (@AyushVa21516182) February 13, 2021

14th February 2019

Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack . They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom. #PulwamaAttack  pic.twitter.com/nsGRL5KE7k  M (@ItsMaahiRajput) February 13, 2021

Today most of the People will be celebrating Valentines Day with their better halves.



But ever thought about the families of the 40 CRPF Jawans who sacrificed their lives for INDIA. 



Someone lost a son, a father, a husband and a Brother.



BLACK DAY FOR SURE#PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/yx4TJyH39Z  Underrated (Offline) (@DSavageGuy) February 13, 2021

India Will NEVER FORGET THE MARTYRDOM of the BRAVE SOULS who lost their lives in protecting our Motherland...jai Hind.#PulwamaAttack #BlackDay pic.twitter.com/bToFp4fR0i    (@srishirajIND) February 14, 2021

Pulwama Terror Attack: A black day for India

Two years ago on February 14, 2019, 40 Indian soldiers were martyred in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. After the deadly attack, a Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for this terror attack. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The attack, which was reported near Awantipora at nearly 3:15 pm resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, while many others were left injured.

READ | NIA Files Chargesheet Against Ex-J And K Cop Who Joined Hizbul Ranks For Attack On CRPF Convoy

After this attack, India had also withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and the whole international community had expressed its strong support to India in the wake of the terror attack. The memorial having names of all 40 jawans killed in the attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020, at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty).

Earlier on Republic Day 2021, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ASI Mohan Lal who lost his life during the Pulwama attack in 2019, was awarded the President Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) posthumously. Mohan Lal was awarded the medal for spotting the IED-laden car and having fired to stop the car before it rammed into a bus in the convoy that killed the suicide bomber and 40 CRPF personnel on February 14, 2019.

READ | CRPF Says 215 Terrorists Have Been Eliminated In Jammu & Kashmir In 2020

Balakot Airstrike

Following this attack, India after few days carried out an airstrike on JeM's Balakot terror training camp in Pakistan. Earlier on February 26, 12 Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped bombs into Balakot, Pakistan. India claimed that it attacked a JeM training camp and killed a large number of terrorists, reported to be between 300 and 350. Meanwhile, Pakistan claimed that they quickly scrambled jets to intercept the IAF jets, who dropped their payloads to quickly return over the Line of Control.

Later on February 27, the Pakistan Air Force conducted an airstrike into Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for the Indian airstrike the day before. Both Pakistan and India agreed that no damage was caused by Pakistan's airstrike. However, in an ensuing dogfight between Indian and Pakistani jets, an Indian MiG-21 was shot down over Pakistan and its pilot - Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured. Pakistan later released Varthaman on March 1.

READ | CRPF, DRDO Launch Bike Ambulance 'RAKSHITA' On Jan 18 To Aid In Urgent Medical Needs
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WASHINGTON - The acting chief of the D.C. police says he wants to have background checks conducted on all officers and employees to identify any who might align with extremist groups.

Robert Contee III said he is meeting with police department attorneys and is in discussions with Mayor Muriel Bowser about his plan to come up with a policy on extremist groups or ideologies that the city would deem inappropriate for police department employees to take part in. He also wants to hire an outside firm to conduct such investigations later this year.

After the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, police leaders are under pressure to root out those with ties to extremist groups. The Capitol mob - some of whom displayed emblems of extremist groups - allegedly included off-duty law enforcement officers from outside the District of Columbia.

"We have to do a top-to-bottom look for everything. MPD is a microcosm of the society that we live in. We have to identify those things and root them out immediately," Contee said.

Although the department does some have hiring safeguards in place, there is no written policy that specifically bars participation in or adopting behaviors of extremist or hate groups, Contee said. He said he wants to set out rules and make clear what behaviors could result in discipline or termination.

"It's not OK for a police officer to be a member of a Nazi group, and we don't have any policy that says we can't be a member of such," he said. "We don't have anything specific that addresses these hate groups that prohibits hiring someone if we find they have posted on social media groups involving hate speech."

Contee stressed he is still working with city officials to determine what such an investigation will entail, especially given personal rights concerns of more than 3,700 employees. He said he also plans to contact the police union.

Contee said one way could be an examination of employees' social media. Another method, he said, could be requiring employees to sign annual statements agreeing to not participate in such behavior or risk discipline.

The acting chief acknowledged the challenges of relying on social media alone. Many groups on Facebook are "secret," meaning they can be found only if a user is invited to join by an existing member. Others are "closed" with content accessible only after an administrator of the private group approves a request to join. While most departments say they review social media posts during an officer's hiring process, the anonymous nature of social media and online privacy protections make identifying officers who have posted extremist comments or belong to such groups difficult.

And even before any examination, police would need to decide what types of behavior linked to extremist groups would warrant targeting. Would the department, for instance, cite extremist or hate groups as defined by the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League or the Southern Poverty Law Center? How would the department determine whether an employee's philosophies were aligned with any group?

"It's in the infancy stage. I can't tell you what it's going to take to get there. But at the end of the day, we want strong policy in place that would prohibit members of being involved in any behavior associated with extreme, violent or anti-government groups," Contee said. "I want us to be the blueprint for law enforcement going forward."

Greggory Pemberton, chairman of the D.C. police union, said he understood the need for such an investigation but said he was concerned about how it would be conducted.

"You don't have a bunch of Klansmen running around here. If we did, they would be found out pretty quickly. You can't hide those kind of things," he said.

Pemberton said he was concerned how the department would delve into employees' private lives and how officials would make judgments about what is found.

"I am concerned about personal rights and combing through people's lives. And how are they going to identify those people, and what is the process going to look like confirming what they think they found?" Pemberton said. The union leader said Contee's "intent is coming from a good place" but added that the union needed to see more details.

Michael Edison Hayden, a senior investigative reporter for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist and white supremacist groups, said groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers seek out members of law enforcement, active duty and retired, because they "know their way around firearms" and they can read police tactics and help during demonstrations or other actions.

Hayden said police agencies need to "make sure these guys are not getting into police forces to begin with," which starts with thorough background checks. He said agencies also need to employ experts who understand signs, insignia and tattoos used by extremist groups.

"We must push more aggressively, locally and federally, to give police the resources to identify who might be an extremist in the first place," Hayden said. "It doesn't have to be McCarthy-like, looking at every meme they are posting, but it has to be more rigorous."

Police agencies already tread a delicate balance between protecting the free speech rights of officers and ensuring they meet general standards that call for honesty and integrity.

Chuck Wexler, who heads the D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum, said the participation of some off-duty officers in the Capitol riot has forced departments nationwide to confront the possibility of extremists in their ranks.

"This is where this country is right now," Wexler said. "This is no longer a free-speech issue. It is an issue affecting the safety of Americans. Their right to express their First Amendment thoughts ended at the point they pushed over police officers and went into the U.S. Capitol."

Still, Wexler said, it could be difficult for police chiefs to identify groups they do not want their officers to affiliate with. "The discussion is still evolving on what exactly constitutes a domestic terrorist organization."

Last fall, the Lafayette, Ind., police department said it terminated a recruit officer who participated in a neo-Nazi internet chat forum.

In Columbus, Ohio, the police department has recently been sued four times by current or former Black officers alleging racism and discriminatory misconduct. The department, a spokesman said, does background checks looking for extremism in individuals who apply to become cadets, but such investigations are not done on existing officers.

In Washington, the department has seen its own challenges. Some residents have criticized officers in the department for what Black Lives Matter D.C calls overly aggressive policing of Black and Brown people.

Last year, a 16-year police veteran filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court, claiming the department retaliated against her after she raised concerns about the conduct of some supervisors, including allegations that officers had been instructed to conduct unlawful searches of groups of Black men. In a filing with the court, the city said the complaint was "without sufficient information" and therefore denied the claims.

In 2019, a 27-year veteran Black homicide detective alleged racism and ageism after he got into a violent scuffle with two White officers inside a Northwest D.C. police substation.

And in 2017, a D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed a gun case against a man after defense attorneys expressed concern that the officers involved in the arrest were seen wearing a controversial T-shirt in the courthouse that depicted an image of the Grim Reaper with a pre-Christian style of cross embedded in a circle, a symbol that an advocacy group says is racist.

Contee said none of those incidents revealed evidence that the officers involved were linked to an extremist group. But he said such incidents could lead to a such perceptions among the public and among other officers.

"We need to have an initiative in place, so we can emphatically say to the community we have something in form of policy that says what is unacceptable behavior and what is something that warrants discipline or even separation from the department," Contee said. "I want the community to know this guy is going to be looking at things in this department through a different lens."

- - -

The Washington Post's Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.
Seventeen memorial crosses placed for the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (Gerald Herbert/AP)

President Joe Biden called for stronger gun laws as a Florida community remembered the 17 lives lost three years ago in the Parkland school shooting massacre.

In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were changed forever, Mr Biden said in a statement.

The president used the occasion to call on Congress to strengthen gun laws, including requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons.

There was no time to wait, the president said.

We owe it to all those weve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change, he said.

The time to act is now.

Our state and nation will never forget February 14, 2018.



We remember the 17 innocent lives that were lost on that tragic day. Their legacies will endure. pic.twitter.com/PGYf00CjOB  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 14, 2021

Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags be lowered to half staff from sunrise to sunset across the state to honour those who perished when a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas opened fire on campus with an AR-15 rifle on Valentines Day in 2018.

When the gunfire ended, 14 students and three staff members were dead, and 17 others were wounded.

The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, is still awaiting trial.

In his proclamation for a day of remembrance, Mr DeSantis asked fellow Floridians to pause for a moment of silence at 3pm.

The Parkland community is resilient in the wake of tragedy, reminding us just how strong and united Floridians can be in the face of such devastating loss, the governor said in his proclamation.

The Republican governor also noted some of the school safety measures enacted since the tragedy three years ago, including money to install panic alert systems at schools across the state and to strengthen programs meant to prevent violence before they occur.

This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call. We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer Joe Biden

The panic alert measure was dubbed Alyssas Law, in honour of 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the students killed three years ago.

But critics say the governor and Republican-controlled Legislature have done little to keep guns away from potentially bad actors and have opposed the ban of assault-style guns.

The passage of time has done little to heal the heartbreak we felt upon hearing the shocking news three years ago today, nor dulled our sense of outrage at the lack of consequential legislative action from lawmakers since that horrible morning  laws that would prevent another Parkland from ever happening again, said Manny Diaz, the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party.

It remains to be seen what will be done on the federal level, despite Democratic control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call.

We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer, the president said in his statement.

Expand Close President Joe Biden waves before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Camp David (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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In addition to background checks and an assault-weapons ban, Mr Biden is calling on Congress to outlaw high-capacity magazines and make gun manufacturers liable for the role their products play in violence.

For three years now, the Parkland families have spent birthdays and holidays without their loved ones, Mr Biden said.

Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence, he said.

Over these three years, the Parkland families have taught all of us something profound, the president continued.

Time and again, they have showed us how we can turn our grief into purpose  to march, organise, and build a strong, inclusive, and durable movement for change.
Togbui Korbadzi III, the 'Dufia' of Gefia within the Avenor Traditional Area of the Volta Region has called on all leaders, especially traditional authorities to allow the spirit of love for one another to reign in their activities of leadership.



"Love suppresses all issues of negativity towards the growth of our communities," he said.



Togbe Korbadzi made the disclosure in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a meeting of Chiefs from the Avenor Traditional Area ahead of Valentine day, which is celebrated across the world.



Togbui Korbadzi, also a representative from the Avenor Traditional Council serving as a youth Chief of the Akatsi South Youth Parliament, emphasised the need for leaders to embrace forgiveness during every aspect of endeavour.



He said a leader with an unforgiving heart faces challenges and "this retards development".



Togbe Korbadzi, a private businessman, pledged his continuous support to youth development in Avenor.



He therefore, appealed to all to eschew acts of indiscipline and immoral lifestyles.

Source: GNA









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Universities and colleges will be fined for suffocating free speech on campuses, ministers have warned.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will this week unveil a 'free speech champion' who will have the power to defend students and academics.

Institutions which try to cancel people due to their views will be penalised as part of the government's 'war on woke'.

Ministers have also told heritage groups 'public funds must never be used for political purposes' as they try to defend the attempted rewriting of Britain's history.

It comes after a December report claimed more than a third of universities are imposing 'severe' restrictions on freedom of speech.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will this week unveil a 'free speech champion' who will have the power to defend students and academics

The situation is so bad in 48 universities  35 per cent  it warranted legislation to stop campus censorship, a study said in December

Mr Williamson will on Tuesday reveal the warning to universities and colleges in a bid to bolster current free speech legal protections, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

It means student unions and higher-education facilities will have to promote free speech on campuses.

The 'free speech champion' will be a part of the Office for Students regulator, the newspaper says.

They will be able to promote free speech and academic freedom as well as fine institutions and reinstate staff sacked for their views.

A source told the Telegraph: 'Free speech underpins our democratic society and our universities have a long and proud history of being places where students and academics can express themselves freely, challenge views and cultivate an open, inquiring mind.

'Unacceptable silencing and censoring on campuses is having a chilling effect and that is why we must strengthen free speech in higher education, by bolstering the existing legal duties and ensuring strong, robust action is taken if these are breached.'

While the Department for Education would not comment on the story, it is understood details on the measures will be set out later in the week.

Meanwhile Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is set to meet with to top 25 heritage bodies in the country next week to address their recent stances.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is set to meet with to top 25 heritage bodies in the country next week to address their recent stances

Those at the meeting include the National Trust, Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, the National History Museum, the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum.

He is expected to tell them 'to defend our culture and history from the noisy minority of activists constantly trying to do Britain down'.

Another move by the government in the culture war includes asking the future head of Ofcom to enforce 'due impartiality' on broadcasters.

The BBC and Channel 4 have been accused by MPs of trying to 'appeal to a narrow band of north London metropolitan virtue signalling politically correct lefties'.

It comes after a December report claimed more than a third of universities are imposing 'severe' restrictions on freedom of speech.

The situation was so bad in 48 universities  35 per cent  that it warranted legislation to stop campus censorship, the study said.

More than a third of British universities were imposing 'severe' restrictions on freedom of speech including Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews, a December report by think-tank Civitas claimed. Pictured: File photo of King's College Cambridge

Another 70 institutions (51 per cent) have seen some failures which should be examined by watchdog the Office for Students.

Only 19, representing 14 per cent, did not warrant external attention, said the report by think-tank Civitas.

Before the pandemic hit, Mr Williamson said protecting free speech on university campuses  and stamping out 'no-platforming' was one of his priorities.

Some of the universities named in the report  Academic Freedom in Our Universities: the Best and the Worst  were named in the graphic on this page.

The study found 68 per cent of institutions have had a free speech controversy since 2017, with allegations of transphobia being a major problem.

Fifty-five per cent of universities have experienced a 'cancel culture' episode, in which open letters or petitions pushed for the restriction on the controversial views of staff, students or visiting speakers.

And although 72 per cent have now implemented free speech policies, Civitas says they actually limit the protections for speakers and groups.

It said the situation is urgent enough to require government intervention, unless universities can agree to a robust joint commitment to protect all free speech.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 06:43:50|Editor: huaxia

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Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2021. U.S. Senate voted on Saturday and acquitted former President Donald Trump, concluding his second impeachment trial which is the shortest one in the U.S. history. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate voted on Saturday and acquitted former President Donald Trump, concluding his second impeachment trial which is the shortest one in the U.S. history.

Seven Republican senators joined all the Democrats to vote "guilty," failing to reach two-thirds majority required for Trump conviction on the article of impeachment for inciting insurrection leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The 57-43 vote in the currently evenly split Senate yielded the most bipartisan margin in favor of impeachment conviction in the U.S. history.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer lamented Trump's acquittal, calling the Senate vote "un-American" and insulting to people who love the country.

"The former President inspired, directed, and propelled a mob to violently prevent the peaceful transfer of power, subvert the will of the people, and illegally keep that President in power," said Schumer moments after the upper chamber voted to acquit Trump.

Trump declared victory after surviving the impeachment trial for a second time, saying that his political movement has "only just begun."

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," the former president said in a statement.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump but sharply criticized the former president on Saturday for inciting the Capitol riot.

In a speech on the Senate floor shortly after the vote, McConnell said the rioters had been "fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth. Because he was angry he'd lost an election. Former President Trump's actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty."

"There's no question - none - that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their President," the top Senate republican added.

Trump was impeached on Jan. 13 by the Democrat-led House on one article of inciting insurrection leading to the Capitol riot which interrupted Congress' electoral vote count of Biden's victory. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the riot.

Trump is the first ever U.S. president to have been impeached and tried twice. Enditem
New York, Feb 14 : Former US President Donald Trump has been acquitted for a second time by the Senate after Republicans overwhelmingly voted against convicting him on the charge of inciting the January 6 riot at the Capitol, but senior party leader Mitch McConnel blasted him soon afterwards for provoking it.

The Senate voted 57 to 43 to convict him on Saturday and although seven Republicans went over to the Democrat's side to convict him, it was 10 votes short of the 67 needed for the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

The other Republicans stood firmly by Trump thwarting his conviction, although after the vote McConnell delivered his harsh criticism pinning on him the blame for the riot that killed at least five people including a police officer.

Two other police officers died in its aftermath.

In his first trial in February 2020 on the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress he went free because the Democrats could not muster 67 votes.

If Trump can claim a victory, it was tarnished by his own party members blaming him for the riot, even as they voted against his conviction.

"There is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," McConnell said after he had voted to acquit him.

He said that his vote against conviction was based on a technicality that under the Constitution Trump could not be impeached by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate because he was out of office.

Most Republicans and Trump's lawyers argued that since the Constitution specified the president as one of those who can be impeached with the punishment of being removed from office, he could not be tried as he was now a private citizen.

Democrats and their Republican supporters, however, said that although he was no longer the President, he could still be impeached and face the penalty of being barred from running for office.

The Democratic Party leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer condemned the Republicans who voted against the conviction.

"The failure to convict Donald Trump will live as a vote of infamy in the history of the US Senate," he said.

Reacting to the acquittal, President Joe Biden said: "This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America.

"While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute. Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a 'disgraceful dereliction of duty' and 'practically and morally responsible for provoking' the violence unleashed on the Capitol." Trump has disputed the results of the November 3, 2020, election that he lost alleging that there was massive fraud.

On the day of the riots, he held a rally of his supporters at which he repeated the fraud claim saying that the election was "stolen" and told them "we fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore".

Some of his supporters later marched to the Capitol while Congress was tallying the votes of the electoral college that elected Biden.

A section of them broke through the security and stormed the building, breaking into the Senate chamber and the offices of leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mike Pence, who as the then-Vice President was presiding over the Senate, and other members of Congress were hustled away to safety.

"The former president tried to overturn the results of a legitimate election and provoked an assault on our own government," Schumer said of the attack while Congress was completing the election process.

It was "the most despicable act that any president has ever committed", he added.

The House impeached Trump on January 13 and sent the charge of inciting an insurrection to Senate to hold the trial with the Senators acting as jurors.

Biden had indicated that he wanted a quick end to the impeachment so the Senate can take up his agenda of rebuilding the nation after the Covid-19 pandemic and also approve the nomination of key members of his administration.

The Republicans also wanted a short impeachment to enable them to put the Trump era behind them.

After two days of Democratic Party arguments during the trial with videos of the riots interspersed with clips of Trump speaking to his supporters, Trump's lawyers gave a short presentation on Friday defending him.

But on Saturday morning when the Senate was expected to have short concluding arguments by both sides and vote on the conviction, Jamie Raskin, the lead prosecutor, sowed confusion by demanding to call as a witness Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler who had claimed that Republican party leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, had told her that when he spoke to Trump about the rioters breaking into the Capitol he appeared to condone it.

The Senate voted to call witnesses, but Trump's lawyers scored a minor victory when they force the prosecutors to back off from calling witnesses.

Trump's lawyer Michael van der Veen threatened to call 100 witnesses, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Pelosi, with likelihood of the trial stretching indefinitely and if the Democrats blocked his request it would give the impression that the trial was unfair.

Under pressure from Democratic leaders who did not want to prolong the trial, the prosecutors dropped their demand for witnesses and instead agreed to only have Beutler's statement included in the record of the proceedings.

Beutler had said on Friday night when the trial seemed ready to wrap up: "When McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the President initially repeated the falsehood that it was Antifa that had breached the Capitol." The Antifa are anti-fascists made up of extreme leftists and anarchists, who have attacked government and public property, especially in Washington and Oregon states.

She said: "McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters. That's when, according to McCarthy, the President said: 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are'." The prosecutors drawn from the House, who are technically called House Managers, made appealed to emotions with the videos, making the Senators, and the rest of the nation, relive the harrowing attack on the Capitol.

They linked Trump's questioning the legitimacy of the election even after about 50 cases challenging it had been thrown out by courts and his exhortations to his supporters to "fight like hell" to the riots.

Trump's lawyers mostly centered their defence on his constitutional rights to free speech in questioning the election and asserted that while he wanted his supporters to protest, he did not want them to riot.

They cited another part of his speech in which he said: "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." They also said that Democratic leaders had also told their supporters to "fight like hell" and it wasn't to be taken seriously.

Democrats knew from the beginning that their impeachment would likely end in Trump's acquittal, but they went ahead to avenge their humiliations by Trump and to derail the Republicans in next year's mid-term elections.

Even Republicans like McConnell, who had criticised Trump for continuing to question the election and blamed him for the riots, could not vote to convict him because the former President still has the loyalty of his supporters who are a core element of the party.

Republican leaders are now caught between keeping the support of Trump's base, while not alienating the moderates disgusted by the attack on Congress.

Having voted against conviction to placate Trump's supporters, they feel free to criticise him to appeal to the moderates.

But Trump threatens to continue to haunt them.

He said after the acquittal: "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people."


Gandii Baat Actress Gehana Vasisth Now Charged With Gangrape And Wrongful Confinement: Reports

Gandii Baat actress Gehana Vasisth is now in deeper trouble. The actress had been booked by Police for allegedly shooting porn videos. Now, she has also been charged with gangrape and wrongful confinement.

According to a report in Times Now, a 24-year model has lodged a complaint against the actress and three other men. All those named in the complaint has been booked under rape, outraging the modesty of women and obscene act under Indian Penal Code. The model has claimed that she was forced by the actress to engage in a sexual act with three men, which was also filmed. Gehana's lawyer has denied all the allegations.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gehana Vasisth (@gehana_vasisth)

Gehana had been arrested a few days back after it was said that 84 pornographic videos had been shot and uploaded by the actress on her website. She was arrested last week and produced at the court on Monday. A tweet by ANI read, "Actress Gehana Vasisth has been arrested by Property Cell of the Crime Branch for her alleged role in shooting and uploading porn videos on a website. She will be produced before a court in Mumbai today: Mumbai Police." The case had come to light after models lodged FIR of being duped to shoot such videos. Gehana's publicist Flynn Remedios in a statement claimed that the videos produced and directed by Gehana's company GV Studios "at most can be classified or categorized as Erotica".
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.
Film Critic

Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski).


leader on Sunday will kick-start the party's campaign for the upcoming Assembly in Assam. He will address a rally in Sivasagar.

This will be the maiden visit of to the poll-bound Assam this year. Notably, had announced last month that it will form an alliance with five political parties to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference on January 20 in Guwahati, Ripun Bora, President, Assam had said, "In upcoming Assam Assembly polls, Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (Marxist), CPI (Marxist-Leninist) and Anchalik Gana Morcha will fight together to oust BJP. We will keep our doors open for other regional and anti-BJP parties to join us."The for the 126-seat Assam Assembly are likely to take place in April-May this year. However, the election schedule is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India.

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



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MPs are calling on the government to ban China and Russia from any involvement in supplying equipment to Britain's armed forces.

The Commons Defence Sub-Committee said nine companies operating in the UK defence sector had been acquired by Chinese firms in recent years, including a firm printing circuit boards used in the American F-35 fighters operated by both the British and US armed forces.

Six of the nine companies list defence as a key business area.

The committee said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should publish a list of countries it considers friendly and from whom investment should be encouraged.

All those countries falling outside of this list should be barred from investing in the UKs defence supply chain, including China and Russia, they said.

Recommended Ministry of Defence to study armed forces suicide rates after more than 40 servicemen and women kill themselves in last year

The continued and widespread use of overseas firms in the UK defence supply chain left it open to potentially hostile foreign involvement, the MPs warned.

Huw Walters, director of economic security and prosperity at the MoD, reportedly told the committee that MoD officials very much welcome foreign investment.

This approach, the report said, has meant that foreign involvement, no matter how defined, is widespread in the UK defence industry and is currently estimated at around 20 per cent of contracts.

China in particular had a record of large-scale intellectual property theft which the report said put any UK firm working alongside Chinese suppliers at risk of having their technology stolen.

Countries which consistently involve themselves in intellectual property theft, and regularly behave contrary to the UK's values, such as China under the Chinese Communist Party, should be categorised as hostile, it said.

Investments from countries, such as Russia, that regularly engage in espionage against the UK, or its allies, should also be classified as hostile.

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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. 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MPs said the MoD appeared relaxed about Chinese ownership.

The report said: When asked how the MoD would react to efforts from a Chinese company to purchase a company within the British defence sector, the Minister for Defence Procurement maintained that it is agnostic in terms of particular states.

Concern was raised over the decision to acquire two second-hand Chinese Boeing 737 airliners to convert into E-7 Wedgetail aircraft  described as the central asset in the RAFs future Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (Istar) force, which is designed to track multiple airborne and maritime targets simultaneously while directing fighter jets and warships.

The purchase of equipment from China for use by the armed forces should not be considered a viable option by the Ministry of Defence, the report said.

Richard Drax, chair of the sub-committee, said: Despite the government demonstrating an understanding of the risks that foreign involvement in the defence supply chain poses, more should be done to maintain the integrity and autonomy of our defence industry.

This heightened awareness of risks must lead to a tightening of regulations and a new approach.

Investment in the defence supply chain from all countries that fall outside of an approved list, including Russia and China, must be barred.

We cannot afford a laissez-faire approach to our national security and sovereignty.
The Lincoln Project was a fraud from its inception. I explained why in a post last summer that included this quote from David Harsanyi:

If The Lincoln Project was exclusively campaigning against Donald Trump, one might be tempted to believe it wasnt merely an arm of the Democratic Party. If one of its co-founders, John Weaver, hadnt been registered as a foreign agent lobbying for a Russia-owned nuclear-energy company against U.S. sanctions not long ago, one might accept that the group believed the conspiracy theories it spreads. If the group wasnt working against the moderate Republicans senators for the sin of supporting originalist Supreme Court justices, who will transcend the Trump presidency and help preserve the traditional constitutional order, one might believe that its mission was to preserve the system. If you target moderates like Susan Collins and Cory Gardner  politicians who not only parted with Trump on issues but have quite un-Trumpian dispositions  youre not working against Trumpism, youre working against the GOP. The media can keep calling you Republicans, but if you support Democrats, take Democratic Party positions, make voting for Democrats all the way down the ticket a binary choice and moral imperative, and then take most of your money from big Democratic Party donors, youre a Democrat. . . Im not really a fan of making a big deal over a groups funding. Your arguments should stand on their own. I dont care who pays you. But if you advertise your cause as something its not, youre a fraud. And the biggest funders of The Lincoln Project arent distraught Republicans but long-time Democratic Party operatives.

Those who founded the Lincoln Project had various motives. George Conway was a disappointed office seeker. He had wanted not just to serve Trump administration, but to be its Solicitor General  the man in charge of defending the administrations legal positions on behalf of the government in the U.S. Supreme Court. Only after losing out on this bid, and maybe others, did he turn against Trump.

John Weaver and Steve Schmidt wanted to avenge their former boss John McCain, whose war record Trump had stupidly and unfairly attacked. Weaver might also have been looking for new opportunities to have sex with boys and young men.

One common motive seems to be have been enrichment. All across the political spectrum, the Lincoln Project is viewed this way. The socialist magazine Jacobin called it a giant grift. National Review used the same word  grift  to describe the ridiculously high consulting fees received by the Lincoln Projects founders. A liberal group complained:

The Lincoln Project promised to export their knowledge of how conservative voters think, instead they mostly exported the conservative consultant classs instinct for grifting.

But it wasnt just the Lincoln Projects grift that might well have caused Abraham Lincoln to turn over in his grave. There was also the groups signature dishonesty and nastiness.

How dishonest was the Lincoln Projects advertising? So dishonest that even this NYU liberal balked.

How nasty was the Lincoln Project? So nasty that James Carville expressed envy.

How unethical was the Lincoln Project? So unethical that it tolerated Weavers sexual harassment of boys and young men, and published the private messages of a co-founder who raised questions about his misconduct.

The viciousness of the Lincoln Project should have come as no surprise. This project did not arise from concerns about public policy. It was a vehicle for revenge  revenge by Conway for being snubbed by the White House; revenge for McCains acolytes for Trumps treatment of their man; and revenge for consultants whom Trump had bypassed and rendered irrelevant.

How effective was the Lincoln Projects nastiness? Not very, maybe not at all.

According to Dave Weigel of the Washington Post, focus groups found that some of its most viral spots were far less popular than economy-focused ads that got far less media attention. Republican voters  the Lincoln projects target audience, as the name suggests  were unmoved by its attacks. According to this report, Trump won 93 percent of the GOP vote and 40 percent of independents, about the same percentage of the latter group as had been backing him all along.

Now, the Lincoln Project is discredited and scorned across the political spectrum. Its founders are washed up.

Im fairly confident that the Republican Party will have a reasonably bright post-Trump future. Im quite confident that this future will not include the frauds and vicious grifters who spearheaded the Lincoln Project.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is closely following the work of state lawmakers.

News 10 told you earlier this week, the chamber took a rare step in publicly endorsing COVID-19 liability protection bills.

But, the chamber is also monitoring other business-related bills in order to educate chamber members and the broader business community.

Those bills include one that would provide grants to businesses in the hospitality industry -- impacted by the pandemic and another regarding pregnancy accommodations.

"If you're a Chamber member and you're in an industry that's being specifically impacted by one of these bills, we'll be sending that information out to you personally, like hey, pay attention to this. This is something you need to know about so, we're just here to help our members remain educated," says Kristin Craig.

You can find more information about the legislation the chamber is monitoring on the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce website.

There, you can also learn about how to become a chamber member.
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The ongoing strike by members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, has effectively shut primary healthcare centres across the state.

The strike has hampered access to basic healthcare services like ante-natal for pregnant women and child immunisation at health centres across the eight local government areas of Bayelsa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the union, which draws its membership mostly from primary health centres, ordered members to embark on an indefinite industrial action on Friday over the non-payment of their salary.

Barnabas Simon, the union chairperson, who gave an update on the strike on Saturday, said the union embarked on the strike as the last option following the expiration of earlier deadlines and fruitless meetings with government officials.

He said the salary owed the union members ranges from two to 15 months.

Mr Simon expressed displeasure over many unresolved issues affecting primary healthcare workers in the state, adding that after several talks, none of their demands had been met.

He said there were no signs the government intends to meet their demand.

We have been holding meetings with state and local government officials and nothing concrete has been offered to the aggrieved workers, they have been asking us to suspend the strike and discussions are on.

We made our position clear that we are open to dialogue and negotiations but what we really want is implementation of the prior discussions which we have had, he said.

Ebiboere Michael, an expectant mother, told NAN she visited the Amarata Health Centre in Yenagoa but could not get attention for her ante-natal clinic due to the strike.

Newton Igwelle, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Health, said the government was making efforts to resolve the labour dispute.

I hope you know that these health workers are not employees of the state government? They are staff of the local governments and they are having discussions to resolve the dispute, said Mr Igwelle, a medical doctor.

(NAN)

The state government has further frustrated Sydney property developer Charlie Demians plans to redevelop the heavily contaminated former James Hardie asbestos factory site near Parramatta.

The Department of Planning has refused his companys request for a change to planning rules which would clear the way for a large mixed-use development on the 6.7-hectare site at Camellia, comprising 3200 homes and buildings up to 126 metres tall, or 40 storeys.

Developer Charlie Demian. Credit:Janie Barrett

The refusal is based on the grounds that the department wants to develop a place strategy for Camellia and Rosehill so it can resolve the complexity of re-mediating highly contaminated land, flooding from Parramatta River, and the need for new roads.

The decision to block his companys planning proposal and begin a detailed place strategy plan for Camellia and Rosehill is likely to delay by years his ambitions for the site.


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British diver Vernon Unsworth (L) and his attorney L. Lin Wood (C) leave the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in Los Angeles, on Dec. 6, 2019. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)

Attorney Lin Wood Says Georgia State Bar Trying to Discipline Him

Lin Wood, the defamation case lawyer who filed third-party lawsuits on behalf of former President Donald Trump following the 2020 election, said that the State Bar of Georgia is seeking to discipline him.

The State Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Georgia has received information concerning the above-named attorney that suggests that said attorney may have violated one or more of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, the disciplinary complaint, dated Feb. 5, states.

Wood posted a Dropbox link to the complaint on Telegram on Feb. 13.

Wood, in a statement on the app, wrote that he needs the help of We the People, saying he received a 1,600-page grievance complaint from the organization.

The GA State Bar attacks my social posts, even impliedly mocking my public statements of my religious faith, Wood wrote to his 700,000 followers. In short, the GA State Bar is trying to crush me to silence me and prevent me from practicing law.

Neither Wood nor the State Bar of Georgia responded to a request for comment by press time.

Since the Nov. 3 contest, Wood has filed several election-related lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the election in Georgia. For that, Wood suggested in his Telegram post that the State Bars letter was politically motivated.

The enemy has ensnared itself by opening up election fraud and other false attacks against me simply because I am a Trump supporter and a truth-giver. The reputation the enemy is trying so hard to destroy is the reputation that will fight back and destroy the enemy, he wrote.

Earlier in the month, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers office said it launched an investigation into whether Wood voted illegally in the 2020 election.

Wood said in a post on his Telegram channel on Feb. 1 that he only changed his residency to South Carolina on Feb. 1 and, prior to that, he had lived in Georgia for 65 years.

I have changed my legal residence from the State of Georgia to the State of South Carolina! Wood announced in the Telegram message, adding that he was thrilled about the move.

Raffenspergers office told news outlets that the office is seeking to determine whether Wood was a legal resident when he voted in November, in light of an email he sent to [WSB-TV reporter] Justin Gray saying he has been domiciled in South Carolina for several months.

In a statement to WSB-TV, Wood described Raffenspergers probe as pure harassment.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
A woman has been reunited with her first-born son after she was forced to give him up as a teenager in a bittersweet moment where the pair can't share a hug due to Covid-19.

Retired nurse Julie Johnson, 59, from Lancashire, appears on ITV's Long Lost Family on Monday after searching for her child Steven, who she gave away after falling pregnant aged just 14.

Researchers discover Julie's son is now called Ian Pitt, based in Staffordshire, but the pair have to wait six months before reuniting due to lockdown and Julie's private health problems in hospital, which leave her unable to even talk on the phone.

But eventually Ian is able to enjoy a socially-distanced visit with his birth mother, who admits: 'It'll be hard not to be able to give him a hug because I'll instantly want to give him a hug. But I won't be able to. I might have a few tears.'

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Retired nurse Julie Johnson (pictured with her son, who is now called Ian), 59, from Lancashire, appears on ITV's Long Lost Family on Monday after searching for her child Steven, who she gave away after falling pregnant aged just 14

Grandmother Julie met her first love, Steven's father, at school when she was just fourteen and hid her pregnancy for five months before it was discovered.

Remembering her family's reactions, Julie says: 'Instantly [it was] "you're too young, you're a child, it's better for you if the baby's adopted". I wasn't given a choice.'

Julie gave birth to Steven on 2nd of May 1977 and was told not to hold him or see him, but ignored the suggestions and instead bathed him and comforted him for the first and last time.

She says: 'I was told I couldn't see Steven, but I gave him a hug and told him I loved him. Forgiveness, that's what I pray for, to take a little bit of the guilt away for not being able to be his mum.'

Researchers discover Julie's son is now called Ian Pitt, based in Staffordshire, but the pair have to wait six months before reuniting due to lockdown. Pictured, Julie as a teenager

After Steven's adoption, Julie and his father stayed together and went on to get married before have three more children.

But Julie insists she thought of Steven each time one of her other children hit a milestone.

The grandmother says: 'I thought of Steven when I saw them smile for the first time and their first steps. I never saw my first son grow up and reach all those milestones.'

Julie and her husband drifted apart and divorced after fifteen years together. During that time, Steven was a secret that Julie kept from her other children, fearing they'd judge her.

The terrified mother recalls: 'I thought they would think I'm a bad person.'

But the children had heard a rumour of another child and when she was a teenager, Julie's daughter Sophie confronted her mother about Steven.

'I remember saying, if you ever want to find him, we'll back you one-hundred percent,' Sophie recalls, while Julie admits: 'None of the children have held it against me. It's all in the open and that is lovely.'

Over the last fourteen years the family have contacted adoption agencies and even completed DNA tests in the hope it will lead them to Steven, but in the last year their search took on a new urgency when Sophie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

But eventually Ian is able to enjoy a socially-distanced visit with his birth mother (pictured), who admits: 'It'll be hard not to be able to give him a hug because I'll instantly want to give him a hug. But I won't be able to. I might have a few tears.'

'When I got my diagnosis, we realised we might not have tomorrow, so we have to find him now,' says Sophie, who has thankfully now been told her cancer is in remission.

With nowhere else to turn, the household approached Long Lost Family who enlisted the help of a specialist legally allowed to access adoption records.

Julie's son's new name is discovered to be Ian Pitt, who was adopted by a couple from Staffordshire and still lives in the area with his wife Siobhan and close to his two children from his first marriage.

Ian agrees to meet co-presenter Nicky Campbell and tells him: 'I'm over the moon that she's come looking... to find out that I have got siblings unbelievable.'

Co-presenter Davina McCall visits Julie who tells her about giving-up her first-born.

In the show, Ian (pictured) agrees to meet co-presenter Nicky Campbell and tells him: 'I'm over the moon that she's come looking... to find out that I have got siblings unbelievable.'

She says: 'I'm so glad I had that little bit of time, but I never saw him smile, never gave him a nursery rhyme, or saw his first birthday. I just hoped he was well looked after.'

Davina reveals that thankfully this was the case to an emotional Julie who says: '[I] never thought this day would come. I feel so lucky.'

In normal circumstances, the pair would've been reunited as soon as possible, but just days after Julie learnt her son had been found, the UK's first coronavirus lockdown began, meaning visit with one another had to be put on hold.

Sadly, during this time, Julie became poorly and any contact, even on the phone, was also not possible.

However she was determined not to miss another of her son's birthdays and so Julie sent Ian a card, the first which she can give him in forty-three years.

Six months later, with the first lockdown lifted and Julie feeling better, mother and son finally meet in a tear-filled reunion.

Ian says: 'I'm hoping this brings some kind of closure to the concerns which she's had over the years,' while Julie confirms this, adding: 'I now know I can go to bed and I don't need to worry. I can be happy. I feel it's complete now.'

Afterwards Ian meets his sisters, Emma and Sophie, who admit: 'It's hard work that we can't just come over and grab you,' while he declares: 'I have a whole new family to get to know and enjoy and be part of each other's lives.'

Long Lost Family airs on ITV on Monday 9pm

Despite seven turncoat Republican senators, the Senate voted to acquit Trump following the impeachment trial against him. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined in this vote. However, he later accused Trump of being responsible for the events at the Capitol on January 6. By doing so, McConnell, rather than indicting Trump, only revealed his own narcissistic duplicity.

Colloquially, narcissist refers to someone in love with himself because Narcissus, a figure from Greek mythology, fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Narcissist can also refer to a personality disorder.

One common trait in all narcissists is a refusal ever to take responsibility for things that go wrong. Its always someone elses fault, so youll never hear the words Im sorry pass a narcissists lip. My sister and I still laugh that, whenever my mother accidentally broke or spilled something, she turned to us and said, Look what you made me do.

The narcissist, in his own mind, never starts a fight. If he throws a punch, hes not fighting; hes meting out appropriate discipline. The fight occurs only because you decided to hit him back. He has a license to act; you have no right to react.

Narcissists carry this attitude with them if they are closely associated with an institution. The lousy school isnt failing to teach its students; instead, the students are stupid people who wont learn. Every employee, especially the bad teachers, will accept this attitude as gospel and repeat it with fervor.

If youre wondering what this has to do with Mitch McConnell, read what he had to say about Trump:

In a speech on the Senate floor on Saturday, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) held President Trump responsible for inciting the Capitol riot but said the Senate lacked the constitutional authority to impeach the former president over it. There is no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, McConnell argued, reiterating an earlier statement. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed that they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, McConnell continued. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole, which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth.

Mitch McConnell is speaking for a corrupt institution  the Deep State. What hes saying is that its impossible that the Deep State and its actors across America committed a massive fraud that allowed a stupid, corrupt, senile, and radical old man who never left his basement to prevail in an election against a president who had a 51% approval rating and was able to hold massive rallies during an alleged pandemic. And its impossible that corrupt institutions could have changed voting systems to enable tens of thousands of fake ballots to get counted. And its impossible that computer voting systems could be hacked to benefit Biden.

Because McConnells narcissism makes it impossible for him to concede fault  to concede that the system punched Trump first  then any fault must lie with Trump for daring to punch back. In McConnells world, Trump should have just sucked up the terrible wrong done to him and to the 75 million (or more) people who voted for him.

When the Deep State that McConnell represents hits you, you dont hit back. If you hit back, its you who are at fault; the system is always innocent.

Of course, there may be more than narcissism behind McConnells identification with corrupt institutions. Through his wifes family, he has deep financial ties to China  and the biggest beneficiary of Bidens election is China. Trumps willingness to exercise his First Amendment speech rights threatened McConnells well-being.

McConnell also ignores the fact that Trump had the reasonable belief that his supporters would honor law and order and always act peaceably (just as he told them to on January 6). After all, at least since the Tea Party began during Obamas administration, conservatives have never run riot. More than a decade of tried-and-true peaceable behavior strongly indicated that this behavior would continue. Its the rabble that the Democrat side of the Swamp rouses that can be reasonably expected to respond to Democrat commands to fight, riot, push back, and commit violence. (You can see here video evidence of both Republican respect for the law and the Democrat impulse to violence.)

I will always be grateful to McConnell for his stalwart stand on the judiciary. In all other regards, the man is indecent.

IMAGE: Caravaggios Narcissus (public domain) melded with Mitch McConnell by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-13 23:18:24|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hope, love, encouragement and inspiration are among the biggest takeaways from an uplifting virtual Lunar New Year reception and concert hosted by the Chinese embassy in the United States on Thursday.

"In a few hours, we will ring in the Year of the Ox," said Chinese ambassador Cui Tiankai at the 2021 Chinese New Year Online Reception and Symphony Concert streamed online Thursday evening local time.

"In the Chinese culture, the Ox symbolizes stamina, energy and dedication," Cui said, adding he hopes that "we will show the spirit of the Ox and work together for a better shared future, for the Chinese and American people and people of the whole world."

"I myself was born in the Year of Ox, so it will be my year," said Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, in his video greetings.

"In this new year, in the spirit of the Ox, my national committee colleagues and I will continue to work hard in building U.S.-China dialogues and exchanges, and improving the bilateral relationship," said Orlins, first in fluent Mandarin and then in English.

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said in his remarks that the Year of the Ox "has so much promise and is filled with opportunity for fresh beginnings."

"We have an obligation to make the most of this precious opportunity and boldly work together toward a more fair, friendly and free world. This is within our grasp and we should not fail to achieve it," said Allen.

The reception was followed by a concert presented by Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, which is based in southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, a landmark in the country's reform and opening-up drive.

The concert's programs were selected to send a message of reunion, gratitude and new begining in the spirit of the Chinese New Year tradition, said Zhao Haisheng, minister counselor for cultural affairs in the embassy, in an interview with Xinhua prior to the event.

"I think the values that are embodied in the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, are 5Hs, that is 'home, hope, health, harmony and happiness,'" Zhao said.

"These are universal values cherished by peoples around the world, that is a major reason why the Spring Festival is more and more popular in the U.S. and the world," he said.

Thursday's event was part of a series of online Lunar New Year celebrations hosted by the Chinese embassy to mark the most important festival in China.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Loading Section 51 of the Australian constitution gives the Commonwealth quarantine powers, but it is not an exclusive power, meaning the states public health safeguards operate alongside it. While the Commonwealth could have taken over quarantine, it has not and states have not lobbied for it to. While Victorias third lockdown was caused by more leaks from hotel quarantine, Mr Andrews has repeatedly insisted the state has the countrys strongest hotel quarantine system. Professor Esterman said the Victorian hotel quarantine system was one of the best due to its strict testing regime and the ban on workers having second jobs. But he said poor ventilation continued to be an issue and this could be improved by rolling out air purifiers in every room. They would get rid of a huge amount of virus in the air, he said.

Mike Toole, an epidemiologist at the Burnet Institute, said in an ideal world, every Australian city would have access to a quarantine facility like the one in Howard Springs, near Darwin. It has single-storey cabins that are joined but there are no airconditioning ducts, he said. They have individual airconditioning units and verandas where you can sit out and get some fresh air. Its a 30-minute drive to the Royal Darwin hospital so it really fulfils everything youd love to have in a quarantine facility. The site has so far taken 3781 people arriving on repatriation flights. The former labour camp is co-funded by the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory government to provide up to 850 quarantine places a fortnight. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled plans to more than double Howard Springs capacity, but reiterated that hotel quarantine would remain the primary mode of dealing with returning travellers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Mr Morrison said on Friday that moving hotel quarantine to regional areas would only create another set of risks. Youve got transfer risks. Youve got a workforce that you have to have in place in those situations. Youre further away from major, big hospitals. But Professor Toole said the federal government should consider building regional quarantine facilities, and Victorian locations could include Avalon Airport, Ballarat and Bendigo. He warned this would be a time-consuming and expensive exercise. Were not China, we cant build these things in three days, it takes months. In the meantime, he said, the priority should be on improving hotel quarantine. He urged authorities to engage with occupational hygienists and ventilation engineers to better understand how air moved in hotels, and said daily COVID-19 tests should also be considered for guests. Guests are currently tested on day three and day 11 of their 14-day stay. We should be treating all those cold hotels like they are hot hotels because guests can convert from negative to positive during that period and therefore become infectious, he said.

The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. Credit:Penny Stephens Benjamin Veness, a doctor and co-founder of advocacy group Health Care Workers Australia, said there was a good argument for moving quarantine facilities out of city centres. The argument that people needed to be close to city health facilities did not negate regional quarantine centres. Those who needed to be near CBD hospitals because they were in higher-risk categories could still be housed in better facilities  newer ones, ones with balconies, ones with windows that open, ones with airconditioning systems you can upgrade so theyre providing appropriate ventilation and not spreading COVID-19 potentially between rooms or into hallways. He said returned travellers heading to regional quarantine facilities could also be vaccinated before they flew into Australia. That would cut the chance of them bringing COVID-19 into Australia in the first place, and the reduced risk of severe illness would make regional quarantine safe for the vast majority of people.

Loading Together, these measures would have the problem pretty much solved, Dr Veness said. There is a lack of political will, not technical complexity, stopping us from finding a better solution due to state and federal governments being really stretched, he added. The federal government should be taking responsibility for quarantine, but it has turned out that the states have taken on that responsibility, and so youve got this argy-bargy playing out, he said. The feds particularly dont want to commit, because they know getting hotel quarantine perfect is a tricky exercise and I think Scott Morrison doesnt want to risk having outbreaks at a federally run facility that then impacts on his election chances later in the year.

Dr Veness said the NTs Howard Springs facility was working well. There is plenty of fresh air for residents, which is good not only from an infection perspective, but also its better from a mental health perspective, he said. Id prefer to go there than one of the high-rise towers with closed windows like we have in Melbourne. On Sunday, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said state leaders had to remember it was a vital part of our humanity to bring Australians home. [These are] mums and dads coming home to see their sons and daughters, children who have been studying overseas, families that have been separated, people coming home to say goodbye to loved ones, some themselves who may have terminal conditions, he said.


Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 21:38:27|Editor: huaxia

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Journalists work at the G7 summit press center in Biarritz, France, Aug. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Britain will host the first in-person G7 summit in almost two years in June in Carbis Bay, Cornwall in southwestern Britain, according to a previous statement released by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

LONDON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host a virtual meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders Friday to discuss efforts to ensure an equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and prevent future pandemics.

Johnson will call for a new global approach to pandemics, drawing on lessons from the divisions that characterised the initial international response to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a press statement released Saturday night by Downing Street.

"The solutions to the challenges we face -- from the colossal mission to get vaccines to every single country, to the fight to reverse the damage done to our ecosystems and lead a sustainable recovery from coronavirus -- lie in the discussions we have with our friends and partners around the world," Johnson said.

Noting that governments around the world have a responsibility to work together to put vaccines to the best possible use, he said, "I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe."

Friday's meeting will be the first hosted by Johnson as part of Britain's G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020.

The prime minister will use the meeting, which will also be U.S. President Joe Biden's first major multilateral engagement since he took office, to call for leaders to work together on a global approach to pandemics that brings an end to the nationalist and divisive politics that marred the initial response to coronavirus.

Johnson will argue that the last 12 months of the pandemic have showed that no country can be safe until every country is safe from the pandemic, the statement said, adding that the rollout of vaccines offers a fresh opportunity to demonstrate the value of international cooperation.

The G7 leaders' meeting will be attended by the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, and the presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission, said the statement.

Britain will host the first in-person G7 summit in almost two years in June in Carbis Bay, Cornwall in southwestern Britain, according to a previous statement released by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 
The home of Donald Trump's impeachment lawyer Michael van der Veen was vandalized with graffiti hours before the former president's historic acquittal on Saturday.

Attorney Van der Veen was seen hugging and fist-bumping other members of the team after the Senate trial.

Trump's legal team called the acquittal a 'total win' after the Senate voted 57-43 to find him not guilty of inciting the deadly riot at the US Capitol on January 6.

'We're going to Disney World,' van der Veen said, USA Today's Christal Hayes reported.

But hours earlier, vandals painted the word 'Traitor' in large red letters at the entrance to Van der Veen's suburban Philadelphia home, with an arrow pointing to his house.

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The home of Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen was defaced with the word 'Traitor' on Friday

Video shows the word 'traitor' spray painted in red on the driveway, with an arrow pointing to the home

Cops aid that van der Veen's home now has private security and police have been showing up 'to deter anything from happening'

The graffiti was reported around 8pm on Friday, according to Detective Scott Pezick of the West Whiteland Township Police Department in Chester County.

No arrests have been made, Pezick said Saturday, adding that the home now has private security.

He said: 'We've been showing a police presence to deter anything from happening.'

After the acquittal Saturday, Van der Veen said his home was attacked as the trial was ongoing and that his business is 'under siege,' CNN reported.

'My home was attacked, I'd rather not go into that. To answer your question, my entire family, my business, my law firm are under siege right now. I don't really want to go into that though,' he said.

A group of demonstrators gathered at some point outside van der Veen's law office in downtown Philadelphia, calling him a 'fascist' and chanting, 'When van der Veen lies, what do you do? Convict. Convict,' the Inquirer reported.

Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen was seen fist-bumping other members of the legal team after the acquittal

Defense lawyer Michael van der Veen, center, celebrates in a Senate subway train car after the acquittal vote

Van der Veen was also pictured hugging other members of the team after the historic impeachment win

Van der Veen was overheard by pool reporters telling members of the team: 'We're going to Disney World'

Michael van der Veen, lawyer for former President Donald Trump leaves the Capitol after the Senate voted to acquit in Trump's second impeachment trial

nse lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump Michael van der Veen arrives to offer remarks to reporters after the U.S. Senate voted 57-43 to acquit former President Donald J. Trump

After his acquittal. Trump called his second impeachment trial the 'Greatest Witch Hunt in the history of our country'

Van der Veen drew laughter from senators Saturday when he said any witness depositions could be done at his 'Philly-delphia' office.

Mike van der Veen, during impassioned remarks from the Senate floor during the fifth day of impeachment trial, pronounced his hometown Philadelphia with an accent, which sparked prolonged laughter from the lawmakers.

He also said if House managers were to call witness depositions, which ultimately did not happen, then he would 'slap subpoenas on a good number of people.'

'I don't know how many civil lawyers are here, but that's the way it works, folks,' van der Veen said in explanation, appearing confused over the laughs. 'When you want somebody's deposition, you send a notice of deposition, and they appear at the place where their notice says, that's civil process.'

The Senate quickly voted to acquit Donald Trump after House impeachment managers decided not to call witnesses

Michael van der Veen, an attorney for former US President Donald J. Trump, makes his closing argument during Trump's second impeachment trial

David Schoen, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, speaks during the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate

'I don't know why you're laughing,' he said. 'It is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it, we send notices of deposition '

Van der Veen was then interrupted by Senate President pro tempore Patrick Leahy who called the chamber back to order as the bipartisan laughter persisted.

'I would remind everybody that we will have order in the chamber during these proceedings,' the Democratic Senate leader said.

'I haven't laughed at any of you, and there's nothing laughable here,' van der Veen said.

Pennsylvania's Republican Senator Pat Toomey was seen by reporters in the chamber gallery giving a hearty laugh to the suggestion while chatting with seat mate Kevin Cramer, Republican senator from North Dakota.

Trump's lawyers celebrated the former president's acquittal on Saturday, claiming house impeachment managers 'didn't have a case.'

Van der Veen told reporters that House impeachment managers who initially voted to call witnesses in the trial were 'like a dying animal that we had trapped in the corner,' CNN reported.

House impeachment managers ultimately called no witnesses to testify in the trial.

'What had happened was the day before we demolished their case, and they were like a dying animal that we had trapped in the corner. And so this morning their last gasp were swinging out at us trying to save their case, and it didn't work,' van der Veen said.

He added: 'They shouldn't have brought this impeachment from the beginning. It really does stem from political hatred.'

Van der Veen did not tell the outlet if he had spoken with Trump since the acquittal vote, but said the former President 'had a good day in court today.'

'He was vindicated. He was found not guilty. The political witch hunt that they had, that the Democrats had thrown at him was defeated, so he should feel quite pleased,' van der Veen said.

Members of the Trump family also celebrated the victory.

'NOT GUILTY. Now maybe it would be nice if the senators stopped putting on show trials for free air time and actually started working for the American people for a change,' Donald J. Trump Jr. tweeted.

'Beating these establishment clowns twice after years of BS and under unprecedented circumstances is a badge of honor.'

He added: 'Let's impeach RINOs from the Republican Party!!!'

His brother, Eric Trump, simply tweeted '2-0,' and latter posted a statement from his father.

Eric Trump tweeted 2-0 after his father, former President Donald Trump, was acquitted by the Senate Saturday

Donald Trump Jr. sent out a series of tweets after the Senate voted to acquit his father in an impeachment trial for a second time

Donald Trump Jr. also posted on Instagram, saying that 'hoax impeachment part deux is over'

Trump called his second impeachment trial the 'Greatest Witch Hunt in the history of our country.'

'I want to first thank my team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending truth,' Trump said.

He added: 'No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago.'

The trial had been momentarily thrown into confusion on Saturday when senators suddenly wanted to consider potential witnesses, particularly concerning Trump's actions as the mob rioted.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the House impeachment manager, said that his team would seek testimony from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Washington, on Saturday morning.

Raskin wanted Beutler, who was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump, to testify about her knowledge of a conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and the former president during the Capitol attack.

McCarthy had allegedly told Beutler that he had urged Trump to call of the riots on television but he refused to do so for hours, Axios reported.

The Senate then voted 55-45 to call witnesses, including Lindsey Graham - who ultimately voted to acquit Trump.

However, House impeachment managers compromised with the defense team and agreed to take a Buetler's statement for the record rather than calling witnesses.

Having witnesses testify would have likely caused the impeachment trial to drag on for weeks and prolonged proceedings that could have significantly delayed President Joe Biden's emerging legislative agenda.

Coming amid the searing COVID-19 crisis, the Biden White House is trying to rush pandemic relief through Congress.

Biden has hardly weighed in on the proceedings and was spending the weekend with family at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland.

Saturday's verdict will certainly influence the future the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats to convict, but it was far from the two-third threshold required.

The Republican senators who joined Democrats in voting to find Trump guilty include Richard Burr (N.C.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.).

Though he was acquitted of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, it was easily the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Even after voting to acquit, the Republican leader Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as 'practically and morally responsible' for the insurrection.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tore into Donald Trump after voting with 42 other Republicans to acquit him of 'incitement of insurrection'  but then immediately argued the former president is solely to blame for Capitol storming.

McConnell contended Trump could not be convicted because he was gone from the White House.

'President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office,' McConnell said in Senate floor remarks.

McConnell did, however, suggest that Trump should still somehow be held accountable for his words and actions.

'He didn't get away with anything, yet,' McConnell said. 'We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation and former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi crashed the House impeachment manager's post-trial press conference Saturday to rage against McConnell.

'It had not been my intention to come to this press availability,' Pelosi said as she spoke to reporters on the fifth and final day of the Senate proceedings.

'But what we saw today was a cowardly group of Republicans who apparently have no options because they were afraid to defend their job  respect the institution in which they serve.'

She continued: 'But why I came over was because I listened to Mitch McConnell.'

Pelosi angrily recounted the events of January where McConnell, who was still Senate majority leader at the time, refused to accept the impeachment article against Trump before Joe Biden's inauguration.

'So for him to get up there and make this indictment against the president and then say, 'but I can't vote for it because it's after the fact.' The fact that he established! The fact that he established that it could not be delivered after the inauguration.'

Van der Veen is not the only person to have their home targeted by political vandals in the last few months.

Vandals also targeted the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate on the opening days of the New Year as Congress failed to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to people to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Spray paint on then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's door in Kentucky read, 'WERES MY MONEY,' and 'MITCH KILLS THE POOR' was scrawled over a window. A profanity directed at the Republican senator was painted under the mailbox.

At House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in San Francisco, someone spray-painted graffiti and left a pig's head and fake blood.
New Delhi: Increasing commodity prices, especially those of rhodium and palladium, which are used in catalysers to meet strict emission norms, are putting cost pressure on automobile makers, according to a senior official of Maruti Suzuki India.

The company, which had hiked prices of its vehicles in January, however is not planning to pass on the burden to consumers in the near future although it is keeping a close eye on its cost structure.

With the supply of semiconductors becoming a challenge for the automotive industry, Maruti Suzuki is also watching the situation closely although it will have normal supply this month.

"In commodities, prices have gone up dramatically this year, especially that of steel, and rhodium and palladium, which are used in catalysers of BS-VI vehicles.

"Demand across the world has gone up but its mining happens only in Russia and South Africa. There, the mining was much lesser because of the pandemic," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava told PTI.

Supply was less and global demand is very high because all Euro VI, BS-VI and China VI vehicles require catalysers, he said adding, "so, the demand has gone up, whereas supply is constant and 80 per cent of demand for rhodium and palladium comes from the auto industry."

When asked if the issue is as critical as that of semiconductor, he said, "for rhodium and palladium, supply is not an issue but the price is a problem but in semiconductor, supply is a problem."

Commenting on Maruti Suzuki's position with regards to semiconductor supplies, Srivastava said, "right now for semiconductors we don't have an issue. January was normal for us. February seems to be normal but there is a major semiconductor shortage in the auto industry. So, we are watching the situation very carefully. Right now we are not affected."

On whether the company plans to pass on the burden of increased rhodium and palladium prices to consumers, Srivastava replied in the negative stating the company had hiked vehicle prices in January because of increase in commodity prices.

"In fact, all OEMs have increased prices largely because of the increase in commodity prices. We keep watching the cost structure, how the costs are evolving and take decisions accordingly... Now we have to draw a fine line. We have to take care of the demand. We cannot increase prices randomly," he added.

Stating that the auto industry is just recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and "things are just getting sort of normal", Srivastava reiterated, "We are still way off from the previous highs, 33 per cent off from the highs of 2018-19."

He, however, said it is difficult to predict how long it could take for the Indian auto industry to reach the peak levels as a lot would depend on how the economy grows and how the sentiments improve.

"Since it is a discretionary purchase, the sentiment is very important. Sentiments can have a disproportionate effect on sales. During COVID times sentiments were not good and it had a negative effect on sales," he said.

Right now it looks like sentiment is getting better, Srivastava said, however adding that the COVID situation would also have a bearing as it cannot be predicted whether or not India will have a similar situation like Europe and the UK, where there have been second and third waves of the pandemic.

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The big day is almost upon us. Or to be more exact, you, if youre ages 75 to 79.

Monday at 9 a.m. is the first chance this age group will get at booking appointments for their COVID-19 vaccinations. Oregonians ages 80 and older became eligible last week.

The process can be confusing at times. Most counties have their own, unique system for booking appointments. So do the pharmacies that last week started offering appointments at their brick-and-mortar stores.

Heres what you need to know.

How do I book an appointment?

Starting at 9 a.m., Oregonians in some counties -- including Portland-area counties -- can use 211 to book appointments.

But for the internet savvy, booking online will likely be the quicker and easier path. For residents of the Portland area -- which includes Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Columbia counties -- visit covidvaccine.oregon.gov. Then click on the blue rectangular Lets get started box and use the chat tool to answer questions about eligibility and ultimately reach a Schedule now button to secure appointments.

Portland-area residents who book through this process will get appointments at either the Oregon Convention Center or Portland International Airports red economy parking lot.

Marion County residents also can book online using this process. But residents of other counties should visit covidvaccine.oregon.gov and click on the blue rectangular box COVID-19 Vaccine Information by County to learn their countys process for securing appointments.

Oregonians in every county also may call 211 or email ORCOVID@211info.org with questions. Residents who are unsure if theyre eligible can find out if they qualify by visiting the states website getvaccinated.oregon.gov.

Whats the difference between the Convention Center and the airport sites?

The Convention Center in Northeast Portland requires vaccine recipients to walk in or use wheelchairs. Its typically open seven days per week.

Most senior appointments will be at the airports drive-through site, in recognition of a sizable portion of seniors who might have trouble walking or standing for extended periods of time. Those wanting to visit the drive-through site should answer in the affirmative when asked during the booking process if they have mobility issues.

Of 5,500 appointments that were available for seniors to schedule last Monday, about 4,500 of them were at the airport.

The airport site is typically open Saturday and Sunday, but plans to open daily when Oregons vaccine allocation increases, said Tamara Hargens-Bradley, a spokeswoman with Oregon Health & Science University, which is running the site. She said the site regularly administers 3,000 doses per day, but has the capacity to scale up to 7,500 doses each day.

Can I book at my local pharmacy?

Yes, appointments are available at more than 120 pharmacies as of last week, depending on their vaccine supplies. Participating pharmacies are in 27 of the states 36 counties, according to Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen. Those pharmacies include 103 Safeway and Albertsons stores and 13 Costco stores.

Albertsons offers sign-ups at www.albertsons.com/COVID-19, Safeway at www.safeway.com/COVID-19 and Costco at https://www.costco.com/covid-vaccine.html. Fred Meyer also reports having limited vaccine appointments, which can be made at https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/coronavirus-update/vaccine.

Stephen Certo, director of pharmacy operations for Safeway and Albertsons, said each of their pharmacies were allocated 100 doses as of last week.

How soon can I get my shot?

Operators of the Portland area mass vaccination sites say seniors who schedule appointments starting at 9 a.m. Monday could get vaccinated as early as Wednesday. But thats still a bit up in the air given the recent days of snow cancellations.

Those who schedule shots at pharmacies might find earlier appointments.

How many appointments are available to seniors?

Aside from the pharmacies, there are nearly 29,000 first new doses slated for seniors statewide. Thats more than last weeks allotment of 20,000.

In the Portland area, about 6,800 have been designated for seniors who get vaccinated at the Oregon Convention Center and in the red economy lot at Portland International Airport. Last week it was 5,800.

But its unclear if 6,800 new vaccination appointments actually will be available. Thats because snow has forced the cancellation of as many as 15,000 appointments Thursday through Sunday for seniors and other eligible Oregonians in the Portland area. Most of them have been rescheduled for this week. The vaccination sites plan to ramp up their capacity this week to accommodate those rescheduled appointments, but the specifics are still being worked out.

It is possible to do some catching up. But it is too early to say, said Michael Foley, a spokesman for Kaiser Permanente, in an email. Kaiser is one of the health providers operating the Convention Center site.

How about other eligible Oregonians?

Educators -- which includes day care, preschool and K-12 employees -- will get 11,300 first doses this week statewide.

People in phase 1a -- which includes health care workers and people in long-term care facilities -- will get about 11,500.

About 46,000 second doses will be distributed statewide, but its unclear how those will be divided between the educators group and phase 1a.

How competitive will it be for seniors who want appointments?

When appointments opened up to seniors 80 and older for the first time last Monday, all available time slots in the Portland area were gone online in about 2  hours. Appointments were still available through 211 after that, but wait times sometimes exceeded two hours and some seniors reported being abruptly disconnected.

When new appointments opened up for booking last Thursday, the online appointments disappeared within three hours. Its unclear how long appointments on 211 lasted.

Officials say theyve boosted the number of operators answering calls through 211 and are hopeful wait times will be shorter.

How many people are seniors competing against?

Up to 133,000 Oregonians ages 75 to 79 will join the up to 168,000 residents ages 80 and older who became eligible last week and are vying for time slots.

Thats about 300,000 people. But the actual number is likely between 200,000 and 250,000 because tens of thousands already have received some vaccine -- most because they live in long-term care facilities or have been receiving in-home care, the rest because they secured appointments last week.

What about my second dose?

Those who are vaccinated at the Portland areas sites will be scheduled for their second-dose appointments at the time they receive their first shots, the sites operators say.

Do I need a MyHealth account to sign up for an appointment at the Oregon Convention Center?

No. Last week, some seniors whod never received care from Legacy Health ran into this roadblock when they tried unsuccessfuly to schedule appointments at the Oregon Convention Center: They didnt have a Legacy MyHealth account and they werent able to create one. Others who had received Legacy care in the past encountered trouble because they didnt know their usernames and passwords.

Maili Boynay, Legacys vice president of information services, said in an email that people wanting to make vaccination appointments arent required to have a MyHealth account, but it is suggested and in many ways can be beneficial for second dose scheduling and tracking purposes. To be clear, the system will let non-Legacy patients schedule appointments without one, Boynay said.

Is there a dependable schedule for when appointments will be opened for booking each week?

Yes, at least in the Portland area. Operators of the regions two sites say new appointments will be opened for scheduling at 9 a.m. every Monday and Thursday.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
A leading UK scientist, who worked on the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, has criticised the British government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic at the start of the outbreak. Sarah Gilbert, who led the team behind AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, has said the United Kingdom failed to heed the warnings until too late into the pandemic, and in some respect, lessons are still unlearned. Professor Gilbert, while talking to Observer, acknowledged the government's effort to set-up a vaccine manufacturing centre, but said it would have been better if it had been up and running in 2020, adding it won't be operational until late-2021, which is very late.

Read: China Hits Back At UK; Bans BBC World News In Response To Crackdown On Mouthpiece CGTN

Professor Gilbert also pointed out how the government failed to heed warnings about 'disease X', against which the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned a long time ago. Professor Gilbert also highlighted how everyone was still talking about the dangers of airborne viruses when it was already clear that coronavirus spread through the air after the Mers outbreak in 2015. This comes as the UK government is moving towards vaccinating 15 million people by February 15.

Read: UK's Johnson: Vaccines Worldwide Takes A 'colossal Mission'

UK vaccination drive

The inoculation drive in the United Kingdom is in full swing at the moment with more than 14 million people vaccinated so far. The UK government intends to vaccinate 15 million people by mid-February so it could start easing restrictions in the country by early March as the vaccines take a minimum of 15 days to trigger an immune response. The UK has registered more than 4 million COVID-19 cases so far, of which over 1,16,000 people have lost their lives.

Read: Scientists Warn Against More 'concerning' Mutations In UK; Calls For Vaccine Modification

The UK is witnessing the second wave currently, which is being fuelled by a new strain of the COVID-19 virus. On February 12, the UK recorded more than 14,000 new cases and over 750 new deaths. The UK has passed its peak from recording an average of over 50,000 new cases to now at 15,000 cases per day. However, the infection rate is still high compared to some of the other nations in the most affected countries' list.

Read: Boris Johnson Welcomes 'encouraging' Trial Results Of Janssen's Single-dose Vaccine

Chandigarh, Feb 14 : Barring stray clashes purportedly between workers of the ruling Congress and the Opposition, the voting to 117 Punjab urban local bodies, including eight high-stake municipal corporations, ended largely peacefully on Sunday, officials said.

Officials said the turnout in the state could be over 70 per cent with the women outnumbering men in voting. The poll percentage stood at 55.91 per cent at 2 p.m.

The main contest is among the Congress, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The BJP, which is facing anger over the contentious Central farm laws, is also in the fray. It is contesting the polls for the first time in two decades without the Akalis, the oldest NDA ally that has parted ways from it over the farm laws.

AAP activist Manveer was injured in poll violence in Patti town in Tarn Taran district.

"AAP Punjab volunteer Manveer badly injured and fired upon by the Congress worker in both legs and head, in presence of Punjab Police during booth capturing effort by Congress goons. Manveer bravely resisted. Dismiss SSP Tarn Taran," the AAP's Punjab unit tweeted.

However, the allegations of AAP were denied by police officials at the spot.

Elsewhere, SAD candidate Parveen Kumar Pinna, who is contesting the Moga Municipal Corporation election as a councillor, was assaulted outside the polling booth.

Angered over the three contentious farm laws, activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee stopped BJP booth managers from setting up a help desk at polling booths in Amritsar.

Elsewhere, even as at least seven people were injured as Congress and Akali Dal workers clashed with each other in Ropar municipal council.

Former minister and SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the SAD had already cautioned the State Election Commission about how democracy had been murdered in the run-up to the elections and how Congress goons were expected to indulge in booth capturing and other unfair practices.

Despite this warning, no concrete steps were taken to control the situation and ensure free and fair elections, he said in a statement.

Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning.

The voting was held for eight municipal corporations -- Abohar, Bathinda, Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga -- and 109 municipal councils and municipal panchayats.

The results will be declared on February 17.

According to the State Election Commission, there were 20,49,777 men, 18,65,354 women and 149 transgender voters, totalling 39,15,280 for the civic elections.

A total of 9,222 candidates were in fray for 2,302 wards.

Political observers say these polls just a year ahead of the Assembly elections are a 'semi-final' for the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government that is eyeing to repeat its victory against the backdrop of the farm laws that have generated a wave of anger against the BJP.
Joan Didion has been consecrated in her own lifetime. In the five decades since Slouching Towards Bethlehem, her work, particularly her non-fiction, 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. Hilton Als, in his introduction to her slim new volume Let Me Tell You What I Mean, suggests that it's Didions feeling for the uncanny that distinguishes her contribution to American non-fiction.

Reading many of the essays freshly anthologised 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, or parsed what was unconscious, whether in regard to 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.)

Didions new essay collection includes essays written between 1968 and 2000 (handout)

Still, admirers have much to celebrate. There are wicked reminders, for instance, of her acid humour. 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-Governor Ronald Reagans 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 womans daydream, circa 1948.

Her distinctive rhythms, her ability to distil 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 forVogue 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.

Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion. Knopf, HarperCollins, 12.99

 The Washington Post
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.
The Arabian Peninsula is the worlds largest peninsula by area, covering 3.2 million square kilometers. It was formed between 56 and 23 million years ago, following the rifting of the Red Sea. Geographically, the peninsula can be referred to as Arabian Subcontinent since it lies on its tectonic plate, known as the Arabian plate.

The Arabian plate is moving gradually away from Africa (creating the Red Sea) toward the Eurasia plate (forming the Zagros Mountain). The peninsulas most prominent feature is a desert. However, mountain ranges dot the southwestern portion, which tends to be cooler and wetter than the rest of the peninsula.

Where Is The Arabian Peninsula?

Arabian Peninsula on the world map.

The Arabian Peninsula is located in Western Asia. It is bordered to the southwest and west by the Red Sea, northeast by the Persian Gulf, east by the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, and southwest by the Arabian Sea. It is also bordered by the Somali Sea, Guardafui Channel, and Gulf of Eden to the south. The peninsula is located northeast of the Africa continent and separated from the continent by the Beb-el-Mandeb Strait.

Arabian Peninsula Countries

Arabian Peninsula map.

Initially, the Arabian Peninsula was divided into four main regions; Hadhramaut (Indian Ocean Coast), Al-Yamama (Central Plateaus), Al-Bahrain (Persian Gulf Coast), and Tihamah (Red Sea Coast). Today, the peninsula is subdivided into six countries, with two more countries also extending onto the peninsula. The six countries located wholly on the peninsula are Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The southern portion of Jordan and Iraq also extends onto the peninsula. Geopolitically, Bahrain is also part of the peninsula.

The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait are located on the peninsulas eastern portion. Oman occupies the southeastern part, while Yemen is in the south. Saudi Arabia is at the center, while Bahrain lies on the peninsulas east coast. Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the peninsula, occupying 2.15 million square kilometers or 66% of the peninsulas total area. Yemen is the second-largest country, covering about 16%, while Oman occupies about 9.6%. Qatar is the smallest country on the mainland peninsula, while Bahrain is the smallest country within its geopolitical region.

Origin Of Name

The name Arabian is derived from the Arab or Arabs. The name Arab first appeared in the Assyrian text of 853 BC, describing the matu arbai, called Gindibu. The variation of the name Arab, including Arubu, Arabi, and Aribi, are mentioned severally until around the 6th century BC. Aribi indicates a form of submission to the Assyrians. Arabia, as a place-name, first appeared in Greek writing. The term was popularized on the peninsula by Herodotus and other Greek and Latin writers.

An account of Arabs is also recorded in chapter 10 of Genesis of the Bibles Old Testament. Here, the Arabs are referred to as Noah's descendants. His son Shem is considered the ancestor of Arabs, Hebrews, and Arameans. However, the term Arabs is not mentioned explicitly in Genesis. Instead, the term Erev is used.

During the period between Alexander the Greats death and the emergence of the Roman Empire (Hellenistic Period), the peninsula and its surroundings were referred to as Aravia or Arabia. Ancient geographers divided the area into three regions; Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen), Arabia Deserta (Desert Arabia), and Arabia Petrea

Important Geographical Features

Skyline of the city of Dubai, UAE at sunset from the desert.

Several geographical features characterize the Arabian Peninsulas landscape, including plateaus, desert range, mountains, and coastlands. The peninsula is mostly covered by deserts, making it one of the worlds driest regions. The Nafud Desert on the northern part stretches over 103,600 square kilometers and is 290 km long and 225 km wide. This desert is known for sudden violent wind responsible for the crescent-shaped dunes. On the south is the Rub al Khali Desert that is part of the Great Arabian Desert. This desert covers 650,000 square kilometers or about one-third of the Arabian Desert and includes parts of Yemen, The UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

The mountains are found along the peninsulas northwestern, southern, and eastern borders. The Hajar Mountains are the highest mountain ranges on the east and are shared by Oman and the UAE. The Dhofar Mountains are found on the southeastern side, specifically in Oman. On the west are Hijaz, Asir, and Haraz Mountains. Other mountains on the peninsula include Shammar, Tuwair, and Jabal Hadhur (the peninsulas highest mountain).

Scenic View of Small Rural Settlement at Jebel Akhdar Gorge in Al Hajar Mountains in Oman

The peninsula is also crossed by a plateau of more than 760 meters above sea level. The central plateau is known for pasture and fertile valleys, making it suitable for livestock grazing. The peninsula has few rivers or lakes, with the area drained by wadis which are dry most of the time. Oases form mainly where there is surface water. Two of the largest oases in the world, Qatif, and Al-Hasa are in Arabia.

Climate

The Arabian Peninsula is characterized by intense temperature, especially during summer, reaching as high as 129 degrees Fahrenheit. Although much of the interior is dry, in the southern highlands and coastal areas the humidity is extreme during the summer months. These humid areas may also receive fogs and dews, which serve as rain.

Rainfall is scarce in areas not reached by the Indian Ocean monsoon. Desert regions receive torrential rains occasionally, causing wadis to flood. However, drought can last several years. The monsoon is responsible for the high precipitation in the south and southwest. The northern parts receive monsoons from the Mediterranean, blowing towards the Persian Gulf and south towards Yemen through Rub al-Khali.

Plants And Animals

Date palms are a common tree found in the Arabian desert region.

Arabia is often hot and dry almost throughout the year, making it only suitable for desert species. However, date palms are common everywhere, except in Dhofar. Dates are popular sources of food, with areas such as Bishah and Medina known for quality dates. The coastal areas are dotted with coconut palms, while grains such as sorghum, wheat, millet, and barley are also common throughout the peninsula. Besides food plants, other plants that grow on the peninsula are acacia, mimosa, cactus, aloe, oleander, junipers, and tamarisk.

Arabian oryx in the Arabian Desert

Camels have been the chief animals of the Arabians, especially nomads. They were the main means of transport in the desert and also provided milk, food, and fuel (dung). Apart from camels, there are numerous goats and sheep (collectively known as ghanam) and Arabian horses. Wild animals include gazelles, Oryx, ibex, hyena, jackal, hedgehog, ratel, jerboa, and wolf. Deadly snakes include desert species such as striped sea snakes, horned viper, and cobra. The seas around the peninsula contain several fish species, including tuna, grouper, mackerel, and porgies.

History Of Human Settlement In The Arabian Peninsula

A traditional souk in Oman. Editorial credit: Lal Nallath / Shutterstock.com

The Arabian Peninsula may have been inhabited as early as 130,000 years ago. But, it is estimated that the first people to settle on the peninsula migrated from Africa about 90,000 years ago. However, the regions harsh climate discouraged people from building settlements, except for trading settlements in Medina and Mecca.

Pre-Islamic Arabia was characterized by several civilizations, including the Kingdom of Awsan, Himyarite Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Main in South Arabia, and Dilmun Civilization in Eastern Arabia. The rise of Islam on the peninsula began around the 7th century. Prophet Muhammad, Islam founder, was born in Mecca in 570 and began preaching around 610. He migrated to Medina 12 years later and united the Arabian tribes under the Islam banner.

Throughout Arabian history, the arm-bearing tribe dominated other tribes, which included nomadic and oases dwellers. The Sultans and Sheikhs were mainly drawn from tribes that supported arm-bearing tribesmen. However, the descendants of Prophet Mohammad were considered superior to others on the social scale. The pastoral tribe, known as Bedouin, and the settler tribe, or al-hadar also had a longstanding conflict between them.

Important Population Centers

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is the most populous urban center in the Arabian Peninsula.

An estimated 86.2 million people live on the Arabian Peninsula. The region's high population is supported by a high immigration rate. It also has one of the most skewed population, with almost all the countries having more men than women. At about 75%, Qatar has the highest proportion of men in the world. Expatriates and immigrates account for a significant proportion of the peninsulas population. In Qatar and the UAE, over 80% of their populations are expatriates.

Rank City Population 1 Riyadh 7,231,447 2 Jeddah 4,610,176 3 Kuwait City 3,114,553 4 Sanaa 2,972,988 5 Dubai 2,878,344 6 Mecca 2,042,106 7 Sharjah 1,684,649 8 Muscat 1,549,729 9 Medina 1,488,782 10 Abu Dhabi 1,482,816

Saudi Arabia is the most populous country on the peninsula, with an estimated 33.4 million people, followed by Yemen, with 28.9 million, and the UAE with 9.5 million people. Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital, is the most populous city, with 7.2 million people. With a population of 4.6 million, Jeddah is the second-most populous city. Other important population centers in Saudi Arabia are Mecca (2 million) and Medina (1.5 million). Kuwait City is the third-largest city in the peninsula, with 3.1 million people, while Sanaa, Yemen, has 3 million residents.

Economy

View of the Oil and Gas exhibition center in Muscat, Oman.

Some of the worlds wealthiest countries by GDP per capita are located on the Arabian Peninsula. For instance, Qatar is the worlds third-richest country after Luxembourg and Singapore, while the UAE is the 6th richest country. The peninsulas economy is driven by the abundant oil and natural gas reserves. The Arabian Peninsula has the worlds largest oil reserve. It possesses about 17% of the worlds proven oil reserves, with Saudi Arabia as the worlds largest oil producer, accounting for about 15% of the global production. Over 50% of exports coming from the Arabian Peninsula are petroleum products.

Tourism is a major source of income for the peninsula countries. Arabia is a popular cultural and religious destination, attracting millions of people every year. Every year, millions of Muslim faithful take pilgrimage to Mecca, Prophet Muhammads birthplace, and Medina, his resting place. Other travel destinations in Arabian Peninsula include Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City.

For centuries, the oyster beds in the Persian Gulf produced some of the world's best pearls. Pearling was once a profitable economic activity, with Bahrain as the chief producer. Now, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are also participating in pearling. The region also has vibrant construction and service sectors, supported by the rich oil industry


The COVID-19 health crisis has made it harder for older Americans who are in assisted living homes to have physical contact with their families.

The Juniper Village at Louisville is an assisted living home in a neighborhood near Denver, Colorado. It has fully vaccinated people living there and its workers. With the help of TRU Community Care, a nonprofit healthcare organization, Juniper Village created hug tents with plastic for people living there.

Amanda Meier is a project coordinator with TRU Community Care. With the help of her husband and some volunteers, they built the hug tent. It includes plastic arm sleeves for safe contact.

The tents are giving families a way to stay connected and see each other in a safe way. The tents permit people to hug and be in close contact without infecting each other by using the plastic barrier.

Anna Hostetter is the spokeswoman for Juniper Village. I think its just a huge weight off their shoulders, just being able to have that hug that they havent had in so long, she said.

During the planning of the hug tents, Hostetter said she was not sure if one could feel human contact through plastic. But she said the experience was really special for our families. Juniper Village plans to continue using the tents.

Since the coronavirus health crisis started, similar hug tents have been created around the United States, England and in Brazil.

Len Hartman is a 77-year-old dementia patient at Juniper Village. Lynda Hartman, his wife of nearly 55 years, was able to experience what life was like before the health crisis by hugging Len.

It felt so good. I kept hitting his glasses when I hugged him, though, Lynda said.

Lynda can no longer take care of Len by herself because of broken bones in her back. I really needed itIt meant a lot to me, and its been a long, long time, Lynda Hartman said after her short visit in the hug tent.

Im Armen Kassabian.

Thomas Peipert from the Associated Press reported this story Armen Kassabian adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tents  n. a portable shelter made of nylon or plastic

sleeves  n. the part of a shirt, jacket, etc., that covers all or part of your arm

spokeswoman  n. a woman who speaks for or represents someone or something

dementia  n. a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real

How are the elderly affected by the Pandemic in your country?

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  Vice President Leni Robredo has called on government officials to conduct consultations with localities and other sectors before implementing policies in the middle of the pandemic.

In her radio show Biserbisyong Leni on DZXL-RMN, Robredo on Sunday agreed with some Metro Manila mayors who raised concern over the recent decision by the government to allow cinemas, game arcades and other leisure venues to reopen in areas under general community quarantine.

"Uunahin 'yung mga sinehan, mga interactive game arcades, enclosed, more than an hour magkasama yung mga taong nandoon. Hindi ko alam kung based ito sa science," she said.

[Translation: They want to prioritize the cinemas, interactive game arcades, but these areas are enclosed and people will likely stay here for more thna hour. I don't know if this is based on science.]

"Di ko talaga maintindihan kung ano 'yung science behind it. Naiintindihan natin na kailangan nang buksan yung ekonomiya pero kita naman natin kahit na buksan yung mga mall, walang umiikot, kakaunti talaga dahil takot pa ang mga tao," Robredo added.

[Translation: I really do not understand the science behind it. We understand that we need to open the economy but we've observed that even if they reopened the malls, not a lot of people would roam around because a lot are still afraid.]

She stressed that the best way to reopen the economy is to do it while ensuring that COVID-19 transmissions are not getting higher and vaccine supply is already secured in the country.

On Saturday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the Metro Manila Council, composed of 17 local chief executives, will have to convene and arrive at a consensus on the reopening of these establishments, following concerns on the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission. The council usually makes recommendations to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the policy-making body in governments pandemic response, but the national government still has the final say.

You are going to allow people to be confined in an air-conditioned facility for almost two hours and I believe that this poses high risk in terms of infection, Zamora said Saturday.

READ: Metro Manila mayors wary of reopening cinemas

Robredo also shared a similar sentiment on the national government's recent implementation of the 60-day price cap on pork and chicken products, which cited the burden of consumers on rising food prices over the past weeks.

However, despite the call of the Agriculture Department to offer aid to affected vendors and hog raisers, some groups feared that the price cap will discourage the affected sector in Metro Manila from selling fresh products. Some pork and chicken vendors in Balintawak Market and Mega Q Mart have closed their stalls since last week, due to big losses.

"Bago sana nagbababa ng polisiya, nakonsulta muna yung mga taong kailangang konsultahin, yung mga sektor na dapat konsultahin," she said.

[Translation: Before implementing a policy, they should have consulted first with people and other sectors who needed to be consulted.]

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the government's "number 1 strategy" was to allocate P27 billion-worth of assistance for commercial hog raisers to help them repopulate piggeries in their area.

"Para sa akin, kailangang pag-usapan, kailangang makonsulta (ang affected sectors). Malaki naman 'yung tiwala natin kay Secretary Dar...Baka nakulangan lang ng pagkonsulta," Robredo added.

[Translation: For me, there really needs to be a dialogue, the affected sectors must be consulted with. We have huge trust in Secretary Dar...maybe he just lacked in consultation.]
Toshio Suzuki

Suzuki is a Portland native and board member for the nonprofit Friends of Trees. He lives in Portland.

Turning the old Harbor Drive freeway into Tom McCall Waterfront Park was a pretty great idea in the 1970s.

Investing early in this mass transit concept called light rail in the 1980s seemed to work out, too.

Most importantly, these big ideas transformed and improved city life for the vast majority of Portlanders.

Now, how about another big idea: The city of Portland, its residents and a coalition of public and private partners, should tear down Lloyd Center and create a green space in the asphalt epicenter of town.

You dont need to look far for evidence of the Northeast Portland malls ongoing demise. Major stores including Nordstrom and Macys have pulled out. Smaller retailers are also closing down. The malls struggles were recently detailed in a front-page story in The Sunday Oregonian, Lloyd Center a shell of its former self. There are no more anchor tenants; even the Cinnabon is gone.

But you know what smells even better than cinnamon rolls? Clean air.

Imagine a massive public park in the place of Lloyd Center, with thousands of native trees in the middle of the city, adjacent to neighborhoods, mass transit, and just a few Damian Lillard 3-point bombs away from the intersection of I-5 and I-84. Urban hiking trails, bike paths, play structures and maybe even an outdoor amphitheater all seem possible, given the size of the mall, which sold for $148 million in 2013.

Other cities have shown how to do this. About a decade ago in Columbus, Ohio, that city decided to tear down a nearly abandoned mall that once had 150 tenants to build a park, now called Columbus Commons.

Today in Madrid, that city is planting Europes largest urban forest specifically to address the bad air quality and heat island effect in the Spanish capital.

With so many people moving to Portland every year and the long-term regional goal of density, now is the time to plan for a park of the future. Portland loves to tout its green space acreage per capita credentials; but take out Forest Park, buried in the West Hills far from most residents, and those numbers look a lot less respectable.

People without easy access to a park have an increased risk of stress, depression and poor mental health outcomes, according to the Public Land Trust. As a parent with young kids, I have personally found every park, green space and river access area in the city to be a priceless resource during these pandemic times.

And in case we needed an argument unrelated to climate change and our collective health, lets face it, nobody is moving to Portland for the urban mall scene.

I remember walking through an open air Lloyd Center as a child and being excited when a bird flew past. I understand the multi-generational significance of the building that was once ahead of its time.

But now, it is a relic, and the space deserves to be reimagined. Portland can once again champion a big idea that would benefit everyone.

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Myanmar's new military-led State Administration Council led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing issued an order amending the Protection of the Citizens for the Personal and Personal Security Law.

According to the order issued on Saturday, Sections 5, 7 and 8 of the law will be suspended during the state of emergency declared on February 1, reports Xinhua news agency.

The suspended Section 5 says that the relevant ministry and responsible authorities shall ensure that there is no damage to the privacy and security of the citizen except where this occurs in accordance with existing law, and when acting in accordance with existing law, the authorities shall not enter into a person's residence or private places for the purpose of search, seizure, or arrest, unless accompanied by minimum of two witnesses from local administration organizations.

The suspended Section 7 of the law says that no one shall be detained for more than 24 hours without permission from a court unless the detention is in accordance with existing law.

The Section 8 limited entering into a citizen's private residence or room for the purpose of search, seizure, or arrest, surveilling, spying upon or investigating any citizen which could disturb their privacy and security or affect their dignity, intercepting or disturbing any citizen's communication with another person or communications equipment in any way, demanding or obtaining personal telephonic and electronic communications data from telecom operators without order, permission or warrant in accordance with existing law or responsible authority.

It also prohibited opening, searching, seizing or destroying another person's private correspondence, envelope, package or parcel, unlawfully interfering with a citizen's personal or family matters or act in any way to slander or harm their reputation and unlawfully seizing the lawfully owned movable or immoveable property of a citizen or intentionally destroying either directly or by indirect means.

The one-year state of emergency was declared in after former President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained along with other officials from National League for Democracy (NLD) by the military on February 1 after which a was staged.

The state power was handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and the State Administration Council was formed later.

The military had demanded the postponement of new parliamentary sessions, citing massive voting fraud in the November 8, 2020 general elections, which saw the NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.

Myanmar's Union Election Commission dismissed the allegation.

--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.)
New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah gave an assurance in Lok Sabha on Saturday that the Centre will grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time and asserted that the government has done more for it since Article 370 was scrapped in August 2019 than those who ruled it for generations.

Replying to a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, he also slammed some Opposition members for their claim that the proposed law negates the hopes of the region getting back its erstwhile statehood.

The bill to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of all-India services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was later passed by Lok Sabha by a voice vote.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has already been passed by Rajya Sabha. It replaces an ordinance issued last month.

This legislation has nothing to do with statehood, and Jammu and Kashmir will be accorded the status at an appropriate time, Shah said.

He took a swipe at the Congress and other parties -- which had backed Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir -- saying this was a temporary provision but they continued with it for over 70 years before the Modi government annulled it.

Jammu and Kashmir has been a top priority for the current government since it took power in 2014, he said.

Responding to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shah said opposition parties were free to visit the region.

Chowdhury had claimed that foreign delegations were being taken to the region, no all-party delegation was sent.

The home minister also gave the assurance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that "no one will lose their land". The government has sufficient land for development works, Shah said.

Decentralisation and devolution of power have taken place in the union territory following the revocation of Article 370, Shah said, noting that panchayat elections saw over 51 per cent voting. Panchayats have been given administrative and financial powers for local development, something they lacked earlier, he added.

Now people chosen by the masses will rule Jammu and Kashmir, not those born to "kings and queens", he said, attacking dynastic parties in the region.

Even our rivals could not allege any wrongdoing in these polls which were conducted fairly and peacefully, he said.

Work on two AIIMS in the region has begun, and the Kashmir Valley will be connected to the railways by 2022, the Union Home Minsiter said.

Attacking the opposition, he said while they were seeking a report card from the government about the development of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, "have you brought a report card of what you have done in the last 70 years". Shah said the government expects that around 25,000 government jobs will be created in Jammu and Kashmir by 2022.

Replying to AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, he said 4G services are resumed not under pressure of any foreign government.

"This is Modi's government and in this, the country's government and Parliament takes decision for its people," he added.

Criticising Owaisi, he said the AIMIM leader was creating a divide between Hindu and Muslim officers.

Citing certain developmental projects, he said by 2022 we will be providing rail connectivity to Kashmir valley.

Since the imposition of President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has almost completed the work of giving electricity to every house.

Shah said the government has changed the land laws to facilitate setting up of industry. "We are providing Rs 13,000 per month cash assistance to those 44,000 displaced Kashmiri families who have 'Rahat Cards'," he said adding they were displaced because Congress had failed to provide them security.

"We should not do politics on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. There are several issues over which politics can be done. These are sensitive places and people have suffered a lot. We need to assuage their feelings," he observed.

Participaing in the discussion earlier, Owaisi said the bill will further alienate the Muslims and Kashmir. He also sought to know about the number of youths from the Valley arrested under the Public Security Act (PSA).

Manish Tewari (Cong) said when the government says the statehood will be restored, the bill to merge the J&K cadre with AGMUT is a contrary step.

Shah explained that states such as Mizoram, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh are part of the cadre and the suggestion is unfounded.

Attacking Chowdhury for his comment that the cadre should be local and officers having ground knowledge should be appointed there, Jamyang Namgyal, BJP MP from Ladakh, said when local officers were appointed the Valley on the same logic, there was no let up in cases of terrorism.

He said when it came to promoting locals it was not applied to the Valmikis, Gorkhas and those came from west Pakistan.

Namgyal said the move will ensure that efficient and experienced officers will be able to work in Ladakh and even officers from the UT can work in other parts of the country.
The highly infectious U.K. variant of COVID-19 is likely spreading in Pauingassi, a remote First Nation 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

The highly infectious U.K. variant of COVID-19 is likely spreading in Pauingassi, a remote First Nation 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Officials announced Saturday evening seven probable cases of the B.1.1.7 variant were detected during COVID-19 testing, which has identified gene markers linked to the U. K. variant. The samples have been sent to the National Microbiology Lab for confirmation, using genomic sequencing.

Manitoba has only confirmed one case of the U.K. variant, a man tested Jan. 21 who officials believe did not infect anyone else.

The military deployed on Feb. 6 to help stem the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the far-flung community, which has no airstrip and has no year-round roads.

Earlier Saturday, Manitoba public health officials announced 100 new COVID-19 cases and the death of a Winnipeg man in his 80s linked to the illness.

Nearly half of those new cases  at least 44  are in the Winnipeg health region, as the entire province moved to newly relaxed restrictions this weekend.

In other areas of the province, 39 new cases are in the Northern health region; 12 in the Southern Health region, three in Prairie Mountain Health; and two in the Interlake-Eastern health region.

According to the Saturday bulletin, there are now 230 patients in hospital in Manitoba with COVID-19. Thats down by 10 from Friday, with 28 of those people in intensive care.

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Selkirks Red River Place Personal Care Home.

Officials also announced Saturday there was a trend of concerning case numbers in Cross Lake First Nation, prompting a new public health order for residents to stay in their homes or immediately adjacent areas.

A statement posted Friday on the communitys website said there were 45 active cases there, including 15 involving children.

The provincial death toll is now 866. Due to a data correction, one death that had been previously reported has been removed from the total, the province said.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is five per cent provincially, and 3.8 per cent in Winnipeg.

The provinces test positivity rate rose slightly after dropping to 4.8 per cent Friday. Meanwhile, Winnipegs test positivity rate has dropped slightly after it was at four per cent heading into the Louis Riel Day long weekend.

 with files from the Canadian Press

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca

Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur

Temur Durrani

Reporter Temur Durrani reports on the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic for the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography

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.
A universal vaccine with the potential to be effective against all Covid-19 variants could be developed within a year, according to researchers.

The so-called second generation jab, developed by scientists at the University of Nottingham, targets the core of the virus as well as the surface spike protein.

If successful, the DNA vaccine could help protect against not only Covid-19 but also against any new strains of coronavirus that arise in the future.

It comes after AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford said their vaccine had been found to provide only limited protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the South African variant of Covid-19.

The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines only target the spike protein, which enables the virus to gain entry into a cell, and so may lose effectiveness when it mutates.

However, researchers say the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which makes up the bulk of the virus particle, is "highly conserved"  meaning much less likely to mutate.

The Nottingham vaccine would also be relatively simple to manufacture and would not need to be stored in ultra-low temperatures, according to Scancell.

We dont necessarily claim it will be a pan-coronavirus vaccine, but it has got the potential to be so simply because of where it is targeted," Dr Gillies OBryan-Tear, the chief medical officer of the immunology company Scancell which collaborates with the University of Nottingham, told the Daily Telegraph.

Dr O'Bryan-Tear said that the vaccine candidate needed a big pharmaceutical partner and hundreds of millions of pounds to put it through the clinical trials process.

If this funding is in place then it could be developed within a year.

"There is no reason why, if we get a partner, we shouldn't be able to do it as quickly as the others have done it," Dr O'Bryan-Tear told the Telegraph.

"I think the pandemic will be around for two or three more years, because of supply, because of not being able to vaccinate developing countries. During that time, the virus will mutate, so there are plenty of opportunities for new entrants to try their hand."

NEW DELHI: Globally renowned actress Priyanka Chopra has recently released her memoir titled 'Unfinished'. The book released on February 9, is an up-close and honest account of PeeCees journey and struggles in and outside the industry. She has spoken about every detail of her life, from undergoing a botched surgery to moving to the south, her relationships and bitter breakups, among others. In one of the chapters, she expressed her gratitude towards filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan for helping her dad Dr. Ashok Chopra when he fell sick a couple of years back.

The actress revealed how the Bollywood actor was the first to step up and arrange for the best, world-class treatment for her dad in London, who was suffering from cancer. He made sure Dr. Chopra was able to get an immediate flight to London for better medical care. The selfless act made a huge impact on PeeCee as she wrote in her book, "Incredibly, Hrithik who is hugely successful in the Hindi film industry got on the phone and used his connections at Air India to arrange for my father's immediate flight to London."

She added, "If we hadn't had people around us who were so kind and so willing to act on our behalf - Hrithik and his father, Rakesh Sir, our family in Boston - I doubt that my father would have made it. There's no way I can ever express my gratitude adequately to them, but it is deep and it is enduring."

Priyanka Chopras father battled cancer for 8 years

Priyankas father Dr. Ashok Chopra was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, when the actess was shooting for 'Bluffmaster.' For years after that, he was seeking treatment at various hospitals. However, he lost the battle to cancer and passed away in 2013. The 'White Tiger' actress wrote in her memoir about how devastated and heartbroken she was after losing her father to the illness.

To honour her fathers memory, she had gotten a tattoo that says, Daddys lil girl. which has been written in her fathers handwriting. At her memoirs launch, Priyanka also dedicated the book to her dad. She read out the dedication in a live reading video, "Dear Papa, much like the title of this book, your story was unfinished. With that in mind, I dedicate the rest of mine to you. I miss you, dad."

Chopra was most recently seen in Ramin Bahranis 'The White Tiger' in 2021 in which she played a supporting role. She has many more films lined up such as a romantic comedy Text for You with Sam Heughan and Celine Dion and the iconic series 'Matrix 4' starring Keanu Reeves.
White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo has resigned following his one-week suspension over sexist comments to a reporter writing a story about his romantic relationship with another journalist.

We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Saturday night. This conversation occurred with the support of the White House Chief of Staff. We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the president in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.

Vanity Fair revealed that Mr Ducklo told Politico reporter Tara Palmeri he would destroy her after learning of her reporting.

He reportedly made misogynistic comments about Ms Palmeri and claimed she was jealous about his relationship with Alexi McCammond, an Axios reporter pulled from reporting on Joe Bidens campaign and administration in November after disclosing her relationship.

We felt it was a serious punishment, Ms Psaki said during a press conference on Friday following his initial suspension.

Following his inauguration, the president told his incoming staff that his administration intends to lead with the core American values of humility and trust.

I am not joking when I say this, he said on 20 January. If you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect  talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot ... No ifs, ands, or buts.

It doesnt meet our standard, it doesnt meet the presidents standard, Ms Psaki said on Friday. It was important that we took a step to make that clear, but also a step to suspend him for one week without pay. That, in our view, was an important step in our message that we dont find it acceptable.

The president was not involved in the decision making process for suspending the press secretary, according to Ms Psaki. The decision was made by herself, Mr Ducklos direct superior, who consulted with chief of staff Ron Klain, she said.
Christian leaders call for repentance, overhaul following Ravi Zacharias sexual abuse report

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Christian leaders and a former associate of Ravi Zacharias' ministry are calling for repentance and an overhaul of organizational practices after a report released Thursday detailed the late apologist's pattern of sexual abuse.

In an email to The Christian Post on Friday, Carson Weitnauer, who previously led RZIM's U.S. speaking team, said he now believes that Zacharias was not only a fraud, as he articulated in an earlier op-ed published by CP, but that the organization bearing his name is as well. He further asserted that the ministry's apology is unacceptable in light of the revelations released in the report.

"The organizations apologetic-sounding statement was released by an anonymous board, is incomplete in its scope, avoids calling on the Zacharias Estate to release the Thompson's from the NDA, and announces no resignations or removals of those most responsible for this tragedy. 1 John 3:18 instructs us, 'Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth,'" said Weitnauer to CP.

"I pray that many churches and nonprofits will decide to learn from this catastrophe and take immediate action to mitigate the risk of personally repeating it," he added.

RZIM issued an apology Thursday with the announcement of the results of an extensive independent investigation in which victims claimed that Zacharias had engaged in sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape over the course of many years.

The ministry hired the Atlanta law firm Miller & Martin to conduct the independent investigation. In the apology statement published as the report was released, RZIM said it was shocked and grieved" by the actions of the late apologist and that "corporate repentance was needed.

Weitnauer said it's crucial that churches and ministry organizations appoint senior leaders who bear responsibility and that they establish or strengthen policies against abuse of every kind  provide training on toxic cultural dynamics, and ensure board members and community leaders are informed and watchful advocates for survivors and other vulnerable members of their communities.

"The continued prevalence of sexual abuse within the church, and the weak response to it by church leaders, is a great discredit to our witness," Weitnauer said. "For the sake of the Gospel and the honor of God, and our commitment to the wellbeing of victims, may we instead courageously resolve to build communities that are full of truth and goodness."

Other Christian voices and thought leaders have expressed a variety of emotions. Many said they are disgusted and shaken, but noted that news of respected evangelical leaders falling has become common.

"Ive thought about this a lot since it all came out and I guess it sucks to say that Im not surprised when this happens anymore. Because it just keeps happening. God, have mercy," said author Jackie Hill Perry, tweeted Thursday.

She added in a subsequent tweet-thread Friday that she had attended the funeral for the late apologist last year and that the news of his misconduct left her feeling "thrown."

"Not because Im surprised per se but because its disorienting. Im reminded that giftedness will never translate to godliness. Neither is orthodox teaching the proof of righteous living...Ravis ministry was a gift to most of us but his fall is a warning to all of us. Take heed lest we fall too."

Teacher and popular speaker Beth Moore said in response to the report that, at base, "in every situation where a Christian leader has lived in gross hypocrisy, carrying on a double life, for years on end: They are out of fellowship with Jesus. Period. YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT IN FELLOWSHIP."

"The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. Every believer has and will fall into strongholds of various kinds of sin but, in fellowship with Christ, we cannot bear to remain in it. We will repent. We can implement all the accountability systems & MUST. But what weve got on our hands are people using piety and outward appearances of righteousness to hide the fact that they have little to no intimacy with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit," she added.

The board of the Zacharias Trust, the U.K. branch of the ministry, also put out a statement announcing that they had made the unanimous decision to separate from RZIM. Although the organization has always been a separate entity in terms of governance with its own trustees, the Trust said that current circumstances have led them to conclude they must operate without any link to the organization.

"The UK entity will also choose a new name. This process will take time to complete but the UK Board is convinced that this is the best and only way to ensure that the ministry can continue to serve the UK church with integrity. This will also give us the opportunity to review the lessons to be learned from these awful events," the Trust added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, February 14, visited Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where he inaugurated several crores worth of projects. PM Modi first inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore. This 9.05 km long extension will link North Chennai with the airport and Central Railway Station.

He inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs 293.40 crores, traverses through Chennai and Thiruvallur Districts.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. The campus will be built in Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase spread over an area of two lakh sqm.

The prime minister also paid tribute to the CRPF jawans who were killed in the terror attack in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir in February 2019.

"No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations," PM Modi said.

He added that the country's armed forces had shown time and again that they were fully capable of protecting "our motherland." The prime minister also handed over the homemade Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army. The tank is manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment. Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs, and several MSMEs were also involved in the project.

PM Modi also hailed the framers of Chennai for record food grain production. "I want to appreciate the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and good use of water resources. We have to do whatever we can do to conserve water. Always remember the mantra of 'Per drop, more crop," he stated.

After Chennai visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate a slew of projects in Kochi. He will dedicate to nation the Bharat Petroleum's Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at Kochi Refinery and Inland Waterways Authority's Roll-on/Roll-off vessels.

PM Modi will also inaugurate Cochin Port Trust's International Cruise Terminal, Cochin Shipyard's Vigyana Sagar, and campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh L Mandaviya will also attend the event.Also read: Greta Thunberg toolkit case: Delhi Police arrests 21-year-old climate activist from Bengaluru

Also read: Mcap of 7 of top-10 companies jumps over Rs 1.40 lakh crore; RIL biggest gainer
ALONE, the organisation that supports older people at home, has seen over the last 12 months the demand for their support structures increase hugely.

In the last year ALONE has received over 41,000 calls for support and the Covid-19 National Support Line in particular has helped almost 15,000 older people in communities throughout Ireland. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, many of whom battle loneliness and isolation in normal times but whose plight has been worsened by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant restrictions.

This week Leinster Rugby announced ALONE as its latest charity affiliate as part of its charity partner programme for the 2020/21 season.

The organisations are using their shared ethos to highlight the value of community and inclusion at a time when we all need it most. The key to ALONE and Leinster Rugbys partnership is the importance of participation spanning across community, inclusion, physical activity and mental health.

With ALONE operating as a national organisation that supports and empowers older people to age at home, Leinster Rugby aim for this collaboration to celebrate the work they do in the Leinster region and further afield across the Country.

As a national charity, ALONE provide an integrated system of Support Coordination, Practical Supports, Befriending, a variety of Phone Services, Social Prescribing, Housing with Support, and assistive technology. The organisation use support plans, provide a point of contact for access to health, social care, housing, transport and other arising needs using technology and other services and activities to improve physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

In March 2020, ALONE saw the need to provide a National Support service and established their National Support Line which operates seven days a week from 8am  8pm. Since then they have received over 41,000 calls into the line and in 2020 supported roughly 15,000 older people nationwide. Over 3,000 of those older people are being supported in Leinster.

Communication is key to feeling included and expressing your feelings is important to check in with yourself. ALONE is encouraging older people to reach out and talk when you are experiencing feelings of loneliness as people are here to listen.

Statistics show one in ten people over 75 are lonely a lot of the time and demand for ALONEs services has increased five-fold in recent years. One in four older people live alone, and this figure increases in rural areas.

The number of over 65s living in Ireland is expected to increase from todays level of 700,000 to 1.4 million by 2046.

In order to meet the challenges that lie ahead the Government and State agencies must plan now for effective, high quality low cost models of services that will improve the lives of older people for years to come.

The issues the country will face in the years ahead in this area of care are complex and require equally complex solutions.

Over the next 30 years, 20,000 people will turn 65 every year which equates to 400 people a week

Older people need good services of a consistent quality, to ensure that they dont slip through the cracks and become isolated from other people.

The Government, State agencies and the health service in tandem with voluntary bodies such as ALONE all have a role to play.

But so do ordinary individuals and communities throughout the length and breadth of Ireland, particularly during the Covid pandemic.

While due to current restrictions you may not be able to visit an elderly neighbour, relative or friend you can communicate with them by phone, through social media or even by traditional mail.

Such interaction could make the world of difference to an older person.
Afghan men walks past the wreckage of gas tankers after a fire accident at Islam Qala on the outskirts of Herat, in the border between Afghanistan and Iran on February 14, 2021. (Photo by HOSHANG HASHIMI / AFP)

At least 100 oil and gas tankers have been destroyed by fire in a "catastrophe" at Afghanistan's biggest trade crossing with Iran, causing millions of dollars of losses, officials said Sunday.

The huge blaze, which broke out Saturday afternoon at Islam Qala port 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the western city of Herat, has been contained and an investigation launched into its cause.

"We were told that 100 or 200 tankers have been destroyed, but this number could be higher," Jailani Farhad, spokesman for the governor of Herat province, said after visiting the scene.

During the blaze looters descended on the site, stealing goods that were being imported and exported across the border, Younus Qazi Zada, the head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce said.

"The catastrophe was much bigger than imagined," he said, adding:

"Unfortunately, irresponsible people have looted a large number of goods."

Qazi Zada said initial estimates were of "millions of dollars of losses".

Farhad added that investigators needed more time to examine the extent of damage.

Videos posted on social media on Saturday night showed the towering fire and huge clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

On Sunday security forces opened fire on a vehicle, killing one man, after the driver failed to stop at a checkpost that had been hastily set up to prevent suspected looters from entering what was left of the customs office compound.

An AFP photographer said hundreds of people had gathered at the site, trying to get access to the trucks.

Around 20 people were injured in the fire, according to Herat health officials.

The finance ministry said early findings suggested the blaze started in a tanker before quickly spreading and causing "heavy financial losses" -- including fuel, tankers and customs facilities.

Damage to power lines from the incident left large parts of Herat province without power on Sunday.

- Trucks fled over the border -

Islam Qala is one of the major ports in Afghanistan, through which most official trade with Iran is conducted.

Kabul has waivers from Washington allowing it to import oil and gas from Iran despite US sanctions.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the border "was held open for trucks, cars and people running from the fire".

Afghanistan's vice president Amrullah Saleh said hundreds of trucks were allowed to enter Iran to escape the fire.

Traders have been asked to use alternative border crossings.

The Taliban has regularly attacked fuel tankers they suspect of supplying foreign troops in the country.

In 2014, the hardline group destroyed more than 200 fuel trucks on Kabul's outskirts in an attack.

There was no indication that militants were behind Saturday's blaze.

However, insurgents assaulted a nearby security post shortly after the blaze broke out, taking advantage of the situation, Farhad said Saturday.

Security forces have been deployed around the port area.

Afghanistan has been hit by a surge in violence despite ongoing peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough.

The rise in violence has led US President Joe Biden's administration to launch a review of a deal signed between Washington and the terror group last year that paved the way for the withdrawal of all American troops in the coming months.
Ghazipur, Feb 14 : The farmers, protesting against the Centre's agricultural laws at the Ghazipur border, on Sunday held a candlelight march to express solidarity with families of the CRPF jawans killed in the Pulwama terror attack.

The march saw participation of people from children to ex-servicemen.

As many as 13 ex-servicemen sat on a hunger strike on Sunday to extend their support to the farmers.

Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Delhi's Pandav Nagar, took his daughter Gursahib Kaur at the protest site, and she was the youngest to pay tribute to the Pulwama martyrs.

The peasants also offered flowers to the martyred security personnel, designed a rangoli map of India and raised the slogans of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.

Farmers' organisations held candle marches, torch processions and other programs across the country in memory of the martyrs.

On February 14, 2019, a terrorist drove an explosive-laden SUV into a convoy of CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, killing 40.
Donald Trump's animated defense attorney Michael van der Veen angrily stormed out of his interview with a CBS News reporter on Saturday after he put on a voice to mimic her and claimed she 'didn't understand the case.'

Van der Veen prematurely ended his interview by ripping off his microphone and dropping it on the floor after suggesting CBSN anchor Lana Zak was making light of Democrats presenting 'doctored' evidence.

During the fifth and final day of the impeachment trial on Saturday, where Trump was ultimately acquitted, van der Veen remained defensive of his client.

'I'm speaking about the House manager's failure to prove their case. That's what I'm talking about, they weren't able to prove their case,' van der Veen asserted toward the end of a 10-minute tense interview.

'You have won the acquittal of your client,' Zak said.

Van der Veen interjected, with his arms crossed: 'Yes I did.'

'And if you would like to continue to talk about this conversation we can continue to do that,' she said. 'But for me to ask a question to clarify for our viewers what you're talking about is a fair question.'

'A slanted question that was set up to say, 'It's OK for them to cheat.' That was your question, 'Isn't it OK for them to cheat. It's just a little bit.' You said, 'To be fair, it was only a check on the Twitter.' That's what you said,' van der Veen said, snarling on his face and using a more high-pitched, sing-songy voice to mimic the anchor.

'You gotta live by your words,' he said. 'That's the problem  the media has to start living by the truth. And not try to create a narrative.'

Donald Trump's defense attorney Michael van der Veen angrily stormed out of his interview with CBSN on Saturday by tearing off his microphone and dropping it on the ground of the Capitol

The attorney told CBSN anchor Lana Zak that she 'didn't understand the case' and was downplaying Democrats 'doctoring' evidence. He also mimicked Zak by using a more high-pitched and sing-songy voice

'You gotta live by your words,' van der Veen said as he went on a rant tearing into the media. 'That's the problem  the media has to start living by the truth. And not try to create a narrative'

Zak announced at the conclusion of the interview that she could see van der Veen taking off his own microphone and dropping it to the ground

Van der Veen is receiving threats for defending Trump. His home, in suburban Philadelphia, was defaced with the word 'Traitor' graffitied on his driveway in red on Friday evening

'Alright Michael van der Veen,' Zak said, in starting to wrap up the interview.

'Yup, citizen,' he said, angrily looking away from the camera as he stood in the Capitol following the acquittal of his client.

'I do appreciate ' she said, as van der Veen took off his own microphone and said, 'yup,' again.

'Ok, I see you taking off your microphone now,' Zak said as van der Veen is seen dropping the microphone onto the floor accompanied by the sound of it making impact. 'That was President Trump's defense attorney.'

Van der Veen said earlier in the interview that Democrat did not deny that they presented 'doctored' evidence by showing a tweet that incorrectly displayed a blue verification check mark, showed that it was sent in the year 2020 instead of 2021 and other 'selective editing' of tapes.

'Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,' van der Veen cut in. 'That's not enough for you?'

'It's not OK to doctor a 'little bit' of evidence,' he continued.

'The media has to start telling the right story in this country,' he said. 'The media is trying to divide this country. You are bloodthirsty for rating, and as such you are asking questions now that are already set up with a fact pattern.'

'Your coverage is so slanted it's got to stop. You guys have to stop and start reporting more like PBS does rather than a TV news show that doesn't have any journalistic integrity at all.'

He added in his rant: 'I'm tired of the biased media on both sides  left and right. What this country wants, what this country needs is this country to come together. To take the left and the right and find a middle ground.'

Van der Veen made headlines several times throughout the defense's presentation over the last week, including on Saturday when the Senate chamber erupted in laughter when he pronounced Philadelphia as 'Philly-delphia.'

The attorney's private home was also vandalized on Friday with graffiti hours before the former president's historic acquittal.

Vandals painted the word 'Traitor' in large red letters at the entrance to Van der Veen's suburban Philadelphia home, with an arrow pointing to his house.

The graffiti was reported around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, according to Detective Scott Pezick of the West Whiteland Township Police Department in Chester County.

Video shows the word 'traitor' spray painted in red on van der Veen's driveway, with an arrow pointing to his home

Cops aid that van der Veen's home now has private security and police have been showing up 'to deter anything from happening'

Hours after the vandalization, the Senate voted to acquit Trump after House impeachment managers decided not to call witnesses

Pezick said Saturday no arrests have been made yet, adding that the home now has private security detail.

We've been showing a police presence to deter anything from happening, he added.

After the acquittal Saturday, Van der Veen said his home was attacked as the trial was ongoing and that his business is 'under siege.

'My home was attacked, I'd rather not go into that. To answer your question, my entire family, my business, my law firm are under siege right now. I don't really want to go into that though,' he said.

A group of demonstrators gathered at some point outside van der Veen's law office in downtown Philadelphia, calling him a 'fascist' and chanting, 'When van der Veen lies, what do you do? Convict. Convict,' the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Van der Veen demanded during his defense argument Saturday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris appear at his 'Philly-delphia' office for in-person depositions.

Mike van der Veen, during impassioned remarks from the Senate floor during the fifth day of impeachment trial, pronounced his hometown Philadelphia with an accent, which sparked prolonged laughter from the lawmakers.

He also said if House managers call witness depositions, then he would 'slap subpoenas on a good number of people.'

Trump's senior adviser Jason Miller said Saturday they have a list of 301 witnesses they would like to call  and he said that number is growing.

That list, according to pictures taken of a paper Miller was holding at the Capitol, includes Pelosi, Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House impeachment managers Ted Lieu and Joaquin Castro, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono and Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Maxine Waters.

'For the House managers to say we might need depositions about things that happened after, it is just not true. But, if he does, there are a lot of depositions that need to be happening,' van der Veen said of House impeachment managers lead Jamie Raskin if he goes forward with calling for depositions on the events following the storming of the Capitol on January 6.

'Nancy Pelosi's deposition needs to be taken. Vice President Harris' deposition, absolutely, needs to be taken,' he said.

'And not by Zoom. None of these depositions should be done by Zoom,' van der Veen asserted, raising his voice and banging his hand on the podium. 'We didn't do this hearing by Zoom.'

'These depositions should be done in person in my office in Philadelphia,' he continued with a snarl on his face, using the pronunciation 'Philly-delphia'. 'That's where they should be done.'

At this point, senators on both sides of the chamber burst out into laughter.

At one point during the proceedings Saturday, the Senate chamber exploded in laughter after Trump's defense attorney pronounced his hometown of Philadelphia as 'Philly-delphia'

During a fiery speech on the Senate floor Saturday, van der Veen sparked chamber-wide laughter with his pronunciation as he banged on the podium and snarled

The Pennsylvania-based attorney was demanding that if Democrats called for depositions in the impeachment trial, than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris should give their own in-person at his Philadelphia office

'I don't know why you're laughing,' he said, appearing to think the laughter was related to his legal argument. 'It is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it'

Senate President pro tempore Patrick Leahy had to call order in the chamber as the laughter persisted

'I don't know how many civil lawyers are here, but that's the way it works, folks,' van der Veen said in explanation, appearing confused over the laughs. 'When you want somebody's deposition, you send a notice of deposition, and they appear at the place where their notice says, that's civil process.'

'I don't know why you're laughing,' he said. 'It is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it, we send notices of deposition '

Van der Veen was then interrupted by Senate President pro tempore Patrick Leahy who called the chamber back to order as the bipartisan laughter persisted.

'I would remind everybody that we will have order in the chamber during these proceedings,' the Democratic Senate leader said.

'I haven't laughed at any of you, and there's nothing laughable here,' van der Veen said.

After a vote commenced in favor of Democrats call to depose witnesses, the impeachment managers backed off the request as it appeared the motion could prolong the proceedings for weeks to come.

Before the trail kicked off on Tuesday, Raskin sent a letter demanding Donald Trump appear to testify in the proceedings, to which the former president's lawyers rejected.

'He mentioned my client coming in to testify, that is not the way it's done,' van der Veen lamented during his fiery remarks Saturday. 'If he wanted to talk to Donald Trump, he should have put a subpoena down. Like I'm going to slap subpoenas on a good number of people if witnesses are what is required here for them to try and get their case back in order, which has failed miserably.'

Following the ordeal, and as the Senate voted on whether to call witnesses, Republican Senator Rand Paul is seen talking to van der Veen and lead impeachment attorney Bruce Castor  also based in Pennsylvania

Miller said there is already a list of more than 300 witnesses Republicans would like to call.

'We're currently at 301 and counting' he tweeted of the witness count after Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham voted in favor of calling witnesses.

Graham tweeted after the vote: 'It is my firm belief that the House Managers are trying to investigate the case AFTER it was brought to the Senate. It is better for the country to go to a final vote.'

'However, if the body wants witnesses,' he continued in a thread, 'I am going to insist we have multiple witnesses.'

'We can start with Speaker Pelosi to answer the question as to whether or not there was credible evidence of pre-planned violence before President Trump spoke?' he said.

The South Carolina senator added: 'Her testimony is incredibly relevant to the incitement charge.'

While even Republicans chuckled at van der Veen's suggestion some of the top Democratic leaders appear in-person at his Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office for depositions, the interruption from Democratic senators continued through Leahy calling order.

Pennsylvania's Republican Senator Pat Toomey was seen by reporters in the chamber gallery giving a hearty laugh to the suggestion while chatting with seat mate Kevin Cramer, Republican senator from North Dakota.

Donald Trump's senior adviser Jason Miller said Satruday that they are prepared to call more than 300 witnesses if that's the route Democrats want to take in the impeachment trial

Miller was pictured Saturday at the Capitol with a list of names titled in black sharpie 'Witness List 301 (so far)'

That list includes Pelosi, Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House impeachment managers Ted Lieu and Joaquin Castro, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono and Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Maxine Waters

There were a few times on Saturday when van der Veen incited laughter.

A few minutes before saying Pelosi and Harris should be deposed at his office, the animated attorney was yelling about how there are multiple reasons Donald Trump should be acquitted.

'Let me take my own advice and cool the temperature in the room a little bit,' he suddenly said calmly after shouting his previous point.

He was greeted with a few chuckles from the chamber.
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The Kaduna State Government on Saturday said three passengers were killed by suspected bandits around Yakowa village in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday night in Kaduna.

Mr Aruwan said security agencies reported the attack on a commercial vehicle around Yakwo village in Chikun Local Government Area.

He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness over the development and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed by the bandits, while sending condolences to their families.

The commissioner said investigations into the incidents were in progress, as troops continue to intensify patrols in the general areas.

Also in Kaduna, troops of the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday foiled an ambush by a group of armed bandits at Ungwan Laya near Birnin Gwari, killing many of them, an official said.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Mr Daramola said that the troops were able to beat their ways through the ambush, killing several of the bandits who were over 100 in number.

He, however, added that an undisclosed number of gallant personnel of the Nigerian Air force involved in the operation lost their lives, while others sustained injuries and currently receiving treatments.

According to him, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Oladayo Amao, has expressed his condolences to the family of the gallant officers who paid the supreme price.

The CAS on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the families of the fallen heroes and prays that the Almighty God grants their souls peaceful repose.

The CAS, who visited the injured personnel in the hospital this evening, has urged all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, to rid the Northwest of all criminal elements, he said.

(NAN)
Posted Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:20 pm

On Jan. 6, rioters charging through the halls of the U.S. Capitol, pounded on the door to the office where U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was hiding with her husband. She recalls shouts of having "breached the castle" and to "kill the infidels."

"I was not safe. It was a horrific feeling, and it lasted for a long time," recalled Murray in her first public account of her close encounter with the mob that stormed the Capitol in an interview that aired Friday evening on PBS News Hour."

The voice of Murray, the senior member of the Washington U.S. Senate delegation and third in the Democratic leadership, was often taut with emotion as she offered chilling details of her experience that day. Murray spoke on the eve of what is expected to be a historic Senate impeachment trial vote Saturday on whether to convict former President Donald Trump on a charge of inciting the rioters with his actions before and during his Jan. 6 rally that preceded a march to the Capitol.

On that day, Murray said in the PBS interview, she was preparing for remarks she would make on the Senate floor, and was working in an office nearby. She had heard the president give a speech to his supporters at the rally, and knew the crowd was "pretty negative." But once she was in that office with her husband, she texted her family to say she was safe.

Then things changed.

She could see out a window that protesters were breaking into the building. She still thought she was safe because she was in the Capitol, and "that's what we feel."

But she heard explosions and yelling, and soon, people in the hallway outside the office.

Murray said she and her husband had to be very quiet. They made eye contact, "and just we can see each other's eyes: 'Please, please let this door be locked.'"

"And this vision of my husband just putting his foot against a door, like he might be able to hold down this incredibly loud, angry, even jubilant mob outside our door was just beyond belief," Murray said in the interview with PBS' Judy Woodruff, anchor of "News Hour."

The "terror I saw in his eyes was something I have not seen, and we have been married almost 49 years."

"They were  I remember somebody saying: 'Get me the map. I need the map.'

"It sounded like they were talking on walkie-talkies ... to somebody else and getting directions. So, they knew what they were looking for.

"And by the way, they didn't know it was me, I don't think. It could have been anyone. It could have been any member of Congress. I don't think it mattered whether we were Republican or Democrat, woman or man. They were in there to kill the infidels, as they were saying."

Murray said the ordeal lasted about an hour.

She told Woodruff that she has had a hard time talking about the day. She said she didn't want the rioters to ever feel like they "had instilled fear in me or kept me from doing what I needed to do."

Murray said she decided to speak about the ordeal Friday because, "as I listened yesterday to the House managers, and they talked about the senators being 58 steps away, that I was inches away."

Murray said that "you show your fear is overcome by strength, by speaking out and speaking against what happened in the Capitol ... I want a country that uses words and voices, that speaks out against this kind of brute force, that does not allow it to be what runs our democracy."

___

(c)2021 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 23:18:43|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni Houthi militia said that they launched on Sunday new attacks on the Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia with two bomb-laden drones, according to the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah Television.

"They attacked accurately," Yahya Sarea, spokesman of the Houthi military, said in a statement aired by the television.

"It came in response to the escalation by the aggressors," he said, referring to the Saudi-led coalition forces.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported that the coalition intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden drones fired by the Houthi militia toward the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

This was the latest in a series of Houthis' cross-border attacks against the kingdom, most of which were foiled before reaching their targets, according to the coalition's reports.

On Wednesday, the Houthis attacked the Abha airport, causing a civilian plane on the tarmac to catch fire, no injuries were reported, said the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem
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An Albuquerque police officer was hit in the face by shrapnel or debris after getting into a gunfight with a suspect during a foot chase in a neighborhood off East Central on Saturday.

Were very fortunate that the officer was able to survive this incident as several shots were fired at the officer, interim Police Chief Harold Medina said during a briefing just before 8 p.m.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the officers injury is not serious and that police used flash-bang devices, tear gas and a dog to force the suspect  Johnny Ray Gallegos, 33  out of a refrigerator that he hid in during a lengthy standoff.

The officer is on standard administrative leave pending the shooting investigation.

Medina said around 3:40 p.m. the officer was near Dallas and Chico SE working an operation to address crime trends being seen in the area when he came into contact with Johnny Gallegos.

APDs Gallegos said Johnny Gallegos shot at the officer, which led to a foot chase, during which the two fired several rounds at each other.

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Gallegos said they arent sure if the officer was hit by shrapnel or a piece of gravel or cement kicked up by gunfire. Medina said the officer was not taken to a hospital.

Once the shooting stopped, Medina said Johnny Gallegos hid and the SWAT team was called to search the area. APDs Gallegos said officers eventually found him inside a refrigerator that was outside.

Medina said Johnny Gallegos refused to come out of the appliance initially, but was taken into custody after police used chemical munitions. He said a handgun was found at the scene.
Surely all mothers think their children are beautiful? Without a doubt, Im hopelessly in love with my daughters faces.

At 15 and 12, their skin is flushed with youth, their waist-length blonde hair shines and every time they smile, I am spellbound.

Im sure I am biased  but you can never be too sure. Perhaps a model agency scout is lurking around the corner, ready to pounce? I know it can happen. After all, it happened to me.

I was 13 when I was sitting in a pancake restaurant on Londons Kings Road with my two sisters, debating savoury versus sweet. Two women stopped at the window to stare in at me and point, like they were eyeing up a yummy-looking cake in a patisserie. Then they came in and asked me if I wanted to join their agency, Models 1.

Never before had I considered myself pretty. At school, I was jokily called skeleton because I was so bony. It was my best friend who got all the attention from boys.

Two women stopped at the window to stare in at me and point, like they were eyeing up a yummy-looking cake in a patisserie. Then they came in and asked me if I wanted to join their agency, Models 1

When I took their card, I felt like theyd made a mistake. I said something silly about being too young.

It took me two years to pluck up the courage to go into the agency. By then, I was 15  my elder daughters age.

Now I look at her fresh face and her eyeliner flicks, her fake nails and chunky silver rings, and I think how innocent she seems. It is almost impossible to believe I was only her age when I started working as a model, and I wonder if I would ever let her follow in my footsteps.

My husband, Simon, is a model, enjoying a long and successful career, earning enough money to provide a good lifestyle for us. Theres real money to be made here. But if my instincts as a mother tell me this could be a good idea, my memories of modelling scream otherwise.

To write my new book, The Pretty One  a novel about a girl who is scouted as a model at 15  I wanted to reconnect with those days, so I reminisced with two ex-model friends of mine, Natalie and Sarah (not their real names), both of whom also started at the same age as me.

We all still remember our first day. Ill never forget walking through the glass-walled offices of Models 1 and feeling the bookers beady professional eyes look me up and down.

It took me two years to pluck up the courage to go into the agency. By then, I was 15  my elder daughters age

When asked to stand in my underwear to be measured, I was excruciatingly self-conscious. These days, girls remain fully clothed for this ordeal. I fully expected to be told I wasnt quite the right fit for the agency. But to my delight, they wanted to represent me.

That summer, I tramped around London on my own, trying to make it on time to eight or nine castings a day, crying if I missed an appointment or if a photographer or client was rude.

By the end of the summer, I was relieved to be going back to school. The rejection process had been brutal. I had been to roughly 40 castings a week, and had worked no more than a handful of times on unpaid test shots for my portfolio, followed by some editorial jobs on teen magazines, such as More and Company, and some edgier work for i-D magazine and The Face.

I snapped back to being a regular schoolgirl at my private boarding school, but when the holidays came it was back to more castings and, slowly, jobs began to come in.

At 19, I deferred my degree and went to New York with Sarah. I changed agency and we found an apartment in the Hotel Chelsea. Then we met Natalie and the bond between us was formed.

On many levels it was undeniably glamorous. The hotel is steeped in rock n roll history. We would bump into Grace Jones in the lift and watched Mariah Carey shooting a music video.

We later recalled the scrapes wed got into, like the time I sprained my knee on a heavy night out before a job with film director Sofia Coppola, who was shooting photos for a magazine. I hobbled in, hungover and wearing a huge knee-brace.

We remembered how mortified Id been when Kate Moss had turned up on another shoot to meet the photographer, a friend of hers, then sat down, lit a fag and watched me work some modelling moves in a series of turquoise shell-suits.

We recalled the hedonistic parties, jam-packed with A-listers, the night when Leonardo DiCaprio told me my thrift-store camisole was see-through.

While Natalie and Sarah bagged the Vogue covers, I was more of a jobbing model, booked for advertorial clients like upmarket department store Bergdorf Goodman, and glossies such as American Elle.

We worked during the glorious age of the 1990s super, when supermodels wouldnt get out of bed for less than 10,000. In reality, Id get out of bed for 50 quid and struggled to pay the rent, but the dream was dangling there, enticing as hell.

Then the chat between the three of us took a different turn as we began sharing other, darker memories that we had never properly examined before.

But if my instincts as a mother tell me this could be a good idea, my memories of modelling scream otherwise

We remembered the time a photographer had cleaned jam off one of our naked bellies, wiping far too low down; the time a photographer kissed one of us on the lips at the end of a shoot; the time a photographer had asked one of us if he could photograph a very intimate body part (the answer was no).

Not forgetting all the many other misdemeanours  such as going for a scented-candle advertising job and being asked to take your top off  that wed laughed off at the time, as teenage girls have a tendency to do.

You would think my privileged upbringing in Chelsea, West London  my father was a film director and my mother a writer  would have better equipped me but it gave me false confidence, the sense that modelling was just a natural extension of life in a creative industry.

I thought I was a grown up, insisted I could deal with any situation. It never occurred to me to tell them about any of the seedier side.

I recalled a photographer in London who coerced me into semi-nude shots at the end of a shoot when I was just 17. Pretending that the shots would be arty, he somehow persuaded me to lie on the bed on set in just my pants.

Natalie and Sarah groaned in sympathy, saying they knew exactly who I was talking about. It turned out that none of us was thinking of the same photographer.

Three separate middle-aged men who had abused their power and persuaded teenage girls into compromising sexual poses.

Until then, Id never told anyone what had happened, not even my parents or my booker, and kept secret how ashamed and humiliated it had made me feel, blaming myself entirely, thinking it was what a model was required to do: to slowly strip down to nearly nothing in front of a strange man in his 50s who was alone with me on a closed set in the name of fashion. I still remember how he looked at me with his greedy eyes.

Of course, photographers werent the only culprits. There was the time Natalie was at a party with a magazine editor who implied hed put her on the front cover if she slept with him.

Because the job would have been career-changing, she flirted with him, in spite of him being much older and unattractive to her. In the end, she refused his advances. But he didnt like her rejection. The next day he sent her photos of his private parts. The images were disturbing, and she told him where to go, while feeling guilty for leading him on.

Sarah remembered living in Paris in about 1992 with some models from Eastern Europe. Every Friday night, their booker, who worked for one of the big international agencies, would wheel in a rail of designer dresses and choose lucky girls to take to parties.

Sarah, who is feisty and confident, was never picked. She was left feeling disgruntled and rejected. Later, she found out the Eastern European teens were taken in limos to dinner parties with old men and were expected to entertain them. She counts her blessings now.

I want to believe that the safeguards work, that young women are safe. Yet in truth, it only takes one sexually predatory photographer on one shoot to ruin a girls life

Im not saying that we girls were necessarily angels either. When there was a rumour that a celebrity was coming into the agency to flick through models cards, selecting whom they might want to date, we hoped to be chosen.

When we were invited to be flown by helicopter to extravagant parties on Mafia yachts, as happened to a friend of mine, we couldnt wait to dress up and go dancing. But we were young and we were naive. Often, we were still children.

Recently, I read in the newspapers about Gerald Marie  the former Elite Models boss and ex-husband of the supermodel Linda Evangelista. He has recently been accused of rape and sexual assault by two of his agencys former models, one of whom is the film actress Carre Otis, accusations he categorically denies.

It reminded of the atmosphere around modelling in my day. The same feeling rose up in me when I read about Jean-Luc Brunel, the friend of Jeffrey Epstein and owner of a Miami-based agency, who was charged last year with sexual harassment and rape of minors. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.

That too reminded me that the threat of unwanted sexual attention was often there. And even though it was written months before these news stories came out, my latest novel could have been based on what the models were claiming. In it, a young girl from the countryside is scouted by a London agency, dragging her into the modelling world, threatening to destroy her.

Through adult eyes, Sarah, Natalie and I imagined our own children in similar circumstances to those wed experienced, and we no longer found the memories of those days funny. But none of that would happen now  would it?

These days, most modelling agencies are well versed in safeguarding measures for the young girls they represent. They insist they look out for them and step in as their protectors. The British Fashion Model Agents Association exists to protect and manage the careers of their models.

Chaperones are required for girls who are under 16, whereas I had been on my own without a chaperone from day one. A few major fashion houses have refused to hire under-18s. In the U.S., models have to be over 18 to work.

But in Britain models aged 16 to 18  that is, children  are still allowed to work unchaperoned with a crew of adults, where the rules to protect them are not understood at best, and ignored at worst.

I want to believe that the safeguards work, that young women are safe. Yet in truth, it only takes one sexually predatory photographer on one shoot to ruin a girls life. And I know of two, off the top of my head, who are still working in the industry today and have been guilty of ruining girls lives.

One guy, who took photos of me when I was about 19, was rumoured to have raped two young women I personally knew.

Another photographer, renowned for molesting dozens of models back in my day, continues to enjoy a high-profile career. If I know of two men, imagine how many more there are? For all I know, some of the bookers who exploited the innocence of their models are still working in the industry, too. The agencies these bookers worked for remain successful, never apologising to those they let down.

Many agency owners have made millions of pounds out of their models, yet they have never been held accountable for what happened to some of them.

For me, it wasnt all bad. For starters, I met my husband, and I made lifelong friendships. But in the end, at the ripe old age of 21, I knew modelling wasnt for me. It was the best decision I ever made.

Today, Im a novelist. The experiences have shaped who I am today, in good and bad ways, but in spite of the fun, there has been a lot of money spent on therapy and there were situations I would rather forget. Those uncomfortable memories could have been avoided.

If my daughters were to work as models now, Id want to believe that they would be confident enough to fight for their rights.

When they turn 18, there will be little I can do to stop them. But they would be going into the business with their eyes opened by me, knowing that it is a high-risk environment, knowing that sexual predators to the fashion industry are like bees to a honeypot.

While I have it in my power to protect them, it will be a no, no and another emphatic no to the ugly business of modelling.

The Pretty One (Bookouture) is published on February 26 and is available to pre-order now. See geni.us/B08TRGS59Hdailymail
A man carries his weapon during a pro-Second Amendment rally at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Feb. 8, 2020. (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)

Utah Governor Signs Bill Allowing Concealed Carry of Firearm Without Permit

Utahs governor on Feb. 12 signed a measure into law that allows people in the state to carry a concealed gun without a permit.

With the passage of this bill, Utah joins 17 other states with some form of permitless concealed carry, Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican in his first term, said in a statement to news outlets.

This bill protects Second Amendment rights, reduces permitless open carry (which is already legal), and includes significant funding for suicide prevention.

House Bill 60, which was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Walt Brooks, a National Rifle Association member, states that an individual who is 21 or older and may lawfully possess a firearm, may carry a concealed firearm in a public area without a permit.

Former Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, had vetoed similar legislation several years ago.

According to state data, Utah officials issued over 26,000 concealed carry permits in the 4th quarter of 2020 and renewed another 18,095. As of Dec. 31, 2020, there were 718,218 valid concealed carry permits in the state, including some 290,000 for Utah residents and 427,639 for nonresidents.

Gun rights groups had called for Cox to sign the bill, including the National Association for Gun Rights.

Were thankful Rep. Brooks has introduced this legislation and the National Association for Gun Rights field team are working diligently to make sure the legislature promptly passes this bill and puts it on the desk of Governor Cox for him to sign into law. Dudley Brown, the groups president, said in an earlier statement.

After the signing, Jason Ouimet, executive director of the National Rifle Associations lobbying arm, said: There is no reason a law-abiding person should have to ask for permission to carry a firearm for self-defense, The passage of this bill demonstrates Utahs commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of its citizens. We thank Gov. Cox, Rep. Brooks, and all who supported this important bill.

Other organizations opposed the bill, including Moms Demand Action.

Permitless carry legislation strips states of essential permitting and training standards for carrying concealed guns in public. Training is one of the cornerstones of responsible gun ownership, and removing that element is risky, the group said in a statement after the Utah Senate passed the bill earlier this month.

Republicans hold a so-called trifecta in Utah, enjoying majorities in both state chambers along with having Cox in the governors mansion.

The Utah Gun Violence Center said Arizona saw a 44 percent increase in aggravated assaults after the state enacted permitless carry in 2010.

More loaded and concealed guns mean that every police officer will need to assume a person is carrying a loaded firearm. How do you think that will work out for our black and brown Utah residents? the group said in a veto message.


Portugal on February 12 started administering COVID-19 vaccines among more than 40,000 police forces under its national vaccination plan that it rolled out last month. Health authorities also vaccinated at least 15,000 Portuguese firefighters, following inoculation of the nursing homes elderly residents and the long-term care units in what Portugal prime minister Antonio Costa called the countrys most demanding phase so far. Health Minister Marta Temido during a COVID-19 press briefing said that earlier, that Portuguese will vaccinate the essential services, beginning: pre-hospital emergency professionals, firefighters, frontline workers, security forces and, among them, members of sovereign bodies, government and court officials. In the first of week of February, the country started vaccination for people aged over 50 and other high-risk groups with comorbidities, such as heart disease, heart failure, kidney failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to local media reports.

[Nurses tend to a patient in a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Curry Cabral hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Credit: AP]

In January, Portugal struck an agreement to procure additional 99,450 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as it had administered a total of 411,600 doses by December 2020. The European nation aimed to inoculate close to 1 million people between January and April. In a statement, the government of Portugal announced that it had close to 400,000 people on its high priority group who were vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the vaccination plan constituted nearly 300,000 frontline medics and emergency responders, including security forces, and as many as 250,000 nursing home staff. In a statement to Portugal resident, Prime Minister Costa said that after the inoculation of the essential front-line workers has been tackled, the country will move on to vaccinate the rest of its population. It will be the challenge of all challenges, he said, adding that the effort will require great capacity for mobilization of all health units.

Read: Portugal Poised To Extend Lockdown As COVID-19 Cases Fall

Read: Hopes Rise In Portugal But COVID-19 Still Slams Hospitals

7 million to be inoculated by September

At least 0.69 percent of the total population have already been jabbed with two-shots of the Pfizer vaccine, while as many as 2.66 percent have been administered one shot. The country is now drafting a plan forward to inoculate 69.31 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity from the vaccination. Costa, furthermore, cited EUs vaccination procurement efforts, saying that the bloc has been vying for vaccine firms to comply with contracts and ramp up capacity for production to accelerate the process of vaccination. However, he concluded, that despite vaccination, the population is required to continue taking health safety measures as the vaccination for the rest of the population was a long process. Portugal aims to vaccinate around 7 million people by the end of September.

Read: Portugal President On Extension Of Virus Lockdown

Read: Portugal Gets More European Help As Virus Deaths Remain High

(image Credit: AP)
Nguyen Quoc Dung, Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam and Head of Vietnams ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), has penned an article reviewing the ASEAN centrality in the year 2020.

Nguyen Quoc Dung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

Below is the full text of his article.

2020 drew to a close with complex and multidimensional upheavals that have not been witnessed in the regional and global politics and economy in a long time. As Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc put it, the ASEAN 2020 ship has navigated through rough sea and tumultuous storms of the COVID-19 pandemic, but rocked by economic recessions, disrupted trading activities, and growing strategic competition between major powers in the world that is playing out right within the region.

Undaunted, the ASEAN 2020 ship, under the steering of Viet Nam and the cooperation from member countries and partners and friends, have strongly overcome the adversity, reaffirmed its central position in the region, and elevated its reputation and profile in the international arena.

ASEAN Centrality: the fruit of long, patient building process

The notion of ASEAN centrality started to gain traction among the groups member countries since around 2005-06 when ASEAN perceived a growing pressure and sway from outside partners.

In that context, centrality is understood as that ASEAN always coordinates perspectives and actions in its cooperation relationship with partners so as to maintain the groups main driver role, as well as uphold the groups central role in shaping regional cooperation structures based on ASEAN-led forums and frameworks.

With the birth of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN centrality has been codified  the notion becoming both the goal and guiding light for ASEAN activities.

From the five founding members, ASEAN had gradually opened up to the current 10 countries of Southeast Asia, transforming the region from a state of conflict, division, and full of doubts in the Cold War era to a region of peace, solidarity, cooperation and development  making ASEAN one of the worlds models of regional cooperation. In addition, ASEAN has set up dialogue partnership with nine countries and one international organisation (the United Nations) and one important regional player (the European Union).

Other than bilateral frameworks, ASEAN also established many important forums and mechanisms  including ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN+3, and East Asia Summit (EAS)  which help bind partners more strongly into regional dialogue and cooperation processes.

ASEAN centrality also comes from initiatives, ideas, and agenda for the sake of mutual benefits that the Association proposes and leads the implementation, based on common principles and code of conduct that the Association has built as well as on the interests of the dialogues and cooperation brought about by the many mechanisms and forums that the Association has set up.

From ASEANs proposals, a series of regional cooperation and linkage programmes have been implemented such as: free trade agreements, connectivity plans, etc. Dozens of external partners have voluntarily participated and committed to complying with the principles and provisions set out in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which is considered ASEANs set of rules in governing the conduct of countries in the region.

In joining ASEAN's cooperation mechanisms and frameworks, major countries not only reap benefits from various cooperation plans and programmes with ASEAN, but also have opportunities to meet, converse and work together. ASEAN's major forums and events  with a friendly atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation  have served as a good environment for leaders and ministers of major nations to have bilateral meetings to build trust and overcome differences.

From the achievements and experiences, in 2015, ASEAN concretised the ASEAN centrality notion into five key aspects  the central role within an independent and resilient ASEAN, a central role in the face of hot-button issues in the region, a central role in relations with major countries and other dialogue partners, a central role in the regional structure, and finally, a central role in participating in and resolving issues and challenges of global concerns.

2020: ASEAN centrality reaffirmed in the face of unprecedented challenges

Adversity tests strength as fire test gold, in 2020, against unprecedented challenges, the ASEAN centrality has been fully asserted in every way.

First, the theme of ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020  Cohesive and Responsive  showcases all aspects of the ASEAN centrality.

If solidarity, cohesion, and strong cooperation serves as a solid foundation, then timely responsiveness and adaptation is the way for ASEAN to continue to reaffirm its leading role in the region.

Overcoming the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN continues to firmly maintain the momentum of building the ASEAN Community, promoting the effective implementation of plans and programmes to realise the goals stated in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

Facing the risk of cancellation of ASEAN summits and meetings due to interrupted aviation activities, under the chair of Viet Nam last year, ASEAN has flexibly and promptly moved hundreds of conferences and meetings to virtual format. In 2020, more than 550 conferences and meetings have been held in this manner. This not only helped carry on the momentum of dialogue and cooperation in the region, but also helped shape a new way of operation, helping to enhance ASEANs resilience and flexibility.

Along with that, ASEAN continued to assert an important role and voice on essential issues related to regional peace and security. Faced with the adverse ramifications of increased competition and friction among major powers, on August 8, 2020, ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a Statementon the Importance of Maintaining Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia.

In this Declaration, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers affirmed their strong, shared commitment to the maintenance of peace, security, neutrality and stability, the rule of law, contributions to strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and working towards building an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture, thereby reinforcing ASEAN's central role.

With complex issues such as the South China Sea (known in Viet Nam as the East Sea), ASEAN always works closely, maintains consensus and a common voice. In particular, in 2020, the role of international law was emphasised by many countries, especially the role of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing all activities in the seas and oceans.

ASEAN has been continuing to expand and deepen existing partnerships, including agreeing to upgrade ASEAN-EU relations to a strategic partnership level, while at the same time, proactively deploying many measures to strengthen relations with other partners.

In 2020, ASEAN agreed to grant the status of development partners to Italy and France, opening opportunities to further promote cooperation with these countries in the coming time. As many partners have been seeking to draw ASEAN into their own regional initiatives and strategies, ASEAN has persistently upheld the goals, principles and priorities outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and at the same time, mobilised these very partners to support and back ASEAN in implementing the directions and priorities stated in the Outlook report for the mutual benefit of peace, stability, and development.

At the global level, ASEAN has made great efforts to participate and contribute to the resolution of common challenges and problems. Many proposals on promoting sustainable development, combating climate change, ensuring gender equality and womens empowerment have been approved and put into practice.

ASEAN cooperation with the UN and relevant authorities continues to be strengthened. In addition, the conclusion of the negotiations and inking of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) not only will bring practical benefits to the participating countries but also this is an important contribution of ASEAN in the efforts to strengthen trust and create more impetus for multilateralism and the multilateral trading system.

ASEAN centrality is both the goal and the guiding principle of ASEAN activities. The central role is not an "privilege" that is automatically available to the Association, the bloc can only create and nurture its centrality through its prestige, sincerity and the stance of neutrality, peace, dialogue and cooperation that has been constructed from the relentless efforts of ASEAN during its long journey of formation and development. Through unprecedented hardships and challenges, ASEAN centrality has been consolidated and strengthened in 2020.

In its capacity as ASEAN Chair in 2020, Viet Nam has accompanied the group to overcome never-before-seen hardship, and reaffirmed its position as one of the core, leading members who actively build and shape the rules in ASEAN and the region.

As Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at the review meeting of the ASEAN National Committee 2020, on December 11 last year, Viet Nam has truly proved a solid and reliable source of support, especially in the moments when ASEAN grappled with arrays of difficulties and challenges.

These results will create an important foundation for Viet Nam and ASEAN countries to continue to steer the "ASEAN ship" to conquer all challenges, become more connected and boast higher adaptive capacity, and achieve new victories in the coming time.  VNS

Police in Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on the weekend said that they had busted two unlawful cockfight rackets and arrested almost 100 people.

A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Saturday night that the provincial Department of Police had apprehended nearly 100 suspects on suspicion of organizing gambling via cockfights and confiscated about VND600 milion (US$26,069) in cash as well as other related exhibits during a raid.

According to preliminary information, police officers in Tien Giang conducted a raid on Tran Quang Tungs house, a suspect, in the provincial capital of My Tho at 11:00 am on Saturday morning and captured 56 gamblers.

Police officers arrest people in an illegal cockfight gambling ring in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 13, 2021. Photo: Hoai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

At the scene, law enforcement officers confiscated 41 motorbikes, multiple cellphones, VND420 million ($18,248) in cash, amongst other objects.

Besides, police officers also dectected an online cockfight betting form at this venue.

As of 3:00 pm the same day, police units in Tien Giang Province continued to raid another venue in Tan Ly Dong Commune, Chau Thanh District and discovered a total of 35 gamblers.

Police also impounded 32 motorbikes, 31 cellphones, and VND185 million ($8,038) in cash.

Officers had used a comprehensive range of measures to crack down on the venues, as it was difficult to access them from the outside given a number of guards there.

Tungs house was even built with solid walls.

Police officers raid a cockfight gambling ring at Tran Quang Tung's house in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, February 13, 2021. Photo: Hoai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

According to Tien Giang's police force, since December 15, local police have busted 24 illegal gambling rings, arrested hundreds of people, and confiscated billions of dong. (VND1 billion = $43,500)

Cockfights are considered illegal in Vietnam but many still discreetly engage in them as a means of gambling.

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Granting amnesty to bandits is as ill-advised as the failed rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members. Many of them returned to a life of crime. Meanwhile, government had wasted scarce resources at a time more deserving refugees were begging for attention in the various IDP camps where Boko Haram victims are kept, mostly in subhuman conditions.

If government decides to negotiate with bandits and pay them off with the hope that such an ill-advised move will stem the scourge of hostage-taking, rape, cold-blooded murders, the wanton spread of terror, and destruction of property, then we should probably, in penitence, visit the graves of executed armed robbers  including Dr. Ishola Oyenusi, Monday Osunbor and Lawrence Anini  and apologise for dispatching them via the firing squad.

I had the privilege of interviewing both Osunbor and Anini on the eve of their execution in 1986, thanks to the military governor, Col. Inienger. They told me salacious stories of their exploits, believing, as they had been told by a staff of the Military Hospital, Benin, that I had the ears of the governor and could swing some sort of amnesty to save them from the firing squad. I couldnt tell them that they had been pencilled for death the next day But that is a story for another day.

What did Oyenusi do that these bandits have not done? How did all the major kingpins of the underworld in Nigeria of the 80s make compared to the handsome ransoms routinely harvested by the current kidnappers and bandits? In the reptilian world, the combination of Osunbor and Anini would be mere lizards, while these Boko Haram-type outlaws would be Crocodylus niloticus, a.k.a the Nile crocodile.

The argument for extending amnesty to the bandits is led by Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, whose intervention is coming after the governors of Katsina and Zamfara had unsuccessfully paid undisclosed sums to the criminals to cease fire and return to lawful society. Gumi believes that he can succeed where the governors failed. But first, some conditions have to be met: Ive spoken with them face-to-face and theyre ready to lay down their arms if their conditions are fulfilled, and I find all conditions they gave as justifiable, said Gumi.

They dont want to be lynched when they come into our markets, or be profiled just for riding a new motorcycle They want amenities, schools, hospitals. I hope Nigerians will come together so that we have everlasting peace.

The cleric noted, rather curiously, that negotiating with the bandits was akin to a similar process employed with Niger Delta militants to restore peace in the region. He also justified his position with an illogical reference to survivors of the Nigerian Civil War:

Nigeria has faced civil war in which the vanquished was not stigmatised and their wealth was returned to them, so we should consider them as those who were vanquished in a war, and we should not stigmatise them, and we should give them all their rights and privileges as a nation, he said. He advocated that compensation be paid to bandits affected by the militarys crackdown. Gumi suggested that the Federal Government should apply the security budget to address the bandits demands, saying that most of them had lost all their possessions to cattle rustling and extortion. He warned that if we fail to heed his call, we could be having another Boko Haram on our hands.

We cannot negotiate, he said; eliminating them is the only solution to banditry. 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.

Governor Matawale of Zamfara State thinks so too: We know our security operatives cant stop the bandits and we were convinced that the dialogue remains the best option. We have drilled boreholes in 138 identified bandits camps in the State and we will not relent until peace returned, he added.

Until the various meetings with bandits in Zamfara, Katsina and the latest one by Sheikh Gumi were publicised, the general public did not even know that the authorities knew the location of the bandits camps.

So we know where they were! Goodness! But we lack the will to do what the law says  reward good behaviour and punish crime. Aha!

The good Sheikh has already been taken to the cleaners by public commentators who are miffed that he was comparing armed bandits to Niger Delta militants fighting for their human and environmental rights. The mention of civil war survivors is considered quite unfortunate, too. Many people feel that crime should not be rewarded and that if we still have one country, the law should be applied uniformly throughout the federation.

That was exactly the position that Nasir El Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, was canvassing in his swift response to what many people saw as Gumis glamorisation of banditry. In an interview with BBC Hausa, the governor said the bandits should not be encouraged to profit from their crime. He declared that his government was at war with criminal elements. We cannot negotiate, he said; eliminating them is the only solution to banditry. 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.

El Rufai frowned at paying compensation to the criminals. He asked, Why should they be compensated after killing people, destroying their houses. Who offended them? He added that the lack of unity among governors of the North-Western states was also hindering the fight against banditry and advocated unity of purpose and synergy of strategies among the governors. Perhaps as punishment or revenge for his views, bandits have increased the tempo of blistering attacks on some communities in Kaduna State.

I am sure that the Federal Government does not want to be a glorified paper tiger. Right now, most people have given up on the ability of the security agencies to rout the armed bandits. In some parts of the North, people have come to terms with settling the bandits quietly rather that insist on government protection, because they have realised that government itself needs protection. There is nothing more dispiriting than hearing that bandits have kidnapped policemen and are asking for ransom for them. When the rescuer becomes a hostage, where are the people supposed to turn to?

The only language that these hardened thieves understand is violence. The god of their psyche is always on the side of the bigger gun. When you negotiate with them, they consider you weak. Faced with extirpation, they melt. We ought not to be in the business of bribing people to permit society to breathe.

Apparently, bandits have carved out their fiefdoms in many parts of the North and both federal and state governments cant seem to muster the required will to address the problem with the required level of ferocity. I am delighted that the Presidency last week ordered the Police to arrest any herder bearing arms, even though Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State thinks they have a right to brandish their AK47s. It says a lot about how far gone our tolerance of criminal elements is, that we have to instruct the Police to arrest them henceforth! Lets wait and see if they are now arrestable.

Granting amnesty to bandits is as ill-advised as the failed rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members. Many of them returned to a life of crime. Meanwhile, government had wasted scarce resources at a time more deserving refugees were begging for attention in the various IDP camps where Boko Haram victims are kept, mostly in subhuman conditions.

We should be ashamed to say that a rag-tag band of bandits hiding in some bushes are too powerful for our Police and armed forces. How did we become this helpless?

The only language that these hardened thieves understand is violence. The god of their psyche is always on the side of the bigger gun. When you negotiate with them, they consider you weak. Faced with extirpation, they melt. We ought not to be in the business of bribing people to permit society to breathe. You dont negotiate with evil; you stamp it out.

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Faced with a similar situation in 1999, Boris Yeltsin famously declared at the Istanbul summit of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as follows, I would like to stress here that a lasting peace in the Chechen Republic and so-called peace talks with the bandits are not the same thing, and I would ask everyone to make no mistake about that.

That is the kind of firmness I expect of the Nigerian government whose hyped programmes and achievements have been swallowed up by various merchants of death spreading insecurity throughout the country. Anyone who will violently deprive another of his or her possessions, spread terror, rape and pillage in order to make money, does not deserve to live.

He who treats the black mamba as a pet should number his days.

LKJ Goes home

In four years of frenetic interventions in wealth, water provision, education, housing, roads, rural development, water transportation, employment generation and media development in Lagos State, Governor Lateef Kayode Jakande was virtually competing with the Federal Government. His performance record is still unmatched. With his passing, Nigeria has lost a truly visionary leader. History will be very kind to LKJ, the father of modern Lagos State. God rest his soul.

Wole Olaoye can be reached through wole.olaoye@gmail.com.
A woman and a man who were arrested for carrying a loaded gun in their car just a few hundred feet from the White House told law enforcement officials they were carrying a letter for President Joe Biden.

The pair, one of whom said they were there to meet with the president, were detained on Saturday evening at around 5:30pm near the Old Ebbitt Grill restaurant on 15sth Street NW in the capital, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Sylvia Hall, 66, was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unregistered ammunition, WRC-TV reported.

The man - who has not been named by officials - was arrested for possession of a BB gun.

According to the police, the pair approached a checkpoint near the White House complex just past the western-most cross walk of 15th Street at Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

DailyMail.com has sought comment from the Metropolitan Police Department, which referred the case to the Secret Service.

The Secret Service has been contacted for comment as of Sunday evening.

A 66-year-old woman was arrested for carrying a loaded handgun in her car which was parked just a few hundred feet from the White House (seen above on January 19)

Law enforcement officials arrested the woman not far from the Old Ebbitt Grill restaurant on 15th Street NW on Saturday evening

The suspect was booked on possession of an unregistered firearm. News of the arrest was first reported by WRC-TV

The woman allegedly told a law enforcement official manning the checkpoint that she had a letter she wanted to deliver to Biden.

Investigators said they found a loaded firearm inside the womans car which was parked nearby on 15th Street NW.

Security in the nations capital has been extremely tight since the MAGA riot at the United States Capitol on January 6.

Five people died after hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the barricades and overran Capitol Police before ransacking the congressional building.

The suspect told a law enforcement official manning a checkpoint near the White House that she had a letter she wanted to deliver to Biden

The MAGA rioters, who believed Trumps claims of widespread voter fraud in the recent election, were attempting to stop Congress from ratifying Bidens victory.

After the storming of the Capitol, Congress affirmed Bidens win. Since then, hundreds of the rioters have been arrested and charged.

In the days and weeks following the riot, the capital was placed on virtual lockdown as tens of thousands of National Guard troops secured the area for Bidens inauguration.

The National Guard is expected to remain in the capital well past March 12, according to Fox 5 DC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Sunday dedicated to the nation Bharat Petroleum's Propylene Derivatives petrochemical complex at Kochi Refinery worth Rs 6,000 crore and Inland Waterways Authority's Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, at Willingdon Island, said the government is taking many measures to improve tourism in Kerala.

Today, we are here to celebrate the development of Kerala and India. With these new projects we will energise the growth trajectory of India, he said at a function in Kochi.

This new PDP complex will lead our mission to be Aatmanirbhar. With this new complex, foreign exchange will be saved, a wide range of industries would gain, and employment opportunities will be generated," he said, adding the RoRo container service will shorten distance and make operations cost effective.

He further urged young people to come up with innovative tourism-related projects. "India has moved from 64th to 35th position in world tourism. We can do a lot more to improve this," the PM said.

Modi also laid the foundation stone of Cochin Port Trust's South Coal Berth. "Economic growth requires augmented capacity expansion. The south coal berth inaugurated today will help in this," the PM said while adding that the government is looking at creating infrastructure for the future generation.

He also said this year's budget will hugely benefit Kerala. Regarding the Centre's fight against COVID-19, Modi said the government was considerate to the needs of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf. "Over 50 lakh people returned to India through our Vande Bharat Mission, and many of them were from Kerala."

On a brief visit to Kerala, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Cochin Port Trust's International Cruise Terminal and Cochin Shipyard's Vigyana Sagar, a campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute.

BPCL said the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) located close to its Kochi Refinery here will produce Acrylic Acid, Oxo-Alcohol and Acrylates, which are predominantly imported, at present.

These products have applications in paints and coatings, solvents, adhesives, water treatment chemicals, construction industry and super absorbent polymer among others. The two new Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, deployed between Bolgatty and Willingdon Island on National Waterway-3, will have the capacity to carry six 20-feet trucks, three 20-feet trailer trucks, three 40-feet trailer trucks and 30 passengers each.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh L Mandaviya attended the event.

At a press conference here on Saturday, Oil minister Pradhan said an investment of over Rs 6,000 crore has been made in the state through these projects which are being either dedicated/inaugurated or initiated.

The dedication of Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at BPCL Kochi Refinery marks the first major endeavour in India, either in public or private sector, to produce Niche Petrochemicals which are predominantly being imported to the country, he said. Minister of State for Shipping Mandaviya said the Sagarika International Cruise Terminal at Cochin Port will open up new vistas of business development in travel, tourism and allied areas.

Reconstruction of the South Coal Berth will ensure quick and efficient handling of cargo meant for Fertilizers And Chemicals of Travancore (FACT) which is showing outstanding performance in recent years, he said. The Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) vessels between Bolgatty and Willingdon Island will help container carrying vehicles to circumvent the Kochi city roads, thereby ensuring seamless traffic and fuel saving.

The Marine Engineering Training Institute would groom 114 Mechanical/Naval/Architect Engineers every year in a sector which is on a high growth trajectory, the minister said.

(With inputs from PTI)
Tema, Ghanas most planned city, being the heart of the countrys development, at the onset of the countrys independence is gradually losing its pride due to indiscriminate development and encroachment within the Metropolis over the past few years.



Ghana News Agency Tema Team observatory tour discovered that the open stretch of land earmarked as greenbelts within the Metropolis to prevent neighbouring communities from merging into one another has been engulfed by industrialist, commercial unit owners and business centers.



Portions of the stretch, which initially served as playgrounds and recreation for the communities, have also been encroached upon by private developers who have erupted permanent structures on it.



The illegal encroachment in the greenbelt has been a big concern to some residents of Tema who told the Ghana News Agency that petitions have been sent to the authorities including the Tema Metropolitan Authority, and the Tema Development Corporation.



Ms. Victoria Dadson, a resident, appealed to TMA and TDC to act immediately to halt the indiscriminate development in the Metropolis.



Squatters and illegal developers have chosen to clothe themselves with purported permits which empowered them to erect structures in the greenbelt zone, Ms Dadson stated.



She also attributed the challenges to an apparent lack of coordination between public institutions which have given rise to the illegal development and fast rate of encroachment.



Mr. Clement Owusu, another resident, also told GNA some of the illegal developers have sealed some liquid waste manholes, a situation he described as a ticking time bomb.



He stated that, there are several underground pipes, sewer lines and installations, which when permanent structures are erected on would be difficult to access in case of any emergencies or fault.



Mr. Joseph Sackitey, also a resident, bemoaned the cutting down of trees that was meant not only to regulate temperature and reduce water runoff, but also to contribute to the wellbeing of residents by mitigating the adverse impacts associated with pollution, noise, traffic, and provide nature for urban dwellers.



Mrs. Rebuena Naa Mensah Tagoe, a nurse midwife and a resident of Tema A-Z, recounted an attempted encroachment by a fast food company, who tried to undertake an illegal development in a greenbelt area in Community 7.



According to her, had it not been the timely and crucial interception by the late former President Jerry John Rawlings and the former Member of Parliament for Tema Central, Mr. Kofi Brako, who together with the Assembly members in Tema, kicked against the development, the company would have had access to the green piece of land.



This is the only space we can assemble should there be any emergency, the only space fire service can park in an event of fire outbreak, she added.



The residents GNA spoke with expressed sadness at the rate of encroachment in Tema and called on TMA and TDC to solve the problems of the Metropolis before the whole city was engulfed in wooden structures in the name of shops and business centers.



Mr Frank Asante, TMA Public Relations Officer, confirmed the rise in encroachment within the Metropolis, stating that, the canker was a national problem and that it was much worse in the cities and towns.



If you look at Tema, because of planning, trees were planted at designated places, but because they interfere with sewage lines and residential buildings, the assembly sets out to either prune or remove them, he said.



He stated that, this factor was what led to squatters occupying the lands with wooden and illegal structures thereby bringing about chaos and unplanned settling within the Metropolis.



He expressed gratitude to the Church of Pentecost and Dangote Cement for collaborating with the Assembly to provide seedlings to grow trees within the Metropolis.



He further appealed to corporate Tema to assist the Assembly and advised residents not to cut trees on the blind side of the Assembly.

Source: GNA









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Nicolas, F4HZS, will be active as TM150PAR from Berlancourt, France, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the popular uprising of 1871 called Paris Commune (see QRZ.com for more details).

Activity will take place on the following days:

March 20-21st, April 4th/10-11th/17-18th/24-25th, and May 1-2nd/8-9th/15-16th.

QSL via F4HZS, direct or the REF Bureau
The most distant Solar System object, Farout, has lost its crown after just two years. As Inverse reports, astronomers have confirmed that the planetoid Farfarout is now the farthest known Solar System object. It's currently 132AU, or about 12.3 billion miles from the Sun (Farout is 'just' 120AU away), and its elongated orbit will take it 175AU away. For context, Pluto is 34AU from our host star  Farfarout reaches over five times that distance, and takes about 1,000 years to complete an orbit.

Researchers first detected Farfarout in 2018 using the Subaru telescope at Mauna Kea in Hawaii, but had to use the Gemini and Magellan telescopes to verify its orbit in the years since.

The planetoid is unsurprisingly mysterious at this point, but there are a few clues as to what it is. Scientists believe it's at the "low end" of the dwarf planet scale with a diameter just under 249 miles, and that it interacts with Neptune. The object may have been tossed into the outer Solar System after floating too close to Neptune sometime in the past, and is expected to react to Neptune again due to an intersecting orbit.

There's no guarantee Farfarout will hold the title. Research team member Scott Sheppard argued the planetoid was "just the tip of the iceberg" for distant objects, and that a new wave of very large telescopes with higher-resolution cameras would spot celestial bodies that were previously elusive. The outer Solar System may be relatively crowded, and we're only learning that now thanks to technological breakthroughs.
Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat

PM Modi catches fleeting view of 'interesting' India-England 2nd Test

India

oi-Deepika S

Chennai, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to poll-bound Tamil Nadu caught a fleeting view of the "interesting" second Test between India and England being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here.

"Caught a fleeting view of an interesting test match in Chennai," Modi posted along with the picture of the stadium and a bat-and-ball emoji as well as flags of India and England.

Caught a fleeting view of an interesting test match in Chennai.    pic.twitter.com/3fqWCgywhk  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

India, which lost the first Test by a massive margin of 227 runs, are in a commanding position in the ongoing Test match. England are leading the four match test series 1-0 after winning the opening encounter here.

The Prime Minister was in the city to launch various government projects and lay the foundation stone for others.
The priority groups for vaccinations in the UK 1. Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults 2. All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers 3. All those 75 years of age and over 4. All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age) 5. All those 65 years of age and over 6. Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group 7. All those 60 years of age and over 8. All those 55 years of age and over 9. All those 50 years of age and over 10. Rest of the population Advertisement

Millions of over-65s and clinically vulnerable people are being asked to book appointments to receive their coronavirus vaccination as Britain's breakneck inoculation programme enters its next phase.

The Government is officially expanding its vaccine rollout beyond the top four priority groups, and is on track to offer the jab to all of the most vulnerable people by tomorrow - with official figures showing that more than 14.5 million people have already had at least one dose.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously signalled that mass vaccination will bring the hated cycle of coronavirus lockdowns to an end, and is now under pressure from Tory backbenchers to scrap all restrictions by the end of April.

Almost 1.2 million letters were due to have landed on the doorsteps of over-65s and the clinically vulnerable by yesterday asking people to log onto the national booking service, NHS England has said.

A further 1.2 million are due to arrive this week, with those to receive a letter able to choose from more than 100 vaccination hubs or almost 200 pharmacy services.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation defines clinically vulnerable people as those with conditions including chronic respiratory disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.

Until now, the national vaccine rollout has been aimed at the over-70s, the clinically extremely vulnerable, and NHS frontline staff, care home residents and workers.

However, some regions have already started vaccinating people aged between 65 to 69, with NHS England previously saying that people in this age group could get a vaccine if GPs have supplies.

NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens said the programme has already protected more than 12 million of the most vulnerable people against Covid-19.

He said: 'This is an exciting moment as we now move on to those aged 65 and over and the clinically vulnerable as part of our plan to vaccinate as many people as possible who can benefit from it.

'However, if you have already been offered a jab but have not taken it up it is not too late. Please come forward and help us to help.'

A woman receives the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at an NHS vaccination centre in Ealing, West London as the Government meets its target of delivering 15 million jabs

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The vaccination programme is continuing at an unprecedented speed and, as we're on target to offer vaccines to all those in the first four priority groups by Monday, we are determined to keep up the momentum by expanding it even further.'

Speaking at a vaccination bus in Greenwich, South East London, Professor Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director of NHS England, urged everyone who receives a letter to get the vaccine without hesitation.

'Don't hesitate at all. These vaccines are safe, they're effective against Covid, they'll protect you, they'll protect your loved ones, and of course they'll help get society back to normal again,' he added.

It comes as official figures show the number of Covid-related deaths among over-85s is falling twice as fast as it is in younger Britons - raising hopes that the UK's vaccine drive is clicking into gear.

In other coronavirus developments:

There were claims that some care home bosses are threatening staff who refuse to have the jab with the sack;

Health Secretary Matt Hancock clashed with senior Tory Sir Charles Walker over the ten-year jail terms facing those who flout new quarantine rules, with Sir Charles saying the policy was 'disastrous' and a repeat should cost the Health Secretary his job;

The head of Heathrow warned that the airport is not ready to roll out the hotel quarantine scheme set to be imposed from tomorrow;

AstraZeneca said it would expand trials of its Oxford vaccine to children as young as six while Janssen, another pharma firm, said it may start testing its jab on newborn babies and pregnant women;

Police said officers would be carrying out spot checks on drivers today to see if they were making 'non-essential' trips to visit lovers on Valentine's Day;

A video emerged of militant teachers boasting about how they used threats of strike action to keep classrooms closed, fuelling fears that hardline unions will seek to derail plans to reopen schools;

Documents emerged suggesting the Wuhan laboratory at the centre of global suspicion over the pandemic planned to experiment on live bats;

Additional surge testing began in Middlesbrough, Walsall and Hampshire after cases of the South Africa variant of Covid-19 were identified.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report suggests there were 695,400 Covid-19 cases in England alone by February 6, down 31 per cent from a fortnight ago in yet another firm sign the second wave is in retreat. This equates to one in eighty people having the virus

Health conditions that make patients in Priority Group Six eligible for a vaccine A blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma) Diabetes Dementia A heart problem A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma A kidney disease A liver disease Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis (who may require long term immunosuppressive treatments) Have had an organ transplant Had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) A neurological or muscle wasting condition A severe or profound learning disability A problem with your spleen, example sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed Are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above) Are severely mentally ill Advertisement

The Government's target of administering 15 million doses is set to be hit this weekend, amid a backdrop of falling cases and deaths, with pressure growing on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to present his 'roadmap' out of lockdown.

The supreme efforts of volunteers over recent weeks now appears to be paying dividends, with the number of fatalities among the oldest age group now falling on average by some 41 per cent a week.

By contrast, the number of weekly deaths is falling by 22 per cent for those aged under 65.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a risk expert from the University of Cambridge, told the Sun: 'There is a statistically significant difference between the age groups. A substantial amount of this difference will be vaccines.

'And, by the end of the month, it's going to be quite dramatic. It is quite tricky to spot as deaths are falling everywhere - it's just that in older groups the drop is much faster than others.'

Meanwhile, data from the Office for National Statistics reveals just one in every 100 people offered a Covid jab have turned it down.

The Prime Minister said yesterday he is 'optimistic' he will be able to begin announcing the easing of restrictions when he sets out his 'roadmap' out of lockdown in England on February 22.

Speaking during a visit to the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant in Billingham, Teesside, where the new Novavax vaccine will be manufactured, Mr Johnson said: 'I'm optimistic, I won't hide it from you. I'm optimistic, but we have to be cautious.'

He said his first priority remained opening schools in England on March 8 to be followed by other sectors.

'Our children's education is our number one priority, but then working forward, getting non-essential retail open as well and then, in due course as and when we can prudently, cautiously, of course we want to be opening hospitality as well,' he said.

'I will be trying to set out as much as I possibly can in as much detail as I can, always understanding that we have to be wary of the pattern of disease. We don't want to be forced into any kind of retreat or reverse ferret.'

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said his country had begun contacting some over-50s.

Oxford Covid vaccine will be tested on children as young as six in world-first trial Researchers are to use 300 child volunteers to test the efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine on youngsters aged between six and 17. The clinical trial will assess whether the jab - known as the the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine - will produce a strong immune response in children in that age bracket. The Oxford jab is one of three to have been approved for use in adults in the UK, along with those from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity, and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, said: 'While most children are relatively unaffected by coronavirus and are unlikely to become unwell with the infection, it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people as some children may benefit from vaccination. 'These new trials will extend our understanding of control of SARS-CoV2 to younger age groups.' The first vaccinations under the trial will take place this month, with up to 240 children receiving the vaccine and the others receiving a control meningitis jab. Advertisement

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she expects many in the 65-69 age group to have had their first jab by the middle of this month after the vast majority of older people were vaccinated.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health is offering everyone over 65 a vaccine by the end of February as it works its way through priority groups four and five, although it is expected to help the UK meet its overall target.

There is variation in uptake between age groups, however, with five per cent of those offered the vaccine aged 30-49 deciding not to receive it, compared to two per cent for the 50-69s and less than one per cent for the over-70s.

Furthermore, Professor Anthony Harnden, the deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), has said the uptake of the coronavirus jab among care home staff remains 'far too low'.

Prof Harnden said that nationally only 66% of care home staff had taken up the offer of a first dose.

'If they are to stop potentially transmitting to those vulnerable people who they look after and care for deeply, they need to take the immunisation up. The message needs to come across loud and clear,' he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

However, he rejected suggestions that the vaccine could be made compulsory among staff if they wanted to carry on working in care homes.

'I would much prefer to be able to persuade by the power of argument than to force people or to make people lose their jobs because they didn't take up the vaccine.'

His comments come as the Government launches a fresh drive to encourage people to accept a vaccine amid continuing reluctance among some groups.

Ministers are confident they will achieve their UK-wide target of getting an offer of a vaccine to those most at risk from the virus - including all over 70s - by Monday's deadline.

Fresh Government drive to encourage people to accept jabs The Government has launched a fresh drive to encourage people to accept a vaccine amid continuing reluctance among some groups. Ministers are confident they will achieve their UK-wide target of getting an offer of a vaccine to those most at risk from the virus - including all over 70s - by Monday's deadline. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped a combination of vaccines and new treatments will mean Covid-19 could be a 'treatable disease' by the end of the year. However, there is concern in Government at the rate of vaccine uptake among some communities - including some ethnic minorities. Mr Hancock issued a direct appeal to anyone over 70 who has still not had the jab to contact the NHS over the weekend to book an appointment. 'I am determined that we protect as many of our country's most vulnerable people from this awful disease as soon as possible,' he said. 'Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic.' Advertisement

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped a combination of vaccines and new treatments will mean Covid-19 could be a 'treatable disease' by the end of the year.

However, there is concern in Government at the rate of vaccine uptake among some communities - including some ethnic minorities.

Mr Hancock issued a direct appeal to anyone over 70 who has still not had the jab to contact the NHS over the weekend to book an appointment.

'I am determined that we protect as many of our country's most vulnerable people from this awful disease as soon as possible,' he said. 'Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic.'

Overall, uptake of the vaccine has been high, with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) reporting a 93% take-up rate among the over 75s in England.

The DHSC is now seeking to work with community organisations and charities in England to address the concerns that are making some reluctant to get the jab, while seeking to dispel 'myths' circulating on social media.

At the same time it is looking to raise awareness of how the vaccines are being made generally available, especially among ethnic minorities, homeless people, asylum seekers and those with disabilities.

Around 30 ministers are taking part in visits and virtual meetings, including Home Secretary Priti Patel and Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi.

'We recognise that some groups feel more hesitant about getting a jab, or have more barriers, both physical and mental, preventing them from accessing one when it's offered,' Mr Zahawi said.

Mr Hancock, meanwhile, expressed the hope that coronavirus will become 'another illness that we have to live with' like flu.

'I hope that Covid-19 will become a treatable disease by the end of the year,' Mr Hancock told The Daily Telegraph.

'If Covid-19 ends up like flu, so we live our normal lives and we mitigate through vaccines and treatments, then we can get on with everything again.'

Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, said he agreed with the Health Secretary's comments about the UK potentially living with coronavirus in the future in the same way as the flu.

Matt Hancock said he hoped Covid-19 will become a treatable disease by the end of the year.

Prof Altmann told Times Radio: 'I agree with the 'by the end of the year' part, I think the jury's out on what the future will look like.'

On news of the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals going down, he said: 'We're all following the data in the UK and from Israel, who are a little bit ahead of the curve in terms of vaccinations, and seeing those transmission graphs absolutely being quashed.

'We can't easily pick apart how much of that is lockdown, how much is vaccination, but it's certainly both of those things.

'I am cautiously optimistic that we are winning finally.'

TONY BLAIR: The world needs to agree a form of Covid passport  and Britain should lead the way

Lockdown is the weapon of choice of Governments around the world to reduce the spread of Covid-19, but let's be clear  the effects on the nation's health and economy are severe.

Jobs and livelihoods lost. A huge bill for future generations to pay. It means postponing the treatment of other conditions like heart disease and cancer; and a deterioration of mental health.

The reality, however, is that lockdown will stay until the vaccination programme reaches a large enough number of the population to give us some form of herd immunity.

It is fortunate that Britain is in a good place relative to the rest of the world, says former Prime Minister Tony Blair (pictured)

The new variants of Covid-19, with greater transmission rates but not lower deadliness, combined with the alarming recognition that more variants could be on the way, have left us a horrible choice: mass vaccination or mass lockdown.

Globally, there is a vast scrambling to get vaccine. It is fortunate that Britain, with a well-executed plan to source vaccines, including our own Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, is in a good place relative to the rest of the world.

Even so, each week that passes before we can re-emerge to some form of 'normal' is a hammer blow.

What happens, though, when a majority of our population is vaccinated but other countries lag behind? How does the world return to at least some of the physical interaction we used to take for granted?

This is not just about holidays. It's also about business travel and freight.

It's about improving levels of confidence in going back to the workplace. Travelling on public transport. Joining events with large crowds. Most of all, seeing loved ones, especially those who may be among the most vulnerable to Covid-19.

With my team at the Institute for Global Change, I have looked at this from every angle and come to this conclusion: there is no prospect of a return to anything like normal without enabling people to show their Covid status, whether that means they have been vaccinated or recently tested.

And the good news is that technology allows us to make this work effectively and with privacy.

More than 120 countries, including our own, already demand that international travellers show proof of a full negative test result before entry. Once vaccinations become widespread, this demand will naturally move to vaccination.

Call it a passport, a certificate or proof of status  we will want to know.

We can't stay in lockdown for ever. But we know from experience that as we come out of lockdown, the disease will start to spread again unless we keep some form of controls on who can come into our country and unless we take reasonable precautions to stamp on any outbreak should it recur.

This is not about discrimination, or hostility towards those not vaccinated or tested. It is a completely understandable desire to know whether those we mix with might be carrying the disease.

Have they had an internationally recognised test (based on PCR swabs, which look for traces of Covid's genetic material, or other equally valid tests as they are developed) to demonstrate that they are free form the virus?

Have they been vaccinated and, if so, is that with one or two jabs?

It is increasingly obvious that other countries feel the same. There is already a host of initiatives starting around the world with this aim in mind.

My Institute for Global Change is involved in many of them, including the CommonPass initiative from the World Economic Forum. Individual countries such as Greece, which is conscious of the huge impact of Covid on its tourist industry, are calling for global agreement on the issue. The African Union has started its own preparations.

The airline and tourism industries are among those most anxious for such a passport. Tourism accounts for roughly ten per cent of the world economy. It employs millions the world over, including in Britain.

And that means a wide range of businesses are clinging on, effectively on government life-support  provided, that is, they're lucky enough to be in countries where the government can just about afford to subsidise them.

But without clear light at the end of the tunnel, without confidence in the future, these businesses are going to collapse. Some already have.

Once it is plain that we need to know the status of someone in order to feel safe mixing with them, then certain other things must flow.

We need a system of verification that is simple, for example a QR code shown on a mobile. Or a valid paper certificate  one that minimises the possibility of fraud. We need something which is easily checked against an agreed set of standards.

It is not as if proof of vaccination is completely new. Many countries already require travellers to show such proof for yellow fever and other diseases.

What would be crazy is for the world to try operating with different standards, different means of verification, a patchwork, an unco-ordinated stack of competing systems. That would lead to chaos.

Governments will have to lead this. We cannot leave it up to GPs to issue paper certificates when they already have quite enough on their plate.

The sensible thing would be for the UK  which for 2021 has the lead in the G7 group of developed nations  to agree and help impose a common set of standards and rules in consultation with other countries and groups of nations. That would be in the interests of everyone.

But we should start work on it now so we're ready to go by June when the G7 is held in Cornwall.

There is still so much we don't know about Covid, and so much we will get to know thanks to our experience of mass vaccination. It seems likely, though, that those who are vaccinated are not merely less at risk from the disease but also transmit it less.

Early results from the AstraZeneca vaccine show a 67 per cent reduction in transmission after vaccination while data from Israel show only 0.04 per cent of those who had been vaccinated were then infected, none of them seriously.

We should also learn from our experience with testing. Early on, I became convinced that we should do mass testing, using rapid tests which could be done at scale even if they were admittedly less accurate than the gold standard PCR test.

When over half of those who get Covid suffer no symptoms but can still spread the virus, it always seemed odd to test only those with symptoms.

When Slovakia tested its whole population, using rapid tests, it discovered twice the number of cases as the previous official figures indicated.

The University of Illinois used mass testing on its campus to stay open through the pandemic.

In Liverpool, rapid tests picked up 70 per cent of those with high 'viral loads' (those who were heavily infected and might well have been passing it on) but who were nonetheless showing no symptoms.

Now  and with much better mass tests available  workplaces are being encouraged to use tests to reopen.

The point is this: people want to know that those with whom they come into contact are relatively safe  that they are less likely to give them the disease.

This will be the case not just with travel, but with our daily lives, too  with everything from going to work to visiting elderly relatives.

We have the technology which allows us to do this securely and effectively. The need is obvious. The world is moving in this direction.

We should plan for an agreed 'passport' now. The arguments against it really don't add up.

Tony Blair is the founder and executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.



The unlawful taking constituting theft of 173 sheep by Azerbaijani armed forces from the shepherd of Khndzoresk village in the Syunik region on February 11 confirms what the Republic of Armenia (RA) Human Rights Defender has been cautioning and forewarning about for several months. Armenias Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan wrote about this on Facebook on Sunday morning.

In particular, yesterday the Khndzoresk municipality announced that on February 11, a resident of the village of Khndzoresk in the Syunik region, had grazed a total of 185 small cattle in the pastures near the village. During the grazing, some of the animals approached the area controlled by the Azerbaijani soldiers, after which the Azerbaijani armed forces unlawfully took 173 of the 185 sheep and carried it away with the intent to permanently deprive the shepherd of his personal property, to wit, the sheep.

The animals were returned only after negotiations between the RA Border Troops and the Armed Forces Corps Command.

The referenced information was confirmed to the RA Human Rights Defender by a number of villagers and community bodies. To be clear, the Syunik regional subdivision of the Defender's Office discovered that the pastor himself, was not negligent in guiding his flock, but rather, was very careful, however, the incident happened because habitually the animals historically are accustomed to grazing in those areas; and, the relevant pastures are such that it is difficult and quite impractical to exercise sufficient control over the animals.

All of these factors confirm the need to guarantee the rights of the villagers, including their safety while making use of pastures, to protect their livelihood, and to safeguard against the dangers and/or violations of their property rights. In order to prevent this, responsible commission work and a correct assessment of the needs of the villagers are critical, to ensure an unequivocal and total elimination and neutralization of all such obstacles and concerns, added Armenias ombudsman.
Polling was held for 2,786 sarpanch and 20,817 ward members posts against total 3,328 sarpanch and 33,570 ward member seats, as some of them were either elected unanimously or no nominations were filed at certain places. (Photo: DC/ Narayana Rao)

VIJAYAWADA: The Phase II gram panchayat polls on Saturday passed off peacefully with just a few stray incidents. A large number of voters turned out to exercise their franchise, with the average poll percentage recorded being of 81.67.

Polling began sluggishly at 6.30 am but picked up momentum from 10.30 am onwards.

Serpentine queues could be seen at some polling stations in the state. Police personnel were seen helping aged and the differently-abled persons in casting their votes.

According to State Election Commission authorities, polling was held for 2,786 sarpanch and 20,817 ward members posts against total 3,328 sarpanch and 33,570 ward member seats, as some of them were either elected unanimously or no nominations were filed at certain places.

The states average poll percentage registered was 10.48 at 8:30 a.m., 37.67 at 10:30 a.m., 64.89 at 12:30 p.m., 76.11 at 2:30 p.m. and 81.67 on completion of voting at 3.30 pm.

Prakasam district registered the highest poll percentage of 86.60 while Srikakulam district the lowest 72.87 percent.

Poll percentages registered in other districts include: Vizianagaram 82, Visakhapatnam 84.94, East Godavari 82.86, West Godavari 81.75, Krishna 84.12, Guntur 85.51, Nellore 78.04, Kadapa 80.47, Kurnool 80.76, Anantapur 84.65 and Chittoor 77.20.

Interestingly, APs average poll percentage during Phase 1 on February 9 too was 81.67, with Krishna district registering the highest at 85.06 percent polling and Srikakulam the lowest 75.77 percent.

Director general of police Goutam Sawang said though the turnout of voters was relatively higher than Phase 1 polls, the number of untoward incidents reported was very less, as they had taken all necessary security measures.

47,000 security personnel, including 57 platoons of APSP personnel, 20 companies of CRPF personnel and nearly 41,000 civil police had been deployed to ensure peaceful conduct of polls all over the state.

Sawang thanked voters for casting their vote in a peaceful manner.
We received welcome news last week from the State of Illinois that the rest of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau region can now welcome back customers indoors at restaurants and bars. Our local eateries are one of the many destination drivers in southwest Illinois.

Speaking of destination drivers, the National Great Rivers Museum, Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and the Benjamin Stephenson House are open and welcoming visitors back indoors as well. This is exciting news as we start to safely welcome visitors back to a vibrant, exciting destination. This is one big step forward as we begin the economic recovery of tourism in southwest Illinois.

Our region is filled with so much history. February is Black History Month and the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln. Explore the area with the Walk with Lincoln and Civil War Legacy Trail Mobile App. The trail connects 10 historic sites in Alton relating to Lincolns time spent in the community and the citys connections to the Civil War. The journey begins with Lincoln & Douglas in Lincoln-Douglas Square. Subsequent sites include: Ryder Building, Smallpox Island and Lincoln-Shields Duel sites, Lovejoy Monument, National Cemetery, Lyman Trumbull House, Confederate Cemetery, Alton Prison and Franklin House. At each of the sites, visitors will find interpretive panels that further tell the story of each site and Altons connections to American history.

To celebrate Black History Month in southwest Illinois join us as we journey through time and across the region to consider the stories of the past. We recently launched a series of monthly blogs entitled the Black History of Southwest Illinois. Our guides for this journey are Charlotte E. Johnson, a local historian, and her daughter, Renee B. Johnson, author of Alton ABC. Mrs. Johnson has long collected and researched the stories of Illinois. Her work has resulted in numerous family revelations, museum holdings and exhibits, presentations, and listings on both The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom and the National Register of Historic Places. Ms. Johnson shares her mothers interest in history and genealogy, supporting the effort to tell the true story of people and their lives. You can find the blog series and the Lincoln Trail on our website at www.riversandroutes.com

For those of you with an active lifestyle, a bit of cabin fever may be starting to set in. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau region has no shortage of outdoor activities. My top picks are the MCT Trails-137 miles of dedicated trails throughout Madison County, the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville and Pere Marquette State Park. A true sign that spring is around the corner, the American White Pelicans are returning to the area which means they are migrating north. Which also means spring is near! The Audubon Center is a great spot to watch for migrating birds.

As we look ahead to the spring season, welcoming back visitors safely will be essential for the economic recovery of our region. I have no doubt the desire of consumers wanting to travel to so-called hot spots or top-ten-list destinations will drive the next wave of travel for unique, out of the way, undiscovered road trip destinations. I cannot think of a better place for a road trip today to only the place in America where Historic Route 66 and the Great River Road connect.

Cory M Jobe is the President & CEO of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau is a certified destination marketing organization which represents Madison, Macoupin, Montgomery, Jersey, Calhoun, and Greene counties in southwest Illinois.
MANILA  The posters that appeared on campus were chilling. They warned that the University of the Philippines had become a breeding ground for communist sympathizers and that students and professors needed to be on high alert for antigovernment insurgents. Some students were even named as possible offenders.

No one knew where the posters had come from, but they were found on many of the universitys various campuses across the country over the past few weeks, according to students and university activists. Late last month, the government decided to get involved.

To weed out possible communists at the elite institution, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced a decision to end a 32-year agreement that barred security forces from entering the campus and arresting individuals without first coordinating with university officials. Professors and students can now be held on mere suspicion.

About 200 students gathered at the university in Manilas northern suburb of Quezon City to protest the announcement. By allowing security forces back on campus, they said, the government had targeted one of the few places in the Philippines where criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte was still tolerated. For them, the purpose of the new rule was clear: another crackdown on political freedom in a country where dissidents are often tagged and dispatched at a moments notice.
A handout photo made available by Chigi presidential palace showing Prime Minister Mario Draghi upon his arrival for the handover ceremony at Chigi Palace Premier's office in Rome, Italy, Feb. 13, 2021. EPA-Yonhap



Mario Draghi, the man largely credited with saving the euro currency, took the helm as Italy's premier Saturday after assembling a government of economic experts and other technocrats along with career politicians from across the spectrum to guide the pandemic-devastated nation toward recovery.



Draghi and his 23 Cabinet ministers took their oaths of office at the Quirinal presidential palace. Italian President Sergio Mattarella had tasked the former European Central Bank president with trying to form a government up to managing the the health, economic and social crises of the coronavirus pandemic.



In deference to coronavirus precautions, all participants in the swearing-in ceremony were masked, and a palace aide provided each minister with a fresh pen to sign their oath. Draghi made no public comments during the first hours of his premiership, and his eyes showed no discernible emotion over his N95 mask.



Draghi's most-quoted words so far have been those uttered in 2012 when the euro-zone risked collapsing in a crisis of confidence and he vowed the European Central Bank would do ''whatever it takes'' to rescue the euro.



The current head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, tweeted her congratulations. ''I wish him all the best as he takes on the task ahead, leading the government in the best interests of all Italian citizens,'' she said.





This photo taken and handout on February 13, 2021 by the Quirinale Presidential Palace shows Italy's Prime Minister, Mario Draghi (2ndR) leaving following a formal swearing-in ceremony of Italy's new government at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome. AFP-Yonhap



Also tweeting good wishes was the European Union's top executive, Ursula von der Leyen, who called Draghi's experience ''an exceptional asset for Italy Europe.'' She said she was looking forward to working with Draghi ''for our common recovery.''



Draghi, 73, an economist who also previously led Italy's central bank, replaced now-former Premier Giuseppe Conte, whose government collapsed after a small party yanked support over the handling of the pandemic. Broad political backing for the new Cabinet will be crucial in the Italian Parliament, where Draghi next week must win mandatory confidence votes.



With pandemic lockdowns pummeling Italy's long-stagnant economy, he chose for his economy minister a non-political appointee, Daniele Franco, an expert in public finances who has served in Italian central bank posts.



Eager to have some role in deciding how Italy will spend some 209 billion euros (about $250 billion) in European Union recovery funds, politicians from parties that have spent years demonizing each other set aside differences, at least for now, and agreed to join a Draghi government.



The prospect of funneling EU money into concrete projects to improve citizens' lives practically overnight transformed the euroskepticism of Matteo Salvini, the right-wing League leader, into a publicly enthusiastic pro-Europe proponent of a Draghi government.



Salvini didn't get a ministry himself, but three League stalwarts did, including longtime aide and lawmaker Giancarlo Giorgetti, who was put in charge of the economic development ministry. Italy urgently needs to bolster businesses knocked to the ground by the government's anti-pandemic measures, which shuttered stores, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes for weeks.





A handout photo made available by Palazzo Chigi, official residence of Italian prime minister, showing Italian former premier Giuseppe Conte leaving after the handover ceremony with the new Prime Minister Mario Draghi (not pictured) at Chigi Palace, the premier's office, in Rome, Italy, Feb. 13, 2021. EPA-Yonhap



With tourism accounting for some 13% of Italy's gross domestic product, the pandemic obliterated a significant chunk of the economy. The new government will have a tourism Ministry from the previous culture ministry.



A League senator heads the new tourism post. Keeping the reins of the culture ministry is Dario Franceschini, a high-profile Democrat who revitalized Italy's museums to attract many more visitors.



The EU funds are contingent on projects aimed at reforming Italy's bureaucratic institutions, creating new jobs, especially for young people, and transforming the nation digitally and environmentally.



Italy's slow and complex justice system is often blamed for discouraging business investment. The new justice minister is Marta Cartabia, former president of Italy's constitutional court. How to revamp the Justice Ministry fueled feuding within Conte's last coalition.



Italy's health minister through the pandemic, Roberto Speranza, kept his post, the sole minister from a small left-wing party.



Ministry posts were handed out to four parties that were in Conte's imploded coalition, including a small centrist party led by ex-Premier Matteo Renzi, whose defection triggered the political crisis ultimately resolved by Draghi's arrival on the scene.





A handout photo made available by Palazzo Chigi, official residence of Italian prime minister showing Italy's new Prime Minister Mario Draghi (R) receiving a small bell by outgoing Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to mark the government handover and to open the first council of Ministers at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, Feb. 13, 2021. EPA-Yonhap

A little known heritage By Renuka Sadanandan Sri Lanka  Island of Islands, a National Trust publication View(s): View(s):

It lies all alone, far from the mainland, where nobody would think of finding a reef in the middle of the deep ocean. Throughout history, it has brought grief to many people, as well as to ships that sailed to their final destiny.

The reference is to the Basses Ridge, a long, narrow, submerged reef running parallel to the southern coast of Sri Lanka, which in two places rises above sea level as rocky islets. On these sit two legendary lighthouses  the Great Basses and Little Basses about which many tales have been told. Rasika Muthucumarana charts how they came by their somewhat treacherous reputation and indeed the marvels of the lighthouses very construction in one of his contributions to the new book released by the National Trust of Sri Lanka.

The Great Basses and Little Basses cannot be seen from land and it is such little explored terrain that the coffee table book Sri Lanka-Island of Islands ventures to tread. The book is another in the Trusts publications to foster public awareness of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of this country. The choice of subject is inspired  not many are aware that there are as many as 100 islands and islets off the coastline of Sri Lanka and the hope is that the book will propel greater research into them.

Compiled by former diplomat Sarala Fernando whose abiding love for the country is clearly seen in her diligent research and labour that has produced many books on Sri Lanka over the years, she was assisted in this effort by the editorial team of Somasiri Devendra and Stefan D Silva with Dr Malik Fernando as the scientific consultant. Sarala states in her introduction that they pondered over which islands and islets to focus on over all of two years. It must have been a difficult exercise. Included are many of the well known islands like Mannar and Kalpitiya, islets like Seenigama and Werallaiya, even if somewhat disappointingly Taprobane (Count de Maunys) island in the Weligama bay does not figure save for Nihal Fernandos black and white photograph on the book cover.

With climate change posing a huge threat to the fragile eco-systems of these islands, there is a need for a better understanding of their very distinct characteristics, hence the books publication is timely. Sarala in her previous books drew on a panel of professionals and experts in different fields and this time too, it is a varied selection of architects, historians, Buddhist monks and botanists who have contributed and given the calibre of photographers chosen, the images too are arresting  sheer pleasure to linger over.

The contributors are Shereen Amendra, Maneshka Borham, George Cooke, Somasiri Devendra, Shravasti Dhammika, Sarath Ekanayaka, Sarala herself, Hema Goonatilake, IUCN Sri Lanka, Thangamuthu Jayasingam, Sunela Jayewardene, T. Mathiventhan, Rasika Muthucumarana, Vasantha Pahalawattarachi, Nishan Perera and Christopher Silva. The images were provided by Stefan DSilva, Luxshmanan Nadaraja, Sur. Rear Admiral, Lalith Ekanayake, Studio Times and Sampath de A. Goonatilake.

Part 1 of the book looks at the Offshore Islands and this is a fascinating mix for among those historically well known, are Kachchativu, for instance which George Cooke records both this small nation and giant neighbour India laid claim to and the Adams Bridge islands that figure in ancient chronicles.

Sunela Jayewardenes standout essay on Yonder Island Neduntivu (Delft) paints with tender affinity the arid sandy island off the Northern coast  evoking its people, their legends, their lifestyle, their fierce independence a people marching to a different drum, the archaeological ruins, abundant wildlife, famed ponies and feral cow population.

Like Neduntivu, Nagadipa has been much written about and Hema Goonatilake in her account of this, the second most important of the 16 sacred Buddhist sites in the island (solosmasthana) traces its religious, historical and literary significance. Heading south, Rasika Muthucumarana documents Parawi Duwa, Galgediyana and Seenigama. Other essays reflect the coastal Catholics devotion to St. Anthony, the patron saint of fishermen.

Sober Island  a name that resonates with the World War era is captured in a brief photo essay by Somasiri Devendra and Stefan D Silva. There are two Sober Islands, the Great and the Little that stand sentinel at the entrance to the Inner Harbour of Trincomalee. Strategically positioned. it was a proper stone frigate used for defence, not attack. They last spoke in anger during the Easter Sunday raid, 1942, Devendra notes, detailing that after the Second World War ended, it was occupied by the Royal Navy until 1957 when it was handed over to the Ceylon Navy, and is now overtaken by the wilderness.

Marine biologist Nishan Perera is in familiar seas writing of Pigeon Island; located off the Nilaveli coast its very beauty and popularity has become its greatest threat. His pictures capture both its coral sand beaches, turquoise waters and underwater treasures.

Going off the beaten track, Maneshka Borham explores the sparsely populated island of Baththalangunduwa, five sq.km in extent, off the Dutch Bay in Kalpitiya. Reached via a three-hour ferry ride from Kalpitiya, it has become a popular destination for campers. Yet for all its lonely appeal, rising sea levels and erosion threaten its existence as a fishing village as villagers continue to migrate to the mainland.

Part 2 of the book moves to the Inland Islands and no less intriguing are these accounts. Christopher Silva takes the reader on a journey down the Mahaweli to Kalinga Nuwara, a beautiful conch-shaped island, 12 km south of Polonnaruwa and three km east of the ancient Veddah village of Yakkure. Part of the Wasgamuwa National Park, it got its name from the Kalinga dynasty of India. Historians and archaeologists like R.L. Brohier and H.C.P. Bell have documented it; Brohier believed it was King Parakrama Bahus shipbuilding yard and Bell that it was a monastic centre. Kalinga Nuwara is now home to the creatures of the jungle, Silva writes and access is restricted by the Departments of Wildlife and Archaeology.

Sarath Ekanayake looks at the flora of the better known Maduganga islands, home to some 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families while Somasiri Devendra and Stefan DSilva in another photo essay on Maduganga capture Life on the River. In Polgasduwa, Bhante S.Dhammika traces how this little island on the Ratgama Lake where Ven Nyanatiloka (the German who became a Buddhist monk)set up an island hermitage which would gain international fame candidates for monastic life came from Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and a few from Japan and the US.

Other chapters include an extract from an IUCN report on the conservation and biodiversity of the islands and lagoons of Northern Sri Lanka; Shireen Amendras nostalgic recollections of Paradise island, Bentota, Vasantha Pahalawattarachis account of Crow Island and T. Jayasingams and T.Mathiventhans Islets of Batticaloa, all packed with knowledge and local lore, which unfortunately space does not permit exploring here. If there is an unevenness in the writing as happens with multiple contributions, there is much to discover for the keen reader willing to invest time on this book. As Sarala succinctly puts it Sri Lanka never ceases to amaze for its natural beauty and wealth of heritage assets.. our book is only the beginning of the search into a small area of this heritage treasure

Sponsored by Sails Lanka Charter (Pvt) Ltd), the book priced at Rs 4,500, is available at leading bookshops and at the National Trust office, 407, Bauddhaloka Mw, Colombo 7 open from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m on weekdays, tel: 011-2682730.
Donald Trump faces a single article of impeachment that accuses him of incitement of insurrection (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Democratic impeachment managers acting as prosecutors in Donald Trumps trial closed their arguments with a warning that the insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol are still listening and may be the beginning of a violent political legacy.

Congressman Joe Neguse said that the cold, hard truth is that what happened on 6 January can happen again.

I fear, like many of you do, that the violence we saw on that terrible day may be just the beginning, he said on Saturday. The extremist groups grow more emboldened every day. Senators, this cannot be the beginning. It cant be the new normal. It has to be the end, and that decision is in your hands.

House impeachment managers outlined their arguments against the former president and his responsibility for the riot in the halls of Congress - saying he promoted the big lie of election fraud that compelled his supporters to break into the Capitol as lawmakers certified the election results, along with his months-long attempts to undermine election integrity and court political violence, leading up to his command to fight like hell at a rally on 6 January.

Read more:Follow live updates from Trumps impeachment trial

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean argued that the ex-president knew the people he was inciting and saw the violence they were capable of.

He had a pattern and practice of praising and encouraging supporters of violence, never condemning it. Senators, the insurrectionists are still listening, she said.

Federal law enforcement has warned that far-right militia groups and others supporting the shared false narrative of a stolen election and opposition to Joe Bidens presidency and a Democratically controlled federal government may lead some individuals to the belief that there is no political solution to address their grievance and violence action is necessary.

The Department of Homeland Security has also issued a terrorism advisory bulletin due to a heightened threat environment through the end of April, following the Capitol violence.

Story continues

Impeachment managers stressed to senators on Saturday that justice must be served for people impacted by the violence, including the families of people who died in the assault and in its aftermath.

If we dont set this right and call it what it was, said Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, the past will not be the past; the past will become the future.

As Congress resumes its regular business, for some there will be no end to the pain, Mr Neguse said.

In his closing statement, lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said that the country and world know who Trump is, regardless of the evidence presented over several days.

This trial is about who we are, he said, addressing senators directly.

This is almost certainly how you will be remembered by history, he said. That might not be fair  but none of us can escape the demands of history and destiny right now.

Democrats won a vote to introduce witnesses, potentially extending the trial into the coming weeks as both sides introduced witnesses and subpoenas, but impeachment managers backed down, moving the trial into its closing hours.

The witness request followed a statement from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler, among 10 House Republicans who broke from the party to impeach Mr Trump in the House. She described a phone conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Mr Trump on 6 January as his supporters mounted an assault inside the Capitol building.

Mr Raskin said the team believes weve proven our case, adding that the late-breaking statement from Rep Herrera Beutler introduced an additional critical piece of corroborating evidence, further confirming the charges before you.

Is this America? Mr Raskin said in his closing statement. What kind of America will we be? Its now literally in your hands.

The statement was admitted into the trial record.

Read More

Jaime Herrera Beutler: Who is congresswoman who revealed Trump-McCarthy call?

The chilling expletive-laden phone call that threw Trump impeachment trial into chaos
When Australian nurse Patricia Davison administers a coronavirus vaccine in her adopted home of Baltimore, a US city hit hard by COVID-19, some patients are in tears. Some people become really emotional, she said. Its amazingly rewarding.

The vaccine has offered a lot of hope. I didnt cry, but when I was lining up to get mine, I had this feeling of, So much has happened, and there is a way out of this. Theres been so much death. So much suffering.

Administering vaccines is not Professor Davidsons day job. As the dean of nursing at highly-regarded Johns Hopkins University, and soon-to-be vice-chancellor of the University of Wollongong, hers is a desk job, and a very stressful one.

Patricia Davidson, who will be the next vice chancellor of Wollongong University, administers COVID-19 vaccines in Baltimore

But Davidson has also volunteered to work on the coal face, distributing Pfizer and Moderna inoculations to Baltimores most vulnerable residents. Fighting COVID-19 has been exhausting and distressing, and its not over yet, Professor Davidson said.
A Florida woman accused of repeatedly stabbing her sister with an EpiPen allegedly justified her actions by telling police that she's 'allergic to drunks'.

Joanna Zielinski, 62, was arrested on Thursday in Naples and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery for her attack on her sister Laura, 64.

Police said the two women were drinking together at their home when Laura fell asleep on the couch.

Joanna stayed awake and consumed more alcohol and narcotics before she 'went crazy and attacked Laura with an EpiPen, stabbing her with it multiple times', a police report states.

Joanna Zielinski, 62, (left) was arrested on Thursday in Naples and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly stabbing her sister Laura (right) repeatedly with an EpiPen

Officers with the Naples Police Department responded to the Zielinksi home at around 10.30pm after someone called 911 and then hung up, WBBH reported.

Laura told the officers that she had woken up to find Joanna attacking her with the EpiPen prescribed to the latter sister to counter severe allergic reactions.

When interviewed by the officers, Joanna allegedly said: 'I'm allergic to drunks, so I injected her with the EpiPen so she wouldn't be drunk anymore. What's the big deal?'

Using an EpiPen, which injects the drug epinephrine, on someone who is not having a severe allergic reaction can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure.

First responders evaluated Laura and found that no medication was injected into her due to the way Joanna was holding the EpiPen during the attack.

However Laura was left with a large welt on her thigh where her sister stabbed her.

Joanna was booked into Collier County jail pending an arraignment on March 1, records showed.

Laura allegedly told investigators that she had been hurt by her sister on multiple occasions in the past.
Celebrating love! Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess shared intimate details about their romance during a Valentines Day Instagram Live.

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In the clip, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 47, fawned over his new girlfriend, 35, and gushed about their unique relationship.

This has been kind of a weird year for me so what an amazing Valentines Day this has been, Green began on Sunday, February 14. Sharna is a really amazing, considerate, loving, kind person. I kind of feel like when you put yourself in a space where you on some level decide that youre gonna surround yourself with people that help you move forward on a path instead of pulling you back, that they do that.

The actor credited the Dancing With the Stars pro with pushing him in a new direction following his public split from wife Megan Fox, saying, Sharnas been amazing in my life, not only for that reason, but thats been a big thing for me.

Green went on to say, This could be the start of something amazing.

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Courtesy of Brian Austin Green/Instagram

Burgess, for her part, had plenty of kind words for her beau as well. This one took me completely by surprise, the dancer said in the clip. Ive never known a man like him. She praised Green for being both a good human and an amazing father.

The Australia native got to witness how good of a dad the Anger Management star really is firsthand during a recent trip to Big Bear, California, with his three kids with Fox. The duo detailed their trip, sharing a hilarious anecdote as somewhat of a cautionary tale to viewers.

It was amazing but we did make the grave mistake of going on a weekend.  At one point it was a three-and-a-half-hour wait to get into a restaurant and they werent taking reservations, Burgess recalled via Instagram Live video.

The long wait forced the pair to get resourceful and while their vacation dinner may not have been five-star, Green, Burgess and the kids were all pleased, according to the actor.

We went to a liquor store and I made liquor store steaks, he revealed with a laugh. They had a meat department which was the last freezer down at eye level on that rack and they had some steak and ground beef and I made steaks that were about paper at the point when they were done.

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He continued: The kids were super happy. They had mac and cheese and fish sticks. We had some fried rice with chicken from the night before and liquor store steaks.

Green shares three sons with Fox, 34, whom he married in 2010: Noah, 8, Bodhi, 6, and Journey, 4. He also has an 18-year-old son named Kassius, whom he shares with ex-fiancee Vanessa Marcil. Green and Fox announced their split in May 2020. The Transformers star has since moved on with Machine Gun Kelly.

Us Weekly confirmed Greens relationship with Burgess in January. A month earlier, however, the professional dancer told Us she was seeing someone famous. She said at the time, [This one] feels different to all the rest of them.

Not long after, they jetted off to Hawaii together to spend New Years Eve at the Four Seasons Resort in Hualalai, the same place Green and Fox were married. Although they havent been dating long, an insider told Us last month that things between them are heating up after the trip.

Their vacation to Hawaii has brought them closer. While theyve become Instagram official, people dont see how close theyve actually become since their meeting, the source noted.
Militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have executed 13 kidnapped Turks, including military and police personnel, in a cave in northern Iraq, Turkish officials said on Sunday, amid a military operation against the group, Reuters reports.

Forty eight PKK militants were killed during the military operation, while three Turkish soldiers were killed and three wounded, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement. Twelve of the kidnapped Turks had been shot in the head and one in the shoulder, he said.

Turkey launched the military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq's Gara region on Feb. 10 to secure its border and find citizens who had been kidnapped previously, he said.

The Accra Regional Police Command has advised operators of filling stations to tighten security around their stations following a rise in robbery attacks on such operations.



The recommendation of the police include the installation of undercover close circuit television (CCTV) cameras on their premises, well-lit environments, installation of quality security doors, burglar proofs and alarms and undertaking security and background checks of the people they employ.



Some of the measures could be executed with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.



Context



There has been a number of robbery attacks on filling stations in some parts of the Greater Accra Region in recent times.



The latest attack was on the Ashongman GOIL Filling Station, which led to the killing of a security man while two attendants were locked up. The robbers made away with GH2,006.



Before then, there was another attack on a filling station at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region in which the robbers made away with some cash.



To curb the development, the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Afful Boakye Yiadom, instructed all divisional police commanders to meet filling station operators in their jurisdictions to discuss the trend and the way forward.



The meetings, consequently started last Thursday, with two district police commands, namely Korle Bu and Abokobi/Ayi Mensah, meeting the operators in their areas.



Objective



Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the two meetings, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Effia Tenge, said the objective was to sensitise them to the current security developments and ensure the safety of their workers, proceeds and other assets.



She said about 20 managers and supervisors of various filling stations, including GOIL, Shell, Allied Oil, and TOTAL attended the two meetings held separately.



Measures



During the meetings, DSP Mrs Tenge said the police urged the filling station operators to ensure that their daily sales were deposited at the bank and different routes should be used to avoid being monitored by criminals.



They were also encouraged to install CCTV cameras at vantage points on their premises which should not be visible to the public, while their environments should be well lighted.



Additionally, they were asked to fix quality security doors and burglar proof doors to prevent easy access to their offices and shops by criminals.



The police commanders also urged the operators to install alarms and conduct security and background checks of the people they employed.



For such background checks, the CID Headquarters must be contacted to take employees through employment documentation.



Suspicious characters



The management of filling stations, Mrs Tenge said, were also asked to make efforts to know the residence of their employees and also demand guarantors of them.



They should also introduce occurrence books for their private security personnel which would be used to record events while they were on duty.



They were also advised to report suspicious characters to the police, but must establish good relationships with members of communities in which they operated.



Furthermore, the downstream petroleum station operators were advised to close their business activities on time and consider not operating at odd hours so that they do not give criminals the opportunity to target them, DSP Mrs Tenge said.



While the police assured them of patrols, the station operators were also encouraged to have the contact numbers of the patrol teams for prompt and effective communication.



Regular sessions



The managers and supervisors in turn commended the police for the interaction and suggested that they organise similar meetings for attendants and other employees of the filling stations.



They expressed appreciation to the police and promised to abide by the security tips they had provided.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Archie Harrison-Mountbatten Windsor is going to be a big brother! Meghan Markle is pregnant and expecting baby No. 2 with Prince Harry following her previous miscarriage.

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We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed on Valentines Day as they shared a sweet black-and-white photo of Harry sitting on the grass in a garden while Meghan lay with her head in his lap and had her hand on her baby bump. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.

Photo by Misan Harriman, Copyright owned by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex  2021

The royal couples first pregnancy announcement came in October 2018. Kensington Palace wrote in a statement at the time: Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.

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The Suits alum, 38, gave birth to their son in May. He has the sweetest temperament, Meghan told members of the press days after the infants arrival. Hes really calm. Hes been the dream, so its been a special couple of days. Its pretty amazing and I have the two best guys in the world, so Im really happy.

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The pair praised each others parenting skills while on their first official tour as a family in October. Hes the best dad, the former actress said of Harry during their South Africa trip.

The duke replied, Ah, shes the best mum.

Eight months after Archies arrival, his parents announced their decision to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages, they said in a January statement. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter.

The couple went on to live temporarily in Canada with their son before moving to Los Angeles in April 2020. They ultimately bought a home in Montecito, California.

Seven months after their move, Markle wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that she had suffered a miscarriage in July 2020. Unbearable grief [is] experienced by many but talked about by a few, she wrote in November 2020. We have learned that when people ask how any of us are doing, and when they really listen to the answer, with an open heart and mind, the load of grief often becomes lighter  for all of us. In being invited to share our pain, together we take the first steps toward healing.

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Meghan and Harry were always planning on raising their baby boy away from the public eye, a source exclusively told Us Weekly following Archies birth. Shes a very strong woman who wants to use her role to modernize the monarchy, which is one of the reasons she and Harry decided to reject a title for Archie, the insider explained. [She and [Harry] want their son to lead a normal life.  Meghan likes to do things her way.

The insider added, For Meghan, its just as important for Archie to learn about her family history as it is for him to learn about his royal ancestors, so she plans to go on a trip to L.A. with him once shes comfortable taking him on a plane.
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In the past few days, detectives have made arrests in two recent homicide cases.

Dominic Sepulveda, 29, was booked into jail Saturday morning, and Trey Bausby, 19, was booked Friday morning in separate cases  a double shooting and a fatal stabbing.

Sepulveda is charged in the Feb. 10 killing of Aaron Johnson, 33. Bausby is charged in the Jan. 29 death of Jessica Benavidez, 42. It is unclear if either man has an attorney.

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................................................................

The arrests are laid out in criminal complaints filed in Metropolitan Court.

Last Wednesday, police responded around 4 a.m. to an apartment near Montgomery and Carlisle NE after a woman reported that she and Johnson had been shot.

Officers found Johnson dead on the couch from multiple gunshot wounds and the woman, who had been shot in one arm, was taken to the hospital. The woman told police the cousin of Johnsons girlfriend, Sepulveda, was responsible.

She said Johnson had taken over her apartment the past week  doing methamphetamine, pistol-whipping a man and fighting viciously with his girlfriend. The woman said she and Sepulveda drugged him with sleeping pills so the girlfriend could escape.

She said Sepulveda returned, shot Johnson and then chased her into a bedroom and shot her. Sepulveda told police he shot Johnson but didnt remember shooting the woman, and accidentally shot himself in the foot.

In the other case, on Jan. 29, police responded around 12:30 p.m. to a stabbing at the Amberly Suites near Eubank and Interstate 40. Benavidez told witnesses the man who sleeps in the silver BMW stabbed her. She died at a hospital.

Officers found a blood trail in the parking lot that led to a bloodstained BMW. A witness told police he saw Bausby, who was known to live in the BMW and pull knives on people, arguing with Benavidez before she was stabbed.

Bausbys grandmother told police Bausby told her he stabbed Benavidez and had threatened to stab her and other relatives when they wouldnt let him in their motel rooms.

When police arrested Bausby, he asked if their was a self-defense law in New Mexico.

Albuquerque police have dealt with 19 homicides, including two double homicides, so far this year.
SPRINGFIELD  Its a long way from a back-of-the-napkin idea to a dream fulfilled, but a nonprofit with an office at the Springfield Technology Park is helping innovators forge ahead with the process.

FORGE, launched five years ago under clean-technology incubator Greentown Labs, helps startups on their journey from prototype to product by connecting them with manufacturers, design firms and engineers.

One of the hundreds of innovators FORGE is helping is 19-year-old Connor MacFarlane, a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amhersts School of Engineering, who is developing a wearable insulin delivery device for diabetics.

The design, he said, reduces pain, plastic waste, the amount of supplies people need to carry and the amount of time spent managing the disease.

MacFarlane, who was diagnosed with diabetes in high school, said he was frustrated that insulin delivery systems were difficult to manage for an active teenager.

A member of Medford High Schools crew and swim teams, MacFarlane was taking four insulin injections a day. Wearing a patch wasnt practical when youre diving into a pool all the time, he said.

His light-bulb moment came one day while he was out to dinner with his parents and he excused himself from the table to administer an insulin shot.

I came back to the table, grabbed a napkin and drew a sketch for my mom, he said.

Fast forward to the fall of 2019, when MacFarlane, a chemical engineering major at UMass, attended boot camp at the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship. When he shared his idea, he was encouraged to pursue it and come back with a design.

Today his company  Improved Insulin Delivery (IID)  is well on its way to producing a prototype. There is no timeline for when the device would hit the market, MacFarlane said, adding that like other medical devices it would require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

To date, his venture has received more than $30,000 in nondilutive funding, some of it from beating out 100 students during a pitch competition hosted by the Berthiaume Center.

IID has done prototyping work with the W.E.B. Du Bois 3D printing lab and the Advanced Digital Design and Fabrication lab at UMass Amherst.

In addition to FORGE and the Berthiaume Center, IID has received assistance from VentureWelI and i-Corp.

These connections will be instrumental for taking the next steps with IID as we are starting to do more serious product development and are looking to find companies that are local, with the right capabilities, and willing to help us along our journey, MacFarlane said.

University of Massachusetts Amherst sophomore Connor MacFarlane is developing an insulin-delivery system for diabetics with help from the nonprofit Forge. He is shown in a lab in the UMass Life Sciences building. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

FORGE Executive Director Laura Teicher said the organization is committed to helping startups and manufacturers stimulate the local economy and solve tough problems.

To date, the Somerville-based nonprofit has supported nearly 300 startups statewide, resulting in $30 million in known contracts and purchase orders to make innovative products locally.

With its proliferation of precision machine shops, Western Massachusetts was a logical place for FORGE to expand its westward reach, Teicher said. The research and development going on at UMass Amherst was another plus, she added.

Massachusetts has 7,000 manufacturers, Teicher said, and there is a great opportunity for them to help innovators like MacFarlane turn their inventions into real products.

Adam Rodrigues, director of regional initiatives at FORGE in Springfield, said Western Massachusetts has earned its designation by the regional chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association as a precision manufacturing hot spot. The region is home to more than 200 precision manufacturers, Rodrigues said, adding that some are quite small and a lot are multi-generational.

State Rep. Joseph Wagner, D-Chicopee, and Sen. Eric Lessor, D-Longmeadow, were instrumental in bringing FORGE to Western Massachusetts.

We always looking for ways to enhance opportunities for our region and make east-west connections, Wagner said.

FORGEs funding sources include state and federal grants, foundation grants and sponsorships from the manufacturing community.

Crucial to our Western Massachusetts presence have been an annual $150,000 from the commonwealth and $50,000 from the Davis Foundation, Teicher said.

In October, hundreds of innovators and regional manufacturers attended FORGEs second annual Manufacturing and Innovation Showcase  held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though the COVID-19 crisis resulted in the temporary closing of manufacturing plants, Teicher said 2020 was a good year for innovation.

When the pandemic hit, we expected a slowdown, but we did not see that, she said, adding that FORGE helped 170 innovators in 2020, an increase from 2019.

Since it opened its regional office at Springfield Technology Park in 2016, FORGE has supported more than 90 startups and engaged more than more than 75 manufacturers and suppliers, resulting in more than $11 million in contracts.

Teicher said FORGE finds innovators through university contacts, local businesses and word of mouth.

Matching startups with hardware and physical product is capital-intensive up front, Teicher said. If they dont make the right design and supply chain design, they can easily run off the runway.

Its FORGEs job, she said, to match startups with the correct resources at an early stage. FORGE believes that if you can invent it locally, you should be empowered to make it locally, she said.

Advantages of local production include strengthened communication, transparency and intellectual property protections, as well as avoiding tariffs, shipping fees and management overhead associated with working with overseas supply chains, she said.

As for MacFarlanes hopes for his company, he said, Id like to think it could go national, but right now I want to get the product to young active adults with diabetes.

He said he hopes his invention give diabetics a better quality of life with increased happiness and freedom.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the country's biggest city Auckland into a snap lockdown for the first time in nearly six months on Sunday after three coronavirus cases emerged in the community.

The Pacific island nation has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic, with just 25 deaths in a population of five million.

But almost two million residents were told on Sunday to stay at home from midnight, when the level-three lockdown begins, with schools and businesses to close except for essential services.

"The main thing we are asking people in Auckland to do is stay at home to avoid any risk of spread," Ardern said.

She added that the restrictions were "just in case it could be one of the more transmissible strains of Covid that we need to act with a high degree of caution around".

It came after three members of an Auckland family tested positive, with authorities concerned about the "new and active" infections as there was no obvious source of transmission.

The city will also be ring-fenced from the rest of New Zealand, with travel in and out of the metropolis highly restricted for the next three days.

The remainder of the country will move to alert level two, Ardern said, with people required to wear masks on public transport and gatherings limited to a maximum of 100 people.

"I know we all feel the same way when this happens - not again," she said.

"But remember, we have been here before, that means we know how to get out of this - together."

- Too soon to judge -

Health officials said a mother -- who works for a company providing laundry and catering services to international flights -- and her daughter tested positive Saturday, before the father returned a positive sample Sunday.

A fourth member of the household is also showing symptoms of Covid-19 but returned a negative test.

New Zealand director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said the initial focus was on the mother's workplace "because of its obvious connections to the border".

Story continues

But he added it was "too soon to rule in or out" any source of transmission and the woman had not been at work for eight days before testing positive.

Auckland spent more than two weeks in lockdown last August after a virus outbreak was linked to a worker at a coolstore handling imported frozen freight, but New Zealand has largely been enjoying relaxed restrictions for months.

Several cases of Covid-19 were also detected in the city three weeks ago, before being traced back to a hotel where the people had completed quarantine after arriving from overseas.

Ardern has been widely praised for her management of the pandemic, with New Zealand recording fewer than 2,000 infections.

The country closed its borders and implemented a strict five-week lockdown in March and April last year, with occasional virus outbreaks since then being quickly contained.

Ardern has said New Zealand's borders were likely to remain closed for the rest of this year while the pandemic continued to rage worldwide.

cf/hr/rbu

Recalling the terror attack of Pulwama that killed 40 valiant Indian soldiers, two years back on February 14, several Bollywood stars paid their tributes to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives. The incident happened when a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying the soldiers. Bollywood stars like Rajkummar Rao, Karthik Aaryan, and many more prayed for the departed souls.

Bollywood stars on Pulwama Attack

Rajkummar Rao paid tribute to the soldiers where he shared the pictures of the soldiers who laid their lives two years back and wrote, "A sincere tribute to all our martyred brothers. #Pulwama Attack". Actor Kartik Aaryan also offered his prayers to the soldiers on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack. He took to Twitter and wrote, "#PulwamaAttack    . On this day, 2 years back, 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives for our nation in the Pulwama attack. Prayers for the brave souls and their families. We'll always be in debt of yours". Varun Dhawan also paid tributes as he added an Instagram story with photos of martyred soldiers.

Read: Omar Abdullah Angry At Being Locked Indoors On Pulwama Anniversary; Police Says He Knew

Read: Goa CM Pays Tributes To Martyrs Of Pulwama Terror Attack

#PulwamaAttack     On this day, 2 years back 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives for our nation in Pulwama attack. Prayers for the brave souls and their families. We'll always be in debt of yours  pic.twitter.com/wU0NDDmkTN  Kartik Aaryan (@TheAaryanKartik) February 14, 2021

A salute to the brave hearts who sacrificed their life in the line of duty on this day. #PulwamaAttack  Sidharth Malhotra (@SidMalhotra) February 14, 2021

(Image credit: Varun Dhawan's Instagram)

Pulwama Attack

Two years ago on February 14, 2019, 40 Indian soldiers were martyred in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. After the deadly attack, a Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the terror attack. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The attack, which was reported near Awantipora at nearly 3:15 pm resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, while many others were left injured. After this attack, India had also withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and the whole international community had expressed its strong support to India in the wake of the terror attack. The memorial having names of all 40 jawans killed in the attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020, at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty).

Read: Top Ministers Pay Tribute To Pulwama Martyrs On Second Anniversary Of Terrorist Attack

Read: Netizens Remember Sacrifice Of CRPF Soldiers On 2nd Anniversary Of Pulwama Terror Attack

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.
Israel and Cyprus have agreed in principle a deal allowing coronavirus-vaccinated citizens of the two countries to travel between them without limitations, once passenger flights resume, Israel's president said Sunday.

Israel reached a similar agreement with Greece last week, as the Mediterranean nations seek to revive tourism industries battered by the pandemic.

The 'green pass' agreed between the two nations will "allow the renewal of flights between Israel and Cyprus", Israel's President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement after meeting his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades.

Rivlin's spokesman Jonathan Cummings confirmed to AFP that the 'green pass' would allow vaccinated people from both countries reciprocal travel.

"We hope that soon the epidemiologic condition in both our countries will allow us to resume the flow of visitors between Cyprus and Israel," Anastasiades said, according to the Cypriot government press office.

The Cypriot president later met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but there was no immediate statement on their conversation.

Israel's aggressive vaccination campaign has seen 3.8 million receive the first of two required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while 2.4 million have received the second shot.

The country of nine million people, currently easing restrictions after ending its third nationwide lockdown this month, is aiming to vaccinate everyone over the age of 16 by the end of March.

The lockdown has also included an unprecedented airport closure to all but exceptional traffic.

Limited flights by Israeli airlines El AL and Israir have been allowed to fly in Israelis stranded abroad or fly out those needing to travel for "humanitarian or personal needs".

Such trips must be approved by an "exemptions committee" of health and interior ministry officials.

Israel's coronavirus cabinet on Sunday approved increasing the number of daily inbound passengers to 2,000 and allowing unspecified foreign airlines to take part, a government statement said.

Arrivals will be required to quarantine in government-run hotels.

Daily newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday that Israel had been under pressure from the United States to allow United Airlines and Delta to carry passengers from the US.

It said that El AL had enjoyed a monopoly on "rescue flights" from the United States since the restrictions were brought in last month.

Sunday's coronavirus cabinet session also decided that the exemptions committee will prepare to process an expected rise in travel applications.

Israel has recorded 723,038 coronavirus cases, including 5,368 deaths. The country's international airport remains closed to all non-emergency travel.

Cyprus has begun cautiously easing its own national lockdown following a decline in the spread of Covid-19 infections that peaked after Christmas.

The country went into lockdown on January 10 for the second time during the pandemic, after daily cases hit a record 907 on December 29, but daily detected infections are now running just above 100.





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Lorraine and Woodrow Adams Sr. were just weeks away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, planning to mark the March 27 occasion with a relaxing trip to Mexico.

Instead, their love story has been cut short. On Saturday afternoon, hours after a five-alarm fire ripped through their three-decker home in Worcester, Lorraine was at Massachusetts General Hospital, listening to the couples pastor sing and pray as her 71-year-old husband died from injuries he suffered jumping from the homes third-story porch to escape the flames.

Its a big loss, Lorraine said. We were looking forward to our son and his fiancee getting married, going on vacation. He was retired. I was not working, Im retired, and it didnt go as planned.

The family had already suffered the loss of Edna Mae Williams and Gerald Jerry Prince, Lorraines mother and brother, who succumbed to flames on the first floor of the family home at 13 Jaques Ave.

We had a good life, Lorraine continued, a pained tremor in her voice. We raised our children, our grands, we had great-grands, and I thought we would have a little more time.

The one thing that gives Lorraine some peace, she said, was that her husband passed without suffering.

He went peacefully. He didnt struggle, a tear came down, his mouth opened up a little bit, and he went out, Lorraine said. I was so thankful for the doctors and nurses, the support, the hard work that they did. They tried everything.

The blaze broke out at both 13 and 11 Jaques Ave. around 7:30 p.m. Friday. The flames at 11 Jaques Ave. was quickly brought under control, but conditions worsened at 13 Jaques Ave.

Worcester officials on Saturday said that the fire started either in the basement or on the first floor of 13 Jaques Ave. and had been burning in concealed spaces for some time before it was discovered and reported. The blaze remains under investigation but is not considered suspicious.

Lorraine was the caregiver for her mother and brother, from taking them to hospital appointments, feeding them and bathing them. In retirement, Lorraine dedicated her life to helping the family, said her son Woodrow Adams Jr., who called his mother the familys superwoman.

This has just been traumatic. Its devastating, Woodrow said. We never saw this coming.

10 Fatal fire at 13 Jaques Ave. in Worcester

Lorraine had sat down to eat when she got a call from her second-floor tenant, who had smelled smoke. Smoke was coming up from the back of the house. The discovery led to chaos and confusion.

There was white cloudy smoke, like a mist, Lorraine recalled. She and her son, Keith, jumped into action. We opened the back door and went down the staircase. I got to the second landing and I felt the heat. I said oh my God, my mother, my brother.

Keith ran into the first floor to try and get to his grandmother, Lorraine said.

I looked in the back area of the house and you could see flames, said Lorraine.

Lorraine said she and Keith heard an explosion go off. Lorraine got down to the floor, she said, trying to grab the leg of her brother, who is paralyzed on one side of his body.

The fire conditions were too much, she said. They couldnt save Edna or Jerry.

I couldnt hear them anymore. I never heard my mother call out anything. I said theyre gone, Lorraine recalled.

Woodrow described his grandmother as the pillar of the family. Edna took care of the family, particularly babysitting her grandchildren, until she got sick, Lorraine said.

She would always tell us, youve got to stick together, Lorraine said of her mother. Youve got to stick together. Love one another.

Jerry, 61, had suffered several strokes and seizures, Lorraine said. At frequent hospital visits, he was known for his smile.

No matter how sick he was, he would always have that smile, Lorraine said. When I would take him to appointments or doctors they would say, you know, weve never seen anything like this.

Tears streamed from Lorraines face when a family member from South Carolina called on Saturday evening with a prayer. Members of the Adams family, who had gathered at the Marriott hotel on Grove Street, bowed their heads.

In total, 13 residents were displaced because of the fire. Woodrow started a GoFundMe page to help the family rebuild. The Adams family said theyre incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support.

My grandmother, my uncle, my father, they will truly be missed, Woodrow said. Theres just no words for this.

But the family knows theyll make it through this tragedy.

There will be tough times. We will cry. We will think about the what-ifs, why did this happen, Woodrow said. All these things will happen but we have enough faith and belief that theres a reason behind this. God has a bigger plan than what we know.

These are Worcesters first fire fatalities of 2021. There were two fire fatalities last year.

One of our beloved court officers Woodrow Adams and his family suffered a horrible tragedy last night in the fire on Jaques Avenue. Not only is Woody a beloved member of the courthouse community, but he gives back so much. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Woodrow and his family pic.twitter.com/bHzkstPPDI  Joseph D. Early Jr. (@worcesterda) February 13, 2021

Related Content:

Mumbai: Navy divers slither down from chopper with sniffer dogs

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Feb 14: The Indian Navy on Saturday carried out a maiden exercise of slithering down from a helicopter with explosive-sniffing dogs.

"Clearance divers of Western Naval Command slithered down from a naval helicopter to an offshore platform with two explosive sniffing dogs Minki and Mukti as a part of simulated bomb threat," the Navy said on Twitter.

"Such exercise is regularly carried out but this time it was done with canines as well. The dogs slithered down with their trainers and completed the exercise," said an official of the Western Naval Command.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:46 [IST]
'I am an extremist about protecting India, Assamese culture': Himanta Biswa Sarma

India

oi-Deepika S

Guwahati, Feb 14: Labelling All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal as the "enemy of Assam", state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday asserted that he is an extremist when it comes to protecting Indian and Assamese culture.

Accusing Ajmal of trying to do something "alien to Assamese culture", Sarma, the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor, said he will talk about politics of identity till the Lok Sabha MP and opposition leader is in the political scene.

"I am an extremist in protecting Indian and Assamese culture in this land. If anybody has given me this title, kindly convey my regards and thanks to them," Sarma told reporters when asked about the opposition branding him as the extreme of polarisation politics.

Asked if he and Ajmal are equal in their politics of polarisation, the Assam finance minister claimed that while the AIUDF chief is doing something "alien to Assam's culture", he is trying to protect the Assamese culture.

Congress will never implement CAA if voted to power in Assam: Rahul

"I am trying to protect Indian nationalism. There have to be two extremes. So, if there is a north pole, there will be a south pole. If Badruddin Ajmal disappears, then we will also disappear. Then we will talk about development and something else.

"But as long as Badruddin Ajmal is there, we will talk about development and politics of identity. And if that made me an extremist, I am happy about that," he said.

"Probably this is the most dangerous phase of Assam politics. He (Badruddin Ajmal) is bringing money from fundamentalist organisations. In the name of social service, he is creating a network which is not conducive for Assamese culture," Sarma added.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 15:56 [IST]



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New Delhi:

Neil Amstrong's bag, which he used by to collect the first ever traces of moon dust, was sold at auction for $1.8 million on Friday. the day also marks the 48th anniversary of the first moon landing. Neil Armstrong  the first man to set foot on the moon  held rocks and dust from the lunar region known as the Sea of Tranquility.

The bag was sold to an anonymous bidder for $1.8 million in New York. It was in 1969, US space agency NASA launched the first manned lunar mission  Apollo 11. Auctioneers had expected the bag to fetch between $2 million and $4 million.

Cassandra Hatton, who handled the sale for Sotheby's, said it is "absolutely" a one-of-kind item.

"I just say Neil Armstrong moon dust -- you get it," Hatton says. "You don't have to be American to understand why this is so important and this is also what's exciting about this. I could talk to a 5-year-old in China, and they would get excited about this."

Other items on the block were Armstrong's snapshot of fellow Apollo 11 astronaut "Buzz" Aldrin on the moon. Sotheby's tweeted Thursday that the image soared past $35,000 at auction -- which was seven times above the original estimate.

So theby's tweeted a photo of another item -- a flight plan autographed by crew members of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. Sotheby's said Thursday that it went for $275,000, six times a high estimate.

Another item that sold at auction was a picture of astronaut Charlie Duke on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission. It went for $37,500, Sotheby's tweeted.

#AuctionUpdate: An iconic image of Buzz Aldrin at the #Apollo11 tranquility base taken by Neil Armstrong soars to $35k - 7x above estimate pic.twitter.com/2zETYMmVSP  Sotheby's (@Sothebys) July 20, 2017

Also up for bid Thursday was a picture of man's first look at Earth from the moon. Sotheby's said on Twitter that it fetched $17,500 -- nearly three times its high estimate.

#AuctionUpdate: Houston, there's no problem here! 9 bidders fight to bring The Apollo 13 Flight Plan to $275k - over 6x its high estimate pic.twitter.com/b7YkhoJhBc  Sotheby's (@Sothebys) July 20, 2017

#AuctionUpdate To infinity & beyond! Photograph of Charlie Duke on Lunar Surface soars above estimate, sells for $37,500 #SothebysinSpace pic.twitter.com/FAp3K4YohT  Sotheby's (@Sothebys) July 20, 2017

#AuctionUpdate: #Snoopy goes to space! Snoopy Astronaut Doll signed by Apollo 10 LM pilot soars to $27.5k - nearly 10x above est. pic.twitter.com/m41yanrIqZ

Capping the sale was a Snoopy astronaut doll that was the mascot of the Apollo 10 crew, at an estimated pre-sale price of $2,000 to $3,000. Late Thursday, the auction price soared to $27,500, according to Sotheby's.

In all, Thursday's auction of various items garnered a total of $3.8 million, according to a Sotheby's tweet.

Also Read: Google street view's latest destination ISS, user can see 360-degree

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Help India!

Two minor sisters from Walayar, Kerala were found dead at their home in 2017. The autopsy report revealed the girls were sexually assaulted and killed. More than 3 years have passed, the family of the victims is still fighting for justice.

Samar Ali, TwoCircles.net

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Kerala: Family of two Dalit girls from Kerala, who were allegedly raped and killed in 2017 in their hometown of Walayar, have vowed to continue their fight for justice. In a recent protest that erupted in the district of Pallakad in Kerala, the mother of the two girls Bagyavati vowed that she would launch an indefinite protest across Kerala till justice is served.

The family of the Walayar girls is demanding action against the accused. The family also demands the state government take action against the police officers who failed to properly investigate the case, leading to the acquittal of the accused.

Bagyavati said that she will end the sit-in protest on the day when the Kerala government announces Assembly elections. After that, I will lead this protest across Kerala with my head shaved until justice prevails. I will keep my head shaved till action is taken against those officers, she said, adding that the government has time till the elections to act according to the word it gave her.

Gomati Augustine, an activist heading Penbalai Orumai was part of the protest. Gomati started her hunger strike on February 6, in solidarity with the ongoing protest for justice for Walayar girls. As per her, on day 6, the police tried to forcefully end the strike by arresting her and removing other protesters from the site. She refused to accept the medical care provided by the DMO.

What we need is justice, not some I.V or first aid, said Gomati.

Gomati raised concern with the governments stand and urged for quick action.

Backed by Walayar Samara Samiti (WSS), the protest began on January 26, led by the girls parents Bagyavati and Shaji. Chief Minister has promised that he will do all the needful until we get justice. But here we are protesting even after 3 years, Bagyavati told TwoCircles.net.

Earlier, the Kerala government had decided to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 12, after the parents had expressed a loss of faith in the probe by the state police.

The transfer of the case to CBI came after the Kerala High Court ordered a retrial in the case on January 12 as the special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) court in Kerala had acquitted all the accused in the case citing lack of evidence in October 2019.

Speaking about the transfer of the case to CBI, Mariyappan, the head of the Walayar Samara Samiti said the, CBI has only registered a case concerning the rape and murder of the elder sister.

They have not taken note of the case of the younger girl, he added.

The Walayar Samara Samiti questioned the State Home Ministry for not taking action against the police officers M.J. Sojan and Chacko. As per the Samiti, M.J Sojan, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police was promoted as Ernakulam Crime Branch SP after the incident.

The family of Walayar girls has accused M.J. Sojan of misleading the case during the initial inquiry and protecting the culprits.

Walayar twin rape and murder

The minor girls, aged thirteen and nine, were found hanged in their one-room house at Walayar, Pallakad in Kerala, 52 days apart. The 13-year-old was found on January 13, 2017, and her younger sister on March 4, respectively. The autopsy reports found that the sisters had been sexually assaulted. After the elder girl was found dead on January 13, 2017, the younger sibling reported to police that she saw two men leaving the house with their faces covered. The police, at that time, did not make any arrests and concluded it to be a case of suicide.

On March 5, 2017, the younger girl was found dead in the same manner, causing massive protests. Under public pressure, the police arrested five persons, including a juvenile. However, the prosecution failed to submit strong evidence against the accused which led to their acquittal by the POSCO court of Palakkad district in October 2019. The Kerala government filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court challenging the acquittal of the three accused, calling the POCSO courts verdict, absolutely perverse and wholly unsustainable. A day after, the government decided to set up a judicial investigation into the case.

The division bench of Justices A Hariprasad and MR Anitha at Kerala High Court, hearing the case, set aside the POCSO Courts order and allowed the mothers and state governments appeals. The High Court declared serious lapses in the investigation and asked the three accused to appear before the special court on January 20.

However, the family of the slain sisters expressed resentment against the way the case was handled by both the POCSO court and the state police, and demanded the state government punish the accused and take action against the erring police officers.
The FBI says Karl Dresch of Calumet in Michigans Upper Peninsula was part of the crowd that stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in what some have described as an attempt at domestic terrorism.

Nearly 16 years prior, in March 2005, his father, Stephen Dresch, helped the FBI thwart a potential terrorist attack linked to anti-government Oklahoma City bomber and Lapeer native Terry Nichols.

Karl Dresch, 40, is now behind bars facing federal charges of entering and remaining in a restricted grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, illegal demonstrating in a Capitol building and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

If convicted, Karl Dresch could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for his role in the Capitol attack by supporters of President Donald Trump that resulted in the deaths of a police officer and four rioters, including one who was fatally shot by Capitol police and three others who died of medical emergencies.

It isnt the first time someone from the Dresch family has made national news.

Calumet's Stephen Dresch

On April Fools Day 2005, FBI investigators removed long-hidden explosive materials that had been stashed in a home previously owned by Nichols in Herington, Kansas , in part, based on a tip provided by Karl Dreschs father.

Retired FBI spokesman and Special Agent Jeff Lanza remembers arriving to the scene and relaying what few details were available to curious reporters and TV news crews waiting nearby.

It would be an amazing coincidence that the same family would have information pertaining to two very, very important and historical events in our countys history, Lanza said when contacted by MLive this week.

Related: Patriots in the Capitol wrote Michigan man jailed for insurrection

By 2005, Nichols had been convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains today, for his role in the April 19, 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people. His co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, died by lethal injection four years prior.

There was some lead that there was either weapons or materials related to weapons, like blasting caps and things like that, said Lanza, who now earns a living giving speeches about cybersecurity and identity theft protection.

It was just a couple weeks shy of the 10th anniversary of the bombing, so making that discovery was not only interesting but also coincidental on timing, he said. I know stuff was found under a foot or so of gravel that was under the stairwell. It was an area that wasnt searched during multiple searches of Nichols house.

The tip that led FBI agents to bomb-making materials beneath Nichols house in central Kansas came through Stephen Dresch, who learned about it from imprisoned mobster Anthony Scarpa Jr., a high-ranking member of the infamous New York City Colombo crime family.

Scarpa Jr. told Dresch he learned the information during a conversation with Nichols. Scarpa Jr. and Nichols were both serving federal prison sentences in Colorado, Scarpa Jr. for conspiracy to murder and drug trafficking.

Nichols told the Oklahoman newspaper weeks later that rumors he was plotting a second terrorist attack using the explosives on the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing were false.

Related: Stephen Dresch Mackinac Center bio

Stephen Dresch, who died at 62 in 2006, worked as an international, for-hire -- and sometimes pro bono -- investigator.

He developed a relationship with Scarpa Jr. while investigating the mafiosos hit-man father, Gregory Grim Reaper Scarpa Sr., said Angela Clemente, a forensic intelligence analyst and congressional consultant who worked with Stephen Dresch at the time.

Muskegon-born Clemente, who now lives in New Jersey, teamed with Dresch in 1998 to investigate an FBI agent and mob informant handler, Roy Lindley DeVecchio, who would eventually be indicted on allegations that he protected and sometimes gave confidential information to Scarpa Sr. that the mobster used to commit at least four murders in the 1980s.

The case was later dismissed, but Stephen Dresch and Clemente developed a strong bond through their work. She compared Stephen Dresch to a father figure.

He was fantastic, Clemente said of Karl Dreschs father. Ive never met anybody more honest and transparent.

Stephen Dresch earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale in 1970. After working as a professor at universities, including Yale and Rutgers, he became a dean and professor of Michigan Technological Universitys School of Business and Engineering Administration in Houghton, near Calumet, between 1985 and 1990.

There, he did some of his first freelance detective work, uncovering financial corruption stemming from university fundraising efforts. He resigned in 1990 and embarked on a short-lived political career, serving in the state House from 1991 to 1992 as a Republican. Subsequent campaigns for U.S. House and to regain his state House seat failed.

He served on the Board of Scholars for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which describes itself as a nonprofit research and educational institute aimed at advancing free markets and limited government, and he was the focus of a documentary named The Anthrax War, which explored his international investigation into 2001 anthrax attacks across the globe.

A Republican-leaning libertarian from the notoriously independent-minded upper peninsula of Michigan ... Dresch wore the physical trappings of an iconoclast, a description of Stephen Dresch on the documentary website reads.

By the time filmmakers Bob Coen and Eric Nadler began working with Dresch, age had bleached his full beard and long hair; years of chain smoking had stained his fingers and teeth.

He looked, many would comment, more like the Unabomber than a tireless crime buster who harried the FBI to catch Americas most-wanted. But even in the last years of his life there was an unquenchable youthful light in his eyes -- a ray of determination to somehow lessen the badness caused by the overwhelming abundance of malefactors.

The description of Dresch said he gave off an aura of mild wackiness and might be written off as a conspiracy nut, if he didnt have so many facts to support his claims.

Clemente said Dresch adored his wife, Linda, whom he married at age 19. Oddly, she said, she doesnt recall him mentioning his son Karl Dresch, who would have been about 18 when they first spoke.

Stephen and Linda Dresch had four children together, including another son and two daughters.

Clemente said Stephen Dresch was a big proponent of government transparency and often said, sunlight is the best disinfectant for corruption.

His years of fighting for truth and justice, often against institutions of power, left Stephen Dresch drained and dejected near the end, Clemente said.

Before he died, he felt that no matter what we do (to fight against corruption), its not going to get anywhere, she said. I think he had kind of given up and decided the system is just too bad and us trying to correct it is not working. I think he felt kind of tired.

She described him as politically neutral, not a conservative and not a liberal, and said he would never have condoned the violence his son is accused of participating in at the Capitol.

Right from the start of our acquaintance I have been continuously impressed by Stephens intellectual capabilities, breadth of knowledge, personal courage and, above all, his profoundly patriotic attachment to the ideals of the American Revolution, former Michigan Tech Professor Karol I. Pelc said in one tribute published by the Mackinac Center about Stephen Dresh following his death in 2006. I will forever remember the stimulating discussions with Stephen ranging in their scope from philosophy to economics and politics.

Clemente said Stephen Dresch was diagnosed with lung cancer and died soon afterward; she offered him one of her lungs for transplant, she said. He declined.

More on MLive:

Patriots in the Capitol

Michigan residents tied to Capitol riots

Report finds 25 hate groups in Michigan

Michigan National Guard redeployed to Washington, D.C. after terror threat warning

Michigan congressman backs bill to track domestic terrorism, stop neo-Nazis from infiltrating police

Detroit Regional Chamber PAC reconsiders support for politicians who pushed election lies
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
She's been enjoying an extended holiday with her young family in sunny Dubai.

And Tamara Ecclestone's husband, Jay Rutland, made sure it was a Valentine's day to remember as he showered her and their two daughters with affection on Sunday.

The Formula One heiress, 36, and her two girls, Sophia, six, and baby Serena, five months, posed in matching love heart pajamas next to a garland of heart-shaped balloons for an adorable snap.

Day of love: Tahmara Ecclestone, 36, and her two girls posed in matching love heart pajamas next to a garland of heart-shaped balloons for an adorable snap

The mother-of-two posed in white short pajamas with red love hearts as she captioned the picture: 'Best Valentines ever'.

The Valentine theme continued throughout the day as other pictures show Sophia and her baby sister lying on the couch and one of Serena sleeping next to a love-heart teddy bear.

Tamara and her doting husband shared Valentine's posts to each other on most romantic day of the year.

Romantic: Tamara and her doting husband shared Valentine's posts to each other with the socialite posting a black-and-white photo, writing: 'My forever Valentine'

Gushing: Property developer Jay Rutland, 39, paid tribute to his two daughters on his Instagram as well as his 'baby mama', Tamara, calling her a 'Supermum and Superwife'

The socialite kept it simple as she posted a black-and-white photo from their recent holiday, writing: 'My forever Valentine'.

Property developer Jay, 39, paid tribute to his two daughters on his Instagram as well as his 'baby mama'.

Taking to Instagram, he wrote: 'Happy V day to the baby mama @tamaraecclestoneofficial. Supermum and Superwife and also puts up with me.'

Matching PJs: The Valentine theme continued throughout the day as other pictures show Sophia, six, and baby Serena, five months, lying on the couch

Cute! Tamara shared an adorable snap of Serena sleeping next to a love-heart teddy bear

Tamara and her family have been keeping their social media pages updated with envy-inducing pictures of their sun-soaked stay in Dubai.

She looked radiant as ever as she posted an adorable selfie with her youngest daughter on Wednesday, showing off her sun-kissed skin in a leopard print bikini.

Tamara perched baby Serena on her chest as she dressed her in a pink dress with a cute unicorn print detail and a white bib to keep off any spills.

Golden girls: Tamara looked radiant as ever as she posted an adorable selfie with her four-month-old daughter Serena from Dubai on Wednesday

Close up: The Formula One heiress dressed her five-month-old baby girl in a pink dress with a cute unicorn print and a white bib to keep off any spills

The family jetted to Dubai for the festive season and have remained there since, and Jay told MailOnline that they have no plans to come back yet.

With family safety a primary concern, Jay spoke of how their west London home was the site of a multi-million pound jewel heist in December 2019.

'There are a host of reasons why we are not going back to London any time soon and security is one of them,' he revealed.

'The truth is we are playing it month by month and watching how the situation develops,' he said.

Jurors at a recent trial related to the burglary heard the family's home was so huge that security staff didn't notice the thieves looting the rooms for an hour after they had forced entry in to the home.

Happy family: Joining the duo on their relaxing trip to Dubai are Tamara's husband Jay Rutland, 39, and the couple's daughter Sophia, six

Although many celebrities have recently been criticised for trips away to Dubai, Jay maintained that he and Tamara had not broken any rules.

The family were living in Gstaad, Switzerland, until Christmas and travelled to Dubai from there.

'We have not broken the lockdown rules to come Dubai, that is not what we have done,' he explained.

'There is not a strict plan about when we are going to return to the UK or to Switzerland.

'Switzerland is in lockdown as well. We are here on an extended holiday while all this stuff is going on.' he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- As China rings in the Year of the Ox, President Xi Jinping has urged promoting "the spirit of the ox" in pursuit of fully building a modern socialist China.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has highlighted the spirit of serving the people as willing steers, blazing new trails in development as pioneering bulls and engaging in an arduous struggle as hardworking oxen.

Xi promoted the spirit at a New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Dec. 31, 2020.

"We must promote the spirit of the ox in serving the people, driving innovative development and working tirelessly. We must continue to be careful, as we were in the past, guarding against arrogance and impetuosity, and continue to fear no hardship and be enterprising, marching forward bravely on the new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, and marking the centenary of the CPC with outstanding achievements," Xi said.

Xi reiterated the spirit of the ox in his Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Wednesday.

People walk on a street decorated with ox-themed statues for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Feb. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

In China, an ancient civilization nurtured by its agriculture and fertile lands, the ox has always been considered an important animal as they help farmers cultivate the farmlands.

"In Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol of diligence, dedication, endeavor and strength," Xi said.

Stressing the virtues of modesty and prudence, Xi called for efforts to achieve the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of securing peace and development for all mankind.

The ox is the second zodiac sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle, represented by 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The previous Year of the Ox was 2009. After an interval of 12 years, a new Year of the Ox began this month.

Despite complicated international and domestic situations in 2020, China has made major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, conquered serious floods and achieved positive economic growth.

The country has lifted nearly 100 million rural poor out of poverty over the past eight years, securing a decisive victory in ending absolute poverty.

These hard-won, remarkable achievements would not have been attained without the spirit of the ox, which will play a more important role in the year 2021 as China strives to achieve rural vitalization, implement a new development paradigm and deepen reform and opening up.
Former President Donald Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen (2nd L) celebrates with colleagues after the acquittal of Trump, on the Senate subway in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Trump Lawyers Celebrate Impeachment Acquittal, Criticize Media

Lawyers representing former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial celebrated after his acquittal, declaring victory.

We slammed it down on the mat and won this case. Theres no grappling anymore. We won. Not guilty, Michael van der Veen, a Philadelphia lawyer who is part of the legal team, told reporters on Capitol Hill.

This was a difficult period of time for our country and myself, Mr. van der Veen, and the other members of the team are extraordinarily gratified that the United States Senate decided as they did to protect our Constitution, way of life, and not go down the road of endless impeachments, Bruce Castor, another attorney, said.

The team exchanged hugs, smiles, and laughs. Several fist bumped as van der Veen spoke.

They had gathered after the Senate acquitted Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection. Though the majority, 57, voted to convict, the vote fell short of the supermajority required for conviction.

Asked what they thought about failing to sway seven Republicans, Castor said: A win is a win.

Burden of proof was on them, and they didnt meet their burden of proof, he said, referring to the House impeachment managers.

Former President Donald Trump lawyers Michael van der Veen (C) and William J. Brennan (2nd R) celebrate after the acquittal of Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Democrat congressional leaders decried the vote, accusing Republicans of ignoring evidence.

Oh, these cowardly senators who couldnt face up to what the president did, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters in a separate briefing after the vote.

The 43 senators who voted not guilty are basically saying no amount of facts would have made any difference to them, because they didnt think that the president was subject to the jurisdiction of the Senate, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the lead impeachment manager, added.

While some Republicans focused solely on how they believed the trial was unconstitutional in explaining their not guilty votes, others said Trumps actions and words didnt rise to the level of incitement.

The House brought only one charge before the Senate: incitement, Sen Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a statement. Donald Trump used heated language, but he did not urge anyone to commit acts of violence. The legal standard for incitement is very high and it is clear by the results of this vote that the House Managers failed to present a coherent standard for incitement.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said, The House Managers provided the former President with no due processand argued none was requiredand side-stepped the First Amendment defense of his speech.

Trump gave a speech on Jan. 6 as violence at the U.S. Capitol, approximately two miles away, started. Trump used the words fight like hell in reference to his teams legal efforts around election integrity, while telling supporters to go to the Capitol peacefully and patriotically.

Democrats claimed that Trump used the words to incite his supporters to commit violence.

Then-President Donald Trump at the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jenny Jing/The Epoch Times)

Trump in a statement after being acquitted thanked members of Congress who stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country.

This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country. No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago, he said, adding that the Make America Great Again movement has only just begun.

Trump adviser Jason Miller read the statement from his phone to reporters before van der Veen criticized media outlets for feeding the anger of both sides.

The media, the mainstream media, the right media, the left media, I dont care what media it is. The media is feeding the division in this country. Theyre bloodthirsty for ratings. When I watch the news, I watch one channel and its one world, and I watch another channel, and its a totally different world, he said.

And its time that the media went back to integrity in their reporting, unbiasness [sic] in their coverage, and work to cool the temperature in this country, instead of always trying to ratchet it up. And I think its their obligation to do that starting right now.

The attorney also said the country should unite as a people.

Our country needs to face the business in front of it with all seriousness and purpose, love and peace in our hearts, and move the ball forward so that this great nation can get as strong as possible in the face of this pandemic, he said. Its absolutely crucial that this country move forward in unity. Put away the partisan backlash, back and forth, and do everything that we can to find justice every day in our lives.
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National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed that he and his family members, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.



However, police said the movement of protected persons was "discouraged" on Sunday due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.



On February 14, 2019, 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.



"This is the 'naya/new J&K' after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they've locked my sister & her kids in their home as well, Omar wrote on Twitter.



The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city.



The Centre on August 5 in 2019 had abrogated the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.



Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.



"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren't being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry & bitter," he said in another tweet.



Responding to Omar's tweets, police said the movement of protected persons and VIPs was "discouraged" due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.



"Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today (sic)," the Srinagar Police said on its official Twitter handle.



However, Omar asked the police to "please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today?



"You can advise me not to leave my house but you can't force me to stay in using security as an excuse," he said.



"Please share the written communication address to me & acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely this anniversary didn't come as a surprise to the administration," the National Conference (NC) leader said in another tweet.



The NC said it condemns the "arbitrary detention" of its leaders and their family members.



"JKNC condemns the arbitrary detention of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Vice President @OmarAbdullah and their family at their residence in Gupkar, Srinagar. The party demands immediate lifting of these uncalled for and unlawful measures," the party tweeted.



In a joint statement later, several leaders, including NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, denounced confinement of the party president and the vice president at their residence and termed the measures arbitrary and a gross intrusion of fundamental rights.



"Confining party leaders to their homes exposes the iron fist approach towards Jammu and Kashmir. The measure is the gross violation of human rights and is highly condemnable. Previously also at various instances, the leaders were debarred from moving out from their residences exclusive of any reason," the statement said.



The party leaders said the undue measure marks a new low in the curtailment of fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.



"The measures reveal abnormal is the new normal in this part of the world. Such harsh and unwarranted measures would further alienate the people and delay restoration of normalcy in Kashmir, which has been reeling under fear psychosis and a sense of insecurity since August, 2019," they said.



Marking a new and dangerous low in the Centre's Kashmir policy, the leaders said the disdain with the political leaders who kept the political process alive in Kashmir braving all odds and threats was appalling.



"The amorality of the government's treatment towards mainstream leaders is certainly dispiriting, but dangerous as well on account of the political vacuum it will create. Having a sitting MP, former chief minister and former union minister Farooq Sahib's stature confined will prove a bad bet. Therefore, we impress upon the incumbent government to refrain from such bullish and high-handed measures," they said in their joint statement.



PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq -- one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.



Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic), she had said on Twitter.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 14 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday informed that the issue of Tamil rights has been taken up consistently with Sri Lanka and added that the government was committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice, peace and dignity.



Speaking after the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of several key projects in Chennai, PM Modi said, "The issue of Tamil rights has been taken up by us consistently with Sri Lanka. We are committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice, peace and dignity."

"Our govt has always taken care of the welfare and aspirations of our Tamil brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. It is my honour to be the only Indian Prime Minister to have visited Jaffna. Through development works, we're ensuring the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamil community as well," he added.

Informing about the development works for the community, he said, "The resources given by our govt has been much more than in past. The projects include 50,000 houses for displaced Tamils in Northeastern Sri Lanka with 4,000 houses in the plantation areas."

The Tamil minority in Sri Lanka was facing persecution under the rule of the nationalist Sinhalese government. The rift also fuelled Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam-led extremism in the nation which engulfed the nation into years of civil war.

Speaking on the issue of fishermen's rights, the Prime Minister stated that the Central government will ensure the protection of their rightful interests.

"My government will always protect the rightful interests of our fishermen. We've ensured early release whenever fishermen are apprehended in Sri Lanka," PM Modi said.

"Over 1,600 fishermen have been released during our tenure. Currently, there are no Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Similarly, 313 boats have also been released and we're working for the return of all other boats," he added.

"The problems of our fishermen are longstanding. Without going into the history of this problem, I want to assure our fishermen community that my government is committed to protecting their rightful interests in Sri Lanka," the PM added. (ANI)
Dubai Customs has received Agile Organisation Certification from the American Business Agility Institute (BAI), as the first agile government organisation worldwide.

The Government Department consolidated its position in agility by obtaining four-star rating, the highest agility rating given by BAI, topping other competitors. The next four competitors in the list were private sector companies from different countries.

The California-based institute has 2,500 members from 94 countries around the world. In its report, BAI stated Dubai Customs agility stood at 94%, topping 90% of the 1,030 organisations and companies evaluated. These included 170 companies and establishments that work in the same field as Dubai Customs, which means that Dubai Customs is at the top 10% of agile organisations.

Dubai Customs has passed all the tests and accomplished the requirements applied by BAI for accreditation. Their report stated that the senior management and the corporate agility teams at Dubai Customs succeeded in making the change that is required for a highly agile organisation.

The Government Department was assessed against 15 standards, which include agile mindset and culture, authorisation and ownership, diversity, equality and integration, psychological wellbeing, individual development, vision and mission, client focused services, agile operations, external stakeholders, transparency, and quality.

Dubai Customs has made great progress in building competencies to achieve the highest level of corporate agility, said Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

Quick adapting to change and going the extra mile to build products and services that continuously exceed the expectations of their customers is what sets Dubai Customs apart. Businesses develop strategies to manage the future and predicating it, but this works well only in an unpredictable market. We no longer live in such a world. We have to be more agile to adapt to the change.

Bin Sulayem added: This recognition encourages us to walk forward steadily and with confidence to maintain the leading status Dubai enjoys worldwide as part of the national efforts toward the next fifty years and the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. We are inspired by the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and look forward to achieving highest levels of agility to materialise this vision.

In the same vein, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs said: We continuously develop our levels of agility within our vision of developing the customs field to achieve best results in facilitating global trade and protecting the society. The standards of the Dubai Government Excellence Progamme and the corporate agility model serve as the roadmap that we follow to achieve corporate agility. This renowned certification is reflective of our persistence and hard work. There are corporate agility teams in the department that manage risks and stimulate innovation. This is the prerequisite for going into the comprehensive development in the next 50 years. We have learnt a lot from the current Covid-19 crisis, this included our quick response to the emergencies and turning challenges into opportunities. We have dealt with it with professionalism and agility and managed to facilitate global trade and provide quality services during what has been a testing time for all. -- Tradearabia News Service
(UroToday.com) The 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium included a Best of Journals: Renal Cell Carcinoma Session with Dr. Saby George from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute presenting impactful papers from the medical oncology perspective.The first paper discussed by Dr. George was Motzer et al.'s Nivolumab Versus Everolimus in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results with Long-Term Follow-Up of the Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 CheckMate 025 Trial was published in Cancer.CheckMate 025 previously showed superior efficacy for nivolumab over everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma along with improved safety and tolerability.Importantly, patients were previously treated with one or two antiangiogenic regimens. There were 821 patients randomized to nivolumab (n = 410) or everolimus (n = 411). In this extended analysis, with a minimum follow-up of 64 months (median 72 months), nivolumab maintained an overall survival benefit in comparison with everolimus (median 25.8 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 22.2-29.8 versus 19.7 months, 95% CI 17.6-22.1; hazard ratio [HR] 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.85) with five-year overall survival probabilities of 26% and 18%, respectively:

Objective response rate was higher with nivolumab (23% versus 4%; P < .001). Progression free survival also favored nivolumab (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.99).



The second paper discussed by Dr. George was an extended follow-up of the CheckMate 214 study by Albiges et al. published in the ESMO Open: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib for first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: extended 4-year follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 214 trial.3 CheckMate 214 previously showed a survival benefit for first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab for intermediate/poor-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) versus sunitinib.4 In this trial, patients were randomized to nivolumab (3 mg/kg) plus ipilimumab (1 mg/kg) every three weeks 4 doses, followed by nivolumab (3 mg/kg) every two weeks versus sunitinib (50 mg) once per day 4 weeks (6-week cycle). There were 1,096 patients randomized and after four years of minimum follow-up, overall survival remained superior with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib in the intention to treat population (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 -0.81) and in intermediate/poor risk patients (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.54-0.78). Four-year progression-free survival probabilities were 31.0% versus 17.3% in the intention to treat population and 32.7% vs. 12.3% for intermediate/poor-risk patients, with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib. Objective response rates also remained higher with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib in the intention to treat population (39.1% vs. 32.4%) and for patients with intermediate/poor risk (41.9% vs. 26.8%) patients.



Dr. George notes that sarcomatoid dedifferentiation is consistent with an aggressive cancer phenotype that results in poor outcomes, and that median overall survival in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)/mTOR era is only approximately 11 months. The third paper discussed by Dr. George was by Rini et al.: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus sunitinib for patients with untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid features: A Prespecified subgroup analysis of the IMmotion151 clinical trial published in European Urology.5 The objective of this study was to perform a prespecified analysis of the Phase III IMmotion151 trial in previously untreated patients with advanced or mRCC to assess the effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus sunitinib in a subgroup of patients with sarcomatoid features. Patients whose tumors had any component of sarcomatoid features were included and received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (n = 68) or sunitinib (n = 74). The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the group receiving atezolizumab + bevacizumab overall (8.3 versus 5.3 months; HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34-0.79) and in the subset of patients with PD-L1-positive tumors (8.6 versus 5.6 months; HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.77):











More patients receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab achieved an objective response (49% vs. 14%), including complete responses (10% vs. 3%), and reported greater symptom improvements versus sunitinib.



Finally, Dr. George discussed Molecular Subsets in Renal Cancer Determine Outcome and Angiogenesis Blockade by Motzer et al. published in Cancer Cell.6 This study included 823 tumors from advanced RCC patients for which molecular subsets associated with differential clinical outcomes to angiogenesis blockade alone or with a checkpoint inhibitor were identified. Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis revealed seven molecular subsets with distinct angiogenesis, immune, cell-cycle, metabolism, and stromal programs. Somatic mutations in PBRM1 and KDM5C were associated with high angiogenesis and AMPK/fatty acid oxidation gene expression, while CDKN2A/B and TP53 alterations were associated with increased cell-cycle and anabolic metabolism. Finally, sarcomatoid tumors exhibited a lower prevalence of PBRM1 mutations and angiogenesis markers, frequent CDKN2A/B alterations, and increased PD-L1 expression.



Dr. George provided the following take-home messages from his presentation discussing highlights of renal cell carcinoma papers published in 2020 from a medical oncology perspective:

Single-agent checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab is safe and efficacious in the five-year updated data. Roughly 20% of responders did not need a subsequent treatment and were alive at five years

A four-year update of the CheckMate 214 trial is consistent with nivolumab plus ipilimumab with long and durable responses. Roughly 50% of responders were having ongoing response with or without treatment

Outcomes of sarcomatoid RCC have been revolutionized by immunotherapy combinations

Novel pathways/biomarker development promises a bright future

Presented by: Saby George, MD, FACP, Associate Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New YorkWritten by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc, Urologic Oncologist, Assistant Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, Twitter: @zklaassen_md during the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (#GU21), February 11th-February 13th, 2021 References:1. Motzer, Robert J., Bernard Escudier, Saby George, Hans J. Hammers, Sandhya Srinivas, Scott S. Tykodi, Jeffrey A. Sosman et al. "Nivolumab versus everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: Updated results with longterm followup of the randomized, openlabel, phase 3 CheckMate 025 trial."126, no. 18 (2020): 4156-4167.2. Motzer, Robert J., Bernard Escudier, David F. McDermott, Saby George, Hans J. Hammers, Sandhya Srinivas, Scott S. Tykodi et al. "Nivolumab versus everolimus in advanced renal-cell carcinoma." New England Journal of Medicine 373, no. 19 (2015): 1803-1813. 3. Albiges, Laurence, Nizar M. Tannir, Mauricio Burotto, David McDermott, Elizabeth R. Plimack, Philippe Barthelemy, Camillo Porta et al. "Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib for first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: extended 4-year follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 214 trial." ESMO open 5, no. 6 (2020): e001079. 4. Motzer, Robert J., Nizar M. Tannir, David F. McDermott, Osvaldo Aren Frontera, Bohuslav Melichar, Toni K. Choueiri, Elizabeth R. Plimack et al. "Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib in advanced renal-cell carcinoma." New England Journal of Medicine (2018). 5. Rini, Brian I., Robert J. Motzer, Thomas Powles, David F. McDermott, Bernard Escudier, Frede Donskov, Robert Hawkins et al. "Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus sunitinib for patients with untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid features: a prespecified subgroup analysis of the IMmotion151 clinical trial." European Urology (2020). 6. Motzer, Robert J., Romain Banchereau, Habib Hamidi, Thomas Powles, David McDermott, Michael B. Atkins, Bernard Escudier et al. "Molecular subsets in renal cancer determine outcome to checkpoint and angiogenesis blockade."38, no. 6 (2020): 803-817.



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She split from Married At First Sight TV 'husband' Seb Guilhaus in January, just weeks after filming the cast reunion in Sydney.

But on Saturday, Elizabeth Sobinoff looked to be in high spirits as she attended the first birthday party for co-star Cyrell Paule and partner Eden Dally's son Boston.

The 29-year-old looked glamorous in a black pencil skirt and beige top as she arrived to the event in Sydney.

All smiles: Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff (pictured) looked glamorous as she attended her first event since her recent split from Seb Guilhaus on Saturday

Party time! The 29-year-old looked glamorous in a black pencil skirt and beige top as she arrived to her co-star Cyrell Paule and Eden Dally's son Boston's 1st birthday party

Elizabeth teamed her stylish outfit with a pair of tan sandals and held a leather jacket on her arm.

She completed the ensemble with bracelets, rings and held a Louis Vuitton clutch.

The former Married At First Sight star styled her long brunette locks straight and also wore a full face of makeup to the event.

Elizabeth's outing comes after she admitted she's struggling to cope almost a month after her breakup with boyfriend Seb Guilhaus.

Final touches: Elizabeth teamed her stylish outfit with a pair of tan sandals and held a leather jacket on her arm

Accessories: She completed the ensemble with bracelets, rings and held a Louis Vuitton clutch

In an emotionally raw post on Instagram last week, the 29-year-old claimed she was struggling to 'express the pain' she's been in.

'I've cried so much lately. Even randomly when keeping busy. I'm trying to take care of myself but omg this is hard,' she admitted.

'I had to be in Sydney and I packed everything and even sat in the car but freaked out and went back inside.

She added: 'Some moments I can manage and you might not even know how sad I am... Life is a b***h sometimes!!'

Beauty: The former Married At First Sight star styled her long brunette locks straight and also wore a full face of makeup to the event

Candid: Elizabeth's outing comes after she admitted she's struggling to cope almost a month after her breakup with boyfriend Seb Guilhaus

Over: Seb and Elizabeth (pictured) announced their break up on January 11, after almost a year of dating

Seb, 31, and Elizabeth announced their break up on January 11, after almost one full year of dating.

The couple, who met on last year's season of Married At First Sight, made the shock announcement with a carefully worded statement on their respective Instagrams.

'We have mutually decided to end our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. We want to thank everyone for the endless support we have received on our platforms,' they announced.

'Please be kind and respectful. We are aware you have followed parts of our journey, but please remember we are real people, and we are both navigating our way through this time to the best of our abilities.

Celebreation: Cyrell Paule and Eden Dally (pictured) were seen strolling at the front of their home before guests arrived for their son Boston's 1st birthday party

Doting dad: Eden was also seen holding his baby boy while welcoming guests

Taking a break: Cyrell stood on her balcony and spoke on the phone while smoking a cigarette

'Naturally we are both aware there will be countless rumours and so on. Again, we are both navigating our way through this time so please be respectful...

'It is still fresh for us both, we just know there has been some curiosity as we have shared parts of our relationship online and we met on national television.

'We are both respectful of each other and are still involved in each other's lives. We both have cherished each other and have grown together.'

Stylish: Cyrell looked stylish in a short black dress and matching coloured sandals
Candace Avalos

Avalos is a Portland State University educator and co-founder of the Black Millennial Movement. She chairs Portlands Citizen Review Committee and serves as a member of the citys Charter Review Commission. She lives in Portland.

After a year that challenged our ideas of community safety in the face of so many Black Americans being killed by police, we are looking to 2021 to find new solutions to old problems. As someone who has spent the last year listening to Portlanders in my run for City Council and as chair of the citys police accountability board, I want to offer some perspective on the three most important issues we must address in our efforts to reimagine public safety.

First and foremost, we must meet the mandate issued by Portland voters last year and thoughtfully implement a truly independent oversight mechanism for the Portland Police. With 82% of Portland voters supporting Measure 26-217, a successful rollout is an important piece to rebuilding trust with the community. But creating this new system will require collaboration between the city and state with new legislation to help us enact the measure. For example, SB621 introduced by Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, will help establish the new oversight boards authority to oversee disciplinary matters concerning law enforcement officers. We also need the Portland Police union to come to the table in good faith ready to support this new oversight system instead of yet again bargaining a contract that allows them to evade accountability. Community trust and building a shared new vision for community safety depends on showing we can hold Portland Police accountable.

Secondly, we need to get serious about changing our first responder systems and decriminalizing houselessness. As think pieces roll in from business leaders decrying camps on the streets and misplacing blame from a pandemic-stressed economy onto our houseless community, we have been bombarded by a superficial narrative about Portlands image that overshadows the real people and real lives our society continues to fail. These messages then help drive public opinion to support Band-Aid solutions like increasing police intervention, which only pushes vulnerable people further into poverty through the criminal justice system.

Inspired by the Eugene CAHOOTS program, a community-based public safety system to provide first response for crises involving mental illness, houselessness, and addiction, the Portland Street Response will soon offer an alternative that doesnt involve handcuffs, a jail cell and a gun. But for Portland Street Response to be successful, we need all neighborhoods to be collaborative partners in implementing this program citywide once the pilot period ends. Together as a community we must work to adjust our perceptions and attitudes to create a culture that recognizes houselessness is not an affliction that requires a police response, but rather a human one.

And lastly but most importantly, we need those who have been most impacted by failed policies and systems to be leading and guiding the discussion on reimagining public safety. A recent story by OPB cites a study showing that Portland Police arrest Black people at a per capita rate 4.3 times higher than white people, and kill Black people at 3.9 times higher than white people. Only four other cities in the country show worse disparities. Portlanders who are Black, Indigenous and other people of color, disabled and houseless have the most to gainor losefrom a public safety transformation, and therefore their participation in the process is critical.

As the chair of a police accountability board for the city of Portland, Ive witnessed a stunning increase in engagement from Portlanders interested in helping dismantle oppressive and dysfunctional systems that have contributed to the pandemic of police brutality. However, members of the community who have been the biggest targets of over-policing are rarely seen at the table.

As someone who waited six hours on Zoom last year during the city council budget discussionsand wasnt able to testify before commissioners votedI know firsthand the amount of energy, time and patience it requires to attempt to be heard by City Hall. We cant expect to meaningfully engage in a citywide discussion about how to reimagine public safety with outdated community engagement strategies that offer only a superficial opportunity to be part of the citys decisions. How can we take advantage of the current virtual-heavy world to provide more productive opportunities to engage in discussions? Do we have dedicated staff and resources ready to do the direct outreach to hear from marginalized communities? Lets begin answering these questions and creating a comprehensive plan for engaging the members of our community with the most barriers to civic engagement.

We need to resist the Law and Order culture that only serves to punish or harm people in ways that can last a lifetime, rather than building new systems that aim to help people succeed. It will no doubt be challenging to interpret all of our unique voices into policies that create a public safety transformation relying less on police and more on supportive community systems, but theres no better time than right now to make fundamental changes to our broken systems. There are many ways for Portlanders to get involved, such as: testifying in support of House Speaker Tina Koteks bill to decriminalize houselessness, participating in the Portland Committee on Community Engaged Policing core patrol services survey, or applying to join the commission that will put together the new Portland Police oversight board.

Lets keep last years racial justice movement in action by putting the passion on the streets into legislation and programs that will help us build true community safety.

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Lovers Looking for Hope in Roses, Vaccines in 2021

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The notecards poking from bouquets rushing out of a Chicago florist all carry similar messages: looking forward to celebrating in person.The notes arent sad, said Kate Prince, a co-owner of Flora Chicago on the citys North Side. Theyre hopeful.On this Valentines Day, Americans are searching for ways to celebrate love amid so much heartache and isolation as the coronavirus pandemic stretches past its year anniversary. Some are clinging to hope, seen in the most vulnerable and frontline workers getting vaccinated, in loosening restrictions on restaurants in the hardest hit places, in case numbers starting to wane. But the death toll is still climbing toward a half-million dead in the United States and many remain shuttered in their homes.Prince said florists are scrambling to keep up with the onslaught of orders from people trying to send their love from a safe distance.We are crushed, she said.Phones are ringing off the hook at restaurants in cities that have loosened restrictions on indoor dining just in time for Valentines Day, one of the busiest days of the year for many eateries that have been devastated by shutdowns designed to slow the spread of the virus.In Chicago, the mayor loosened up indoor dining restrictions this week. After limiting restaurants to 25% capacity and 25 people per room, restaurants now must remain at 25% but they can serve as many as 50 per room.The Darling restaurant is fully booked for this weekend and has been for weeks.Sophie Huterstein, the restaurants owner, said COVID-19 has allowed the 2-year-old eatery to accomplish the impossible: make people happy to agree to a 4 p.m. reservation.People are being very flexible, she said.They are also this Valentines Day willing to do something else over a weekend where the high temperature will reach the teens and the low will plummet well below zero.We have 14 greenhouses and people are coming out in full ski gear, she said.In Portland, a couple married 55 years has special Valentines Day plans.Gil and Mercy Galicia have barely left their home in almost a year since lockdowns began, said their daughter, Cris Charbonneau. They had seen their close-knit family, three children and six grandchildren spread across the country.Like many seniors, the year has been especially hard on them. They immigrated from the Philippines in the 1960s and have lived in their home on a half-acre plot for more than 40 years.Mercy, 80, is a cancer survivor and has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers. Gil, 88, used to go on daily walks at the mall to stay active, but he hasnt for a year. He is fearful that the isolation has set them back, and he doesn't know how much longer they can manage living on their own.Were losing years, COVID has stolen this time thats so precious, Charbonneau said.They dont have a computer. When the vaccine became available, Gil called everywhere and couldnt get through. Charbonneau was on a video call with them Thursday and saw a tweet from a local news station that the grocery store near their home had opened appointments online.She was scrambling to get two appointments. She wasnt paying attention to the date. She told them shed booked them for Sunday, Feb. 14.Thats Valentines Day! her father exclaimed and smiled at his wife.What a great way to celebrate my love for you.They hung up. Their daughter wept.Thats what we needed, she said, some hope.
President Joe Biden's disgraced former White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo is pictured with his reporter girlfriend after he resigned Saturday over claims he threatened another journalist to keep their relationship under wraps.

His then-secret romance with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond was being reported on by Politico correspondent Tara Palmeri, sparking threats from Ducklo that he would 'destroy' her if she made it public.

The couple revealed their relationship in a People article last week, which came before Ducklo's threats were revealed but after a complaint was made to his bosses.

The article states that the pair began dating in November after McCammond, 27, spent 2019 and 2020 covering the Biden campaign.

McCammond, who is also an NBC/MSNBC contributor, is reported to have been in a serious relationship for much of the campaign while Ducklo, 32, was 'super single'.

Once they began dating in November, both said that they told their bosses about the relationship and McCammond asked that she be 'taken off of the Biden beat'.

White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo has resigned after he reportedly threatened a reporter who was working on a story about his secret romantic relationship with another journalist. Pictured; TJ Ducklo and Alexi McCammond in an undated photo

McCammond (left) and Ducklo were being reported on by Politico's Tara Palmer (right)

She was reassigned to covering progressive lawmakers in Congress and Vice President Kamala Harris.

'TJ and I knew full well the unfair criticism our relationship might face, but knew that we weren't going to let bullies get in the way of our own happiness,' McCammond told People for the article published just last Monday.

McCammond and Ducklo had posted about their relationship in their Instagram stories, making the romance public themselves.

And when Politico informed the White House they were publishing their story about it on February 9, the People story appeared about the romance the night before.

'When my personal life had the potential to interfere with my work, I didn't think twice about sharing my happiness in November with Axios that I'd found someone in TJ who shows up for me in a way I'd only hoped for,' McCammond, who was considered a rising star on her beat, added.

'Switching beats was an easy decision thanks to my Axios [family], who had my back in November and know just how lovely it is to find someone who cares deeply about you'.

Before the scandal broke, a spokesperson for Axios had said that McCammond was 'a valued member of the Axios team', adding 'we stand behind her and her coverage'.

'We both realized we both felt the same way', added Ducklo. 'We're both really happy, and we wanted to do it the right way.'

The couple said that they do not live together, insisting keep their home and work live 'totally separate'.

They also revealed they became close after Ducklo's diagnosis with stage four lung cancer in December 2019.

'After the election, when we both had some downtime, it was clear that our years-long friendship had the potential for something else,' McCammond said, adding that she sometimes accompanied him to scans.

'When TJ was diagnosed  I had a sense then how much he meant to me and I'm just grateful that I get to be there for him now every step of the way as his partner.'

The couple revealed they became close after Ducklo's diagnosis with stage four lung cancer in December 2019 and McCammond sometimes went to his scans, as pictured

McCammond, pictured, had been considered a rising star on the Biden beat

'We weren't going to let bullies get in the way of our own happiness,' McCammond has said

In the People article, a White House aide also commented that the couple's relationship 'was the worst-kept secret in Washington'.

Yet their comments last week on how open they had been with their relationship did little in the way of damage control when Ducklo's previous actions to keep it under wraps were revealed.

On Friday, Vanity Fair reported that Politico' Palmeri reached out to McCammond to ask her about the romance in January while one of Palmeri's male colleagues contacted Ducklo about it.

But Ducklo called Palmeri on Inauguration Day, instead of her male colleague, and threatened her in an effort to kill the story.

He told her he would 'destroy' her and accused her of being jealous that an unidentified man in the past had 'wanted to f***' McCammond 'and not you.'

White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo (above) has resigned after threatening a reporter who was working on a story about his romantic relationship with another journalist

'I am devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden,' Ducklo said in a statement on his resignation on Saturday

'I will destroy you,' Ducklo told Palmeri, sources told the magazine, adding that he would ruin her reputation if the story about his relationship was published.

After Ducklo's comments to Palmeri, a Politico editor reached out to the White House, which led to several conversations between Politico staff and senior-level White House communications staff, including Psaki, Bedingfield, and Anita Dunn, director of West Wing operations and a longtime Democratic operative.

He resigned on Saturday after backlash when he received just a one-week suspension before his actions were made public by Vanity Fair this week.

'I am devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden, and after a discussion with White House communications leadership tonight, I resigned my position and will not be returning from administrative leave, Ducklo said in a statement on Saturday.

McCammond, pictured, is also an NBC/MSNBC contributor

'No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman should ever have to hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job.

'It was language that was abhorrent, disrespectful, and unacceptable,' Ducklo added in his statement.

'I know this was terrible. I know I can't take it back. But I also know I can learn from it and do better, This incident is not representative of who I am as a person, and I will be determined to earn back the trust of everyone I have let down because of my intolerable actions.'

The White House confirmed Ducklo's resignation, saying in a statement: 'We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening.'

'This conversation occurred with the support of the White House Chief of Staff. We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions,' the statement added.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had come under fire for her initial decision to suspend suspend Ducklo for one week without pay, despite President Joe Biden's vow of a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behavior in his administration.

Journalists heavily criticized the suspension as inadequate, saying it was a signal that reporters were fair game for abuse in the new administration.

'Apparently members of the media don't merit the same protections from Biden as his colleagues do,' wrote Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple.

Politico's top editors Matt Kaminski and Carrie Budoff Brown had said in a statement: 'No journalist at Politico or any other publication or network  should ever be subjected to such unfounded personal attacks while doing their job.'

At Friday's briefing, Psaki had insisted that Ducklo's suspension was an 'important step' to show his behavior was 'completely unacceptable'.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki came under fire for her initial decision to suspend suspend Ducklo for one week without pay, which journalists blasted as inadequate

Ducklo's threat to 'destroy' Palmeri only came to light this week, but occurred in a phone call on Inauguration Day - the same day that Biden vowed to fire 'on the spot' any aides that 'disrespect' other people.

The timeline raised questions over why Ducklo had only been suspended after his behavior was made public and was not reprimanded at the time.

Psaki avoided directly answering the question when asked why Ducklo had not been immediately fired over the incident saying 'we felt it was a serious punishment' to give him a one-week suspension.

'It doesn't meet our standard, it doesn't meet the president's standard,' Psaki said.

'It was important that we took a step to make that clear and that included not just an apology directly from him and apologies directly from us at the highest levels there, but also a step to suspend him for one week without pay,' said Psaki.

She added: 'That, in our view, was an important step to send the message that we don't find it acceptable.'

CNN White House reporter Kaitlan Collins pressed Psaki on the content of what he said and the sexist tone of his remarks: 'It wasn't just a hostile conversation. I think we've all probably have plenty of those and vice versa, those happen.

'But you know the language that he is alleged to have used according to this report - it is arguably or even not arguably sexist. So, what are you doing to deal with that part of it.'

'It's completely unacceptable. He knows that. I've had conversations with him about that,' said Psaki, who was Ducklo's direct supervisor.
One afternoon in the spring of 2008, a young man named Stephen Jackley called the police saying he was a geography student working on a college essay. He wanted to know how information was shared among police forces in Europe. If someone committed a crime in one country, would that be automatically reported to others?

The forensics expert he spoke to told him records were only shared if a foreign police force asked for them. Jackley was relieved, but also incensed at the wasted opportunity. When he was eventually imprisoned in America, he wrote to the police in the UK, saying, "Look, this is an issue. You need to sort it out."

The Unusual Suspect is replete with such bizarre moments, recounted to Machell, a feature writer for The Times of London, who first met Jackley when writing an article about him. Jackley was a would-be Robin Hood, driven by almost wholly good intentions. For a period of time in 2007-8, he raided banks and betting offices first in his hometown of Exeter, and then the university town of Worcester where he was studying geography, committing 10 robberies in total. He would often arrive at lectures fresh from a heist, with thousands of pounds in his backpack. Police were stumped by the pattern of his crimes, which seemed like the work of an established gang; they never thought to investigate the local college campus.

The driving force behind Jackley's misdeeds was to right the wrongs of society. He distributed much of the proceeds to homeless people, marking the notes with the letters RH for Robin Hood. He felt that banks (rather than, say, jewellers' shops) were an appropriate target because of their role in upholding the global financial system. "The dream of the RH is to break the status quo and release those in poverty from a hidden slavery established by the rich and powerful. To steal from the rich and give to the poor. To create new possibilities and equality," he recorded in his diary.

Machell deploys flashbacks to highlight the unlikely shifts in Stephen's life: from his home in the seaside town of Sidmouth to a Buddhist retreat in France; from the University of Worcester to America's brutal prison system. He clearly got to know his subject intimately and reconstructs his thought processes with care, making his account of Jackley's development an intriguing psychological thriller. Machell also had extensive access to Stephen's diaries, and includes excerpts that reveal their writer's unusual thoughtfulness and sensitivity. On the environment, Jackley observes, "Only comparatively recently has humanity realised that the planet is a delicately balanced, interconnected system; that its resources and biological diversity can easily be extinguished."

Working alone - apparently unusual for a bank robber - Jackley struggled to sufficiently intimidate his victims, who sometimes did not take him seriously and refused to comply with his request to hand over cash. He resorted to Scream horror masks and fake guns to appear more threatening. The stress of going through with a robbery - the fear, the shouting, the potential for violence - weighed on him, and occasionally he would take cocaine to help him carry it out.

Jackley, who was later diagnosed with Asperger's, is portrayed as hyper-intelligent but naive, an idealist who believes that anything is possible. When he becomes convinced that a gun would help, his search for one takes him to Canada and the US. The trip proves his downfall, and he ends up doing time in a series of US prisons. In one of them, the chief of security ordered that because of the high profile of his case, he should be manhandled and moved often, which was especially distressing treatment for a person on the autism spectrum. Unable to read the reactions of the men around him, Stephen keeps getting into trouble, and is taken by surprise when his musings about escape are reported to prison guards, and lead to further punishment.

Machell's spare style is lightened by an eye for incongruous details. He tells of the letter Stephen wrote to a local paper after the police made an arrest, keen to clarify that they had the wrong man and he was still at large. He notes the irony of the fact that in September 2007, police had chosen to name their investigations after the theme of "famous wizards". The search for Stephen was called Operation Gandalf, meaning that, "unbeknownst to Stephen, he was now being hunted by a character from one of his favourite books".

What is most notable about Jackley's goals is how reasonable they now seem. In highlighting his concerns, the book is a commentary on global imbalances and ecological collapse, and the state of US prisons, filled with men who were "normal, grounded, intelligent and remorseful". Machell suggests that coming before Occupy Wall Street and Extinction Rebellion, Jackley was just a few years ahead of his time. As Stephen tells him, speaking shyly, during one of their meetings, "We can all take action and we can all take small steps to make it [the world] more sustainable and fair." He adds, "Just not by robbing banks."
An antioxidant found in green tea may increase levels of p53, a natural anti-cancer protein, known as the "guardian of the genome" for its ability to repair DNA damage or destroy cancerous cells. Published today in Nature Communications, a study of the direct interaction between p53 and the green tea compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), points to a new target for cancer drug discovery.

Both p53 and EGCG molecules are extremely interesting. Mutations in p53 are found in over 50% of human cancer, while EGCG is the major anti-oxidant in green tea, a popular beverage worldwide. Now we find that there is a previously unknown, direct interaction between the two, which points to a new path for developing anti-cancer drugs. Our work helps to explain how EGCG is able to boost p53's anti-cancer activity, opening the door to developing drugs with EGCG-like compounds." Chunyu Wang, Corresponding Author and Professor of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Wang, a member of the Rensselaer Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, is an expert in using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study specific mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease and cancer, including p53, which he described as "arguably the most important protein in human cancer."

P53 has several well-known anti-cancer functions, including halting cell growth to allow for DNA repair, activating DNA repair, and initiating programmed cell death -- called apoptosis -- if DNA damage cannot be repaired. One end of the protein, known as the N-terminal domain, has a flexible shape, and therefore, can potentially serve several functions depending on its interaction with multiple molecules.

EGCG is a natural antioxidant, which means it helps to undo the near constant damage caused by using oxygen metabolism. Found in abundance in green tea, EGCG is also packaged as an herbal supplement.

Wang's team found that the interaction between EGCG and p53 preserves the protein from degradation. Typically, after being produced within the body, p53 is quickly degraded when the N-terminal domain interacts with a protein called MDM2. This regular cycle of production and degradation holds p53 levels at a low constant.

"Both EGCG and MDM2 bind at the same place on p53, the N-terminal domain, so EGCG competes with MDM2," said Wang. "When EGCG binds with p53, the protein is not being degraded through MDM2, so the level of p53 will increase with the direct interaction with EGCG, and that means there is more p53 for anti-cancer function. This is a very important interaction."

"EGCG Binds Intrinsically Disordered N-Terminal Domain of p53 and Disrupts p53-MDM2 Interaction" was published with support from multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health. At Rensselaer, Wang was joined in the research by Lauren Gandy, Weihua Jin, Lufeng Yan, Xinyue Liu, and Yuanyuan Xiao.

First author Jing Zhao is a former member of Wang's lab, now on the faculty at China Agricultural University in Beijing, China. Co-first author Alan Blaney is an M.D.-Ph.D. student at Upstate Medical University. Researchers also contributed from SUNY Upstate Medical Center; the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; New York University; the State University of New York at Binghamton; NYU Shanghai; and Merck Research Laboratories.

George Pataki, the former Governor of New York, has said the state should look at creating laws to recall Andrew Cuomo after his administration has been accused of hiding the true number of COVID-19 nursing home deaths.

Pataki, who was NY governor from 1995 to 2006 suggested that the state has lost confidence in Cuomo in the wake of the scandal.

Cuomo has been rocked after top aide Melissa DeRosa confessed on Thursday that that the administration deliberately hid data on nursing home COVID deaths in the midst of a Justice Department investigation into their handling of the pandemic.

In recent weeks, a court order and state attorney general report has forced the state to acknowledge the nursing home resident death toll is nearly 15,000, when it previously reported 8,500  a number that excluded residents who died after being taken to hospitals.

Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mayor Bill de Blasio, have since turned on Cuomo over the recent revelations.

Currently, New York does not have a procedure to allow for the recall of an elected official and creating one would require a constitutional amendment bill passed in successive years.

Former New York Governor George Pataki, pictured, has said the state should look at creating procedures to recall Andrew Cuomo

Pataki said that politicians and voters have 'have lost confidence' in Cuomo's leadership

Republican Pataki, 75, told the New York Post: 'I think it would be appropriate to take a hard look at that.'

'I only think it should be used in extraordinary cases but when you really have lost confidence in the leadership in your state, I think the opportunity should exist for the majority of the people to say we want something different,' Pataki said.

The former governor had tried to push through a state Constitutional amendment in 2002 to allow for the creation of such a process but it was stopped by then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Pataki also told the outlet that voters should make a change in the 2021 mayor's race and 2022 governor's race, appearing to blame Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio for rising crime in New York City.

'You have mentally ill people on the street harassing you and this is Sixth Avenue and midtown in the middle of the day,' Pataki said.

'There is a tremendous concern that things are not as they should be and it's not because of COVID.'

Pataki said his friends were all fleeing New York's taxes and high cost of living by moving to other states like Florida.

Cuomo's administration has been rocked by the confession on Thursday of his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, that they deliberately hid data on nursing home COVID deaths, in the midst of a Justice Department investigation into their handling of the pandemic

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, was in the Oval Office on Friday to discuss COVID relief - where he looked sheepish and refused to answer questions from reporters

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to congressional Democrats touting the settlement, which would far exceed the under-fire governor's demands, as she strongly rejected his repeated claims the state was being short-changed in a rare rebuke from a close ally

'I am not one of those who is ready to give up but many are. And that's discouraging. It wasn't long ago that everyone wanted to be in New York,' he said.

Pataki also name-dropped GOP candidates who could 'mount a very serious challenge to Andrew Cuomo,' including: Reps. Lee Zeldin, Elise Stefanik and Nicole Malliotakis.

Congresswoman Stefanik has said the alleged cover-up showed a 'stunning and criminal abuse of power' that should be prosecuted.

While New Yorkers cannot currently recall the governor, at least one politician has called for impeaching Cuomo.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) has turned on Governor Andrew Cuomo (right) over the 'very disturbing report' into the state's alleged nursing home deaths cover-up and has called for 'full accounting of what happened'

New York Assemblyman Michael Montesano, a Republican, said on Friday that he plans to ask the state legislature to consider impeaching the governor, Fox News reported.

'We've been calling for subpoenas and a hearing for quite a while,' Montesano told the outlet.

'This news of the last several days is extremely troubling to me and I'm going to be asking today for his resignation and I'm also going to be asking the legislature to look into, to explore filing articles of impeachment against the governor if he doesn't resign.'

Rosa's remarkable confession was made during a conference call with state Democrats and obtained by the New York Post.

In her confession, she admitted that officials 'froze' when former President Donald Trump's Department of Justice asked for the data, before rebuffing the request.

DeRosa told lawmakers: 'We were in a position where we weren't sure if what we were going to give to the Department of Justice, or what we give to you guys, what we start saying, was going to be used against us while we weren't sure if there was going to be an investigation.'

Around the same time the data was requested by the Justice Department, the Empire Center for Public Policy filed a Freedom of Information Law request for the true number of nursing home deaths.

Pictured: a patient is loaded into an ambulance by emergency medical workers outside Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn in April 2020

Pictured: EMTs with the FDNY lift a man into an ambulance after moving him from a nursing home in April

Pictured: EMTs transport a patient from a nursing home to an emergency room bed at St. Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers in April

An Albany judge ruled earlier this month that the Cuomo administration's Health Department broke New York State law by failing to provide totals of all nursing home deaths caused by COVID-19 to a watchdog group that had requested the records.

Albany Supreme Court Justice Kimberly O'Connor ruled in a 16-page decision that the Department of Health must provide the records to the Empire Center for Public Policy within five business days and pay their legal costs.

The watchdog had filed a Freedom of Information Law request in August seeking to obtain the documents from the Health Department - which delayed releasing them for months.

The judge's ruling came after a report from the office of Attorney General Letitia James in January found that the Cuomo administration had misled the public about the total number of nursing home residents killed by the pandemic.

Cuomo's pandemic: A timeline of the governor's response to the COVID-19 crisis MARCH 1: Female nurse, 39, returning from Iran becomes the first in New York to test positive for COVID-19. MARCH 2: Cuomo gives the first of 111 consecutive daily televised briefings for New Yorkers MARCH 13: Donald Trump declares national emergency. MARCH 14: An 82-year-old woman with emphysema is announced as the first patient to die from the virus. MARCH 17: New York City mayor Bill de Blasio says city should follow San Francisco with a shelter-in-place order; Cuomo says it will be statewide: 'As a matter of fact, I'm going so far that I don't even think you can do a statewide policy.' MARCH 19: California Governor Gavin Newsom issues first statewide lockdown order MARCH 22: Cuomo signs statewide stay-at-home order. MARCH 25: Cuomo orders that nursing homes accept convalescent COVID patients back into their facilities. MAY 10: The nursing home ruling is reversed, to insist on a negative COVID test before return to a nursing home. By now, more than 9,000 people have returned to nursing homes. AUGUST: Questions begin to be asked about the nursing home policy. AUGUST 26: Department of Justice opens an investigation into New York's nursing homes and COVID policy. OCTOBER 13: Cuomo publishes American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. OCTOBER 21: Cuomo announced a policy of isolating identified 'micro clusters' of COVID cases. NOVEMBER 20: Cuomo wins an Emmy 'in recognition of his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world'. JANUARY 28: Attorney General Letitia James released a report finding that New York under-reported the number of deaths among nursing home patients by around 50 per cent, with 15,000 actually dying - not the 8,500 reported. FEBRUARY 11: Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo's secretary, admits that in August they 'froze' when asked for nursing home data, and dragged their heels on releasing it. The AP reports that more than 9,000 people were returned to nursing homes to recover from COVID in the period March 25-May 10, a figure 40 per cent higher than the official tally. Advertisement

James' report also concluded that 'resident deaths associated with nursing homes in New York state appear to be undercounted by DOH by approximately 50 percent.'

De Blasio called in to WNYC's The Brian Lehrer show on Friday morning to slam Cuomo after DeRosa's revelation and the report from James' office.

'It's a really disturbing report. It's very troubling. We've got to know more. We now need a full accounting of what happened,' he told WNYC.

'Think about seniors, whose lives were in the balance and their families, you know, just desperate to get them the help they needed.'

The mayor said there needed to be action to prevent a repeat of such a scandal.

'We need to know exactly what happened here. We need to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,' he said.

De Blasio's calls for 'full accounting' comes as Cuomo is facing growing outrage from within his own party over the bombshell report.

On Friday, 14 Democratic New York State Senators joined Republicans in calling for Cuomo's pandemic emergency powers to be rescinded.

'Without exception, the New York State Constitution calls for the Legislature to govern as a co-equal branch of government,' they wrote.

'While COVID-19 has tested the limits of our people and the state - and early during the pandemic, required the government to restructure decision making to render rapid, necessary public health judgement - it is clear that the expanded emergency powers granted to the Governor are no longer appropriate.

Pelosi slammed Cuomo's claim that COVID aid is short of the $15billion needed for the state in a letter to congressional Democrats touting the settlement, it was reported on Saturday.

She said that the federal package is worth $70billion, which would far exceed the under-fire governor's demands, as she strongly rejected his repeated claims the state was being short-changed in a rare rebuke from a close ally.

In the two-page letter, sent on Thursday and seen by the Times Union, Pelosi touted the proposal for $50billion in state and local funding for New York and $20billion to help families' 'health, financial security and well-being' and insisted Cuomo's demands had been 'addressed'.

She wrote: 'We sadly observe over 1.5 million coronavirus cases, nearly 45,000 deaths, and hundreds of thousands of job losses in New York. Please know that your concerns are being addressed in ways that you have advanced and with the enthusiastic advocacy of Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.'

Pelosi's letter was sent to New York's House Democrats in response to one they sent on Tuesday demanding more funding for the state. That in turn followed Cuomo's own letter to the New York delegation demanding $15bn in direct local government relief.

Cuomo has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the matter but was seen attending a meeting with Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House to discuss a coronavirus relief package.

The governor, who won an Emmy for his coronavirus press briefings, has fallen from grace as new details continue to emerge about his handling of COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help


Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday on charges of inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol, after a majority of Senate Republicans closed ranks and refused to punish the former president in his historic second impeachment trial.

The five-day trial saw Democratic prosecutors argue -- bolstered by dramatic video of the January 6 riot -- that Trump betrayed his oath by whipping up his supporters into storming Congress in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power.

It concluded as expected with a majority of Republicans declaring him not guilty, in a sign of the powerful grip the 74-year-old Trump continues to exert on his party.

But while the 57-43 majority that voted to convict fell short of the two-thirds needed in the Senate, seven Republicans joined with Democrats to seek Trump's conviction, making it the most bipartisan impeachment trial in US history.

Trump, who has been secluded in his Florida club since leaving office on January 20, welcomed the verdict -- denouncing the proceedings as "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country."

Despite the stain of a second impeachment, Trump hinted at a possible political future, saying that "our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun."

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said in a statement.

Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on January 13, a week after the chaotic assault that stunned the nation and provoked widespread bipartisan outrage.

Democrats argued that Trump's behavior was an "open and shut" case of impeachable conduct, retracing how he spent two months repeating the falsehood that the election was stolen, before inciting his supporters to attack Congress and stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory.

"He summoned his supporters to Washington, on the Ellipse, whipped them into a frenzy, and directed them at the Capitol," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote.

The defense team swatted the evidence away, arguing that Trump's appeal to supporters to "fight like hell, at the rally that preceded the attack," was merely rhetorical.

But their central argument was that the Senate had no constitutional jurisdiction to try a former president. Most Republican senators agreed.

But Mitch McConnell, the powerful Senate minority leader who voted to acquit on those same grounds, left no doubt he considers Trump to have caused the riot -- which sent lawmakers fleeing for safety as a marauding mob rampaged through the Capitol.

The former Trump ally unleashed a searing rebuke of the ex-president, calling his actions preceding the assault a "disgraceful dereliction" of duty.

"There's no question -- none -- that president Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," McConnell told the chamber after the vote.

He stressed that while Congress has exhausted its avenues for punishing Trump, the US justice system has not.

"President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office," McConnell said. "He didn't get away with anything yet."

Building their case over two days, Democratic impeachment managers described how Trump first encouraged, then refused to call a halt to the January 6 insurrection that left then-vice president Mike Pence and lawmakers in mortal danger.

Proclaiming Trump's innocence, defense lawyer Michael van der Veen told the Senate that "the act of incitement never happened" and that rioters acted alone.

After the trial, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was openly targeted by rioters and was evacuated from the Capitol on January 6, laid into the "cowardly" Republican senators who voted to acquit.

"Senate Republicans' refusal to hold Trump accountable for igniting a violent insurrection to cling to power will go down as one of the darkest days and most dishonorable acts in our nation's history," she said.

Before moving to final arguments, the proceedings were interrupted for a few hours on Saturday when House impeachment managers, in a surprise move, said they wanted to call witnesses.

But they backed down, instead reaching agreement with the defense that a statement by congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler would be entered as evidence.

Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin had wanted Herrera Beutler, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump last month, to testify over her statement that Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy made a frantic call to Trump during the attack and implored him to call off the rioters.

She said McCarthy briefed her about the call, and said that when he told a skeptical Trump that the insurrectionists were his supporters, "according to McCarthy, the president said: 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

(With AFP inputs)
Bengaluru, Feb 14 : Lowering the cost of pest management along with diseases control plays a vital role in not only increasing the farmers' income fivefold but also eliminates 'poison' from our food plates to a large extent, experts at Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) believe.

Bengaluru-based IIHR's Director M R Dinesh told IANS that the IIHR institute had come up with several technologies to eliminate poison from the food we comsume. However, achieving this requires farmers' cooperation, he added.

"Our scientists have developed pest control technologies that can easily reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, which in turn can help us reduce chemical residues in our food," he explained.

IIHR Crop Protection Division head M Krishna Reddy said that a change in the farmers' attitudes on the use of chemical pesticides was need of the hour.

"Attitude of present-day farmers is that instead of using cheap, lasting and scientific pest-control technologies, they want to depend on strongest chemical spray for instant best results. That is where they fall in debt trap. Pest control is the biggest input in farming and it is labour-intensive too," he said.

He added that in order to reduce dependence on chemicals, IIHR had developed new methods of farming. For example, covering farmland with two rows of bordering crop that is of bigger and denser variety.

"For instance, if a farmer is growing vegetables like chillies, tomatoes, ridge gourd or cucumber, they can grow crops like maize or jowar as the first layer of security against pests; secondly, there should be three-week gap between sowing of bordering crop and the main crop," he said.

He added that when field experts try to explain this method, several farmers get impatient and ask for strongest chemical spray for their fields.

"Though we are carrying out a sustained campaign against the use of chemical pesticides in order to lessen the burden on farmers but there is a long way to go," he said.

IIHR principal scientist, Crop Protection Division, V Sridhar added that the IIHR has developed long-lasting 'tuta trap' 'pheromone trap', 'trichogramma card' and 'sticky cards' which are some of the cost-effective methods that drastically reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.

According to him, a chilly grower spends at least Rs 1 lakh per acre only on pesticides during the entire crop cycle, and some farmers are ready to spend up to Rs 2 lakh.

"Be it ridge gourd or cucumber or tomato, a farmer is spending no less than Rs 50,000 for at least 10 to 15 cycles of chemical spray. Whereas if the same farmer adopts scientific methods, he will spend less than Rs 10,000 for the entire crop cycle and his yield will also increase by 30 per cent due to fall in crop loss from 40 per cent to just five per cent. Thus, he will not incur huge losses and save himself from the debt trap," Sridhar explained.

Plant pathologist B Mahesh observed that agriculture is one sector where quantity of land is fixed and no amount of resources can help grow it. "Whereas all other input costs are at our disposal, by reducing chemical spray, we are also reducing the labour cost drastically and making agriculture less labour-intensive, besides improving the yield," he said.


Vigano warns of 'doctrinal abuse' undermining Catholic Church teachings, Robert Moynihan says

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The author of a new book about Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a whistleblower on the sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, contends that in addition to the sex abuse scandal, a doctrinal abuse scandal also plagues the 2,000-year-old institution.

Robert Moynihan, the editor of Inside the Vaticanmagazine, wrote a book last year titled, Finding Vigano: In Search of the Man Whose Testimony Shook the Church and the World.The book is based on conversations Moynihan had with Vigano, the Vaticans former ambassador to the United States, who has gone into hiding after publishing a letter accusing Pope Francis of covering for former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick despite the fact that he knew of the credible allegations of sexual abuse against him.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Moynihan spoke about the state of the Catholic Church in the United States as well as his conversations with Vigano. When asked what part of his conversation with Vigano surprised him the most, Moynihan responded that it was the  torment that he felt about whether or not to come forward with allegations.

Instead of just speaking about abuse in the [Catholic] Church, the abuse of young people by clerics, he started to realize that there was another abuse occurring, which was the abuse of doctrine. A doctrinal abuse that is not teaching the Catholic faith but teaching a kind of secular faith, changing the teaching on life issues, on moral issues, on the sacramental issues, and even on the divinity of Christ, he remarked.

And he said these modern thinkers are  committing a new type of abuse: spiritual abuse. So Vigano, who began as someone who was a whistleblower on cases of sexual abuse, became a whistleblower on the entire question of whether the Church is faithful to the teaching of all time or whether its becoming modernist and in some ways is abandoning and apostatizing from the traditional Catholic faith.

Moynihan described the election of President Joe Biden, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, as the latest development in the trend of compromising the Catholic faith in order to reconcile with the pluralistic society of the United States.

According to Moynihan, this trend began in 1960 when John F. Kennedy successfully sought to become the first Catholic president.

Kennedy had to stress that he was not an agent of the Vatican or of the pope and assure the public that he could be a reasonable leader in our country which included many non-Catholics, a majority of Protestants, many non-Christians, Jews (and) many atheists.

Moynihan contended that he never would have been able, I think, to win the election unless he had indicated that he was a member of this American pluralistic society.

While the Catholic Church had previously worked to respect and teach its doctrines with utter clarity, by guarding them in a high-walled castle, Moynihan maintained that the entire trend of the last 60 years has been to take down those walls, open the church up to the surrounding society, engage in dialogue with that society and then in the positive sense, hopefully influence that society in a positive way. Not remain separate from it or judgmental of it, but to be sort of a servant of that society.

The point we preach now is that a Catholic president and some leading members of Congress can say that they, as Catholics, would believe that abortion is immoral, that its the taking of a life, of an innocent child, but then support the legality in the general society, in a pluralistic society, of permitting abortion. And theyre even promoting it in a sense, theyre making sure its well-funded, easily available, etc., he said.

And therefore, theres become a ... sort of crisis in  our thinking and action as Catholics, because some people are criticizing the obvious inconsistency with believing in the value of life but then accepting that you can take that life.  Its a position that many people are taking, but it makes no  moral sense and some of our bishops have said this recently.

Moynihan told CP about how, after Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles had congratulated Biden on his victory in the 2020 presidential election while expressing concerns about his positions on abortion and the nature of the family, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago criticized him (Gomez) and said this is not the time or place for you  to bring up any concerns about Bidens positions.

Cupich represents the trend to compromise the Catholic teaching as part of a larger vision of engaging with the society. Recogniz[ing] that the whole society isnt Catholic and that the Catholic Church, in some cases, cannot impose its beliefs and teachings on others who dont have those beliefs and teachings, he asserted.

Moynihan believes that on the issue of abortion, we have to say its Catholic teaching that we defend life and we cannot support this widespread openness to the taking of innocent human life.

He lamented that there is a growing division within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church about how to address the abortion issue. While he praised Francis for saying strong things about the defense of human life and the dignity of human life, Moynihan acknowledged that hes (the pontiff) received many people and embraced many people who have been favorable to abortion so-called rights. This paradox raises questions about the pontiffs pro-life witness, he asserted.

Archbishop Vigano has been outraged by this uncertainty and has said its something that he prays the pope will recognize and change, that he will repent of his lack of clarity  his apparent lack of clarity on this issue, he added.

The progressive Catholics may believe that they are being faithful to Christs teaching of love your neighbor and that they  therefore have to reach out with love toward  all people, sinful and sinning and imperfect people.

'So the key to the entire matter is to love the sinner but not the sin, and when we lead people in sin without encouraging them to repent, then we are being unfaithful to the teaching of the Church and to the people that we say we care about. Because in the battle for the life of the soul, we cannot affirm people in their sinful behavior, Moynihan added.

We have to say we love them, that we encourage them to follow Catholic moral teaching, and this is the battle line up and down where the progressives seem not to wish to condemn the sin, not even to call it a sin. The conservatives call it a sin and theyre accused of not being compassionate and loving toward the sinner.

Regarding the battle between the traditional Catholics and the progressives, Moynihan indicated that the progressives have the upper hand because of the influence of the mainstream media.

I think this debate, because of the enormous power of the media in our society and the websites and the internet, the trend has been to change our teaching in the direction of the LGBT proponents. And I would say, probably were up to 70% even of Catholics who are accepting of many of these teachings, which when you examine them closely, are not in keeping with traditional Catholic teaching.

While Vigano acknowledges the difficulties the Catholic Church faces, he is optimistic about its future, according to Moynihan.

He is hopeful that by a special grace, a special sort of divine intervention, that we will return to sanity, that we will return to our faith, that we will repent of our wayward ways and that (by) doing so, we will strive to bring about a new age of faith and love of God and neighbor in the future and that it isnt impossible.

Hes praying for this, he doesnt know for sure when it will occur, but hes praying; hes even praying for Pope Francis. Hes praying for everyone and for himself that we all strive to do the will of God and to remain faithful to the commandments of Christ.
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No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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
EVM election polls voting

Barring stray clashes purportedly between workers of the ruling Congress and the Opposition, the voting to 117 Punjab urban local bodies, including eight high-stake municipal corporations, ended largely peacefully on Sunday, officials said.

Officials said the turnout in the state could be over 70 per cent with the women outnumbering men in voting. The poll percentage stood at 55.91 per cent at 2 p.m.

AAPs little star campaigner is winning hearts in Punjab ahead of local body polls

The main contest is among the Congress, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The BJP, which is facing anger over the contentious Central farm laws, is also in the fray. It is contesting the polls for the first time in two decades without the Akalis, the oldest NDA ally that has parted ways from it over the farm laws.

AAP activist Manveer was injured in poll violence in Patti town in Tarn Taran district.

"AAP Punjab volunteer Manveer badly injured and fired upon by the Congress worker in both legs and head, in presence of Punjab Police during booth capturing effort by Congress goons. Manveer bravely resisted. Dismiss SSP Tarn Taran," the AAP's Punjab unit tweeted.

However, the allegations of AAP were denied by police officials at the spot.

Elsewhere, SAD candidate Parveen Kumar Pinna, who is contesting the Moga Municipal Corporation election as a councillor, was assaulted outside the polling booth.

Angered over the three contentious farm laws, activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee stopped BJP booth managers from setting up a help desk at polling booths in Amritsar.

Elsewhere, even as at least seven people were injured as Congress and Akali Dal workers clashed with each other in Ropar municipal council.

Former minister and SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the SAD had already cautioned the State Election Commission about how democracy had been murdered in the run-up to the elections and how Congress goons were expected to indulge in booth capturing and other unfair practices.

Despite this warning, no concrete steps were taken to control the situation and ensure free and fair elections, he said in a statement.

Local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning.

The voting was held for eight municipal corporations -- Abohar, Bathinda, Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga -- and 109 municipal councils and municipal panchayats.

The results will be declared on February 17.

According to the State Election Commission, there were 20,49,777 men, 18,65,354 women and 149 transgender voters, totalling 39,15,280 for the civic elections.

A total of 9,222 candidates were in fray for 2,302 wards.

Political observers say these polls just a year ahead of the Assembly elections are a 'semi-final' for the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government that is eyeing to repeat its victory against the backdrop of the farm laws that have generated a wave of anger against the BJP.

Highlights ByteDance is exploring the sale of TikTok India to rival unicorn Glance.

The discussions have been initiated by Japan's SoftBank Group.

Last month, ByteDance reduced its 2,000-plus India staff and said that it's unsure of resuming operations in the country.

China's social media giant ByteDance is said to be exploring the possibility of a sale of the India operations of TikTok to rival unicorn Glance according to a Bloomberg News report on Saturday.

The talks, initiated by Japan's SoftBank, are currently in the initial phase, according to people familiar with the matter, as cited by Bloomberg.

Glance's parent company, mobile advertising technology firm InMobi, also operates video-sharing social media platform Roposo, which has boomed in India after the South Asian nation introduced a ban on using TikTok last July. SoftBank is reportedly a backer of InMobi as well as of TikTok's Chinese parent, ByteDance.

Softbank, ByteDance, and InMobi did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

The step comes just months after India's Ministry of Electronics and Information imposed a permanent ban on TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, extending restrictions introduced last June over compliance and privacy concerns.

In response, ByteDance reduced the size of its team in India, where the corporation had employed more than 2,000 people. Beijing, in turn, accused India of violating basic market principles and the rules of the World Trade Organization.

Diplomatic and economic ties between the two Asian powers have worsened after 20 Indian soldiers including their commanding officer were martyred in a military clash with Chinese troops in the Himalayas in June. Since then, a "Boycott China" sentiment has spread across Indian social media.

According to the report, the Indian government will insist that the user data and technology of TikTok stay within its borders if the talks progress.
The army put down almost 1,200 combat dogs since 2002, with many classed as 'too dangerous' to rehome, figures show.

Some 380 dogs - typically Belgian Malinois - were killed by army vets between 2013 and 2019, official figures have revealed.

This number was more than double between 2002 and 2012 when 807 hounds were put down.

Countless dogs were deemed too 'old and worn out' or 'too dangerous' to rehome - while others were killed for 'failing to maintain standards' or for 'welfare reasons'.

The army put down almost 1,200 combat dogs since 2002, with many classed as 'too dangerous' to rehome, figures show (file image)

Army service dogs are fondly dubbed 'fur-guided missiles' by their handlers and are taken on military missions across the world.

The highly-trained animals can find injured men and track down terrorists - with some able to parachute into battlefield while strapped to their handlers.

But countless dogs are being put down 'at the end of their working lives', sparking calls for the British Army to do more to save them.

A veteran SAS soldier and dog handler - who served in Iraq and Afghanistan - told The Mirror: 'These incredibly brave dogs have saved the lives of a lot of soldiers.

'It's absolutely tragic that they are being destroyed at the end of their working lives.'

Just under 400 military dogs are currently working in the British Army, according to figures released in 2018.

They operate with handlers on various operations, including detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), looking for safe routes and buildings and drug-busting tasks.

Army service dogs are fondly dubbed 'fur-guided missiles' by their handlers and are taken on military missions across the world (file image)

Many have served in conflicts in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia.

When they come to the end of their service they go to a group of highly experienced dog trainers within the Canine Training Squadron.

The job of these trainers is to 'de-train' dogs, to prepare them for possible rehoming into the civilian population.

The trainers use techniques to relax the dogs, and make them understand that they no longer have to work.

Some 380 dogs - typically Belgian Malinois - were killed by army vets between 2013 and 2019, official figures have revealed (file image)

They aim to introduce the dogs to 'Civi Street' in a controlled and safe way, continually assessing their suitability for rehoming.

Although not all dogs are suitable for rehoming, many are rehomed with ex-military dog handlers. Others are rehomed with the general civilian population.

The process of ensuring a dog is suitable for the outside world is very strict, and rigorous procedures are followed to ensure dogs are re-homed wherever possible.

If, at the end of 'de-training' dogs are considered too old, dangerous, 'below standard', ill or unfit, they will be put down.
Officially taking effect at 11pm on December 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) has reopened the trade and investment bridge between the two countries after the UK left the European Union (Brexit).

To ensure uninterrupted bilateral trade and the smooth implementation of trade liberalization commitments, Vietnam and the UK rushed to negotiate the UKVFTA on the principle of inheriting the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). It is hoped that the UKVFTA will be an important driving force to bring the relationship between the two countries to a new height.

Top partner

Despite the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the import-export turnover between the two countries is estimated to reach US$5.55 billion in 2020.

Vietnam's exports to the UK in 2020 hit $4.88 billion and imports $670 million. The UK is currently the 3rd largest trading partner of Vietnam in Europe, and the 9th largest export market of Vietnam in the world. More importantly, Vietnam has always maintained a large trade surplus in this market.

The main export products of Vietnam to the UK include: phones and components, textiles, footwear, seafood, processed agricultural products, furniture and wood products, and plastics products. Vietnam mainly imports machinery and equipment for production; pharmaceuticals, and chemicals from the UK.

The UKVFTA was signed by the authorized representatives (Ambassadors) of the two governments in London (UK). Photo: VGP

Currently, the room for cooperation in the field of trade between the two countries is still very large. The value of Vietnamese goods exported to the UK accounts for only about 0.88% of total UK imports and the value of imported goods from the UK to Vietnam only accounts for 0.17% of the value of the UKs goods exported to the world. Import and export goods between the two countries are complementary rather than competitive.

In the field of investment, the UK has 400 valid projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of $3.6 billion, ranking 16th among 137 countries and territories having investment projects in Vietnam.

The UKs investment in Vietnam has not properly reflected the potential of this country, which is one of the 5 top foreign investment countries in the world (about $300 billion), and also one of the top countries attracting foreign investment in the world. Vietnam also has nine projects with total registered capital of $11.5 million in the UK.

The two countries also have many cooperation projects in the fields of oil and gas, renewable energy, and energy savings that are being implemented effectively.

Trade highways

The signing of UKVFTA took place when Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration was promoting its strategy of shifting focus of cooperation to the Indo-Pacific region.

For the post-Brexit period, the agreement makes an important contribution to ensuring the best interests and terms of trade for the UK with one of the fastest growing and most open economies in Asia. Therefore, the agreement is also considered a model of the next-generation FTA between the UK and ASEAN in the future.

For Vietnam, in addition to ensuring uninterrupted bilateral trade after the end of the post-Brexit transition period, the UKVFTA will create a comprehensive, long-term and stable economic-trade framework with the UK, thereby creating a driving force for strengthening and deepening multifaceted cooperation between the two sides, contributing to diversifying markets and export products.

The fact that the UKVFTA was signed and put into effect at the time the Brexit officially took effect on January 1, 2021 is very important, marking a ripe time for the Vietnam-UK relationship to take off.

Opportunities

The agreement will promote the export of key products of Vietnam, thereby increasing the proportion of goods entering the UK market, which only accounts for less 1% of the UK's total import value.

For the fishery sector, the commodity group with the earliest advantages is shrimp and some types of fish. As soon as the agreement takes effect, import tax on most types of raw shrimp into the UK will be reduced from the basic tax rate of 10-20% to 0%.

For the textile and garment industry, total exports to the UK accounted for 2.77% last year. Commitments to open markets in EVFTA and UKVFTA will make an increase in turnover in this large market. In addition, with commitments on aggregation for fabric materials from the EU, in the long term, Vietnamese textile enterprises will expand their sources of supply of raw materials, avoiding dependence on certain markets.

After UKVFTA comes into effect, Vietnams rice products will have an unprecedented opportunity, especially fragrant rice, to penetrate one of the 10 largest markets in the world, with strict standards.

According to UKVFTA commitments, the UK gives Vietnam a total duty-free quota of 13,358 tons per year. The quota will be reviewed by the two countries three years after the agreement took effect.

Besides rice, more than 10 agricultural products of Vietnam also enjoy this tax-free quota preferential rate, like tapioca.

The wood industry will also benefit directly from the agreement. In 2019, Vietnam was the 6th largest wood exporter to the UK, accounting for 3.6% of the import market share. With UKVFTA, many wood products will have a tax rate of 0% within the next five years.

The market share for fruit products will open up great opportunities for many Vietnamese products such as litchi, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, pineapple, melon ... after 94% of the total 547 tariff lines of this industry are deleted. In addition, British consumers prefer tropical, frozen or processed products, with environmentally friendly production processes, less CO2 emissions, and less plastic packaging.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for agricultural products, food, electronic products (computers, Internet equipment), toiletries, personal protective equipment, medical equipment (ventilators, blood filters), testing equipment, and hospital protective gear (nitrate gloves, masks, and clothing for medical staff and patients) from the UK market increased. Therefore, combined with market access opportunities from the UKVFTA agreement, exports to the UK market will continue to be strongly promoted.

To effectively exploit the UKVFTA and conquer a high standard market like the UK, Vietnamese businesses must make great efforts in market research and product innovation, as well as meet the standards and tastes of British consumers and continue to improve the professional commercial level to establish firm customer trust.

UK firms will have a strong market adjustment to take advantage of the UKVFTA when and only when Vietnamese firms meet their expectations for expertise and trust. Nearly 100,000 Vietnamese students graduating from UK universities is a valuable resource that businesses cannot ignore if they want to develop cooperation with the British.

Tu Hoang



Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 13:45:41|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows artists rehearsing for "The Sound of Spring", an online concert for the Chinese New Year, at Bard College Conservatory of Music in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States. The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music on Feb. 13 staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year. (Photo by Hsiao-Fang Lin/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music here on Saturday evening staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The concert, titled "The Sound of Spring," featured a new performance at the Fisher Center at Bard by the conservatory's pre-professional orchestra and master's degree program The Orchestra Now, and was joined by special guests from the Central Conservatory of Music Chinese Chamber Orchestra, the China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

The event, live-streamed for free, began with Chinese artist Tan Dun's Internet Symphony "Eroica" to honor the numerous heroes worldwide who are working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It also offered a sampling of traditional and contemporary Chinese symphonic, chamber, solo and theatrical music, showcasing different regional folk traditions, as well as blending Chinese and Western instruments and musical forms.

"The Lunar New Year is celebrated by people all around the world. This is the Year of the Ox, which symbolizes strength and determination," said Cai Jindong, director of the institute.

"We created this year's program to give people some feelings of hope and of looking forward to the future. We hope through music we can give you inspiration," said Cai, also conductor of the concert.

The U.S.-China Music Institute was founded in 2018 by Cai and Robert Martin, founding director of the conservatory, with a mission to promote the study, performance, and appreciation of music from contemporary China and to support musical exchanges between the United States and China. Enditem
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) talks to the press before the start of the 2nd day trial of former US President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill February 10, 2021, in Washington, DC Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Chris Coons reportedy said that senators wanted to get home and not call impeachment witnesses.

Senators were at the time deliberating over calling witnesses in Trump's impeachment trial.

Ultimately a deal was struck meaning no witnesses were called.

Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close ally of President Joe Biden, reportedly told senators that calling witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial could endanger Republican conviction votes and that senators were ready to get back home.

An aide at the House of Representatives told The Washington Post that Coons had visited a group of senators after a dramatic decision that the Senate subsequently reversed to call witnesses in the trial.

"The jury is ready to vote," Coons told them. "People want to get home for Valentine's Day."

Read more: Trump is plotting a campaign revenge tour targeting GOP defectors after Senate impeachment trial.

House impeachment managers' call for witnesses had caught Democrats and Republicans alike by surprise, but five GOP colleagues joined democratic senators in approving the motion.

It was introduced after Republican Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler said she had knowledge of a heated call between Trump and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, in which Trump sided with rioters as they were rampaging through the Capitol on January 6.

Dramatic negotiations between the impeachment managers and Trump's legal team followed, as some Democrats tried to talk colleagues out of their support for witnesses.

According to reports, the Biden White House believes that an extended impeachment trial would distract from the president's legislative drives in his first months in office.

Coons reportedly warned that the decision to call witnesses could prolong the trial for weeks and that Republicans who'd indicated they were prepared to convict could change their minds.

Story continues

The trial was much shorter than other impeachment trials in recent history, lasting only five days.

Some critics said that in deciding ultimately not to call witnesses, Democrats were foregoing a chance to present damaging new testimony about Trump's actions on January 6.

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A spokesman for Coons, Jonathan Kott, clarified to the Post that the senator "was simply conveying to the House managers that several of his Republican colleagues told him there were no more votes on their side and their members were ready to fly home."

A deal was eventually brokered whereby Herrera Beutler's testimony was admitted to the record, and the trial proceeded as planned with no witnesses called.

Trump was acquitted on charges of insurrection Saturday. Seven Republican senators sided with Democrats to convict the president, though the number fell short of ten votes required for conviction.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Abigail Breslin has issued a plea with her fans to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and just 'wear your d*mn masks.'

The 24-year-old Little Miss Sunshine star revealed on Wednesday that her father Michael is battling the relentless Coronavirus on a ventilator in the hospital, as she asked for 'prayers and positivity.'

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, she aired her grievances with those who continue to flout the mask-wearing mandate, as she tried to make her 527K followers aware of the severity of the situation, while revealing that her dad is currently 'not conscious.'

A frustrated plea: Abigail Breslin, 24, pleads with her followers to 'wear your d*mn mask' after revealing that her father Michael is battling COVID-19 on a ventilator in the hospital and is 'not conscious'

Take it seriously: The Little Miss Sunshine breakout star added that her dad would say wearing a mask is 'far less uncomfortable than a ventilator'

'This is me saying that if you asked my dad: a mask is FAR LESS uncomfortable than a ventilator. So stfu. And wear your d*mn mask. Please. No one should go thru this,' she wrote in an Instagram post.

She continued to engage with concerned fans on Twitter as they checked in on her and asked for updates.

One user wrote: 'Just seeing how your dad is doing. Hope he's doing better,' to which she responded 'thank u! Not too much to update you on but we are more hopeful each and every day. Thank you for checking.'

Peter Pan star Jeremy Sumpter shared his frustration about seeing people outside sans face-coverings as he wrote: 'some people have no sense whatsoever...disgusts me.'

Updates: Responding to a concerned fan checking in on her dad she said 'Not too much to update you on but we are more hopeful each and every day'

Shared frustration: The Peter Pan star tweeted that he was equally as frustrated with those who refused to wear masks as he said 'some people just have no sense whatsoever'

Breslin replied, 'I agree. Im glad you understand that. Hopefully more and more ppl will respect the situation at hand and start acting accordingly.'

She tragically revealed in a tweet on Friday that her dad (who remains elusive on her social media) is 'not conscious,' though she said she still calls to talk to him.

'I'm so used to talking to dad multiple times a day. I still call and talk to him thanks to INCREDIBLE nurses who work so hard and make sure he can hear me, even tho he's not conscious. Can't wait to hear his voice again. I love you dada.'

The Oscar nominee first shared the news of her father's battle on Wednesday, with a post that read:

'Hi guys. Unfortunately, this post isn't one I ever thought I would have to make. I'm asking for prayers and positivity sent this way for my daddy, Michael who tested positive for COVID-19 and this morning had to be placed on a ventilator.

Send prayers: The Oscar-nominated actress seemed to be in disbelief that she was writing to tell her 527K followers that her dad's positive Coronavirus case had gotten so severe he had to be placed on a ventilator

The 24-year-old native New Yorker wrote: 'My daddy, Michael, tested positive for COVID-19 and this morning had to be placed on a ventilator...I have faith that things will turn around at any moment'

'We are continuing to stay positive and know he's under great care. I'm extremely thankful for the nurses and doctors who are working hard to make sure he fights this virus. I have faith that things will turn around at any moment, but in the meantime, please continue to wear your masks and follow COVID protocol.'

Despite an aggressive vaccine roll out in recent weeks, as of Saturday there have been a total of 27.6M confirmed cases in the US and an astonishing 484K deaths.

To make matters worse, Breslin has been fending off social media trolls left and right since sharing the difficult family news.

Taking fire at the insensitive and uneducated nature at some of the posts she was fielding she fired back:

'Alright new rule: if you don't believe in wearing mask/ wanna try and cite to me why Covid isn't real/ wanna be a d***hebag in general... plz unfollow me. And stop saying anything to me. Cool? Great.'

Could it be? Before Wednesday, Breslin has never posted about her elusive patriarch (it might be the man pictured here in 2016), who's reportedly a telecommunications expert

Abigail has received well wishes from pals like Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, The Magicians star Trevor Einhorn, and celeb trainer Tracy Anderson.

Before Wednesday, Breslin has never posted about her elusive patriarch - who's reportedly a telecommunications expert, computer programmer, and consultant.

Michael might have come down with the coronavirus last month as the former child star admitted on January 15 that she was 'super terrified' about it.

'Sending so much love!' Abigail received well wishes from pals like Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, The Magicians star Trevor Einhorn, and celeb trainer Tracy Anderson

'Here if you wanna talk': Michael might have come down with the coronavirus last month as the former child star admitted on January 15 that she was 'super terrified' about it

'The woman who made me who I am today': By contrast, Abigail has previously posted a few snaps of her mother Kim (L, pictured in 2017), who's said to be a talent manager

By contrast, Abigail has previously posted a few snaps of her mother Kim, who's said to be a talent manager.

Breslin will next celebrate her fourth Valentine's Day with her boyfriend Ira Kunyansky.

On December 20, the Joe Biden supporter wrapped her directorial debut - Ash Khan & Mike Baez's pilot HitBaby - which features her big brother Spencer.

Abigail's last gig was serving guest judge duties on Netflix's Sugar Rush Christmas - but she previously acted in projects like Zombieland, Scream Queens, Little Miss Sunshine, and Signs.

Real-life leading man: Breslin will next celebrate her fourth Valentine's Day with her boyfriend Ira Kunyansky (pictured January 1)
Lebanon administered Sunday its first jabs of Covid-19 vaccine, with an intensive care unit physician and a well-known 93-year-old comedian becoming the first to receive Pfizer-BioNTech doses.

Lebanon launched its inoculation campaign a day after receiving the first batch of the vaccine  28,500 doses from Brussels, near where Pfizer has a manufacturing facility. More were expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The rollout will be monitored by the World Bank and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to ensure safe handling and fair and equitable access for all Lebanese.

Lebanon's political, economic and health crises have converged, deepening the country's troubles and public anger and mistrust of the long-serving ruling class. The government failed to offer social safety nets or structural reform to secure international assistance.

Lebanon has had a caretaker government since last summer after Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned. He quit following a massive explosion in the capital's port in August that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands, testing the struggling health care sector and plunging the country deeper into crisis.

Read | UK expands Covid-19 vaccination drive to cover all above 65

Since the explosion, rival political groups have been unable to agree on a new government and reforms demanded by the international community to offer assistance. Pandemic restrictions only worsened the economic crisis.

International organizations and allied countries have extended only humanitarian assistance to deal with the port explosion and the worsening pandemic.

The World Bank offered a $34 million loan to help pay for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for Lebanon that will inoculate over 2 million people. Nearly 3 million other vaccine doses are expected to be secured through the UN-backed COVAX program. Both are free of charge.

The private sector has been negotiating separately for more vaccines.

Lebanon is in the midst of a surge in coronavirus cases. It has registered about 337,000 cases with 3,961 deaths since its first confirmed case last February.

Also Read | Japan formally approves its first Covid-19 vaccine ahead of Olympics

The country of over 6 million, including more than 1 million refugees, at first managed to contain the virus. But since the August explosion, it has witnessed a surge that only worsened during the holiday season. That's when the government, seeking to boost the economy, eased restrictions in place for months as nearly 80,000 expats arrived in Lebanon.

After record death tolls and infections, Lebanon imposed its strictest lockdown yet in early January, with 24-hour curfews and only basic services operating. The lockdown is now slowly easing.

But reflecting a sceptical public, only 450,000 people have registered to be vaccinated, according to the Health Minister Hamad Hassan.

The head of the ICU at the country's lead hospital in fighting the virus, Dr Mahmoud Hassoun, was the first to receive the vaccine. After his inoculation, Hassoun urged Lebanese to sign up to get the vaccine to ensure community immunity.

Also Read | The coronavirus crossroads: The vaccinated, the stymied and the waiting

Please take the vaccine, no matter which one, as soon as possible, he appealed to the public through LBC TV.

Salah Tizani, a famous actor in Lebanon who goes by the name Abu Salim, was the first among the public of 75-year-old and above to get vaccinated.

Diab paid tribute to the country's overworked and overwhelmed front line workers.

You are the unknown soldiers who have borne a great burden for a year, and who have been up to the responsibility, he told the medical team at the hospital he visited.

Some 55,000 high-risk health workers are expected to receive the early doses.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 20:33:03|Editor: huaxia

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-- To observe the most important festival in their culture, overseas Chinese are turning to online blessings, celebrations and get-togethers this year.

-- The pandemic has forced a rapid shift to life online while breaking through geographical boundaries, providing people worldwide an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and the Spring Festival.

-- As is typical for this festive occasion, concerts are essential parts of the celebrations. This year many concerts are going online for the Spring Festival.

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- With the arrival of Spring Festival on Friday, overseas Chinese are turning to online blessings, celebrations and get-togethers this year to observe the most important festival in their culture.

Despite the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic hindering family gatherings, online alternatives to celebrating the Chinese New Year are providing a remedy for homesickness.

Chinese students perform during an online Spring Festival Gala in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 6, 2021, to celebrate the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

DIGITAL GREETINGS

For those who observe the Spring Festival, a common practice is to call relatives and friends on the lunar calendar's first day to convey greetings and blessings.

This year, amid the disruption of COVID-19, overseas Chinese have had to resort to digital means to celebrate the holiday.

Twelve associations of Chinese students and scholars in Germany gathered for an online event late last month, during which they exchanged greetings ahead of the Chinese Year of the Ox. The affair included street dances and martial arts.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated wherever the Chinese people are, and they never fail to find a way to celebrate together, said Du Xiaohui, Chinese consul-general in Hamburg, who viewed the holiday as an example of the power of Chinese culture.



World leaders have also taken the opportunity to extend their wishes to the Chinese people.

On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a video, which started with the Mandarin Chinese "Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Happy Spring Festival!)"

"This year is the Year of the Ox -- the same sign as the year of my birth," he said, adding "the ox symbolizes energy, strength, and courage. These qualities are what the world needs now."

Screenshot captured on Feb. 14, 2021 shows a video clip published by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his official Twitter account in which he extends his wishes to the Chinese people on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua)

U.S. President Joe Biden has also extended greetings to the Chinese people and wished the Chinese people happiness and good fortune in the new year.

On Thursday night, or the eve of the Lunar New Year, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his greetings, saying "I extend my best wishes to all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, and wish everyone health, success and happiness!"

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has also sent his congratulations to overseas Chinese in Japan via an open letter, saying he would like to express his gratitude to all Chinese friends and wish them good luck and prosperity in the new year.

"My wife and I would like to join the celebrations with all of you on this occasion," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on his official Facebook page, with the words "Gong Xi Fa Cai 2021" (Chinese spelling for 'wishing you prosperity') appearing in the post.

Screenshot captured on Feb. 14, 2021 shows a video clip published by U.S. President Joe Biden on his official Twitter account in which he and his wife Jill Biden extend greetings to the Chinese people on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua)

OFFLINE TO ONLINE

The pandemic has forced a rapid shift to life online while breaking through geographical boundaries, providing people worldwide an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and the Spring Festival.

On Saturday, vibrant celebrations -- including virtual performances, interactive activities and artist-led workshops -- were streamed by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery based in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in the United States.

Normally held in person at the museum's courtyard, the event was moved online this year, but the audience "has been very responsive, very excited to see this program," Gloria Kenyon, senior public programs coordinator for the museum, told Xinhua in an interview.

The program started with a paper cut animation presented by the Cultural Office of the Chinese Embassy. "Folks can ask questions, and we respond to them (on Zoom) in real time, and we encourage them to bring their scissors, grab a piece of red paper ... (and) join along with us," Kenyon said.

A light show is staged at Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Feb. 12, 2021. (Xinhua)

In Europe, the Chinese New Year was welcomed by a train of online celebrations held by Chinese embassies, cultural centers and Chinese community groups.

The China Cultural Center in Paris is organizing a series of online celebratory events through to Feb. 26, including virtual exhibitions on Spring Festival traditions and Chinese zodiac designs, as well as an acrobatics performance on ice. An estimated 800,000 people in France are expected to follow the celebratory events broadcasted on various social media platforms.

In Sweden, the China Cultural Center in Stockholm is hosting a series of online activities with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism over the next two weeks, presenting a variety of exhibitions, performances and interactive experiences.

The "China-Sweden Happy Chinese New Year Gala" is showcasing cultural performances involving Peking Opera, the Chinese musical instrument guqin, and traditional dance.





VIRTUAL CONCERTS

As is typical for this festive occasion, concerts are essential parts of the celebrations. This year many concerts are going online for the Spring Festival, such as top orchestras in the United States, including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra.

Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows artists rehearsing for "The Sound of Spring", an online concert for the Chinese New Year, at Bard College Conservatory of Music in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States. (Photo by Hsiao-Fang Lin/Xinhua)

Such widespread interest makes this year's Spring Festival "a truly globalized celebration," said Wei Zhou, founder and president of Weiber Consulting based in New York City.

"The good thing about it is that you break the barrier of a localized celebration because everything is online ... it truly has become a globalized celebration this year," said Zhou.

On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in the United States also hosted an uplifting virtual Lunar New Year reception and concert.

"In the Chinese culture, the Ox symbolizes stamina, energy and dedication," said Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai at the 2021 Chinese New Year Online Reception and Symphony Concert streamed online, adding that "we will show the spirit of the Ox and work together for a better shared future, for the Chinese and American people and people of the whole world."

Likewise, opera has shifted online. In Malta, the opera Turandot was presented both online and on Maltese TV.

Showcasing opera on this special occasion illustrated the deep bond between China and Malta, said Yang Xiaolong, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta.

The center, in cooperation with the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta, also hosted an online "Happy Chinese New Year" event on Tuesday, which featured martial arts, singing and dancing, trivia and other interactive activities. (Video reporters: Yang Shilong, Hu Yousong, Tan Yixiao, Zhu Wanjun, Yu Lizhen, Lu Huaiqian, Chen Wenxian; video editor: Zhang Qiru)

Telangana state consumes 5.08 lakh metric tonnes of onions every year or 42,400 metric tonnes per month. Of this, the state grows less than 2.5 lakh metric tonnes, that too in the Kharif season. (Photo:PTI)

Hyderabad: Onions are all set to leave consumers teary-eyed once again as the prices are soaring in states on which Telangana is heavily dependent for supplies. Telangana lacks adequate onion production and imports the bulb from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Onion prices in the state have increased from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 35 per kg in a week in the retail market and is set to touch price range of Rs 50-Rs 70 per kg by March.

In the ongoing Rabi (Yasangi) season, farmers in TS have opted for paddy, groundnut, maize and wheat but not onions.

As per statistics available with the marketing department, Telangana state consumes 5.08 lakh metric tonnes of onions every year or 42,400 metric tonnes per month. Of this, the state grows less than 2.5 lakh metric tonnes, that too in the Kharif season.

It procures the rest of the onions from other states, and any fluctuation in prices in those states immediately impacts Telangana.

The agriculture and horticulture departments speak of encouraging onion cultivation only when the prices hit the roof. The policy of offering sops or incentives to farmers to encourage onion cultivation remains on paper.

No subsidy being provided on onion seeds, there is no minimum support price nor marketing facilities. Besides productivity is low when compared with other crops which is also discouraging farmers.

Farmers are forced to pay more for purchasing quality onion seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to protect crops as they are more prone to pest attacks. Onion prices are also under the control of a traders cartel. All these factors make farmers to shy away from onion cultivation.

Farmers have not sown onion in even 100 acres in the ongoing crop season. The normal sown area in Yasangi is 21,869 acres. Last year, it was sown in 9,536 acres by this time of the year. This year, it was sown in just 92 acres against 9,405 acres which is the normal sown area by now.

Mahbubnagar district alone accounts for 80 per cent of onion production of the state, but this time there are no takers even there.

The biggest onion market in state is Malakpet market where 10,000 quintals of onions land every day from other states. This has come down to less than 5,000 quintals and could go down further.

This is feared to lead to severe shortage of onion stocks and escalation of prices by March.
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The Dodgers are getting their star third baseman back. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Justin Turner is officially headed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that should about seal the team's juggernaut status for the upcoming 2021 season.

The All-Star third baseman announced the news himself with a tweet:

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And he also threw in an Instagram post indicating he's already headed to Arizona for spring training.

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The terms of Turner's deal with the Dodgers are for two years and $34 million with a third-year club option, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

That salary comes with an extra price for the Dodgers though, as adding a $17 million AAV to a payroll already hovering around $233 million, according to Cot's Contracts, would push their payroll above the competitive balance tax threshold at which their first draft pick moves back 10 slots in the 2021 MLB draft.

Turner had reportedly garnered interest from other teams, most notably the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, but the belief all along was the Southern California native would need a massive offer to leave the Dodgers. The team had an offer on the table all offseason, and with pitchers and catchers reporting within a week, he apparently decided it was time to make his return official.

Justin Turner fills Justin Turner-sized hole on Dodgers roster

The deal fills what was the Dodgers' largest remaining hole in a roster that was already projected to be baseball's best by a wide margin. Without Turner, the Dodgers would have likely turned to a mixture of unproven bats like Edwin Rios, Sheldon Neuse and Matt Beaty to fill the position, plus the possibility of moving over players from other spots like Max Muncy and Chris Taylor.

Instead, the Dodgers will once again have Turner starting nearly every day. The 36-year-old has been the Dodgers' most reliable bat since landing with the team after being non-tendered by the New York Mets in 2013. He hit .307/.400/.460 in the shortened 2020 season, then helped lead the Dodgers to their first World Series championship since 1988.

Story continues

Of course, Turner also garnered plenty of infamy as his team hoisted the trophy. Turner exited the deciding Game 6 of the World Series after his COVID-19 test came back positive, then shocked, perplexed and infuriated the baseball world by returning to the field to celebrate the championship with his teammates on the field.

Turner avoided punishment for the incident, but it remains a bizarre footnote in both his career and the Dodgers' title. But it won't be the final story of his tenure with the team.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  For Vice President Leni Robredo, the recent demand of President Rodrigo Duterte to the United States to "pay up" in order to retain the Visiting Forces Agreement sounded like an outright "extortion."

In her radio show Biserbisyong Leni over RMN-DZXL, Robredo on Sunday lamented Duterte's pronouncement in his speech last week that the U.S. responsibility in the agreement "does not come free."

"Parang extortion lang. Parang kriminal eh, kung gusto mo nito magbayad ka muna," Robredo said.

[Translation: It sounded like an extortion. It seemed like an act of a criminal asking someone to pay him to get what the other wants.]

Robredo stressed that this is not how the Philippines should treat the U.S., citing its friendly relations that withstood "many generations." She added that the administration must lay down concrete reasons for not renewing the VFA without necessarily asking for money.

"Para sa akin, nakakahiya. Parang nang-eextort tayo. Sa akin, kapag sinabi nating ayaw nating i-renew 'yung VFA, ilatag natin kung bakit. Ipakita natin bakit ba hindi siya nakakabuti sa atin," she said. "Hindi 'yung pera ang consideration."

[Translation: For me, it's embarrassing. It looks like we're extorting from them. If we do not want to renew VFA, state the proper reasons. Let us show them why it will not be good for us. We should not put money as the prime consideration.]

Separately, Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed a similar sentiment also on Sunday but acknowledged that Duterte may have only wanted to get a "fair shake" of the agreement. In a now-deleted Twitter post, the senator said asking for such payments may give an impression that the country is a "nation of extortionists."

"There could be a more diplomatic, decent way of getting the same desired results," he noted.

On Friday, Duterte addressed troops at Clark Air Base in Pampanga: "I'd like to put on notice if there is an American agent here that from now on... You want the Visiting Forces Agreement done? You have to pay."

The VFA is a 1998 agreement between the Philippines and the United States on the protocol for American military personnel in the country. It is seen to support the Mutual Defense Treaty, another agreement between the two countries which guarantees that the two countries will provide military aid to each other in case their metropolitan areas or territories in the Pacific are attacked by a foreign force.

The U.S. earlier sent a notice to terminate the agreement, citing human rights abuses in the country. Duterte suspended the abrogation amid the coronavirus pandemic but later on threatened to push through with its termination if the U.S. fails to deliver at least 20 million vaccine doses for the Philippines.

READ: Duterte asks US 'to pay' for VFA

In the same speech last Friday, Duterte also stressed that he can't badmouth China amid controversial issues, including the Philippines' sovereign rights over the disputed South China Sea, because the country cannot afford to go to war against Beijing. He said he hopes that the U.S. would also understand his stance because of the Philippines' proximity to Chinese outposts in the South China Sea.

"Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away, pinaglalaban lang natin iyong dapat na nasa atin....Kapag hindi natin naipaglaban ito dahil takot tayo sa kanila, nakakahiya naman sa atin," Robredo said, reacting to the President's remark.

[Translation: We are not fighting with them, we are just fighting for what is rightfully ours. If we do not defend this because we are afraid of them, it would be embarrassing for us.]

Beijing continues to reject the Philippines' 2016 arbitration win over the West Philippine Sea. The U.S. government previously imposed sanctions on Chinese companies militarizing resources and helping the country advance its territorial claims in the disputed territory.

CNN Philippines' Eimor Santos contributed to this report.

Donald Trump (Image: AP)

Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday on charges of inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol, after a majority of Senate Republicans closed ranks and refused to punish the former president in his historic second impeachment trial.

The five-day trial saw Democratic prosecutors argue -- bolstered by dramatic video of the January 6 riot -- that Trump betrayed his oath by whipping up his supporters into storming Congress in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power.

It concluded as expected with a majority of Republicans declaring him not guilty, in a sign of the powerful grip the 74-year-old Trump continues to exert on his party.

But while the 57-43 majority that voted to convict fell short of the two-thirds needed in the Senate, seven Republicans joined with Democrats to seek Trump's conviction, making it the most bipartisan impeachment trial in US history.

Trump, who has been secluded in his Florida club since leaving office on January 20, welcomed the verdict -- denouncing the proceedings as "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country."

Despite the stain of a second impeachment, Trump hinted at a possible political future, saying that "our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun."

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said in a statement.

Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on January 13, a week after the chaotic assault that stunned the nation and provoked widespread bipartisan outrage.

Democrats argued that Trump's behavior was an "open and shut" case of impeachable conduct, retracing how he spent two months repeating the falsehood that the election was stolen, before inciting his supporters to attack Congress and stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory.

"He summoned his supporters to Washington, on the Ellipse, whipped them into a frenzy, and directed them at the Capitol," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote.

The defense team swatted the evidence away, arguing that Trump's appeal to supporters to "fight like hell, at the rally that preceded the attack," was merely rhetorical.

But their central argument was that the Senate had no constitutional jurisdiction to try a former president. Most Republican senators agreed.

'Practically and morally responsible'

But Mitch McConnell, the powerful Senate minority leader who voted to acquit on those same grounds, left no doubt he considers Trump to have caused the riot -- which sent lawmakers fleeing for safety as a marauding mob rampaged through the Capitol.

The former Trump ally unleashed a searing rebuke of the ex-president, calling his actions preceding the assault a "disgraceful dereliction" of duty.

"There's no question -- none -- that president Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," McConnell told the chamber after the vote.

He stressed that while Congress has exhausted its avenues for punishing Trump, the US justice system has not.

"President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office," McConnell said. "He didn't get away with anything yet."

Building their case over two days, Democratic impeachment managers described how Trump first encouraged, then refused to call a halt to the January 6 insurrection that left then-vice president Mike Pence and lawmakers in mortal danger.

Proclaiming Trump's innocence, defense lawyer Michael van der Veen told the Senate that "the act of incitement never happened" and that rioters acted alone.

'Darkest days '

After the trial, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was openly targeted by rioters and was evacuated from the Capitol on January 6, laid into the "cowardly" Republican senators who voted to acquit.

"Senate Republicans' refusal to hold Trump accountable for igniting a violent insurrection to cling to power will go down as one of the darkest days and most dishonorable acts in our nation's history," she said.

Before moving to final arguments, the proceedings were interrupted for a few hours on Saturday when House impeachment managers, in a surprise move, said they wanted to call witnesses.

But they backed down, instead reaching agreement with the defense that a statement by congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler would be entered as evidence.

Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin had wanted Herrera Beutler, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump last month, to testify over her statement that Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy made a frantic call to Trump during the attack and implored him to call off the rioters.

She said McCarthy briefed her about the call, and said that when he told a skeptical Trump that the insurrectionists were his supporters, "according to McCarthy, the president said: 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"


Kaley Cuoco is calling out people who abuse their animals. (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Animal lover and self-described parent to many 4-legged kids Kaley Cuoco is calling out irresponsible and abusive pet owners.

The Flight Attendant star  whose production company, Yes, Norman Productions, is named after her beloved, recently deceased pit bull mix Norman  spent the weekend blasting animal abusers and those who ditch their dogs.

This might sound random, but Im sick of opening social media and seeing 100s or 1000s of animal rescue posts where people are discarding their animals like trash, the actress, who is an accomplished equestrian and advocate for animal adoption, wrote on her Instagram Stories.

Stop the abuse, she continued. Dont get a dog if you cant care for it properly. The way you treat an animal shows exactly the kind of person you are.

Cuoco scolded pet owners who treat their "animals like trash." (Photo: Instagram Stories)

The 35-year-old former Big Bang Theory star  whose personal menagerie includes dogs, rabbits and horses  went on to share a graphic image of a dog whose jaw had been shattered after being shot in the face with buckshot.

I would like to find the human who did this, Cuoco wrote of the injured animal, now in the care of a rescue organization.

She also shared a photo of two rescue dogs up for adoption, writing, Proof you can find adorable puppies at a shelter. Stop supporting backyard breeders! Dont be an idiot.

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Cuoco spoke out about animal abuse in a 2017 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

It makes me sick, she told the newspaper of people who abandon their animals. They act like dogs are trash. They act like dogs are a water bottle that you just throw away.

She also frequently uses her social media to spotlight rescue dogs.

I live by this saying, Cuoco told the Times. I dont know who quoted it, but its like: Who rescued who? And I just think its the sweetest thing. Because its true. It changes your life.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

The Metropolitan Police's head negotiator who helped the SAS save the lives of 19 hostages during the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980 has died.

Chief Superintendent Max Vernon, 84, was part of a six-man team charged with negotiating with six armed terrorists who besieged the diplomatic building in South Kensington, West London and took 26 people hostage.

The gunmen, all Arab separatists demanding autonomy for Iran-held Khuzestan following a regime crackdown in 1979, demanded the release of 91 prisoners and their own safety in return for handing over the hostages.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher refused to guarantee the terrorists safe passage out of Britain - and between April 30 and May 5, 1980, the world watched and waited as Mr Vernon began his life-saving negotiations.

His smooth-talking, brought to the big screen by actor Mark Strong in the 2017 film 6 Days, bought the SAS B Squadron time they needed to storm the Embassy.

During the 11-minute raid the SAS rescued all but one of the remaining hostages and killed five of the six hostage-takers. An inquest cleared the SAS of any wrongdoing while sole remaining gunman served 27 years in British prisons.

Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan today led tributes to Mr Vernon, whose cause of death has not yet been revealed. He tweeted: 'RIP Max Vernon, head police negotiator during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege.

Chief Superintendent Max Vernon successfully mediated with the six armed terrorists and bought the SAS B Squardon time they needed to storm the South Kensington building

Armed police outside the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980

'Rusty Firmin, one of the SAS leaders that day, said: 'Max was the true hero, he bought us enough time to plan & prepare for the mission to rescue the hostages.' Max was played by Mark Strong in 6 Days.'

Mr Vernon had experience of sieges, having been involved at Balcombe Street five years previously, when the IRA held two hostages for six days before surrendering.

The Met Chief Superintendent recalled: 'I watched them negotiate at Balcombe Street and thought the guy who did it made a right cock-up.

'He insulted them. I don't want a rapport with any bloody villain, but I do want communication. You don't get that if you're rude. Negotiation is a fencing match, you can't afford to be on the back foot.'

Rusty Firmin, who was a Lance Corporal in the Squadron, claimed without Mr Vernon 'the outcome could have been very different'.

The front page of the Daily Mail reporting the case

Mr Firmin told the Mirror: 'Max Vernon was the head negotiator. He kept them talking for six days and bought us time.

'He deserves more credit than he ever got. Without that extra time the outcome could have been very different.'

Speaking to the Sunday Express in March 2019, when Mr Vernon was described as being '83 and in a wheelchair', Mr Firmin said that the Metropolitan Police's head negotiator considered himself 'a failure'.

He said: 'Max strung it out for six days under severe pressure.

'It took us 37 years to actually get to speak to each other but a nicer guy you could not wish to meet.

'When I see him, I tell him no way is he a failure.'

Six gunmen forced their way into the embassy in West London in April 1980, demanding independence for part of southern Iran and taking 26 hostages.

They killed a hostage after six days, which led then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to order the SAS to storm the building.

The SAS teams, who had arrived secretly in London from their Hereford base carried out rescue mission Operation Nimrod.

Millions of watched on television in awe as they tossed stun grenades into the building to begin their assault.

The raid lasted just 11 minutes and all but one of the six gunmen were shot and killed. A second hostage was shot dead by the gunmen and two others seriously wounded.

Mr Vernon said he knew of the grave threat if he said the wrong thing.

He said he was not seeking rapport with the terrorists, adding: 'That type of individual I detest because of what they were doing. All I wanted to do was control the situation and communicate.'

Another part of Mr Vernon's heroism during the attack saw him volunteer to ferry cigarettes to the front door of the embassy to get pictures of the criminals inside.

He admitted they could have shot him or added him to their hostage list, adding it was not pleasant to look down to barrel of a machine gun.

In candid remarks, Mr Vernon noted the pressure it caused his family escaped him at the time.

Mark Strong plays the smooth-talking negotiator Max Vernon, who managed to keep the hostages alive while gaining the trust of the terrorists

The Iranian embassy siege: The day the SAS emerged from the shadows The siege began when a group of six gunmen stormed into the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, London, on April 30th 1980. They took mostly embassy staff hostage but among them was BBC sound recordist Sim Harris who was at the embassy to get a visa. PC Trevor Locke, a member of the diplomatic protection squad and on duty at the building, was also among those held at gunpoint. The terrorists demanded the release of prisoners in Khuzestan Province in southern Iran during a series of tense negotiations with the police who sealed off the embassy and surrounding streets. The gunmen also demanded safe passage out of the Britain. The veteran was among those who took part in the famous SAS raid of the Iranian Embassy After becoming frustrated with the lack of progress over five days they shot one of the hostages and threw his body out of the embassy. The death was the signal for the SAS - motto Who Dares Wins - to be sent in. The SAS teams, who had arrived secretly in London from their Hereford base, were given permission by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to carry out a rescue mission given the code name Operation Nimrod. On the evening of May 5th TV news cut into normal programming to broadcast the beginning of the end of the siege as the SAS soldiers all clad in black abseiled down the front of the building. Millions watched in awe as they tossed stun grenades into the building to begin their assault. The raid lasted just 11 minutes and all but one of the six gunmen were shot and killed. A second hostage was shot dead by the gunmen and two others seriously wounded. The televised raid was the first time the British public had ever seen the Special Forces soldiers in action and elevated them to superstar status. Fawsi Najad, the surviving gunman, was jailed for life and freed in 2008 after serving 27 years. He was granted leave to remain in the UK. Advertisement

He said his wife switched off the television in front of his children saying 'if dad is going to get himself killed, I don't want to see it'.

Mr Vernon was played by actor Mark Strong for the 2017 film 6 Days.

In an interview given to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Vernon said that his wife wanted Liam Neeson to play him in the movie.

'I've never thought who I'd like to play me in a movie, though my wife says it should be Liam Neeson,' he revealed.

'When I met Mark Strong I said to him: 'You're not the right person for the role.You're only 6ft 2in, I'm 6ft 4in and I've got more hair than you!'

'Actually, he's ideal. He gets the need to be calm beautifully. If I'd had a voice like his, I might have been a bit more successful in talking people out of things.'

Mark Strong told the paper: 'Max was a behind-the-scenes character, the quiet, effective one.

'His remit was to get everyone out alive and avoid use of force. Trying to solve a problem with talk. And that's what I had in my head when playing him: his voice was his weapon.'
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The All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto State Chapter, has resolved to boycott the forthcoming local government (LG) election in the state.

The position of the party was made known by the state APC Chair, Isah Achida, at a news conference on Sunday in Sokoto.

According to Mr Achida, the resolution was based on the recent happenings in preparation for the forthcoming LG election in the state.

It is on record that when the members of the present Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission were inaugurated, the APC issued a statement expressing its total lack of confidence in the composition of the commission.

Our position is due to the glaring fact that they are all card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Indeed, all of them are very close cohorts of the leadership of the government in Sokoto State, who are always dancing to its tunes, he said.

Mr Achida blamed the partys decision to pull out of the exercise on what he described as a lack of transparency by the state government

When the state government announced the belated decision to conduct the local government election, we expected the electoral body to arrange consultative meetings with political parties for the successful conduct of the election.

This, they refused to do, because we feel that they are working with some selected political parties for their own ulterior motives.

To our dismay, however, the commission went alone and prepared their own timetable, convenient for them and their paymasters, which was sent to us only for information, Mr Achida said.

He said the position was in due consultations with all the stakeholders of the party in the state.

Mr Achida thanked the people of the state for their support to the APC and called on all the party members and supporters not to participate in the election.

(NAN)
Washington: The White House has called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it has deep concerns about the way the findings of the World Health Organisations COVID-19 report were communicated.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that it is imperative that the report be independent and free from alteration by the Chinese government, echoing concerns raised by the administration of former President Donald Trump, who also moved to quit the WHO over the issue.

Dominic Dwyer of the World Health Organisation team during the investigation in Wuhan earlier this month. Credit:AP

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday (AEDT) said all hypotheses are still open about the origins of COVID-19, after Washington said it wanted to review data from a WHO-led mission to China, where the virus first emerged.

A WHO-led mission, which spent four weeks in China looking into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak, said this week that it was not looking further into the question of whether the virus escaped from a lab, which it considered highly unlikely.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) heads to the floor of the Senate in Washington, on Jan. 26, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

McConnell Threatens to Oppose Some Trump-Backed Senate Candidates

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he will oppose Senate candidates backed by former President Donald Trump if he believes they are not credible.

My goal is, in every way possible, to have nominees representing the Republican Party who can win in November, McConnell told Politico. Some of them may be people the former president likes. Some of them may not be. The only thing I care about is electability.

I do think electabilitynot who supports whois the critical point.

It comes as several GOP senators have said theyll retire instead of running for reelection in 2022.

On Feb. 13, McConnell lambasted Trump but didnt vote to convict him during the Senate impeachment trial. Reportedly, McConnell also didnt tell his caucus to vote either way. Seven Republican senators joined Democrats in convicting the former president.

In the interview, McConnell said he was focused on the 2022 elections and that the future of the GOP will be determined in places like Wyoming. He was likely referring to the reelection bid of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who faced intense criticism in her state for voting to impeach Trump last month.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) seemed to suggest that Republicans who voted against Trump during the impeachment effort are hurting the Republican Party.

I think Sen. McConnells speech, he got a load off his chest, obviously, but unfortunately he put a load on the back of Republicans, Graham said on Fox News Sunday. That speech you will see in 2022 campaigns.

McConnell appeared to suggest in his Feb. 13 floor speech that Trump should face criminal prosecution. In his Politico interview, he demurred, Ive said all I need to say about that.

So far, Trump hasnt endorsed any Senate candidates for 2022. The former commander-in-chief, meanwhile, has not said what he plans to do.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, told Politico: Well focus on what the Biden agenda looks like.  That will create some cohesion among the loyal opposition.
From a New York Times story and additional reporting by Al Jazeera:

Known as Project Raven, hackers employed state-of-the-art cyber-espionage tools to help the UAE engage in surveillance of other governments, armed groups, and human rights activists critical of the monarchy.

Interviews by Reuters news agency in 2019 with former Raven operatives, along with a review of thousands of pages of project documents and emails, showed spying techniques taught by the NSA were central to the UAEs efforts to monitor opponents.
When the pandemic hit, Newark single mom Shereen Aly needed a Plan B.

She started cooking food from her native Egypt  chicken shawarma, masri koshari, fattoush salad  and selling it via Shef.com, an online marketplace for home cooks.

Ive been blessed ever since to be on this, she said. Im able to balance being with my daughter and doing something I enjoy.

Aly is among scores of people selling their culinary creations on Shef.com. Many hail from overseas; their profiles discuss their love of cooking and connections to their roots.

The San Francisco company, whose wares are available in parts of the Bay Area, New York and recently Seattle, said its served more than 400,000 meals in two years of operation.

Shefs co-founders, both sons of immigrants who witnessed their own parents struggles to forge new lives, see the companys mission as a social one, given added urgency by widespread pandemic unemployment among restaurant workers and others who need ways to earn income.

When we started the company, we were squarely focused on a way to help immigrants and refugees gain access to meaningful economic opportunities from home, said co-CEO Alvin Salehi, formerly a tech adviser in the Obama administration. We heard the same stories over and over: My spouse works two jobs, I wish I could contribute to the household income but I cant afford to pay for daycare.

Shefs name, a mashup of she and chef, pays tribute to the co-founders mothers, as well as to the companys demographics. It said that 83% of its chefs are women, 77% are women of color and 92% are people of color.

But Shef faces a big roadblock.

We realized this was illegal in most places in the U.S., which is why it hasnt been done, said co-CEO Joey Grassia, whose first food company, Kutoa, was inspired by the energy bars he made for himself in college.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

California became the first state to legalize sales of home-cooked meals with laws passed in 2018 and 2019 for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations or MEHKO. However, each county must set up its own program, including annual inspections. Consumed with pandemic issues, most health departments lack bandwidth. So far, only Riverside County has fully implemented this  although now some Bay Area counties are gearing up.

The co-founders spend a lot of time lobbying to get their startup legalized.

We want to work with lawmakers around the country to come up with well-formed legislation to expedite and accelerate adoption of home cooking with an eye to post-pandemic recovery, said Salehi.

Meanwhile, they say theyre following the rules by requiring their Bay Area cooks to use commercial kitchens, rather than their homes.

Now Alameda County, and the city of Berkeley, which has its own health department, are on track to have permits for home cooks by spring.

We think this is a good idea, said Alameda Supervisor Wilma Chan, who sponsored the legislation. People are already doing it informally; it would be much better to legalize it and have rules in place. The county has shut down some informal food sellers in recent months.

Chan said she hopes that some home cooks eventually create their own pop-up restaurants to enhance the local food economy.

San Mateo County passed a resolution supporting home kitchens in 2019 but got held up by implementing the inspection process.

If we had the resources, I would do it in a heartbeat right now, said Board of Supervisors President David Canepa, who co-sponsored it with Supervisor Don Horsley. Its more important than ever because of the economy.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

After hearing that Alameda and Berkeley are considering video inspections, he said he was encouraged by the idea of a less-expensive way to handle inspections.

Solano County also voted in 2019 to legalize home cooks, but has not implemented its system.

Some Shef cooks said they cant wait to get permits to use their own kitchens.

Selling home-cooked meals California passed AB626 and AB377 in 2018 and 2019, respectively, allowing people to apply for permits to sell home-made meals. But permits for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, or MEHKO, are not available statewide. How does it work? Each county must create a permitting process that includes annual inspections. So far only Riverside County has a full-fledged program. Alameda County and Berkeley (which has its own health department) expect to set up permitting processes this spring. Solano and San Mateo counties had started to legalize home kitchens, but got stopped by the pandemic. How much can be sold? Home restaurants are limited to $50,000 a year in gross sales, 30 meals a day and 60 meals a week. Is there training? Home cooks and their helpers must take an 8-hour course in food protection and pass an exam. Any other logistics? The home cook can hire one employee, and get help from household members. Helpers must have food handlers' certification. Third-party delivery services are not allowed; food can be eaten at the cook's home, picked up to go, or delivered by cooks and their helpers. Are there foods not covered by the MEHKO regulations? A separate California law governs "cottage food" operations, allowing sales of 34 types of home-made foods, including baked goods, candy, dried fruit, dry pasta, vegetable and potato chips, vegetable soup mix and other items. Source: Cook Alliance See More Collapse

It is a bummer that Alameda County does not allow cooking from home, said Beena Hasan, who commutes from her Pleasanton home to commercial kitchens in San Jose or San Francisco to prepare foods from her native Pakistan. That put a damper on a lot of things.

Still, she loves making the recipes shes collected over the years from relatives.

What I would cook at home for my family is the kind of food I cook for my customers, she said. I use as much organics as possible, grind my own spices, dont use anything boxed.

Matt Jorgenson co-founded Josephine, a marketplace for home cooks akin to Shef. It shut down in early 2018 after about two years because of legal issues. He and his co-founders now work on the Cook Alliance, a nonprofit pursuing policies to legalize home cooking.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

He sees Shef as part of the energy to get this widely known and adopted, but has some concerns about it being a venture-backed startup. Shef raised $8.8 million last summer.

Any company trying to do this with the best intentions but raising millions of venture capital, it puts them in a unicorn or bust mentality, he said. The pressure to make it work even at the risk of cooks bearing direct liability is always going to be there.

Shefs co-founders said they decided to raise money to bring the company to as many people as possible to help ease pandemic financial hardships.

We are not going to compromise the safety of chefs or customers in pursuit of growth, Salehi said. Our investors are mission-aligned.

The company takes a 15% cut of cooks earnings, but for now is also charging them for the cost of DoorDash deliveries. When counties legalize home kitchens, outside delivery services wont be allowed, so cooks will have to offer pickup, do their own deliveries or allow on-site dining.

Chef customer Mark Seiden, a long-time computer security consultant and self-described old chowhound, said he appreciates the chance to eat regional Indian specialties not usually served at restaurants. For instance, a Shef cook from the Indian state of Kerala uses Matta rice, an indigenous variety grown there, he said.

Shef food is like what they would cook for their families at home, he said. The taste is authentic.

He also found it a good value, especially when using the companies promotional offers.

Its like 20 bucks for a combination of dishes that will last me for diner and couple of lunches, he said.

The downside: Its not an impulse buy, he said. You have to order two days in advance.

After a decade as a stay-at-home mom, Hasan said shes found it liberating and empowering to put her culinary heritage to work.

There are people out there who can really benefit from the extra income, she said. Thank God my husband still has his job, but if we had a different situation, this would be a lifesaver.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid

Leader of the Minority caucus in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has explained that the celebration of February 14 as a day of love is not a license for people to indulge in promiscuity.



In a video message to the public as the world marks Valentine's Day, and in Ghana, as the country celebrates National Chocolate Day today, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South encouraged all to patronize made-in-Ghana chocolates to promote the economy.



"Eat chocolate, stay health, and grow Ghana. Eat cocoa not for purposes of observing 14th February for purposes of promiscuity, but 14th Feb use it to contribute to the growth of Ghana's economy.



"By eating chocolate, our proud cocoa product, it makes you healthy. It can reduce high blood pressure and make you mentally sharp - you didn't know that it is an indulgent trait? Eat chocolate, grow Ghana," he said.















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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Cars were yesterday buried in a massive snow drift in Scotland, as Britain faces one last round of Arctic blasts before temperatures will rise into the sixties today.

In a strange-looking scene which looks more like a dusty desert than a snowy Scotland, one vehicle was left buried so deep in a pile of discoloured snow that only its roof was still visible.

The sandy-coloured snow was blown from a nearby field before covering parked vehicles on the A98 in Buckie, near Moray.

The bizarre scene came as Britons endured a day of icy blasts - the final one before the UK's record-breaking Big Freeze finally comes to an end.

Bitter-cold 80mph winds, freezing rain and dangerous icy conditions are set to hit parts of the UK on Sunday, as Britain faces the tail-end of the recent cold snap.

But in a sudden switch from a week of sub-zero temperatures, Met Office forecasters have said temperatures could even reach 61F (16C) in parts of England and Wales today, 54F (12C) in Northern Ireland and 50F (10C) in Scotland.

People ice skate on frozen flooded fields near Ely in Cambridgeshire, as the cold snap continues to grip much of the nation

Lucy Ashdown-Parkes, 45, is a swimming teacher and coach from Caterham in Surrey, who has been passionate about open water swimming for several years. In 2020 Lucy successfully swam the English Channel solo.Now she is training to swim the North Channel, from Ireland to Scotland

Members of the public gather next to Rushmere Pond on Wimbledon Common in South West London which has frozen over as freezing temperatures once again hit the South East

Cars were yesterday buried in a massive snow drift in Scotland, as Britain faces one last Arctic blast before temperatures begin to rise into double figures

Two dog walkers are forced to climb over a mound of snow to make way for a snow plough clearing the roads of snow this afternoon (SUN) in Whitton, Northumberland

Heavy gusts, some up to 80mph, are expected to continue until midnight tonight, according to the Met Office. Pictured: A Surfer rides the waves in Newquay, Cornwall, yesterday

Britons will have to endure one more day of icy blasts before temperatures soar into double digits - as the country's record-breaking Big Freeze finally comes to an end. Pictured: A stunning sunrise over a snow-hit Christchurch Park in Ipswich this morning

Despite weather warnings in the north of England, strong waves were seen crashing into Cobb harbour wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset on a morning of strong gusty winds and rain in the south

People ice skate on frozen flooded fields near Ely in Cambridgeshire, as the cold snap continues to grip much of the nation

Yellow weather warnings for ice are in place this morning for large parts of northern England and Scotland on Sunday. A wind warning is also in place for parts of Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland

Police's ice warning after two girls, 11, rescued from river Nottinghamshire Police yesterday released drone footage of two 11-year-old girls having a lucky escape after running into difficulties while walking over a frozen river. One of the girls fell through the ice into the freezing water before the alarm was raised by a passer-by. The other made it to an island but was stranded with no way back over the broken ice. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service were called to rescue the girls and bring them to safety after the incident was reported, near to St Mary's Church, Holgate, Notts, at around 4.45pm on Saturday. The first girl was able to be supported in walking out the water as she was closer to the edge, however to rescue the second girl, crews had to use an inflatable piece of equipment called a pathway to bring her safely back across the frozen water. The girls - who were unharmed but extremely cold - were then left in the care of the ambulance service. Chief Inspector Duncan Southall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'The girls are extremely lucky to have been unharmed, particularly as one of them had fallen into the water through the ice. 'The other girl managed to make it to an island in the middle of the water but was then stuck there. 'Luckily a passer-by saw them in difficulty and called the emergency services. If it hadn't been for this person raising the alarm there could have been tragic consequences.' Advertisement

After a week of cold weather, including a record-breaking -23C in Scotland, the mercury level will begin to increase from today.

Temperatures are expected to reach 61F (16C) across England, the Met Office forecasts.

However, Mr Miall said the weather will be 'quite wet and windy' for most of the week.

He said: 'We will be hovering between 7C to 12C, I suspect, through Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday.

'Most of the snow will start melting early in the week, with the exception being Scotland because they have had so much of it.

'Weather-wise, it's not too bad a day for many tomorrow.

'It does start wet across south-east England with some outbreaks of rain.

'But from mid to late morning they should clear, and then for many we are looking at dry interludes with some sunny spells.

'There may be one or two showers in Scotland.'

The coldest UK temperature for 65 years was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday night, when the mercury dropped down to -23C.

A record low temperature for February was also recorded in England and Wales when temperatures in Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, dropped to -15.3C overnight on Thursday.

The chilly conditions froze Trafalgar Square's fountains and brought large amounts of snowfall to regions across the country.

In Derbyshire's High Peak area, the impressive Kinder Downfall also froze, turning the 98ft waterfall into a slippery climbing wall.

Public Health England (PHE) has extended its cold weather alert through the weekend and has urged people to check on vulnerable relatives and neighbours.

Dr Owen Landeg, group leader for extreme events and health protection at PHE, said: 'Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly for older people and those with heart and lung problems, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

'Make a call, or socially-distanced doorstep visit if they live close by, to remind them to heat their home to at least 18C, 64.4F, and to keep up to date with the forecast.

'It's also helpful to check they have enough food and drinks and any medicines they need.'

On Saturday morning, ice-skaters flocked to the frozen Cambridgeshire Fens after the recent cold snap gave them the rare chance to enjoy the ancient sport for the first time in three years.

Shallow waters in the Fens near Ely have been turned into an enormous natural ice rink and skaters were out early yesterday on the frozen flooded fields to make the most of the outdoor rink.

In Derbyshire's High Peak area, the impressive Kinder Downfall also froze, turning the 98ft waterfall into a slippery climbing wall

Public Health England (PHE) has extended its cold weather alert through the weekend. Pictured: A man ice climbing on the frozen Kinder Downfall, High Peak in Derbyshire

Skaters flocked to the frozen Cambridgeshire Fens early Saturday morning after the recent cold snap gave them the rare chance to enjoy the ancient sport for the first time in three years

Shallow waters in the Fens near Ely have been turned into an enormous natural ice rink and skaters were out early yesterday morning on the frozen flooded fields to make the most of the outdoor rink

Bitter-cold 80mph winds, freezing rain and dangerous icy conditions are set to continue in parts of the UK on Sunday as Britain faces the tail-end of the recent cold snap. Pictured: A fountain at Trafalgar Square freezes over during the cold snap

The remaining flood waters surrounding the River Thames stay frozen after a cold snap Seasonal weather, Wallingford, Oxfordshire

The flood water remained frozen over yesterday amid the cold snap, with forecasters predicting conditions to improve on Monday

It takes three nights of temperatures of minus six or below to form ice strong enough to skate on.

The last time the Fens froze was three years ago in 2018 when the Beast from the East hit the UK and the skaters managed to get a day on the ice.

The Cambridgeshire Fens were the birthplace of British speed skating and when farm hands were unable to work on the frozen land they welcomed the chance to skate for prizes.

The first properly organised skating race was held in the Fens in 1814 and during the harsh Victorian winters people travelled from America and the continent to compete for a leg of mutton or a bag of flour.

Seagulls were also seen perched on the surface of the River Thames at Teddington, south west London, on Friday when it iced over for the first time since Britain's Big Freeze in 1963.

However, amid people flocking to the newly formed ice patches, police yesterday put out a warning about the potential dangers.

Nottinghamshire Police released drone footage of two 11-year-old girls having a lucky escape after running into difficulties while walking over a frozen river.

One of the girls fell through the ice into the freezing water before the alarm was raised by a passer-by.

The other made it to an island but was stranded with no way back over the broken ice.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service were called to rescue the girls and bring them to safety after the incident was reported, near to St Mary's Church, Holgate, Notts, at around 4.45pm on Saturday.

The first girl was able to be supported in walking out the water as she was closer to the edge, however to rescue the second girl, crews had to use an inflatable piece of equipment called a pathway to bring her safely back across the frozen water.

The girls - who were unharmed but extremely cold - were then left in the care of the ambulance service.

Chief Inspector Duncan Southall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'The girls are extremely lucky to have been unharmed, particularly as one of them had fallen into the water through the ice.

'The other girl managed to make it to an island in the middle of the water but was then stuck there.

'Luckily a passer-by saw them in difficulty and called the emergency services. If it hadn't been for this person raising the alarm there could have been tragic consequences.'

The incident happened just a few hundred metres away from the area where 12-year-old Owen Jenkins tragically died after being dragged under by a strong current while trying to rescue two friends who had got into difficulty in the water at Beeston Weir, Notts, in July 2017.

Owen's mum Nicola also spoke out yesterday following the drama. Ms Jenkins, who founded the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) water safety programme in her son Owen's memory after his death, urged children to stay away from the River Trent.

'When it comes to ice children don't seem to see the danger. They just think it is a bit of fun,' she said.

'A lot of the ice looks thick but it isn't. Where the water is shallow it can be thick but when it gets deeper it is thin and that's where the difficulty lies and you can become stranded.

'There is no point even trying it because we don't have thick ice like in some countries. It is best to stay away - it is not worth the risk.'
The determination of Indigenous students studying in Melbourne has propelled the school that supports them from strength to strength.

Founded six years ago Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) helps students moving from remote Victoria and the Northern Territory to attend school in the city. It runs a boarding program and its own year-seven campus in Richmond and supports students moving to one of 12 government and private partner schools from year eight onwards.

Places at the school, which has been steadily growing and currently has 82 students, are in high demand.

Melbourne Indigenous Transition School captains Lailani Bransden and Malakai Wright. Credit:Justin McManus

Its growth will continue this year after the federal government announced $10 million in funding to build a new Richmond boarding house.
Cables and computers are seen inside a data centre at an office in the heart of the financial district in London, Britain, on May 15, 2017. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)

HyperOne to Offer Undersea Cables Safe Passage Through Troubled Indo-Pacific Waters

An Australian entrepreneur has unveiled an ambitious countrywide, fibre-optic network that could open significant commercial opportunities and make Australia a hub for international undersea networks traversing the troubled Indo-Pacific region.

HyperOne is a AU$1.5 billion hyperscale, national fibre network that will stretch more than 20,000 kilometres across Australia, and achieve speeds of 10,000 terabits per second.

Tech entrepreneur Bevan Slattery unveiled the plan earlier this week saying it was big, bold, and way overdue.

HyperOne will be the first true private national fibre backbone project connecting major data hubs in every capital city in every state and territory across Australia, he said in a statement.

Plans for HyperOne fibre-optic network in Australia. (Supplied)

Domestically, the project is expected to complement the existing 5G and National Broadband Network, which has had a troubled rollout, and could be a major hit with regional areas and industries such as space, defence, mining, agri-tech, cloud computing, and data centres.

All the existing national transmission networks were built back when there was no Youtube, Netflix, social media, iPhones, or even cloud, let alone the future industries, Slattery said.

We are adding more than 1,000 on-ramps in regional and remote Australia enabling underserved communities and remote areas a cost effective way to access HyperOne, he added.

Dr. Rob Nicholls, associate professor at the University of New South Wales and competition law expert, believes the project is commercially viable, and that there would be interest in a state-of-the-art fibre optic network.

Slattery has a good track record in this regard. The key thing will be to get anchor clients, and regional parts of Australia are likely to provide these, he told The Epoch Times.

HyperOne, however, is also aiming to bolster Australias position as a major interconnection point for international sea cables transiting from Europe, via the Middle East, to Western Australia and through to Hong Kong, the United States, and even Antarctica.

Plans for HyperOne global network. (Supplied)

With the current geopolitical instability in the region, there is unprecedented opportunity for Australia to become the regions leading, secure, and stable hub for future industries and jobs, Slattery said.

According to Nicholls, Subsea fibres have four forms of geopolitical instability challenges [in the Indo-Pacific].

One is delay. For example, it takes weeks to get permission to repair cables in Indonesian waters. The second is piracy, which is a high risk when cables are relatively shallow in areas such as the Malacca Sea. The third is changing territorial claims, mostly found in the South China Sea. And the fourth is extraterritorial reach, he said.

HyperOne could help commercial operators bypass all these risks.

A total of 380 undersea cables drive the Internet, Wi-Fi, and immense volumes of voice and data traffic.

Cables are a hot button issue over fears of spying from malicious actors.

For example, last year, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Trump administration blocked plans for an undersea cable between Hong Kong and Los Angeles due to the involvement by a Chinese-backed company.

While in 2018, the Australian government stepped in to fund two-thirds of the Coral Sea Cable System linking Sydney to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. This came shortly after the Solomons inked a deal with controversial China-based firm Huawei in 2017 to lay the undersea cable.

These types of proposals (HyperOne) are examples of the broad work underway to make Australia less vulnerable in its digital critical infrastructure, in light of an assertive Chinese state that doesnt just use trade as a weapon but uses its technological reach and systems for leverage and advantage too, Michael Shoebridge, defence director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told The Epoch Times.

HyperOne joins other proposals, like the Oracle-Canberra data centre hub, as ideas about strengthening Australias data capabilities, helping national resilience, and reducing the risks of vulnerabilities from current offshore dependencies and connections.

The project is expected to generate over 10,000 jobs.

Discussions are already underway with the National Broadband Network, the Northern Australian Infrastructure Fund, telecommunications firms, as well as federal and state governments.
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New Delhi:

Tata Motors flagged off the first batch of much-awaited Nexon SUV from Maharashtras Ranjangaon plant on Thursday. Powered by 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine and 1.5 litre diesel engine, the new car is paired to a six-speed gearbox.



The new SUV is expected to make its debut in the festive season. India's largest automotive manufacturer Tata Motors showcased Nexon at the Auto Expo 2016. Petrol and diesel engines have been indigenously developed with inputs from renowned global technology suppliers like AVL, Bosch, Mahale and Honeywell, the company issued a statement at the time of its debut.

ALSO READ: Fiat Jeep Grand Cherokee launched in India; check out everything about new variant here



The petrol variant is having three-cylinder turbocharged Revotron motor, while the diesel one is having four-cylinder oil burner. The Nexon, which is short for Next-On signifies next level of things. It is expected that the new SUV will compete against Fords Ecosport and Maruti Suzukis Vitara Brezza.



The four-cylinder diesel engine will offer a maximum power of 110 ps at 3,750 rpm, and a maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1,500-27,50 rpm, while the three-cylinder petrol engine offers a maximum power of 110 ps at 5,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 170 Nm at 2,000-4,000 rpm. Talking about its price, it may vary between Rs 7-10 lakh.

ALSO READ: Volvo V90 Cross Country launched in India: Know price, features


INDIANA,. (WTHI) - State lawmakers are weighing in on the bills before them this legislative session.

Some local Indiana lawmakers gathered for a virtual legislative Cracker Barrel session Saturday.

One of the bills they discussed is one we've told you about before on News 10.

It's senate bill 3-89.

This bill focuses on Hoosier wetlands.

If passed, the state's wetland law would be repealed.

This would effectively remove protections for wetlands.

Those in favor of the bill say it would help developers and builders.

State Senator Jon Ford says he voted in favor of the bill.

"Senate Bill 389, I did vote for it, to vote it out of the Senate just to keep the bill moving. Is it perfect? Absolutely not," says Jon Ford.

State representative Tonya Pfaff told News 10 she opposes the bill.
Santa Clara County had been lucky: A resident whod traveled out of the country and returned home infected with a worrying new coronavirus variant had exposed only one other person to the mutated virus.

From the time the resident came down with symptoms to the confirmation Wednesday that a new variant from South Africa was the source of infection, more than two weeks had passed. But the individual had been exquisitely compliant with local health orders that mandated post-travel quarantine, said county health officer Dr. Sara Cody.

There was no risk of the variant spreading in the community  not from this case, at least.

But the discovery of that case  plus a second infection with the same variant in an Alameda County resident, also announced last week  rang fresh alarms over the urgent need to detect mutations to the virus that may hinder efforts to control the pandemic.

Californias ability to hunt down these variants relies on widespread and rapid genomic sequencing. But the state, like the rest of the country, is not close to doing enough sequencing. Expanding that effort will require state and national leadership, unprecedented collaboration among laboratory scientists, creative shortcuts and dedicated funding, infectious disease experts say.

Only about 0.4% of Californias 3.4 million cases have undergone genomic sequencing, far below the minimum 5% most experts believe is necessary to quickly identify new variants and understand how widespread they are in communities. And the results almost always come out a week or more after the person is past the most infectious stages of disease, limiting public health officials ability to contain it.

This reminds me of our early days of testing, when we had very little testing. A year ago, I remember the very uncomfortable feeling that there had to be cases out there, were just not seeing them, said Cody at a news conference last week.

Josie Norris / Special to the Chronicle

She gets the same disconcerting vibe about variants now. Santa Clara County is doing more sequencing than most California counties  its one of only a handful that does sequencing at its own public health labs  but its still just a small fraction of cases, Cody said. The capacity just isnt what it needs to be in order to rapidly identify and track emerging variants.

The United States is 34th in the world in the percentage of cases sequenced, according to an international database of coronavirus sequences called GISAID. And California ranks 22nd among U.S. states in percentage of samples sequenced, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state is second only to Texas for the total number of sequences done, but far below places like Hawaii, Maine and Washington state that sequence more than 2% of all cases.

Sequencing has improved in California since the start of the year, as public health officials have grown increasingly concerned about new variants. But the state will need to dramatically ramp up its sequencing  by more than tenfold, some experts say  to get a clear understanding of where and how variants are spreading.

And the state will need to find ways to more quickly deliver useful results to counties so they can take actions to limit the spread of these variants, whether thats close monitoring of individuals to prevent outbreaks or community restrictions, such as stay-at-home orders, to slow down transmission.

We just dont have the infrastructure built up like some of the European countries and some of the Asian countries to do that, said Dr. Susan Philip, the acting health officer for San Francisco. So were flying a little bit blind when it comes to variants.

Genomic sequencing is critical for understanding how the coronavirus is changing over time and quickly identifying new mutations that could make it more infectious, deadlier or more resistant to vaccines.

Worldwide, a handful of concerning variants have been discovered over the past few months, and public health officials worry they are already established in the United States and could interfere with efforts to end the pandemic. Among the variants are one from the United Kingdom that is known to be 30% to 70% more infectious; variants from South Africa and Brazil that appear to reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines; and a pair of variants discovered in California that could be problematic but are still being studied.

All but the Brazil variants have been identified in California over the past six weeks; the variants from the U.K. and California have increased dramatically since the end of last year. The CDC and others predict the U.K. variant will be dominant in parts of the U.S., including Southern California, in March.

New variants spreading rapidly in communities could delay school reopenings, the head of the CDC said Friday. California officials have said they fear another surge in cases could come in the spring if more infectious variants spread faster than the state is able to vaccinate people.

Genomic sequencing provides the genetic blueprint for a virus  basically the instructions that a virus uses to reproduce. The instructions are complicated, made up of about 30,000 amino acid letters, and time consuming to produce. The entire process, from drawing genetic material from a viral sample to running it through a sequencing machine and producing the final blueprint for analysis, in theory takes three to five days and costs $50 to $500, depending on the lab and the technique used.

But in reality, it almost always takes longer to produce results. Most laboratories do sequences in batches that are run every few days. Preparing samples for sequencing can also drag out depending on staffing and resource issues. Even transporting samples from a lab that does testing to one that does sequencing can add two or three days.

Some laboratories hunt for specific variants and target their sequencing efforts around that. The Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory screens samples for certain mutations associated with the most concerning variants, then mostly limits sequencing to samples with those mutations. Since the start of the year, the lab has screened more than 1,700 samples and sequenced around 200. It found the variants from South Africa last week  the only such cases in the state so far  and also found the first Bay Area cases of the more infectious variant from the U.K.

Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, who runs the Stanford lab, said his team has started telling county public health officials when the they find concerning mutations, instead of waiting another several days for the full sequencing results. That gives counties a head start on taking action, he said.

We started doing that for the U.K. variant, so (public health officials) can accelerate the interventions  find those individuals and confirm that they were isolating, and do contact tracing to limit spread, Pinsky said. If we can get these results out reasonably quickly then we can have that extra layer of protection.

Screening for mutations is potentially one option for speeding up the search for variants statewide, at least as a short-term solution, some public health experts say. It would be faster and cheaper than ramping up the full sequencing process.

But relying on mutation markers, or using other strategies to quickly identify specific variants, is less useful for discovering never-before-identified variants or for understanding how widespread known variants are in the community.

To do that, laboratories need to do randomized sequencing. That involves sequencing a random subset of positive tests instead of prioritizing samples that are already suspected to be new variants. Many labs do both targeted and random sequencing.

Randomized sequencing might have helped scientists find the variant from the U.K. earlier. The first case was identified in California at the end of December by scientists in San Diego, only after they knew to start looking for it.

The California variants, too, were only identified in early January  ironically, by scientists who were searching for the U.K. variant. But the California variants were probably becoming widespread in parts of the state in October and may have contributed to the fall and winter surge, some scientists believe.

If we knew this variant was here, if we knew it was important and it was starting to rise, there might have been reason to shut down Los Angeles County earlier, said Dr. Jeffrey Golden, vice dean of Research and Graduate Education at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where one of the California variants was identified.

The state desperately needs a more streamlined approach to sequencing, many scientists say. Sequencing in California and the rest of the country is patchwork, with an assortment of commercial, academic and public laboratories doing the bulk of the work, each with their own rules for everything from labeling samples to choosing which ones to sequence.

About 30 labs in California have contributed a total of about 13,000 sequences to the GISAID international database over the past year. A handful of those labs coordinate with the state through its COVIDNet program, which is Californias attempt to ramp up and centralize sequencing.

The CDC also has launched a program, called the National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance (NS3) program, to increase sequencing. On a local scale, scientists at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a lab in San Francisco that does roughly 45% of all sequencing in California, are helping county public health departments across the state develop their own sequencing labs. They hope that will result in faster and more widespread sequencing.

It cant happen quickly enough, said Dr. Charles Chiu, director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center. His laboratory was among the first to identify the new California variants, and he is currently conducting tests to determine if they may be more infectious or reduce vaccine effectiveness.

Chiu said hes concerned about the variants already known to be circulating along with others that havent yet emerged. Last week, his lab sequenced a virus sample that appears to have several mutations in common with other variants  including the ones from South African and Brazil  but also some new mutations.

The case needs more investigation. But its yet another example of the need to cast a wider net for these cases with more sequencing, Chiu said.

We need to know, he said. For public health reasons as well as our ability to control the pandemic, we need to understand these variants are evolving and spreading.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Meghan Bobrowsky contributed to this report.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday

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.

Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
A traditional Carnival mask allowed freedom for the wearer not to be identified. He could break free of cultural and societal norms, if only for the moment. The Carnival mask hid the eyes and left the mouth free to expound and play and enjoy. Carnival was the opposite of COVID masking. All we have left free is our eyes. We are losing ourselves and our American identity.

Where I live, everyone wears a mask, often two and, sometimes, a face shield on top. Gone is any chance smile, or frown, or hint of recognition. I see people by themselves and children playing or on bikes, all of them covering up religiously. This palpable fear of COVID is irrational. The only people seemingly exempt are the homeless, who rarely wear masks at all.

I remember, when the rush to avoid COVID began a year ago, we were holed up at home, pretty much afraid of our shadows. February 2020 was an alarming time because we didnt know the shape of this thing. I wrote in my diary about how hard it was to grasp. How elusive facts were. How lethal was it? How easy to get?

We methodically cleaned every surface anyone touched, we were cautioned to sanitize hands until they bled, and we worried about what was unleashed upon us. We hoarded toilet paper because the unknown was so frightening. Our world began to grow smaller and its kept on shrinking ever since.

Schools started shutting down last March; by mid-March, businesses were all closed. It wasnt until April that we officially were asked to wear a mask, but once we were, things shifted. Until then, interaction was possible and, despite our fear of the unknown, life held a certain amount of joy. Once we were covered like a Niqab wearer from Middle Eastern cultures, though, we became hostile to interaction.

This time last year we loved walking the dog. We met up with other isolated people, in their front yards, smiling and craving interaction. Social contact flourished, we met neighbors wed not talked with in the 26 years weve lived in our home. We were all in it together, we had a common cause, we would beat this virus! Two weeks to flatten the curve was our slogan. That grew longer and, now, its become a year and we still dont know what were dealing with -- but not because its unknowable; rather, because they dont want us knowing.

In my little town, the kindergarten just opened. There is some plan for younger grades to return to in-person school, but slowly, after ski week vacation is over. Never mind that other districts and private schools were open with no problems. Dont look there! We must be cautious (as long as the teachers are being paid).

Coinciding with the obliteration of our human identities, weve started to cleanse all societal branding. Tearing down statues started it. Team names came next. San Francisco is going to rename all the schools. (Ive heard some suggestions, all of them rather funny.). Formerly identifiable brands are becoming something other. De-personification, the removal of identity, is happening across the culture.

The lefts rush to cleanse all character in the name of political correctness has reached into every corner of life. You may never have bought Aunt Jemimas pancake mix or syrup, but Im betting you remember her. Her modernized image smiled from bottle and box. She was a brand for well over a century. She looked happy that you were buying her product. You could see she had a good heart and, like moms and aunts of every culture, she wanted you to eat and be happy.

Now her brand is replaced with a generic name, no doubt created by committee, without any hint of offensive personality. Too bad theyre not rooting out bad ingredients too! Pearl Milling Company now provides the flavored high fructose corn syrup and empty carb pancakes that used to have the allure of a brand name. Im betting the new brand falls flat as anever mind. PepsiCo owns it because it bought Quaker Oats a while back, and Jemima was a Quaker brand. Is Quaker next?

In recipe-land, a place I visit frequently, we have Epicurious.com reviewing its 30,000 recipes for offensive ideas. This apparently means stripping context that might provide a historical or cultural reference, in the name of so-called sensitivity.

Perhaps, being in California, Im over sensitized to these issues. The latest state brouhaha is over Squaw Valley. But if you want to go all the way woke, and erase history better, maybe rename Washington DC. Something like Barb Wire City should do the trick.

IMAGE: Carnival Mask by Max Pixel. CC0 Public Domain.

Chanting 'Shame on you China' in unison, dozens of youths gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Yangon on Sunday to protest against Beijing's support to the military dictatorship in Myanmar , local media reported.

The young protestors were seen holding handmade and printed placards, while demanding China to stop supporting the military, according to Myanmar Now.

One of the placards read: 'Stop helping the military'. Another placard read: 'Myanmar Military dictatorship is 'Made in China'.

On February 1, Myanmar's military staged a coup and overthrew the democratically elected government of the National League for Democracy (NLD), alleging voter fraud in November 2020 elections that saw the NLD securing a resounding victory.

While there is a global condemnation against the military coup, China has given a muted response, saying it has "noted" the development.

"We have noted what has happened in Myanmar and are in the process of further understanding the situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing in Beijing on February 1.

"China is a friendly neighbour of Myanmar's. We hope that all sides in Myanmar can appropriately handle their differences under the constitution and legal framework and safeguard political and social stability," he added.

Meanwhile, student union leaders from 18 universities have sent an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging China to recognise the will of the people of Myanmar to end the military rule and restore the country's civilian government, local media reported on Sunday.

The letter noted that China should not recognise the current military government who forcibly took power on February 1 and detained the country's top civilian leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

China and Russia continue to defend Myanmar's military, insisting that the armed forces' seizure of power from the democratically-elected government in Myanmar's internal affair, the Irrawaddy reported.

Meanwhile, a majority of United Nations members deplored the military's actions during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday.

However, Myanmar's giant neighbour China distanced itself from the country's human rights issues, with China's representative to UNHRC saying, "What happens in Myanmar is essentially Myanmar's internal affairs."

That stance is consistent with China's refusal-- along with Russia-- to condemn the military takeover during last week's meeting of the UN Security Council.

Myanmar protesters continued the demonstrations in front of both countries' embassies, urging them not to support the military regime.

Meanwhile, mass street demonstrations in Myanmar entered their second week on Saturday.

On Saturday, people from all fields of life marched peacefully holding the identical red placards on the streets of Mandalay. The placards read: 'Are Russia and China supporting Myanmar Junta?'

"In Mandalay, People from all fields of life marched peacefully with the same cards. Their boards and cards target about China and Russia who are supporting Myanmar Military. Shame on you, Russia and China," a Twitter user from Myanmar tweeted.

Several people have tweeted about the Mandalay rally.

"Hear our VOICES. Russia and China are backing up the Burmese Military Coup for their own benefits. We know it and we will boycott them from now on. Let the injustice fail!," another user read.

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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Loading The reason why we can be confident is we know the science tells us the 14 day period will take us through a full cycle of the disease and during that time because weve tested 102,000 people, we have the data to inform us that we dont have presence of the disease out there in the community, Mr Cook said. We can move forward with confidence now, obviously we need to stay vigilant to keep an eye on any positive cases in other states. WA has a closed border with Victoria, which recorded two new local cases linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak on Sunday, its second day of a five-day lockdown. Premier Mark McGowan said advice from the chief health officer was expected on Monday.

At this stage, were not sure [what will happen], he said. Our thoughts go out to the people in Victoria, theyve had a hard time. They put in place rules around hotel quarantine that have been described like fort knox and theyve still had outbreaks. Those trying to manage the hotel quarantine system, its been a difficult period for them. Mr Cook said the state government was confident about how case 903 had been handled, with reviews of Four Points by Sheraton and other quarantine hotels in Perth under way. Were confident now because weve done the Genome sequencing of 903s COVID positive result, we know who 903 caught the disease from and we know the circumstances in which he sat in terms of his position on that floor of the hotel, he said.

Loading In relation to the Four Points hotel were currently doing a review of the air movements in that facility. Early indications are that it is okay but there are certain rooms that well probably avoid, given the air movements in that building. There are currently no guests at Four Points pending further analysis, Mr Cook said. New national standards about hotel quarantine are expected to be presented to the state government this week.

Mandatory masks scrapped, internal borders lifted, support local WA Premier Mark McGowan has encouraged Western Australians to support local businesses as internal border restrictions are lifted and mandatory masks are scrapped. Border controls in the South West, Peel and Perth regions were lifted just after midnight and mask-wearing requirements ended. The changes come after the state recorded no new confirmed cases on Sunday, 14 days after case 903 - a security guard working at one of Perths quarantine hotels - tested positive to the UK strain of COVID-19. The states total number of confirmed cases remains at 910 and WA Health is monitoring five active cases.

On Saturday, 2189 COVID tests were undertaken in WA. Weve had no further cases detected despite our large number of tests, Mr McGowan confirmed. The restrictions have come off as of midnight last night so thats a very good outcome for Western Australia and I hope everyone is now able to enjoy not wearing masks and getting back to normality. Perths empty streets during the citys snap lockdown earlier this month. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Within 12 hours of restrictions being lifted and mandatory masks scrapped, Mr McGowan encouraged people to get back out in the community and support local businesses who have had a tough time recently.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

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Screening of commuters underway at the entrance to Bamenda Facebook

Cameroons North West Region is witnessing an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, Governor Lele Lafrique Tchoffo Deben Adolphe has said.

On Friday, February 12, 2021, it emerged from the COVID-19 Regional Advocacy meeting that the number of cases of COVID-19 has been increasing rapidly over the last few weeks.

This is evidence of the existence of a second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Region, the Governor said in a statement.

His words: Worse of all, during the last 10 days, the Region recorded 116 positive cases of COVID-19 with 5 COVID-19 related deaths. The cumulative statistics for COVID-19 in the North West Region are as follows: 1,189 Persons tested positive, with 935 recoveries, 173 active cases on treatment, and unfortunately 81 deaths (with 40 occurring in Health Facilities and 41 in communities).

Governor Lele said Mezam, Boyo, Donga Mantung, and Ngoketunjia Divisions have the most COVID-19 cases. The City of Bamenda still constitutes the epicenter of the pandemic with the highest number of cases reported, he said.

The Governor regrets that many people are no longer respecting the COVID-19 barrier measures prescribed by the Government of Cameroon and the World Health Organisation.

I am therefore calling on the stakeholders in the North West Region especially media professionals and bloggers to step up sensitization of the population on the strict respect of barrier measures against COVID-19, such as the systematic wearing of facemasks when leaving the house, handwashing with soap and running water, maintenance of social distancing at all times, Governor Lele said. These measures should also be strictly respected in all primary and secondary schools, churches and markets.

The Governor says the entire population should closely collaborate with the health authorities, to give the Mass Campaign for COVID-19 testing, which is planned for the next three months in all health facilities, schools, and communities, a resounding success.

Cameroon recorded its first Coronavirus cases in March 2020. Since then, 32,098 positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported. Of this number, 479 have died while 29,609 have recovered.

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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz would like you to believe that the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, which ended Saturday with the Senates acquittal despite a 57-43 vote to convict, was nothing more than political theater perpetrated by Democrats who remain deep in the throes of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

For four years, congressional Democrats, theyve been obsessed -- theyve been consumed with hatred for President Trump. And it defines who the Democratic Party is, Cruz said in a Tuesday appearance on Sean Hannitys Fox News show.

Its not just that they hate Donald Trump, Cruz continued, blithely. They hate the 75 million Americans who voted for him. Theyre trying to silence you. Theyre trying to cancel you.

These comments, which Cruzs staff proudly highlighted in a news release sent out the following day, were disingenuous. Hard to believe, I know.

Our junior senator and other Trump supporters are right about this much: In the short term, its hard to imagine that this past weeks Senate trial over his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6 riot that left a U.S. Capitol Police officer and four others dead  and many more injured  contributing to a sense of unity in the country.

Indeed, the divide between Americans who followed the Senate proceedings and those who didnt have a chance to, or chose not to, will be a deep one.

If you were in the latter camp, it might be easy to conclude, as Cruz asserted, that the trial was a waste of time during the nations worst public health crisis in a century.

After all, it was always unlikely that Trump would be convicted of inciting the riot and seeking to disrupt the certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. Democrats, who hold 50 seats in the Senate, needed 17 Republicans to vote with them to realize that outcome. Most of the chambers Republicans were clearly ambivalent about taking such action against a figure who remains popular, and presumably still powerful, in the GOP. In the end, seven Republicans voted to convict. Cruz and Texas senior senator, John Cornyn, voted to acquit.

But Americans who did follow Trumps second impeachment trial this past week saw a wrenching, powerful presentation about this grim chapter in American history.

Fight like hell

The nine House impeachment managers, led by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and including U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, made their case soberly, with no hint of gloating. They were mindful of the fact that the jurors in this trial  the senators  were among the victims of the insurrection, which exposed many of them to genuine danger. And they relied largely on Trumps own words to make the case that he bears personal responsibility for the days events.

Trump had riled up his core supporters for months, they argued, by insisting falsely that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. (Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes and the Electoral College vote 306 to 232  not close.) Trump continued to fan the flames after thousands of supporters, who had gathered for his Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally in front of the White House, marched to the Capitol, at his suggestion, after he encouraged them to fight like hell.

Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, Trump tweeted of his loyal vice president at 2:24 p.m. Eastern time, just minutes after the Secret Service had whisked the vice president and his family out of the Senate chamber for their own safety.

The president then went quiet as crucial minutes ticked by, ignoring pleas from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to intervene personally. Only later in the afternoon did he release a video addressing the rioters directly.

I know your pain, I know youre hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace, Trump said in the message, which he posted on his Twitter account.

We love you, youre very special. Weve seen what happens, you see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel, he added, a message clearly more sympathetic to the Trump mob than the dedicated police officers who defended the Capitol during an hours-long siege. So much for the law-and-order president who so frequently professed his love for the police.

In a subsequent tweet  one of his last before he was finally banned from Twitter  Trump again expressed sympathy for the insurrectionists, several hundred of whom are now facing federal charges as a result of their actions that day.

These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long, Trump tweeted.

Debate continues

Democrats, obviously, did not impel the former president to behave in this disgraceful fashion, nor did the House impeachment managers at any point suggest that the roughly 74.2 million Americans who voted for Trump last year celebrated his subsequent behavior.

Despite voting to acquit Trump on the grounds that he was no longer president, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the idea that anyone who decries his awful behavior is accused of insulting millions of voters.

That is an absurd deflection, McConnell said in a blistering attack on Trump on the Senate floor after the vote. Seventy-four million Americans did not invade the Capitol. Several hundred rioters did. And 74 million Americans did not engineer the campaign of disinformation and rage that provoked it. One person did.

Cornyn was more cautious. This trial reminded us that too many public officials, including the president, have used reckless and incendiary speech, he said in a statement.

Castro, speaking to reporters after the acquittal, said McConnell essentially concurred that House impeachment managers overwhelmingly proved our case, that substantively Donald Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection. He claimed the former president was let off on a technicality.

Even though we didnt get 67 votes, this has been the most bipartisan vote for impeachment and conviction ever, and we know that we spoke the truth on the Senate floor and the American people by and large agreed with us, Castro said.

Unlike McConnell, Cruz didnt lay any of the blame for the Jan. 6 attack on Trump. Cruz reportedly even met privately with Trumps legal team during the proceedings.

Cruz is free to dismiss the trial as merely a rushed act of partisan retribution, as he put it in a statement after voting to let Trump off the hook. Texans shouldnt expect any better from him, at this point.

But if we are to move forward as a county, it would be helpful if more Republican leaders would behave more honestly, even if doing so would force them to confront some unpleasant realities about the disgraced and twice-impeached former president to whom so many of them still show fealty.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Grammy winner Britney Spears is reportedly not working on a documentary about her life despite Page Six's report she was last Tuesday.

'It's definitely not happening,' a source told TMZ on Sunday.

'A project of this magnitude would need to be vetted and authorized by Brit and her conservators, which is a big hurdle.'

'It's definitely not happening': Grammy winner Britney Spears is reportedly not working on a documentary about her life despite Page Six's report she was last Tuesday (pictured Wednesday)

'A project of this magnitude would need to be vetted and authorized': Apparently, a female filmmaker has been 'reaching out' to the Mississippi-born 39-year-old's team for a documentary she's 'pitching to Netflix,' but no one as agreed

Apparently, a female filmmaker has been 'reaching out' to the Mississippi-born 39-year-old's team for a documentary she's 'pitching to Netflix,' but no one as agreed.

Speaking of which, Samantha Stark already helmed the New York Times-produced documentary Framing Britney Spears, which started streaming February 5 on Hulu/FX.

The News & Documentary Emmy nominee 'tried everything' to get Britney on the record for her doc, but it's 'still unclear if she got' the multiple requests for comment.

'There's a big ethical conflict for me in making a film where the central person in it isn't participating,' Stark told ET last Tuesday.

Started streaming February 5 on Hulu/FX! Speaking of which, Samantha Stark already helmed the New York Times-produced documentary Framing Britney Spears

'I want to hear your side': The News & Documentary Emmy nominee (pictured last Tuesday) 'tried everything' to get Britney on the record for her doc, but it's 'still unclear if she got' the multiple requests for comment

Stark told ET: 'There's a big ethical conflict for me in making a film where the central person in it isn't participating'

Supporters: Framing features interviews from Spears' former assistant Felicia Culotta (L) and attorney Adam Streisand (R), who vouched for her capability

'It's really something that I've been thinking about this entire time that's really challenging. I guess I would want to say to her, "Call me. I want to hear your side."'

Framing features interviews from Spears' former assistant Felicia Culotta and attorney Adam Streisand, who vouched for her capability amid her conservatorship legal battle.

'I'll always love being on stage, but I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person. I love simply enjoying the basics of every day life,' the semi-retired pop star tweeted last Tuesday.

The semi-retired pop star tweeted on Tuesday: 'I'll always love being on stage, but I am taking the time to learn and be a normal person. I love simply enjoying the basics of every day life'

She added: 'Each person has their story and their take on other people's stories! We all have so many different bright beautiful lives! Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person's life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens'

'Each person has their story and their take on other people's stories! We all have so many different bright beautiful lives! Remember, no matter what we think we know about a person's life it is nothing compared to the actual person living behind the lens.'

Britney now spends much of her extended career hiatus dancing alone inside her $7.4M, 13K-square-foot five-bedroom mansion on 21 acres of Thousand Oaks.

Spears' next scheduled court hearing for her 13-year conservatorship - still mostly controlled by her estranged father Jamie - happens this September.

'Normal' life: Britney now spends much of her extended career hiatus dancing alone inside her $7.4M, 13K-square-foot five-bedroom mansion on 21 acres of Thousand Oaks
ABOUT THE SERIES With its "Lives Lost" series, The Gazette is remembering those whose lives were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the impact of the pandemic is felt in other ways, too. With "Lives Left Behind," The Gazette is profiling those who have lost not their lives but their livelihoods, who have been forced to put their dreams on hold or struggled to keep their businesses afloat as the coronavirus keeps its grip on the world.

When Juliet Keys was a little girl, she would watch her father get ready for work in the morning. As he put on his firefighter uniform, slipping on the shirt and pants, topping it all off with his firefighter hat, she would think to herself with pride, Thats my dad.

Keys father, William Sopp, was a firefighter with the Colorado Springs Fire Department for 32 years. He joined as a firefighter at 21 and at 27 was one of the youngest fire captains in the department.

He was proud of his career and being a firefighter, Keys said.

Sopp spent his life serving his community. He retired in 2000 as a battalion chief on the force.

In recent years, Sopp developed Parkinson's disease and started having memory issues. In December, he was put into a rehab facility to help regain his strength after a recent visit to the hospital. While in the rehab facility, Sopp contracted the coronavirus. He died three days after being diagnosed at age 73.

William Sopp died the same way many thousands of other Americans have died during the pandemic  not surrounded by family and friends, but alone in an ICU bed in the COVID-19 wing of the hospital.

COVID-19 robbed Sopps family of the chance to be with him when he died. Only his adult son was allowed to gear up in full protective equipment to spend time with his father during his last moments.

Thats been the hard part, Keys said.

During his last days, Sopps wife, Patricia, would video call with him. But he was often confused.

I wish I would have had more time with him, but COVID didn't have that plan, she said.

Patricia and William remarried three years ago. The couple had been married before in their 20s. They divorced but later reconnected on Facebook and were married again.

Of course, every marriage has their ups and downs, but I'm certainly glad I remarried, Patricia said.

Sopp had also been married to two other women. He had five daughters and one son from his marriages.

Juliet Keys, who grew up watching Sopp as a firefighter, became one herself. She and her father spent nine years together at the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Keys had a 27-year career on the force and retired in 2019.

He was extremely proud of me, Keys said.

Sopps career not only made an indelible impression on his family, but the people he worked with were also struck by his passion and motivation.

Steve Dubay, a deputy chief on the Colorado Springs Fire Department, said he was just starting out as a firefighter when he met Sopp, and often worked fires where Sopp was in charge.

When he was in command of a fire, I always felt comfortable, Dubay said. I knew he would make good decisions to help us safe.

For Dubay and Keys, Sopp was a leader and a role model in their careers as firefighters.

That's what I'm most proud of, is that he did for 30-some years serve his community, Keys said And he gave me an insight to it.
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This is the Impeachment Briefing, The Timess newsletter about the impeachment investigation. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

What happened today

Mr. Trump was acquitted for the second time in 13 months. The Senate voted 57-43 in favor of convicting him  not enough to meet the required two-thirds majority.

Democrats needed 17 Republicans to vote with them to convict Mr. Trump of inciting an insurrection. In the end, they got seven: Senators Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, 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 House impeachment managers unexpectedly called for witnesses and then abruptly dropped the request, after striking a deal with Mr. Trumps defense team to add to the trial record a written statement from Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington  a Republican who said she had been told that Mr. Trump sided with the rioters as they were attacking the Capitol.

Minutes after the verdict was announced, Mr. Trump sent out a statement decrying the witch hunt he claimed was being waged against him. He also suggested that Democrats attempt to end his political career had failed, telling his supporters, Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun.

History is the next judge

Forty-three Republicans voted to acquit Mr. Trump of inciting an insurrection against the United States  more than enough to prevent the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. Mr. Trump was found not guilty, a verdict he immediately celebrated.

And yet seven Republicans voted to convict him, making this by far the most bipartisan impeachment effort in American history. It is worth remembering that until a year ago, when Mr. Romney cast the lone Republican guilty vote in Mr. Trumps first impeachment trial, no senators had ever voted to convict a president from their own party.

A two-thirds majority to convict Mr. Trump, which would have cleared the way for a simple-majority vote to bar him from holding future office, was always extraordinarily unlikely, and everybody involved knew it. That was why  as The Timess chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, wrote two days ago  the House impeachment managers often seemed to be speaking less to the Senate than to history.

Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, an impeachment manager, put it bluntly: If we dont set this right and call it what it was, the highest of constitutional crimes by the president of the United States, the past will not be past. The past will become our future, she said in closing arguments. Senators, we are in a dialogue with history.
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WASHINGTON: Donald Trumps unprecedented second impeachment trial ended in acquittal Saturday, the Democratic-led prosecution failing to garner enough Republican support to convict the former president of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S Capitol.

Seven Republicans joined unified Democrats, but they fell 10 votes shy of the 67 needed to find Trump guilty.

The failure to convict Donald Trump will live as a vote of infamy in the history of the United States Senate," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.

Even after failing to secure a second term, much of the Republican base remains fiercely loyal to Trump. And many Republican senators are leery of crossing the former president, who is known for seeking retribution.

Despite voting to acquit, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said there is no doubt that Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. But ultimately he argued that its not constitutional to convict a former president who is now a private citizen.

Highlights from the concluding day of the trial:

DEMOCRATS CASE

Democrats said during closing arguments that Trumps Jan. 6 speech did not alone incite his supporters to storm the Capitol. The speech, they argued, was the culmination of a monthslong campaign by Trump that primed his supporters for violence to further the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

This conduct took time and it culminated in Donald Trump sending a save the date, said Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, one of the House impeachment managers.

The evidence was clear to those who looked, they said.

Months before the election, Trump repeated ad nauseam a false claim that he could only lose through widespread voter fraud. He refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. And in an early morning speech after Election Day, he claimed to be winning.

In the weeks after, Trump and his allies presented a litany of conspiracy theories and evidence-free claims that the election was stolen.

But there was no widespread fraud, as has been confirmed by election officials across the country and then-Attorney General William Barr. Dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed, including by the Supreme Court.

As Inauguration Day approached, Trumps campaign played a hand in planning the stop the steal rally preceding the attack. Trump himself invited his supporters to attend. Be there, will be wild! he tweeted.

It told his base exactly when, where and who to fight, Dean said. They did this for Donald Trump, at his direction. At his command.

___

TRUMPS CASE

Trumps attorneys blasted the impeachment as a complete charade foisted on the country by an opposition party obsessed with impeaching Mr. Trump from the very beginning of his term.

The closing argument, delivered by attorney Michael van der Veen, was peak Trump.

He said Trump was a victim, not the instigator. And the violence was not the product of a monthslong campaign to overturn the election. It was rooted, he said, in Democrats unwillingness to condemn violent riots last summer, which sometimes sprang out of racial justice protests.

As a nation, we must ask ourselves: How did we arrive at this place where rioting and pillaging would become common place?" said van der Veen. It was month after month of political leaders and media personalities, bloodthirsty for ratings, glorifying civil unrest and condemning the reasonable law enforcement measures that are required to quell violent mobs.

As for the speech, van der Veen said Trump was merely exercising his First Amendment rights the day he told his voters march to the Capitol and fight like hell.

And if Trump had truly led a monthslong campaign to violently overturn an election, as Democrats asserted, then why did they not fortify the Capitols weak security on the day of the riot, he asked.

___

CURVE BALL

The day was expected to proceed quickly to a final vote. But late Friday, a statement from a Republican congresswoman scrambled proceedings and sent the Senate into recess.

Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington state detailed a conversation she had with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy following the Jan 6. attack that revealed Trump was uninterested in quelling the mob as it rampaged thorough the Capitol.

Herrera Beutler said McCarthy told her that he spoke with Trump by phone during the attack, urgently requesting that Trump call off his supporters.

Initially, Trump denied they were his supporters, instead blaming left wing groups. Kevin, theyre not my people, Trump told McCarthy, she said.

McCarthy responded, Yes they are, they just came through my windows and my staff is running for cover. Yeah, theyre your people. Call them off, Herrera Beutler said.

Trump shot back: Well, I guess these people are just more angry about the election and upset than you are.

The congresswoman had previously told a newspaper in her district, the Longview Daily News, about the phone call. But it didnt draw widespread attention until she released a statement about it late Friday in the wake of a CNN report.

Senators were clearly taken aback by the development and considered allowing witnesses, a step they had hoped to avoid because it could delay the trial.

Tempers flared and the Senate went into recess.

At one point, Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, turned to Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and could be heard saying blame you in a raised voice. Romney was one of the few Republicans who supported the impeachment effort. Romney later joked they were arguing about boxers versus briefs.

Proceedings eventually resumed and witnesses were not allowed. Herrera Beutlers statement was entered into the trial record.

___

IRATE ATTORNEY

Michael van der Veen, Trumps primary defense attorney, was visibly agitated when Democrats contemplated allowing witnesses.

His voice repeatedly rose as he jabbed the Senate lectern with his finger, excoriating Democrats, who wanted to subpoena Herrera Beutler.

He argued that if the congresswoman were subpoenaed he should be able to slap subpoenas on a good number of people, too.

These depositions should be done, in person in my office in Phil-eee-delphia, he said, drawing out his pronunciation of Philadelphia, which drew hearty laughter from senators.

I dont know why you are laughing, van der Veer said with scorn. I havent laughed at any of you and theres nothing laughable here.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Democratic Vermont presiding over the trial, eventually cut in to admonish everyone.

I would remind everybody, Leahy said. All parties in this chamber must refrain from using language that is not conducive to civil discourse.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The new owner of the Correos building in Malaga city, Israeli oil magnate Haim Tsuff, thinks he may have found a solution to the problem which has delayed the conversion of the old Post Office headquarters into a top class hotel.

Tsuff, who acquired the building at auction over a year ago for 23.5m euros, has been studying various options to obtain the change in the planning rules which would be needed to proceed with the project.

Under the current regulations, the building is only classified for social purposes, which means it could be turned into a home for the elderly, student residences or a children's home for example, but not a hotel.

There are two ways round a situation like this. In exchange for modifying land use under the Urban Plan, an owner can give the council the same amount of land, or the financial equivalent.

Although Tsuff could do the latter, Malaga council is not keen because it would have to use the funds to find and purchase land within two years.

Now, lawyers for Haim Tsuff believe they have found a site which may be suitable, and if so the Correos building will become an "iconic and remarkable hotel".
New Delhi:

A team of scientists from Stanford and California University has found the first strong evidence for a unique particle, which they have named the "angel particle". The discovery could have huge implications in the world of technology, especially within quantum computers which have the potential to be hundred and millions of times more powerful than a normal computer.

Every fundamental particle in the universe has an antiparticle, which has the same mass but the opposite charge. If a particle should ever meet its antiparticle, the two would destroy each other in a flash of energy. But it's long been theorised that there's an exception to the rule, with certain particles that are actually their own antiparticles.



The theory dates back to 1937 when physicist Ettore Majorana highlighted a gap in the fermion family of particles. Protons, electrons, neutrons, neutrinos, and quarks are all fermions, and all have corresponding antiparticles, but according to Majorana's calculations, there should be particles that are their own antiparticles.

Since they have no charge, neutrons and neutrinos were the best candidates to be these Majorana fermions, but antineutrons have since been discovered. There's still a big question mark hanging over neutrinos though, and experiments are currently underway to determine if they are in fact their own antiparticle.

Suggested read | Particle physics: CERN's LHCb experiment raises eyebrows, here's all you need to know

However, the difficulty of the experiments means an answer is still more than a decade away.In the meantime, the most likely way to find Majorana fermions is by looking for "quasiparticles." As the name suggests, these aren't quite natural particles, but they arise out of the collective behavior of electrons and have certain properties of particles.

If that's hard to visualise, the Encyclopaedia Britannica explains the concept like bubbles in a drink: bubbles also arise out of the "collective behavior" of the chemicals in the drink, and although they aren't really independent objects, bubbles do have measurable properties like objects, including size, shape, etc.

In the same way, quasiparticles might not occur outside of very specific conditions, but they can be considered to be Majorana fermions if they exhibit all the right properties. Now Stanford and UC researchers say they've found a "smoking gun" signature that points to the presence of these hypothetical fermions.

"Our team predicted exactly where to find the Majorana fermion and what to look for as it's 'smoking gun' experimental signature," says Shoucheng Zhang, one of the senior authors of the research paper. "This discovery concludes one of the most intensive searches in fundamental physics, which spanned exactly 80 years."

To make these quirky quasiparticles show themselves, the team carefully constructed their very specific "drink," made up of thin films of two quantum materials stacked on top of one another. The end result is a superconducting topological insulator, which allows electrons to move quickly along the edges of the material's surface but not through the middle.

Suggested read | Dark matter: Highest-resolution 3D maps provide detailed evidence for presence of elusive particles

Adding a pinch of magnetic material to the mix made the electrons flow in one direction along one edge, and the opposite direction along the other. The researchers then swept a magnet over the material, which caused all the electrons to slow down, stop and switch direction. The reversal happened in a jerky, staggered motion that the team likens to stairs in a staircase.

Quasiparticles began to emerge from the material in pairs, traveling along the same path as the electrons, but there was a key difference: when they stopped and turned around, they did so in "steps" exactly half as high as the electrons.

That's because each is essentially only half of a particle since one out of each quasiparticle pair is lost along the way. And that phenomenon was exactly the evidence the team had been looking for.

Zhang proposes that the team's discovery be named the "angel particle" after the Dan Brown novel Angels and Demons, which features a bomb powered by the meeting of matter and antimatter. In the long run, Majoranas could find practical application in making quantum computers more secure.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) returns after a dinner break on the second day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Louisiana Republican Party Unanimously Censures Sen. Cassidy After Vote to Convict Trump

The Louisiana Republican Party on Saturday unanimously voted to censure Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) after he voted to convict former President Donald Trump in an impeachment trial.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Cassidys office for comment.

The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana has unanimously voted to censure Senator Bill Cassidy for his vote cast earlier today to convict former President Donald J. Trump on the impeachment charge, state GOP said in a statement on Saturday night.

In a statement after the trial, Cassidy said that the Constitution and our country is more important than any one person, and that he voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty. The Republican senator hasnt issued a statement following the GOPs move to censure him.

Louisiana state Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr., a Republican, said that Cassidys vote really caught people off guard.

We elected Senator Cassidy back in November  and we overwhelming sent him back to D.C., along with President Trump, he told WICZ. His constituents thought we were sending him there with a lot of those same ideals.

The vote to censure is essentially a formal statement to condemn Cassidy for his actions and puts him on notice that he might not have widespread support during a reelection bid. Cassidy will face reelection in 2026.

(L-R) Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in the Statuary Hall of the Capitol building on the way to attending the State of the Union in Washington on Jan. 30, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump, the GOP members said. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed, and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.

I am State Senator Cathey and he is United States Senator Cassidy, said Cathey, adding, I am getting emails saying, I cant believe you are doing that. I just politely say, I think you have mistaken me.

Trump was acquitted on Saturday 57-43. Other than Cassidy, six other Republican senators voted to convict the former president after the House impeached him for allegedly inciting violence on Jan. 6 when riots broke out at the U.S. Capitol building during the Joint Session of Congress to certify the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Those six Republicans include Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Richard Burr (N.C.), Susan Collins (Maine), Ben Sasse (Neb.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.).

Romney is up for reelection in 2024, while Sasse, Collins, and Cassidy were elected in 2020. Murkowski is up for reelection in 2022, while Burr and Toomey are planning to retire.

Over the past several weeks, several GOP county committees voted to censure Sasse, who some experts have said is aiming to run for president in 2024.
Phoebe wears dress, The Vampires Wife

With 82 million viewers and counting, Bridgertons PHOEBE DYNEVOR has gone from struggling actress to global megastar  overnight. But locked down with Mum and Dad, its all very surreal, she tells Cole Moreton

Are they in love in real life? Thats all anyone wants to know if theyve seen the Regency romp Bridgerton and the sizzling scenes between Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne and Rege-Jean Page as the rakish Duke of Hastings. Id love to say there was really something between us, Phoebe smiles in a way that suggests she means it. But no, it has always been strictly professional. There was so much pressure on us to get it right that it was all about the work. We have a really professional working relationship. Im glad for that, actually. It would be very complicated if it went further.

On-set romances are fine while everything is good, but hellish if you fall out. I always hear about people falling in love with their co-stars. Its yet to happen to me, but Im intrigued. Im grateful for the honesty of her answer, because theres been a huge amount of interest in this beautiful young pair. Rumours suggest there is more to their chemistry than acting, but each has been enigmatic about this until now. People really root for us. We have to say were actors, were doing a job, there is something to be said for not spoiling the magic but at a certain point you have to say no.

So thats put things straight. Phoebe is bright, charming and disarmingly direct, but as we talk I cant help feeling shes only vaguely aware of what a massive star she has suddenly become.

Bridgerton has hit the number-one spot in 83 countries  including the US, India and Brazil  since it went up on Netflix in December. In fact, it is the biggest series the streaming service has ever had, with 82 million households around the world tuning into the show in its first 28 days online.

Nothing has changed in my life, says the 25-year-old actor who moved back to stay with her mum and dad in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, at the start of the recent lockdown. Im still at home arguing with my brother about the washing-up and doing jigsaw puzzles with my dad. Its very surreal, because I know somethings going on but I cant really see it.

Whats going on is that Bridgerton has been watched by an enormous worldwide audience. Thats a sudden rush of global fame for a young actor who before this role was struggling to survive in an industry decimated by Covid. I feel dissociated from it in our little bubble here, says Phoebe, but of course reports have reached her. The reaction has been mental. Bridgerton is a bodice-ripper with a modern attitude: the frocks are bright, the breeches tight and the string quartets play songs by Ariana Grande. The women are the ones whose desires matter for a change. And the screen lights up every time Daphne flirts with the duke. Chemistry is so weird, its like lightning in a bottle, she laughs. It either works or it doesnt.

It certainly does this time, as the debutante and the troubled aristocrat fake an engagement to get society gossips off their back, then realise with horror that they are actually falling in love. Once theyre married the pair make love with naked abandon for most of episode six. I watched it here with the whole family including my grandma and grandpa and fast-forwarded all the naughty parts. The remote was in my hand at all times. We skipped past episode six completely! I was like, Thats just not worth watching.

Dress, Paul Costelloe, from My Wardrobe HQ. Necklaces, Pawnshop London

We both laugh at the thought of her on the sofa with three generations of Dynevors, including her soap royalty parents Tim and Sally. Hes known for writing for Emmerdale, she has played Sally Webster in Coronation Street since 1986. When I ask what Grandma made of the show, Phoebe answers carefully. My grandma has dementia, so shes not aware of many things, but she loved the colours. My grandpa said: She usually gets really bored by everything but shes so engaged in this.

I think that was because its such an amazing world, quite amazing on the eyes, so bright and colourful. So she loved it. The love in her voice is touching.

Her grandmother Shirley was reacting to a palette unlike any other period drama, with lavish Regency costumes in vivid coded colours inspired by the more expressive clothes of the 1950s and 60s. The aristocratic Bridgerton girls wear sophisticated pastels and silver, for example, while the Featheringtons are in bright yellows, reds and greens to signal they are outsiders.

The show is also far more frank than your average Jane Austen, contrasting the sexual ignorance of aristocratic women like Daphne before her marriage with the pleasure and freedom she enjoys afterwards, even using it to take control of her relationship. There was definitely a spark in the room when Rege and I first read together. Bringing scenes to life is an exciting feeling anyway, but it felt like we were sparking off each other.

That was only an audition though, and Phoebe was convinced she wouldnt get the part. This is not an easy industry. Ive been acting for 11 years and even when youre lucky its tough.

Born in Trafford, she went to Cheadle Hulme School in Stockport but also joined her mums trade as a child actor, playing Siobhan in Waterloo Road at the age of 14. She has appeared in Prisoners Wives and The Musketeers as well as Snatch, an American series based on the Guy Ritchie movie of the same name, alongside Harry Potter star Rupert Grint. But Phoebe had a lot of rejections and had run out of confidence by the time she was called to audition for Bridgerton in Los Angeles.

Being an actor is 99 per cent being told no. Sometimes it does wear you down. I remember telling Rege: I just want to say youre brilliant. Good luck with it all  youre going to be great. I thought maybe hed read with loads of other girls. He sort of smiled and giggled at me.

The next day she was told the part was hers. The pair had six weeks to prepare, which included learning how to dance in the style of 1813, for the spectacular ballroom scenes in which much of the early flirting between Daphne and the duke takes place. We were both quite worried about that because we arent the greatest dancers. We really did spend hours and hours learning the choreography.

As Strictly fans know, that can bring people together. Theres something about rehearsing a dance that is very intimate. You have to look into each others eyes, you cant look down at your feet. You have to say: I need to trust that Im not going to trip over you and youre not going to trip over me.

Bridgerton is based on the novels of Julia Quinn, narrated by Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown, the all-seeing author of a society scandal-sheet, and the executive producer is Shonda Rhimes (Greys Anatomy, Scandal). The female gaze is what we get at every level, says Phoebe. The women have real agency in the show, which is something I really loved about it.

Bridgerton has been described as the ultimate post-Me Too series, and the production values reflected that when it came to the sex scenes: You treat it like a stunt  you have an intimacy coordinator, says Phoebe. This is someone who oversees the moves, as it were. She brings this bag full of equipment, like yoga balls and mats and padding, all these things you imagine they use for stunts. Its just all amazing camera angles and you feel so safe. Its all about making it look real but not actually doing it  like someone getting punched in a screen fight when youre not actually punching them. Ive done sex scenes before where that wasnt the case and they are entirely different to shoot.

Hang on, what does she mean? What were those like? Phoebe wont say which production she is talking about, but her last big show was the blokey Snatch.

Youd be on set, then theyd go: OK, were going to take the robe off now. And when we say action you just pretend to have sex. And that was your instruction. Then sometimes the director would yell: Touch her neck! Or theyd shout things. And youd just do what they said. It was a very different experience. She winces. Its not like that any more. Im so glad that intimacy coordinators are now a thing. I genuinely believe that you shouldnt be allowed to do a sex scene without one, because its a complete game-changer. You feel so safe  not just the cast, the whole crew. Otherwise its really awkward filming two people going at it.

What do they do with the yoga balls? They go in between you. So when youre together, youre not actually together  theres a yoga ball between you. How big are these balls? They have numerous sizes depending on the angle or whatever! The point is the barrier they provide. When youre not really naked and there are so many things in between you, that makes for a way more comfortable experience.

And everything is choreographed. You know exactly where hes going to put his hand, at what point. There are no surprises. If the pressure was off in the bedroom, it was certainly felt in the ballroom. Daphnes star rises when Queen Charlotte picks her out from among the debutantes presented at court and calls her flawless but she then has to live up to it. I saw parallels with social media, Phoebe says. Every single photo has to look a certain way.

The same pressure was also on Phoebe, leading a massive production for the first time. So much so that she had what she calls a full-blown panic attack on set. It happened as she was filming a scene in which Daphne comes down a grand staircase to meet a prince, with everybodys eyes on her.

It was a really crazy schedule. Ive never worked so hard in my life  often six days a week and loads of night shoots. So youve had two hours sleep, youre absolutely exhausted, but there is someone saying, Youve got to look perfect because Daphnes getting married today. You just have to give in to that.

How did she cope? In the end, I realised Daphne is probably feeling the same, so I can feel this way and its not going to hinder my performance. But, yeah, there were a few moments of exhaustion.

Phoebe brought a vulnerability to Daphne that is not in the books. For me, it was the anxiety brewing underneath. She could never quite catch her breath  it was always a little bit overwhelming. That helped me relate to her and get in her mind.

Dress and jewellery, Christian Dior. Shoes, Stella McCartney

Something else different from the books is that a large number of the characters are black. This is deliberate, backed up by the plot. Thats such a brilliant aspect of the show. To see people of colour in positions of power is a very important thing. Some historians think Queen Charlotte was of mixed race. The character Will Mondrich [the dukes friend] was based on a real black boxer from the time, she says. When I was growing up I had so many people to look up to in my industry, actresses that looked like me, but a lot of people do not. Thats something that is changing, rightly so.

One of those actresses was her mother, so Phoebe had an unusual example of how to earn a decent regular wage as an actor, but it went deeper than that: I saw her work ethic, more than anything. My whole familys in the industry. My grandma was a third assistant director, helping people on set, my grandpa was a director. My uncles a producer. My auntie paints sets. My cousins a make-up artist in film production. So I grew up seeing or hearing stories about the family dynamic of a production: all these incredibly talented creative people coming together to make something.

When did she decide to try acting as a career? I remember doing a school play when I was 17, playing Antigone. There was a moment on the stage when I knew this was it for me, for the rest of my life, no going back. She was already in Waterloo Road by then, I realise. Some actor parents would rather their offspring became something reliable and lucrative like a doctor or a lawyer. There was a bit of that. But eventually they realised it was inevitable, so they caved.

Now shes suddenly an international star, is there any jealousy from her mum or other members of the family? No, absolutely not. Maybe there is even a sense that this was meant to be, given that Phoebe and Sally have a curious connection to Bridgertons narrator. I was two weeks late while my mum was trying to give birth to me. For some reason, she would watch Mary Poppins to try to get me out. She thought it would be soothing, so shed watch the film on repeat and sing to me every night for two weeks. When I heard Julie Andrews was part of the show, I was so excited to meet her. Then, obviously, I didnt.

The star recorded her voiceover without meeting the cast. So in lockdown I read her autobiography just to be close to her. I know absolutely everything about Julie Andrews now. I will meet her one day, though. Im going to track her down.

Top, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. Jacket, Stella McCartney. Earrings, Christian Dior. Picture director: Ester Malloy. Stylist: Anna Hughes-Chamberlain. Make-up: Kenneth Soh at The Wall Group using skincare by Fresh and make-up By Terry. Hair: Christian Wood at The Wall Group

Surely that will happen at an awards ceremony sometime soon? She laughs off the idea. Phoebe has said in the past that fame feels like a threat because of the personal attention it brings, so what is she going to do about that now its happening? Oh my God, I dont know the answer to that question. But I definitely do feel that way. I have always been aware of that aspect of the industry and never really wanted it, she says. But Im so grateful it has happened with this show because Im so proud of it. Its giving people joy in a really weird time. That feels lovely.

Have other actors been in touch to offer support? Yes. The first person who reached out to me about the show was Daisy Edgar-Jones. The star of Normal People went through a similar thing last year when that show suddenly became hugely popular. She sent me the loveliest message. Its been great having her support and being able to talk it through a lot with someone who has literally been through the exact same experience  it happened to her during the pandemic, too  and the intimacy thing.

Left: Phoebes sizzling chemistry with co-star Rege-Jean Page has Bridgerton fans hooked. Middle: With Rupert Grint (right) in TV series Snatch, 2018. Right: With her scriptwriter dad Tim, Corrie star mum Sally and brother Samuel

Normal People was also full of tender sex, presumably achieved with the help of yoga balls. There are a lot of parallels, so its been great to have her wisdom and be able to talk about it all with her.

Bridgerton has made a splash in the US, so has Steven Spielberg been on the phone yet? No. I wish! I think nice conversations are happening, of a kind I havent been involved in before. Ive never done a film before, so Id love to do one.

Phoebe smiles happily, enjoying this close moment at home with her mum and dad before the new fame inevitably whips her away to Hollywood and beyond. Im yet to find out what the world has in store for me. So, yeah. Well see.

Bridgerton is on Netflix now

Phoebes real-life passions

Whats the most romantic thing youve ever done?

A monologue in the rain.

As a child, what did you want to be when you were older?

A wedding dress designer.

Whats your earliest memory?

Walking in the Lake District.

The secret to a happy relationship?

Humour.

Your best quality?

Ive got really good hair. No, Im kidding, its curiosity.

And your worst?

Impatience.

Your biggest bugbear?

People who dont wear their face masks.

What would we find you doing on a day off?

Reading.

Favourite tipple?

Red wine.

Hangover cure?

Bloody Mary.

What did you have for breakfast?

Porridge.

Whats at the top of your bucket list?

Jumping out of an aeroplane. I keep having dreams about doing it. My great-grandma, who died recently aged 101, did it when she was 91.

Secret skill?

I like baking.
Crowd of hundreds of protesters on February 13 clashed with the police in Thailand, demanding the release of 4 activists that were arrested on charges of insulting Thailand's king. Under Thailands draconian royal defamation law, those remanded in custody can be sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, according to ground reports, Thailand citizens, in defiance of the countrys sweeping lese-majesty rule, confronted the security forces after the pro-democratic movement organized to express solidarity with Myanmar turned violent. In the visuals of the march that emerged, the police was seen using water cannons at angry citizens as they pushed through the metal barriers, throwing objects at the police, while riot geared officers, in turn, shot at the protesters with rubber bullets. A smoke canister blasted at the scene, according to the visuals shot by local press reporters.

[A pro-democracy protester flashes the three-finger protest gesture during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok. Credit: AP]

Protest leader, Panusaya Rung Sithijirawattanakul, told AP sources that the demonstrators had congregated in large numbers, once again, to reform Thailands powerful monarchy and break the traditional taboos. As many as 1,000 protesters were seen marching against the law, chanting "free our friends" and "abolish 112 slogans and flashing placards, many of whom also banged pots with 112 [article of the criminal code] emblazoned on it. Thailand had been witnessing a civilian uprising for over several months, with a student-led pro-democracy mob demanding the country's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha and the administration to step down. Citizens have also demanded constitutional reforms and the end of the monarchy. Despite the police declaring the marches illegal under the law, thousands have been taking streets to oppose the institution that they described flared Thai nationalism.

Read: Myanmar Protests In 2nd Week, With Neither Side Backing Down

Read: Myanmar Army Issues Arrest Warrant Against 7 People Over Social Media Comments

20 police officers injured

Thailands Police deputy spokesperson, Krissana Pattanacharoen, told local press reporters that more than 20 police were wounded as a scuffle broke out between security forces and the protesters. Nearly 7 to 8 among those protesting were detained for breaching the price lines. Protesters had marched to the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine, the capitals symbolic spiritual center, however, were halted by at least 100 law enforcement officers backing two water cannon. Aggravated demonstrators, at this point, threw bottles and smoke bombs at the police as the situation spiralled out of control.

[A pro-democracy protester flashes the three-finger protest gesture during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok. Credit: AP]

[Pro-democracy protesters form a line as they try to march forward during a rally in Bangkok. Credit: AP]

[Pro-democracy protesters flash the three-finger protest gesture during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok. Credit: AP]

Read: Thailand: Former Politician Stands By Criticism Of Govt Vaccine Program

Read: 89 Foreigners Arrested At Thailand Bar Flouting COVID Restrictions
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) can't be forced into the witness box when the petitioner, John Mahama has not satisfied the burden of proof.



Speaking on Joy FMs Newsfile Saturday, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko we are talking about a margin of over 500, 000 votes, you are saying that the declaration was wrong in the sense that they did not meet the threshold of over 50%.



"You can speak all the English you want, you can quote all the laws you want, you can focus on all the presidents you want the bottom line is this, do you have enough numbers to challenge the declaration made on December 9. It is that simple, he stated.



Sammy Gyamfi replies



However, the NDC Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi disagrees.



According to him, "the election petition is not a challenge of 5,000 votes...it's a challenge of the constitutionality and validity of the declaration of the returning officer for the 2020 election, Jean Adukwei Mensa..."



Justifying why Madam Jean Mensa needs to step in the witness box he said: Ghanaians who joined long queues at the risk of losing their lives amidst Covid-19 to register and vote, deserve to know whether the EC Chairperson we have in this country is credible. They must know whether she has been candid about her job relative to the declaration of the 2020 presidential election



Moreover, Why is she running away from accountability, if Afri-Gyan mounted the witness box in the 2013 election petition case and defended his work. Why is Jean Mensa running away if she has nothing to hide?



Sammy Gyamfi who was speaking on the same platform further insisted that "given the fact that she herself (Jean Mensa) has admitted to making errors, we think that it is only fair the over 30 million Ghanaians and Jean Mensa herself to be given an opportunity to explain the issues





Background



Lawyer for the Electoral Commission (EC), Justin Amenuvor on Monday, February 8 told the SC that it will not put its witness, Jean Mensa in the witness box.



This was after the petitioner told the court it has closed its case.



Given the evidence of the petitioners witnesses under cross-examination so far, of those witnesses, speaking for the 1st respondent, it is the 1st respondents case that we do not wish to lead any further evidence and therefore we are praying that this matter proceeds under Order 36 Rule 43 and CI 87 rule 3 (e) 5, we hereby and on that basis close our case lawyer Amenuvor stated.



Lead counsel for the second respondent, Akoto Ampaw also indicated that he will not put his witness Peter Mac Manu in the witness box and that the burden of proof lies on the petitioner.



But lead counsel for the petitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata, objected to the move by the lawyer for the 1st Respondent.



According to him, the EC boss has a constitutional duty to give accounts of what she has done in the conduct of her responsibility.



However, in a Supreme Court ruling on February 11, 2021, the Petitioner's request to cross-examine the First Respondent, Madam Jean Mensah was quashed.



Meanwhile, the petitioner, John Mahama has filed a motion to reopen his case to enable him file a Subpoena to have Madam Jean Mensa mount the witness box.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Three people died and another five tested positive for Ebola virus in southeastern Guinea leaving experts concerned about a possible resurgence of the epidemic. Speaking to media reporters, countrys health minister, Remy Lamah said officials were really concerned about the deaths. West Africa was previously hit by the Ebola outbreak from 2013 to 2016 which led to over 11,300 deaths.

One of the victims was a nurse who fell ill in late January and was buried on February 1, countrys local media reported citing National Health Security Agency chief Sakoba Keita. Eight people who participated in the burial, started showing symptoms following which they were admit to the hospital. Three of them lost their lives while one escaped the hospital but was eventually traced.

Read: Ebola Vaccines Stockpiled Against Future Outbreaks

Read: Congo Reports New Case Of Ebola Virus Months After Ending Previous Outbreak

On February 7, the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a new case of the Ebola virus in the eastern part of the country. According to the Health Ministry of DRC, the positive result was produced by a woman, who died last week after being admitted to a hospital with Ebola symptoms. The woman, who was the wife of an Ebola survivor, was admitted to a hospital on February 1 and succumbed to the viral disease two days later. The resurgence of Ebola has alarmed the local authorities, who had declared the end of a previous outbreak in June 2020.

Ebola epidemic

The Ebola virus was first identified in the 1970s in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The latest outbreak occurred between 2013 and 2016, which was declared an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak primarily affected Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, which posted a combined death toll of 11,308. The disease was also detected in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and the United States, where at least 1 person died.

Read: Guinea Confirms 3 Dead From Ebola, First Cases Since 2016

Read: Congo Reports New Case Of Ebola Virus Months After Ending Previous Outbreak

(Image source: UNICEF)
Between February 12 and 14, the days of the Lunar New Year, #FreedomForTibet has been trending on Twitter, with people demanding Tibet to be released by the CCP. A 46-year-old Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue in India started to march from Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh on Losar, Tibetan new year. Seeking a change in India's one-China policy, Tenzin would be reaching Delhi on foot.

Although the tyrannical Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been trying to suppress the freedom of expression and freedom of religion among its subjects in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, there have been several dissidents voicing their disapproval of the government. These dissidents are now redoubling their efforts on the event of the Lunar New Year and are gaining even more international attention.

Between February 12 and 14, the days of the Lunar New Year, #FreedomForTibet has been trending on Twitter, with people demanding Tibet to be released by the CCP.

Meanwhile, the Tibetans who escaped the Chinese invasion and are now in exile, mostly in India, celebrated the 108th Tibetan Independence Day on February 13. The Religious Head of Tibet, titled the Dalai Lama, had declared Tibetan independence as part of the five-point proclamation. Later, China invaded Tibet and managed to occupy it in 1959. The movements for Tibetan Independence gained even more momentum in the last two decades, and more than 150 Tibetans set themselves on fire ever since whilst demonstrating against the unjust Chinese rule and ruthless treatment of the Tibetan people.

A 46-year-old Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue in India started to march from Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh on Losar, Tibetan new year. Seeking a change in Indias one-China policy, Tenzin would be reaching Delhi on foot.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, under the one-China policy, New Delhi recognizes the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of the territory of the Peoples Republic of China. This policy is an acknowledgement of Chinas stand that there is only one Chinese party.
Boris Johnson has hatched secret plans to move public services entirely online after the pandemic, reports say.

The Prime Minister reportedly wants to turn planning applications, renewing driving licences and doctors' diagnoses to digital only.

Mr Johnson is joined by Michael Gove in spearheading the move to eradicate the growing backlog caused by the coronavirus.

The Cabinet is said to be annoyed with the way parts of the government machine has tackled the pandemic since it started to rip across Britain last year.

The Prime Minister (pictured on Saturday in Newcastle) reportedly wants to turn planning applications, renewing driving licences and doctors' diagnoses to digital only

The newly-formed Public Services Recovery Committee will be part of the National Economic and Recovery Taskforce and will answer to the PM and Rishi Sunak.

They want to be certain public services remember the lessons learned from people staying at home during the coronavirus crisis.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson are also on the committee.

The National Economic and Recovery Taskforce has reportedly already convened to discuss how wide the new committee will reach.

Members talked about ways to wipe out the courts backlog, NHS elective surgery delays and planning applications.

A Cabinet source told the Sunday Telegraph: 'There are some things where public attitudes have changed and we need to build upon them.

'You don't want to return completely to business as usual. You want to use this as an opportunity to improve public services.'

Ministers are also looking at plans to accelerate driving licence applications as well as how remote diagnoses for hospital patients could work.

Mr Johnson is joined by Michael Gove (pictured in the Commons earlier this month) in spearheading the move to eradicate the growing backlog caused by the coronavirus

The Public Services Recovery Committee is reportedly due to have its first meeting within days.

The move comes follows a raft of new Cabinet committees created under Mr Johnson to reform Whitehall.

He reportedly wants more committees to cement his power instead of having a reshuffle.

Others he has created are to cut red tape and explore new options now Brexit is done.

It has been a months-long battle for the Prime Minister in tackling public sector reform after hiring Tony Blair's former head of policy Sir Michael Barber last year.
(CNN)  The Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial Saturday, voting that Trump was not guilty of inciting the deadly January 6 riot at the US Capitol, but the verdict amounted to a bipartisan rebuke of the former President with seven Republicans voting he was guilty.

The final vote was 57 guilty to 43 not guilty, short of the 67 guilty votes needed to convict. But the Republican senators who voted against Trump amounted to a number higher than even Trump's legal team had expected, marking a stark departure from the first impeachment trial where only one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, found Trump guilty.

This time, Republicans Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowksi of Alaska, Romney, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania voted to convict Trump on Saturday. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Burr, the former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman who led the Senate's Russia investigation, after he voted earlier in the week that the trial was unconstitutional. Both Burr and Toomey are retiring from the Senate at the end of 2022 and will not face voters again.

Burr said that while he believed the trial was unconstitutional, he decided to put that aside after the Senate voted Tuesday that the trial was constitutional and should proceed.

"As I said on January 6th, the President bears responsibility for these tragic events. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Therefore, I have voted to convict," Burr said in a statement.

But enough of Burr's colleagues sided with the constitutionality argument in their votes to acquit. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a blistering criticism of Trump's actions surrounding the January 6 riots on the Senate floor after the vote, but McConnell said he voted to acquit because he did not believe convicting an ex-president was constitutional.

"The Senate's decision today does not condone anything that happened on or before that terrible day," McConnell said. "It simply shows that senators did what the former President failed to do. We put our constitutional duty first."

Vote comes after surprise call for witnesses

The final vote came quickly Saturday on the fifth day of the Senate trial after a surprise Democratic request for witnesses earlier Saturday threw the trial briefly into chaos.

The move to the trial's finishing stages was a final twist after the House managers' surprise request for witnesses had appeared to extend the trial indefinitely. The Senate voted 55 to 45 to consider witnesses -- with five Republican joining Democrats -- after the managers said they wanted to hear from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington Republican who had told CNN new details about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's phone call with Trump. But after several hours of intense negotiations between Senate leaders, the managers and Trump's legal team, the managers agreed to enter Herrera Beutler's statement into the trial record as evidence and move forward without hearing from witnesses.

On Saturday morning, Democratic senators had expected House managers to move past witnesses onto closing arguments and a final vote. But the lead impeachment manager, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, announced when the trial got underway that the managers wanted to subpoena Herrera Beutler about her knowledge of McCarthy's phone call, following a CNN report Friday. Herrera Beutler, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last month, confirmed in a statement Friday that McCarthy said the President told him on the call, "'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

The trial recessed after the witness vote and Senate leaders tried to hash out the next steps. Calling witnesses could have opened up the trial to a lengthy new phase, as Trump's team vowed to call hundreds of witnesses in response, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Republican senators demanded that each side receive an equal number of votes.

Closing the House managers argument, Raskin played to senators' sense of history in urging them to convict the former President for inciting the rioters to attack the Capitol on January 6 and failing to stop them after the violence had unfolded.

"This is almost certainly how you will be remembered by history," Raskin said. "That might not be fair. It really might not be fair. But none of us can escape the demands of history and destiny right now. Our reputations and our legacy will be inextricably intertwined with what we do here, and with how you exercise your oath to do impartial justice."

Trump's lawyer Michael van der Veen argued that Trump did not incite a riot that had been preplanned, again repeating the falsehood that the rioters represented both left and right fringe groups, when video evidence and court documents conclusively show that the riot was perpetrated by Trump supporters.

Concerns that calling witnesses would backfire

After the last-minute decision calling for witnesses, House Democrats ultimately decided to cut a deal because of the unpredictability of how that would turn out and fears that doing so could backfire and undermine their case, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Democrats didn't make a decision to call Herrera Beutler to testify until shortly before the proceedings began Saturday morning, sources said. The managers debated until nearly 3 a.m. ET Saturday morning about whether to call witnesses following news of the McCarthy call.

According to a Democrat familiar with the matter, House Democratic impeachment managers did not tell top Senate Democrats they wanted witnesses until five minutes before the proceedings. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer didn't even know until that point, but he told the managers Friday night and Saturday morning that Senate Democrats would support whatever decision the mangers made -- and reiterated that point on a caucus call Saturday.

"After the vote, it was clear the managers had no plan," the Democrat said. "Senate Democrats gave them the votes, but the managers didn't know what their next step was."

They ultimately settled on submitting her statement to the record as long as Trump's attorney made a public statement agreeing to submit it as evidence. The reason: They believed that pushing forward with her testimony would add little beyond her statement and could potentially cost them GOP support, while dragging out the proceedings further.

Collins, Murkowski, Romney and Sasse voted in favor of witnesses. Before the vote was finalized, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he was changing his vote to yes -- the idea being to support Trump's lawyers also calling witnesses in addition to the managers' request.

The sources told CNN that Democrats were uncertain how Herrera Beutler's testimony would come across after she was subject to cross examination, with some concerns that she could potentially undercut their case if there were holes in her account.

Moreover, if they called other witnesses, it could also backfire. For instance, McCarthy could provide testimony that defended Trump, undermining what they believe is a rock-solid case that Trump incited the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, the sources said.

Plus witnesses would not ultimately change GOP senators' minds, they concluded, while hearing from witnesses could bog down the Senate for weeks and imperil President Joe Biden's agenda.

With Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Angus King of Maine, who are two centrist members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, telling CNN there needed to be an equal number of witnesses on both sides, that meant that the trial could be delayed for an indefinite period, perhaps weeks. The concern was that the Trump team could try to call witnesses like Pelosi and put them in an awkward position.

And with a weeks-long delay, it could threaten Democrats' ability to advance Biden's agenda since they need consent from Republicans to schedule votes on nominees and other matters. With no consent, the Senate could be in a state of gridlock because Schumer would be forced to take procedural steps to overcome an objection, a process that takes days for each objection.

Democrats had been debating whether to call witnesses leading into Saturday's session in light of new details that have emerged with the trial underway this week. In addition to the McCarthy call, Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville confirmed that, in a call he had with Trump as the riot unfolded, he told Trump that Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, whose phone Trump had called when he spoke to Tuberville, submitted phone records showing the call at 2:26 p.m. came two minutes after Trump had tweeted an attack on Pence.

Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, one of the impeachment managers, argued that the call showed Trump was more concerned about delaying the certification of the November election than Pence's safety. Trump took no actions after learning Pence had been evacuated, Cicilline said.

GOP senators focus on constitutional argument

While there was plenty of drama over witnesses at the trial Saturday, the reality for Democrats was that additional evidence was still unlikely to change the final outcome of the trial. The final vote was already telegraphed earlier in the week, when the Senate voted 56-44 that the impeachment trial was constitutional. The GOP senators who voted the trial of a former president was unconstitutional said that was what would determine their final vote, leaving the Senate well short of the two-thirds -- or 17 GOP senators who would have to join all 50 Democrats -- needed for conviction.

McConnell told his colleagues Saturday morning he would vote to acquit Trump, according to a source familiar with the conversations. McConnell plans to explain his decision after the final vote.

The six Republicans who voted the trial was constitutional are the GOP senators who had left open the possibility they could vote that the former President was guilty, after 10 House Republicans joined Democrats to impeach Trump in the House last month. Several of those Republican senators -- Collins, Murkowski, Romney and Cassidy -- pressed Trump's lawyers during the Senate's question-and-answer session Friday over the actions Trump took when he learned about the riots unfolding and tweeted Pence was lacking courage while he was being evacuated from the Senate.

The House managers have argued throughout the trial that Trump should be convicted and barred from holding future office because he was responsible for the rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6 and endangered the lives of lawmakers and Pence. They've made the case that Trump incited the rioters through months of false claims that the election was being stolen from him, then failed to take any action to stop the violence or condemn the rioters afterward.

The defense team offered its rebuttal on Friday in a brief presentation, in which they sought to equate Trump's rhetoric with that of Democrats, arguing that political rhetoric is protected by the First Amendment and Trump's language did not incite a riot that was pre-planned.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Trump acquitted for second time following historic Senate impeachment trial'
Knowledge on how cells communicate is an important key to understanding many biological systems and diseases. A research team led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg has now used a unique combination of methods to map the mechanism behind cellular communication. Their findings can potentially improve understanding of the underlying mechanism behind type 2 diabetes.

We know that human communication is important, but communication between the cells in our bodies is just as vital. The processes where cells synchronize and coordinate their behavior is required for an organism to function and for human organs to be able to perform their functions.

How do cells go from monologues to dialogues? How do cells transit from acting as individuals to acting as a community? We need to better understand this complex and difficult-to-study behavior." Caroline Beck Adiels, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg

Have found the mechanism behind cellular communication

She is responsible for the study now published in the scientific journal PNAS, in which the researchers established a method for studying cellular communication. In the study, they successfully mapped the mechanism behind cellular communication in the metabolic process, using small culture chambers that allow the control of the environment around the cells.

The researchers chose to study yeast cells, since they are similar to human cells, and their focus is on glycolytic oscillations - a series of chemical reactions during metabolism where the concentration of substances can pulse or oscillate. The study showed how cells that initially oscillated independent of each other shifted to being more synchronized, creating partially synchronized populations of cells.

"One of the unique things with this study is that we have been able to study individual cells instead of simply entire cell populations. This has allowed us to really be able to see how the cells transition from their individual behavior to coordinating with their neighbors. We have been able to map their behavior both temporally and spatially, that is to say, when something occurs and in which cell," says Beck Adiels.

Opens up opportunities for understanding type 2 diabetes

According to Beck Adiels, this knowledge can be applied in many other biological systems and more complex cells where coordinated cell behavior plays an important role. This type of behavior is also found in cells such as heart muscle cells and in pancreatic cells, which can be an important piece of the puzzle in diabetes research.

"The study can contribute to understanding how pancreatic cells are regulated and how they secrete insulin, which can help us understand the underlying mechanism behind type 2 diabetes. Eventually, this could contribute to developing new medicines for treating the disease."

The study is a collaboration between eight researchers at Swedish and international universities, and Caroline Beck Adiels emphasizes that this interdisciplinary collaboration has been fundamental in studying the complex behavior of cells from multiple perspectives.

"I am very proud of this work, which had not been possible to complete if we had not collaborated across disciplines," she says.
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After almost two years, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is going back to the movies where she plays a blind girl in a thriller titled Blind. Amidst the pandemic, the actress shot for the film from start to finish in Glasgow and is super thrilled about it.



Today she took to her Instagram profile and shared an adorable post where she thanked her life-partner Anand Ahuja for being with her during the shoot and making her shoot-life easier. Sonam shared a couple of pictures and videos to express gratitude to her hubby. Her first video sees them kissing each other in a flight. In other clicks we see Anands selfie amidst snow. The actress captioned the post saying, Thanks to my amazing husband who spent 5 out of the 6 weeks with me in Glasgow . . It was amazing coming back to him after shooting everyday. . It would have been so much easier for him to work from home in London, but he was here with me as the most supportive, encouraging and generous partner. . Thank you @anandahuja .. I appreciate you and Ill never take you for granted.. love you... Isnt that too sweet.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor)
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Ham Radio's SuitSat returns in short horror film

SuitSat loses its innocence in a new video short sci-fi thriller Decommissioned.

'Inspired by true events, ' the video short resurrects the 2006 spacesuit/satellite that transmitted messages on 2 meters as it circled Earth. The original SuitSat-1 project, conceived by an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team, repurposed a decommissioned Russian Orlan spacesuit to function as a free-floating amateur radio transmit-only satellite.

'ARISS designed and built an antenna and radio gear that got approved for installation into the suit, and cosmonaut Valeri Tokarev and Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, put SuitSat-1 into orbit at the start of a spacewalk, ' ARISS-US Delegate for ARRL Rosalie White, K1STO, recounted. SuitSat-1 transmitted a voice message, 'This is SuitSat-1 RS0RS! ' in several languages, plus telemetry and a slow-scan TV image on an 8-minute cycle as it orbited Earth.

In the 6-minute film, a SuitSat returns in the future to haunt International Space Station commander 'Diaz, ' played by Joey Vieira. Diaz is seen taking photos from inside an observation dome on the ISS when he spies some distant space debris and radios Houston to express concern.

'If there was any cause for alarm, you know we 'd see it too, ' Houston assures.

As the object closes in, an increasingly anxious Diaz recognizes the 'debris ' as SuitSat. 'This is SuitSat, ' comes a voice on the ham radio.

'Houston, you 're not gonna believe this. We 're picking up transmissions on the ham radio that sound identical to the SuitSat experiment, ' he tells a skeptical mission control. 'It 's SuitSat! I 'm seeing SuitSat! '

'SuitSat re-entered the atmosphere and burned up years ago, ' mission control responds. 'It 's impossible. '

Decommissioned was produced by Perception Pictures and directed by Australian filmmaker Josh Tanner. He told Gizmodo that he produced the video 'using the Unreal Engine technology that The Mandalorian used, albeit old-school rear projection, as opposed to the fancy LED wall tech they used. '

SuitSat-1 ' called Radioskaf or Radio Sputnik in Russian ' was so successful that another unneeded Orlan spacesuit was subsequently refitted as SuitSat-2.

As an interesting sidebar with respect to the real SuitSat, White explained, 'After the ARISS engineers calculated SuitSat-1 's orbit and spin characteristics, they knew the legs and arms would have to be filled with something, so they asked the crew to stuff dirty laundry inside. '

White said Decommissioned was a hit at a recent ARISS meeting. The original SuitSats were deorbited to burn up in Earth 's atmosphere after their useful lives ended.
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New development model for Sri Lanka! View(s):

Last week when Sri Lanka was celebrating its 73rd Independence Day, I received an email from one of the readers of my column. He had asked me a question which inspired me to use it as todays theme. He asked:

What is the economic model you suggest for the development of our nation, Sri Lanka? What an interesting question to be asked after nearly three-quarters of a century since independence!

He had explained further the reasons for raising such a question: Capitalism, Liberalism, and Neoliberalism doesnt seem to be suitable for Sri Lanka. Neither Socialism, Communism nor State Capitalism models are going to work here. Sri Lanka needs our own model for development  a new model! Then, what should it be?

In fact, the question is not an isolated one. There are many arguments and debates along similar lines of reasoning in favour of the idea that we need a new model. There is even blame for economists and policy makers, for repeating the same thing over the years and decades without bringing about a new model suitable for Sri Lanka.

Old models and new challenges

It was a big old story during the time I learnt development economics that the Western countries have achieved development through colonization and exploitation over 100s of years. They kicked off the ladder after development and, shifted to free-market policies, adopted democratic values, and established human rights. Now they want the poorer countries to pursue their free-market policies, democratic values and human rights in order to achieve development, which is not the way they achieved it. It was the Western model, although it is not possible to group all the Western countries into the same basket.

It is, however, a fact that many Asian countries have telescoped the Western development that cost the sacrifice of generations into a rapid transformation within a single generation, even without such cruelty and cohesiveness. This means that colonization and exploitation are not the necessary conditions of development although we have seen them among some of the countries in the world. It is the East Asian model!

One of the most recent episodes that has caught intellectual attention is the challenge over the American free-market model posed by the successful Chinese development. Even at the turn of the century, China  the worlds largest nation by population -, contributed only 3.6 per cent of world GDP. Now, 20 years later China contributes over 16 per cent of world GDP and has become the second largest economy in the world after the US. And it is only a matter of time before China becomes the worlds biggest economy. After all it is Chinas own model which enabled China to ensure a rapid pace of development without losing the characteristics of the Chinese Communist system.

Whichever the model that we have seen in different parts of the world  the West, the US, East Asia, Southeast Asia, China or any other, and at different times of history, what is fascinating is that the economic fundamentals of development are the same. These fundamentals that drive nations to achieve their prosperity are not different between the Western and the East Asian countries or between the US and China. Let me explain some of them.

Where is capital?

First and foremost, as we all know, achieving prosperity requires expansion in business activities which may be in agriculture or industry or services sectors. It depends on the availability of (1) both primary inputs (capital, labour and technology) and secondary inputs (raw materials, parts and components) on the one hand and (2) a market for output sales (local and global) on the other hand.

Here lies the problem: If we anticipate a big difference in our progress, there is no doubt that the amount of capital required for investment has to be big too. If we anticipate 7  8 per cent rate of annual economic growth for Sri Lanka, the initial amount of investment that Sri Lanka needs is roughly about an additional US$ 10 billion a year; then, it should grow as time passes.

The question is where is the capital to invest? Some of us might think that it is in the hands of government, but its not so. All over the world, including in China where the government is playing a bigger role even in business, a greater share of investment comes from the private sector. Then the problem is that the local private sector in a developing country is too small to generate a big investment flow and thus must rely on foreign investment.

One could say that some countries have robbed the other nations to accumulate capital, and then to invest; true, but its not the only way to accumulate capital. Someone could argue that a nation can save more and more money from its own income and generate capital, little by little and year by year for investment; this is also true, if a nation is willing to wait for 100s of years to achieve some progress.

If the government decides to invest in businesses, however, there is no question that it should have enough tax money or non-tax money. Even if the government decides to borrow money and invest, it should also have the capacity to run its businesses, which are the state-owned enterprises (SOEs), efficiently and profitably.

Its a choice

After all, its all about a choice that a country has to make about how big it expects in the amount of capital, where to find it, and how to get it; what everyone needs is just capital for investment.

Labour is not just the number of people, but also the productive quality of people in terms of globally competitive knowledge, skills and attitudes. If the anticipated investment is big and globally competitive, then it also requires a large number of high quality labour. If an investor is looking to hire a group of world-class professionals for his business investment, how does the country make sure that such labour is available without any shortage?

A labour force with that world-class professionalism must either be trained and built at home or hired from the rest of the world as some countries do. Its also a choice for a nation to opt for a pragmatic way of finding quality labour. In the world, there is no shortage of technology  the stock of knowledge about transforming inputs into output. It is a choice too whether we like to get it from where it is available or not. It is not unusual that the secondary inputs  raw materials, parts and components, may not be available in sufficient quantity and quality within a country; but they all are available in the world. Therefore, it is also a choice of the country either to make it freely available or not.

If the anticipated output is big, then it also needs a big market to sell it otherwise the size of the market inevitably limits the progress. The local market of every country, including China, India, EU, Japan, and US, is too small for their output market. Therefore, they all look for the global market as their output market. It is also a choice that a nation has to make whether it chooses itself to be open to the smaller local market or look at the bigger global market.

Its the same thing

When all these economic fundamentals of prosperity are a set of choices that a nation has to make, then there is no use of labeling a set of choices of a country. The Western countries may have done it differently, and the East Asian countries differently. The US has done it differently, and China differently. But the fundamentals of prosperity are the same!

Let me conclude by quoting from the speech of Xi Jinping, the President of China, at the virtual Davos Agenda event held by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on 25 January 2021: We will foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards. What is implied by this quotation is that those nations which strive to market principles, rule of law and international standards will prosper; and as we have explained, its a choice of a nation.

(The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk and follow on Twitter @SirimalAshoka).
Gov. Murphy says he was sickened by the most recent act of barbarity at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, yet there is mounting evidence that he is barely engaged as the beatings and sexual assaults persist, undeterred on his watch.

The latest rake-step is his administrations decision to ignore the four-alarm email sent by four lawmakers last Aug. 4 about Sgt. Amir Bethea, who was once transferred out of the womens prison and had, as Prison Watch noted, a reputation as a serial abuser. The liaison at the Department of Corrections, Deputy Commissioner Karin Burke, assured the legislators that the matter would receive appropriate review and investigation.

Five months later, Bethea was still on the job. According to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Bethea supervised the infamous Jan. 11 mauling and sexual assault of inmates at Edna Mahan, and even pepper-sprayed one woman before allowing one of his officers to punch her in the face 28 times. Then he falsified his reports.

All this is indeed sickening, but Murphys platitudes arent going to change Edna Mahan, and the governors smoldering pile of worthless gestures (feigning shock, announcing an internal probe, vowing accountability) is as outrageous as it is tedious especially 10 months after the Department of Justice found that sexual abuse by both corrections officers and staff is severe and prevalent throughout the prison and that it continued to surface throughout 2018 and 2019

Only meaningful changes overseen by the federal government  will redeem this cesspool of a prison, yet Murphy and overmatched commissioner Marcus Hicks continue to enable the profound moral dereliction that allows rape, torture, and beatings to remain ingrained in the corrections culture.

Murphy undoubtedly will ask for patience as we await the result of an investigation he ordered, while the DOC continues to discuss a settlement with the Justice Dept. on the reforms that will be enacted under a federal monitor. There are granular details to sort out, and were all getting impatient as the abuse escalates.

But nothing stops the governor from taking decisive action before a consent decree is signed.

Incarcerated women in NJ are being brutalized, and you should know about it. // This Edna Mahan outrage is the tipping point: Commissioner Hicks must go | Editorial https://t.co/PrLlDu7DFV  Amy Z. Quinn (@AmyZQuinn) January 27, 2021

He can fire Hicks today, just as the 25 Democrats in the state Senate demanded in the letter that landed in his inbox more than two weeks ago.

He can clarify and order retraining of the Use of Force policy, since Grewal has evidence that Bethea and his officers dont abide by any.

He can disclose when he learned of this latest horror, and explain why he waited until it exploded in the Star-Ledger and NJ.com on Jan. 27 before asking Matt Boxer to start his investigation.

He can come clean about how they manage Edna Mahan: Why was Bethea shipped out and brought back? Why didnt the deputy commissioner respond to legislators red flag? Why was prison leadership left to Sean St. Paul, an administrator with an abusive past, and one of the 30 corrections personnel now suspended and facing investigation?

And the governor can affirm the need for help by expediting the agreement with DOJ  note that he has yet to disclose whether he endorses or resists federal oversight.

Because this is where we are now: I dont think we need another investigation. The governor needs to act on this now, whether its bringing in the feds or announcing profound changes, said Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer), who chairs the Law and Public Safety Committee. The governor needs to show he can take charge of this, and I dont sense that this is the case.

Sen. Nellie Pou (D-Passaic) was more blunt. The coverup has gone on long enough at all levels, she said.

Broken Record Alert: The federal government established that Edna Mahan is an environment in which sexual violence and abuse is normalized, with guards protected by a culture of acceptance that continues to the present.

We await a sign that Murphy has the courage to signal surrender and welcome federal monitorship  which transformed New Jersey institutions such the State Police and the Department of Children and Families.

But every delay compounds the problem. The inmates and their families deserve a better system, the public deserves answers, and Murphy must impose reforms now. Its tear-down time.

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As China rings in the Year of the Ox, President Xi Jinping has urged promoting "the spirit of the ox" in pursuit of fully building a modern socialist China.





Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has highlighted the spirit of serving the people as willing steers, blazing new trails in development as pioneering bulls and engaging in an arduous struggle as hardworking oxen.





Xi promoted the spirit at a New Year gathering organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Dec. 31, 2020.





"We must promote the spirit of the ox in serving the people, driving innovative development and working tirelessly. We must continue to be careful, as we were in the past, guarding against arrogance and impetuosity, and continue to fear no hardship and be enterprising, marching forward bravely on the new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, and marking the centenary of the CPC with outstanding achievements," Xi said.





Xi reiterated the spirit of the ox in his Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Wednesday.





In China, an ancient civilization nurtured by its agriculture and fertile lands, the ox has always been considered an important animal as they help farmers cultivate the farmlands.





"In Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol of diligence, dedication, endeavor and strength," Xi said.





Stressing the virtues of modesty and prudence, Xi called for efforts to achieve the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of securing peace and development for all mankind.





The ox is the second zodiac sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle, represented by 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.





The previous Year of the Ox was 2009. After an interval of 12 years, a new Year of the Ox began this month.





Despite complicated international and domestic situations in 2020, China has made major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, conquered serious floods and achieved positive economic growth.





The country has lifted nearly 100 million rural poor out of poverty over the past eight years, securing a decisive victory in ending absolute poverty.





These hard-won, remarkable achievements would not have been attained without the spirit of the ox, which will play a more important role in the year 2021 as China strives to achieve rural vitalization, implement a new development paradigm and deepen reform and opening up.





Doctors and members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) protest against Centre's move to allow Ayurveda doctors to perform surgery | Photo: @ANI

The on Sunday announced a mass petition movement from February 15-March 31 against a Central Council of Indian Medicine notification that authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of ayurveda to perform general surgical procedures.

The doctors' body also said that this notification will lead to "mixopathy" and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had held a pan-India relay hunger strike from February 1-14 on the issue.

The "impractical, unscientific and unethical notification" should be immediately withdrawn, it said in a statement, adding that besides the petition movement, it will also spread awareness among the people on the notification.

The also said that it will submit a list of 1,000 modern medicine doctors willing to serve in remote areas of the country to counter the false claim of lack of doctors.

"All members, all specialty organisations, all modern medicine students, all women doctors across the country will educate people about this retrograde and unscientific mixing of different systems of healthcare. All modern medicine hospitals will promote the importance of scientific ethical surgical expertise," the doctors' body said.

The IMA also announces non-cooperation movement "henceforth in which modern medicines surgeons and anesthesiologists shall not cooperate with AYUSH persons training and performing surgery", it said.

The doctors' body has been opposing the notification by Central Council of Indian Medicine, a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy).

The notification authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of Ayurveda to be trained to perform surgical procedures such as excisions of benign tumours, amputation of gangrene, nasal and cataract surgeries.

(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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Those caught with gold jewellery by police without receipts are not real traders and they do not have any trading licenses.  AFP

KADAPA: There are reports of unaccounted gold worth between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore being sold in Kadapa district every month without any bills or receipts.

Proddatur is the second-largest gold market in the district.

Gold jewellery is brought here from Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and other places without paying any taxes. The same is sold at open market price, with traders making huge profits in the process. Such illegal trade has not subsided despite frequent raids by police.

For example, in April 2019, Yerraguntla police seized 5.7 kg of gold biscuits from a man. In September of the same year, police seized 2-kg gold from a person in Proddatur. Another 700 grams of gold and 31 kg of silver jewellery were seized from two persons in October. Those carrying the gold and jewellery could not produce any receipts. Police handed them over to officials of the Commercial Taxes Department.

Recently, Proddatur and Jammalamadugu police again seized 5.6 kg of gold jewellery in two separate incidents. While Jammalamadugu police seized 2.7 kg, Proddatur Rural police seized 2.9 kg of gold jewellery. Those carrying them could not produce any documents related to the jewellery. Police then handed them over to the Tirupati Income Tax authorities.

Proddatur town in Kadapa district is famous for its gold trade. Traders from different states come here to buy gold and gold jewellery. There are allegations that some people are using the town to sell illegally and make additional profits.

Bushetti Rammohan Rao, vice-president of the Andhra Pradesh State Gold and Diamond Merchants Association, told Deccan Chronicle that those caught with gold jewellery by police without receipts are not real traders. They do not have any trading licenses. They just bring 2-3 kg of jewellery to the district and sell the same to small traders in towns.

Rammohan Rao said gold trade without receipts had been once a booming business. But the same has come down sharply after implementation of GST.
(CNN)  The Biden administration and the semiconductor industry appear to be moving closer to creating a plan aimed at bolstering domestic chipmaking.

The effort could help resolve the critical microchip shortage currently hobbling industries from automobiles to video games. It could also address longstanding concerns about shrinking US capacity to produce these crucial electronics components.

Industry leaders including Intel, AMD and Qualcomm sent a letter to President Joe Biden Thursday urging him to include funding for semiconductor manufacturing and research in his administration's plans for economic recovery from the pandemic.

"(Semiconductors) enable the technologies needed to realize your Build Back Better goals, including smarter and safer transportation, greater broadband access, cleaner energy, and a more efficient energy grid, while also providing high-paying jobs for Americans and strengthening our advanced manufacturing base," the group said in the letter, adding that robust US chip manufacturing is important for "enhancing our national security."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday that the administration is working to address the chip shortage by "identifying potential choke points in (the) supply chain and actively working alongside key stakeholders in industry and with our trading partners to do more now."

She added that Biden is also looking at longer-term support for the industry.

Biden is expected to sign an executive order in the coming weeks to "undertake a comprehensive review of supply chains for critical goods," including semiconductors, Psaki said.

A critical industry both for technology and defense

Psaki's comments, and the industry leaders' letter to Biden, come during a critical global shortage of semiconductors. Automakers have been hit especially hard, and Ford and GM have temporarily shuttered some of their plants because of it. Analysts estimate that Volkswagen  the world's largest car company  could lose 4% of its total global output for the first three months of the year because of the deficiency.

The shortage adds urgency to a longer-term conversation involving lawmakers and chipmakers about the need to increase US semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

US officials and industry players have been sounding the alarm that failing to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing could harm national security because cutting-edge microchips have crucial military and defense applications.

Currently, the industry relies heavily on foreign production, largely from Taiwan, South Korea and China. Officials worry about the ramifications of centering production for this critical industry in a region where US rival China, which has been wrestling the United States for technological dominance, has so much influence.

Intel last summer said it was in talks with the US government about how to "strengthen domestic sources" of microelectronics technology. TSMC, another major chip manufacturer, announced plans in May to build a $12 billion factory in Arizona.

Industry leaders say much more needs to be done.

"Our share of global semiconductor manufacturing has steadily declined from 37 percent in 1990 to 12 percent today," the CEOs said in their Thursday letter to Biden. While the US share of global chipmaking has shrunk, China's has grown and is now also around 12%, experts say.

"This is largely because the governments of our global competitors offer significant incentives and subsidies to attract new semiconductor manufacturing facilities, while the U.S. does not," the group wrote. As a result, they said, US "technology leadership is at risk in the race for preeminence in the technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, and quantum computing."

As part of the most recent annual defense bill passed last fall, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress enacted a provision called the CHIPS for America Act, which authorizes the government to offer incentives for semiconductor manufacturing and make investments in related research.

The industry group called the CHIPS Act an "important initial step" and urged Biden to allocate funding for such incentives, including tax credits or grants, as part of his administration's recovery and infrastructure plans.

"Working with Congress, your administration now has an historic opportunity to fund these initiatives to make them a reality," the group said. "We believe bold action is needed to address the challenges we face. The costs of inaction are high."

The Information Technology Industry Council, an IT trade group, sent a similar letter to Biden this week, calling on him to include "substantial funding" for the CHIPS Act as part of his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.

Such advice could be instructive when the Biden administration carries out its review of semiconductor supply chains  part of the planned executive order Psaki said will be signed in the coming weeks.

"The review will be focused on identifying the immediate actions we can take, from improving the physical production of those items in the US to working with allies to develop a coordinated response to the weaknesses and bottlenecks that are hurting American workers," Psaki said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Chipmakers urge Biden administration to invest in US manufacturing".

Efforts to pass a $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill with direct payments of $1,400 moved ahead Friday as President Joe Biden pushed for $350 billion in state and local aid, a top Democratic demand that delayed approval of legislation in the last Congress.

House committees approved the state aid as well as funding for vaccines and coronavirus testing a day after a separate panel voted to approve $1,400 per person stimulus payments for those making $75,000 or less year and couples making $150,000 or less. The money, including $1,400 for dependents, would phase out for individuals earning more than $100,000 and couples making more than $200,000.

The individual sections now go to the House Budget Committee, which will combine them into one single bill with an eye toward approval by the full House by the end of the month.

Biden met with governors and mayors of both parties at the White House as he pushed for the state and local funding.

The most important piece, in my view, is making sure we give them enough capacity to deal with the virus in their states and how were going to do that, Biden said before the meeting.

But equally consequential is the need to help the states economically, in terms of everything from unemployment to being able to make sure that theyre able to get kids back in schools and what role the federal government should play in helping getting that done.

Democratic efforts to provide such funding in the last spending bill ran into opposition from Republican lawmakers, who derided the aid as a blue-state bailout even as GOP-run Texas and Florida would have been among the biggest recipients of federal support.

Eventually, lawmakers agreed to leave the aid out of the $900 billion stimulus law enacted in December.

Under the funding approved by the House Oversight Committee, Texas and Florida would be among the four biggest recipients of aid, along with California and New York, according to preliminary figures supplied by the committee.

New Jersey and its municipalities would get $9.4 billion.

Critical services must be restored, jobs must be saved, and local and state governments must finally receive the help they need to fight the pandemic, said committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.

But Rep. James Comer, the top Republican on the Oversight panel, said the states and localities didnt spend all the federal funds theyve already received. They have until Dec. 31 to use the money.

Before Congress even considers giving states and local governments another dime, funds already available to them must be used, said Comer, R-Ky.

New Jersey spent 72% of its $3.4 billion allocation under the $2 trillion stimulus law known as the CARES Act through Dec. 31, according to the U.S. Treasury Departments inspector general. At the end of June, the state had spent just 2.1%.

This time, though, Republican opposition to the state and local aid may not matter. Democrats are attempting to approve the legislation under a procedure known as reconciliation, the same one Republicans used in 2017 to pass their tax law and to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act on party-line votes.

That would allow Senate Democrats to pass the bill by a simple majority without the threat of a filibuster, but would require all 50 members of their caucus to vote yes if no Republicans support the legislation.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, meanwhile, approved $14 billion for vaccine manufacturing the distribution, $46 billion for testing and contract tracing for the coronavirus, $5 billion to help low-income residents pay their winter heating bills, and $7.6 billion to expand internet connections.

Taken together, vaccines and testing are key to reducing the spread of COVID-19, getting our kids back to school, revitalizing our economy, and safely returning to normal patterns of life, said the committee chairman, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its section, which included $26.1 billion in funds for transit agencies in large metropolitan areas. Based on previous allocations, NJ Transit could get close to $2 billion.

There also was $1.25 billion for specific grant programs, including New Starts, which will partially fund construction of the new Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, and $1.5 billion for Amtrak to allow the passenger railroad to restore daily long-distance service and recall its furloughed employees and pay them through Sept. 30.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.

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Numerous closures and delayed starts have been announced for Monday, February 15 because of the forecasted winter weather.

Schools:

Ector County ISD: Monday will be a Remote Learning Day for all ECISD students. Schools and teachers will contact students with more information about assignments.

ALL Midland College campuses and facilities in both Midland and Pecos Counties are closed on Monday, February 15. The Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center in Fort Stockton is also closed.

The University of Texas Permian Basin: UTPB campus will be closed for all students, faculty, and staff.

Midland ISD School Board has scheduled its monthly Regular Board Meeting for Tuesday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m. Due to potential inclement weather, this meeting may need to be cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m.

Closures:

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campuses in both Midland and Odessa will be closed Monday, February 15th.

All Texas Tech Physicians clinics in Midland and Odessa will be closed Monday, February 15th.

Midland Health Premier Physician Practices will be closed Monday, February 15.

The Midland Unified Command Team will close both the Midland Horseshoe and Golf Course Road Church of Christ Mass Vaccination Sites on Monday, February 15th.
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The stench of alcohol filled the small bar on Sunday as Aoi Hoshino swept up glass from whiskey bottles smashed in a strong earthquake the night before, one appearing to be an aftershock from a devastating quake that hit the Fukushima area in 2011.

The 7.3 magnitude quake struck shortly before midnight Saturday and cracked walls, shattered windows and set off a landslide in Fukushima, the area closest to the epicentre. More than 100 people were injured.

Hoshino, 46, swept broken glass from some 20 shattered whiskey bottles into a bin bag in her bar on a back street in the city of Iwaki, roughly 200 km (124 miles) north of Tokyo and not far from the quake's epicentre.

"We were hit by this coronavirus pandemic, and so we were looking forward to reopening our shops, and now this happens," she said, referring to a locally-declared state of emergency that had closed her bar from January and was set to lift on Monday.

"Its just one thing after another."

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was believed to be an aftershock from the magnitude 9.0 quake on March 11, 2011 that set off a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people along a wide swathe of northeastern Japan, and the Fukushima nuclear accident, the world's worst in 25 years. The agency warned of aftershocks for several days.

Hoshino said Saturday's quake brought back frightening memories.

"My body immediately reacted, and I couldnt stop trembling. My legs were shaking too, but I couldnt gauge whether it was safer to run out or stay in, so I ended up doing a weird little dance," she said with a chuckle.

At least 121 people were injured, NHK national television said, including several who suffered fractures, but there were no reported deaths.

BUILDINGS SHOOK IN TOKYO

The 11:08 p.m. local (1408 GMT) quake shook buildings in the Japanese capital Tokyo, cutting power to hundreds of thousands of buildings across eastern and northeastern Japan. By morning, though, power was restored to virtually all.

Several thousand households remained without water, forcing residents lined up with plastic jugs to receive water from trucks.

Though much of Iwaki appeared as usual, tiles had fallen from the front of at least one building, and the sound of broken glass being swept up echoed from several shops and restaurants.

On the wall of Noboru Endo's hair salon a hairline crack had opened, in the same place a wider one opened 10 years ago, but otherwise there was little damage.

Endo, 64, said Saturday's quake didn't compare to the 2011 quake, which went on for several minutes and had aftershocks that lasted weeks.

"Weve all pretty much gone back to life as usual, save a few areas that are still badly affected," he said of reconstruction efforts in the area.

There was no tsunami, and no reports of irregularities at any nuclear plants. NHK reported that about 160 mls (5 ounces) of water had leaked from a spent fuel pool at the Fukushima Dai-Ni reactor but that this presented no danger.

Shinkansen bullet train service to much of northern Japan was suspended due to damage along the tracks. Service along one line was not expected to be restored until at least Tuesday.

The power outages did not affect any of the Pfizer Inc COVID-19 vaccines that arrived on Friday for inoculations that are to start this week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a Sunday morning news conference.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas, and Japan accounts for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

(Writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Michael Perry and William Mallard)

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/14/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Stephanie and Ryan got married and if the couple is still together.]

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So did Stephanie and Ryan break up or is the couple still together now?

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

star Ryan Carr just forgave Stephanie Davison for sleeping with his cousin on Season 8 of the series, but did more problems arise between the couple? Have Stephanie and Ryan split or is the couple still together? What do spoilers reveal?Stephanie is a 52-year-old career-focused woman who owns and operates two medical spas from Grand Rapids, MI.Stephanie was "a lifelong bachelorette" before meeting Ryan, a 27-year-old from Belize, during a vacation to his home country."I have never had the dream of the big wedding, the white picket fence, the man who comes in and sweeps me off my feet," Stephanie said. "But then I met the hottest guy I've ever dated -- and the youngest guy I've ever dated."Stephanie and Ryan dated for three years before Stephanie applied for a K-1 visa and the couple decided to appear on the show.Stephanie said she had no problem being called a "cougar" because her man has "a phenomenal personality" and is "extremely funny.""I feel something about Ryan that I haven't felt for others in the past," Stephanie noted.Once Ryan's K-1 visa was pre-approved, he still had to go through the visa interview process -- but the embassy remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.Stephanie admitted she had trust issues in their long-distance relationship, mainly due to their large age gap, but also because she had caught Ryan texting multiple women as well as an ex-girlfriend in the past."When I was there a year-and-a-half ago, I caught him on the phone with three different women," Stephanie said."I threw Ryan out that night and I was crying. Right after his cousin Harris called me, and I slept with his cousin. Basically, it was over between Ryan and I. I'm just such an honest person, and I never would have slept with his cousin had I not found all of those texts and everything."Stephanie had been keeping this secret from Ryan, and she knew it had the potential to tear them apart and ruin their relationship forever.Stephanie was especially worried because she had invested so much heart into their relationship, nevermind how she was giving him $500-$1300 a month by paying for Ryan's rent, groceries -- and work wages!"I happen to have a friend that owns a resort [in Belize]. So I called and said, 'Everyone is sitting around and no one is working, so give [Ryan] the job and I'll pay his wages,'" Stephanie explained to her cousins."He doesn't know that. But better that than I send his family money. This way, he has self-esteem... I love him enough that I'm willing to take this risk, bottom line. It's my choice. This is who I choose... He's the man I want to build a life with."But then Stephanie couldn't get ahold of her fiance when she wanted to hash out their future plans.She was afraid of losing their connection and "growing further and further apart.""I want him to share in my grief right now! I want to see he is as upset as I am... We are hanging on by a thread right now, and that thread is going to f-cking break any single second," Stephanie lamented.Stephanie said she had called Ryan about 14 times before he finally answered, and Ryan snapped, "Every day you would call me and b-tch about something."The couple had been fighting all the time, and Stephanie confessed she was exhausted and nearly ready to throw in the towel. She accused Ryan of using her for money and wanting to come to America to "screw" other women or just have "a little joy ride."For Ryan's part, he said he enjoyed making his own money and his excitement about coming to America was waning because Stephanie was "far past crazy" and acting ridiculous.Stephanie threatened to cancel Ryan's K-1 visa, and he told her to do whatever she wanted because she's "the boss" and called the shots."If you have nothing but bad [things to say] after all the good stuff I do for you and your family, then you know what? Why are we engaged? Why are we engaged then?" Stephanie questioned."I don't know," Ryan replied.Stephanie told the cameras if she and Ryan were going to end their relationship, they needed to do it in person.The other option was to hang tough and give their romance another chance once Ryan arrived on the K-1 visa for 90 days.In October 2020, Stephanie said the borders had finally reopened and so she'd be able to visit her boyfriend in Belize.After 10 months of not seeing each other, Stephanie figured the distance between them had been causing most of their problems.When packing up her suitcase, Stephanie included about 12 watches -- including a $3,000 snake watch -- for Ryan as well as clothes and shoes. She also decided to take the ring her father had given her mother when they were married.Stephanie always wanted to wear that specific ring if she were to get married."Although Ryan and I are engaged, he hasn't officially proposed yet, so the ideal thing for me is for him to propose with my mother's ring. I have a feeling this might be the time he proposes, on this trip. We shall see!" Stephanie gushed.Stephanie said goodbye to her beloved cat and planned to be away for about two weeks."I love Ryan with all my heart, and I hate the level that we're fighting now because our love will never survive if we can't restore the trust in our relationship," Stephanie explained."This will be the trip where we decide, 'Do we move forward or do we end it?' I'm excited but I'm also incredibly nervous. These last 10 months have been the worst of our relationship... I hope we can work out the kinks."When Stephanie arrived in Belize, she ran up to Ryan and he greeted her with flowers and a balloon. They embraced and kissed multiple times, and Ryan told Stephanie that she looked sexy. As for Stephanie, she appeared overjoyed.Ryan said he was 23 years old when he met Stephanie and she was either 47 or 48 at the time. Ryan said Stephanie's return to Belize was his "dream come true," and then he drove Stephanie to her hotel, which he called "paradise."Once Stephanie returned to Ryan's arms, she felt like maybe they could make things work and love might actually conquer all. All of Stephanie's anger and resentment appeared to disappear in the moment.Ryan said although Stephanie was older, she could definitely "keep up" with him.Stephanie explained they needed to make a decision about Ryan's K-1 visa, and Ryan said he wanted to make amends with Stephanie and show her the best two weeks of her life. Ryan told Stephanie that making her happy would be his No. 1 priority.Ryan told Stephanie that he'd remove the password from his phone so she could check it whenever she wanted in order to make her feel secure and comfortable. Ryan insisted he wanted to get their relationship back on a good path."Some days, Stephanie drives me really crazy and you know, like, f-ck, I would probably just want to give up on all this, but I'm hoping she's willing to work with me. Right here, right now, let's make a new beginning, a new chapter, fresh," Ryan said."Because I'm actually way too deep in it already and I actually really want to get to America. I want to see what America looks like, you know?"Stephanie and Ryan then enjoyed a romantic dinner out together, and Ryan said his goal was to earn Stephanie's trust back.Ryan insisted he'd get to the United States eventually and Stephanie should stick with him no matter what.Stephanie then gave Ryan the ring to propose marriage with if he decided that he was ready to do that and continue with the K-1 visa process. Ryan set out to prove to Stephanie that he was a changed man and wanted what was best for them as a couple.After the couple didn't sleep together for one night, Stephanie asked Ryan why he didn't make a move on her.Ryan explained that they were both tired and Stephanie had complained of a stomach ache, but Stephanie still thought it was strange.Stephanie confessed she would have liked "a quickie" bang for the purposes of bonding and she hadn't been expecting "a big magic show" or hour-long "session.""It's always been four times a night, so I feel like there's something else [wrong]," Stephanie said.Ryan assured Stephanie that everything was fine and there was no problem. He said Stephanie was stuck in her head."How many women have you slept with since I've been gone for 10 months?" Stephanie asked."None," Ryan replied. "Of course I'm horny as f-ck and I want to have sex, but I was just thinking about your well-being and that's it."Ryan sensed all Stephanie wanted to do was fight and she had both negative thoughts and trust issues that continued to bother him. Ryan said he had been caught texting women three or four years ago, but Stephanie recalled events differently."Ryan, you were texting a girl saying, 'Hey, let's go to Cancun!' That's when I threw your phone across the room and said, 'Get the f-ck out,'" Stephanie told Ryan.Stephanie then told the cameras, "We were done. It was the last straw. I had tolerated him and that bullsh-t for too long. So after that... [Ryan's cousin Harris] came that night and we slept together."Stephanie then confessed to Ryan that she could only handle so much when the pair had fought and Harris comforted her and told her multiple times how beautiful she is."He called me every day... Harris is very bold, and you know that," Stephanie said."I said, 'I just threw Ryan out. I've had it this time.' And he said, 'Can I come see you?' I was crying so hard. It had been so long since you made me feel special. So I had him come and he spent the night with me that night."Stephanie broke down into tears, and Ryan admitted that he had already known about that.Ryan called Harris an "assh-le" and said someone that worked at his hotel had seen Harris enter Stephanie's room. Ryan called Harris "a backstabber."Stephanie said that night never would have happened had Ryan been loyal to her, but Ryan said she took things to another level -- which is something he had allegedly never done.Ryan said he blamed both Stephanie and Harris for the mistake but it happened a long time ago and he had chosen to forgive Stephanie and stay with her."I forgive you, but I'll never forgive [Harris]... He is dead to me, and I mean that," Ryan explained.There is no sign of Ryan on Stephanie's Instagram page, and all signs are pointing to the couple being over and done with.Stephanie claimed she had a miserable experience filming and would never appear on the show again.If she and Ryan lasted as a couple and remained happy together, one would think Stephanie would be somewhat grateful for the show given it documented the pair's time together.Stephanie recently made jaw-dropping allegations about her time filming Season 8, claiming she had been raped and that TLC forced her to film during a bug infestation that put her life in danger.On January 13, 2021, the Instagram account @Mommy_says_bad_words posted the cover of a book titled Never Get Ghosted Again: 15 Reasons Why Men Lose Interest and How to Avoid Guys Who Can't Commit by Bruce Bryans.The Instagram account wrote above the image, "If only Stephanie had read this before she met Ryan," and the post was captioned, "She needs this book ASAP."In the comments section of the post, Stephanie completely unloaded her frustrations and publicly announced she had a terrible experience."My new motto after this reality tv stuff.....ONLY believe half of what you see and hear!!" Stephanie wrote.Stephanie also added the following shocking hashtags to her comment: "#theycangofuckthemselves #paymewhatyouoweme #careaboutyourcast #manipulatedbeyondbelief #seeyouincourt."Stephanie then expressed pride in her strong hashtags and explained why she's so angry."These clusterf-cks that work for this company are going to wish they never deceived me. I not only was raped while filming, but manipulated to keep filming after I begged to get off set after being bitten hundreds of times by sandflies," Stephanie claimed."But no, they just needed a romantic dinner filmed with Ryan."While Stephanie didn't get into details about the alleged rape incident, she complained about how all of those bug bites were life threatening and TLC allegedly did nothing to help her."I spend have my time in a hospital now hooked to IV's for the inflammation from the allergic reactions I had," Stephanie wrote."They are unwilling to pay all my medical expenses. My attorney started legal action today...stay tuned!!"The Instagram account noted Stephanie's medical bills should absolutely be taken care of, at the very least."Yes!" Stephanie agreed. "This show has ruined my health, I wish I had never heard of this show."Several days after Stephanie went on her rant, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram and captioned it, "Be careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it. #happysunday #Instagood #90dayfiance #truthalwayscomesoutintheend.": The Other Way star Laura Jallali -- whose relationship with Aladin Jallali ended in divorce -- commented, "Looking beautiful and yah 100 [percet] you probably don't want what you wish for because you will be disappointed in the end!"And Stephanie replied, "You and I know first hand, don't we my friend?!!!"Stephanie is pretty clearly giving away her relationship with Ryan did not work out.Laura wrote back to Stephanie, "Honey been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and couldn't return it without loosing my dignity."And then Stephanie responded, "LOVE YOU," along with clapping emojis and crying-laughing emoticons.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
Leaving Certificate students are to be offered the choice of calculated grades, a written examination, or both, after talks about holding State exams gathered pace this weekend. The Cabinet is expected to sign off on the dual approach at a meeting on Tuesday.

All of the countrys schools will begin a phased reopening in two to three weeks, according to Government sources yesterday. Under proposals currently being examined, Leaving Cert students would start a phased return of mainstream classes during the week of February 22. Primary schools would come back phased from March 1, and this would ramp up throughout the month, with other secondary school students returning subsequently.

A Department of Education memorandum to Cabinet will set out how Leaving Cert students will be offered the option of traditional exams or calculated grades.

Yesterday, Government sources told the Sunday Independent that most of the 60,000 students wanted the option of sitting the exam and/or accepting a calculated grade, and said the Government was most likely to sign off on this plan.

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Yesterday, secondary level teachers union, the ASTI, announced its intention to return to talks with the education department, in an indication that a resolution was in sight.

However, Government sources were adamant last night that it intended to press ahead with thethe calculated grade/written exam option, irrespective of the outcome of talks with the union.

The students need clarity and they need it now, a source said. This issue will not be allowed go beyond Tuesday. The Government will announce the Cabinet decision on Tuesday.

In a statement yesterday, the ASTI said it would resume talks and constructively engage in the process to find a solution for Leaving Cert students this year.

The teachers union last week withdrew from talks over doubts around whether oral and practical exams would take place, and the consequent relegation of the Leaving Certificate to a secondary position.

There remains some doubt over the staging of some second component assessments, such as oral and practical exams, over the ability of the State Examinations Commission to simultaneously manage three separate Leaving Cert components at short notice: written exams; calculated grades; and practical assessments.

Physical Education practical tests are expected to fall foul of public health rules.

Meanwhile other practical assessments are likely to run through the Easter holidays to help with the mounting workload created by almost two months of enforced school closures.

Yesterday Government sources expressed some doubts over whether all practical or oral exams would take place but said it remains determined the Leaving Cert would proceed with the calculated grades option also offered.

Sources close to the planning process described some of the details for running the State exams as unpalatable for teachers unions to sell to members. However, the Government is committed to pressing ahead with or without the support of the ASTI. The union said it was willing to return to the talks following a meeting with Education Minister Norma Foley last Friday.

It said it was given assurances by the minister on practical assessments, exams and confidentiality around class rankings of pupils. We will continue to constructively engage to seek to ensure ways are found to facilitate this years Leaving Certificate students in moving on with their lives, an ASTI spokeswoman added

Sources close to the talks said the minister did not offer the union anything that wasnt already on the table before it withdrew from the talks last Thursday.

Within Government there remains deep frustration and even anger at the manner in which the union handled negotiations last week.

Yesterday another source said the union saw the writing on the wall, with the Government willing to press ahead with plans with or without the ASTI.

While it is being discussed that Leaving Cert students could come back the week of February 22, that would be dependent on the public health advice available at the time and the level of Covid-19 in communities. It is hoped Covid-19 case numbers by then would be comparable to levels seen last Halloween, when schools were open fully.

On Monday November 2 there were 767 confirmed cases. Sources said an average caseload of about 750 could allow for a phased return to classrooms.
'I don't think I've ever sat down to intentionally read a love story," a friend said when I mentioned this piece. I knew she was thinking Mills & Boon, Georgette Heyer. For love story, see heavy on lowbrow, light on literary substance. In fact, the examination of love has resulted in some of the greatest novels of all time. A topic of enduring fascination, love is a filter through which writers have examined a multitude of subjects; identity, gender emancipation, class, status, mental health. Onward then for 10 of the greatest examples of the genre.

1 Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

"Reader, I married him," Charlotte Bronte announces in the final chapter of her most famous novel. Published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell, the story of orphan, later governess Jane and her eventual husband, Mr Rochester, was an instant success. It was also condemned for its depictions of religion, the independence of spirit and emotional vitality of the heroine, and the transcendence of class she effected. As such, it was also viewed by many as somewhat worryingly revolutionary, particularly those who speculated that the author might, in fact, be a woman.

2 Wuthering Heights

Emily Bronte

Almost operatic in tone, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is one of the most tortured love stories of all time. Also published in 1847, the story of Heathcliff and Cathy and the love affair which tore both themselves, and all around them, asunder, is a masterclass in the use of pathetic fallacy, and the Gothic form. Where Jane Eyre broke the feminine mould of the time in her quiet, understated way, Catherine Earnshaw did it with relentless gusto. Each are equally enjoyable.





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3 Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any list of the greatest love stories would be incomplete without the inclusion of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy is also a clear-eyed investigation of the reality of romantic love, and women's reliance on the state of marriage. Austen undertakes a rather forensic examination of what makes a good union.

4 Normal People

Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney's second novel, published in 2018, became an almost instant bestseller in the US in its first months. The story of Connell and Marianne brilliantly portrays teenage angst, first love, depression, and sex. This isn't the first time the plot of awkward-outsider-falls-for-much-celebrated-heartthrob-secret-romance-ensues, has been used, but it is possibly one of the most compelling instances.

5 The Great Gatsby

F Scott Fitzgerald

Although F Scott Fitzgerald's most famous work is so much more than a love story, being one of the finest analyses of the brutal reality of the American Dream, the obsessive fixation of Jay Gatsby with Daisy Buchanan is, of course, the motivating narrative of the novel. Fitzgerald uses the love affair, and Gatsby's elevation of what ultimately turn out to be the spurious characteristics of his beloved, to inform his wider critique of American society and values.

6 Love in the Time of Cholera

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A book title which has new meaning in the time of Covid, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 1985 classic is peppered with many of the Colombian writer's signature notes; magic realism, social turmoil, huge, almost obsessive emotions, class obstacles, characters capable of both lyrical flights of fantasy, and intense pragmatism, and a fracturing of traditional time structures.

7 Americanah

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

About this, her third book, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie told Vogue magazine that she had for a long time "wanted to write an unapologetic love story one that is very much set in a practical world affected by things like getting a visa and paying rent". This is the story of childhood sweethearts Ifemelu, who comes to America from Nigeria, leaving her boyfriend, Obinze, unable to get a visa, behind. He subsequently moves to Britain. Following the lives of the two, this stunning novel examines race, national and personal identity, social history, and an outsider viewpoint.

8 Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Like many great love stories, Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is as much an epic examination of the times in which it is set as the story of two, in this case, ultimately ill-fated, lovers. Set in 19th-century Tsarist Russia, it is the tale of the eponymous heroine, the affair she embarks upon with Count Alexei Vronsky, and society's punitive response. This is again the story of a woman who dares to step outside the parameters society would set for her, in the name of love.

9 Forever

Judy Bloom

The seminal novel on teenage first love and losing one's virginity, first published in 1975, revolves around Katherine and Michael's decision to have sex. For many who read it in a pre-internet era, this was their first exposure to sex. Bloom's depiction of unembarrassed conversations about intimacy, Katherine's sense of agency when it comes to losing her virginity, and the author's respectful treatment of teenage concerns, make this a classic.

10 The Time Traveller's Wife

Audrey Niffenegger

Even those struggling to get through a book thanks to a Covid-related abbreviated attention span will find Audrey Niffenegger's story of a man forced to jump through time, and the woman he marries, a guaranteed page-turner, if at times a shade sentimental. The author teams the fantastical nature of her narrative with a love story that is grounded in the realities of what happens to a relationship once the first flush of infatuation begins to wear off.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nations leading federal health agency, has announced it was possible for schools to transition to in-person learning without requiring for all teachers to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.

In long-awaited guidance released on Friday, the agency said there was strong evidence that showed schools could resume in-person learning safely, specifically with the lower grades.

In-person learning should be contingent on community transmission rates, the CDC said, and be prioritised higher than reopening restaurants and nonessential businesses.

The agency identified five key mitigation strategies for officials to address when reopening schools: universal and correct mask-wearing; physical distancing; washing hands; cleaning facilities and providing proper ventilation; and contact tracing, isolating, and quarantining any cases.

This guidance comes at a time when a national debate has erupted about how and when to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. Government officials were responsible for reopening individual districts, but some have faced pushback from teacher unions that claim the schools dont have proper safety measures in place.

Vaccinations and testing was not a key requirement in the CDC guidance to reopen schools. Instead, the agency said these areas would provide additional layers of Covid-19 prevention in schools.

The CDC emphasised the guidelines should be followed strictly and consistently in all schools. Guidance altered slightly between elementary, middle, and high schools.

Also, the agency released a coded chart of what level of schooling should be open depending on community transmission rates.

I want to be clear, with this operational strategy, CDC is not mandating that schools reopen. These recommendations simply provide schools a long-needed roadmap for how to do so safely under different levels of disease in the community, CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said in a news briefing on Friday.

We also know that some schools are already providing in-person instruction and we want them to be able to continue to do this, but we know that some are not following the recommended mitigation strategies we know to work, Dr Walensky added.

For these schools, we are not mandating that they close; rather, we are providing these recommendations and highlighting the science behind them to help schools create an environment that is safe for schools, students, teachers and staff.

While each key strategy was deemed important by the CDC, Dr Walensky put emphasis on wearing a mask and practicing social distancing in schools.

These two strategies are incredibly important in areas that have high community spread of Covid-19, which right now is the vast majority of communities in the United States, Dr Walensky said.

The CDC director also addressed the issue of vaccinations, as they were not listed as a key strategy to reopening schools.

We strongly encourage states to prioritise teachers and other school staff to get vaccinated, Dr Walensky said. If we want our children to receive in-person instruction, we must ensure that teachers and school staff are healthy and protected from getting Covid-19 in places outside of schools where they might be at higher risk.

President Joe Biden has put an emphasis on reopening schools as one aspect of his national coronavirus response plan.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that Mr Biden's hope was to open 50 per cent of schools for "some teaching" in person "at least one day a week" by the 100th day of his presidency.

"Hopefully it's more," Ms Psaki said. "And obviously it is as much as is safe in each school and local district."

Included in Mr Biden's plan was $130bn under his $1.9tn Covid-19 relief plan that would go directly to schools as they work to reopen safely. This money would go towards more educators to help class sizes remain small, properly ventilating and cleaning schools, and providing PPE equipment to schools. Funding could also provide assistance to students who fell behind during the pandemic.

"I think it's time for schools to reopen safely  safely," Mr Biden said when speaking to CBS News' Norah O'Donnell on Sunday. "You have to have fewer people in the classroom, you have to have ventilation systems that have been reworked."
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Nureca would be the sixth initial public offering in the calendar 2021 after Indian Railway Finance Corporation, Indigo Paints, Home First Finance Company, Stove Kraft and Brookfield India REIT. The offer will open for subscription next week.

ITI Capital has been acting as a book-running lead manager to the issue.

Here are 10 things to know before subscribing to the issue:

1) About Public Issue

The company plans to raise Rs 100 crore via public issue, of which it already garnered Rs 44.55 crore from two anchor investors on February 12. The issue includes a reservation of Rs 1 crore worth of shares for employees.

Investors can bid for a minimum of 35 equity shares and in multiples of 35 shares thereafter.

2) Issue Opening & Closing Dates

The public issue will open for subscription on February 15 and will close on February 17.

3) Price Band

The price band for the public issue has been fixed at Rs 396-400 per share. The eligible employees will get shares at a discount of Rs 20 per share.

4) Objects of Issue

Nureca will utilise issue proceeds for funding incremental working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

5) Company Profile

Nureca is a B2C company engaged in the business of home healthcare and wellness products. It enables customers with tools to help them monitor chronic ailments and other diseases to improve their lifestyle.

It is a digital-first company wherein it sells products through online channel partners such as e-commerce players, distributors and retailer. Further, it also sells products through its own website drtrust.in.

The home health market in India and neighbouring countries is pegged at Rs 20,757.0 crore in 2019 and is expected to grow to Rs 38,920.7 crore by 2025 at a CAGR of 11 percent. The growth is driven by rising awareness of Health and wellness, increasing spending power, the growing burden of chronic diseases, and the need for healthcare stakeholders to reduce healthcare costs, a Frost & Sullivan report said.

Nurcea classifies its products portfolio into five categories such as chronic device products, orthopaedic products, mother and child products, nutrition supplements and lifestyle products.

Dr Trust is its flagship brand, which enables the users to effectively monitor chronic alignments and improve their lifestyle.

Dr Physio is used for the products under orthopaedic categories such as electric massagers, wheelchairs and walkers. Trumom brand is used for the products under the mother and child care category.

6) Key Strengths

The company believes that the following are its primary strengths:

a) The company has a strong portfolio of products and consistently focuses on quality and innovation.

b) It has an asset-light business model and competitive products.

c) It has a combination of technical expertise and understanding of Indian consumer preference.

d) It has an experienced Promoter with a strong senior management team having domain knowledge.

7) Key Strategies

Nureca's strategies are focused on the following elements:

a) The company aims to diversify and strengthen the market by enabling itself to cater to a wide range of geographies and customer segments.

b) The company seeks to strengthen business through product innovation and new product launches.

c) The company seeks to strengthen up business through effective branding, promotional and digital activities.

d) The company retains and attracts the best talent and develops a performance-focused culture.

8) Promoter and Shareholding

Saurabh Goyal is the promoter of the company. He holds 34,99,979 equity shares, representing 46.67 percent of the pre-issue paid-up equity capital of the company. Payal Goyal, part of the promoter group, also holds the same number of shares in the company. They together hold 93.33 percent stake in the company.

Investor Yash Shares and Stock Private Limited holds a 5.88 percent stake in the company.

9) Management

Saurabh Goyal is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company. He had worked with Nectar Life Sciences and has over 10 years of work experience in the marketing division.

Smita Goyal and Rajinder Sharma are Non-Executive Directors of the company. Vijay Kumar Sharma, Charu Singh and Ruchita Agarwal are Independent Directors on the board.

Aryan Goyal is the Chief Executive Officer of the company. He has more than 15 years of experience. Prior to joining the company, he was working with Nectar Lifesciences and Nectar Biopharma as President.

Sakshi Mittal is the Chief Financial Officer of the company. She has more than 7 years of experience in finance and accounts. Prior to joining the company, she was working with Nectar Life Sciences as Deputy Manager and Nectar Biopharma as Deputy Manager.

10) Financials

Nureca earned a profit of Rs 6.39 crore in the year ended March 2020, increasing 2.7 percent over the previous year, and reported 100.1 percent growth in profit in 2019 at Rs 6.22 crore compared to the previous year.

Revenue from operations grew by 60.6 percent to Rs 99.42 crore in FY20 compared to the previous year and increased 208.7 percent to Rs 61.9 crore in 2019 compared to the previous financial year.

The company clocked a profit of Rs 36.18 crore on revenue of Rs 122.14 crore for the six-month period ended September 2020.

Achiko Signs Agreement with PT Indonesia Farma Medis to Establish a New Joint Venture, including a Contract with PT Mitra Asa Pratama and a Memorandum of Understanding with PT Pharos Indonesia, Completion Subject to Formal Approvals





Test Kits Will Be Integrated with Achikos Teman Sehat (Health Buddy) Mobile App to Address Growing Demand for Covid-19 Testing in Indonesia





The Joint Venture and the Contracts are a Precursor to Product Registration, Currently Planned to be Filed in the Next Few Weeks



ZURICH, Switzerland, Feb. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achiko AG (SWX: ACHI, ISIN CH0522213468) (Achiko, the Company) and PT Indonesia Farma Medis (PIFM) have signed an agreement to establish the joint venture company PT Achiko Medika Indonesia (PAMI) for the production, distribution and marketing of its testing platform developed from Project Gumnuts for Indonesia.

Khairudin Gustam, Chief Executive Officer of PIFM said: As Covid-19 cases across Indonesia have surged past the one million mark and the contagiousness of the disease continues to severely disrupt the economy, the need for mass market testing becomes apparent. The economy needs to find a way to function, but given the size and population of Indonesia, reliance on PCR testing is not enough. Additional testing methods for Covid-19 are needed and we believe the Project Gumnuts technology is a key solution to help the country and the economy get back on their feet.

Indonesia is a country of over 270 million people spread across several thousand islands. It is currently recording the highest number of cases, rates of positivity and fatality rates in Southeast Asia.

Phase 1 testing for Project Gumnuts has been concluded recently, achieving preliminary values of 91% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Further optimization studies are currently being conducted in Spain and Indonesia to meet the World Health Organizations (WHO) standards.

We are proud to be involved with Achikos development and look forward to the availability of Gumnuts for Indonesians, as most low-cost rapid tests are too expensive for daily testing. The price point and convenience that Gumnuts can offer will enable tens of millions of people the ability to test almost daily. This will be a powerful tool in stopping the spread and beating Covid-19 and other pathogens, said the Mayor of Pekanbaru in Indonesia, Dr. H. Firdaus S.T., M.T.

Achiko holds 50% of the PT Achiko Medika Indonesia joint venture registered today. PIFM and Achiko will jointly manufacture and assemble Project Gumnuts test kits for the Indonesian market, with PIFM tasked with the distribution and marketing, and Achiko earning a 10% licensing fee from gross sales. As new tests are developed, they will be similarly assembled and sold in the country.

Part of the joint venture is a contract with PT Mitra Asa Pratama (Mitra) and a memorandum of understanding with PT Pharos Indonesia (Pharos), along with several other companies, which are all subject to regulatory approval. Mitra is a leading distributor of medical and diagnostic devices in Indonesia, with vast network reach into government, healthcare institutions and retail markets, and will help with further distribution and marketing. Pharos is one of Indonesias largest pharmaceutical conglomerates with reach into two of the biggest pharmacy groups in the country, developing and marketing innovative products in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia, with manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam. They will be responsible for assembly, distribution, and marketing. The Company has also started to engage in several other commercial arrangements in Indonesia.

We are excited to be part of the fight against Covid-19 and all its successors and look forward to working with Achiko and PIFM to get this platform to market in the first half of 2021 as soon as the approval from the Ministry of Health is secured, said Ida Nurtika, Director of Corporate Communication at PT Pharos Indonesia.

The need for an effective and efficient diagnostic tool is increasing dramatically. We are proud to be able to use our expertise in healthcare distribution to help Achikos team deliver on this very important initiative, to collectively help the people of Indonesia manage this pandemic, said Mitras Chief Executive Officer, Victory Theodorus.



This joint venture is a major milestone for Achiko and a precursor to an imminent filing for product registrations and approvals in Indonesia, said Steven Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Achiko. Through PT Achiko Medika Indonesia, we have some of the best possible partners we can have to make a testing platform based on Projects Gumnuts, first with version 1.5 of our product and then many more to come. With comprehensive low-cost rapid and near universal testing, we can help Indonesia beat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Next steps see the completion of regulatory approvals, getting the technology into test kits and moving them into the market as soon as practicable.

ABOUT ACHIKO AG

We harness ground-breaking science with innovative technology to create solutions that provide a great user experience for patients, physicians, and governing bodies alike, leading ultimately to the transformation of the healthcare industry.

The current development of our patent pending diagnostic testing for Covid-19 (Project Gumnuts) provides an easy and effective way that enables people to obtain the information they need and require. Complemented by our mobile check-in app (Teman Sehat), we empower users to manage their diagnostic experiences on their own terms, safeguard their privacy, share experiences, obtain passport verification and find community.

Achiko holds exclusive commercialisation rights to the technology underlying Project Gumnuts from Regenacellx.sl. It may be used to detect all types of Covid-19, but also many other pathogens. Achiko is looking forward to the completion of regulatory approval and getting the technology to market as quickly as possible, applying it in an array of test kits and other assay formats.

Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, and Seoul. For more information, visit www.achiko.com

ABOUT PT INDONESIA FARMA MEDIS

PT Indonesia Farma Medis ("PIFM") is a medical device and pharmaceutical distribution company with a large network of relationships and distribution channels that includes hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics across the main islands of Indonesia.

PIFM provides supply chain solutions for distributing medical products and helps companies seeking market entry navigate the complexities of the Indonesian market. For more information, visit: https://indofarmamedis.com

ABOUT PT MITRA ASA PRATAMA

Mitra Asa Pratama collaborates with various international medical device brands to bring innovations to market and has been improving the overall healthcare technology in Indonesia for more than 20 years. With an extensive distribution network built by working closely with our sub-distributor partners, we cover hospitals, clinics, public health centers and offices, medical professionals, as well as the retail market.

It has been a long-standing part of our strategic vision to be able to build a vertically integrated company, where every business unit shares the same dedication to customer service. We firmly believe that service levels must always exceed expectations so that our clients, the medical professionals, can concentrate on the very important business of caring for patients. For more information, visit: https://mitraasa.co.id/

ABOUT PT PHAROS INDONESIA

PT Pharos Indonesia is a major regional pharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative products in Indonesia and other countries in South-East Asia.

The company was established on September 30, 1971 by Dr. Eddie Lembong, a visionary entrepreneur who wanted to build a modern, efficient, high quality, Indonesian pharmaceutical company. Dr. Lembongs plan was realized early and today Pharos remains one of Indonesias leading pharmaceutical companies.

On June 30, 1990 Pharos became the first Indonesian company to receive a certification of the local version of GMP (CPOB), confirming Pharos no compromises manufacturing standards. Currently, Pharos and its subsidiaries employ more than 5,000 talents across Indonesia. For more information, visit: http://www.pharos.co.id/

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This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Achiko AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Achiko AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Achiko AG 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.
New Delhi:

The government on Friday issued the whip on over 1.62 lakh companies by deregistering companies that have not been carrying out business activities for long and a series of actions are being taken against shell firms.

While the term 'shell company' is not defined under the Companies Act, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lok Sabha that many such entities have been found to be indulging in large scale tax violations.

"However, the Registrars of Companies (RoCs) have removed 1,62,618 companies from the register of companies as at July 12, 2017 after following the due process under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013," he said during Question Hour.

His response was to a query on whether a large number of shell companies and entities that are primarily used as conduits for dealing in black money and hawala transactions have come to the notice of the government.

Section 248 provides powers to the RoC to remove the name of a company from the register on various grounds including that the entity was not carrying out any business for two preceding financial years.

Responding to supplementary queries, the minister said the task force on shell companies has submitted its recommendations and actions are being taken. To a query about the action taken against the directors of companies that indulge in such violations, the minister said where there is infraction of law, action is taken under the relevant provisions.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 13:11:16|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Christchurch ushered in the Year of the Ox with multiple cultural events, highlighted by a Lunar New Year theme street parade on Sunday with traditional dancers and musicians, dragons, lions and much more.

The fifth annual Chinese New Year Parade is again proud to present to Christchurch another unique combination of traditional and contemporary performance art by the local Chinese community, according to the parade organizers.

"It's our wish that Christchurch can come and not just share with our joy of this celebration but share in our hope the new year will bring many blessing for our city and the world," the organizers said in a statement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a cloud over the world, and people "definitely need some after the year we have been through," said Liu Mao, deputy president of the Chinese Culture Association (NZ), the organizer of a Chinese New Year Gala in Christchurch.

The celebration for welcoming in the Lunar New Year is the most important festive event for the Chinese community, with the hope that the new beginning will bring in a rejuvenation of luck and fortune, Liu said.

Candy Zhang, senior diversity and engagement advisor of New Zealand's Office of Ethnic Communities, said in a speech ahead of the performance that the government is "committed to valuing ethnic diversity and building social cohesion and inclusion as we all work hard towards the recovering from COVID-19." Enditem
OTTAWA - A power struggle between the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate could erupt this week over the emotional issue of medical assistance in dying.

Justice Minister David Lametti listens to a speaker during an announcement about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - A power struggle between the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate could erupt this week over the emotional issue of medical assistance in dying.

Senators have already approved five amendments to Bill C-7, including two major changes that would expand access to assisted dying well beyond what MPs agreed to when they passed the bill in December.

Senators are to begin final debate on the bill Tuesday before finally voting on their amended version and shipping it back to the Commons, which will have to decide whether to accept or reject some or all of the amendments.

For now, Justice Minister David Lametti's office won't say if the Trudeau government is willing to accept any of the amendments.

"We await the revised bill from the Senate and will respond to the final package ... that they have put forward for inclusion at that time," his office said in a statement, adding that the government appreciates senators' "careful consideration" of the bill.

The bill would expand access to assisted dying to include intolerably suffering individuals who are not nearing the natural end of their lives, bringing the law into compliance with a 2019 Quebec Superior Court ruling.

Senators have approved amendments that would expand access even further, allowing people who fear being diagnosed with dementia or other comparable disorders to make advance requests for an assisted death. Another amendment would put an 18-month time limit on the bill's proposed ban on assisted dying for people suffering solely from mental illnesses.

The government is expected to make a decision on the Senate amendments at a cabinet meeting Thursday.

Having reformed the Senate appointment process in an effort to make the upper house more independent and less partisan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a point during his first mandate of accepting a relatively large number of Senate amendments to bills.

But because the Liberals now hold only a minority of seats in the Commons, it's not entirely up to the government this time to determine the fate of the proposed changes to C-7. At least one of the main opposition parties will have to support whatever the government decides.

The Conservatives, who voted overwhelmingly against the bill in its original form because they believed it was too permissive, are not likely to support the Senate's even less restrictive version.

"Conservatives have said the Liberal government should proceed with the parliamentary review required in the original MAID (medical assistance in dying) legislation," Conservative justice critic Rob Moore said in an email.

"By expanding MAID further without doing the much-needed analysis, they put the lives of vulnerable Canadians at risk."

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said last week that the amendments "are not without interest and indeed deserve to be looked at."

Still, he expressed some reluctance to go along with anything proposed by the Senate, an institution he said "has absolutely no legitimacy." And he noted that time is running out: the bill must be passed by Feb. 26 to meet the thrice-extended deadline imposed by the court.

New Democrats similarly have little use for the appointed upper house, which they've long argued should be abolished, and NDP justice critic Randall Garrison said he doubts his party would support the Senate amendments.

"I'm always concerned that the Senate has adopted this new role for itself where they redo everything that we've previously done in the House, where historically they were supposed to review rather than redo," he said in an interview.

Garrison said MPs on the Commons justice committee considered both the idea of a sunset clause on the mental illness exclusion and adding advance requests to the bill. But they ultimately decided more work needed to be done on both issues.

While he agrees with the gist of another Senate amendment requiring the government to collect race-based data on who requests and receives assisted deaths, Garrison said he doesn't think the measure belongs in a bill that would amend the Criminal Code.

And even though he's been calling on the government to launch the legally required parliamentary review of the assisted dying law, which was supposed to have begun last June, Garrison said a Senate amendment spelling out a timetable for a joint parliamentary committee review is unenforceable.

"We're not likely to have an objection if the government decides to reject them all," he said. "I think in fact all the opposition parties are likely to want to reject the Senate amendments."

If the Commons does so, senators will have to decide whether to accept the verdict of the elected chamber or dig in their heels.

Senators normally tend to defer to the will of the elected chamber, but some believe they have a duty to stand firm when fundamental constitutional rights are at stake.

A majority of senators have been clear that they believe the bill's blanket ban on assisted dying for people suffering solely from mental illness is unconstitutional, contravening the right to equal treatment under the law, regardless of mental or physical disability, as guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

If the 18-month time limit on that exclusion is rejected, senators could yet try another amendment, requiring that the government refer the matter to the Supreme Court.

Theoretically, the bill could ping-pong back and forth between the two chambers until some resolution is found.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2021.
Ghazipur, Feb 14 : A 25-year old man from Sikhera village in UP's Baghpat bet Rs 5,100 and 5kg of almonds with his friends that he could run from his village and reach the farmers' movement at the Ghazipur border.

Monu Dagar told IANS :" I had a bet on 5kg of almonds and Rs 5,100 to run from my village to the Ghazipur border, where farmers' protest is going on. I have won the bet and will be meeting the farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait soon." Monu started from his village at 11 a.m. on Sunday and reached the border at 4 p.m. His health deteriorated due to the continuous running following which he is being treated at a medical camp in the border.

Monu's friend Akash who had accompanied him, told IANS: "Monu is a good runner so the villagers had a bet that anyone who runs from the village to the border will be rewarded."
2 years of Pulwama terror attack: Will not forget, say Rajnath Singh, Shah

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 14: Two years since a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber rammed explosive-laden car in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on the national highway in Pulwama killing 40 troopers.

On the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday paid homage to the CRPF personnel who were killed in the incident.

"I pay homage to those brave @crpfindia personnel who sacrificed their lives in 2019 Pulwama terror attack. India will never forget their service to the nation and their supreme sacrifice. We continue to stand with their families, who had to suffer due to this attack," he tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes. "I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019. India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice," he tweeted.

At least 40 CRPF jawans were killed in a terror attack on February 14, 2019 at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. The CRPF men were travelling in a bus, part of a convoy of over a thousand security personnel, when an explosive-laden SUV rammed into the bus and exploded.

Since the attack, the majority of vehicles used for convoy movements have been upgraded to withstand bullet and low intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosions.

Immediately after the deadly attack on that fateful day that pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war, the CRPF decided to completely overhaul its SOP (standard operating procedure) for moving convoys on the highways.

Instead of moving in large convoys, like the one on February 14, 2019 with 78 vehicles, it was decided that personnel will move in smaller contingents with a maximum of 40 vehicles.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 11:19 [IST]

Tripoli, Feb 14 : Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Libya's newly appointed Prime Minister, confirmed that he has started working on forming a new unity government.

"We are still working hard on forming a government of national unity. We have indeed begun the process of evaluation of all candidates and resumes that we received," Dbeibah tweeted on Saturday.

"Our standards are efficiency, taking into consideration diversity and wide participation," Xinhua news agency quoted the Prime Minister as further saying.

On February 5, the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) voted for a new Prime Minister and a Presidency Council in the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva.

Dbeibah was selected as the Prime Minister and Mohammad Younes Menfi as President of the Council.

The new authority will present a fresh government to the House of Representatives within 21 days.

Libya plunged into chaos after the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011, witnessing prolonged conflict between the eastern-based Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA) and the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in the country's west.

On October 23, 2020, the Libyan delegations to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks in Geneva signed a UN-sponsored permanent ceasefire agreement.

The following month, the Joint Military Commission agreed on terms for the ceasefire implementation in the country, including the return of forces back to their camps and the withdrawal of foreign forces from conflict lines.

The delegations also agreed to exchange all prisoners, remove landmines in cooperation with the UN teams and the General Intelligence Service, and combat hate speech.

Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo County is looking for ways to help people experiencing homelessness in the community, despite an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a property to develop as a site for housing and other services.

The county government was hoping to purchase the now-empty Lakeside Academy property in Kalamazoo for $6 million to convert into housing and services for homeless residents, County Administrator Tracie Moored explained. But the county lost out to another buyer, according to a news release the county sent on Feb. 3.

To all of the residents who have spoken out on social media or contacted me directly about how we are helping Kalamazoos homeless population, I want you to know I  and my fellow commissioners  hear you loud and clear, Kalamazoo County Board Chairperson Tracy Hall said in the release. Kalamazoo County has been working for months on a long-term permanent solution to help residents experiencing homelessness, but unfortunately our efforts to purchase the former Lakeside Academy were unsuccessful.

Moored and other county leaders spent the last several months in discussion with the Lakeside for Children board, hoping to purchase the former Lakeside Academy to serve the countys unhoused population.

But the board that oversees the now-empty school accepted a bid from a local developer instead, the county said.

No property sale has been finalized, according to county property records. Lakeside for Children Board President Jeff Palmer declined to comment.

Hall said Oakland Finance LLC was the other buyer. The business, registered with the state on Sept. 30, 2020, lists its agent as Jordan Schau, with an address of 141 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 600. Schau, an attorney with Kalamazoo law firm Lake, Parfet & Schau, PLC, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The countys plan, which was presented to the academys board multiple times, called for providing mental health services as well as short- and long-term housing and job training services, the countys news release states.

Our vision for the former Lakeside Academy was to create an all-encompassing complete program and a results-driven approach to support individuals and families in Kalamazoo County who are experiencing homelessness, Moored said in the news release. We are disappointed the Lakeside Board did not accept our offer last month. If they had, we would be having a completely different conversation about our homeless population and those living in encampments in Kalamazoo.

Plans called for the project to be funded through tax millage receipts, county funds and other funding sources through community partners  primarily The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care and Integrated Services of Kalamazoo  Moored said.

Lakeside Academy, a residential youth treatment facility, closed in 2020 in the wake of the killing of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredricks. Fredericks died May 1 in a Kalamazoo hospital two days after being restrained for about 12 minutes by staff members at the facility after he threw food in the cafeteria. Three former Lakeside Academy employees now face homicide and child abuse charges tied to the teens death.

The campus of Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, May 1, 2020. Joel Bissell

Though the county believes it lost out on the chance to purchase and repurpose the former school, Hall said the county remains committed to the larger mission  finding lasting solutions that create long-term housing and wraparound services to help Kalamazoos unhoused population get the care they need.

County officials will continue searching for the right property to make this plan a reality, she said.

Until then, we encourage residents who want to do their part to donate to United Way, who are on the front lines providing warm meals, blankets and care to Kalamazoo Countys homeless, Hall said.

The number of people and families experiencing homelessness in Kalamazoo has grown since 2019, and the challenge has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has reduced capacity at shelters throughout the city.

Currently, the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region estimates at least 175 people are living in encampments, a 25% increase from fall 2020. Hundreds of people throughout Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County are homeless, relying on shelters or encampments to stay warm and dry, according to the county news release.

Housing has been a frequent topic of discussion among Kalamazoos city leaders as well.

The citys government erected a temporary warming shelter on Feb. 4, adjacent to one of the encampments, to help support those who are living outdoors in tents and other structures. The city posted a video of the temporary structure being built:

Before the shelter was built, public safety officers been called to the same encampment after propane tanks exploded at the site.

Protesters have also appeared at a nearby building, demanding housing solutions and support for people living in the encampments. Police officers asked the protesters to leave after they entered the building in an effort to call attention to the issue.

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David Shers ComebackTown giving voice to the people of Birmingham & Alabama.

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Todays guest columnist is Eli Cohen.

When I first saw that Amazons biggest unionization effort to date was taking place here in Birmingham, I couldnt believe what I was reading.

I grew up in Birmingham. Even as a child, I was politically involved, travelling to Montgomery to visit lawmakers at the capital, and later to learn the dark sides of our history at the Equal Justice Initiative.

I was no expert, but I thought I understood Alabama politics. I didnt know everything, but I was confident Alabama was not going to be the site of Amazons first domestic union showdown. But as voting begins at the companys Bessemer facility, that is exactly whats happening.

We all know Alabama is a deeply conservative state, largely pro-business and anti-union. Alabama is one of 28 states with so-called right-to-work laws, meaning any employee can choose not to pay union dues. Our states history follows a similar trajectory, but we shouldnt take the absence of major victories as a sign that labor organizing did not take place.

In fact, Alabama has a robust labor history, much of it in Bessemer itself. This union effort surprised me, but the more I learned about our history, the more I realized: maybe it shouldnt have.

International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (1930s)

According to Robin D.G. Kelley, Professor of History at UCLA, Alabamas labor history can be traced as far back as the 19th century, when the Knights of Labors served as an informal protective network for black and white workers alike.

But the highpoint of Alabamas labor history was the 1930s, and its strongest incarnation was the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers. Often called Mine Mill, IUMMSW was an interracial, though predominantly black, union in Bessemer, who successfully organized workers at the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company (TCI), Sloss-Sheffield, and the Woodward Iron Company.

Historian Robert Korstad called this period one of civil rights unionism. In Bessemers iron ore mines, there was a real working-class-led, union-based civil rights movement, where black workers combined class consciousness with race solidarity. Buoyed by Franklin Delano Roosevelts presidency and The New Deal, civil rights advocates increasingly looked to mass unionization as the best hope for overcoming the tangle of oppression that excluded blacks from full participation in American life.

Synonymous with Mine Mill was its larger-than-life leader, Autaugaville native Ashbury Howard. Under Howards leadership, Mine Mill Local 123 became both one of the most powerful and most militant unions in the region. Historian S. Jonathan Bass writes of Howard:

Bessemers most recognizable civil rights leader, Asbury Howard, embraced violence as a necessary means for achieving racial equality. Armed resistance paid off more than a peaceful approach, he said. Blacks in Bessemer would fight back with guns instead of nonviolent actions and words because the majority . . . understood that type of talk. Since the early 1930s, Howard was an outspoken agitator and one of Alabamas most controversial radicals. He embraced unionism, avowed Communism, and proclaimed Christianity.

Its critical to remember that while these movements were both radical and avowedly leftist, they were also tailored to local culture and custom. Karl Marx may have wanted to abolish religion, but these unions saw no conflict between their Christian faith and their faith in unionism. Bass also writes, In Bessemer, one participant at a Mine and Mill meeting observed that if you substitute God for union, devil for employer, and hell for unorganized, you would have a rousing sermon.

Its important to qualify the connection that can be made between Mine Mill and todays unionization effort at Amazon. Almost a century separates the two movements. Mine Mill no longer exists, and Amazon is a completely different sector of the economy, with little relation to whats left of the mining labor movement.

But unions can jump sectors, with lineages that are defined by other aspects, such as geographic location, tradition, or political leaning. Professor Kelley told me that, The RWDSU is politically, ideologically, tactically, a descendant of Bessemers International Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers.

The Public Employees Organizing Committee (1970s)

Though Birmingham is most well-known for its civil rights history, the movement was not confined exclusively to the summer of 1963, as popular history typically remembers. While the Birmingham Campaign was a catalyst for national civil rights victories, many local concerns were left unaddressed and continued into the late 60s and 70s. Though the movement lost its national spotlight, many local campaigns continued. One such outgrowth was the Public Employees Organizing Committee (PEOC), a union of hospital and nursing employees that attempted to organize at UAB and other local hospitals and nursing homes in the 1970s.

According to Professor Robert W. Widell Jr., the PEOC represented a new and more expansion vision of civil rights, building on the successes of the 1960s, but also aware of the eras limitations.

Though the PEOC was a direct descendent of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, it may have had more in common with the civil rights unionism of the 1930s. Organizers of the PEOC certainly celebrated the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, but they proved that national legislation was not enough. While it increased access to rights for Alabamas black population, it did not solve many long standing issues. Their protest pushed an even more encompassing idea of equalitynot just freedom from Jim Crow, but freedom from poverty, access to civil services, and equality of opportunity.

The lead organizers of the PEOC were Dorothy and James Farrior, two black UAB employees who began hosting meetings in their home, along with Alex Hurder, a white conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, who, as a result, was doing mandatory service at the Spain Rehabilitation Center. Professor Widell Jr. writes:

The workers positioned themselves as part of not just a (re)emerging labor movement, but an expanding black freedom struggle. In her remarks to the March 1972 rally, for example, Minnie Crenshaw [a PEOC member] directly connected the organizing drive and the black freedom struggle by invoking one of the movements most well-known anthems. We shall overcome, she said, only when we all come over and join.

The PEOC eventually unionized as Hospital Workers Local 1318, and was successful in reinstating a number of wrongfully terminated employees across the region. But their more ambitious goals of bargaining on behalf of all the citys medical workers were never realized. Met with fierce opposition from hospital administration, elected leadership, and the Birmingham police, the PEOC was unable to sustain itself into the 1980s.

Bamazon Union

During that time, the broader economic trends of both Bessemer and Birmingham was one of near complete deindustrialization. Sloss Furnaces closed in 1971. Tennessee, Coal and Iron Co. (TCI), a subsidiary of US Steel, laid off thousands of workers in the 1970s and by 1982 ceased operating altogether. Pullman Standard, the train car manufacturer at the heart of Bessemers downtown, closed in 1981.

In 1887, Bessemer was founded as the fever dream of mining and steel baron Henry F. Debardeleben. Nicknamed the Marvel City, the citys promoters boasted that it had a future brighter than any city in the South and showed promise without parallel in the history of American towns.

A century later, as the entire U.S. economy transitioned from heavy industry to a largely service economy, Bessemer suffered heavy job losses. By the 1980s some estimates put the unemployment rate around 30%, among the worst in the country.

The citys economic prospects remained weak until only recently. But Bessemers cheap real estate and cheap labor attracted major distribution centers for companies such as Amazon and Lowes. Bessemers mayor said the contract with Amazon was the largest in the citys history. But in Bessemer, steels legacy is never far. Amazon purchased the land for its facility from U.S. Steel, the parent company of TCI.

The latest high-profile unionization effort in Alabama was at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance. It ended in 2019, when after years of organizing; the union was unable to file an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In 2020, Union membership nationally was at all-time low, barely above 10 percent.

Professor Robert Widell Jr. pointed out that with each economic shift, it can take decades for workers in new industries to develop enough of an identity to unionize. When Mine Mill was successfully striking in Bessemer in the 1930s, heavy industry already had a many decade history of union organizing.

Logistics does not have the same degree, and the tech industry has been anathema to unionization until just a few months ago. While Bamazon Union does have numerous historical antecedents, they are making a path distinct from anything before. Labor organizing is the constant, Widell Jr. told me, What changes are the conditionsthe political landscape.

History alone cannot predict the political landscape today, much less the outcome of the upcoming election. But contrary to the prevailing narrative, Alabama does have a substantial labor history; one that was both interracial and progressive. Today, with the formidable pressure on Amazon, the new Democratic control of the Presidency and Congress, and the unique circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, that labor history may bode well for the current union election underway in Bessemer.

Eli Cohen recently completed a Watson Fellowship, traveling to India, Nepal, and Myanmar to study the intersection of technological development and political power. Before that, he produced public radio at WBHM and studied US Congress at The Brookings Institution. Eli graduated from Pomona College in 2019. He is a Birmingham native. https://www.elibenton.co/

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David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).


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Paul Nicholls has been accused of 'coupling up' with his best friend's fiancee.

Talking in a new interview, Robert Selby claimed that the former EastEnders heartthrob, 41, who played troubled Joe Wicks in the BBC soap, is a 'back-stabber'.

Robert accused Paul of pursuing a romance with his girlfriend of four years, Hemma Kathrecha, who is also the mother to his son, two, after moving into their home last year.

Accusations: Paul Nicholls has been accused of 'coupling up' with his best friend's fiancee, Hemma Kathrecha, after moving into their home last year (pictured in December)

Talking to The Sun, he alleged: 'Paul's a back-stabber. I wish I'd never met him. I can't get to see my son. He's scared about Hemma coming back to me because he has nowhere else to go.'

He added: 'He moved into our council house last year. Hemma and I were rowing so I left for a few days to clear my head. I thought we'd get through it, then he got together with Hemma.

'I heard they were a couple through friends, then she told me.'

Paul was pictured with Hemma in Primrose Hill in December, enjoying a post-Christmas stroll. There was nothing to suggest they were in a romantic relationship.

Claims: Talking in a new interview, Robert Selby claimed that the former EastEnders heartthrob, 41, who played troubled Joe Wicks in the BBC soap, is a 'back-stabber' (Paul pictured in December, left, and in 2003, right)

MailOnline has contacted Paul's representatives for comment.

Paul's love life has remained undisclosed since he split from wife Chantal Brown. The pair were married from 2008 until 2015, and did not have children.

Since the marital split, Paul has appeared on TV series Death In Paradise, Grantchester, In the Club and Ackley Bridge.

His personal life has not been short of struggle - having publicly battled a drink and drugs addiction as well as depression, following his EastEnders role, which ended in 1997 after one year.

Former couple: Robert Selby is pictured with Hemma in happier times

Lost love: Paul's love life has remained undisclosed since he split from wife Chantal Brown. The pair were married from 2008 until 2015, and did not have children (pictured in 2010)

After recovering, he said of his battles in 2008: 'People said I had too much too soon when I was playing Joe Wicks, and maybe they were right. I didn't want to be a heart-throb, and I could not handle the attention.'

He then revealed on Loose Women in 2016 that he had been left unable to speak for a few months, after discovering a benign tumour on his throat.

He explained: 'It's nerve-racking to be back on stage. I didn't speak for a couple of months. It was a tumour rather than a nodule, in my vocal cords.'

In 2017, Paul hit headlines when he was found with severe injuries at the bottom of a waterfall on the Thai Island of Koh Samui - three days after he left his accommodation to go for a ride on his scooter.

Trailblazing: Paul's EastEnders character Joe Wicks, pictured here with his mother Lorraine (Jacqueline Leonard), was praised in the 1990s as being a realistic portrayal of someone with schizophrenia

Speaking on Loose Women afterwards, Paul explained: 'I was on a scooter, no one knew where I was. I came around the corner, there were about 15 wild dogs. One pack had made a kill and the blood attracted the rest of them.'

He added: 'I pulled into the waterfall and thought the only way I can go is down but I didn't realise how much I was bleeding. As soon as I touched the rock, I just went over. It was a 20 ft drop and my knee hit something on the way down.

'It looked like something just flew out of my knee - part of my knee cap - and then I hit the water. Where my knee cap should have been, there was just a hole and I was holding it.'

And the actor's distress was only exacerbated when the waterfall setting began to resemble somewhat of a horror scene as legions of leeches and crabs appeared from no where.

Emergency crews found the actor after a three-day search of the wilderness when the alarm was raised after he failed to return his rented bike.

The star was semi-conscious and suffering from hypothermia as well as a tropical infection picked up from his untreated wounds and a broken leg.

Speaking of the near-death experience to from hospital, Nicholls told The Sun: 'I am lucky to be alive. It took such a long time to find me. It's an understatement to say it wasn't a great situation.'

https://www.aish.com/sp/so/When-the-KKK-Tried-to-Recruit-Me.html

Cory's unique path to Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem.

It was a glorious autumn day at the foot of Colorados magnificent Pikes Peak Mountain Range. Cory, a 23 year old earning a master's degree in education and leadership at the University of Colorado, was out on a recreational pheasant hunt with friends.

It was there that he met Jake*. Tall, with a scruffy beard and both arms covered in tattoos, Jake took a liking to Cory. They exchanged numbers and over the next few months kept in touch. One day, Cory was at the shooting range preparing for elk season when in walked Jake. He gave Cory a big hello and, after some small talk, extended an invitation to his home.

Come meet my friends, Jake said. I told them all about you. Were all getting together and I really want you to come.

Cory demurred, but Jake remained persistent.

Theyre a good group of guys, very like-minded, Jake pressed on.

I dont really have the time right now, Cory said.

Listen, Jake said leaning in. I'm a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and we're having a recruiting event. I want you to join us.

Having grown up in Long Island, attending public high school that was majority Jewish, Cory had never met a KKK member before. Yet hed heard of the KKKs notorious history in America and specifically Colorado, where a century ago the white supremacist group dominated all levels of government  controlling the state legislature, the governors office, and State Supreme Court. Denvers mayor and police chief were Klansmen, as was Colorados U.S. Senator. And Cory knew that though the Klan today has diminished into political obscurity, Jews remain a target of their hate-filled ideology calling for the purification American society.

The repulsed reaction on Corys face said it all.

It's not what you think, Jake said. We do philanthropy and social events. We just want what's best for our country.

In shock, Cory's only response was, Im Jewish.

Jake recoiled in disbelief. But Jews don't spend money, and I've seen you spend money. Jews live in mansions, and you live in a regular apartment. Your nose is not huge! You don't have horns!

Cory stared back with a mix of amusement, confusion, and disbelief. Then things turned ugly.

Both Jake and Cory had guns in hand, like enemies facing each other with a chance one would not be left standing. After what felt like an eternity, Jake turned away and the standoff ended.

As he left, Jake snarled, The next time I see you, Im gonna kill you.

Cory was left momentarily shaken and decided to put the bizarre episode behind him.

A few months later, Cory was back at the shooting range when he heard someone shouting his name. He turned around to see Jake walking toward him with his gun drawn and at his side.

I told you! Jake said. The next time I see you, I'll kill you.

Cory was dumbfounded.

I can't do this now in public, Jake growled. It's not worth the price of killing a Jew. But you'd better keep your eyes peeled for me.

Cory went to file a report with the manager of the shooting gallery. They reviewed the video footage from the security camera and contacted the police who arrested Jake for brandishing a firearm in public.

Cory's main takeaway? Don't tell people you're Jewish. Anti-Semitism is alive and well, and being Jewish is a scary thing that is best suppressed and buried. Sure, hed grown up lighting Hanukkah candles and eating apples-and-honey on Rosh Hashanah. But after his Bar Mitzvah, hed barely stepped into a synagogue again. Being Jewish felt more like an accident of birth.

Don't ever tell anyone you're a Jew, Cory told himself that day at the shooting range. Being Jewish just isnt worth it.

Spiritual Shake-up

Cory was always an avid outdoorsman. As a child, hed accompany his father to the local 4H Club for farming and wilderness activities. As a young adult, Cory was drawn to the Wild West, where he'd spend adventurous weekends horseback riding and hiking. He volunteered at a local cattle ranch in Colorado and would go on hunting expeditions several times a year.

Out on the trail, there are bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions, Cory says with a smile. When youre out in nature and hear an elk bugling, or youre standing atop a towering mountain with a view for miles; its a humbling experience.

After completing grad school, a road trip brought Cory to North Dakota, where he started his career as the director of the dormitories at a small state university.

One day, Cory took advantage of the universitys health insurance plan and went for a generic medical checkup. He was referred to a dermatologist, who noticed some irregular spots on his skin. They took some biopsies which came back positive for melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

The spots were surgically removed, and though no chemotherapy was required, for a healthy outdoorsman like Cory, this shook him to his core. He felt something essential missing in life, and his thoughts turned to spirituality.

Cory thought back to his Birthright trip to Israel five years earlier. He loved Israel and didn't want to leave. But he had commitments back in the U.S. and Israel became a distant memory.

Now at age 26 with Judaism nowhere in sight, he didn't know what to do or how to start his spiritual awakening. Cory turned to his mother and she suggested he try Torah study. She'd been to Israel with Momentum a few years prior and had become more Jewishly-inclined and involved. So Cory began a one-on-one weekly Torah study with JInspire, which he faithfully maintained since 2018.

Fast forward to the fall of 2020 when, due to Coronavirus, campus activity was shut down  and Cory got laid off. He contacted Rabbi Chaim Sampson of Project Inspire, who suggested studying at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. One hour a week is good, the rabbi said, but that doesn't compare to an immersive experience.

The idea resonated and within a month Cory was in Israel, studying full-time at Yeshiva Aish HaTorah.

The past few months at Aish have changed my life. I believed in God before I came here, but I wanted to deepen my understanding of what it really means to be Jewish.

We need to know and appreciate why being Jewish is worth it.

I am learning Hebrew, and coming to Israel during the pandemic, with all the lockdowns, has given me an even more unique experience to understand, develop, and connect to Judaism than I probably would have had at any other time.

Aish is an amazing place. It's unbelievable that I get to sit on a balcony that faces the Temple Mount and have the opportunity to learn with so many other questioning students and great rabbis, all at my own pace. Everyone here is so welcoming; it's a real privilege to call Aish my home.

Yes, being Jewish might sometimes feel scary, he says, but now I know and appreciate why its worth it.

RIGHT NOW, Aish.com, along with Aish HaTorah, is running its annual Spark the Flame Causematch Campaign. By raising $4M dollars, visionaries like you will help create a new generation of value-centric leaders, build communities online and in person, and share timeless Jewish wisdom with people all over the world! Donate today to take advantage of our 4x match... and turn dreams into reality! Click here to donate.

*A pseudonym
UK Says It Shares US Concerns Over WHO COVID-19 Mission to China

LONDONBritish foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Feb. 14 that he shared concerns about the level of access given to a World Health Organization COVID-19 fact-finding mission to China, echoing criticism from the United States.

The White House on Feb. 13 called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying it had deep concerns about the way the findings of the WHOs COVID-19 report were communicated.

Asked about the U.S. reaction, Raab told the BBC: We do share concerns that they get full cooperation and they get the answers they need, and so well be pushing for it to have full access, get all the data it needs to be able to answer the questions that I think most people want to hear answered around the outbreak.

In a separate BBC interview, a member of the WHOs delegation to China said that, while Chinese authorities had not given them all raw data, they had seen a lot of information and discussed analysis of the first cases.

It would be unusual for them to hand over the raw data, but we looked at a great deal of information in detail in discussion with the Chinese counterparts, said John Watson, an epidemiologist who travelled to China as part of the WHO team.

On Feb. 13, Dominic Dwyer, an Australian infectious diseases expert, who is also a member of the team, said China had refused access to all the data requested.

By William James
Advocate readers may submit stories of about 500 words to The Human Condition at features@theadvocate.com or The Advocate, Living, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. There is no payment, and stories will be edited. Authors should include their city of residence, and, if writing about yourself, a photo.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and little Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor are going to be a family of four! On Feb. 14, the Duke and Duchess announced via representative that theyre expecting their second child. The exciting announcement comes just months after Meghan revealed she had a miscarriage in July.

Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe in Cape Town, South Africa | Toby Melville/Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

How old is Prince Harry and Meghan Markles baby?

The couples announcement also came with a beautiful black-and-white photo of Harry and Meghan. In the image, Harry is sitting in grass while Meghan lays her head in his lap, her hand resting on her bump. The two are all smiles in the photo as they look at each other.

We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child, the announcement said, per Harpers Bazaar.

The baby will be joining their royal mom and dad, plus big brother Archie, who will be 2 years old on May 6, 2021.

Meghan Markle Is Pregnant, Expecting Second Child with Prince Harry https://t.co/Vw1PDU6A6r  Harper's Bazaar (@harpersbazaarus) February 14, 2021

RELATED: Princess Dianas Nieces Reveal She Shielded Them From a Terrifying Moment With Paparazzi

When will Meghan and Harrys baby be born?

This is Meghans third pregnancy that she has announced to the public. Archie is her and Harrys firstborn, but the Duchess revealed in November 2020 that she was pregnant earlier that year. She had a miscarriage in July.

After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp, Meghan wrote in an essay for The New York Times, I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right. I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.

Meghan and Harrys baby announcement did not reveal a due date. Based on the pregnancy photo they shared, it seems as though Meghan could be in her first or second trimester. And with the announcement coming so early in the year, its likely that the baby will be born sometime in 2021.

RELATED: Are Prince William and Prince Harry in The Crown Season 4?

Will Meghan and Harrys children have royal titles?

Meghan and Harry announced they would step down as senior royals in January 2020. While they are still referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they are not referred to as His/Her Royal Highness. Archie also does not have a royal title, and neither shall his sibling.

Archie is still seventh in line for the throne, however, and will become a prince once he turns 18 and his grandfather, Charles, Prince of Wales, becomes king. Archie and his sibling will be allowed to choose whether or not they want to keep the royal titles, but that choice will not change their places in the line of succession.

The baby will be Queen Elizabeth IIs and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs, 10th great-grandchild, Prince Charles and the late Princess Dianas fifth grandchild, and the second royal baby born in 2021. Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, welcomed a baby boy on Feb. 9.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency Saturday over severe weather that left parts of the state covered in ice and snow and led to power failures, transportation shutdowns and communication problems.

The state of emergency applies to Benton, Clackamas, Hood River, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.

The weather that set in yesterday and continued overnight has left extensive damage with hundreds of thousands of Oregonians without power, Brown said in a statement.

Because of windstorms, utility crews were not able to safely start work on restoring power until this morning, Brown added. Crews are out in full force now and are coordinating with local emergency response teams on communications for emergency services, such as warming centers. Im committed to making state resources available to ensure crews have the resources they need on the ground.

The compounding storms, which began late Thursday, are expected to continue through Sunday morning.

Portland General Electric reported about 223,000 of its customers have no power as of 2 p.m. Saturday. Pacific Power said more than 31,000 customers have also lost power.

TriMet suspended bus and MAX Saturday morning. A few bus lines had been restored by roughly 2 p.m.

The emergency declaration allows the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to begin using people, equipment, and facilities from other agencies to deal with the emergency.

The National Weather Service Portland reported that as of 4 a.m. Saturday, its office had recorded 7.9 inches of snowfall since 12:01 a.m. Friday.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

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

Pak woman who became village panchayats interim head arrested

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Etah, Feb 14: A Pakistani woman, who had managed to become an interim head of a village panchayat in Jalesar police station area, was arrested on Saturday, police said.

The FIR against Bano Begum had been lodtranspired that Bano Begum was a Pakistan native, who had married Akhtar Ali of Etah on June 8, 1980.

Since her marriage, she had been staying in India by repeatedly extending her long term visa, the SSP saidged on the complaints of villagers who had said despite being a Pakistani national, she had contested the village panchayat elections and after the death of the elected panchayat pradhan, she had also become the interim panchayat head.

Bano Begum, a Pakistani national who had become the interim head of Gadau village panchayat, had been absconding since the registration of an FIR against her on January 1 this year at Jalesar police station, has been arrested, Etah's SSP Sunil Kumar Singh said.

During the investigation, it .terim head of the panchayat on the death of the elected pradhan, the SSP said.

The Jalesar police arrested her on Saturday from near her house on a tip-off, he added.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:11 [IST]
Cardi Bs new track Up is inspiring new TikTok challenges and climbing its way up the music charts.

Though its her first new single since the summers WAP with Megan Thee Stallion, shes also been entertaining fans with her Facebook Watch series, Cardi Tries. Still, Up has a hook thats catchy and people are applying their own definitions of what it means. But the rapper recently gave her own hilariously vivid description.

Cardi B attends The Road to F9 Global Fan Extravaganza, 2020 | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Cardi Bs Up caught plenty of attention

When the single and new visual for Up hit the airwaves, Cardi Bs fans ate it up. As the numbers rise on multiple platforms, some are posting their choreographed videos on social media and others are remixing it with their own lyrics. And there are plenty of jokes about Pixars Up movie.

But the song attracted a bit of controversy too. Hours after the single dropped, Cardi B was accused of copying a New Jersey rap duos song called Stuck.

Rappers Mir Pesos and Mir Fontane alleged that she plagiarized the hook from their track and tweeted a side-by-side comparison of the two. It led to a trending discussion on Twitter with Cardi B shutting down the notion that she copied anything.

Naaa im the type of person that avoids problems & court days. If i get inspired by a song I wouldnt mind giving a percentage or couple of thousand but I never Hurd if this man. Im glad while I was recording this song in August I was playing wit the hook on this live, she tweeted.

The plagiarism chatter has since died down, but people are still homing in on the phrase, If its up then its stuck, including Jimmy Fallon.

RELATED: Cardi B Responds to Claims She Stole Her New Song Up

Cardi B breaks down meaning of Up phrasing

Cardi B appeared as a guest on the Feb. 11 episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk about her music, shooting videos during the pandemic, and her appearance in Fast and Furious 9. But one thing Fallon was curious about had to do with the up and stuck lyrics.

At first, Cardi believed the phrase to be a local Georgia thing since her hubby Offset says it all the time. Then other Southerners chimed in to tell her they say it where theyre from too.

But for Cardi B, the words have their own meaning. We know she was joking with Fallon when asked about the meaning, but she proceeded to explain how Its up then its stuck is about a bodily function.

So, have you ever taken a poop, right, and it dont come out? Its just up and its stuck, she explained. Fallon  who kept a straight face  seemed contemplative about her answer and noted the song could be left up to ones own interpretation.

He thought the words meant reaching the peak of success after hard work. Take that as you may.

Viewers who tuned in for this episode also learned that the kissing scene in the Up video didnt come together easily. Cardi B said they had to beg to include it because of the strict COVID-19 filming protocols. Only a certain amount of girls could be in the shots.

Fans can watch the entire episode of Fallon featuring Cardi B. on NBCs website.
Back in September last year, Nvidia made a pretty big splash in the tech realm by officially confirming long-standing rumors of a planned acquisition of ARM Ltd. Back then Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang himself sent-out an open letter, laying out massive plans for joint development and efforts between the two entities, mainly focused on AI. It didn't take long, however, for the determined tone of the letter and the announcement for the proposed $40 billion deal to get softened quite a bit after the realities surrounding it became clear. Namely, that it would have to be thoroughly investigated and approved by a myriad of international regulatory bodies, chiefly tasked with determining whether it does not break anti-competitive and monopoly legislation.

In a rather logical and expected step, major tech players have since started to join in the massive debate and lengthy proceedings, more often than not expressing concern for the aftermath of such an acquisition. Qualcomm is now among them. The mobile chip titan has filed official concerns to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the European Commission (EC), the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the Chinese State Market Regulatory Administration.

The main worry on Qualcomm's and most other companies' minds is, naturally, whether this might disrupt the current unique model ARM Ltd. uses to openly license the ARM architecture to over 500 companies that use it to make their own chips. By some estimations, ARM's architectures are currently used in about 95% of the world's smartphones and 95% of chips designed in China. Qualcomm has expressly stated that it believes the only way Nvidia could fully capitalize on the deal would require them gating-off ARM technology in one way or another.

Naturally, Qualcomm is not holding up the defenses alone. Huawei has notably urged Beijing to block the deal over fears that the acquisition of ARM could be used as a powerful leveraging tool in the ongoing US/China economic and political tensions once it falls in the hands of the US Nvidia Corporation.

On its part Nvidia has tried to mitigate concerns as best it can. It, along with the other parties involved, namely ARM Ltd. and its current owner Soft Bank, have pledged that the ARM company will remain headquartered in Cambridge UK and that all parties will invest heavily in the future of the licensing business. To quote an Nvidia spokesperson:

As we proceed through the review process, were confident that both regulators and customers will see the benefits of our plan to continue Arms open licensing model and ensure a transparent, collaborative relationship with Arms licensees. Our vision for Arm will help all Arm licensees grow their businesses and expand into new markets.

This leads us to the other important bit of the story - the ongoing regulatory hurdles any potential deal still has to clear. Nvidia obviously remains optimistic, but many experts and investors have already expressed their opinion that the deal is highly-likely to be blocked by one or more regulators. The FTC's investigation, in particular, has recently move into a "second phase". The regulatory body has reportedly already asked SoftBank, Nvidia and Arm to provide additional information surrounding the deal. The expectation is that whatever the ultimate outcome is, the investigations alone will be massive, difficult and very drawn-out in time. So, be prepared to follow the story patiently.

Source


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The PSNI has warned DUP politicians with offices near Larne port their premises could be targeted by loyalists angry over the Irish Sea border.

Several party premises in the East Antrim and South Antrim constituencies have been visited in recent weeks, with staff warned to take extra precautions.

The police were not delivering targeted threats, merely offering advice. However, DUP politicians are understood to be taking the messages extremely seriously.

A party spokesman said: "The police should have no need to give security advice to those working in constituency offices. There is no place for violence, or threats of violence, in a democracy."

The warning came on the back of the party's East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson predicting that Brexit check problems at ports would get worse.

There have been a series of issues with the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including a resolved row over Covid vaccines.

Mr Wilson said: "If you think it's bad at the minute, what's it going to be like in April once there's full implementation?"

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It comes at a time of turmoil over the Northern Ireland Protocol element of the Brexit agreement, with rising anger among loyalists, who have been blamed for making threats against border control post (BCP) staff in Larne.

Customs checks were temporarily suspended last week at Larne and Belfast ports, with a dozen employees withdrawn from the Larne BCP after sinister graffiti appeared warning "all staff are targets".

They resumed work on a phased basis last Wednesday after a security risk assessment by Stormont officials was carried out at all three BCPs, including Belfast and Warrenpoint, as well as "a full threat assessment from the PSNI".

Loyalist signs pictured in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, yesterday warned "No border in the sea or we continue the fight".

Sammy Wilson said: "I can totally understand why people are angry. I also understand why they lash out.

"I have no doubt that they saw the threats of violence were rewarded with the protocol, so people who are minded to engage in violence will say 'That seems to be the answer to the problem - just threaten violence and sure you'll get whatever you want'.

"I think they're wrong in doing so. There's no point in putting pressure on environmental health officers just doing their job that they are employed to do and are not in any way involved in the politics of this. So I can sympathise with those people who now find themselves in the front line of what is basically a political problem cynically created by people like Boris Johnson, who were more interested in ensuring the unity of the Conservative Party and winning a general election.

"The real culprits in all of this are not the poor people who work at the front line. The real culprits are the cynical politicians in Northern Ireland and the Republic who created a problem which wasn't a problem on the frontier between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. And don't forget this is before the full implementation of this agreement. This is during the grace period, when we're given certain freedoms not to have some things checked and not have checks as rigorous as what they will eventually be."

Fuel was added to the fire last week by Loyalist Communities Council chairman David Campbell saying it may be necessary to "fight physically to maintain our freedoms within the UK".

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said "the EU was good for Northern Ireland, playing a vital role in its peace and prosperity".

The Justice Minister added: "Because the unionist parties, especially the DUP, turned down more moderate ways to manage Brexit - including even arguing against a longer transition period to allow businesses greater time to prepare - and pursued a harder version, we are now dealing with those consequences, namely the Northern Ireland Protocol.

"We have been working with the Government and EU to bring as many mitigations and flexibilities as possible. In the meantime, the undeliverable promise of a 'perfect' Brexit from some quarters, the ignoring of facts, the scapegoating of some and the ratcheting up of rhetoric has helped fuel increasing tension here."

TV production companies must now meet minimum diversity requirements, ensuring the inclusion of under-represented people and perspectives, in order for their programs to be commissioned by the ABC.

From Monday, all externally produced series ordered by two major divisions of the public broadcaster  entertainment and specialist, and regional and local  must comply with the ABCs diversity and inclusion commissioning guidelines for screen content.

Michael Carrington, ABCs director of entertainment and specialist programming, and Sally Riley, head of drama, comedy and Indigenous. Credit:Steven Siewert

While we already prioritise diversity and inclusion at the ABC, this is the first time we have prescribed guidelines to track progress towards our goal of looking and sounding like contemporary Australia, said Michael Carrington, ABCs director of entertainment and specialist programming. Weve already taken steps in this direction but we need to do more to better reflect the wonderful diversity of this nation.

As a general rule, externally-produced series must be either about under-represented communities or experiences, or include at least one main cast member who is Indigenous Australian or from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, someone who lives with a disability or someone who identifies as LGBTQI+.
Headquarters of LG Group and SK Group in Seoul / Yonhap



USTIC rules in favor of LG in 2-year-long battery dispute



Volkswagen, Ford urge two Korean firms to settle dispute ASAP



By Baek Byung-yeul



With the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) siding with LG Energy Solution (LGES) in its intellectual property battle against SK Innovation (SKI), all eyes are on whether the two Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery makers can reach a settlement with each other.



The USITC ruled in favor of LGES on Feb. 10, backing the company's claim that SKI infringed on trade secrets for developing EV batteries by hiring ex-employees of LG Chem, ending the two-year dispute. LG Chem spun off its EV battery division last year to form LGES, which has continued the legal battle in its place.



The USITC issued a limited exclusion order to SKI, banning the company from importation, domestic production and sales of EV batteries in the U.S. for 10 years. However, the commission also permitted SKI to import components needed to produce EV battery packs for Volkswagen for two years and for Ford for four years.



U.S. President Joe Biden has 60 days to review the USITC's exclusion order. Unless the president exercises his veto powers, the ruling becomes final after 60 days.



At this point, industry analysts said there are two possibilities for SKI  one is that Biden exercises his right to veto the USITC's decision before the end of the 60-day presidential review period, and the other is reaching a settlement with LGES.



SKI said it will continue looking for ways "to protect our clients' interests during the presidential review period and afterwards."



Georgia State Governor Brian Kemp also backed SKI, calling on President Biden to overhaul the USITC's ruling as the decision against SKI could hurt the company's battery-making plant being built in the state. SKI is currently building two battery production factories in Georgia, and will complete the construction of the first one in the first half of this year. SKI has said its plant will create around 2,600 local jobs.



Automotive companies selling their cars in the U.S. expressed their hopes that the two Korean battery companies would settle the case as soon as possible at a time when achieving a rapid transition to EVs is integral.



On Friday, Volkswagen called itself an "unintended victim" in the legal tussle between LG and SK and urged the U.S. government to extend a reprieve to at least four years to "give an adequate transition period," according to Reuters. The German carmaker also expressed its hope that the "two suppliers will settle this dispute outside of the courtroom."



Ford CEO Jim Farley also encouraged the two Korean battery makers to reach a settlement as the USITC only granted four years to SKI to import components for domestic production of lithium-ion batteries for Ford's F-150 EV.



"A voluntary settlement between these two suppliers is ultimately in the best interest of U.S. manufacturers and workers," the CEO noted on Twitter, Thursday. He added: "ITC ruling makes way for @Ford to bring to market our groundbreaking electric F-150."



In the global EV battery industry, LGES has been competing for the top spot with China's CATL while latecomer SKI is seeking to improve its presence by expanding its battery plants. According to data by market researcher SNE Research, LGES had the second-largest market share with 23.5 percent in 2020, 0.5 percentage points smaller than the leader CATL. SKI was the sixth with a 5.4 percent share following Samsung SDI with 5.8 percent.



It seems the dispute between the two Korean battery makers has also become a headache for the Korean government, which aims to nurture EV batteries as one of the country's core export items, following semiconductors.



In January, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged LGES and SKI to settle their dispute before the USITC ruling, saying "I hope the two settle the issue immediately and join forces for the global market."



It remains to be seen whether SKI will offer enough compensation to satisfy LGES and reach a settlement. According to sources directly involved with the issue, LGES was asking SKI to pay a "few billion dollars," while SKI was offering to pay a "few million."



"After the USITC announcement its ruling, we urged SKI to accept the ruling and come to the negotiating table with a compromise that can satisfy its shareholders and investors," an LGES official said.


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Re: Vehicle scrappage policy - Impact on Delhi-NCR cars? Quote: M.Dua Originally Posted by

Thanks much for your thoughts. One query though that the law existed earlier also (Motors Vehicles Act) laying rules to ply cars in India and the NGT & Supreme Court had then also applied restrictions on use in Delhi. My honest fear is that there might be a ruling again after this law. Having said that, the law promises to scrap genuine polluting vehicle and that coupled with Delhi Government's initiative to keep personal vehicles out of the restriction ambit might help.



I sold my mint condition no issues giving 6 yo Verna SX Crdi for the same reason at a price i wont part with her at all. No one really craps them, these are sold in a different state, my car per se got registered in Punjab. I know friends who have 7 series/A6/Volvos with 40-50K Odometer in 8-9 years life cycle and are mint condition cars for next 10 years at least.





Quote: 59. Power to fix the age limit of motor vehicle.

(1) The Central Government may, having regard to the public safety, convenience and objects of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the life of a motor vehicle reckoned from the date of its manufacture, after the expiry of which the motor vehicle shall not be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Act and the rules made thereunder: Provided that the Central Government may specify different ages for different classes or different types of motor vehicles.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, having regard to the purpose of a motor vehicle, such as, display or use for the purposes of a demonstration in any exhibition, use for the purposes of technical research or taking part in a vintage car rally, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt, by a general or special order, subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notification, any class or type of motor vehicle from the operation of sub-section (1) for the purpose to be stated in the notification.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 56, no prescribed authority or authorized testing station shall grant a certificate of fitness to a motor vehicle in contravention of the provisions of any notification issued under sub-section (1).



Sadly, the court believed and went by assertions of the applicants (not sure of the role of the automobile lobby here). Defence was only by the government who were on notice in this matter. And we know how strongly they defend ! Ultimately, Article 21 was given precedence by the court over the Central government's power to fix the age limit of a motor vehicle viz Sec 59 of the MV Act. And hence the judgment that favoured de-registration of the older private motor vehicles in Delhi and the NCR.



Had the defence been through court intervention in this civil suit by lawyers representing many private motor vehicle owners, things would have been somewhat different. Blame could have been also put on generators, stubble burning, construction and other pollution causing activities. The environment ministry could have been added with the court's order to do so. They could have been directed to conduct environment impact assessment studies of the region and report within a fixed time limit. Till then, the judgment could have been withheld by the court.



It is evident that no accredited laboratory data or environmental impact assessment report for Delhi and NCR were considered to pinpoint percentage wise contribution of several causative factors that had worsened the AQI of the region then. And old cars are the softest targets to banish always.



Even today, after the disappearance of old private vehicles, the smog and AQI of Delhi and NCR for the winters of 2019-20 and 2020-21 were the worst ever in history ! Welcome. You have rightly pointed out that previously also there was a law viz. Section 59 "Power to fix age limit of a motor vehicle", in the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, that the court judgments starting with the NGT Principal Bench, have overruled for Delhi and the NCR.The applicants in this petition had invoked the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution viz. "Right to life", wherein for the pollution, smog and AQI, automobiles were solely blamed as they allegedly created grave pulmonary health risks and resulting lung diseases.Sadly, the court believed and went by assertions of the applicants (not sure of the role of the automobile lobby here). Defence was only by the government who were on notice in this matter. And we know how strongly they defend !Ultimately, Article 21 was given precedence by the court over the Central government's power to fix the age limit of a motor vehicle viz Sec 59 of the MV Act. And hence the judgment that favoured de-registration of the older private motor vehicles in Delhi and the NCR.Had the defence been through court intervention in this civil suit by lawyers representing many private motor vehicle owners, things would have been somewhat different. Blame could have been also put on generators, stubble burning, construction and other pollution causing activities. The environment ministry could have been added with the court's order to do so. They could have been directed to conduct environment impact assessment studies of the region and report within a fixed time limit. Till then, the judgment could have been withheld by the court.It is evident that no accredited laboratory data or environmental impact assessment report for Delhi and NCR were considered to pinpoint percentage wise contribution of several causative factors that had worsened the AQI of the region then. And old cars are the softest targets to banish always.Even today, after the disappearance of old private vehicles, the smog and AQI of Delhi and NCR for the winters of 2019-20 and 2020-21 were the worst ever in history ! Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 6th February 2021 at 18:42 .

Then-Republican primary contender Donald Trump's new book "Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again" on display at Trump Tower in Manhattan, N.Y., on Nov. 3, 2015. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

BLM Activist Fired From Library After Allegedly Burning Library Books by Conservative Authors

A Black Lives Matter activist has lost his job at a Tennessee library after allegedly burning books by conservative authors.

Cameron Williams, known by his rapper name C-Grimey, was placed on paid administrative leave by the Chattanooga Public Library in December 2020 because of an Instagram video of him apparently burning copies of How to Talk to a Liberal by conservative commentator Ann Coulter and Crippled America by then-President Donald Trump, as FDT, an anti-Trump anthem by YG and Nipsey Hussle, plays in the background.

A part-time library specialist who worked at the Chattanooga Public Library for two years, Williams was fired following an investigation that found the books he burned were actually from the library, reported Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The City of Chattanooga Human Resources Department completed its investigation of an allegation that books were removed from the Chattanooga Public Librarys Main Branch on Dec. 1, 2020, the library said in a statement to the Free Press. The investigation determined that [Williams] violated City and Library policies by improperly removing items from the Librarys collections.

The City of Chattanooga has policies in place to protect the publics interest, and we follow those directives, the statements read.

Williams, who was arrested in July 2020 and charged with inciting a riot which blocked an emergency vehicle on its way to a crash site with injuries, told the Free Press he believes that he didnt violate any library policy, and that the decision to fire him was a retaliation from the library and community members who dont agree with his politics.

I really believe that this was political. Its definitely a perpetuation of white supremacy, he said. None of this would have never ever ever been a problem if someone who doesnt believe in me speaking for equality for black people wouldnt have reported it.

Prior to his July 2020 arrest, Williams led a campaign to put a Chattanooga-Area restaurant out of business because of reports that the restaurateur had been preparing to donate an order worth $1,000 to a pro-police Back the Blue rally. It was later clarified that the deal with the pro-police group was not a donation, but a regular business transaction.

A lady placed an order Tuesday for food for Saturday. She said she was taking it to the Back the Blue rally in Chattanooga. It was just a business transaction. We did not donate the food, Madison Davis, daughter of restaurant owner Jeff, told the Tennessee Star.

The restaurant was then flooded by negative online reviews, harassment, and threatening phone calls that Davis said had prompted employees to take drastic measures to defend themselves.

We finally got a threat that someone was going to burn our building down where we smoke all of our meat in. That is when we decided to cancel. We didnt want to do the transaction anymore, Davis said.
A woman who is on a disability-support pension after multiple suicide attempts has been forced to sell her jewellery and skip meals to pay for her anti-depressants.

Leslie Rump, 61, from Port Stephens, north of Sydney, has been calculating every cost she has to outlay for the past two years, and doesn't know what she will do when her last batch of anti-depressants runs out, 7News reported.

Ms Rump is currently taking the medication Zyban for her severe clinical depression, which costs her $176 a month because it is not subsidised by the government.

Now Ms Rump has run out of jewellery to sell, and currently owes $1,300 in medical bills after two recent operations on her knee and back.

Ms Rump (pictured) is struggling to survive off her $945 fortnightly disability pension because her 'life-saving' anti-depressant is not subsidised by the government

Ms Rump has called her situation 'desperate'.

Zyban, which Ms Rump has called 'lifesaving', is not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme because its first use isn't for depression.

The medications primary use is to wean smokers off an addiction to nicotine, but Ms Rump has never smoked and uses the medication for her debilitating depression.

Ms Rump has been forced to sell her jewellery and skip meals to afford her medication

Leslie said she has no choice but to remain on the medication because she was treatment resistant for four years, which resulted in a suicide attempt.

She has tried multiple anti-depressants and even elected to receive Electric Compulsive Therapy (ECT), which didn't help.

Zyban was 'pretty much my last hope', she said.

In November of last year Ms Rump had a knee replacement which left her $1300 out of pocket, that she still owes to the hospital.

She has also had three operations on her back due to a rare infection in the bone, which has resulted in all five of her lumbar vertebrae to be fused, as well as the loss of two vertebrae and a disc.

Since the operation Ms Rump has cancelled her house and contents insurance, and said her car is 'virtually uninsured'.

Ms Rump struggles to live off her disability pension, which is $945 a fortnight.

She pays $100 a month in council rates, $190 off her home loan each fortnight, $50 for water, $200 every three months for electricity and $200 in health insurance.

Leslie's only companions are a dog, rabbit and a bird, but Ms Rump fears they will need to go to the vet, which she can't afford

To cut costs Ms Rump doesn't own a mobile phone and instead pays $29 for a landline, and says she got a good deal on her Wi-Fi.

Ms Rump has little money left for fuel and groceries, so she drinks water and eats what she has in the freezer, until another fortnightly payment comes in.

The last time Ms Rump visited the dentist she couldn't pay the $27 fee which made her feel 'embarrassed'.

She currently has pain in her teeth from a loose inlay but cannot afford to visit the dentist, so instead she uses mouthwash and tries not to chew on that particular side.

Leslie has three children, each of whom aren't in a position to support their mother.

'My kids lend me the other $800 for out of pocket bills from the surgeon and anesthetist, but I have to pay them back', she said.

A bird, dog and a rabbit keep Leslie company at home, but she remains in constant fear one of the animals will need to visit the vet, which she can't afford.

Ms Rump is currently appealing to the government for help.

Leslie Rump currently owes $1300 for a knee replacement surgery, and cannot afford to go to the dentist

Services Australia and the Australian Government Department of Health have both looked into Leslie's case, the former reaching out to her to provide support.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are funded to ensure the right care is provided in the right place at the right time.

'PHNs have a role in the coordination of services for chronic conditions, including the provision of mental health support'.

When asked about the Zyban prescription, the spokesperson said there were twenty- two subsidised antidepressant medicines available for as little as $6.60 per script.

'Over 29 million PBS prescriptions for antidepressant medicines were subsidised in 2019-20, at a cost to the Australian Government of almost $184 million.'

Do you or anyone you know need help? Call Lifeline on 13 11 14

Severe weather watch and warnings are in place for the upper North Island from Northland to the Bay of Plenty.

The MetService advises that heavy rain and northeast gales are expected in the Coromandel Peninsula, Northland, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty on Monday and Tuesday. A subtropical low is moving southwards, bringing rain and strong east to northeast winds to the North Island.

A heavy rain watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane. Periods of heavy rain are expected from 2pm Monday to 11am Tuesday and rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

A heavy rain watch is also in place for Auckland from Whangaparaoa northwards, including Great Barrier Island, with periods of heavy rain expected from 3am to 1pm on Monday. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

A heavy rain warning is in place for Northland, especially the eastern hills. The warning is valid from 6pm Sunday to 1pm Monday, with 80 to 100mm of rain expected. Peak rates of 10 to 15mm per hour overnight and on Monday morning is expected.

A heavy rain warning is in place for Coromandel Peninsula and is valid from 6am Monday to 9am Tuesday. The Metservice has forecast 110 to 140mm of rain will fall, with peak rates of 10 to 15 mm per hour, but 25 mm per hour in possible thunderstorms from Monday evening.

Another burst of heavy rain is likely in these regions on Monday night.

Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

A strong wind watch is in place for Northland, from 1am Monday to 1am Tuesday with northeast winds expected, that may approach severe gale at times.

A strong wind watch is also in place for Auckland, from 9am Monday to 6am Tuesday with northeast winds expected, that may approach severe gale at times.

People are advised to stay up to date with the forecasts and warnings.
Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), said Sunday that schools can reopen safely 'without all of the teachers being vaccinated' as COVID-19 cases in the US dip below 85,000 for the first time in three months.

The nation's top public health agency said Friday that in-person schooling can resume safely with masks, social distancing and other strategies, and vaccination of teachers, while important, is not a prerequisite for reopening.

Walensky reiterated that point to Fox News on Sunday, saying: 'From a scientific standpoint, we know that it is possible to reopen schools safely without all of the teachers being vaccinated.'

The CDC released its long-awaited road map for getting students back to classrooms in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 484,000 people in the US and infected more than 27.5 million.

But the agency's guidance is just that - it cannot force schools to reopen, and CDC officials were careful to say they are not calling for a mandate that all US schools be reopened.

Officials said there is strong evidence now that schools can reopen, especially at lower grade levels.

Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), said Sunday that schools can reopen safely 'without all of the teachers being vaccinated'

The nation's top public health agency said Friday that in-person schooling can resume safely with masks, social distancing and other strategies, and vaccination of teachers, while important, is not a prerequisite for reopening

Recommended measures include hand washing, disinfection of school facilities, diagnostic testing and contact tracing to find new infections and separate infected people from others in a school. Its also more emphatic than past guidance on the need to wear masks in school.

'We know that most clusters in the school setting have occurred when there are breaches in mask wearing,' Walensky said during a call with reoporters on Friday.

The guidance was issued as President Joe Biden faces increasing pressure to deliver on his promise to get the majority of K-8 schools back to in-person teaching by the end of his first 100 days in office.

He acknowledged that the goal was ambitious, but added: 'It is also a goal we can meet if we follow the science.'

Biden said schools will need more money to meet the CDC's standards and called on Congress to pass his COVID-19 package quickly to get $130billion in aid to schools.

'We have sacrificed so much in the last year,' Biden said in a statement. 'But science tells us that if we support our children, educators and communities with the resources they need, we can get kids back to school safely in more parts of the country sooner.'

The new guidance includes many of the same measures previously backed by the CDC, but it suggests them more forcefully.

It emphasizes that all of the recommendations must be implemented strictly and consistently to keep school safe. It also provides more detailed suggestions about what type of schooling should be offered given different levels of virus transmission, with differing advice for elementary, middle and high schools.

Vaccinating teachers can provide 'an additional layer of protection,' Walensky said.

When asked how the guidance differed from that offered by the Trump administration, Walensky said: 'We've used stronger languages than prior guidance. We've been much more prescriptive here as to putting some guardrails on what can and should be done to get to a safe reopening.

'And I can assure you that this is free from political meddling,' she added.

There's wide agreement that learning in the classroom is more effective and that students can face isolation and learning setbacks at home. But teachers unions in some areas say schools have failed to make buildings safe enough to return.

Meanwhile, the US has reported less than 85,000 new infections for the first time since November 4, 2020. On Sunday, the US reported 82,178 new cases

The new guidance was embraced by both sides of the debate, with each saying it bolstered their position. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said it's further evidence that schools are equipped to reopen now.

The new information 'affirms what many of us, including students and parents, have known for months: It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible,' he said.

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, applauded the guidance but said schools are failing to meet it. Most still have outdated ventilation systems, she said, and few have the type of virus testing programs suggested by the CDC.

'CDC standards still aren't being met in too many of our schools,' Pringle said. 'We can and must provide students the opportunity to return to in-person learning, but we also must ensure that every school has the safety measures in place to keep students and educators safe.'

In Florida, which ordered schools to reopen in August, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran called the new guidance 'informative' but warned schools not to veer from their current plans.

He said the state has shown in-person teaching is safe. But the state has dealt with school-related infections, including an outbreak at a high school wrestling tournament in December in which 38 attendees tested positive.

CDC officials emphasized that in-person learning has not been identified as a substantial driver of coronavirus spread in US communities, and that transmission among students is now considered relatively rare.

The CDC also stressed that the safest way to open schools is by making sure there is as little disease in a community as possible.

The agency urged local officials to assess whether a bad outbreak is occurring in a community when making decisions about sending adults and children in to schools.

The guidance included a color-coded chart, from blue to red, on assessing community spread, including rates of new cases per 100,000 people and the percentage of positive tests.

That said, high community transmission does not necessarily mean schools cannot be open - especially those at the elementary level. If school mitigation measures are strictly followed, the risk of spread in the schools should still be low, the guidance suggests.

More than 27.5 million people have been infected with the virus since the pandemic hit the US last year

The document suggests that when things get risky, elementary schools can go hybrid, providing in-person instruction at least on some days, but that middle and high schools might go virtual.

'The older children get ... the more they act like adults in terms of transmission and disease,' Walensky explained. 'So when we are in areas of high transmission, we have pushed more for elementary school hybrid learning.

Government officials estimate that about 60 per cent of K-12 schools right now have some form of in-person learning going on, though in many cases it may be part-time.

Schools also can tighten up restrictions for the in-person learning that is going on. For example, the CDC continues to recommend that children be spaced 6 feet apart in school settings. But it should be required when there's a worrisome surge of new infections in the community, said Greta Massetti, a CDC official who led much of the work on the new guidance.

Biden has been caught between competing interests as he works to get students in the classroom without spurning the powerful teachers unions that helped get him elected. Critics say he has bowed to unions instead of taking more aggressive action on reopening.

Unlike former President Donald Trump, who pressured schools to open and blasted the CDC for issuing guidance that he said was impractical, Biden has kept his distance from the CDC as it works on recommendations.

Even after the CDC's director recently said that vaccinations are not a prerequisite for reopening, the White House declined to take a firm stance on the question.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that 'no one on our senior staff' had seen the CDC guidelines ahead of their release. 'I can assure you that the White House is not directing the CDC.'

Biden's national strategy says the administration 'will also work with states and local school districts to support screening testing in schools, including working with states to ensure an adequate supply of test kits.'

But the CDC guidance stops short of recommending testing, saying: 'Some schools may also elect to use screening testing as a strategy to identify cases and prevent secondary transmission.'

In the early days of the pandemic, some health experts worried that schools might become cauldrons of coronavirus infection, with kids infecting each other and then spreading it to family members - as seems to be the case during cold and flu season.

Meanwhile, the US has reported less than 85,000 new infections for the first time since November 4, 2020.

On Sunday, the US reported 82,178 new cases and 3, 313 new deaths.

And while new infections are on the decline, experts warned Sunday that cases remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place.

The seven-day rolling average of new infections was well above 200,000 for much of December and went to roughly 250,000 in January, according to data kept by Johns Hopkins University, as the pandemic came roaring back after it had been tamed in some places over the summer.

Walensky said on NBC's Meet the Press' that 'it's encouraging to see these trends coming down, but they're coming down from an extraordinarily high place'.

On Saturday, the seven-day rolling average for deaths was around 2,500. That number peaked at more than 3,300 earlier in the winter, according to Johns Hopkins.

The US saw a spike of more than 5,400 deaths reported Friday - nearly half from Ohio, where authorities said earlier in the week that they planned to add deaths to the state's tally over the course of a few days after discovering as many as 4,000 unreported COVID-19 fatalities.

Walensky added that new variants, including one first detected in the United Kingdom that appears to be more transmissible and has already been recorded in more than 30 states, will likely lead to more cases and more deaths.

'All of it is really wraps up into we can't let our guard down,' she said.

'We have to continue wearing masks. We have to continue with our current mitigation measures. And we have to continue getting vaccinated as soon as that vaccine is available to us,' she added.
Through a statement attributable to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric issued on Saturday, the UN chief condemned "the complex attack by unidentified armed elements against a temporary operating base of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Kerena, Douentza region, reports Xinhua news agency.

United Nations, Feb 14 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned an attack against the peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The attack, which took place on February 10, resulted in the wounding of 27 Togolese peacekeepers, and the death of one peacekeeper", reports Xinhua news agency.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the family of the victim, and to the people and Government of Togo. He wishes a full recovery to those injured," said the statement.

"The Secretary-General emphasizes that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime. He calls on the Malian authorities to spare no efforts in promptly holding to account the perpetrators of this heinous attack.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity of the UN with the people and government of Mali," the statement added.

In January, five peacekeepers lost their lives in Mali where terrorist threats persist since the coup in 2012.

In 2020, six peacekeepers were killed while on duty.

The MINUSMA was deployed in 2013 to support political processes in Mali.

During a failed coup in 2012, extremist militias took control of Mali's north.

A UN-backed peace deal in 2015 between the government and various armed groups failed to stabilise the situation in the country's central and northern regions, with attacks multiplying in the past years.

--IANS

ksk/
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For the past month, almost daily, the Democratic Party of New Mexico has sent out an email accusing Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., and other state GOP leaders of continuing to dodge the press.

The allegations are false and a bit hypocritical. There is a member of the states congressional delegation who appears to be dodging the press, but it isnt Herrell.

Herrell has given numerous interviews to media outlets throughout the state since she was elected in November. Shes tried to explain what has been her most controversial action: her objection to the results of the 2020 presidential election. And her office has also provided responses to specific questions the Journal and other media outlets have asked.

Weve literally done an interview or provided a response to every media outlet in the district who requested one, Herrells spokesman, Jordan Haverly, said in an interview Friday.

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Meanwhile, the Journals efforts to reach Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., have been unsuccessful  for more than two months.

Haaland and her communications team have been tight-lipped about some pretty historic topics, including her nomination to be the first Native American Cabinet secretary, the storming of the U.S. Capitol, the impeachment of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Bidens orders curbing oil and natural gas leases on public lands.

I cant find evidence of any interviews shes given to any New Mexico media outlet on any of those topics since she was tapped to be interior secretary, though she did give an interview to a New York Times columnist in December.

Rep. Haaland has given several public statements in recent weeks that the Albuquerque Journal has covered, Felicia Salazar, her spokeswoman, said in an email. Rep. Haaland continues her work in Congress, but the interest around her nomination leads to fewer interview requests about that work.

I also asked the state Democratic Party if it was being hypocritical by accusing Herrell of dodging the press when Haaland has been MIA.

DPNM spokeswoman Miranda van Dijk said in a statement that the party thinks Herrell has avoided answering specific questions, including those about her objection to the election results.

We are not simply asking her to speak to the press, but calling on her to address these specific issues, which are of concern to all of her constituents, she said.

IMPEACHMENT: New Mexicos two senators, both Democrats, voted Saturday that former President Donald Trump was guilty of incitement of insurrection.

And after Trump was acquitted by the Senate after his second impeachment trial, they castigated the former president and his hold on the Republican Party in public statements.

Many members of Congress are literally scared to death of this man who has taken over the Republican Party and turned it into a dangerous and violent cult of personality. I get it. We all felt fear when we saw what that mob was capable of doing to us and to America, Sen. Martin Heinrich said. I was fearful that day that my sons might never see their father again.

The Senate voted 57-43 in Trumps impeachment trial, falling 10 votes short of the threshold needed for conviction.

I took no pleasure in voting to convict President Trump for inciting an insurrection against the U.S. government, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said. However, there is no doubt that the former president did everything in his power to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Ryan Boetel: rboetel@abqjournal.com

Donald Trump had to be talked down from ordering the assassination of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, according to a former adviser.

KT Macfarland, former deputy national security adviser, said that weeks after he took office in 2017, the former president insisted that he would take him out after seeing pictures of a Sarin gas attack on civilians.

The adviser made the revelation during an interview for the new BBC docuseries Trump Takes on the World.

I said, well Mr President, you cant do that, said Ms Macfarland, a former defense official. He said why? And I said well, thats an act of war.

She added: Trump glares at me, folding his hands in this serious Donald Trump way. I knew what he wanted to do was somehow punish Assad, and not let him get away with this.

Ms Macfarland was ousted from her role only a few months later amid concerns about her partisanship, the New York Times reported. She is now a Fox News commentator.

Mr Trump would end up punishing Syria indirectly. Following an attack by Iranian proxies that killed a US security contractor in Iraq, a US drone targeted Iranian intelligence kingmaker Qassem Soleimani on 3 January 2020 in Baghdad. Soleimani was a key ally of Assads and is credited with helping him violently consolidate his hold on the country during its long civil war.

The BBC episode, which airs next week, reveals other insider details about the Trump administrations foreign policy decisions.

According to Fiona Hill, who served on the national Security Council, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan persuaded Mr Trump to withdraw troops from Syria during a phone call to his personal number, allowing Turkey, Russia, and Isis to gain more influence in the region.

Following the announcement in October 2019 that he was pulling troops out, the president quickly reversed course.

Former officials also shed light on the administrations decision-making surrounding the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convinced the president to sideline Palestinians and focus on uniting sympathetic Arab states against a common enemy in Iran.

The prime minister did his best to convince President Trump that there was a real possibility of a strategic breakthrough with the Arab states, Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the US, told the BBC.

When Israeli and Arab leaders are on the same page when it comes to Iran, people should pay attention.

Palestinian leaders said the break in relations with the Trump administration had another reason: Jerusalem.

Husam Zomlot, head of Palestinian Liberation Organisation mission to US, told the BBC that the Trump administration reneged on a promise not to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed territory of Jerusalem, which some saw as an official endorsement of Israels claims to the city.

I just wanted to make sure right then that Jared knows if he does that, he will never see us again, Mr Zomlot said.

And thats exactly the last sentence I said, This will be the last meeting between us, and it was indeed the last meeting between us.

The Trump administration helped normalise relations between the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Morocco, Bahrain and Israel. Some in the region had previously resisted normalising ties with Israel in protest over its treatment of Palestinians.

But the Trump administrations much-touted plans for peace between Israel and Palestinian failed to resolve the longstanding conflict.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas rejected the deal with a thousands nos over what he argued were insufficient provisions for Palestinian sovereignty.

Representatives for Mr Trump did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
Amazon Sues NY Attorney General to Stop Virus Probe

NEW YORKAmazon is suing the attorney general of New York in a bid to stop her from suing the company over its coronavirus safety protocols and the firing of one of its outspoken workers.

In the lawsuit filed Friday in Brooklyn federal court, Amazon said Attorney General Letitia James overstepped her authority by trying to regulate coronavirus safety protocols at its warehouse in New Yorks Staten Island borough.

The company said James threatened to sue if Amazon didnt agree to her list of demands, including rehiring the worker, Christian Smalls, and paying him and another fired worker large sums of money.

James said Friday that she will continue to review her legal options. In a statement, she called Amazons lawsuit a sad attempt to distract from the facts and shirk accountability for its failures to protect hardworking employees from a deadly virus.

Amazon defended its COVID-19 safety protocols in the lawsuit, saying it hired experts, added hand-sanitizer stations and signs alerting workers to stay at least 6-feet apart from each other. It also said that unannounced inspections in March and April by the New York City sheriffs office found the warehouse went above and beyond safety requirements.

Amazon fired Smalls in March after he led a walkout at the Staten Island warehouse to push the company to better protect its workers from the virus. Smalls said he was fired in retaliation and to stop other workers from speaking out. Amazon said it terminated Smalls because he violated social-distancing guidelines.

The company argued in court documents that only the federal government can mandate COVID-19 safety protocols and that the attorney generals office doesnt have the legal authority it purports to wield against Amazon.

Seattle-based Amazon is asking the court to stop James from pursuing any action against the company, and to declare that she doesnt have authority on COVID-19 safety measures or to regulate claims that a worker was retaliated against.

By Joseph Pisani
Photo: Correctional Service of Canada David Everett Alexson

Quebec provincial police say a two-time convicted murderer who escaped a minimum security facility north of Montreal last week has been found.

Police say David Everett Alexson was arrested early this morning in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, about 95 kilometres north of Montreal.

The 51-year-old had been last seen leaving the Waseskun Healing Lodge, a community residential and detention centre, around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

He is serving an indeterminate sentence for two counts of second-degree murder and for arson, escape from lawful custody, prison breach with intent, assault against a peace officer and break and enter with intent.

Provincial police Sgt. Claude Denis said Alexson could face additional charges of break and enter and escape from legal custody stemming from his flight.

He added that the inmate was found safe and sound, and that nobody was hurt as a result of the escape.
It was a search that netted gardai a treasure trove of designer goods which wouldnt have looked out of place in the wardrobe of an A-list celebrity.

Giant logos embossed on shoes, handbags, scarves and jewellery greeted the by now well-trained eyes of officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) when they carried out a search in a Clondalkin property as part of a money laundering probe.

The property, an ordinary terraced home, is the home of Gareth Quinn, his partner Jane Nolan and their son, barber Dylan Nolan Quinn. All three would later be listed as respondents in a case centred on 75 items which were escribed as the Proceeds of Crime.

Among them was an account containing 70,000, a number of high-end cars and the contents of the wardrobes.

Last month, when the case was settled, just Dylan Nolan Quinn signed the section 4 order which allows CAB to dispose of the loot, meaning he put up no defence to the Proceeds of Crime case.

Gareth Quinn and Jane Nolan face no further action.

Affidavits before the court detail Gareth Quinn having convictions under the misuse of drugs act and being a first cousin of James Quinn, the hitman caged for the murder of Gary Hutch in Spain.

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His son, Dylan Nolan Quinn, is described as a barber and company records show he is listed as the business owner of two male hairdressers  Cuts n Bruises in Lucan and the Rocket Barber shop in Clondalkin.

But what is probably the most jaw-dropping aspect of an otherwise regular CAB case is the assets that Dylan Nolan Quinn has accepted ownership of  items the Bureau says were purchased through criminality.

In his early twenties, Nolan Quinn has been the envy of many, with his hipster businesses, holidays to Ibiza, VIP tickets to concerts and, of course, he was always turned out in the best threads that money could buy.

Among the haul bagged by the Bureau were Louboutin, Balenciaga and Valentino runners, Dior and Gucci shoes, Chanel brooches, Moschino scarves and bejewelled sunglasses and handbags.

A receiver with the power of sale has been appointed over the bounty since he consented to the revenue and proceeds of crime orders on them.

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CAB had already frozen 72,000 in cash they found in a bank account and a number of cars, including an Audi, but its the smaller items listed in the court proceedings that give a true picture of a lifestyle akin to the rich and famous.

While the Sunday World understands that CAB agreed to return a collection of worn shoes and runners to the barber, they will now sell off thousands of euro worth of designer clobber affordable to only the countrys top earners.

Among them are a collection of Louis Vuitton scarves, shawls, leather runners, and handbags.

The classic designer shawl featuring the LV insignia costs a staggering 500 a piece, while a pair of sneakers go for 650, making them some of the most expensive runners in the world.

Exactly what use fitness fanatic Quinn Nolan had for handbags is anyones guess, but his collection includes a Louis Vuitton 790 clutch, 750 Azur and a 2,000 Pallas Chain.

Gucci, too, featured heavily in his wardrobe, including belts, flat shoes and a memo pink handbag valued at 850. One of the more bling items discovered were Gucci crystal sneakers, which come in at just under 1,000, and a Marmont Mini black handbag which retails at more than 1,500.

Chanel flat lambskin espadrilles, a CC pearl bracelet, Valentino lilac block heel shoes, Dolce and Gabbana pink aviators and Prada sunglasses will also be sold and the proceeds will go straight into the State coffers.

The Criminal Assets Bureau have placed on hold their searches during the current lockdown but hearings went ahead virtually last month in front of Justice Alexander Owens.

It was during those proceedings that it was heard that Dylan Nolan Quinn had signed a consent order for the goods to be sold.

TARGETS

Justice Owens has pushed ahead with the CAB cases despite the Level 5 lockdown and while raids on targets have been suspended in line with procedures, sources say officers are busy with the massive piles of paperwork that go hand in hand with completing each case.

Searches are just one part of the overall work of the Bureau where mounds of affidavits and case work has to be drawn up to move the proceeds of crime matters through the courts towards legal orders.

The Bureau has more than 1,300 targets on its books, more than 30 cases in court at various stages and is in control of more than 45 seized properties.

Its portfolio of houses is likely to come on the market later this year as the country emerges from lockdown.

LIST OF BLING

Louis Vuitton scarf: 500

Louis Vuitt on handbag: 790

Louis Vuitton sneakers: 650

Louis Vuitton Azur bag: 750

Louis Vuitton Pallas Chain bag: 2,000

Gucci pink handbag: 850

Gucci crystal sneakers: 1,000

Marmont mini black handbag: 1,500+

Chanel flat lambskin espadrilles

CC pearl bracelet

Valentino lilac block heel shoes

Dolce and Gabbana pink aviators
The pandemic that COVID-19 has caused has wreaked havoc not only on every American's health but also on their financial needs due to the lockdown it caused and sudden pause on the workforce. Because of this, families are affected, especially those who have children with them.

Now, the new administration will solve the problem through a proposal to Congress that will temporarily heighten the child tax credit that will provide families with another batch or wave of stimulus checks.

Vox reported that the Biden administration and their allies in Congress are pushing for a new round of $1,400 checks to all but the richest of the Americans. They add that the $1,200 checks sent as a part of the massive relief package in early 2020 are genuinely unprecedented in American history.

Read also: Stimulus Checks Put on Hold Prompts Americans to Spend Less on Groceries

Recent stimulus checks package

According to Yahoo! Finance, Biden originally proposed enhancing the current child credit in making sure that families receive at least 3,000 dollars for each child who is under the age of 17 years old and 3,600 dollars for those who have the age under six years annually.

Meanwhile, parents will receive $250 per child and $300 for kids under six years, every month for six consecutive months.

CNBC notes Biden's statement from his transition in Delaware, saying that the crisis of human suffering is in plain sight and there is no time to waste, exclaiming that people should act now. The other stimulus checks may cover the vital and essential needs like rent and food.

Qualifications for stimulus checks

The current child tax credit is worth $2,000 per child at 17. But for lower-income households, up to $1,400 of the credit is refundable, noting that the income should be at least $2,500 to avail of the refund. They add that the House version from the Biden administration's COVID rescue bill does not only heighten the amount families will be receiving but make the entire credit fully refundable, including the 17 years old.

Most importantly, the IRS will base eligibility on the most recent tax return in their system, which will be the 2019 return for taxpayers who delay getting their return in soon.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken so much toll on humanity. It is not beyond the knowledge that every family's essential comes at a cost, and the lack of resources fails to suffice those needs.

With the stimulus checks that will be given away, everyone will be given access to avail what they need and support the children in every family is growing amid the notorious pandemic that caused the globe to take massive economic damages. We can't wait to see further help from the federal government, especially since the new administration has taken charge.

Related article: #BidenLied Trends on Twitter as Critics Demand the 'Full' $2,000 Stimulus Checks He Promised During the Campaign

WATCH: Biden Assures His Covid Relief Plan Will Include More Stimulus Checks from NBC News

Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a person named Sohail, and recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 6-6.5 kilogram from his possession at the Jammu bus stand, said Jammu Inspector General of Police (IG), Mukesh Singh on Sunday.

He informed that Police also recovered 15 small IEDs and 6 pistols along with ammunition from Samba on Saturday night. "We are investigating the backward and forward linkages of the recovered arms and ammunition," said the IG.

"We were on high alert as we had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the anniversary of Pulwama attack. We had information that this time the attack will be in Jammu city. Last night we arrested a person named Sohail and recovered 6-6.5 kilograms of IED from his possession. The IED was not activated," said Singh.

The IG said that during interrogation, the accused confessed that he is a nursing student and studying in Chandighar.

"Sohail received a message from Pakistan's Al-Badr-Tanzeem commander that he has to place an IED here. He was given 3-4 targets to place the IED, which includes Raghunath Temple, bus stand, railway station, and a jewelers' market in Jammu. He was supposed to place an IED in one of these places. He further reviled that after placing the IED, he was supposed to take a flight to Srinagar, where a man named Athar Shakeel Khan, a high ranking overground worker of Al-Badr-Tanzeem, would have received him. After that the accused would have become an active member of Al-Badr-Tanzeem," Singh informed.

He added that a person named Qazi Waseem in Chandigarh was also aware of this matter, he has been held. "We have also arrested a person named Abid Nabi," he said.

This development comes on the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack when 40 Indian soldiers were killed in 2019 after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them.

Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the dastardly terror attack.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The night before Valentines Day Thuy Linh and her husband, Anh Tuan, saw each other from a distance while working at a Covid-19 field hospital in Hai Duong.

The two, nurses in the outpatient and intensive care units at the newly set up field hospital in the northern province, Vietnams coronavirus epicenter now, have spent the last couple of weeks tending patients.

But they do not see each other every day and have not spoken in person for more than two weeks.

If the pandemic had not broken out, the young couple would have been celebrating the Lunar New Year with their three-year-old daughter and enjoying Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

Linh, 27, told VnExpress, "Before I had our daughter, Valentines Day was always romantic for the two of us. After [she was born] it has become a day for the whole family."

Linh and Tuan (pictured) work in two different wards at the field hospital. Photo courtesy of Thuy Linh.

On January 28 Hai Duong was hit by a new Covid-19 wave that broke Vietnam's 55-day clean streak, forcing the couple to start their works at the Chi Linh District medical center, which later became a field hospital.

Tuan had previous experience but Linh was a newcomer and took several days to get used to working round the clock.

She does not dare to drink much water since that might mean having to take off her protective suit to go to the restroom.

Once she took a critically ill Covid-19 patient to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi and returned to Hai Duong at 4 a.m.

"That was the first time I ever took a shower at 4 a.m. I was wary thinking about people who had a stroke while showering in the wee hours, but I was also afraid of getting infected by the novel coronavirus."

Unable to see each other every day, Tuan and Linh call each other to talk.

On Lunar New Years Eve (February 11) Linh told him how her unit celebrated the holiday. Tuan told her his colleagues organized a performance at the hospital to welcome the new year.

Their daughter was sleeping with Tuan's mother then.

The couple is not the only one to be separated at Tet or on Valentines Day by Covid-19.

Police officer Nguyen Van Hai looks at his wife from a distance. Photo courtesy of Hai.

Police officer Nguyen Van Hai was standing silently behind a barrier to see his wife, Nguyen Thi Ngoc, who was in quarantine in Chi Linh Town, a Covid-19 hotspot in Hai Duong.

Since Covid resurfaced in Hai Duong, Hai, busy with his duty, has not been home. He is extremely worried that his wife and many of their neighbors had attended a wedding related to a Covid-19 patient.

Two days after Ngoc went into quarantine, Hai finally found time to bring her some stuff. Standing at a distance from each other, they could not talk and had to silently look at each other.

"He is worried I will be unhappy in the quarantine facility, always tells me to wear masks and eat well," Ngoc said.

Hai had also reassured her he would take care of the family during Lunar New Year.

A few hours before Lunar New Years Eve, Hai brought some food to the facility for his wife and some neighbors. Some time later, in the early morning, he finished his work and again visited the facility to give Ngoc li xi (lucky money).

"Just like for many other families amid the pandemic, this Tet is special for our family. But the situation makes us cherish our love and the time we spend together," Ngoc said.

After 29 years of marriage and two daughters, the couple still never fails to celebrate Valentines Day with flowers and gifts.

Many other couples in Hai Duong have also been separated amid the Covid-19 battle.

Major Nguyen Van Hoa, police chief of Hoang Tan Ward, Chi Linh Town, told his wife Huyen Trang, who takes care of Covid-19 patients at the field hospital: "We are in the same Covid-19 battle."

Since Covid-19 broke out, both have been busy. Hoa patrols and supervises several checkpoints since his ward has coronavirus cases and many residents are in quarantine.

He does not even have time to go home and get clothes for his wife to the hospital, which is five kilometers from home. But he calls her without fail every day.

Trang and Hoa talk on a video call. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Van Hoa.

Trang was initially apprehensive since her children cried when told to stay with her husbands parents and the work at the hospital was overwhelming.

"I encouraged her, told her that she is a soldier in a white blouse and I am a soldier in a green uniform, and that we both have one goal: defeating the pandemic," Hoa recalled.

He hoped to accomplish the mission so that his family could reunite afterward.

Hai and Ngoc were lucky that Ngoc finished her quarantine on February 13, a day before Valentines Day. Hai picked her up in the afternoon, and their daughters had cooked dinner to celebrate their family reunion.

It was the 30th Valentines Day that Hai and Ngoc spent together.
Despite the shameful failure of 43 senators to honor their oaths, the outcome of the Senate impeachment trial offered hope for the cause of accountability for former President Donald Trump and others who backed the Big Lie that gave us the Jan. 6 insurrection: that the 2020 election was stolen. The denouement was by far the largest number of Republicans ever to cross party lines to convict a president of their own party in an impeachment trial. Seven did so, as opposed to the single such vote in Trump's prior impeachment.

When the trial resumed Saturday morning, it was expected that there would be no witnesses. Then a bipartisan 55-45 vote opened the door to the testimony from at least one person  Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash. She had information about a phone conversation in the middle of the insurrection in which Trump seemed to welcome the violent chaos  revealing his impeachable intent to incite the mob. Negotiations then led to a compromise: a stipulation, or agreement by both sides, that her statement about Trumps bad intent would be admitted into the record.

Trump could have saved lives

Some have expressed disappointment that the Democratic House impeachment managers did not haul Herrera Beutler before the full Senate and put her on the witness stand. But we think the managers made the right series of calls here  calls that paved the way for the seven GOP votes to convict.

One objection is that if the managers were not prepared to follow through with live witness testimony, they should not have included this possibility in the organizing resolution or pressed the issue Saturday. That is well-intentioned but wrong.

There had to be an option for witnesses in the organizing resolution because no one knew how the trial would go. And in fact, Trumps defense opened the door to witnesses. Instead of simply standing on the constitutional issue that there should not be a trial, his bumbling lawyers argued that Trumps intent was benign and that there had not been due process  in part because there had not been witnesses. By the time they rested on Friday, the witness issue was cued up.

Story continues

Democratic House impeachment managers on Feb. 13, 2021, in Washington. D.C.

Then the full details broke of Trumps conversation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, which he had described to Herrera Beutler and other lawmakers. Trumps response to McCarthys desperate pleas for help during the middle of the riot was, "I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."

That callous indifference to the deadly destruction of Jan. 6 is shocking, even by Trumpian standards.

A different answer from Trump in that moment might have saved lives. Coming on top of his words of insurrection to supporters at a rally earlier that day, these words make him an accomplice in the attack. Herrera Beutler and other reporting also revealed that Trump first tried to blame the far-left antifa extremists in the conversation, which McCarthy dismissed with an expletive before Trump revealed his damning view of the violence at the Capitol.

A stain and a sickness: In Donald Trump v. democracy, acquittal shows depth and danger of Trumpism pandemic

All this had to be put into evidence. By demanding and winning a vote on witnesses, the managers made that point. And they made Trumps intent the focus of the last day of the trial, for today and for posterity.

When they won the witness battle, Democrats capitalized on it to secure the substance of the evidence that the congresswoman would have presented if called. Trumps counsel was forced to stand up and stipulate as to the presidents impeachable and possibly criminal dereliction of duty. They got the same content as they would have secured with live witness testimony, and they did it without facing the potential risks that come with a cross examination.

Witnesses posed risks for Democrats

Those who say that it would have been more valuable to have Herrera Beutlers live testimony might not recall the last time we had witnesses in a presidential impeachment trial, President Bill Clintons in 1999. Back then, the lawyers simply took depositions during a trial hiatus and then played video excerpts of the depositions on the Senate floor. The stipulation on Saturday achieves the same purpose.

The outcome also spared the impeachment managers other risks: a debate over reciprocal one-for-one witness trade, a fight over testimony from the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Vice President Kamala Harris, and while that played out, the potential erosion of GOP votes for witnesses or even for conviction.

Acquitted: Shared identity and fear of Trump kept most Republicans in line

The compromise offered one final advantage, perhaps the most important one of all. The fact that Trumps team agreed to enter evidence of Trump's conversation with McCarthy into the trial record will inform possible future civil and criminal proceedings turning on Trumps intent and so his culpability.

Just this week, we learned new details of a criminal investigation into Trumps efforts to foster his Big Lie in Georgia, including his infamous request to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes. This is an apparent violation of Georgia criminal law, including for soliciting election fraud.

Saturday's stipulation on the Herrera Beutler statement and every other piece of evidence in the trial will be important to the Georgia investigation and other possible criminal and civil accountability measures pursued by states and the federal government. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell highlighted that in his extraordinary remarks after the vote encouraging civil and criminal scrutiny of Trumps acts.

The House impeachment managers have made the case for Trumps culpability and preserved a mountain of evidence for future actions. Now the push for accountability continues.

Norman Eisen (@NormEisen), a former ambassador and ethics czar for President Barack Obama, was impeachment counsel to House Judiciary Committee Democrats in 2019-20 and is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Katherine Reisner (@katiereisner), a Truman National Security Project fellow, was counselor to the secretary and deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration. Both are outside counsel to the nonpartisan Voter Protection Program.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump acquitted, but impeachment managers left accountability road map

Screenshot/Twitter

Hey, have yall heard? Its very cold in Texas right now. And in many areas its only going to get colder.

On Saturday Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all 254 counties in the state. And the freezing temps are seemingly all everyone on Twitter can talk aboutand maybe rightfully so.
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Paris, Feb 14 : Moise Kean netted the winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nice 2-1 at Parc des Princes to return to the top spot on the standings, while Lyon slipped up 2-1 at home to Montpellier.

Kean on Saturday scored in the 76th minute to increase his league tally to 10 goals to secure a vital win for Mauricio Pochettiono's side, before its Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Barcelona on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Putting all the ingredients on the table, I was happy with the attitude and the commitment of the players," said Pochettino, whose key players Neymar and Angel Di Maria will be unavailable for the Barca game due to injuries.

"We have to be ready because on Tuesday we have a very important game, and we will be ready for it." To celebrate the Chinese New Year, this round of Ligue 1 matches, themed the Chinese Day, was packed with fanfare as elements of Chinese culture could be seen everywhere on the pitch.

PSG players were wearing a special edition of jersey with their names in Chinese, and a big curtain with the image of an ox, the Chinese zodiac sign of this year, was shown in the stands.

Julian Draxler put PSG in front in the 23rd minute, after Mauro Icardi hit the post. However, defender Marquinhos made an awful mistake at the beginning of the second half to hand a chance to Rony Lopes to level the score.

Kean then secured three points for PSG, who moved level on points with Lille, who hosts Brest on Sunday.

Later in the day, Lyon's five-game winning streak was snapped by Montpellier as Elye Wahi scored in the 65th minute to seal the match for the visitors.

Midfielder Teji Savanier latched onto a cross from striker Andy Delort in the 19th minute to open the scoring for Montpellier. Lucas Paqueta struck the equalizer for Rudi Garcia's side before the break, sweeping home from close range after Houssem Aouar's header was saved.

Lyon slipped to third place after the defeat, two points off top two PSG and Lille.
SLPP embarrasses Prime Minister; then buries its head in the COVID sand By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s):

Not often does a Government make a complete fool of its own leaders but the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) did that in spectacularly farcical fashion this week by embarrassing Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa over the controversial cremation only policy for COVID-19 dead.

The bizarre saga unfolded in Parliament after Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar raised a point of order on Wednesday to draw the Houses attention to an answer given by COVID Control State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle the day before. Mr Marikkar reminded that the State Minister had stated that there was no evidence that COVID-19 was transmitted through groundwater. If that was the case, Mr. Marikkar wanted to know whether the Government would allow the burial of COVID-19 victims.

The Government has repeatedly cited fears of groundwater pollution as the main reason why it does not permit the burial of those who die of COVID-19.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena moved to order Mr Marikkar to sit down, stating that the matter was not a point of order and that the SJB MP was trying to create an unnecessary issue. Despite the Speakers ruling, PM Rajapaksa still opted to answer, telling the MP, regarding your question, what I can say is that burials will be allowed.

The statement generated plenty of buzz. Some television channels opted to carry the statement as a Breaking News announcing that the Government had decided to allow the burial of COVID-19 victims. Muslim MPs supporting the Government and the Opposition expressed gratitude in Parliament.

The Premiers apparent assurance also generated international headlines. Foreign diplomats in Colombo took to Twitter to praise the apparent change in policy. Even Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is due to make an official visit to the island later this month (and is also due to address Parliament), welcomed the move.

Some commentators, however, noted that whatever assurances given by Mr Rajapaksa would amount to nothing without the Government first revoking the gazette notification specifying cremation as the only method of disposal for bodies of COVID victims. A fresh gazette would have to be issued allowing for burials as well.

Colombo District SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman raised this issue on Thursday, pointing out that there was still no gazette notification allowing for burials despite the PMs assurance the day before. He queried when the Government intends to issue one. At this point, State Minister Fernandopulle said the Health Ministry could not decide on its own whether to allow burials for COVID victims and that it was currently being studied by a technical committee. She added that they would have to go by the recommendations of this committee.

The State Ministers statement completely contradicted PM Rajapaksas assurance just 24 hours before that the Government would allow burials to be held.

Opposition Muslim MPs were incensed. A furious Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem observed that the Prime Minister made a categorical statement in Parliament the day before that burials would be allowed.

He lashed out at the Government for again taking cover behind its so-called technical committee, which he claimed was made up of pseudo scientists.

Whos better than the Prime Minister to make a decision on behalf of the Government, and who are these so-called Health Ministry experts who are blocking this? he queried.

He warned that the Government was creating unnecessary racial tension in the country and dragging it into an abyss by such conduct.

Mr Hakeem implored the Government not to drag its feet on the matter and to quickly take a mature and considered decision. And please dont insult the Prime Minister for Gods sake! he added.

Earlier that day, before any of the drama unfolded, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Parliament with his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and briefly attended the sessions. The gesture was significant given the fissures that have opened up in the Government ranks recently, with several SLPP MPs claiming some sections were trying to stir up conflict between the President and the PM.

Nevertheless, the Government did not explain in Parliament as to why the PM had given an assurance that burials would be allowed, though some SLPP MPs dug an even bigger hole for themselves and their Government by claiming at a news briefing that what the PM meant was that the dead were allowed to be buried and that he did not mean COVID victims could be buried: a ludicrous explanation that made Mr Rajapaksa, a former President and one of the most experienced politicians in the country, look like a child who stated the obvious.

Also raised this week in Parliament was the Governments failure to table the final reports of the Commissions which probed political victimisation and the Easter Sunday terror attacks. On Friday, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asked why the two reports had not been tabled in Parliament even after the Cabinet had approved to do so. Though the reports have not been tabled in Parliament, their contents are already appearing in various media. This places Parliament into ridicule. Im not asking the contents appearing outside to be censored, but only that the reports be tabled as they should be.

Mr Premadasa also pointed out that a Special Presidential Commission had already been appointed to implement the recommendations of the political victimization commission. The new commission is supposed to submit a report in three months. Before that commission begins its work, we ask that the report be tabled for us to hold a debate.

Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando noted that there had been many occasions where Governments never tabled commission reports in Parliament. We arent prepared to go down that path. Both reports will be tabled.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, meanwhile, announced that he would not order prison authorities to allow SJB Gampaha District MP Ranjan Ramanayake to attend Parliament sessions. He cited the order given by the Court of Appeal to the Secretary General of Parliament not to take any further action regarding the MPs seat until it delivered its verdict on the matter.
United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2021 ) :At the initiative of Britain, which boasts of having an effective vaccination program, the UN Security Council on Wednesday will debate the problem of global access to Covid-19 vaccines, raising issues likely to underscore sharp differences between council members.

How, for example, can vaccines be distributed fairly -- without, as has been the case, going first to the richest countries in the North while those in the South suffer? Should blue-helmeted UN peacekeeping troops in some 15 countries, along with other UN employees deployed around the world, be declared essential workers and receive vaccine priority -- including in countries yet to receive vaccine doses? If so, who should provide the jabs -- the United Nations, the troops' countries of origin or those where they are deployed? "Vaccine, vaccination is not really the job of the Security Council," said one ambassador, speaking on grounds of anonymity.

The Security Council, with a mission of maintaining peace and security around the world, has no special health expertise, the ambassador noted, adding, "the Security Council can just have a contribution." He added that no resolution on the matter is likely to come this week.

The Security Council's only direct involvement in the pandemic came in July 2020 when, after long and difficult negotiations to resolve sharp US-Chinese tensions, it passed a resolution encouraging cease-fires in countries in conflict in order to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Britain recently shared with a few other countries a draft resolution on vaccine management, diplomats said.

"There is a draft resolution," one said. "The negotiations have just started. It will take some time." Vaccination "is the big challenge now," said Olof Skoog, the European Union ambassador to the council. "A long way to go before people are fully vaccinated.

" Skoog, who is Swedish, noted that the EU has contributed to creating the global Covax initiative which, under UN auspices, aims to provide at least two billion doses by the end of the year, including at least 1.3 billion doses to 92 lower-income countries.

- 'Vaccine apartheid' - "What we don't want to see is a kind of vaccine apartheid," with rich Northern countries receiving ample supplies and poorer Southern countries -- as South Africa recently warned -- going without, said the ambassador speaking anonymously.

He said negotiations over a Security Council resolution were likely to be "complicated," with some countries uncomfortable at the "transparency" involved in committing themselves to leave no country wanting for vaccine.

Several countries, including China, Russia and some Gulf nations, have already launched "vaccine diplomacy" initiatives, either showcasing their own production capacity or providing easier access to vaccine doses.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly sounded a warning that as the virus and its multiple variants spread around the world, global security can be assured only if everyone enjoys the same level of protection.

He has repeatedly called for vaccines to be treated as a "global public good," without specifying exactly how that might happen.

Asked recently about the eventual UN role in establishing a sort of counterfeit-proof "vaccination certificate," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that "there needs to be international coordination and standardization of these things moving forward."Also of concern, he added, "is the criminal element of people falsifying vaccine certificates or, even worse, giving people false... vaccines that are not actual vaccines.

"So, I think the more international cooperation we can get on this, the better it is."
The World Health Organisation-led investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic must look beyond China, a UK scientist on the team that visited Wuhan has said, as he refused to rule out a lab leak as the possible source of the outbreak.

Professor John Watson, a former deputy chief medical officer, said while China remained a very, very possible source, reports that the virus was circulating in other parts of the world, notably northern Italy, as early as September and October, warranted further investigation.

I think that there are all sorts of reasons to do with the way it did start and the outbreak in Wuhan and the various bits of information about the way in which these viruses live in different animal reservoirs that suggest that China is a very, very possible source, he told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show.

But he added that China was by no means necessarily the place where the leap from animals to humans took place and I think we need to ensure that we are looking beyond the borders of China, as well as within China.

A study released by the National Cancer Institute (INT) in Milan in November showed the new coronavirus was circulating in Italy in September 2019.

A security official moves journalists away from the Wuhan Institute of Virology after a World Health Organization team arrived for a field visit (AP)

The findings, published by the INTs scientific magazine Tumori Journal, revealed 11.6 per cent of 959 healthy volunteers enrolled in a lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020 had antibodies for the virus.

A second study reportedly showed four cases dating back to the first week of October were positive for antibodies, suggesting they had got infected in September.

The WHO has previously said the possibility that the virus may have silently circulated elsewhere cannot be ruled out.

Prof Watson also said the possibility that the virus which causes Covid-19 was spread from a laboratory in Wuhan remained on the table.

Asked whether a leak was a potential source of the outbreak, he said: It is not ruled out. We were able to go to the lab, we were shown around the lab, and we were then given the opportunity to talk to the scientists in the lab and there was no bar, no holding back on the questions.

So for example we were very open about the issue that was being suggested that there was a possibility of a leak.

He said the WHO team was able to probe scientists about the possibility of a leak, including asking about safety processes within the lab.

We were very clear in our ability to be able to ask questions about all of that, he said. That is a hypothesis that remains on the table and could certainly have further work done on it.

China has faced claims that the Wuhan Institute of Virology could be the suspected source of the Covid-19 virus.

Last week, a team of experts from China and the WHO concluded that it was extremely unlikely that the virus entered the human population as a result of a laboratory-related incident.

Prof Watson said the most likely source remained an animal reservoir somewhere and that the infection got to humans, probably, through an intermediate host.

John Watson, left, arrives at the airport to leave at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan (AP)

He also raised questions about the amount of data the team was offered during its month-long trip to China.

He said quarantine and additional Covid measures in China meant there were restrictions in what we were able to do and acknowledged that the WHO team had not been presented with all of the available information.

Asked if he had seen the raw data relating to the 174 Covid cases identified in the first month of the pandemic, in December 2019, which are seen as crucial to understanding how the outbreak spread so rapidly, Prof Watson said: We saw a very great deal about specifically those 174 cases.

We discussed in very great detail with them exactly how those cases were identified. We discussed with them the analyses that they had done in relation to these cases and they presented in very great detail various tabulations and analyses around those cases, and we discussed those with them.

We saw a certain amount of the raw data in the sense that we saw some of the line listing in relation to those cases. We didnt see all of that and we didnt see the original questionnaires that were used.

But apart from the fact that they would have been in Chinese, one has to think about what one would have seen if they had gone to any other country in the world. It would be unusual for them to hand over the raw data, but we looked at a great deal of the information, in detail, in discussion with our Chinese counterparts.

There was a lot of sharing of raw data. There is more data that we would like to have the opportunity to see and it would be easier if we had that.

Prof Watson added the Wuhan visit was the start of the process that could last for years.

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, appearing on the same programme said it was important that the WHO was able to visit China but said: We do share concerns that they get full co-operation and they get the answers they need.

He said: We'll be pushing for it to have full access, get all the data it needs to be able to answer the questions that I think most people want to hear answered around the outbreak, the causes.

And that's important, not for geopolitical point-scoring or anything like that, but so we can learn the lessons and prevent it ever happening again.
(CNN)  More than 500 vehicles burst into flames at the Afghanistan-Iranian border Saturday afternoon after a fuel truck there exploded, provincial officials told Afghanistan's TOLO News.

The blaze took place at the customs office in Islam Qala, in Afghanistan's western province of Herat.

Photos from the scene show tall flames and plumes of thick black smoke, visible even from a distance.

At least 17 people were injured and taken to the Islam Qala clinic and Herat Regional Hospital, according to Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, spokesman for the Herat public health department. No further information is available yet on casualties.

"Everyone was terrified. They were escaping. Cars were stuck," eyewitness Khalil Ahmad told TOLO News.

Herat Gov. Waheed Qatali said officials had sought help from Iran, as the Afghan side lacked the resources to put out the huge blaze.

Iran will dispatch relief and rescue teams to the region to assist in the emergency response efforts, as requested by Herat officials, according to the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.

Iranian state-run Press TV reported that the damage was on the Afghan side of the border and did not affect Iranian customs.

"Up to now there has been no report about damage on Dogharoon border terminal," said Omid Jahankhah, supervisor of customs offices in Iran's Razavi Khorasan province, according to Press TV.

According to Press TV, Iran is a major supplier of goods to Afghanistan and that the terminals are often packed with fuel tankers.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "500 vehicles in flames after fuel tanker explodes on Afghanistan-Iran border."
The return of Neil Woodford to investment management just 18 months after the crash of his 15billion empire  leaving as many as 500,000 ordinary savers nursing big losses  will be a source of anger and astonishment nationally.

And the idea that anyone should have sympathy for this self-serving egotist because he felt compelled to sell his 30million Cotswolds estate  with its stable of show-jumping horses  in the aftermath of the collapse is risible.

Yet in his interview in the Sunday Telegraph, a lachrymose Woodford lashes out at everyone except himself  before shamelessly promoting his new venture.

He acknowledges that many people wouldnt touch him with a ten-foot disinfected barge pole  and hes right.

How on earth can someone who has done as much harm to Britains savings culture make such a rapid return to investment management?

Savers who lost out  including this writer  are still waiting for an explanation as to why regulators failed to intervene as the Woodford empire headed for the buffers in the spring of 2019.

The full and urgent inquiry demanded by both the Commons Treasury Select Committee and the Treasury itself has yet to happen.

Meanwhile, the Mails requests to the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, for updates on the state of its probe have, so far, met with a stonewall.

For more than two decades at City giant Invesco Perpetual, Neil Woodford was regarded as an investment genius, having turned 1,000 into 25,000 for those savers who stuck with him for a generation.

So it was not surprising that when he struck out on his own in 2014, his empire grew fast.

That growth was aided and abetted by the unquestioning backing of investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown which exposed a third of its nearly one million clients to Woodford.

As his own boss, there were few constraints on where Woodford invested client money. He piled into unpopular quoted shares, such as doorstep lender Provident Financial, and dozens of unknown start-ups in biotech and science-based companies despite having unproven expertise in this area.

When the performance of his investments failed to live up to expectations, shrewd investors rushed to get their money out.

A crisis was triggered in June 2019 when Kent County Councils pension fund sought to withdraw 250million from the Woodford fund.

The cash wasnt there and the fund was frozen. The Council and its pensioners took a hit of 63million, and hundreds of thousands more were suddenly unable to access their money.

In his first interview since the collapse, Woodford, 60, accuses the administrator, Link Fund Solutions, of acting too hastily in suspending trading in his flagship Woodford Equity Income Fund and closing it down.

If anything, Link and the FCA acted too slowly. Action should have been taken as soon as cash started to flood out.

Woodford behaved like a gambling addict who thinks that his luck will turn but runs up bigger losses. At the peak of his troubles in 2019, he tried a series of desperate gambits to keep his funds from breaching regulations.

He dumped unquoted investments from his main fund into his Patient Capital fund at over-ripe prices.

He also supported the decision of some of the biotech firms in which he was invested to float on the virtually moribund Guernsey stock market.

This enabled Woodford to count them as liquid, easyto-dispose-of assets. But so suspicious was the Guernsey exchange that it notified the FCA.

Now, the big question for savers, who have lost at least 25 per cent of their money in the main Woodford Equity Income Fund, is how on earth can someone who has done as much harm to Britains savings culture make such a rapid return to investment management?

An FCA verdict is still required on Woodfords personal culpability and the roles of Hargreaves Lansdown and wealth management adviser St Jamess Place which sent so much money in the failed gurus direction.

Indeed, the lack of urgency and intervention by the FCA itself has still to be established. One thing is certain: the FCA and the Bank of England, which is responsible for financial stability, cannot allow Woodford to return to active advice and management.

Incidentally, at the time of the Woodford implosion, the chief executive of the FCA was one Andrew Bailey who has since moved on to greater things as governor of the Bank.

Just last week Bailey found himself entangled in a disagreement with former Appeal Court Judge Dame Elizabeth Gloster over his share of responsibility for the collapse of the smaller mini-bond firm, London Capital & Finance, with 11,000 investors.

But to return to Woodford.

He and his associates say they will only be dealing with professional investors not ordinary retail savers in their new venture.

The distinction is ridiculous. Professional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, are harnessing our money.

Woodford and his cohort must be stopped before they cause more damage.
Forty CRPF personnel were killed in the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. (File image)

India paid homage on the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. On this day in 2021, Pakistan-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out an attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy of 70 vehicles resulting in the death of 40 jawans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Pulwama martyrs on the day. Speaking at an event in Chennai, the prime minister said, No Indian can forget the Pulwama attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire our countrymen.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also paid tributes to the martyrs, saying he stood in solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in the incident.

"I join the nation in paying my humble tributes to the CRPF personnel who were martyred in the dastardly Pulwama terror attack. The grateful nation will always remember their patriotism and supreme sacrifice," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu. "My solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in the attack," the vice president said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to the martyred security personnel and said their sacrifice would not be forgotten by the people of India.

"I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019. India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice," Shah tweeted.

Rajasthan Chief Minister paid humble tributes to the martyrs on the day. Humble tributes to the brave jawans of Central Reserve Police Force, who laid down their lives in the line of duty during a terrorist attack in Pulwama this day in 2019. The nation shall remain forever indebted to their supreme sacrifice, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

Karnataka CM also joined the nation in paying tributes, saying the country will never forget the supreme sacrifice of these brave hearts and their families.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant tweeted: My salute to the martyrs who lost their lives in the line of duty towards Mother India, during the Pulwama Terror Attack.

Farmers, protesting against the Centres new farm reform laws, announced a candle march on the day in memory of those killed in the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack.

(With inputs from PTI)
The last day of the UK's cold snap will bring freezing rain, treacherous ice and 80mph winds, according to the Met Office.

Roads and paths could quickly become dangerous and impassable in northern Britain as the temperature plummets to between -5C and -8C overnight, forecasters warned.

Strong winds will also lash western Scotland and Northern Ireland, potentially generating large waves and causing disruption to travel.

However, milder air from the west is expected to push away the recent bitterly cold air from the east by Monday, when temperatures could rise as high as 13C.

The return to average weather conditions  including spells of rain and wind  due to last for the rest of the month although the east and southeast is likely to be dryer and more settled than the west and northwest.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said Sunday will not be "particularly pleasant".

He said: "It's going to be a bitterly cold day. Certainly where you've got freezing rain and ice, combined with those strong winds."

The weather will be "quite wet and windy" for most of the week, he added. "We will be hovering between 7C to 12C, I suspect, through Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday.

"Most of the snow will start melting early in the week, with the exception being Scotland because they have had so much of it."

A yellow weather warning for ice is in place for most of Scotland, northern England and the Midlands until 9pm on Sunday, and a warning for wind for coastal areas in western Scotland and Northern Ireland's east coast will be in place between 4am and midnight on Sunday.

Public Health England (PHE) has extended its cold weather alert through the weekend and has urged people to check on vulnerable relatives and neighbours.

Dr Owen Landeg, group leader for extreme events and health protection at PHE, said: Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly for older people and those with heart and lung problems, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

This week's cold snap saw the lowest UK temperature since 1995 at Braemar in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday night, with -25C.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 29 March 2021 An aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the Mersey Bowman Lawn Tennis Club in Liverpool northwest England on March 29, 2021, as England's third Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - People in England rushed outside Monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 28 March 2021 A walrus sleeps on the slipway of Tenby Lifeboat station at Tenby, Wales Reuters

A record low temperature for February was also recorded in England and Wales when temperatures in Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, dropped to -15.3C overnight on Thursday.

The chill froze Trafalgar Square's fountains and parts of the River Thames in London, and turned the Kinder Downfall in Derbyshire's High Peak area into a 95ft climbing wall of ice.

On Saturday afternoon the Metropolitan Polices marine unit tweeted footage of its boat cracking the ice on the Regents Canal in London, adding: Were on thin ice today! Our patrols are more like a polar expedition.

Additional reporting by Press Association
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/14/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Rebecca and Zied are still together or whether the couple has split up.]

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So are Zied and Rebecca still together now or did the couple end their relationship?

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

star Zied Hakimi and Rebecca Parrott are trying to make their relationship work despite skeptics and critics on the series' eighth season, so did Zied and Rebecca prove everyone wrong? Did they get married and are they still together now -- or has the couple broken up?Rebecca was a 47-year-old private investigator when she fell hard and fast for Zied, a then-26 year old whom she had met online.Rebecca, who has three kids and was previously married three times, first starred on Season 3 of : Before the 90 Days with Zied.Rebecca confessed her first two marriages were with "average, run-of-the-mill American men" and her third marriage turned out to be a disaster because the Moroccan man -- whom she had brought to America on a spousal visa -- became too jealous and controlling once he arrived in the United States.Rebecca was certain, however, her romance with Zied would be different and last forever.Rebecca therefore traveled over 15 hours to Tunisia with the goal of getting engaged to Zied, but her third divorce had yet to be finalized. (Rebecca hadn't filed the paperwork although both she and her ex signed the papers).Rebecca and Zied's time together was great for the most part, but Rebecca had to learn that Zied wasn't using her for money, and Zied had to come to grips with the fact Rebecca was still technically married and once had a relationship with a woman.Zied's family would never approve of Rebecca's same-sex relationship, but Zied said he still loved Rebecca more than anything and wanted to be with her forever.As a result, Zied proposed marriage to Rebecca during a romantic picnic in the Sahara Desert.Rebecca thought the marriage proposal was "perfect," and then she returned to America and filed for the K-1 visa.Rebecca pointed out there were no red flags with Zied, who also insisted he wanted to work in the United States and was already making his own money.On the premiere of 's eighth season, Rebecca was working hard to make and save money by managing a local fast-food restaurant, but she was still waiting for the K-1 visa to be approved.Zied had to prove in his final interview that he was in his relationship with Rebecca for the right reasons."It was a very difficult decision for me to take the risk and do this again, and if it turns out that I'm wrong about Zied, I don't know if I'll ever trust my judgment again or be able to be in a relationship again," Rebecca shared.It then became time for Zied's K-1 visa interview, but first, Rebecca went shopping for a game system so Zied could play video games while she's at work in America.After Zied's K-1 visa interview, Zied FaceTimed with Rebecca and revealed his passport had been taken away and no one told him whether he had been approved for the visa. Zied said he was asked many questions and told to return for his passport about a week later.Rebecca was in shock and didn't know what this meant. Rebecca said she hated the idea of having to wait another week, and Zied admitted he was "nervous" but "okay" at the same time.Five days after Zied's final K-1 visa interview, Rebecca finally learned Zied's K-1 visa had been approved."I need to call Zied. Oh my God, I'm shaking! He's going to be in America now! I am so happy! I don't remember the last time I was this happy," Rebecca gushed in a confessional.Rebecca then shared with Zied on the phone how his K-1 visa had been approved, and Zied exclaimed, "That is amazing! I am so happy!... Thank you for the news, baby!"This moment was the culmination of two years of paperwork and phone calls and being patient. Rebecca said it finally felt real that she and Zied were going to become a family and would be able to see each other every single day.Rebecca wondered how Zied would mesh with her family and friends, but the next step was moving into a new place so Zied would have a home once he arrived in the United States.Zied was then shown buying Rebecca a nice bracelet. He had saved money that would apparently last him in America for a few months and wanted to show Rebecca how much he loved her.Zied's parents hoped for a better life for Zied, but they were upset Rebecca is not Arabic and doesn't share their religious views.Zied's father asked Zied to stay connected with him and try his best to succeed and be happy, but the whole family was sad about being split up.Rebecca was then shown moving into a new apartment -- with seemingly only a bed and some dishes -- and she worried Zied wouldn't be happy once he found out she had previously lived in the same apartment building with her Moroccan ex-husband.Rebecca said she couldn't wait to cook for Zied and make him happy.Rebecca feared how Zied would feel leaving his family because he loved them so much, and so she just hoped Zied wouldn't change his mind about moving.Zied had a tough time saying goodbye to his family at the airport because he said they mean the world to him, and he admitted he was "so nervous" about starting a new life in America -- although it would probably be a better life.It had been a little over a year since Rebecca was able to kiss or touch Zied, and she was shown getting ready to pick Zied up at the airport in the United States.Tiffany had never met Zied in person, so she wanted to take the same car as Rebecca and Zied to and from the airport, which rubbed Rebecca the wrong way because she was getting the feeling Tiffany and Micah wanted to act as chaperones.Tiffany and Micah said they wanted to get to know Zied better and try to find out his true intentions. But this isn't the type of energy Rebecca wanted in the car since she had been waiting for this day to see Zied for 13 months.Rebecca wanted her reunion with Zied to go perfectly, and when Zied finally arrived, the couple hugged tight and she said he smelled and looked so good. Zied told Rebecca that he missed her so much and was so happy to be with her again."We've been through this before, where she's met foreign men who are half her age pretty much, and it just always goes bad," Tiffany complained. "It's like she's a love-sick teenager. But we still don't know his intentions."Tiffany and Micah then asked Zied what he planned to do for work in the United States, which rubbed Rebecca the wrong way since it was only Zied's first day in America.Zied said he couldn't work for six months after getting married but he definitely planned to get a job. Rebecca said Zied is certified in plumbing repair but would be open to pretty much anything, and Rebecca asked her daughter to just trust her.Zied didn't like being compared to Rebecca's Moroccan ex, but Rebecca's family just didn't want to see her get hurt again.Once Zied saw the apartment in which he'd be living, he thought it was nice but noticed there was no furniture yet. He seemed very quiet around his fiancee."Zied doesn't really seem like himself right now, maybe it was leaving his family and friends or maybe it was the third degree he got from Tiffany and Micah," Rebecca explained in a confessional.Rebecca acknowledged that Zied didn't seem happy, but he insisted that he was just tired and needed to shower and get some rest. She could tell Zied was off and hoped he wasn't second-guessing his decision.During Zied's first morning in America, he said he was so happy to be with her. Rebecca wished she didn't have to go to work, but she had to make money to support him during his stay in America.Zied realized he was going to be very lonely in the United States, but he was confident Rebecca would be by his side when he needed her.Zied could feel the distance from his family and said it made him feel very sad, but he could tell Rebecca was doing everything possible to make him feel comfortable, including shopping for groceries.Zied also gave Rebecca the bracelet he had purchased for her in Tunisia."Zied is absolutely the most romantic, thoughtful and caring man I've ever been in a relationship with. He surprises me constantly!" Rebecca gushed.Zied already wanted to visit his family soon, but Rebecca said he'd probably have to wait a year due to his paperwork. Zied was clearly struggling to adjust to life in the United States without his loved ones."I want to feel like Zied is ready to be my husband and build a life here with me. As homesick as he is, if Zied isn't happy here, I don't know if this marriage will even happen," Rebecca shared.Rebecca's good friend Melanie then showed up at the apartment to meet Zied in person. Melanie had once done a background check on Zied, so Zied was feeling uneasy about the meeting.Melanie said she was prepared to "ask the hard questions," including what Zied did while Rebecca worked all day. Melanie said Zied could work in many different businesses nearby rather than sit at home all day, but Rebecca said he couldn't work until they filed for him to be a legal immigrant.Melanie admitted there were similarities between Zied and Rebecca's ex who had crushed her heart, but Rebecca snapped that Zied is a different man and their relationship was totally different."Didn't you and your ex live right down the hall?" Melanie asked Rebecca."What?!" Zied asked in surprise.Rebecca apologized to Zied and insisted their situation was different from what she had with her ex."The same home. I hate this," Zied admitted. "She is my fiancee now. Of course that makes me jealous -- any man in the world [would be]. But I don't like to see Rebecca upset [and cry]."Zied therefore comforted Rebecca, and Melanie insisted that she just wanted to see her friend happy and in a good place after she had gone through a brutal divorce.Zied said he was tired of people talking about Rebecca's ex and comparing him to the ex. Zied told Melanie that he didn't care about Rebecca's Moroccan ex and the fact Rebecca had stayed with him in the same apartment building.Rebecca asked Melanie to trust her, saying that Zied is a wonderful man.Rebecca said Melanie was borderline disrespectful to Zied but she was just thankful Zied had handled the situation so well.Rebecca insisted she didn't have anything to prove to anyone except for her fiance, but Melanie -- a private investigator -- said she was going to continue looking for red flags and would need the full 90 days to come to a conclusion about Zied's intentions.Rebecca said if her family and friends continued to treat Zied like her Moroccan ex, it would surely change their relationship dynamic at some point.In the trailer for what's to come on Season 8 of , Zied tells Rebecca he's not going to stay with her if she doesn't agree to marry him in the United States before Ramadan."Zied seems dead set about getting married as quickly as possible," Rebecca tells the camera, "and it's making me question his motives."In March 2020, TLC released a short-form Season 4 episode of : What Now?, the spinoff available on the network's TLC GO streaming service, that updated viewers on Rebecca and Zied's relationship.During the : What Now? episode, Rebecca announced her divorce from her third husband had been finalized and Zied's K-1 visa had been approved.Rebecca and her ex-husband finalized their divorce on July 9, 2019, according to divorce documents obtained by In Touch Weekly.According to Rebecca, Zied's visa was approved less than four months after they applied for it, which was a short period of time considering they both anticipated it could take anywhere from six months to a year.One scene in the What Now? episode also showed Rebecca house hunting so she and Zied could live together once he arrived.Around the time the couple's : What Now? episode was released, Rebecca denied split rumors on social media and confirmed she and Zied were still "happily in love."Rebecca explained she was simply too busy with work and moving to a new house to constantly post about their relationship on social media.Rebecca told Us Weekly in a late December interview the K-1 visa process "wasn't too bad" after all."We were very fortunate at that time... He got here and within two days, COVID hit and everything was locked down. So we just [got him to America] under the wire," Rebecca said.Rebecca and Zied reportedly obtained their marriage license on April 14, 2020.Rebecca and Zied exchanged vows and got married in Lumpkin County, GA, on April 19, 2020, according to a representative from the Probate Court in Cherokee County, In Touch reported.Zied is therefore now a married man seemingly living with Rebecca in Canton, GA.Zied gushed about Rebecca on May 29 writing on Instagram, "I love your sexy eyes and your face babyy @tlc_90day_rebecca."Rebecca later showed their relationship was still in a good place when she posted a picture of her man on Instagram and captioned it, "I'm so in love. Those eyes. #ilovehim #beautfuleyes #rebeccaandzied #90dayfiance."Zied hinted about his reality TV return with Rebecca in early June."Hello, everyone. I hope everyone is okay and stay home and stay safe with this coronavirus. I'm sorry about George Floyd, I know that's a big problem in America now. I'm sorry my friends, Zied said in an Instagram video at the time."I just want to say I can't answer the question if I am in America or [not]. Just wait until next season of and you will understand everything, my friends! Bye!"Instagrammer John Yates re-posted the video on his own Instagram account and captioned it, "So looks like Rebecca and Zied will be back on the show in some capacity. #90DayFiance #90DayFianceBeforeThe90Days."Although Zied wouldn't confirm whether he was in the United States this past summer, it was apparent he and Rebecca were still going strong in June.On June 10, Rebecca posted a photo of Zied on Instagram and added the following hashtags to her post: "sexy" and "mine."And on July 16, Rebecca shared a picture of Zied lying in bed on a pink pillow."#sexyaf #mine #rebeccaandzied #90dayfiance @tlc_90day_zied I love you more than all the sand in the Sahara," Rebecca wrote with many heart and kissing emojis.Rebecca later gushed about Zied in mid-August by posting a photo of the couple on Instagram with "I love you forever" written across the image."I love you so much @tlc_90day_zied. Thank you for making every day of my life since April 24, 2018, happy and so full of hope for the future," Rebecca captioned her post."I'm so thankful I found you. You are the extraordinary, crazy kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime. I'll spend the rest of my life making you happy. Wallah #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied #mylove."Zied also spilled a spoiler on October 15 that he and Rebecca were still happy and in love.Zied posted a photo of Rebecca kissing him on the cheek when they were both wearing winter hats."I love you so much my love @tlc_90day_rebecca #tlc #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied," he wrote alongside the picture with numerous heart-eyes emoticons.Rebecca then replied in the comments section, "Babyyy I love you more. Mahboulla bik habibii."Zied and Rebecca's main Instagram photos also feature one another.But Rebecca admitted Zied didn't adjust well to life in America at first."He's never been married before. He's never been in a long-term relationship before. He's never been to another country before... He basically said, 'This is not what I thought it was going to be,' and he was very unhappy," Rebecca shared with Us in her December interview."He missed his family and it was really hard. It was a struggle."Rebecca also said "a rather large argument" made matters worse when Zied and Rebecca were trying to adjust to life together in America shortly after Zied's arrival."I know if I were going to Tunisia and I was going to live there, I would have something in my head of what [to expect]," Rebecca said."I don't know what it would be, but I guarantee you sitting in quarantine wouldn't have crossed my mind. That's not something that's in your toolbox to consider."Rebecca noted Zied just sat around and couldn't drive or go anywhere, and she admitted life didn't get any easier in subsequent months after Zied's big move."If I were in any -- literally almost any -- other field of work, this would have been a blessing in disguise," Rebecca told Us, referencing how she manages a fast-food restaurant."Can you imagine [if] I would have gotten the stimulus checks and probably gotten unemployment to stay home? We would have thought it was written just for us. We would have gotten to stay together, like, 'This is amazing!' Or we would have killed each other, I don't know."Rebecca continued, "But you know, because of my job, it was just the worst possible scenario. So it wasn't the best... It was really bad."Rebecca had been hoping to travel with Zied -- including stops in Miami and New York -- before the coronavirus pandemic, and so she said life recently has been "a bit of a letdown."More recently, Zied dropped huge hints he is still living in the United States, presumably with Rebecca, in January 2021 Instagram posts.Zied posted a slideshow of images with his family at the airport in early January and captioned them, "I want to say to my mother, father, sister, family and friends @ssen10 @khalilaymen3 and the other goodbye. I promise to come back to see you soon .. I love you all very much .. #90dayfiance #rebeccaandzied #tlc."Saying he'll "come back" to see his family in Tunisia "soon" indicates he still resides in America.On January 13, 2021, Rebecca wished Zied a happy birthday on Instagram by posting a photo of the two of them."Happy Birthday @tlc_90day_zied I hope you have a wonderful day full of all the blessings you deserve," Rebecca wrote, along with a heart. "#rebeccaandzied #90dayfiance #happybirthday #tlc."On January 18, Rebecca posted an entire slideshow featuring sweet and affectionate photos of Zied and herself, with many of them apparently having been taken in the United States.Zied also took to Instagram in late January with a seemingly-recent picture of Rebecca and himself wearing cowboy hats. The couple was visiting Tennessee together.And in February, Rebecca posted on Instagram suggesting she and Zied remain a team against haters and skeptics."I'm so fortunate that [Zied] has been so patient with all the comparisons to you-know-[who] from everyone around me. To everyone who has been telling me I should've stuck up for him, I actually did, it just wasn't shown," Rebecca captioned a video of her friend Melanie calling Rebecca out for having lived in the same apartment complex with her ex-husband."And that's okay. I appreciate the many messages I have received since last night. Also please remember I had a tough time meeting his friends and family as well. Everything will work itself out, one way or another.""Ultimately, we knew our relationship would face a lot of tests," she continued."It's how we handle these tests that will determine if we make it or not. But I really wish it were easier for Zied. No matter what, he does not deserve to be compared to anyone else. We really appreciate everyone's support. Thank you."In fact, Rebecca revealed on 90 Day Bares All she is no longer friends with Melanie and will never forgive her for telling Zied about the apartment building.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

While compiling todays Links, I stumbled upon a Leites Culinaria piece about Krafts launch of a pink-tinged Valentine- themed version of its popular mac n cheese  aka Kraft dinner, Kraft IntroducesPink Mac and Cheese?

Ive never much liked the original version of the stuff, although I was served up more than my fair share during my ski bum winters, spent in Whistler, British Columbia, where it was ubiquitous. Leites Culinaria notes in Canada, where the gooey, cheesy staple known as Kraft Dinner (KD) is considered almost as sacred as poutine and butter tarts and defiling KD is tantamount to an unpatriotic act. As with many so-called convenience foods, the convenience gained to me is never worth whats lost in taste and nutrition.

But candy-flavored Kraft Dinner is apparently a bridge too far. As per Leites Culinaria:

No more noodling on what gift to buy, stated the company in a press release. There is no better way to show your love this Valentines Day than saying youre the mac to my cheese. Uh. Maybe. Or you could just give them a box of spiders. Kraft has been expanding its boxed cheesy macaroni line for years, but theyve only recently gotten into the more unusual flavors. After our success with Pumpkin Spice Kraft Mac & Cheese in the fall, we had our eye on what to do next, explained Martina Davis, brand manager at Kraft Heinz. Were always up for a challenge, so for Valentines Day we thought it would be fun to change the color AND taste of classic Mac & Cheese by turning it pink and adding a bit of sweet candy flavor to celebrate the holiday.

Kraft attempted to create a buzz for the new product  which has yet to be generally released  and was instead only available via a contest,

This Valentines Day, were giving 1,000 lucky lovebirds the chance to turn their mac and cheese into sweet, pink #CandyKraftMacAndCheese. To enter and see official rules, visit: https://t.co/4IVysaCuYy. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 2/8/2021 pic.twitter.com/gOFvEr6D5Z  Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (@kraftmacncheese) January 27, 2021

As NBC 5 Chicago elaborates, Kraft Launches Pink Mac and Cheese for Valentines Day That Tastes Like  Candy?:

On Wednesday, Kraft-Heinz announced a contest to give out free kits of its latest, limited-time mac and cheese. The box of Original Mac & Cheese will be joined by a packet of pink, candy-flavored powder to mix into ones cheesy dinner. According to the brand, the mix will turn the noodles a bright magenta color, rather than that familiar orange. So, what makes the powder pink? Is it crushed-up conversation hearts? Is it a special dust from Cupids arrow? Actually, according to a Kraft-Heinz spokesperson, the vibrant pink hue comes from beetroot and carrot concentrates. As for what makes it tastes like candy, the extra packet of powder contains fructose, natural flavors and vanilla extract, they said.

Maybe its just me, but I cant think of anything that would make Kraft dinner worse  which, to be fair, I didnt much like anyway  than adding vanilla, sugar, and candy flavoring. But maybe thats just me.

COVID-19 and Cooking

As Ive posted about often during the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased food insecurity, not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. But at the same time, lockdowns, social isolation, and closed restaurants have led many to up their cooking game. Whether out of necessity, boredom, curiosity, or a little of each, is not entirely clear.

Myself included. Ive always enjoyed thinking about and preparing food and when I cook or bake, its from scratch. Nothing comes pre-made from a box although I do have well-stocked spice shelves and a larder. And Im always adding a pinch of this or a dash of that. But its my pinch. My dash. My creation. My comfort food.

A brief pause as I grab a light breakfast  some coffee and a blueberry muffin from a batch I made a couple of weeks ago and froze. The advantage of making ones own is that mine are modest in size and to our taste. I often reduce the sugar  as I did with the linked recipe and left the sugar off of the top  not necessary.

Jerri-Lynn here: Back to my post. Later today, that piece about Kraft mac n cheese will prompt me to whip up my own version for lunch. Mines nothing special and starts with a basic bechamel sauce. Tamasin-Day Lewis has a fine version in her Kitchen Bible  to which I was unable to find a link. Theres no great secret to mac n cheese other than to use good cheese. I sometimes use cheddar, sometime gruyere. And Ive experimented with many other cheeses over the years. I use about 6 oz of cheese for a UK pint of bechamel (or to taste) and one pound of macaroni. At the moment we have a surfeit of cheddar, so Ill likely use that, and finish with some freshly-grated parmesan on top, which Ill mix with some butter and perhaps some bread crumbs to make a browned topping.

Being more or less locked down and isolated with my husband in New York, there are some things Ive been doing to up my cooking game. One New Years resolution: 2021 would be the year I would learn to make fresh pasta. First step has been to make potato gnocchi. This was much easier than I expected. Next step: sheets of rolled out pasta. Finally, stuffed pasta. Ive never made ravioli, but Im of Polish/Lithuanian descent on my mothers side, so Ive often made pierogi, and I imagine the procedure is similar.

Another project: Austrian (Hungarian) baked goods. Ive not got very far with this goal, but as youll see below, many Austrian bakers would not be surprised by the use of ground almonds in the flourless lemon cake I just made a couple of days ago.

And finally, fermented and preserved foods. I typically eat lots of yoghurt and when Im in India, achaar and chutneys, but Ive been trying to eat still more fermented foods. So, I bought Fermentation, number 18 in the excellent series of River Cottage handbooks on various aspects of cooking, baking, or preserving food. On my dining room table right now, several fermentation  aka science  projects are currently in progress. A ginger starter  for ginger beer  thrilled me last night when I heard the ginger paste hissing and crackling, exactly as the instructions promised me it would.

In progress: red cabbage sauerkraut (with juniper berries); fennel and apple kim chi; cherry tomato bombs (with lots of garlic, and chilli peppers), and kale kraut. Next up: Ill tackle the large and alien-looking celeriac thats currently lurking on the kitchen counter. This will be fermented with buttermilk, to make a preserved version of a classic celeriac remoulade.

Also on the go is some beetroot ferment with garam masala, taken from a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe in the Guardian. While I have major reservations about many aspects of that papers overall journalism, Im a longstanding fan of their food pages. Nigel Slaters writing and recipes have been a source of great pleasure for quite some time.

Tonight I think the red cabbage sauerkraut will be ready to try and I have some good frankfurters that I bought from a butcher a little while ago that Ill take out of the freezer. So dinner will be frankfurters, with my kraut, some German mustard, on rolls Ill bake this afternoon. Hot dogs always remind me of my father, who loved them slathered with mustard and loaded with kraut. And hot dogs will be a nice contrast to last nights meal: chicken tagine with oodles of vegetables: onions, fennel, carrots, potato, butternut squash, and garbanzo beans. We ate it with couscous. There were lots of leftovers, but none will go to waste and Im sure well enjoy eating them much more on Monday rather than back-to-back to last nights meal. Therell probably be enough for a lunch sometime during the week.

The COVID crisis has prodded many to turn to bread baking. Ive been making my own bread for several years now, spurred by Jim Laheys No-Knead Bread recipe, which totally transformed my approach to bread. I usually make the whole-wheat version, and occasionally, the olive bread (to which I also add a whole head of chopped roasted garlic, and some chopped fresh rosemary). Ive also taken to making baguettes, which in the short form I make them, are perfect hot dog rolls if chopped in two. The small addition Ive made is to dust them with everything bagel seasoning before baking. In the last month or so, my husband has become the house bread baker.

For dessert tonight, well have some Meyer lemon cake I made on Friday, a variation of Nigella Lawsons clementine cake riff on Claudia Rodens classic orange cake. This cake tastes better a day or two after the day on which its baked. Nigellas recipe provides weights for the citrus, and includes a lemon option. If you dont know Rodens The Book of Jewish Food  which I recently bought  its magisterial, and weaves history, scholarship, recipes, and much more. A wonderful book for anyone who likes to eat, cook, or think about food. Whats unique about this cake is that you boil up the whole citrus fruit  skin, pith, and pulp  for a couple of hours. Which somehow draws out the bitterness. After the fruit cools, you throw the entire fruit in a food processor and mix the resulting pulp with eggs and ground almonds  no flour. No dairy. The result is a dense moist cake that in texture is somewhere between a cake and a pudding  the latter word used in its American sense, rather than in the English, where it would simply mean dessert.

Anyway, because it is Valentines Day, I will dress the cake up a bit, serving it with some crushed blueberries, perhaps sweetened or with a touch of balsamic vinegar  and some creme fraiche, which I made by souring heavy cream with a bit of buttermilk. Ill taste and decide. I prefer the slightly tangy taste creme fraiche to sweetened whip cream with most sweets. When soured this way, the cream keeps longer.

The crushed blueberries are of necessity. I was baffled the other morning while unloading the dishwasher to find a plastic blueberry clamshell in the dishwashers top rack.

Then I looked down on the machines open door to find that the clamshell had obviously taken a swan dive off the counter while I was stacking the unloaded dishes in the cabinet, then opened and deposited the blueberries onto the door. So, I collected the berries, rinsed them off, and tasted carefully to make sure I couldnt detect any soupcon of Cascade. None, thankfully, but the berries were a bit beaten up. So crushed blueberries it will have to be.

I may have gone on a bit with the food porn, and for that, dear readers, I ask your indulgence. But it is Valentines Day, which many celebrate with special meals or foods.

And there is a point to these meanderings: which is in the time of COVID, all of us have been forced to be more self-sufficient. Food insecurity is increasing and alas, I fear is only likely to worsen  as the end of the pandemic isnt yet apparent, at least for those of us in hunkered down in much of Europe or the U.S. Ive written before about increasing food security by growing ones own food. Expanding my cooking repertoire and learning ways to ferment and preserve food also improves my food security. With the added benefit of knowing exactly what goes into any food that I prepare.

Comfort food to me never comes out of a box. Instead, its something I make, using my own hands, and which I hope provides comfort not only to me, but to anyone who dines at my table.

I now turn the floor over to you, dear readers: whats on your Valentines Day menu?

Kraft dinner, anyone?
It is hard to think of a patch of land that has won so many friends as the 20-hectare pocket of wilderness that miraculously survived last summers fires at the village of Manyana on the NSW South Coast.

Support for the protection for what is known by council and developers as the Manyana Beach Estate and by community activists as the Manyana Special Conservation Reserve has been voiced by federal, state and local politicians of the Liberals, Labor and the Greens.

Peter Winkler of Manyana Matters on the land the group is fighting to preserve on the NSW South Coast. Credit:Peter Rae

The local mayor wants it saved, as do 85 per cent of residents, according to one survey. The National Parks Association wants to see it incorporated into the neighbouring Conjola National Park and ranks of environmental groups attest to its significance as a habitat for endangered wildlife.

Despite this, the corridor of wilderness surrounded by spreading suburbia and burnt-out national park still appears to be destined to be subdivided into about 182 suburban lots and sold, subject to deliberations of the federal environment department, which is now considering its protection under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.
I think theres a clear signature of an evolutionary benefit, Dr. Kamil said.

The history of life is full of examples of so-called convergent evolution, in which different lineages follow the same path. Birds gained wings as they evolved from feathered dinosaurs, for example, just as bats did when they evolved from furry, shrew-like mammals. In both cases, natural selection gave rise to a pair of flat surfaces that could be flapped to generate lift  enabling bats and birds alike to take to the sky and fill an ecological niche that other animals could not.

Charles Darwin first recognized convergent evolution by studying living animals. In recent years, virologists have found that viruses can evolve convergently, too. H.I.V., for example, arose when several species of viruses shifted from monkeys and apes to humans. Many of those lineages of H.I.V. gained the same mutations as they adapted to our species.

As the coronavirus now branches into new variants, researchers are observing Darwins theory of evolution in action, day in and day out.

Dr. Kamil stumbled across some of the new variants while he was sequencing samples from coronavirus tests in Louisiana. At the end of January, he observed an unfamiliar mutation in a number of samples.

The mutation altered the proteins that stud the surface of the coronavirus. Known as spike proteins, they are folded chains of more than 1,200 molecular building blocks called amino acids. Dr. Kamils viruses all shared a mutation that changed the 677th amino acid.
Revulsion at a cowardly death threat targeting Sunday World reporter Patricia Devlin continued to flood in yesterday.

Graffiti appeared in a number of locations in east Belfast with the name of award-winning reporter Patricia Devlin along with cross-hairs.

Justice Minister Naomi Long described the sick graffiti as a chilling sight.

And after the news broke on Friday night, people from across the political spectrum condemned the sinister threat.

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis described it as truly menacing. He tweeted: Journalists play a crucial role in any free and fair society and I completely condemn this crude attempt at intimidation. We must stand firm against these disturbing threats to our journalists, simply for doing their jobs.

The national Union of Journalists called on the PSNI to take action. NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: This menacing and cowardly graffiti is the behaviour of thugs who are trying to target and intimidate a specific journalist, but they are also trying to send a warning message to other media workers.

The NUJ calls on the PSNI as well as Northern Irelands political and community leaders to do all they can to support independent, quality journalism.

The authorities must now identify and prosecute the perpetrators to the full extent of the law.

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This latest threat is an attempt to stop journalists from reporting on current turbulent events in Northern Ireland. It is also part of a wider trend of increasing threats since the first lockdown.

Women journalists, in particular, are regularly targeted on social media and this is an added dimension to the current toxic atmosphere endured by many journalists.

Among those to publicly support the award-winning journalist were grieving mother Fiona Donohoe, who continues to campaign for justice for her son Noah, who died in unexplained circumstances last summer.

Fiona tweeted: This woman has great integrity and my goodness thank god for journalists (very hard to come by ) like her... She is someone who stands against the current... stands by integrity.

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Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long said she remained fully committed to tackling threats made to journalists.

This is a chilling sight. In Northern Ireland in 2021 no reporter should be the target of such a sinister threat simply for doing their job, the Justice Minister said.

This attempt to intimidate and divert attention from criminal activity will not succeed and I remain fully committed to tackling threats made to journalists. My thoughts are with Trish Devlin at this worrying time.

Shadow Secretary of State Louise Haigh tweeted: Appalled to see you facing further threats simply for doing your job @trishdevlin.

"Your courage and integrity was so obvious when we met. The intimidation you and journalists across Northern Ireland are facing is sickening and must be stamped out.

Peter Vandermeersch, Publisher at Independent News and Media, said it wasnt the first time Patricia had faced serious threats.2

He said: This is an attempt once again to intimidate a journalist who is just doing her job. The Sunday World shows no fear or favour when reporting on criminality and paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

Just two months ago, Patricia faced serious threats from loyalist paramilitaries. We will provide any support we can to our journalists and hope that those behind this are apprehended by the police.

The threats come as part of a disturbing pattern which has seen a number of journalists from across Northern Ireland face death threats.

Last week it emerged two BBC journalists had been targeted after being involved in the making of a Panorama documentary about Dublin crime boss Daniel Kinahan.

One reporter was forced to leave his home for a period such was the seriousness of the threat, according to the PSNI.

Last year a number of journalists in Northern Ireland were made aware of death threats from loyalist paramilitary groups.

Two reporters from the Sunday World were warned of an imminent attack from criminal elements within the UDA last November.

And that came just a few days after a separate reporter working for INM was told their life was in danger.

The breakaway South East Antrim UDA (Ulster Defence Association) was being linked to that threat, following a spate of similar incidents earlier last year.

The reporters were told they were being targeted and were warned about bombs being planted under their cars.

Speaking about the recent threat to Patricia, Sunday World editor Brian Farrell said the authorities should take a zero-tolerance approach to such threats.

He said the company was taking the threat very seriously and the Sunday World would continue to follow the truth.

This is completely unacceptable, and we are fully co-operating with the police about this threat which they are taking very seriously, said Mr Farrell.

Rigorous investigative journalism is a basic requirement of a democratic society and well not be intimidated from doing our job.

Our readers know we will follow the truth wherever it leads us and our team of journalists will continue to do so despite this intimidation.

And Sinead McLaughlin MLA, secretary of the Northern Ireland Assemblys All Party Group on Press Freedom and Media Sustainability, also condemned the threats.

She said: I am confident that I speak on behalf of all MLAs when I say the latest threats against a working journalist are totally unacceptable and are an attack on the functioning of democracy. A free press is fundamental to a free society.

It is essential that politicians demonstrate their solidarity with journalists, especially when those journalists are exposing the murky world of criminal gangs and drug dealing.

"Paramilitaries have no place in our society, nor have threats to journalists.

The increase over recent months of threats against the media is another indication of the difficult times we are in.

It is essential that the PSNI takes effective action against those issuing threats, whether by graffiti, post or social media.

"As a female politician I am also extremely concerned at the targeting of women journalists, which adds another upsetting dimension to the criminal actions of these gangs. They have no credibility in our society and must be eradicated.

Patricia thanked everyone who had offered support to her in the last 48 hours and vowed to continue to continue to expose thugs and bullies terrorising their own communities.
Supermarkets, department stores and consumer-goods firms in Spain have offered to help overloaded health authorities with coronavirus vaccinations, while the government says that more than one million people have received two shots.

Five major retail associations said in a letter to health authorities that their members - many of which already carry out annual inoculations of staff - could administer COVID-19 jabs to their workers to ease the pressure on the health service.

Companies including El Corte Ingles, Carrefour and IKEA, said they could operate in strict compliance with the national vaccination strategy.

Although Spain initially said its primary-care network could handle the vaccination plan, an acceleration in vaccine deliveries expected in the second quarter after recent delays is prompting regional authorities to consider converting big venues into makeshift injection centres.

Madrid will use stadiums, while other regions such as Andalusia, Valencia and Catalonia are weighing their options, potentially even using cathedrals. The Andalusian city of Ronda has already opened drive-through vaccination stations.

To hit a national target of inoculating 70% of the 47 million strong population by the end of summer, some regions may hire retired physicians, students or pharmacists to help out.

In an initial phase aimed at protecting nursing home residents and workers and frontline medics, Spain has administered 2.4 million doses, with just over a million people each receiving their two shots.

Nearly all those vaccinations so far have been with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, on a regime of two doses separated by about three weeks. Spain is also using the Moderna vaccine.

Authorities will soon deploy AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is approved for 18-55 year olds, to a broader section of society, including domestic workers and physiotherapists.

With Spain's 14-day infection rate down to 496 cases per 100,000 people from almost 900 in late January, several regions have begun to relax restrictions.

The death toll from the virus rose by 530 to 64,747 on Friday, while the tally of cases climbed by 14,581 to 3.06 million.

Bars in the central region of Castilla-La Mancha reopened on Friday but customers must download a QR code before entering to aid contact tracing. Meanwhile, Madrid will extend its 10 p.m. curfew by an hour to 11 p.m. from next Thursday.

Parliament Speaker Hanafi Gibali revealed on Sunday that he had received a message from the Chairman of Al-Wafd party, Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoqa, informing him that Al-Wafd MP Mohamed Abdel-Alim was expelled from the partys ranks and that he no longer would be the partys parliamentary spokesman.

The Chairman of Al-Wafd partys message also informed me that Soliman Wahdan was selected as Al-Wafds parliamentary spokesman instead of Abdel-Alim, said Gibali.

Gibali indicated that Abu Shoqas request was referred to parliaments Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee to be studied by MPs.

Gibali, however, clarified that Egypts 2014 constitution and the Houses law stipulate that for an MP to retain their parliamentary membership, they must keep the political affiliation  independent or party member  under which they were elected, and they shall lose their membership upon approval from two thirds of the MPs if they change this affiliation.

Mohamed Abdel-Alim and seven other high-ranking members were expelled from Al-Wafd party on 9 February. The partys Chairman, Abu Shoqa, accused in a press conference the expelled members of participating in what he called a grand conspiracy against Al-Wafd party in a bid to take control of the partys ranks and organisations.

The eight-member list also includes Yasser El-Hudaybi, the partys vice-chairman and a member of the senate.

Gibali decided on 19 January that Abdel-Alim be referred to the Ethics Committee to be questioned over bad behaviour and misconduct.

Gibali accused Abdel-Alim of badmouthing Mostaqbal Watan  the party with a majority in parliament  and trying to use his parliamentary membership to defame its image.

I will not allow any MPs to use their membership to defame the image of their colleagues, said Gibali.

Abdel-Alim told reporters last week that the recent move against him is part of a campaign aimed at containing any real opposition voices in parliament. Abdel-Alim had also previously said that the constitution states that no MP shall be asked about their opinions inside parliament or its committees, denying directing any accusation against any particular party in the House.

All I did is that I asked for an investigation in election bribes, said Abdel-Alim.

The expulsion and the change of Abdel-Alims political affiliation could finally lead to stripping him of parliamentary membership.

Short link:


The website had a homely, almost slapdash design with a light blue banner and a strange name: Slate Star Codex.

It was nominally a blog, written by a Bay Area psychiatrist who called himself Scott Alexander (a near anagram of Slate Star Codex). It was also the epicenter of a community called the Rationalists, a group that aimed to reexamine the world through cold and careful thought.

In a style that was erudite, funny, strange and astoundingly verbose, the blog explored everything from science and medicine to philosophy and politics to the rise of artificial intelligence. It challenged popular ideas and upheld the right to discuss contentious issues. This might involve a new take on the genetics of depression or criticism of the #MeToo movement. As a result, the conversation that thrived at the end of each blog post  and spilled onto sister forums on the discussion site Reddit, spanning hundreds of thousands of people  attracted an unusually wide range of voices.

It is the one place I know of online where you can have civil conversations among people with a wide range of views, said David Friedman, an economist and legal scholar who was a regular part of the discussion. Commenters on the site, he noted, represented a wide cross section of views. They range politically from communist to anarcho-capitalist, religiously from Catholic to atheist, and professionally from a literal rocket scientist to a literal plumber  both of whom are interesting people.

The voices also included white supremacists and neo-fascists. The only people who struggled to be heard, Friedman said, were social justice warriors. They were considered a threat to one of the core beliefs driving the discussion: free speech.

As the national discourse melted down in 2020, as the presidential race gathered steam, the pandemic spread and protests mounted against police violence, many in the tech industry saw the attitudes fostered on Slate Star Codex as a better way forward. They deeply distrusted the mainstream media and generally preferred discussion to take place on their own terms, without scrutiny from the outside world. The ideas they floated among themselves were often controversial  connected to gender, race and inherent ability, for example  and voices who might push back were kept at bay.

Slate Star Codex was a window into the Silicon Valley psyche. And there are good reasons to try and understand that psyche, because the decisions made by tech companies and the people who run them eventually affect us all.

Silicon Valley, a community of iconoclasts, is struggling to decide whats off limits for all of us.

Ian Bates/NYT

At Twitter and Facebook, leaders were reluctant to remove words from their platforms  even when those words were untrue or could lead to violence. At some AI labs, they release products  including facial recognition systems, digital assistants and chatbots  even while knowing they can be biased against women and people of color, and sometimes spew hateful speech.

Why hold anything back? That was often the answer a Rationalist would arrive at.

And perhaps the clearest and most influential place to watch that thinking unfold was on Alexanders blog.

It is no surprise that this has caught on among the tech industry. The tech industry loves disrupters and disruptive thought, said Elizabeth Sandifer, a scholar who closely follows and documents the Rationalists. But this can lead to real problems. The contrarian nature of these ideas makes them appealing to people who maybe dont think enough about the consequences.

The allure of the ideas within Silicon Valley is what made Alexander, who has also written under his given name, Scott Siskind, and his blog essential reading.

But in late June of last year, when I approached Siskind to discuss the blog, it vanished.

What the Rationalists Believe

The roots of Slate Star Codex trace back more than a decade to a polemicist and self-described AI researcher named Eliezer Yudkowsky, who believed that intelligent machines could end up destroying humankind. He was a driving force behind the rise of the Rationalists.

The Rationalists saw themselves as people who applied scientific thought to almost any topic. This often involved Bayesian reasoning, a way of using statistics and probability to inform beliefs.

Because the Rationalists believed AI could end up destroying the world  a not entirely novel fear to anyone who has seen science fiction movies  they wanted to guard against it. Many worked for and donated money to MIRI, an organization created by Yudkowsky whose stated mission was AI safety.

But it was the other stuff that made the Rationalists feel like outliers. They were easily persuaded by weird, contrarian things, said Robin Hanson, a professor of economics at George Mason University who helped create the blogs that spawned the Rationalist movement. Because they decided they were more rational than other people, they trusted their own internal judgment.

Many Rationalists embraced effective altruism, an effort to remake charity by calculating how many people would benefit from a given donation. Some embraced the online writings of neoreactionaries like Curtis Yarvin, who held racist beliefs and denounced American democracy. They were mostly white men, but not entirely.

The community was organized and close-knit. Two Bay Area organizations ran seminars and high-school summer camps on the Rationalist way of thinking.

The curriculum covers topics from causal modeling and probability to game theory and cognitive science, read a website promising teenagers a summer of Rationalist learning. How can we understand our own reasoning, behavior, and emotions? How can we think more clearly and better achieve our goals?

The Rationalists held regular meetups around the world, from Silicon Valley to Amsterdam to Australia. Some lived in group houses. Some practiced polyamory.

They are basically just hippies who talk a lot more about Bayes theorem than the original hippies, said Scott Aaronson, a University of Texas professor who has stayed in one of the group houses.

For Kelsey Piper, who embraced these ideas in high school, around 2010, the movement was about learning how to do good in a world that changes very rapidly.

Yes, the community thought about AI, Piper said, but it also thought about reducing the price of health care and slowing the spread of disease.

Slate Star Codex, which sprung up in 2013, helped her develop a calibrated trust in the medical system. Many people she knew, she said, felt duped by psychiatrists, for example, who they felt werent clear about the costs and benefits of certain treatment.

That was not the Rationalist way.

There is something really appealing about somebody explaining where a lot of those ideas are coming from and what a lot of the questions are, she said.

People Inventing the Future

Last June, as I was reporting on the Rationalists and Slate Star Codex, I called Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, an artificial intelligence lab backed by a billion dollars from Microsoft. He was effusive in his praise of the blog.

It was, he said, essential reading among the people inventing the future in the tech industry.

Altman, who had risen to prominence as the president of the startup accelerator Y Combinator, moved on to other subjects before hanging up. But he called back. He wanted to talk about an essay that appeared on the blog in 2014.

The essay was a critique of what Siskind, writing as Scott Alexander, described as the Blue Tribe. In his telling, these were the people at the liberal end of the political spectrum whose characteristics included supporting gay rights and getting conspicuously upset about sexists and bigots.

But as the man behind Slate Star Codex saw it, there was one group the Blue Tribe could not tolerate: anyone who did not agree with the Blue Tribe. Doesnt sound quite so noble now, does it? he wrote.

Altman thought the essay nailed a big problem: In the face of the internet mob that guarded against sexism and racism, entrepreneurs had less room to explore new ideas. Many of their ideas, such as intelligence augmentation and genetic engineering, ran afoul of the Blue Tribe.

Siskind was not a member of the Blue Tribe. He was not a voice from the conservative Red Tribe (opposing gay marriage, getting conspicuously upset about terrorists and commies). He identified with something called the Grey Tribe  as did many in Silicon Valley.

The Grey Tribe was characterized by libertarian beliefs, atheism, vague annoyance that the question of gay rights even comes up and reading lots of blogs, he wrote. Most significantly, it believed in absolute free speech.

The essay on these tribes, Altman told me, was an inflection point for Silicon Valley. It was a moment that people talked about a lot, lot, lot, he said.

He did not mention names. But Slate Star Codex carried an endorsement from Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator. It was read by Patrick Collison, chief executive of Stripe, a startup that emerged from the accelerator. Venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz followed the blog on Twitter.

And in some ways, two of the worlds prominent AI labs  organizations that are tackling some of the tech industrys most ambitious projects  grew out of the Rationalist movement.

In 2005, Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook, befriended Yudkowsky and gave money to MIRI. In 2010, at Thiels San Francisco townhouse, Yudkowsky introduced him to a pair of young researchers named Shane Legg and Demis Hassabis. That fall, with an investment from Thiels firm, the two created an AI lab called DeepMind.

Andrew White/NYT

Like the Rationalists, they believed that AI could end up turning against humanity, and because they held this belief, they felt they were among the only ones who were prepared to build it in a safe way.

In 2014, Google bought DeepMind for $650 million. The next year, Elon Musk  who also worried AI could destroy the world and met his partner, Grimes, because they shared an interest in a Rationalist thought experiment  founded OpenAI as a DeepMind competitor. Both labs hired from the Rationalist community.

Life in the Grey Tribe

Part of the appeal of Slate Star Codex, readers said, was Siskinds willingness to step outside acceptable topics. But he wrote in a wordy, often roundabout way that left many wondering what he really believed.

Aaronson, the Texas professor, was turned off by the more rigid and contrarian beliefs of the Rationalists, but he is one of the blogs biggest champions and deeply admired that it didnt avoid live-wire topics.

It must have taken incredible guts for Scott to express his thoughts, misgivings and questions about some major ideological pillars of the modern world so openly, even if protected by a quasi-pseudonym, he said.

It was the protection of that quasi-pseudonym that rankled Siskind when I first got in touch with him. He declined to comment for this article.

As he explored science, philosophy and AI, he also argued that the media ignored that men were often harassed by women. He described some feminists as something close to Voldemort, the embodiment of evil in the Harry Potter books. He said that affirmative action was difficult to distinguish from discriminating against white men.

In one post, he aligned himself with Charles Murray, who proposed a link between race and IQ in The Bell Curve. In another, he pointed out that Murray believes Black people are genetically less intelligent than white people.

He denounced the neoreactionaries, the anti-democratic, often racist movement popularized by Curtis Yarvin. But he also gave them a platform. His blog roll  the blogs he endorsed  included the work of Nick Land, a British philosopher whose writings on race, genetics and intelligence have been embraced by white nationalists.

In 2017, Siskind published an essay titled Gender Imbalances Are Mostly Not Due to Offensive Attitudes. The main reason computer scientists, mathematicians and other groups were predominantly male was not that the industries were sexist, he argued, but that women were simply less interested in joining.

That week, a Google employee named James Damore wrote a memo arguing that the low number of women in technical positions at the company was a result of biological differences, not anything else  a memo he was later fired over. One Slate Star Codex reader on Reddit noted the similarities to the writing on the blog.

Siskind, posting as Scott Alexander, urged this reader to tone it down. Huge respect for what youre trying, but its pretty doomed, he wrote. If you actually go riding in on a white horse waving a paper marked ANTI-DIVERSITY MANIFESTO, youre just providing justification for the next round of purges.

Who Needs a Safe Space?

In 2013, Thiel invested in a technology company founded by Yarvin. So did the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, led in the investment by Balaji Srinivasan, who was then a general partner.

That year, when the tech news site TechCrunch published an article exploring the links between the neoreactionaries, the Rationalists and Silicon Valley, Yarvin and Srinivasan traded emails. Srinivasan said they could not let that kind of story gain traction. It was a preview of an attitude that I would see unfold when I approached Siskind in the summer of 2020. (Srinivasan could not be reached for comment.)

If things get hot, it may be interesting to sic the Dark Enlightenment audience on a single vulnerable hostile reporter to dox them and turn them inside out with hostile reporting sent to *their* advertisers/friends/contacts, Srinivasan said in an email viewed by The New York Times, using a term, Dark Enlightenment, that was synonymous with the neoreactionary movement.

But others, like Thiel, urged their colleagues to keep quiet, saying in emails that they were confident the press would stay away. They were right.

In late June of last year, not long after talking to Altman, the OpenAI chief executive, I approached the writer known as Scott Alexander, hoping to get his views on the Rationalist way and its effect on Silicon Valley. That was when the blog vanished.

The issue, it was clear to me, was that I told him I could not guarantee him the anonymity hed been writing with. In fact, his real name, Scott Siskind, was easy to find because people had shared it online for years and he had used it on a piece hed written for a scientific journal. I did a Google search for Scott Alexander and one of the first results I saw in the auto-complete list was Scott Alexander Siskind.

Siskind said in a late-night post on Slate Star Codex that he was going to remove his blog from the internet because The Times threatened to reveal his full name. He said this would endanger him and his patients because he had attracted many enemies online.

I woke up the next morning to a torrent of online abuse, as did my editor, who was named in the farewell note. My address and phone number were shared by the blogs readers on Twitter. Protecting the identity of the man behind Slate Star Codex had turned into a cause among the Rationalists.

More than 7,500 people signed a petition urging The Times not to publish his name, including many prominent figures in the tech industry. Putting his full name in The Times, the petitioners said, would meaningfully damage public discourse, by discouraging private citizens from sharing their thoughts in blog form. On the internet, many in Silicon Valley believe, everyone has the right not only to say what they want but to say it anonymously.

Amid all this, I spoke with Manoel Horta Ribeiro, a computer science researcher who explores social networks at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. He was worried that Slate Star Codex, like other communities, was allowing extremist views to trickle into the tech world. A community like this gives voice to fringe groups, he said. It gives a platform to people who hold more extreme views.

But for Kelsey Piper and many others, the main issue came down to the name, and tying the man known professionally and legally as Scott Siskind to his influential, and controversial, writings as Scott Alexander. Piper, who is a journalist herself for the news site Vox, said she did not agree with everything he had written, but she also felt his blog was unfairly painted as an on-ramp to radical views. She worried his views could not be reduced to a single newspaper story.

I assured her my goal was to report on the blog, and the Rationalists, with rigor and fairness. But she felt that discussing both critics and supporters could be unfair. What I needed to do, she said, was somehow prove statistically which side was right.

When I asked Altman, of OpenAI, if the conversation on sites like Slate Star Codex could push people toward toxic beliefs, he said he held some empathy for these concerns. But, he added, people need a forum to debate ideas.

In August, Siskind restored his old blog posts to the internet. And two weeks ago, he relaunched his blog on Substack, a company with ties to both Andreessen Horowitz and Y Combinator. He gave the blog a new title: Astral Codex Ten. He hinted that Substack paid him $250,000 for a year on the platform. And he indicated the company would give him all the protection he needed.

In his first post, Siskind shared his full name.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Sterling and Wilson Limited, a Shapoorji Pallonji group company, on Saturday announced that it has signed an order worth 930 crore ($127.5 million) in the Kom Ombo region of Egypt. The order has been received from Saudi Arabia's leading renewable energy company. It is scheduled to be commissioned by Q1 2022, the company said in the regulatory filing.

"We are delighted to win this order, which will be one of the largest projects in Egypt," said Bikesh Ogra, director and global chief executive officer, Sterling and Wilson Solar Limited.

The leading solar Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) firm has also executed five projects of over 322 MWp in Benban Solar Park in Egypt, it mentioned in the statement.

"Our consistent focus towards quality, performance, client centricity, and execution has helped us win projects in strategically located markets that have conducive solar power policies and high solar resources. Winning this project is an important milestone and further strengthens our focus in the MENA region which has been a key market for us," Ogra added.

Sterling and Wilson Solar has more than 10.6 GWp of solar power projects (commissioned and under various stages of construction) in various geographies. The company also manages a portfolio of 8 GWp of O&M projects globally. Present in 25 countries, it has operations in India, southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

"We had robust order inflows of 7,046 crores during the year till date (including orders of 930 crores received recently), which is 153% of the restated order book for FY20," it mentioned in the regulatory filing.

"The Companys revenue from operations for 9MFY21 stood at 3,716 crores, EBITDA (excluding interest income) stood at 43 crore and PAT stood at 54 crore," it said in a statement.

"The opportunity for solar power industry will continue to remain buoyant and grow at a rapid pace over next 2-3 decades. Most of our clients are looking at significant capacity additions and we continue to remain confident of the opportunities going ahead," CEO added.

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Following mass rallies that saw thousands of detentions, supporters of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny have been using light from cell phones, flashlights, and candles as a new form of protest.

The February 14 protest action, called by Navalny's team under the motto "Love is stronger than fear," began in Russia's Far East, including in the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk.



Photos shared on social media showed small groups of people standing outdoors and holding flashlights or standing by candles arranged in the shape of a heart to mark the Valentine's Day protest.



In the Russian capital, more than 20 people could be seen at Moscow State University forming a heart while holding flashlights.



It was not possible to determine how many people participated in the nationwide action, during which no detentions were reported.



Navalny's team had called on people across Russia to switch on their mobile-phone flashlights for 15 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. local time and shine the light into the sky from their homes or the courtyards of their apartment buildings, or to arrange candles in the shape of a heart.

In the afternoon in Moscow, about 200 women took part in a so-called Chain Of Solidary And Love along Old Arbat Street in support of Russian women prosecuted for political reasons. A similar protest attracted about 70 people in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city.



Images shared on social media showed women holding a white ribbon, as well as red roses, balloons, and heart signs with the names of female political prisoners written on them. Demonstrators also sang, "Love is stronger than fear."



The organizers said on their Facebook page that the rallies were dedicated to the women who were "beaten and tortured by police during peaceful protests," as well as "to everyone who spends their days in courts, police buses, and special detention centers."

The protests were also dedicated to Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, lawyer Lyubov Sobol, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, municipal deputy Lucy Shtein, Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh, and Alliance of Doctors head Anastasia Vasilyeva. They all face criminal charges for calling on supporters to rally for Navalny's release last month.



Navalnaya flew to Germany on February 10. Although no explanation was given for her departure, Navalnaya had recently been detained for taking part in unsanctioned rallies in support of her husband.

In the Urals city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, police detained nine people after an approved rally against political repression that was organized by the opposition parties Yabloko and PARNAS, as well as the Left Front movement, according to the independent monitoring group OVD-Info.



Six of the activists were later released while the other three were charged with violating the law on rallies. They are accused of using a slogan that was not on the stated agenda of the demonstration.



More than 500 people participated in the rally, which was authorized for only 200 people.



The candlelit protest across Russia was designed to make it difficult for the police to take action. The Kremlin had signaled its contempt for the event.

Russia's federal media regulator ordered media outlets on February 12 , including RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, to delete all reports about the planned protest. RFE/RL did not comply.



The official order from Roskomnadzor said Russian authorities would consider any reporting about the flashlight protest to be a call for people to take part in an unsanctioned public demonstration and mass disorder.



Navalny's team in Tomsk said they were also warned by the city prosecutor's office on February 12 that they could be held liable for staging an unsanctioned protest action.

Leonid Volkov, director of Navalny's network of teams across Russia, has announced a moratorium on street protests in response to police crackdowns against mass demonstrations that have led to tens of thousands of arrests across Russia.



Volkov called the protest using light a nonviolent way for Russians to show the extent of outrage over Navalny's treatment without subjecting themselves to arrests and police abuse.

Navalny, 44, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had been treated for a nerve-agent poisoning he says was ordered by Putin. The Kremlin denies it had any role in the attack.



Navalny's detention sparked outrage across the country and much of the West, with tens of thousands of Russians taking part in street rallies on January 23 and 31.



Police cracked down harshly on the demonstrations, putting many of Navalny's political allies behind bars and detaining thousands more -- sometimes violently -- as they gathered on the streets. The crackdown led Volkov to call for a pause in the street demonstrations until the spring.

A Russian court on February 2 ruled that Navalny was guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The judge ruled that he violated parole conditions while recovering from the near-fatal poisoning in Germany.



The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said Navalny must serve another two years and eight months behind bars.



Law enforcement officers on February 13 conducted another search of one of Navalny's offices, activists said.

The search in Chelyabinsk took place while nobody was present in the office, the activists said on Twitter.



"We came to the headquarters and found this," the activists tweeted together with several pictures of the ransacked office. "The premises were raided while we were working remotely," the activists said.

With reporting by Dozhd TV, The Moscow Times, Reuters, dpa, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service
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Despite being the only president in the history of the United States to be impeached twice Sen. Lindsey Graham said former President Donald Trumps movement is alive and well and will help rebuild the Republican party.

The senator from South Carolina made the comments on Fox New Sunday with Chris Wallace after the host asked about Trumps second impeachment acquittal and the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January.

On Saturday, 57 senators, including seven Republicans voted to convict Trump for inciting the deadly Capitol insurrection in January. The vote fell 10 votes shy of what was needed for a conviction. GOP Senator leader Mitch McConnell voted to acquit but after the trial denounced Trumps actions.

Theres no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, McConnell said according to the New York Times.

Graham disagreed on Sunday.

He got a load off his chest, obviously. Graham said of McConnell on Fox News. But unfortunately, he put a load on the back of Republicans. That speech you will see in 2022 campaigns.

When Graham was asked by Wallace about Trumps future in the Republican party the senator said he believes the former president remains a pillar within the GOP.

Donald Trump is the most vibrant member of the Republican Party, Graham said. The Trump movement is alive and well.

Graham said he spoke with Trump on Saturday night after his acquittal. The senator said Trump was grateful to his lawyers and those who supported him.

Hes ready to move on and rebuild the Republican party, Graham said. Hes excited about 2022.

Graham hopes Trump will help the GOP win back the House of Representatives in 2022.

Amid the impeachment trial, Trump has received as much criticism from leaders within the GOP than at any time when he served as president. The seven Republicans that voted to convict Trump was highest bipartisan vote in history.

Earlier in the week, Nikki Haley, former Ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, said the president went too far and the party shouldnt follow.

He went down a path he shouldnt have, she said to Politico referring to his deception about the election. And we shouldnt have followed him, and we shouldnt have listened to him. And we cant let that ever happen again.

Graham, though, isnt alone in his support of Trump. Republicans, including House members who voted for his impeachment in January and the senators who joined Democrats in Saturdays vote, have already met pushback.

Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Richard Burr of North Carolina were both censured on Saturday by their state parties. Burr plans to retire from the Senate at the end of his term; Cassidy was re-elected in November and wont face voters again until 2026.

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An Albanian drugs lord who has been deported from the UK three times has been jailed for more than seven years for heading a lucrative 'Deliveroo style' cocaine delivery service in Kent.

Drini Dosku became 'the leading light' in the sophisticated and professional plot to supply residents in the affluent stockbroker towns of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells after his early release from prison in 2014 for drug dealing.

He was freed on agreement with the authorities he would return to his native country for good.

But the 35-year-old illegal immigrant was able to sneak back in, as he had done so on two previous occasions since 2011.

He then took up a 'managerial' role in the class A drug enterprise which was said to operate 'like a Just Eat or Deliveroo takeaway food delivery service'.

Albanian illegal immigrant Drini Dosku, 35, from Orpington, Kent, was jailed for more than seven years on Friday for his involvement in the sophisticated and professional 'Deliveroo style' drug delivery service

Over a nine-month period between March and December 2019, the turnover was 'conservatively' estimated at half a million pounds.

Dosku, known as Jimmy, was responsible for the day-to-day running of the UK end of the business, Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, was told.

His 'trusted lieutenant' Mark Gjeci, 24, and couriers Elvis Shehu, 23, Eldjort Ajazi, 33, and 28-year-old Endrit Tobli also admitted conspiracy to supply.

He recruited couriers, provided false identities and accommodation, arranged hire cars and insurance and was in charge of the two valuable drug line phone numbers through which customers would order cocaine in 40 deals.

He paid the drivers 'handsome' wages of at least 1,000 a week, while he himself 'profited substantially', driving luxury cars including an Audi A5, Land Rover Discovery and a BMW 7 series.

When arrested, police found 25,000 in the boot of one vehicle, together with cocaine worth more than 1,000, and a further 6,000 cash in his home.

In the seven years since his third deportation, Dosku has also fathered two children, aged five and 18 months, with his dental nurse partner here in the UK.

His barrister, Richard Paton-Philip, said he returned illegally 'to better the prospects for his young family'.

Dosku's 'trusted lieutenant' Mark Gjeci, 24, also admitted conspiracy to supply and was jailed for seven years 10 months

Dosku, of Northlands Avenue, Orpington, Kent, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced on Friday to seven years and two months' imprisonment.

It is not known when he first came to the UK, having left his native country in 2004 and initially working in Greece.

But the court heard he was first deported in June 2011, having been jailed for 15 months in March that year for producing cannabis.

Within months however he had returned illegally, before being deported for a second time in August 2012.

An undeterred Dosku, who has no convictions in Albania, returned yet again and in January 2014 was convicted of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and jailed for 32 months.

But early release was offered on the basis he agreed to be deported and not come back, said prosecutor Patrick Dennis.

'So he was again deported in August 2014 and has obviously come back, ending up being the leading light in this drugs conspiracy,' he added.

'In some ways it worked like a takeaway food delivery service, such as that provided by JustEat or Deliveroo - only they were supplying cocaine, not takeaway food.

Shehu (left), who lived in the same house as Gjeci, was sentenced to four years three months and Tobli, of Ockham Drive, Orpington, (right) was sentenced to three years eight months

'It was sophisticated, organised and professional criminality which turned over around half a million pounds. That is a conservative estimate and the profits reaped were substantial.'

The court heard an 'extra layer of insulation' was employed with the use of 'platform numbers' to protect the business if delivery drivers were arrested and their phones analysed.

While customers placed orders with the two drug lines, the platform numbers were used to communicate with the couriers and allocate postcodes.

'Once the platform number had found a driver, the drug line would get back in contact with the customer to tell them how long it would be until their order was delivered, which of course has some similarity with food delivery services,' said Mr Dennis.

'But if a driver was arrested and his phone seized, the police would only become aware of a platform number.'

The enterprise ended however with Dosku's arrest on December 19, 2019.

Passing sentence, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said he was prepared to give Dosku 'the benefit of doubt' and accept there was 'at least one general' above him in the hierarchy, most likely based in Albania.

But he told Dosku: 'You were the leading light, in charge of organising the day-to-day operations within the UK.

'Any such person in Albania may have been responsible for organising the wholesale acquisition, perhaps importation, of the cocaine.

'However, it was then made available to you and formed your stock for distribution in your organisation.'

Dosku's 'trusted lieutenant' Mark Gjeci, 24, and couriers Elvis Shehu, 23, Eldjort Ajazi, 33, and 28-year-old Endrit Tobli also admitted conspiracy to supply.

Dosku, known as Jimmy, was responsible for the day-to-day running of the UK end of the business, Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, (pictured) heard

Eldjort Ajazi, 33, from Harrow, Middlesex, was sentence to three years and nine months after admitting conspiracy to supply

Gjeci, of High Street, Orpington, refused to give police the PIN to his phone but having cracked the code six months later they discovered 'a considerable quantity' of incriminating conversations with Dosku.

He had also tried to conceal evidence, including 'accounting' documents, a false ID card, grip-seal bags, scales and cocaine, in a bin and on the roof of the property he shared with Shehu as it was being raided by police.

Gjeci was jailed for seven years 10 months, Shehu, also of High Street, Orpington, for four years three months, Ajazi, of Northolt Road, Harrow, Middlesex, for three years nine months, and Tobli, of Ockham Drive, Orpington, for three years eight months.

All were Albanians in the country illegally, save dad of two Tobli who gained British national status after coming to the UK from Albania as a 13-year-old.

His involvement was limited to just three weeks, ending when he was stabbed and mugged of the cash and drugs he was carrying while making a delivery in Tonbridge.

Shehu was on prison licence at the time from a three-year sentence imposed for an unrelated drugs offence in 2017.

Six other delivery drivers who admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply were all jailed at separate hearings last year.

Their sentences ranged between two years two months and three years nine months, bringing the total for all 11 defendants to 44 years and five months.

Judge Griffith-Jones commended both the 'complicated and lengthy' police investigation and the prosecution's 'detailed' presentation to the court.

A confiscation hearing will be held later this year.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rachel Rael, a 2018 Santa Fe High School graduate, is not your ordinary military grunt.

Rael, 20, was recently named Marine of the Year for her work in the Military Occupational Specialty of administration.

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It makes me feel really proud, she said of the honor. I joined the Marine Corps expecting it to be really difficult, but Im doing really well in it. I love what it does for me. I love the Marine Corps. It feels good to be recognized for my job and I want the Marines under me to see that they have potential, too.

The award recognizes enlisted administrative personnel who demonstrate leadership in the course of service, provide outstanding support and comfort to those with whom they serve, and enhance morale and the personal welfare of others, according to a U.S. Marines news release.

The reason I was nominated, even though my job is admin, is I try to exceed at it every day, she said. I set an example for my fellow Marines. Administration is very important to the Marine Corps and I can set a good example if I keep doing what I am doing.

A third-generation Marine stationed in Okinawa, Rael knew it was a life course she wanted to pursue from the time she was very young.

The military was in my family and had an early influence on me, she said in a telephone interview. I wanted to join ever since I was in fourth grade.

And it certainly didnt hurt to see constant reminders.

I always looked up to my dad and my grandpa had a bunch of Marine Corps stuff around  pictures and things, Rael said.

She participated in the Navy ROTC program in her freshman and sophomore years at Santa Fe High and that was good training for her future military career.

ROTC really helped, Rael said. Since the Marines is a branch of the Navy, the knowledge is similar to what the Navy does. The instructors in ROTC, they saw my potential and helped me with my physical fitness.

That was important when it came time for boot camp.

While in boot camp, I liked the challenges it gave me, Rael said. It really made me stronger. I really looked up to the instructors. I thought they were awesome.

I had five drill instructors in recruit training. Because of the physical fitness test, we worked out all the time. We had combat fitness, martial arts, as well as learning how to become a Marine.

As a matter of fact, the work of the drill instructors left such a lasting impression that it gave Rael a career goal.

I definitely want to make a career out of the Marine Corps, so Im glad Im off to a good start, she said. I want to be a drill instructor when I get to that point. I always looked up to them. Theyre the image of the Marine Corps and they make the Marine, and I think thats really great. I really look up to them. My main goal is to become a drill instructor in the future.

In addition to receiving this honor, some other highlights of her career were being deployed on board a ship that cruised the South China Sea and being promoted to corporal.

Thats an important step in the Marine Corps, Rael said of the change in rank. Its the first time where you get to have a leadership role and can take an active role in leading other Marines. It meant so much to me.

As for more current goals, shes hoping that COVID-19 eases up enough so she can take some leave and see her family.

I miss New Mexico and my family a ton, Rael said. Thats probably the biggest thing. There are a couple of Mexican food restaurants in Okinawa, but theres nothing like New Mexican food. My mom and grandma will send bizcochitos, but other than that, nothing. And the military is restricted, so I havent been home for a while.
Bahrains National Action Charter has contributed tremendously to boosting the kingdoms ICT sector, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of Information & eGovernment (iGA), has said.

Congratulating His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on the 20-year anniversary of the National Action Charter, Al Qaed said that the anniversary recalls the achievements of the kingdom made possible thanks to the vision of HM the King, including accomplishments in the ICT sector and its unprecedented development over the past few years.

This is in addition to the supporting decrees and legislations that contributed to the readiness of the countrys technological infrastructure, and enhanced its ability to meet various challenges, including the current circumstances.

Al Qaed highlighted some of the kingdoms most notable digital transformation achievements during the pandemic, including providing over 500 round-the-clock eServices via the National Portal, bahrain.bh , and the launching of the BeAware Bahrain app, following the vision of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The app facilitated instant access to a range of public health-related eServices, including vaccine registration and certification, while helping the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior contact trace and monitor positive cases.

He credited the directives of HM the King in adopting modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various fields, and their role in establishing relationships with major technology leaders such as Microsoft and Amazon web Services (AWS).

Bahrain made many important strides towards the digital transformation of government services and systems, which helped elevate its reputation regionally and globally.

Al Qaed called the National Action Charter a defining moment in the Kingdoms history, one that that helped achieve wide-ranging development and improved quality of life for citizens and residents.

Based on the principles of reform and progress, it enhanced the democratic process, supporting freedom of expression and equality between citizens, ensuring education and health and a commitment to economic development and diversified revenue streams. This reflected positively on the kingdoms services and products, introducing new systems that contributed to quality of life.

He added that this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the kingdoms achievements during this pandemic, which were made possible by HM the Kings dedication to ensuring the health and wellness of all citizens and residents, as well as the efforts of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Al Qaed concluded by congratulating the kingdoms senior leadership and all of Bahrain on this anniversary, expressing his best wishes for its continued local, regional, and global achievements, calling on all citizens to continue offering their best in service of the nation. -- Tradearabia News Service
Zac Efron is rumoured to be planning a permanent move to Australia after falling for Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares.

And now, the Hollywood star, 33, has apparently finalised a $2million purchase for a block of land in Tweed Valley - a town on the Tweed River in north-eastern NSW.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the High School Musical actor settled the deal for the retreat, known as Glen Eden, on Friday.

It's a deal! Hollywood actor Zac Efron (pictured) has finalised a $2million purchase for a block of land in Tweed Valley - amid rumours he is planning to permanently relocate to Australia

Confirmed buyer: According to The Daily Telegraph, the Baywatch actor settled the deal for the retreat (pictured) on Friday

The 128.7ha block of land has incredible views of mountains, cliffs, valleys, streams, and a rainforest.

It also features three clear-water creeks, rock waterfalls, water holes and two spring-fed dams.

The Hollywood actor is believed to be planning to build a home on the land.

Zac has been quietly living in the beachside town of Byron Bay since March 2020, after escaping the escalating COVID-19 pandemic conditions in the U.S.

He is believed to have met girlfriend Vanessa in July, when she was working as a waitress at Byron Bay's trendy General Store cafe.

He has also been embracing life Down Under and was recently living in a $140,000 caravan while filming Stan Original movie Gold.

Views: The 128.7ha block of land has incredible views of mountains, cliffs, valleys, streams, and a rainforest

True blue Aussie! Zac (pictured) has been embracing life Down Under and was recently living in a $140,000 caravan while filming Stan Original movie Gold

In August, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Zac had cancelled his scheduled flight home to Los Angeles.

'He was only planning to fly home if he had to,' a source revealed. 'He didn't really want to go back to America.'

Zac had purchased the plane ticket several months earlier in case his application for a visa extension was denied by the Department of Home Affairs.

Location: Zac has been quietly living in the beachside town of Byron Bay since March, after escaping the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S

But it seems his request to have his tourist visa extended from three months to 12 months was granted, hence why he cancelled his trip home.

In September, The Daily Telegraph reported that Zac had 'inspected and put in an offer' on a home in Byron Bay, but was outbid at the last minute by a rival buyer.

More recently, Zac was rumoured to be the mystery buyer of a record-breaking $22million mansion near Wategos Beach.

Gold will be available on Stan in Australia later this year.
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After the Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, calls are increasing for the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, similar to the one that was launched after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. On Sunday, both Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, and Rep. Madeleine Dean, a House impeachment manager, expressed their support for the creation of an independent commission to investigate the events of Jan. 6.

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For the first time in however many years, we had an insurrection incited by the president of the United States, Dean said on ABC News This Week. The House was desecrated, the Capitol was desecrated. People were terrorized. This was incited by the president of the United States. Of course, there must be a full commission and impartial commission, not guided by politics, but filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their conviction.

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NEW: Rep. Dean tells @GStephanopoulos "of course" there should be a 9/11-style commission for the Capitol riot: "An impartial commission, not guided by politics, filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their conviction." https://t.co/LbWAhHV6RV pic.twitter.com/B2PceCVNb2  ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2021

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Also speaking on This Week, Coons said he agreed on the need for an independent commission. Theres still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear and a 9/11 Commission is a way to make sure that we secure the Capitol going forward and that we lay bare the record of just how responsible and how abjectly violating of his constitutional oath President Trump really was, Coons said.

Sen. Chris Coons echoes calls for a 9/11-style commission in wake of the impeachment trial: "There's still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear." https://t.co/L6vzgDaa8k pic.twitter.com/6zHCURRPfa  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 14, 2021

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It wasnt just Democrats who called for a deeper investigation. We need a 9/11 commission to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again and I want to make

sure that the Capitol footprint can be better defended next time, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump supporter, said on Fox News Sunday. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of seven Republicans to vote to convict Trump, also said he would back the effort. I think there should be a complete investigation about what happened on Jan. 6. Why was there not more law enforcement, National Guard already mobilized, what was known, who knew it, when they knew it? All that, because that builds the basis so this never happens again in the future, Cassidy said. I think that is also important, George, but that is different from allowing that to define the future of the Republican Party.

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Shortly before the acquittal, two key voices also spoke up in favor of a full investigation, Tom Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, and Lee Hamilton, the former Democratic House member from Indiana. Kean and Hamilton, who headed the commission that was formed after the 2001 attacks, sent a letter to President Joe Biden, as well as leaders of both parties in Congress, calling for a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot. The shocking and tragic assault of Jan. 6th on the U.S. Capitol requires thorough investigation, to ensure that the American people learn the truth of what happened that day, Kean and Hamilton wrote. An investigation should establish a single narrative and set of facts to identify how the Capitol was left vulnerable, as well as corrective actions to make the institution safe again.

Earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had also expressed interest in creating a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot. It is also clear that we will need to establish a 9/11-type Commission to examine and report upon the facts, causes and security relating to the terrorist mob attack on January 6, Pelosi wrote in a Feb. 2 letter to colleagues.

*This post has been updated with new information since it was first published.

Posted Sunday, February 14, 2021 9:08 am

The low-profile Washington congresswoman with the nerve to escalate the fight of her political career against one of the biggest brawlers in the ring  Donald Trump  hails from a town called Battle Ground.

And it may be in places like Battle Ground, Clark County, with incumbents like U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, where Republicans vie for the direction of their party amid deep divisions left in the wake of the twice-impeached Trump.

Herrera Beutler, who since 2011 has represented Washington's 3rd Congressional District, lit the national news cycle afire Friday night when she shared an account of a purported exchange between the former president and GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as a violent mob ransacked the Capitol.

The account briefly upended Trump's second impeachment trial as Democrats scrambled to call her as a witness. Herrera Beutler said in a statement that McCarthy had relayed to her that when he reached the president by phone during the Jan. 6 attack and asked Trump "to publicly and forcefully call off the riot," the president initially repeated a falsehood that anti-fascists were responsible.

"McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters," she continued. "That's when, according to McCarthy, the president said, 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.' "

But in her statement via Twitter  as befits the Trump era  the 42-year-old lawmaker went even further: She challenged members of a Republican Party that largely supports Trump, or keeps their discontent bottled up inside.

"To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time," wrote Herrera Beutler.

In the end, nobody appeared to heed her call. Meanwhile, House Democrats Saturday quickly backtracked from calling the congresswoman as a witness, instead entering her statement into the record.

In an email, Herrera Beutler spokesperson Craig Wheeler wrote that the congresswoman offered the information that she had to Congress for the trial, "and she would have testified under oath."

By Saturday afternoon the Senate had acquitted Trump on the charge of incitement, even as the 57 votes to convict the former president (short of the necessary 67) represented the most bipartisan roll call of the four such trials in U.S. history. Seven Republicans joined the Democrats.

A world away from Seattle's relative affluence and high-tech, college-degree workforce, the 3rd Congressional District stretches across seven counties of largely rural Southwest Washington.

It touches the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River Gorge; the population center of Clark County is sandwiched in between. Drive the district's length and you'll find fishing, timber and tourism, the city of Vancouver, and cattle, wheat and wind turbines.

The district is relatively competitive but leans Republican. Herrera Beutler bested her Democratic challenger in 2018 with 53%. Voters last November reelected her by an even wider margin.

But Republicans are not thrilled. Last month, the Washington State Republican Party's central committee condemned the impeachment of Trump in a 111-to-2 vote. That resolution expressed "particular disappointment" in Herrera Beutler and Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, who both voted to impeach.

The Clark County Women's Republican Club around that time called Herrera Beutler's vote a "personal affront to the 70 million plus Americans who voted for our President" and pledged to "recruit and elect a conservative candidate" to challenge her.

On Saturday, Clark County Republican Party Chair Joel Mattila said, "The reaction that I'm seeing from local Republicans ... is that she's only digging her hole deeper."

"Unless we get more information that we don't already have," Mattila added, "I think that it's more than certain she's going to have a primary opponent."

Republicans in Southwest Washington supported Trump, said state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and "what they believe is OK, well, he was defeated, let it go, let us move on."

"I think what the congresswoman's chosen to do is not popular with this part of the state," said Walsh, whose district shares a lot of territory with Herrera Beutler's. "That again makes me wonder, why double down or triple down on this position?"

While she doesn't play the role of a combative partisan on the TV news channels, Herrera Beutler  who is the first Hispanic member to represent Washington at the federal level  has never had a problem breaking with her own party.

She was one of the few Republican elected officials to say she didn't vote for Trump in 2016.

And even her recounting of the McCarthy-Trump phone call wasn't a one-off remark launched into the twittersphere. Herrera Beutler said she has shared her account personally with GOP officials and constituents in recent weeks in her district. Both the Centralia Chronicle and The Daily News of Longview previously reported on her account.

Former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed remembers being at a function with Herrera Beutler more than a decade ago when she was a state representative. A group of conservatives was pressuring her to oppose a piece of legislation that involved social services, said Reed, a fellow Republican.

"She stepped right up to them, and said it's the right thing to do," recounted Reed.

As for the blowback Herrera Beutler is receiving now, "I think she's going to take some pounding in terms of people attacking her," said Reed. "And I think she's up for it and will be able to handle it."

Trump's impeachment isn't even the first time Clark County Republicans have disapproved of her.

In 2015, the county party considered censuring the congresswoman over what some considered an insufficiently conservative voting record, according to reports in The (Vancouver) Columbian.

The Washington State Republican Party came to Herrera Beutler's defense at the time. The censure attempt  which would have banned her from speaking at county GOP events  ultimately fizzled.

If she runs again in 2022, Reed said he's optimistic Herrera Beutler can win, adding that enough voters are likely to reward her independence.

"The people admire that," he said, "and they appreciate the integrity of it."

The congresswoman also drew praise from an unlikely corner: her hard-fighting Democratic challenger from the last two election cycles.

In a tweet of her own, Carolyn Long praised Herrera Beutler for both her impeachment vote and "for speaking out about President Trump's behavior" on Jan. 6.

"Failing to hold Trump accountable for his part, especially and including during the actual event when he disregarded House Speaker McCarthy's call for assistance, would set a disastrous precedent for the future," Long added later. "Good for her."
The next United States Senator from Alabama will be a Republican. The best candidate Democrats can put up not named Nick Saban will lose by double digits in the general election. The Republican primary will determine the ultimate outcome of the election and serve as a bellwether for the future of the party well beyond the borders of the state.

Twenty United States Senate seats currently held by Republicans are up for grabs in 2022, and Alabamas Senate race is the safest seat without an incumbent running.

This isnt about how the candidates will actually vote. For years, the God, abortion, and guns (GAG) campaign has been a necessary baseline that has too often served as the height of Republican expectations. Viable Republican candidates in Alabama will talk about their faith, their pro-life bona fides, and their adoration of the Second Amendment.

Practically speaking, the GAG threshold ensures Republicans will vote similarly on the big ticket items. Consider Alabama representatives Gary Palmer and Mo Brooks. They agreed on 91 percent of the votes taken in 2019-2020 according to ProPublica. In truth, votes are aligned across most Republicans in Congress regardless of the districts they represent. For example, Brooks voted with Representative Liz Cheney on 87% of votes, and Palmer agreed with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy 89% of the time. Republicans who arent under electoral pressure from Democratic challengers tend to vote together most of the time.

The GAG campaign looks and sounds patriotic, but its not the most effective way to push back against progressive policies. Building solutions to actual problems requires far more work, relational skills, and competency than simply screaming about the socialist Democrats and fake news media.

The GAG campaign of least resistance these days is clear: Highlight GAG positions, express unflinching loyalty to former President Donald Trump, and explain why Democrats are the worst.

Nobody in Alabama has set himself up better to execute it than Brooks, so Ill use him as an example. Finishing a distant third behind Roy Moore and Luther Strange in Alabamas 2017 special senate primary, Brooks realized his need for increased name recognition to perform outside of his congressional district. His fiery rhetoric after this past election which culminated in his speech at a now infamous rally on January 6th afforded Brooks both name identification and favor with Trump. If Brooks doesnt run a senate campaign and secure a Trump endorsement, Id be shocked.

To be honest, thats probably enough to win if nobody presses him for a better reason to support him.

The real measure of any politician is his or her ability to shape law and policy. Thats what we hire them to do. Brooks has been in Congress since 2011, so hes not a freshman figuring out the process. Reviewing his record on Congress.gov, Brooks has only sponsored one bill over his ten year career that became law. It names a post office. In fact, hes only sponsored one other bill that even managed to pass the House of Representatives. None of the legislation Brooks has sponsored in Congress has ever enjoyed more than 50 cosponsors. If youre Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, is that a track record youd be concerned about thwarting your agenda in the United States Senate?

The number of bills passed or enacted isnt the sole test of leadership, but its an indicator of effectiveness. Garnering cosponsors is often as difficult as passing a folder around a room filled with friendly GOP congressmen.

Democrats arent too concerned about an angry stump speech from Republicans. A candidate who can build coalitions, persuade colleagues, and build national momentum is a different matter entirely. But most of us cant answer whether the politicians we support are any good at doing that, because we dont even bother to ask.

Republicans fall for the GAG and move along.

We wallow in outrage over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs latest social media post, the most recent punditry from Don Lemon, platform decisions from big tech, and President Joe Biden making liberal moves while calling for unity. We wear out the witty social media posts and hot takes. Congratulations, were officially upset. Now what?

We must expect the next crop of Republican elected officials to explain their plan to build majorities, pass laws, and change regulations. The GAG isnt cutting it these days. Its a losing strategy even if it still wins an election here and there. Republicans must demand that every candidate do more to earn their votes. Alabama has a unique opportunity to do that and set an example for other aspiring Republican leaders around the country.

Cameron Smith is CEO of the Triptych Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The Triptych Foundation promotes a virtuous society through investments in socially impactful media and business. He was recently executive director of the Republican Policy Committee in the United States House of Representatives. You can reach him at cameron@smithstrategies.org.
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Reports stating that Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada was killed in Pakistan's Balochistan province last year have emerged. Ahmadullah Wasiq, a senior leader of the organisation, however, took to Twitter to refute the reports.

Hindustan Times, quoting from Hasht-e-Subh newspaper, stated that Akhundzada was killed with Taliban intelligence chief Mullah Matiuallah, finance chief Hafiz Abdul Majeed in a blast in Quetta. The report further stated that while Akhundzada and Matiullah died instantly, Majeed died a few days later at a military hospital.

Dismissing the report, Wasiq wrote on Twitter, "This is false news and baseless rumours have no truth. Spreading such rumours and false news is a failed propaganda attempt by the enemy's intelligence services. The enemy wants to hide its defeats in such rumours and distract the peoples minds.

If Akhundzada is indeed dead, he will be the third Taliban chief to have died on Pakistan soil, after Mullah Omar and Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

The experts of Google with Stanford have conducted a research about how the users get attached through different means. They analysed more than 1.2 billion suspicious emails , in which there was a chance of malware. They find out that 2FA is not a big factor spreading malware. Many people receive spam emails daily and mostly there are suspicious links attached to such emails if a person clicks or opens such a link unintentionally, he loses his data and it may possibly be leaked. Some people mistakenly open a third-party link. Once your data is leaked, you are always in a red zone. If a person is an older user and those who use both desktop and mobile devices are also at high risk of being attacked.The researchers check such emails that were automatically blocked from Gmail because these were spam emails for five months. The team of researchers maintain the privacy of users, therefore, they focused on a whole data rather than focusing on an individual persons data. Google made this research to protect its users from being attacked by the scammers because it could not only lose the data of users but also damage the reputation of the company.The researchers checked the phishing and malware emails in seven days as a function of demographic location, security reasons, device access and if any prior attack happened to the Gmail account before, other types of security incident happened, because it is simple to understand that once the data has leaked from an account by a third-party breach then it is possible that the data may be stolen again, or such account can also become a victim.This research took place at a time when the users were receiving a record number of malware emails especially during the pandemic situation when people were working from home for almost a year. According to a report, the pandemic situation has made a 14 percent increase in phishing attacks in the US. It is further concluded in research that those people whose data were leaked the first time were targeted again and again for five times. The attackers also access the age and country of access of users and they check whether they can easily get the demographic information of the users. The report further said that the data breaches depict users to lasting damage due to the lack of curative measures.The researchers further said that the demographic location is also a big factor for being targeted by malicious emails, currently, the US is at the top of the list in which the users are targeted the most. Overall, 16 countries were revealed as a higher-risk country other than the US. However, researchers also find out that some countries in Europe and Africa have received more vulnerable emails even though the volume of malicious emails is high in the US.Age is also a factor in being attack. There is another big factor which is an old user because there are more chances of being targeted if a person is using an email address for a long time because the attacker may find out that the larger online footprint. Those people are in the safer side who use Gmail from only mobile or only desktops. The amount of activity of users also matters and two-factor verification does not make a huge difference according to a report.Read next: Study Reveals Nearly 8 In 10 Consumers Dont Want to Download Apps to Complete Transactions
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Icy roads were reported Friday morning in the northwest Houston region, but the hazardous driving conditions are only expected to worsen.

A major winter storm could bring ice, sleet and freezing rain, or any combination of all three, from late Sunday through Monday, according to meteorologists from Space City Weather. The Texas Department of Transportation, AAA, weather experts and other officials offer tips for staying safe on the roads. Here's a list of safe winter driving practices compiled by the Chronicle from those sources.

1. Stay off the roads: It is widely recommended that people stay home during winter storms because sleet, ice or cold rain can create slick roads and poor visibility. People should only travel if necessary.

2. Slow down: Ease up on the gas pedal and drive more slowly. Don't tail other vehicles too closely, but maintain at least three times the normal following distance, roughly five or six seconds. Accelerate and decelerate slowly to avoid skidding -- it takes longer to slow down on ice. If possible, avoid coming to a full stop.

3. Watch out for bridges: Be extra careful on bridges, overpasses and ramps, which typically freeze before regular roadways.

4. Braking: Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal while keeping your heel down. Do not pump the brake if you have an anti-lock braking system, which will pulse or vibrate on its own.

5. Steering: If your car begins sliding, ease your foot off the gas and steer into the direction of the skid. Remain calm. Straighten your vehicle after you regain traction.

6. Check road conditions: Before you leave for your destination, check Houston TranStar or local media outlets for live updates on road conditions or crashes.

7. Stock up: Make sure your car is supplied with blankets, water and food in case you become stranded on a roadway. If you have them, carry gloves, an ice scraper, window-washing solvent, a small snow shovel, flashlight and other emergency supplies in your car. Wear comfortable, warm clothing for your drive.

8. Visibility: Clear snow and ice from your car, including the windshield, windows, hood and lights, before driving. Keep your headlights on.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Shortly after sunrise on Jan. 15, FBI agents descended with guns drawn on a squat, red-brick apartment complex here, broke open the door of one of the units and threw in a stun grenade, prompting the frightened property manager to call 911.

Inside the apartment, furnished with little besides books and a sign declaring "THE REVOLUTION IS NOT A PARTY," the agents found their target: a 33-year-old U.S. Army veteran and self-described "hardcore leftist" who had posted a flier on social media threatening to attack "armed racist mobs WITH EVERY CALIBER AVAILABLE."

The man, Daniel Baker, hardly fit the profile of those who had been expected to cause trouble in the run-up to President Joe Biden's inauguration. After a mob of Donald Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in hopes of preventing Biden from taking office, the FBI had warned that far-right extremists were plotting armed marches in Tallahassee and other state capitals, as well as in Washington, D.C.

But Baker represents the flip side of that threat: As a far-right extremist movement wages an assault on American government and institutions, experts say an unpredictable battle is brewing, fueling potentially legitimate threats of violence from the opposite fringe of the political spectrum.

"It is ratcheting up and then getting a response and a back-and-forth," said Steven Chermak, a professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University.

Political violence remains far more common a feature of far-right groups than of those on the far left, according to law enforcement officials and data compiled by those who study extremist violence. Federal authorities have repeatedly described homegrown, right-wing extremists as the most urgent terrorism threat facing the nation.

But high-profile right-wing attacks could be spurring far-left extremists to respond in kind, Chermak said. And cases like Baker's can have a snowball effect, he said: Articles about Baker have been circulated online by members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group with a history of violence, who cite his arrest as evidence that left-wing activists are plotting against them.

"An important part of convincing people that there's an issue and there's truth to what you're saying is to home in on an example or home in on a particular case, and then that case becomes representative of a larger problem," Chermak said. "It's something to hang your hat on."

Despite warnings of violent plots around Inauguration Day, only a smattering of right-wing protesters appeared at the nation's statehouses. In Tallahassee, just five armed men wearing the garb of the boogaloo movement - a loose collection of anti-government groups that say the country is heading for civil war - showed up. Police and National Guard personnel mostly ignored them.

With no other significant law enforcement actions, Baker's arrest stands as one of the most dramatic events of that period.

A yoga devotee and advocate for the homeless who helped out at an arts center, Baker decried both Biden and Trump. Baker, a socialist idealist who volunteered to fight against Islamic State forces in Syria, also had traveled to Seattle last summer to support protesters for racial justice who briefly claimed an abandoned police precinct and declared the area around it an autonomous zone.

The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol deepened Baker's belief that the United States was on the brink of civil war, according to court records, social media posts and interviews with Baker's friends. He felt certain that Tallahassee, where a man fueled by misogyny killed two women at a yoga studio in 2018 and a pickup truck driver accelerated through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters last summer, would see violence at the hands of far-right agitators. And he was convinced they had to be met with an armed resistance.

Public defender Randolph Murrell argued in court filings and during a Jan. 21 hearing that Baker's comments were "the product of the heated political dialogue of the day." They were no different, he said, from online posts by Republican officials telling their followers to "prepare for war" or to "take up arms" in the run-up to Inauguration Day. Baker's friends said he had a bombastic social media presence that he stepped up to match inflammatory right-wing rhetoric.

Those close to Baker say they see a double standard in his being targeted.

"None of his statement was saying 'On Inauguration Day, we're going to go out and hunt down all the right-wingers,'" said Warren Stoddard, who fought alongside Baker in Syria. "He said, 'We're going to stop people from taking the Florida Capitol.' And if no one went to the Florida Capitol, there's nothing to stop."

But the FBI agents who had been monitoring Baker's social media posts since October described him as being on a "path toward radicalization." They catalogued his Facebook musing about being "willing to do ANYTHING to ANYONE so I don't end up homeless and hungry again." They noted updates about "voting from the rooftops" and hoping "the right tries a coup on Nov. 3 cuz I'm so f------ down to slay enemies again." A post on his page in December announced, "Trump still plans on a violent militant coup. If you don't have guns you won't survive."

On Jan. 25, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank agreed that Baker posed a potential threat and ordered him held without bond, writing that the former soldier had "repeatedly endorsed violent means to advance the political beliefs that he espouses."

Baker grew up in the city of Jupiter on Florida's southeastern coast, the older of two sons of a deputy in the aviation unit of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. His parents divorced when he was very young, court records show, and the case stretched on for years.

Because of his mother's struggles with substance abuse, a court eventually awarded sole custody to his father, who remarried and had another son. His mother's illness loomed in Baker's childhood: When he was 12, he discovered that she had overdosed after she failed to show up at his school. Citing that and other occurrences in his life, a judge concluded that Baker had "experienced significant emotional and psychological harm."

Friends said Baker had a conservative, Christian upbringing and was taught to valorize the military, his father having served in the National Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve. (Baker's father, Glenn, died in 2019, and other relatives could not be reached for comment.)

At 18, Baker enlisted in the Army, but his military career would be short-lived. Army records indicate that he left after 20 months, at the lowest rank. Prosecutors said he had been separated from the Army with an "other-than-honorable" discharge after going AWOL in 2007 as his unit prepared to deploy to Iraq. Baker had told multiple friends that he refused to go to Iraq after hearing fellow soldiers boast about sexual assault. His service records do not indicate the reason for his discharge.

The decade that followed found Baker living on and off the streets. He became estranged from his family, his friends said, and found occasional work in private security, otherwise struggling to hold a job. He appears to have had one minor brush with law enforcement: a 2008 marijuana incident that prosecutors declined to pursue.

Desiree Gattis spotted Baker on the side of a Tallahassee road in 2011. She often handed out food to the homeless and stopped to make sure he was OK. The encounter sparked a years-long friendship, with Gattis eventually inviting Baker to sleep in her backyard while he got on his feet. He helped with her outreach to the homeless, despite frequently lacking stable housing himself.

"Once you get to a point where you're on that red line all the time, you start to feel like, 'Well, maybe this is what I deserve,'" Gattis, a music teacher, said during a hearing in Baker's case. "He just had a really hard time helping himself."

During those years, Baker began reading the books of anarchist philosopher Emma Goldman, political scientist Hannah Arendt and civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Angela Davis, his friends said. He drifted from the conservative ideology of his upbringing and embraced an anarchist worldview, advocating for bottom-up systems with decisions made by community consensus. Conflict with his family and firsthand experience with the shortcomings of public institutions pushed him to rely more on his surrounding community, said friend Jack Fox Keen.

Baker's search for a radically different form of government eventually took him to Syria, where Kurdish groups were seeking to build a socialist democracy underpinned by feminism and environmental sustainability. Baker was drawn to the concept, and he joined the Kurdish People's Protection Units, known as YPG, in their battle against Islamic State forces in 2017.

The Westerners who ventured to Syria as YPG volunteers usually were military veterans looking to continue the fight or idealists committed to the political project, said Stoddard, a Texas native and writer who joined the YPG in 2018. Baker, known by the Kurdish name Ali Sharem Ourecox, was a bit of both. He was at least partly driven by a desire to live up to the militaristic ideals of the father he seemed simultaneously to love and hate, Stoddard said.

"He wanted to be this great warrior," said Stoddard, 26, who returned to the United States after being wounded. "At one point, he told me that he wished that he had gotten shot, like he was jealous of me being shot. Like that was some kind of medal that I got."

A 2019 Vice News documentary, which Baker uploaded to his personal YouTube channel, shows him firing a sniper rifle during clashes with Islamic State forces. In the video, journalists find themselves pinned down in a house with several YPG fighters. The group decides to retreat, and Baker helps lead the reporters to safety. He appears confident and energized despite the danger. When an allied airstrike hits nearby, he grins widely and exclaims, "Yeah! That's our boys!"

The FBI made note of the footage and of Baker's online boasts of being a "trained sniper in the YPG," characterizing the group as linked to the terrorist-designated Kurdistan's Working Party despite the U.S. backing of the YPG. But Stoddard said much of the fighting was over by the time he and Baker arrived. They spent only two weeks on the front line, Stoddard said.

Stoddard described Baker as passionate about injustice but also "a little bit wild-eyed." He was known for doing wacky things to cheer up the fighters during long stretches of waiting and for making comments that "came across more as something stupid to laugh about."

Back in the States, Baker became deeply involved in liberal politics. As protests exploded last summer over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, Baker traveled the country to join them.

Eric Champagne, an artist and former monk who connected with Baker online over "spicy memes about social justice," took a road trip with him to the protest camp at Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. The two wanted "to participate in whatever they were trying to accomplish there," Champagne said.

Baker was eager to offer his combat medical training in support of the demonstrators who claimed the area after police abandoned a local precinct. When shots were fired in the early hours of June 20, an incident that led to the death of a teenager and the eventual demise of the zone, Baker tried to help, Champagne said.

"Dan was among the first to run toward the sound of gunfire to see if anyone was injured," he said.

After leaving Seattle, Baker and Champagne returned to Tallahassee, where they camped in the woods before scraping together money to move into the apartment that agents eventually would raid.

Baker was seeking certification as an emergency medical technician and in the meantime recorded first-aid and self-defense training videos with Champagne. He urged vulnerable communities to learn to defend themselves, telling Fox Keen: "If you can feel like you can physically protect yourself, you will feel more empowered."

Susanna Matthews, a retired academic who owns and manages the property where Baker and Champagne lived, described them as "freewheeling, freelancing, good-Samaritan types."

But after the assault on the U.S. Capitol, friends said, Baker became deeply concerned that the Proud Boys, white supremacists and other groups would flood Tallahassee and that people would die. He told Matthews and Fox Keen to stay inside and called for "militant friends" to join him in his plan to "encircle" armed protesters and "trap them inside" the building.

And he printed the fliers that would become one of the FBI's main pieces of evidence against him.

"Armed racist mobs have planted the Confederate flag in the nation's Capitol while announcing their plans to storm every American state Capitol on or around Inauguration Day," the call to arms said. "We will fight back."

- - -

The Washington Post's Alex Horton, Julie Tate and Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report.


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There were pills in my lap, ready to take. Tears were streaming down my face. The summer sunshine was warm on my back, beaming into my living room but I could only see black as I stared ahead. Id just realised that Id been scammed, and Id lost everything. I was shaking from head to toe, I was losing my vision and my body was going into shock. I ran to the bathroom and vomited. But the real trauma came days, weeks and months later  knowing Id been manipulated by someone I thought I knew and cared about.

According to Action Fraud, 68 million was stolen in romance scams in 2020. The isolation, loneliness and fear that the pandemic has created is the perfect environment for cybercriminals to operate in, and scams of this kind have increased by 20 per cent during the health crisis. Im one in the not-so-exclusive group of romance scam victims.

My scammer and I met on a dating app in the summer of 2019. He hadnt intrigued me much initially, but when I was sat at home on my own, shielding for health reasons, totally isolated for three months during the pandemic, his kind and caring texts were a breath of fresh air and brightened up my day.

Before I was scammed, I considered myself pretty Internet savvy. This man and I had talked online for weeks before I felt comfortable giving him my mobile number, and Id done my homework. I reverse image-searched all of his photos  this allows you to see if photos are bogus or can be found elsewhere, perhaps on reports claiming abuse or scamming. It should quickly identify a catfish. Or so I thought.

Recommended Eighty people charged over online romance scam targeting women

I cant count the hours we must have chatted. I was keen to meet him, but when I first suggested it he said he was away with work. By the time he returned, the UK was in lockdown. He now had the perfect excuse to not see me for another three months. But we texted daily, spoke on the phone and Skyped regularly too. We discussed normal things, he was kind and considerate, funny even. I thought I knew him. I thought he was real. He was acting for months. It was almost a year before I learned the truth.

He said he was an account manager for a Bitcoin trading company and after a while, in what seemed like an off-the-cuff comment, he offered me the chance to invest. Im a small business owner and he knew I had lost my work and clients during the pandemic and needed a source of income fast. It seemed like a kind offer from someone who was trying to help.

I researched his company; they are a big global player in the cryptocurrency world. The deal was simple, looking back it was too easy. If I paid in money, I would get a weekly payout of 10 per cent.

I took a chance with a small amount of money. I started off with a 100 investment to test the water, and I did receive a weekly bonus. Because of this, I invested another 2,000; this was a large amount of money for me, which made me nervous, but every time I worried, Id get confirmation Id make a good investment with a 10 per cent bonus in my bank account. It couldnt have come at a better time; this small injection of cash could be enough to see me through the pandemic, I thought.

Over time, he convinced me to send even more money. I sent an additional 9,000. It was everything I had. Before Id seen the weekly return, he concocted a fraud story and said we were both in trouble and I had to do something or we could go to jail, he asked for more money to pay our way out of it. He asked me to remortgage my flat. The penny dropped. Once I realised, it was too late, my money was long gone.

I played along for a couple of days, pretending that I was attempting to secure more money. I tried to get as much information from him as I could in this time, but it was emotionally draining. I called UKs Action Fraud. The woman I spoke to said it was the most complex and well-thought-out romance scam shed ever seen in her 20 years working in fraud.

I had to complete a police crime report online and once again repeated my story; an automated response said that if the police were going to look into it, Id hear from them within 30 days. That was six months ago. Nothing. Not even a letter to say sorry to hear youve been a victim of a crime. I was warned by the Action Fraud representative that 11,000 to the police is a small amount of money, so the chances of them investigating are very slim.

I also contacted the company my scammer said he worked for. It was based in New York, the CEO put me in touch with their cybersecurity team and the New York Police Department. I was shown more concern by those in New York than here in Britain. They were keen to liaise with the British police to investigate  it was embarrassing to have to point out that no one here was doing anything to help.

Cryptocurrency cant be traced, so this cyber-criminal has got away with it. And he could be scamming another victim right now. I have been in touch with every platform and app that we made contact through: Hinge, Skype, WhatsApp, Microsoft, LinkedIn. Everyone one of them is bound by data-protection laws. Some of his profiles are still active. I have been warned by professionals that I will likely be contacted again by a fraudster pretending to be a crime agency that has tracked down my scammer. Theyll know what I paid him and will try to scam me again, asking for my bank details to make refund payments. Since it happened, I consistently get notifications of attempts to access my social media and emails. My security is as good as it can get, but its a constant reminder that I messed up.

Im currently in talks with the Financial Ombudsman, who is researching how I can retrieve my money, there are possibilities, but I wont know for some time. And as the pandemic draws on, my financial situation is becoming harder.

I had counselling after the scam happened, to enable me to cope with the trauma this has caused. If I talk about it for too long my body reacts, my visions goes, I shake from head to toe and Im physically sick.

People dont search for information on scamming until they realise they are being scammed. I hadnt even heard of the phrase romance scam. If Id looked into it  I would have spotted the signs immediately.

If we hadnt been in the middle of a pandemic, if my business hadnt been struggling, if I hadnt been lonely and isolated, would this have happened?

Im not looking for sympathy, Ive only told a couple of close friends because Im so embarrassed. I cant shake the feeling that this is my fault. But by writing this, I hope, I will save someone else the pain Im going through.

*The authors name has been changed to protect her identity. If you have been affected by this article, you can contact the following organisations for support:

mind.org.uk

beateatingdisorders.org.uk

nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth

Mentalhealth.org.uk
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The National Zoological Park in Delhi is fully vigilant to prevent any further spread of bird flu cases in the zoo located on Mathura Road near the Purana Qila.

The recent spate of Avian Flu outbreak has so far affected several states in India, including Delhi. The other affetcted state are -- Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.

Going by the past instances of the disease outbreak in 2016, no leniency can be afforded this time around.

When contacted, the Director of the National Zoological Park, Ramesh Kumar Pandey, said that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been meticulously put into place after the first case was reported in India.

Speaking to IANS, Pandey said, "Seven serological samples of droppings of birds collected from four different points in the zoo were sent for testing to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) on February 3." "Even the Sanjay Lake in East Delhi had reported a few positive cases of bird flu. But overall, there is no serious threat as of now, according to the officials.

"We are using disinfectants like sodium hypochlorite which is a very good oxidative disinfectant," Pandey told IANS.

The Delhi zoo has formed various teams to monitor the health of all the birds and animals in order to keep a check on the situation. Pandey also told IANS that a strict surveillance protocol is being adhered to by the various teams formed to check and contain Avian Flu.

These teams are also ensuring that the enclosures of birds and animals are properly and regularly sanitised. The infection spreads primarily through nasal drops and respiratory track. "We are keeping an eye on both poultry and non-poultry birds in the zoo. Any bird which is unwell is immediately taken care of by the team," Pandey said.

In addition to this, authorities in the Delhi zoo are also spraying disinfectants like Virkon and lime powder twice a day to contain the spread of the viral influenza. Delhi zoo officials assuredly claimed that the health of captive and migratory birds in the zoo has been taken care of by the zoo authority.

A committee comprising officials of the animal husbandry and veterinary departments of the Delhi government is also synchronising its efforts with the animal rights activists to deal with the prevailing bird flu situation effectively.

This committee, with the help of Delhi Police, is keeping a strict vigil on the 'Murga Mandi', Asia's largest chicken market located in Ghazipur on the outskirts of the national capital.

It has been reported by the committee that at the Murga Mandi in Ghazipur, proper hygiene measures are not being followed by the poultry bird dealers. At the mandi, animal skins lie scattered and blood strains of animals are discharged in the sewage without any treatment. These wet markets are potential sources of spreading secondary infections.
Electoral workers wearing protective suits as a precaution against coronavirus, wait for people to cast their vote at a polling station during the Catalan regional election in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. With Spain still suffering from a post-Christmas spike in coronavirus infections, the vote was held under strict health regulations. Voters were required to wear face masks, use hand disinfectant and remain at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart while queuing. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Moreover, Mr. Trumps actions on Jan. 6 were of a piece with attempts  nonviolent but no less wrongful  to intimidate other officials, such as Georgias secretary of state, to use their powers to thwart the election results. The Trump campaign had every opportunity to substantiate its claims of massive fraud in court and failed miserably to do so.

By focusing the impeachment resolution on the charge of incitement of insurrection, the House made it easier for Mr. Trumps supporters in the Senate to dismiss these acts of intimidation as irrelevant to the accusation on which they were voting.

It should not be necessary to point out that the use of the presidential office to keep power after losing an election is the gravest possible offense against our democratic constitutional order  one that the authors of the Constitution specifically contemplated and sought to prevent. The violence of Jan. 6 was bad, but even if no one at the Capitol had been hurt that day, Mr. Trumps attempts to mobilize a mob to impede the democratic process was still a high crime or misdemeanor.

To make matters worse, Mr. Trump did nothing to stop the violence even when he was aware it was occurring. He did not deploy forces to the Capitol to put down the riot and protect members of Congress. He sent two messages to the rioters, but his appeals for peaceable behavior were tepid, and intermixed with words of support and affection for the rioters.

Perhaps most egregious was his tweet that Mike Pence did not have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, at a time when rioters were threatening to hang the vice president. We now know that a senator informed Mr. Trump of the danger to Mr. Pence  but Mr. Trump did not retract his tweet or lift a finger to protect Mr. Pence.

This dereliction of his constitutional duty was wholly apart from any incitement and was an impeachable offense in itself. But it was not charged in the article of impeachment.

It would be foolish to think that the vote on impeachment would come out differently if the charge had been differently framed. But if the House was going to impeach, it should have framed the case to make it as difficult as possible for the Senate to acquit.

It is far from clear that Mr. Trump incited the violence of Jan. 6 in a technical legal sense, but it is abundantly clear that he sought to intimidate members of Congress and other officials to block Mr. Bidens election, and that he failed in his duty to do what he could to end the violence once it started. Those would be ample grounds for conviction, quite apart from whether Mr. Trump committed the crime of incitement.

Michael W. McConnell, a former federal appeals court judge appointed by President George W. Bush, is a professor and the director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School. He is the author, most recently, of The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power Under the Constitution.

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The Biden administrations purchase of 200 million additional Pfizer and Modern doses means the U.S. could fully vaccinate 300 million people with just those two vaccines  and 355 million more people if four additional vaccines gain FDA approval.

Why it matters: The U.S. is home to 250 million adults, many of whom wont elect to be vaccinated. It's also now in control of a big chunk of the global vaccine supply. The White House says the U.S. will eventually donate excess doses to other countries, but it hasnt released a plan to do so.

The state of play: The administration has been focused almost entirely on ensuring that every American who wants a vaccine will be able to get one by this summer.

With the additional Pfizer and Moderna doses  and up to 40 million Johnson & Johnson doses ready to be deployed if approved  the White House is increasingly confident theyll reach that goal.

In the meantime, the administration will "develop a framework to supply surplus doses ... including through the COVAX facility as appropriate," says State Department spokesman Ned Price.

Theyll have to balance distributing doses around the world with holding them back for potential booster shots or the vaccine hesitant.

Between the lines: Sources in the administration emphasize that despite the bulk orders, only two vaccines have been approved and supplies remain scarce on the ground. Until that changes, they say, it's too early to focus on sharing doses globally.

The state of play: Many countries vaccination plans rely entirely on the global COVAX initiative, which aims to distribute two billion doses this year, mainly to low and middle-income countries. Some don't expect to vaccinate the bulk of their population until 2023.

COVAX is developing a platform for donations, which it expects to ramp up in the second half of 2021 as wealthy countries start to meet their domestic needs, according to a spokesman for Gavi, the international vaccine alliance.

Biden has said the U.S. will participate in COVAX, which Donald Trump snubbed, but has yet to provide specific commitments.

Countries including Canada and France have said theyll contribute doses to COVAX, but only Norway has promised to do so in parallel with its domestic vaccination program.

Meanwhile, India and China are making bilateral donations to neighboring countries, while China and Russia are selling their state-funded jabs all over the world.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned on Friday that China and Russia could use vaccines to make other countries beholden to them.

She has also stressed that the U.S. committed $4 billion to Gavi in December for global vaccinations, and Biden's recovery plan includes $11 billion more for the global relief effort.

Canada and the U.K. have actually purchased even more doses relative to their populations than the U.S., but the U.S. controls the most total doses.

What they're saying: From a U.S. perspective, were losing a bit of the messaging war out there, says Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, director of Duke Universitys Global Health Innovation Center.

If we look six months from now, it may well be the fact that the U.S. has donated more doses than any other country in the world. But right now the storyline is how were buying more and hoarding more of the supply.

Dr. Zeke Emanuel, vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, acknowledges that the bulk purchases have sparked international criticism, but says things will look much different in the spring. By then, the U.S. will have ramped up domestic distribution and be able to think more about supplying doses globally.

Emanuel, who served on Bidens COVID-19 advisory board during the transition, says that as one of the worlds biggest biggest coronavirus hotspots  and its biggest economy  the U.S. should be a priority country for vaccination under any circumstances.

He also says that the billions invested by the U.S. could help expand global vaccine production in the longer term.

For now though, every time a bilateral deal gets struck it means capacity is taken out that could go towards supporting equitable access, the Gavi spokesman said.

The bottom line: As Dr. Anthony Fauci has noted, the emerging variants of COVID-19 underscore the necessity of efficiently distributing vaccines all over the world to truly get the pandemic under control.

The U.S. "will be a part of that process," Fauci says. But it's not yet clear what America's role will be.

Worth noting: Most of the 1.2 billion doses of six vaccines currently on the books were purchased as part of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed. Sanofi's isn't on our chart because it's not expected until late 2021.

A research conducted by the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) has identified the lack of proper political and institutional governance as a major threat to the responses to peace and security challenges that have plagued the Sahel Region.



The report established that political and security actors, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, were bereft of leadership and crisis management skills and that was contributing to the failures of many peace and security interventions in the respective countries.



Beyond that, the report also found that the lack of technical and financial resources by the national actors was another key factor militating against peace efforts.



It observed that most of the time, governments budgeted for counter terrorism operations, but rarely did same for peace building within the areas that were affected by the conflicts and therefore you always have issues of lack of funding, technical and logistical support for the initiatives that are being implemented within the region.



Research report



The report was titled The limits and pitfalls of multilateral regional and national responses to peace and security challenges in the Sahel Region and Cote dIvoire.



Using the case study approach, the researchers, over a period of three months, gathered data from citizens from all the countries and subjected them to content and thematic analysis.



Other findings



Particularly in Niger, the research discovered that the risk of politicisation of civil society organisations (CSOs) and attacks by political actors also crippled the contributions towards peace and security promotion.



Most CSOs interventions focus on national context, with few having a region-wide approach, it said and added that short-term funding packages and project cycles of CSOs intervention do not provide for lasting impact or change.



There are no follow ups on most interventions due to issues of insecurity and lack of funding of state actors in the areas where these interventions are taking place.



Recommendation



The report called for a multifaceted approach, strong political commitment and perseverance from both national and external actors to address peace and security challenges in the region.



It further recommended the establishment of a strong comprehensive integrated framework of initiatives to ensure coherence and targeted responses and also promote a bottom-up approach to peace-building by investing more in the indigenous actors and initiatives to promote peace, security, development and justice.



The UN (UNOWAS) as the lead multilateral institution can consider developing a knowledge management platform to improve synergy among international partners, the report suggested.



Warning



The Regional Coordinator, Research and Capacity Building, WANEP, Dr Festus Aubyn, warned Ghana to be on the lookout as it was not immune from the challenges.



I'm pretty sure you are all aware of the threats of terrorism and violent extremism from the Cote d'Ivoire border to Ghana. So the findings have to be a lesson for Ghana to put in place measures to deal with the threats that led to conflicts in these countries and to avert any future challenges relating to what we are experiencing in these countries, he said.



For his part, the Executive Director, WANEP, Dr Chukwemeka Eze, observed that there was a gap between the interlocutors and the national actors and therefore, part of what we see in the field is that sometimes because peace and security is not made part of the development agenda of the states. There is more focus on hardcore security rather focusing on citizens welfare.



And, therefore, what that does is that rather than addressing the issue of security from a human security perspective, we tend to protect the state more than citizens.









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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Two feuding sisters who waged a court battle over whether their mother should be given a funeral will have their $54,342 in legal costs paid out of her estate.

The body of 93-year-old Betty Batson was left lying in a mortuary for three weeks because her children could not agree on what style of service she had wanted.

After a court case brought by one of her daughters the much-loved great-grandmother was finally cremated by order of the New South Wales Court on Christmas Eve.

Ms Batson died at a Central Coast nursing home on December 2 and was farewelled 22 days later at Sydney's Northern Suburbs Crematorium following a six-minute ceremony.

Only eight mourners attended the service at which no singing was allowed and no family members were permitted to speak.

Much-loved great-grandmother Betty Batson's body was left in a mortuary for three weeks because her children could not agree on what style of farewell she should receive. Mrs Batson is pictured on her 90th birthday

Mrs Batson's wish to be cremated had not been carried out sooner because of a dispute between her two executors, daughters Jenise McCredie and Karen Batson. Mrs McMcredie is pictured with her husband Bruce

Mrs Batson's daughter Karen Batson (pictured) believed her mother wanted to be cremated without a funeral. She did not attend the service a judge ordered to be held on Christmas Eve

Mrs Batson's daughters Jenise McCredie and Karen Batson then had another court dispute in which they each tried to have the other pick up their huge legal bills.

Mrs McCredie spent $23,342 on lawyers while Ms Batson racked up $31,000 in fees.

Justice Michael Slattery noted on Thursday a 'degree of persistent acrimony between sisters that is difficult to comprehend as an objective observer.'

The case highlighted the responsibilities of executors of estates and turned on what actually constituted a funeral.

Mrs McCredie thought her mother should have a proper send-off surrounding by family while Ms Batson believed she had wanted to be cremated simply.

Both were executors of their mother's estate and when they could not agree Mrs McCredie took Ms Batson took court.

Justice Slattery said the only reason he had not dismissed them both from their roles as executors was because there was not time to replace them.

Mrs Credie was broadly supported by brother David Jasper-Batson, while Ms Batson had the backing of siblings Peter Jasper-Batson and Marilyn Johnston.

Betty Batson died at a New South Wales Central Coast nursing home on December 2 and was laid to rest at Northern Suburbs Crematorium (pictured) in Sydney on December 24

Mrs Batson's son Peter Jasper-Batson said she did not want a 'conventional funeral', while Mrs McCredie's husband Bruce said his mother-in-law wanted a 'small private funeral with the family.' Stock image

Some of the acrimony among the siblings could be traced back to the death of their father Douglas in July 2011 and the organisation of his cremation, which was conducted by White Lady Funerals.

'Several family members gave evidence that [Msr McCredie] took too much control of his funeral and it was not conducted in accordance with the wishes of Betty Batson,' Justice Slattery found in December.

'That led to the deceased not wanting her funeral to be controlled in the same way as her husband's funeral had been.'

Mrs Batson had formed a 'firm conviction' that she did not want an elaborate funeral but rather a private cremation that only her family would attend.

'She appears to have thought that his would reduce family tension,' Justice Slattery found. 'But what has emerged instead is a contest about what her wishes were for the disposal of her body after death.'

Grandson's moving tribute to Betty One of Jenise McCredie's sons posted a moving tribute to his grandmother on Facebook on Christmas Day. It has been edited for legal reasons: 'A sad day for today which marks the the 1st Christmas Day without Grandma with us,' he wrote. 'Sadly she passed away on the evening of December 2, 2020. 'Grandma, I hope you understand how hard we fought for you, it was the very least we could do. 'I hope you are looking down on us now... you taught us well Grandma. Rest In Peace now Grandma, we love you very much.' Advertisement

All five children agreed they would like to grant their mother's wishes that she be cremated without any religious ceremony.

They also agreed their mother's preference was for 'something modest and straightforward and that she did not want anything "showy",' Justice Slattery said.

However, the siblings could not even agree on who should conduct the funeral.

Ms Batson believed her mother wanted the cremation to be organised in what Justice Slattey described as a 'very bare' fashion by Simplicity Funerals.

'She had not considered how other people attending the cremation might need to be supported in their grieving in an inclusive atmosphere and where family conflict was minimised,' he said.

Mrs McCredie wanted a service conducted by the more expensive White Lady Funerals, whose all-female staff are known for their burgundy brimmed hats.

Justice Slattery accepted Mrs McCredie's evidence that her mother had described her husband's funeral as 'a really lovely service' and she would like 'something similar with White Lady Funerals.'

Some of the acrimony among the siblings could be traced back to the death of their father Douglas in July 2011 and the organisation of his cremation, which was conducted by White Lady Funerals

Peter Jasper-Batson had given evidence saying his mother did not want a 'conventional funeral', but Mrs McCredie's husband Bruce said his mother-in-law wanted a 'small private funeral with the family.'

Justice Slattery accepted Mrs Batson was 'quite competent' when in September this year she made a statutory declaration confirming 'I do not wish for a funeral service to be carried out on my passing.'

What does the law say about burial rights? An executor of an estate has the right to arrange for the burial or cremation of a deceased person's body. A deceased person has no right to dictate what will happen to his or her body. A court may take into consideration the deceased's wishes on the subject. A person with the privilege of choosing how to bury or cremate a body is expected to consult with other stakeholders about the process but is not legally bound to do so. The holder of a right of burial or cremation cannot use his or her power to stop friends and relatives of the deceased expressing their affection in a 'reasonable and appropriate manner' such as by placing flowers on a grave. Source: Judgment in Smith v Tamworth City Council (1997) Advertisement

'That clearly meant she did not want a conventional funeral like the one for her husband,' he found. 'But what does it mean positively?

'The court finds, from a range of conflicting evidence, that all she wanted was something simple framed around her cremation.

'She certainly did not want to compel family members who had not visited her in her final years to be present.

'But nothing in the evidence suggests that she was prepared to take positive steps to exclude them from a purely family cremation service.

'The court concludes that a modest but dignified family gathering constructed around her cremation was what she wanted.'

Justice Slattery ordered Mrs Batson's remains be cremated on Christmas Eve and that the service not be advertised in any media.

Only relatives and Mrs Batson's hairdresser could be invited to attend the cremation which would be conducted by a 'senior officer' from White Lady Funerals.

That officer had to ask each of the five siblings for 'concise information and reflections about the deceased' to be delivered by her at the service.

Neither Mrs McCredie nor Ms Batson was allowed to give a eulogy and neither was permitted to instruct anyone else to speak on their behalf at the service.

'It is quite evident from the existing conflict within this family that if any one family member were to speak at the funeral that that may cause aggravation and resentment to other family members,' Justice Slattery ruled.

Justice Slattery ordered the service be conducted by White Lady due to Mrs Batson's stated preference and because that operator would have greater resources than Simplicity Funerals.

The matter was back in court on Thursday when Mrs McCredie and Ms Batson claimed victory in the original case, a proposition with which Justice Slattery disagreed.

Jenise McCredie, who wanted a small funeral for her mother, took Karen Batson, who wanted no more than a cremation, to the New South Wales Supreme Court (pictured)

'I do not think that it is correct to characterise the proceedings as a win for either side,' he said.

Mrs McCredie contended she had substantially won because Justice Slattery found a small service was appropriate and it should be conducted by White Lady Funerals.

Ms Batson believed she should not have to pay her costs because Ms McCredie had originally brought an unsuccessful action to have her removed as executor.

Justice Slattery said Mrs Batson's wishes were not completely clear, and 'both sides were able to point to proven evidence that justified the position they took.'

'Ms McCredie and Ms Batson simply failed in their fundamental duty as executors to reach a compromise [in a case] that really cried out for compromise.'

Justice Slattery asked the lawyers if the service had been conducted in 'harmony'.

Mrs McCredie (pictured with her husband Bruce) contended she had substantially won the court case because Justice Slattery found a small service was appropriate and it should be conducted by White Lady Funerals

Barrister Ashley Crossland, for Mrs McCredie, said there was 'some disagreement' about 'some arrangements', but 'the funeral was conducted in order with Your Honour's directions.'

Mrs McCredie, her husband, sons, grandchildren and brother David were the only mourners who attended.

Regarding the eulogy, Mr Crossland agreed it had been appropriate for neither Ms McCredie nor Ms Batson to speak.

'Your Honour correctly observed that it might end in tears - and not the correct sort,' he said.

Justice Slattery ordered the combined $54,342 in legal costs come out of Mrs Batson's estate, with the exception of son David's share as he did not take part in the court proceedings.

That order came on what would have been Mrs Batson's 94th birthday.
'Naya Kashmir': Omar Abdullah claims he, his family put under house arrest

India

pti-Deepika S

Srinagar, Feb 14: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed he and his family, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

"This is the "naya/new J&K" after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It''s bad enough they''ve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they''ve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well," Omar wrote on Twitter.

Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house arent being allowed in and then you are surprised that Im still angry & bitter.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city here.

Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.

"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren''t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I''m still angry & bitter," he said in another tweet.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq -- one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.

"Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic)," she had said on Twitter.

Photo: The Canadian Press Michele Audette

A commissioner who served on the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls implored the federal government for more transparency on its response to the final reports calls for change.

Michele Audette's remarks came on Saturday during what she and other advocates described as a time when Indigenous women are facing heightened risks of violence in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tell us where you are at. Give us some information, Audette said at a news conference.

Audette said she and her fellow commissioners took in the voices, tears, anger and hopes of families of women and girls over the course of three years, during which the inquiry held hearings across the country.

Their final report was delivered to the federal government in June 2019 and included 231 calls for justice. While Audette said working groups have been formed to hash out a national action plan, it feels like its taking forever.

My patience is very thin, she said.

A statement from the National Action Plan Core Working Group in December said work was underway to develop the strategy, including an accountability framework, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

The Crown-Indigenous department website also sites a list of actions taken to address violence against Indigenous women and girls. It includes a commitment to end drinking water advisories, funding for Indigenous languages and a counselling phone line for Indigenous people.

Audette spoke during an online news conference with Indigenous leaders and activists ahead of the annual vigil for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls on Sunday.

The first memorial march took place on Valentines Day in 1992 after Cheryl Ann Joe, a young Coast Salish mother, was murdered in East Vancouver.

Jessica Quijano, project coordinator at the Native Womens Shelter of Montreal, said nearly 30 years of grass-roots activism hasn't been enough to instill the political will to make real changes across all levels of government.

At the same time, she said, women and girls are still facing significant levels of violence.

Its not slowing down, she said.

Amanda LaBillois, an Indigenous navigator at Medecins du Monde which helps people access healthcare, says the situation has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the virus have meant services for Indigenous communities are more difficult to access or have been cut altogether. She said theres been an uptick in violence and a jump in overdoses. Indigenous women and girls who were already at risk have been marginalized further, she said.

Its really pushing people to understand with the pandemic going on that there is a major issue that isnt being properly addressed, she said.

Several speakers outlined causes of systemic violence against Indigenous women and girls, noting the commission's calls for action include concrete solutions that could make a difference if properly implemented.

Each day without significant action on the recommendations means another woman is in danger, said Ghislain Picard, chief for the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

Nearly two years later today and we still dont have a blueprint of what needs to take place, he said.
A judge is expected to rule within days on a court battle between HSBC and Chinese telecoms heiress Meng Wanzhou over secret documents.

Wanzhou, who is finance chief of Huawei, has been under house arrest in Canada since December 2018 as the US seeks her extradition.

Accusations: Meng Wanzhou, who is finance chief of Huawei, has been under house arrest in Canada since December 2018 as the US seeks her extradition

She has been accused of seeking to evade sanctions on Iran through a firm called Skycom.

Wanzhou is alleged to have down-played Huawei's relationship with Skycom in a meeting with HSBC.

Huawei's lawyers now claim HSBC was aware of Huawei's relationship with Skycom and are seeking internal documents they say could prove this.

A judgement is expected to be given by Friday.
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Student government leaders from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology unequivocally urge legislators to cover the Legislative Lottery Scholarship shortfall by allocating $9.7 million from the General Fund to the Lottery Tuition Fund. Since four-year higher education students are not included in the Opportunity Scholarship in its second year of conception as promised by the governor, students will be forced to fall back on the Lottery Scholarship. This makes it more important than ever to address this shortfall.

As the student-body president at the University of New Mexico, I have talked to many students about their priorities and concerns. Our student body reflects society and is often split on how it views societal topics. However, the importance of the Lottery Scholarship and its impact on students ability to stay in school is a sentiment shared by everyone. Raven Otero-Symphony, a first-generation student at UNM, said, College has always been my way out; higher education has always been the way to survive  higher education is going to be (my) survival in the long-run that will break the cycle of generational poverty. She adds she probably would not be at UNM without the Lottery Scholarship. Another student, Dulce Saldivar, expands Its not just important for the student themselves, it is important for their families, their communities, their siblings  it affects all of us.

The Legislative Lottery Scholarship upon which New Mexican students heavily rely has been facing a steady decline for the past decade. At its inception, it covered 100% of tuition at four-year institutions. This year, the scholarship covered only 66.7% of tuition at UNM after the Legislature allocated $9.7 million from the General Fund during the second session of the 54th Legislature. Lottery proceeds continue to decline, and the Legislative Lottery Tuition Fund is facing the same $9.7 million shortfall from last years fund total of $44 million. Without additional support, coverage from the Lottery Scholarship could drop down to as low as 53.5% of tuition at four-year research institutions.

If the Legislature makes the right decision to allocate $9.7 million to the Lottery Tuition Fund, it will not only benefit over 17,000 four-year students at research institutions, but also support over 4,000 students at two-year community colleges and over 2,000 students at four-year and tribal colleges.

Without legislative support of the Lottery Scholarship, four-year institution students may have to make difficult decisions about continuing their education. This could have a ripple effect on communities and companies within New Mexico. As a state, we need to be prepared to staff companies like Amazon, Facebook, and the Theia Group Satellite Company as they set up for business in the Land of Enchantment. We need to take notice of the excellence our state has to offer and groom New Mexicans to be educated and productive members of our local economy. If you would like to join our fight for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship, contact your local legislators today.

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This op-ed was also signed by Mathew Madrid, student-body president at the New Mexico State University and Quincy Bradfield, student-body president at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Too many procedures impede import-export trade By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s):

Though there is indication that there is no import ban to Sri Lanka, there are impediments from the banks to pay in foreign currencies for imported goods, said Denis Chaibi, Ambassador of the Delegation to the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

He was speaking at the official launch of the Step by Step Trade Procedures Functionality of the Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal (SLTIP), held at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo this week.

The four year EU-Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance Project is worth Euros 8 million and aimed to increase the trade competitiveness of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in regional and European Union markets.

It would assist to integrate Sri Lankas policies and regulatory reforms of the World Trade Organisation, allowing SMEs to make the most of the potential opportunities resulting from the EUs Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus. It also enables greater regional integration within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Mr. Chaibi indicated that though EU has stringent standards, the EU market is very important to Sri Lankas exports, as Sri Lankan products have been quality assured. With this assurance these products could be exported to any other market too as he believed that this portal would help Sri Lanka to comply with required EU standards.

He said the ideal way for Sri Lanka to increase exports to the EU is through value added agriculture products, which are known for its high quality over the years and said Sri Lanka is known for its quality in the EU market.

He said that Sri Lanka has the best cinnamon, coconut, jack fruit and tea and Europe is there for quality products as a very happy customer. Europeans are ready to pay a premium price, while the quality is assured, he said. The EU market is a qualitative market and is the second largest trading partner for Sri Lanka, he pointed out.

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said that there is a need to reassess and reduce the number of procedures that impedes the ease of doing exports and imports and that there is a scope to reduce them. So, he said the launch of the portal reminds them of the number of procedures and measures that are in place when doing trade with Sri Lanka.

He said that this functionality enhances the access to trade-related information and transparency of trade procedures for selected products in Sri Lanka and to drive simplification reforms of such procedures, it thus contributes to fulfil enhanced transparency and predictability of trade information in Sri Lanka for the benefit of policymakers, border regulatory agencies and the business community.

The minister said that this portal is an example of what the EU can achieve with Sri Lanka for the benefit of economic operators from Europe and Sri Lanka. The project would become a benchmark in considering simplification of border procedures, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 19:43:31|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks over the renewal of tourism, Israeli officials said.

Anastasiades landed in the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, accompanied by a ministerial delegation, for a one-day visit to discuss an agreement under which Israel and Cyprus will mutually recognize each other's COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

The delegation was welcomed by Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Ophir Akunis, who said in a statement that the two countries expect to sign an agreement "to open the skies" and renew tourism.

The expected deal is "another sign of optimism on the way out of the (coronavirus) crisis," Akunis said.

Later, Anastasiades met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. Rivlin said he was "pleased" by the expected deal and "call on more countries to adopt the 'green pass,'" according to a statement issued by his office.

In the evening, Anastasiades is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Enditem
Cynics believe that Valentines Day has become nothing more than a commercial holiday. So what. As far as Im concerned, it gives a needed boost to our economy.
Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 14) paid tributes to the CRPF jawans who were killed in the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir in February, 2019.

"No indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations," he said at a function in Tamil Nadu.

He said the country's armed forces had shown time and again they were fully capable of protecting "our motherland".

40 CRPF personnel were killed in the terrorist attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama on February 14, 2019.

February 14, 2021 marks two years of the Pulwama terror attack when 40 valiant Indian soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them.

Earlier, paying tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (February 14) said India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice.

"I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019. India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice," Shah tweeted today.

Additionally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took it to his official account to express his grief. "Tribute to the brave soldiers, who died in the Pulwama terror attack. A tribute to their families as the country owes you," the Congress leader tweeted (in Hindi).

Other political leaders like Uttar Pradeshs Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also paid tribute.

Many netizens also flooded the microblogging website with their tribute messages today.

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KYIV  Ukraine's army says three of its soldiers have been killed by an explosive device in eastern Ukraine, bringing to five the number of troops killed in the region this week, the latest casualties of a six-year conflict with Russia-backed separatists.



The three service personnel died on February 14 when an unknown device exploded while they were on their way to take positions near the town of Novoluhanske in the region of Donetsk, according to the army.



The office of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, said he had sent the country's defense minister and its chief of staff to eastern Ukraine to investigate the incident.



An immediate investigation is needed so that similar tragedies do not repeat in the future. I am waiting for their report on the circumstances immediately after my return to Ukraine on February 15, a statement quoted Zelenskiy as saying.



The deaths come three days after two government soldiers were killed in combat in the Donetsk region, despite a cease-fire that has been in place since last summer.



Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists holding parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has killed more than 13,200 people since April 2014.
Seven Republican senators voted on Saturday to convict former President Donald J. Trump in the most bipartisan vote for a presidential impeachment conviction in United States history. The margin still fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds needed to find him guilty.

Who are the seven senators? Only one  Lisa Murkowski  is up for re-election next year, and she has survived attacks from the right before. Two are retiring, and three won new terms in November, so they will not face voters until 2026.

Richard M. Burr of North Carolina

Mr. Burr, 65, a senator since 2005, is not seeking re-election in 2022. Despite holding Mr. Trump immediately responsible for the Capitol riot, he had voted against moving forward with the impeachment trial, and his decision to convict came as a surprise.

As I said on Jan. 6, the president bears responsibility for these tragic events, Mr. Burr said in a statement on Saturday. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. Therefore, I have voted to convict.
A 20-year-old died in a car crash in Mobile early Saturday morning after driving off the road and hitting a business sign.

Samuel Sellers Walker was pronounced dead by medical personnel after the accident. The crash occurred around 1:57 a.m., according to the Mobile Police Department.

He crossed over (the) road, lost control, left the roadway to the right, overturned and then struck the Grand Slam storage sign before coming to rest, the department said in a statement Saturday.

Walker was heading westbound on Grelot Road when he crossed over Hillcrest Road and lost control of his vehicle, police said.
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HEALDSBURG, Calif. - Watch the video above to hear Democratic State Senator Mike McGuire (D-CA) from the 2nd Senate District with his comments on the acquittal of former President Donald Trump at the US Capitol.

McGuire released this comment on Saturday after the vote in the US Senate.

McGuire is a California State Senator and a third-generation Northern Californian. His family farmed prunes and grapes in the Alexander Valley for nearly a half-century.

CLICK HERE to read US Representative John Garamendi's comment on the Senate's vote for acquittal.


Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-15 01:38:14|Editor: huaxia

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson watches as a nurse administers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Lyn Wheeler at Guy's Hospital, in London, Britain, on Dec. 8, 2020. (Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

In a letter to the prime minister, leaders of the Covid Recovery Group said the "tremendous pace" of the vaccination rollout means restrictions in England should begin easing from early March.

The letter was sent to the prime minister at a time when a government scientific advisor warned that Britain could face another coronavirus wave as big as the current one if lockdown restrictions were all lifted.

LONDON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to lift all COVID-19 lockdowns in two and a half months as lockdown-sceptic Tories called on him to commit to a timetable for easing the restrictions with a complete end to controls by the end of April.

In a letter to the prime minister, leaders of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) said the "tremendous pace" of the vaccination rollout means restrictions in England should begin easing from early March, the London-based Evening Standard newspaper reported on Sunday.

They said ministers must produce a cost-benefit analysis to justify any controls that remain in place after that date, with a "road-map" stating when they would be removed.

The letter was organized by the CRG chair and deputy chair, Mark Harper and Steve Baker, and was said to have the backing of 63 Conservative Party lawmakers in all.

People wearing face masks walk past the Vaccination Centre at ExCel exhibition centre in London, Britain, Jan. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The letter was sent to the prime minister at a time when a government scientific advisor warned that Britain could face another coronavirus wave as big as the current one if lockdown restrictions were all lifted.

Professor Steven Riley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, has said the rollout of the vaccination program did not mean coronavirus controls could be dropped.

"No vaccine is perfect," he told a BBC radio program. "We are certainly going to be in the situation where we can allow more infection in the community but there is a limit."

"If for some reason we were to choose to just pretend it (coronavirus) wasn't here any more then there is the potential to go back to a wave that is a similar size to the one that we are in now," he added.

The prime minister confirmed Saturday that the reopening of schools "is still his priority", followed by opening shops and then hospitality.

This was further reiterated by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who said on Sunday that the British government remained focused on reopening of schools on March 8.

The British ministers said they are confident they will meet their target of getting an offer of a vaccine to all 15 million people in Britain in their four priority groups, including all over 70s, by Feb. 15's deadline.

A man wearing a face mask walks past ambulances at The Royal London Hospital in London, Britain, on Jan. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

During a visit to a vaccine manufacturing facility in Teesside on Saturday, Johnson said he was "optimistic" he could announce plans for a "cautious" easing of the rules when he sets out his "road-map" out of lockdown on Feb. 22.

However, he said ministers would have to look at the data "very, very hard" before taking any decisions as they did not want to be forced into a "reverse ferret" if the disease started to spread again.

In contrast, the CRG, in their letter, said that the government's "national priority" of re-opening schools in England by March 8 "must" be achieved.

By Easter, they said pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues should be able to open in a way that is COVID-secure but still allows them to operate "in a commercially viable manner".

And by the end of April, when all the government's top nine priority groups, including all over 50s, should have been offered a vaccine, they said there will be "no justification" for any legislative restrictions to remain.

"COVID is a serious disease and we must control it. However, just like COVID, lockdowns and restrictions cause immense social and health damage and have a huge impact on people's livelihoods," the letter said.

"The vaccine gives us immunity from COVID but it must also give us permanent immunity from COVID-related lockdowns and restrictions," it said.

By March 8, the government's top four priority groups, which account for 88 percent of deaths and 55 percent of hospitalizations, will have had their first dose of the vaccine at least three weeks earlier allowing time for protection to kick in, it said.

A man collects a swab for a coronavirus test at a temporary COVID-19 testing facility set up in Ealing, a district in western London, Britain, on Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)

"All restrictions remaining after March 8 should be proportionate to the ever-increasing number of people we have protected," it added.

"The burden is on ministers to demonstrate the evidence of effectiveness and proportionality with a cost-benefit analysis for each restriction, and a roadmap for when they will be removed," it noted.

Downing Street refused to be drawn on reports suggesting that restrictions on meeting friends in a park could be among the first to be lifted once schools are back.

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. 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told his Finnish counterpart that Egypt had hoped for the success of the African Unions (AU) efforts in managing the file of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), but the negotiations did not yield something tangible and did not achieve the aspired results.

In a phone call on Sunday, Shoukry stressed to the Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto that Egypt is looking forward to the resumption of negotiations under the presidency of Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the new head of the AU.

The DRC assumed the presidency of the AU in 2021 in early February, replacing South Africa as chair.

The months-long attempts by South Africa, in its capacity as the chair of the AU in 2020, at mediating a deal to end the deadlock in negotiations in the GERD dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have failed due to Addis Ababas persistent intransigence.

According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry, Shoukry, moreover, stressed to Haavisto Egypts insistence on the need to reach a legally binding agreement in the GERD dispute between the three countries before Ethiopia initiates the second stage of filling the dams reservoir.

Ethiopia has recently announced that it would start the second phase of filling the GERDs 74 billion cubic metre reservoir during the rainy season of 2021 with 18.4 billion cubic metres of the Blue Niles waters, a year after completing the first filling with 4.9 billion cubic metres.

Shoukry also stressed to his Finnish counterpart that the legally binding agreement could be reached through launching a serious negotiation path, taking into account the interests of the three concerned countries.

Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for years now to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operating of the $4.8 billion near-complete mega dam, which Ethiopia has started building on the Blue Nile since 2011. Ethiopia, however, has proposed a package of non-binding guidelines for the filling and operation of the GERD which were rejected by both downstream countries.

The Egyptian state has expressed its sincere political will to reach a fair and balanced agreement that achieves Ethiopias development goals and at the same time preserves Egypts rights and secures the two downstream countries from the risks and damages of the GERD, Shoukry told Haavisto.

Egypts 100 million-plus population relies on the Nile River for more than 95 percent of its renewable water resources. It fears the massive $4.8 billion hydropower near-complete project will significantly diminish its crucial water supply, which is already below scarcity level.

Sudan, however, fears the GERD would put the operation of its Roseires dam, whose reservoir is located only 15km away from the Ethiopian dam, and the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens at a very high risk if an agreement regulating its operation and filling is not reached.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, hopes its 6,000-megawatt dam will make it Africas largest power exporter and will be a key to its development efforts.

The two foreign ministers also discussed other pertinent issues in the Horn of Africa, according to the statement.

Short link:


Kitty, my 18-year-old daughter, is a type 1 diabetic, an incurable but manageable affliction from which she has suffered since she was four.

It also means her immune system, like tens of thousands of other Australians, is significantly compromised, making her more vulnerable than the rest of us to COVID-19. She recently completed her VCE and is about to start studying at the University of Melbourne.

Melbourne has been plunged back into a five-day lockdown. Credit:Luis Ascui

Shortly after Christmas, she caught a throat infection. Because of the vulnerability of her immune system, that soon became a chest infection.

Last Thursday, hours before she was due to take a job interview, she woke up with a bad hypo; a condition to which all type 1 diabetics are vulnerable where their blood sugars drop to a life-threatening level. She could not remember her name, let alone the date or the name of the Prime Minister.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged politicians to imbibe and promote peace, love and unity for the stability and growth of Nigeria.

Politics should not be seen as war but a process of choosing a leader, and after elections, there should be love and unity amongst all political parties, Mr Jonathan said.

The former president said this on Saturday in Yenagoa during a thanksgiving service organised by the Bayelsa Government to mark Governor Douye Diris one year in office.

February 14 marks Mr Diris one year in office as governor of Bayelsa.

Mr Jonathan said after every political process, all should come together to give support to whoever God wanted to be there.

He commended Mr Diri for opening his hands to other political parties in the state.

Immediately you win an election you automatically become the governor of everyone, irrespective of party affiliation.

There is nothing wrong for a governor or president to pick someone from another political party and make him or her minister or commissioner, he said.

Mr Diri, in his remark, said no man can predict Gods way, as its different from the ways of man.

He commended the Nigerian judiciary, and the Supreme Court in particular, which he said remained the hope of the common man.

He said his administration has put things on ground that would benefit Bayelsa women and the youth.

The governor appealed to those who left the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) to other political parties to return as the party is big enough to accommodate them.

He commended Mr Jonathan and the PDP national chairman for their support and encouragement during and after the Supreme Court judgment.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State commended the Bayelsa Government for organising the thanksgiving. He said more was expected from Mr Diris administration in the areas of development projects.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said a lot has changed in Bayelsa and that Mr Diri would surely deliver more dividends of democracy to his people.

He said the state would see more miracles from Governor Diri.

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State said, Only God that has the final say in the affairs of men.

(NAN)

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During his presentation to the Senate, House impeachment manager Rep. Joaquin Castro showed footage of Mike Pence moving away from the angry mob that attacked the Capitol. Castro unctuously declared, Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country  he is a patriot.

Before last month, did any Democrat ever suggest that Mike Pence is a patriot? I daresay none did, until he became a prop in the impeachment of Donald Trump.

And speaking of new ones, Rep. Joe Neguse, another of the House managers, completed his speech to the Senate by imploring we humbly, humbly ask you to convict President Trump. . . . I cant recall a previous instance in which House Democrats have done anything humbly  never mind humbly, humbly.

What phonies.

Washington Post writers are less phony. Thus, the Post isnt giving Pence any love. It attacks him in an article with the headline, Impeachment trial shows him under attack, but Pence remains loyal to Trump.

However, there is no contradiction between the two clauses of the headline. It was the mob, not Trump, that attacked Pence. I assume the former vice president understands that Trump neither advocated nor desired the attack.

At the same time, I assume that Pence is displeased by Trumps behavior in early January. He probably resents being called on by the president to do other than his constitutional duty on January 6 and likely takes serious exception to some of Trumps rhetoric.

At the same time, though, Pence is surely grateful that Trump (1) gave him the privilege of serving as vice president and (2) gave America the blessing of mostly conservative governance for four years. As much as the Washington Post desires it, theres no reason for Pence to turn on Trump at this point. And Pences good manners and solid values make it unlikely that he will.

The two anti-Trump Post reporters who wrote this story  Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey  accuse Pence of obsequiousness. Thats a lie.

Pence was attacked by the mob on January 6 precisely because he is not obsequious. Trump called on him to reject the result of the electoral college. Pence refused.

Good manners, gratitude, and restraint are rare qualities in contemporary politics. Mike Pence has them in spades. Hes worthy of genuine respect, not the strange new kind.
When AJ McCulloch received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, she said a wave of emotions overcame her -- but the strongest was relief.

McCulloch, 27, lives with type 1 diabetes, as do her twin sister and father. The disease puts them at an increased risk for severe illness if they get Covid-19.

"One of the first things my dad ever told me when I was diagnosed was that I was going to have to fight for myself and my health my whole life," McCulloch told CNN. "So when I walked in and was able to get the vaccine ... I felt such a sense of relief."

About two months have passed since the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines were authorized for emergency use in the United States and states began to administer doses, vaccinating health care workers and long-term care facility residents first.

Since then, many states have moved on to vaccinate the next prioritized groups, such as other essential workers, older adults and -- most recently -- people with comorbidities or underlying medical conditions that put them at an increased risk, such as diabetes.

"At the end of the day, 40% of all the deaths from Covid-19 are among those with diabetes, not just type 1, but type 2 as well," said McCulloch, a project manager at the American Diabetes Association. Although, according to the association, diabetes affects just about 10% of the US population.

But the move to vaccinate people with diabetes and other certain conditions has not been uniform nationwide. In some states, people with comorbidities are not eligible to receive the vaccine yet -- and in states where they are eligible, there's variation on what conditions make someone eligible for a vaccine, and whether paperwork is required to confirm that condition.

The underlying conditions that qualify

Most of the states that are vaccinating people ages 16 to 64 with certain comorbidities are defining the eligible conditions by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on which conditions are associated with an increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19 infection.

The CDC notes that adults of any age with the following underlying conditions are at an increased risk of severe Covid-19: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down syndrome, heart conditions, obesity and severe obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, and type 2 diabetes. The list also includes people with a weakened immune system from solid organ transplantation and pregnancy.

Some states include just some of those conditions on its list of eligible conditions, while others may require that a person lives with two or more of those conditions to be eligible.

In New Hampshire, for instance, having two or more conditions qualifies you for the vaccine under Phase 1b, if your conditions are verified by a medical professional, but having just one condition puts you into Phase 3A, which has not started yet.

In Ohio, those with a developmental or intellectual disability plus certain congenital, developmental or early onset and inherited conditions are eligible for vaccination, according to the state's Department of Health website.

The state of Colorado, where McCulloch lives, has not started vaccinating people with certain comorbidities or underlying health conditions, such as cancer, heart conditions or diabetes.

McCulloch was able to receive a first dose of the Moderna vaccine because a local pharmacist who vaccinated McCulloch's mother mentioned that the pharmacy had some extra doses of vaccine that it needed to administer quickly. Otherwise, the doses would expire and could not be used.

"They had asked her if she had anyone that she knew that was living with diabetes, heart disease, all of those things -- and she actually said that her husband and her two daughters were both living with diabetes," McCulloch said. "So I was able to go."

When McCulloch arrived at the pharmacy to receive the vaccine, the pharmacist asked for proof that McCulloch lives with diabetes. McCulloch said that she showed the pharmacist a glucose-monitoring sensor on her arm, some of her medical data that she tracks on an app and her health insurance information.

"Just being in the right place at the right time, I was able to kind of jump in line and grab my first dose," McCulloch said. She is due for her second dose on February 15.

"I recognize that I have a very privileged stance, because of the way that the rollout was done, and due to my mom being a special education teacher," McCulloch said.

"For example, my dad and my twin sister have not gotten their vaccine quite yet," she said. "That's part of the problem right now -- is that states' rules vary so greatly, and at the end of the day, people with comorbidities, they deserve to receive the vaccine just as much as other people."

Where people with comorbidities are eligible

People with certain comorbidities and underlying conditions currently are eligible to sign up for Covid-19 vaccinations in nearly a dozen states: New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Mexico, Virginia, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and Montana, according to a CNN analysis of public health department websites.

Some of those states have started vaccinating this group while others are only starting pre-registration. Within a state, it might vary county by county.

In a couple of other states, vaccinations are set to start soon this month.

In New York, people with comorbidities and underlying conditions can sign up for vaccination appointments starting Sunday and vaccines are expected to begin for this group on Monday.

"As the state's effort to vaccinate health care workers nears completion this week, we are now shifting those doses to prioritize those New Yorkers with comorbidities and pre-existing conditions - a group which has felt the brunt of COVID's destructiveness first-hand," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release this week.

In Illinois, the state plans to expand eligibility for the vaccine on February 25 to include people with comorbidities, underlying conditions and disabilities.

On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release, "As quickly as we receive enough vaccine supply, we need to waste no time in protecting a broader section of our most vulnerable population."

'Some ... are going to be on the honor system'

But how individuals confirm their underlying conditions is different from place to place.

In some states, such as New York and New Mexico, documentation is required at vaccination appointments to prove that you have an underlying medical condition. For instance, New Yorkers must provide either a doctor's note, medical records or signed certification.

In New Mexico, the state's Department of Health notes, "Individuals should be prepared to verify medically qualifying conditions. To do so, individuals may provide a note from a provider, emergency department or hospital discharge summary, prescription bottle, prescription, or other form of validation."

In some other states, such as New Jersey, Texas and Virginia, no documentation is required.

Lara Anton, a spokesperson at the Texas Department of State Health Services told CNN in an email on Thursday, "We don't want to create barriers that would prevent people from getting vaccinated. To confirm chronic medical conditions, providers should refer to the person's medical history. If a provider doesn't have access to the person's medical history, the person can self-disclose their qualifying medical condition. They do not need to provide documents to prove that they qualify."

Each state is different "and some of these vaccine registration processes are going to be on the honor system," said Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, known as NACCHO.

As someone living with high blood pressure, Freeman said that she pre-registered for a vaccine on an online waitlist in her community of Prince William County, Virginia, in the category of underlying health conditions. Covid-19 vaccines will be administered to that priority group once the county moves into its next vaccination phase.

"In the case of my own jurisdiction, the preregistration for those with underlying conditions is based on an honor system to tell you truth," she said. "I did not have to provide proof of medication, a diagnosis of the underlying condition, or anything like that."

Freeman said that there are various ways residents might learn about their eligibility for a Covid-19 vaccine, such as through their local health department, community organizations or the faith community.

McCulloch, who has received her first dose in Colorado, certainly looks forward to when her twin sister and father will be eligible to get vaccinated in their communities.

"I believe in health care, and I believe in science," McCulloch said. "This is critical for the health and safety of our population."

Tara Sutaria, who rose to fame with Student of the Year 2 alongside Ananya Panday and Tiger Shroff, has become quite popular with her regular Instagram posts. (Credit: Instagram)
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Leon Neal/Getty ImagesBY: KATIE KINDELAN, ABC NEWS

(NEW YORK)  Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is going to be a big brother.

Harry and Meghan announced Sunday, Valentine's Day, that they are expecting their second child.

"We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother," said a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.

The Sussexes shared the news of the pregnancy by also releasing a photo of Meghan resting her head on Harry's lap. The photo was taken remotely by photographer Misan Harriman, a longtime friend of the Sussexes', according to their spokesperson.

Harry and Meghan's second child will be the fifth grandchild for Prince Charles and the 10th great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth. Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie recently gave birth to her first child, a son, who is the queen's ninth great-grandchild.

The baby is expected to be born in California, where Harry, Meghan and Archie moved in early 2020 after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working members of Britain's royal family.

Meghan gave birth to Archie in a London-area hospital on May 6, 2019.

More than one year later, Meghan revealed in a New York Times op-ed that she and Harry suffered a pregnancy loss in July 2020.

I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floorI knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second," she wrote in the November 2020 op-ed. Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husbands hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how wed heal.

The duchess said she opened up about her grief in hopes of helping others who have suffered similarly, writing, "Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few."

In 2019, Prince Harry pledged to conservationist Jane Goodall that he and Meghan will have two kids maximum.

Harry agreed with Goodall that having a child gives parents another perspective on the environment, according to an interview published in the issue of British Vogue that was guest-edited by Meghan.

It does make it different, Harry replied. I think, weirdly, because of the people that Ive met and the places that Ive been fortunate enough to go to, Ive always had a connection and a love for nature. I view it differently now, without question. But Ive always wanted to try and ensure that, even before having a child and hoping to have children

Not too many! Dr. Goodall said with a laugh.

Two, maximum! replied Prince Harry. But Ive always thought: this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Six packets of heroin weighing over 6 kg were recovered from the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar by BSF sleuths on Sunday, an official said.

A BSF official said the security personnel deployed on the international border observed suspicious movement of smugglers.

Sensing a threat, they fired at them but due to dense fog and poor visibility, the smugglers managed to escape, he said.

On searching the area, the BSF personnel seized six packets of heroin weighing 6.38 kg, the official added.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)

The impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump has ended with his acquittal - the second in two impeachments.

Here are final points on the trial.

- - -

1. The Senate's historic rebuke

No, Trump wasn't convicted. But he suffered the most bipartisan vote ever in favor of convicting a president at an impeachment trial - and one of the most significant rebukes of a president in American history. It was hardly nothing.

Seven Republicans supported conviction: Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and Patrick Toomey, R-Pa. Only once before had even one member of a president's party ever voted to convict, when Romney did so at Trump's previous impeachment trial.

The number of GOP votes for conviction was notably larger than the number who had previously voted to proceed with the trial. In total, 17 Republicans voted to either impeach Trump or convict him during these proceedings - with both the 10 House impeachment votes and the seven conviction votes being unprecedented.

Burr and Toomey both voted to convict after voting against both previously. But Cassidy's vote might be the most significant. Both Burr and Toomey are retiring, and the others have been high-profile critics of Trump. But Cassidy comes from one of the most conservative states in the country. Even his vote to proceed with the trial last week - after previously voting that the trial was unconstitutional - led to plenty of predictions he'd eventually fall in line. As with several other Republicans, he risked plenty to cast his vote as he did.

One key vote the House impeachment managers didn't get was another senator who had expressed openness to conviction: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McConnell suggested in a speech after the vote that he indeed blamed Trump, saying "President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," but said Trump's status as a former president rendered the issues at hand moot.

Given the historically bipartisan votes, though, you have to wonder whether if McConnell decided to press the issue he could have gotten enough votes for a conviction.

It probably never would have happened, but it was closer than most predicted.

- - -

2. The Democrats' back-down

As the trial began this week, a disconnect emerged. Democrats said this situation was vitally important - so important that they needed to impeach Trump for the second time and then, for the first time in history, hold a Senate trial for a former president - yet they didn't plan to call any witnesses to actually unearth new evidence.

For a brief period Saturday, given several huge questions remained unresolved, it appeared they were reversing course. They called for subpoenaing Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash.to describe Trump's call to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., during the Capitol riot.

Then they backed off. A deal was cut under which Beutler's statement suggesting Trump had spoken approvingly of the Capitol rioters in real time was entered into the record, and no witnesses would be called.

It's easy to call this a cave. As plenty noted, Democrats seemed to have the votes for witnesses, with several Republicans voting with them on the broader question about whether to allow them. Enough Republicans appeared to be onboard and conviction-curious to hear from the likes of Beutler and others. Trump's team could have requested all the witnesses they wanted - and they threatened hundreds - but each would have required a vote. Democrats held the cards.

And then they laid down their hand.

We'll surely learn how this all came about. Democrats clearly wanted to get past the trial and move on to passing President Biden's agenda, including coronavirus relief. They also knew that virtually nothing would sway the 17 Republicans needed for a conviction.

But then we come back to what was mentioned at the top: They said this was vitally important. They said this was the worst offense a president had ever committed. They said accountability was required. Even if Republicans would never have provided enough votes, there is still value in putting all of this on the record - and maybe even, however unlikely, forcing those Republicans to confront the evidence the Democrats say was so incontrovertible.

Democrats passed on even really trying. It just doesn't speak to the idea that this was the worst high crime in American history.

In their closing arguments, Democrats acknowledged they left stones unturned.

"There was a lot of discussion yesterday about what the president knew and when he knew it," Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said during closing arguments. "There are certain things that we do not know about what the president did that day, because former president Trump has remained silent about what he was doing during one of the bloodiest attacks on our Capitol since 1812."

But not just because Trump didn't testify or comment that we don't know that; it's also because Democrats opted not to press this further. Even many Republicans have faulted Trump for his conduct both before and during Jan. 6. Why not put them in the position of voting against even more compelling evidence - evidence which Democrats have assured is out there for the finding?

"This is America, home of the brave, land of the free," lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said, "the America of Ben Franklin, who said, if you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you. Don't make yourself a sheep; the wolves will eat you."

Democrats didn't exactly make themselves wolves.

- - -

3. The Republicans' cop-out

It seems that the overriding reason for Trump's acquittal was the alleged unconstitutionality of the proceedings. Republicans have who have raised concerns about Trump's actions or have declined to vouch for him have repeatedly signaled this would be why they vote against conviction. McConnell after the vote issued a damning indictment of Trump suggesting he had indeed incited the attack, which others including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., echoed even while voting against conviction "solely" on constitutional grounds. Those statements reinforce just how bad even Trump's allies decided his conduct was, and they shoudn't even be glossed over.

But it's also the definition of a technicality - and it arguably doesn't hold up.

As even many conservative legal scholars argued this week, the Senate had a duty to evaluate the evidence against Trump. There were legitimate questions about whether the Senate could hold an impeachment trial for a former official or a former president - though most legal analysts agreed it could - but it's never been tried in court.

But the courts almost always defer to Congress on such things, because of the separation of powers. Thus, when the Senate itself voted that it had the jurisdiction to try Trump, that arguably settled the issue. The Senate voted 56-44 that it had jurisdiction.

Lawmakers are allowed to vote to acquit Trump for whatever reason they choose. The rules in such a trial are not the same as a criminal trial, in which jurors at this stage would be required to disregard previous rulings and decide the case on the merits.

But this remains a thoroughly convenient justification for people who seemingly don't want to address Trump's actual conduct.

They would argue they're upholding the Constitution, but the process moved beyond the constitutionality question. Through a constitutionally ascribed process, the lawmakers elected by the people to make such decisions - and who could be held accountable for them - decided to press forward. And the others could just as well cite this technicality while also addressing Trump's actions, if they so chose.

Most of them aren't, for a very obvious reason.

- - -

4. The country's next step

Democrats had plenty of reason to tell themselves it was OK to move on from this without pressing harder for a conviction.

One of them is the looming congressional, 9/11 commission-like investigations into what happened that day, which are surely coming. Whatever we might not have learned from witnesses in this impeachment trial, we could learn in such an inquiry in due time.

Another is that Trump could conceivably face criminal liability for his actions - which would render the constitutional question and his disqualification from holding high office in the future less relevant. Prosecutors in Fulton County, Ga., are investigating Trump's attempts to overturn the election result in Georgia, including a call in which he asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, to "find" enough votes to do so. Trump's lawyers this week even cited this possibility, suggesting that was actually the venue for such charges. Game on, Democrats might tell themselves.

We might learn plenty in the months and years to come. But there is clearly a disincentive when it comes to criminal charges against a former president, given the political ramifications. And anything that results from a congressional inquiry will be older news by then. Even in the month-plus since the Capitol riot, the unquestionably tragic scenes fade somewhat from memory. I'm sure I'm not the only one who watched the videos played this week and realized how much I'd forgotten - or potentially blocked out - from that day. Acting quickly is fraught because you might not know everything, but waiting too long also carries drawbacks.

Trump's culpability is for people to decide. Legally speaking, incitement is a high bar to clear. It requires knowledge of one's frame of mind and/or lots of evidence about how they might have reasonably understood their words would be perceived. Trump has almost always offered mixed messages that provide him plausible deniability while suggestively alluding to violence by his supporters or, at least, painting a drastic enough picture that might lead to such drastic measures.

But we also know not just that lots of people suggested Trump's words could lead to violence - including his allies - but also that many Republicans suggested in the aftermath that Trump had contributed to just that (whether that technically amounted to incitement).

From here, any real resolutions when it comes to his culpability will take a very long time. If Trump is still flirting with an attempted return to the presidency in 2024, that will remain relevant. If he's not, it could fade even further from memory in a way that Democrats said it shouldn't be allowed to.
AAN Humanitarian Foundation International, a non-profit making organization that seeks to significantly contribute towards the transformative, right-based agenda for children, youth, women, and the less privileged in societies, has offered cash support to some needy widows and single mothers in Accra to become financially self-reliant.



The donation forms part of the foundations efforts to help fight poverty in the country and to cushion the needy, especially widows against the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.



The Foundation have over the years supported immensely, by providing food, shelter, medicine and a host of other materials and services to the vulnerable at various institutions including orphanage homes, hospitals and prisons.



At the handover ceremony, the Executive Director of ANN Humanitarian Foundation International, Mrs. Afia Akoto Nixon, said we know that sometimes, all people need is a little investment to change their lives. That is why our foundation is assisting some of these widows with cash, to work their own way out of poverty.



Supported by her husband, co-founder of the foundation, Chief Biney Nixon added that, this gesture is to fuel the businesses of these widows. The foundation believes this would serve as start-up funds for beneficiaries to identify opportunities for small businesses that might be viable in their area, which will go a long for them to achieve sustainable socio-economic independence and can also be able to take care of their children properly by providing them with the basic necessities of life and formal education



The widows and single mothers expressed their gratitude to the foundation for their thoughtfulness and kind gesture.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video

Traditional farmers not an environmental threat, says President View(s):

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said he did not consider villagers who have been engaged in traditional farming for generations to be a threat to the environment.

He made these remarks while visiting the remote village of Meemure as part of his Gama Samaga Pilisandara (Dialogue with the Village) programme. The President visited several locations at Meemure in the Ududumbara Divisional Secretariat Division, and he met with several area residents.

Addressing a crowd at the Meemure Primary School, President Rajapaksa said villagers did not cause harm to the rural environment and it was the villagers who have always protected the beauty of the rural environment.

The President also visited the Kaikawala Junior School and met with students, teachers and parents. He inaugurated the smart classroom donated to students of the school, and also handed over laptops, a television and equipment for high speed internet access to the Meemure Primary School Principal.

The President also ceremonially launched a new bus put into service by the Sri Lanka Transport Board for the Meemure-Ududumbara Road and took part in its maiden journey.
Saturday Night Live has taken aim at Donald Trump's impeachment defense team, mocking the lawyers after they secured an acquittal in the Senate on the charge of incitement to insurrection.

After avoiding poking fun at President Joe Biden since Inauguration Day, Saturday's cold open followed the trend, taking aim only at Republicans in an impeachment-focused sketch.

Framed as an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, the sketch mocked the Fox News host, as well as Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Tex Cruz and Mitch McConnell.

Trump's impeachment defense lawyers Bruce Castor and Michael T. van der Veen came in for special derision in the sketch, which mocked them as bumbling and incompetent.

So this was Trumps defense team? pic.twitter.com/hkuMUULa3K  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 14, 2021

Framed as an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, the new SNL mocked the Fox News host, as well as Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Tex Cruz and Mitch McConnell

Mikey Day portrayed Bruce Castor, whose real life hour-long opening statement at the trial was slammed even by Trump's Senate allies as 'rambling' and pointless'

Mikey Day portrayed Castor, whose real life hour-long opening statement at the trial was slammed even by Trump's Senate allies as 'rambling' and pointless.'

'I want to apologize for being unprepared last time I was out here. Wife bought decaf but I promise I will make it up to you now,' said Day's Castor.

The bumbling character continued, mocking Castor's real-life slip up: 'I'm the lead prosecutor, nope I'm the counsel, I know the difference. But as Trump's bailiff -- nope not right either.'

Pete Davidson portrayed van der Veen, explaining of the Philadelphia attorney's name: 'that's Dutch for man of the penis, so I've heard it all.'

'This is the worst thing that's been in the Senate chamber in the history of a couple weeks,' said Davidson's van der Veen.

The character blasted the late proposal for witnesses to testify remotely that briefly roiled the proceedings on Saturday, saying: 'I can't afford to zoom. You think I'm getting paid for this?'

Pete Davidson portrayed Michael van der Veen, explaining of the Philadelphia attorney's name: 'that's Dutch for man of the penis, so I've heard it all.'

'But if they insist on witnesses, I'm going to call some of my own, like Vice President Kaluah Harris, Anya Pressley and Ilhan Omaha,' he continued.

'Did I mispronounce the names of all these women of color on purpose or out of ignorance? You'll never know,' he added.

As Trump's real defense did, the van der Veen character presented a clip tape of people saying the word 'fight' -- but the fictional version also included movie characters such as Star Wars' JarJar Binks.

'Well said JarJar, meesa rest my case,' concluded Davidson's van der Veen.

The sketch also took aim at Senate Republicans such as Graham, played by Kate McKinnon.

The sketch also took aim at Senate Republicans such as Graham, played by Kate McKinnon, and Cruz, portrayed by Aidy Bryant

'Just because the rioters were screaming 'fight for Trump' doesn't mean they meant Donald Trump. Could have been some real Tiffany heads, maybe even some Eric stans,' said McKinnon's Graham.

'He didn't attempt a coup he is coo,' the character continued. 'He's the cooest guy I know.'

Cruz was next in line for mockery, with Aidy Bryant portraying the Texas Republican.

'Like any impartial jurors we took it upon ourselves to meet with the defense lawyers to give them some very simple legal advice,' said Bryant's Cruz.

The sketch mocked Cruz for defending Trump after the former president called his wife 'ugly' during the 2016 presidential primary.

'Oh yeah, that's what Trump said about my wife,' Bryant's Cruz said. 'I think she's beautiful but since Trump is the boss, sorry honey, you busted.'

McConnell, played by Beck Bennett, rounded out the sketch, finally opening up with his true feelings about Trump

'Just in time for Valentine's Day,' Moffat's Tucker said. 'Wow. And can I say the beard is working?'

'Well, you'd be the first,' Bryant's Cruz replied.

McConnell, played by Beck Bennett, rounded out the sketch, finally opening up with his true feelings about Trump.

'I think he's guilty as hell, and the worst person I ever met and I hope every city, county, and state locks his a** up,' he said.

Asked about what comes next, the McConnell character said: 'I plan to reach my hand across the aisle, and then yank it back again and say "too slow"'.
Dhanush's Upcoming Film Karnan To Hit Theatres; Actor Shares Release Date On Social Media

South star Dhanush on Sunday announced that his upcoming Tamil film "Karnan" will have a worldwide theatrical release on April 9. The film, reportedly billed as an action-drama, is helmed by Mari Selvaraj of "Pariyerum Perumal" fame.

Dhanush took to Twitter and shared the first look poster of "Karnan" along with the release date. "'Karnan' first look and theatrical release date," the 37-year-old actor wrote. The poster features the "Asuran" star standing handcuffed, bleeding from the forehead and hands. "The soul of justice never dies," the tagline on the poster read.

Last month, Dhanush had thanked the producer of the film, Kalaippuli S Thanu, for opting for a theatrical release despite other available options to screen the movie.

"'Karnan' releases April 2021 in theatres. A much needed encouraging news at the right time. Thank you Thanu sir for thinking of the theatre owners, distributors, exhibitors and everybody whose livelihood is dependant on films and theatres, even though you had other options. A big thank you on behalf of my fans as this means a lot to them. Love you all. Spread Love," the actor had tweeted.

Dhanush is currently awaiting the release of director Karthik Subbaraj's action-thriller "Jagame Thanthiram". He will also reunite with Aanand L Rai's "Atrangi Re", following his Hindi film debut "Raanjhanaa" in 2013 with the filmmaker. Dhanush's last Hindi title was "Shamitabh", which released in 2015.
According to a public notice issued by the health department authorities, vaccination of all healthcare workers registered on the CoWIN app has to be mandatorily completed by 20 February

New Delhi: The vaccination drive against COVID-19 picked up the pace on Saturday as 1,856 healthcare workers, who had received their first shots on day one of the exercise four weeks ago, turned up to get their second dose.

However, the turnout for the second dose was about 43 percent only.

Under the nationwide mega vaccination drive launched on 16 January, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent) health workers, against a target of 8,117, were administered the shots at 81 centres across the city on day one.

According to doctors, the second dose is to given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days.

On Saturday, a total of 13,768 beneficiaries received vaccine shots and administering of the second dose began for healthcare workers who had received the first jab 28 days ago, a senior official said.

"Out of the total number of healthcare workers, 1,856 received second dose today and 3,530 got the first jab. Also, 8,382 frontline workers also got their first shots today," he said.

The number of centres where vaccination was carried out on Friday stood at 257, with a turnout of about 57 per cent, as over 14,800 people received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi in the fourth week of the inoculation drive.

The second dose delivery began at LNJP Hospital as well and 25 people received the second shots, a senior official at the facility said, adding that a total of 137 people were vaccinated there on Saturday.

Thirty-two healthcare workers were vaccinated on 16 January at the LNJP Hospital, from where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had officially started the drive.

The state-run hospital, currently a partial coronavirus facility, had played a critical role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi.

A senior doctor at the Centre for Chest and Respiratory Illness, and other healthcare workers at the BLK Super Speciality Hospital also received their second COVID vaccine shots on Saturday, a hospital spokesperson said.

A senior doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital said, "a total of 110 people got vaccinated and five of them were those who got their second shots today".

Meanwhile, according to a public notice issued by the health department authorities, vaccination of all healthcare workers registered on the CoWIN app has to be mandatorily completed by 20 February.

The final mop-up round for healthcare workers will thereafter commence from February 21-25, it said, adding healthcare workers who are already registered can walk in to any designated vaccination site if they have not received a scheduling message on SMS.

On the second scheduled day after the roll-out of the exercise on January 16, the figures had stood at 3,598 (44 per cent of the target). The sharp fall had come after one severe and 50 minor adverse effect cases were reported on the opening day of the vaccination drive.

The count on third scheduled day was much higher, at 4,936 (48 per cent).

After sluggish start, since the exercise was kicked off on January 16, the inoculation drive picked up the pace in the last several days.

"On Friday, 14,843 people were administered coronavirus vaccine, and AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was reported in seven people" a senior official of the Delhi Health Department had said.

No fresh death from COVID-19 was recorded on Saturday in Delhi, the second time in February when the single-day fatality count was zero, according to data shared by the city health department.

The city recorded 126 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, while the positivity rate stood at 0.21 per cent, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health department.
Pennsylvania Democrats got their most important job done in 2020. On just about everything else, they flopped. Big time.

Joe Biden won the critical battleground state. But the incumbent Democratic treasurer? Defeated. The open seat for state auditor general? No dice. Flipping either of the GOP-held congressional districts Democrats targeted? Nope. Taking over the state House? Not even close.

So now Democrats are searching for the path forward as redistricting looms this year before high-profile races for governor and U.S. Senate in 2022. Even as the Republican Party faces its own messy identity crisis, the 2020 election has left some Pennsylvania Democrats in deep introspection.

Its not surprising to me why we lost: We underestimated [Donald Trumps] power and control, which we seem to do over and over again, said Jamie Perrapato, executive director of the grassroots Democratic group Turn PA Blue, which organized in state legislative races.

Now people realize we still have a lot of battles ahead of us, she added. Were not really sure how to fix them.

Bidens Pennsylvania win was largely fueled by big support in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities, as well as gains outside his native Scranton and the huge margins in Philadelphia that Democrats need to win statewide. But the partys down-ballot losses in the same suburbs that drove Bidens victory suggest his coalition might not be a reliably Democratic one.

 READ MORE: Suburban voters in Pennsylvania rejected Trump  but not the Republican Party

Meanwhile, the partys grassroots is increasingly defined by an ascendant left focused on issues like systemic racism, income inequality, and climate change. That wing has long been wary of what activists see as Democrats myopic focus on white suburban swing voters, often at the expense of Black and brown people in urban areas.

But theres internal tension over the partys response to violence that followed last years racial justice protests, which some centrist Democrats believe fueled the belief that liberals are indifferent to public safety and controlled by a woke speech police.

And some Democrats continue to emphasize the need to connect with white voters in rural and postindustrial areas, who voted for Trump in historic numbers in both 2016 and 2020.

A great benefit for us in the past four years for unifying Democrats was Donald Trump, said Gratz Washeni, the Democratic chair in Monroe County, in the Poconos region. Hes the best recruiter we ever had. So now, without that bogeyman in the room, the burden is on us now to perform.

 READ MORE: What unites Pennsylvania Republicans after Trump? Democrats and tightening voting laws.

Enter John Fetterman, the progressive lieutenant governor who launched his campaign for U.S. Senate last week. Fetterman wants to legalize marijuana  he waves a pot flag outside his office in Harrisburg  and supports Medicare for All, the signature program backed by Bernie Sanders. Hes centering his campaign around the labor union way of life, a message hes betting will resonate with rural white voters and working-class Black Philadelphians alike.

Ive been warning Democrats ... that while Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are critical, the small counties are also important, Fetterman said. Its never urban vs. rural. Its got to be urban and rural.

Some Democrats say that Fetterman is too liberal to win a competitive general election and that the lesson from last year and the 2018 midterm elections is that the path to victory runs through the states populous suburbs  where moderate, left-of-center candidates with broad appeal can trounce the GOP. U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County, an Air Force veteran and businesswoman who was first elected in 2018 and is also considering a Senate run, fits that profile. And many Democrats are eager to see state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Montgomery County Democrat who won the most votes of any candidate on the ballot en route to his reelection, run for governor, as is widely expected.

For now, Democratic activists are focused on building the partys infrastructure: boosting voter registration, fighting GOP efforts to make it harder to vote, and recruiting candidates to run for local office. The biggest electoral prize this year is a seat on the state Supreme Court, where Democrats hold a 5-2 majority. Chief Justice Thomas Saylor, a Republican, is reaching the mandatory retirement age.

 READ MORE: Redistricting will be the definitive political fight of 2021 in Pennsylvania. Heres how itll work.

Jason Henry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said Democrats spent much of last year educating people about the new mail voting law. Now theyre registering new voters and organizing in both communities of color and white rural areas.

We have to go out and invest and build up our county infrastructure, he said. Just showing up and getting there and showing the people across the state that we give a damn about them is really important.

Trump is out of office, but running against Trumpism will likely be a strategy for Democrats for years to come. In Washington, House Democrats have signaled they will defend their narrow majority partly by branding the GOP as the party of QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that Trump was elected to defeat a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles.

In central Pennsylvania, Democrats are already organizing against U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a Trump ally who has pushed his false claims of a stolen election and was one of just 17 Republicans to oppose a resolution condemning QAnon.

 READ MORE: How Joe Biden won Pennsylvania

If theyre not willing to separate themselves from insurrection, thats a fundamental problem, said Colleen Guiney, chair of the Delaware County Democrats. She noted that almost all House Republicans from Pennsylvania voted to throw out the states election results, and dozens of GOP state lawmakers supported that effort.

Voters are going to see the connection, she said.

Henry said the GOP remains a unifying force.

Whether or not you come from the Sanders wing or the [Elizabeth] Warren wing or the Biden wing of the party, were all against what we saw at the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, he said.

That doesnt mean the debate between progressives and moderates will subside.

The partys power has become increasingly concentrated in and around the states two biggest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In local and state races, the left has ascended with the election of self-described democratic socialists like State Sen. Nikil Saval of Philadelphia. State Rep. Jessica Benham, a 29-year-old activist, joined an already progressive Pittsburgh delegation in Harrisburg this year.

Many think the energy those candidates draw could extend statewide and will be key to growing the partys strength.

 READ MORE: Scott Perry is the most loved and hated congressman in Pennsylvania

Continuing to elect progressives is imperative to Democratic growth statewide, said Hannah Laurison, executive director of Pennsylvania Stands Up, a statewide umbrella group of progressive organizations.

I think were seeing that in the discussions about what the COVID relief bill needs to include, she said. People are really hurting in this moment, and I think that any Democrat who sticks to the more centrist path ... is making a huge mistake.

Nicolas ORourke, Pennsylvania organizing director of the left-wing Working Families Party, cautioned Democrats against focusing too heavily on the suburbs and said they should embrace an agenda that will mobilize Black voters.

Ultimately when Black people, particularly Black women, turn out to vote, they deliver victories in statewide and national races, he said.

Candidates who reflect the partys progressive cities can help build the Democratic coalition, said State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat who is also considering a Senate run.

This idea that Black folks cant win statewide or progressives cant win statewide or young people cant win statewide, thats based on no data, Kenyatta said. Weve had very few run. So, its not about these labels of progressive or moderate. What people want is someone who will do something.

 READ MORE: The 2020 election established Montgomery County as a powerful Democratic stronghold in Pennsylvania

In places like central Pennsylvania, where there was less ticket-splitting, Democratic activist Nicholas Sones said the partys strategy should trend more moderate. Democrats spent heavily against Perry but came up short.

[November] was a gut punch, Sones said. What happened was simple. We had a candidate at the top of the ticket in Joe Biden who was a moderate Democrat. This [district] is center-right. As much as we want to move it center-left ... if youre going to have Democrats winning in central Pennsylvania, its going to be on a moderate message. Its not going to be on a message of embracing democratic socialism.

Democrats need to do better outside the Philadelphia region, and one key area is the south-central part of the state.

A lot is going to depend on what happens in places like York and Dauphin and Cumberland and Lancaster and Berks, outside of the collar counties, said Ben Forstate, a Democratic data analyst. Forstate said those areas could be the difference between Pennsylvania going the way of Illinois, now a Democratic stronghold, or Ohio, where Republican voters in more rural parts of the state overcame the Democratic urban centers.

Other priorities for Democrats include building on the successful use of mail voting, opposing Republican attempts to restrict voting, and fighting for new maps of congressional and legislative districts that dont give Republicans built-in advantages.

We have to not only fix the rules of our democracy in terms of making sure everyone can vote easily but also fix the rules that draw these maps in the first place, Kenyatta said.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania election laws are set for another bitter debate in Harrisburg

Whether its a statewide election or a local school board race, most Democrats agree the key to winning is to speak to local issues.

Several incumbent Democrats in Southwestern Pennsylvania districts that Trump won managed to hold on by centering their campaigns on local concerns, like manufacturing jobs. They were also probably helped by incumbency: Few incumbent state lawmakers lost and no incumbent member of Congress lost.

Rogette Harris, chair of the Dauphin County Democrats, is already looking ahead to the next chance to unseat Perry in 2022. Eugene DePasquale, the former state auditor general who lost to Perry, hasnt ruled out a rematch. But Harris said a candidate who reflects the growing diversity of the district might be stronger.

If we notice Congress as a whole, we see a lot more women running, people of color, we see a different type of candidate that is winning and I think people might be sick of voting for the same old, same old, said Harris, who is the only Black Democratic county chair in the states 67 county parties.

She noted that Perrys district includes three majority-minority cities, including Harrisburg.

So why couldnt a candidate that looks like me do well? she said. Its just changing the mind-set.

Staff writer Chris Brennan contributed to this article.
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SECAUCUS  A Jersey City man was arrested and charged after a collision that left his passenger and an 18-year-old driver with injuries, Chief Dennis Miller said.

Mark Ortiz, 39, was charged with driving while intoxicated and two counts of assault by auto.

On Tuesday at 10:07 p.m., Secaucus Police responded to the area of 101 Paterson Plank Road on a reported head-on crash involving two vehicles.

Ortiz, of Jersey City, was driving a 2002 Honda Civic when his vehicle crossed over into oncoming traffic and crashed into a 2008 BMW. The collision sent the BMW up into a snow embankment leaving the driver, an 18-year-old Nutley resident, with minor injuries, Miller said.

Ortizs passenger in the Honda, a 39-year-old Jersey City resident, was trapped in the vehicle after the collision, but was rescued by the Secaucus Fire Department. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Ortiz did not suffer any injuries, Miller said. He was sent to Hudson County Jail.

I am thankful that nobody suffered serious injuries or lost their life as a result of this crash, Miller said in a statement.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Secaucus Traffic Bureau. Anyone with any information may contact the Secaucus Police Department Traffic Bureau at 201-809-4603 or traffic@secaucus.net.
Mercedes-Benz is learning a hard lesson about the importance of reliable car emergency systems. As Car and Driver and The Verge report, Mercedes USA is recalling nearly 1.3 million 2016 to 2021 model year vehicles due to a flaw n the eCall emergency calling platform. A glitch in the software might "fail to communicate" the right car's location to first responders if the power supply drops during a crash, delaying a rescue at a critical moment.

The issue affects a wide range of Mercedes' lineup, ranging from entry-level cars like the A-Class through to flagships like the S-Class. The company has investigated a number of incidents where cars sent the wrong locations, including a European case in 2019.

The automaker will start the formal recall on April 6th and plans to fix the issue through either over-the-air updates (via Mercedes Me subscriptions) or by having owners visit dealerships.

On top of highlighting the technical challenges of emergency calling systems, the recall illustrates the rising importance of over-the-air updates for cars. Some Mercedes owners won't have to leave home to get a potentially life-saving fix  that could offer piece of mind, not to mention free mechanics to work on other repairs.
The US Senates acquittal of former US president Donald Trump on charges of inciting a violent insurrection was an inevitable but demoralising blow to the ideals of democracy, justice and accountability.

While the acquittal was expected, it will stand for generations as an appalling instance of Republican Party cowardice. It demonstrates how intrinsically bound the partys fortunes remain to Mr Trump and his followers.

While it is hoped that Mr Trumps hold over the Republican Party dissipates now that he is out of office, that is not certain. For four tumultuous years as president, Mr Trump wreaked chaos and, ultimately, treachery on the American people by claiming the November election was stolen from him. Incapable of conceding loss, Mr Trump indulged in deceit and challenged - unsuccessfully in the end - the ideals of American democracy itself.

He claimed the election was rigged and repeatedly called on his followers to fight the evil legislators who would sanction the legitimate win of Democrat candidate Joe Biden.

And on January 6, when Congress met to tally the electoral college votes in Mr Bidens favour, Mr Trump urged his disciples to march to that bastion of democracy, the Capitol in Washington DC, and fight like hell.

They did, with fatal consequences. Legislators and congressional staff had to flee for their lives as rioters smashed their way into the Capitol, ransacking the Senate chamber and members offices. Police and protesters alike were killed and injured.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 16, 1981

Chipps affair with Franklin hits rough patch



Surging white water and craggy boulders dwarfed the figure in the tiny rubber raft.

He thrust the blade of his paddle into the turbulent Franklin River, turning into the rapid.

Senator Don Chipp, right, his wife Idun and Tim Shepherd during their five-day Franklin River trip on February 15, 1981. Credit:Staff photographer

For just a second, the familiar, lined face of Don Chipp was visible through the flying foam, and it was set in a grimace of determination fiercer than anything his political rivals had seen.

Horrified, she ran out of the stall and around the restroom exit but did not see the perpetrator.

Pleading for help, Doe frantically explained to security guards what had happened. She asked the guards whether they had seen anyone and how she could have been assaulted.

According to the complaint, the security guards were dismissive toward Doe and told her that there was no way for anyone to have entered the restroom area.

The security guards further insulted Doe by insinuating that they could not possibly know whether anyone trespassed in a gathering of tens of thousands of people.

Doe proceeded to show the security guards the stall she used. After walking around the portable toilet, it became clear that there was a large enough space between the back of the toilets and the surrounding fence for someone to squeeze through. The open space was left unguarded and did not include any security signage.

While insisting that her story was true, Doe lifted the tarp behind the fence surrounding the facilities, exposing holes cut into the stalls providing direct access to patrons using the toilet. Doe found holes in the back of other stalls as well.
Ingrid Bergman is still a Hollywood legend, even now almost 40 years after the actors death. Shes remembered today as a Hollywood icon, star of the timeless movie Casablanca. She often acted alongside other Hollywood greats, including Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable. But it may surprise fans to know that Bergmans career was almost ruined by her personal life. In the early days of Hollywood, the public was pretty intolerant of scandal. That intolerance almost ended Bergmans career too soon when she had an affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini.

Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca | John Springer Collection/Getty Images

Ingrid Bergman was entranced by Roberto Rossellini before she met him

RELATED: 10 Movies to Watch Before You See Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Shortly after filming Casablanca, Bergman started to get bored with the same old Hollywood style. She became interested in foreign films. She and her husband, Peter Lindstrom, happened to see an Italian film by director Roberto Rossellini. Bergman was hooked. She became somewhat obsessed with the director. This was before the internet, or even Blockbuster video, so Bergman couldnt binge Rossellinis whole catalog, although she probably wanted to. But when she managed to see another of Rossellinis films in theaters, it was enough. She flew to Rome immediately to meet him, reports Today.

That meeting led to a year-long affair that almost ruined Bergmans career completely. After meeting Rossellini, he cast her in one of his movies. Stromboli was filmed in Italy, and before the movies release, Bergman told the public she was pregnant with Rossellinis child, all while she was still married to Lindstrom.

Congress got involved in Ingrid Bergmans affair

RELATED: Actors Who Are Ridiculously Older in Real Life Than the Movie Characters They Portray

Bergmans affair was the height of scandal at the time. It was unseemly for Bergman to admit to an affair, and the public was shocked and outraged that she was going to have a child out of wedlock. Bergman did say she would marry Rossellini after both of them got divorced (he was married too), but the public was not assuaged.

The outrage was so serious that Congress got involved. A senator from Colorado slammed Bergman and proposed a bill that would protect Americans like her from lecherous foreigners. Obviously, no such bill was ever even put down on paper, but the message was clear. Bergman was canceled before being canceled was a thing.

But Bergman didnt seem to mind much. She and Rossellini did get married, although their marriage wouldnt last. Bergman and Rossellini made a few films together, but none were successful in the United States. When Bergman acquired an annulment around seven years after marrying Rossellini, she went back to Hollywood like nothing ever happened.

Ingrid Bergmans career was un-killable

RELATED: Jack Nicholson, Katharine Hepburn, Daniel Day-Lewis: Who Has The Most Oscars?

Nothing could kill Bergmans career, not even a scandal of this magnitude. Her career was effectively un-killable. When she wanted back in, Hollywood couldnt stop her. She returned after her annulment to star in Anastasia. As if to prove her greatness, Bergmans first role upon her return to Hollywood netted her an Academy Award, her second.

It seemed like her time away from Hollywood did her good. Although Bergman had been bored before meeting Rossellini, after her return she seemed reinvigorated. Bergman would continue to work right up until her death in 1982. She would win a third Oscar for her supporting role in Murder on the Orient Express. Right before her death, she expanded her horizons to TV, winning an Emmy for A Woman Called Golda, about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.

As for her daughter Isabella Rossellini, she followed in her mothers footsteps and became a Hollywood staple herself. Isabella Rossellini was born to make movies, and she made some good ones, including Blue Velvet, one of the best psychological horror movies of our time.

[Correction: An earlier version incorrectly stated that Bergman and Rossellini only had one child together. They had three children.]
You already know that Minari movingly addresses the immigrant experience, assimilation, family farming, and economic precarity in 1980s Arkansas. But did you know its also about pee?

Yes! The flow of urine is as crucial to Minari as the flow of county-owned water is to the Korean peppers and eggplants Jacob (Steven Yeun) plants in the rich Arkansas earth. Minari even features a pee-related prank that would not be out of place in a Jackass movie. But central to its plot is the bed wetting struggles of its tiny, adorable central figure, David, played by tiny, adorable, 7-year-old Alan Kim.

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Sometimes I dream Im peeing in the bathroom, a mournful, damp David explains as his mother and grandmother strip his sheets. But I wake up in my bed. When I watched this scene, I sat bolt upright in my chair. That is exactly what bed wetting was like for me when I was little and adorable! I would dream I was peeing in the bathroom, then wake to wet sheets and sad disappointment.

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It struck me that I had never really thought about this weird link between dream peeing and IRL peeing. Was this actually a totally common experience? An extremely unscientific Twitter poll suggested that I wasnt the only one whod made this connection.

JOURNALISM POLL: If you are asleep and dreaming and in your dream, you pee, this means that  Dan Kois (@dankois) February 1, 2021

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Wanting to know more, I reached out to the American Urological Association, who put me in touch with Dr. Brian Stork, clinical assistant professor of urology at the University of Michigan.* Thats a really interesting question about nocturnal enuresis, Stork said, using the fancy urologists term for nighttime bed wetting. It doesnt come up very much in the literature. (The primary study he found about dreaming and bed wetting was a very small experiment performed in 1961.)

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Stork explained that the causes of bed wetting are various: a small or overactive bladder, a patient whose sleep is particularly deep, or abnormally high urine production. In most cases, its probably multifactorial, he said, adding that patients undergoing a disruptive family event are more at risk. (In Minari, Davids dealing with his familys sudden move from California to rural Arkansas, so this tracks.)

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I came away from our conversation more convinced that this anecdotal causality was correct. One reason bed wetting was never a major issue for me as a kid, I always believed, was that I trained myself early to understand that if I was dreaming about peeing in a toilet, it was time to wake up. Even now, I understand that if my dreams diverge from their usual plots of being sent back to college or fighting off zombies for a detour to a restroom, it is a sure sign that my body needs a pit stopand so I had better wake up. In Minari, Davids mother even tells him that whenever hes about to go to the bathroom, he should stop and pinch himself to make sure hes not asleep and dreaming. In a later scene, he stands before the toilet, ready to go, but gives himself a pinch beforehand, just in case. (I did that once while extremely high, when, standing at a toilet, I suddenly couldnt remember if I was awake or asleep. I was awake!)

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After our conversation Stork, intrigued, reached out to other scientists, including a neurologist, Dr. Ronald Chervin, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Michigan. And what Chervin explained threw my whole understanding of the sleep/pee dynamic into chaos.

For one thing, we cant be sure what comes first, the enuresis or the dream, Chervin said. Sleeping in a wet bed could engender the dream, just likeas we often assumea dream of urinating could trigger the bed wetting. He explained that enuresis can occur at any stage of sleep, not just REM sleep, when the more vivid and elaborate dreams occur.

Well, this was shocking. I was peeing, then dreaming? I was peeing while dreaming? (In that 1961 study, it turns out, most of the subjects bed wetting occurred after they were dreaming.) Was my (and little Davids) surefire way to avoid bed wetting actually not as surefire as we believed? The long and the short of it is, we dont know, said Chervin. The dreaming brain is still mostly a black box, it seems, and scientists are busy trying to puzzle out the basic origin and meaning of dreamstheyre not really trying to work out what, specifically, a dream of endlessly peeing, in the bathroom of a submerged submarine, while seawater slowly rises around my legs, has to do with anything.

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Almost every child eventually grows out of it, Stork told me, estimating that 1 to 2 percent of adults experience nocturnal enuresis. I grew out of it. So did little David, who grew up into Lee Isaac Chung, the writer and director of Minari, who has not made his new films launch into a personal chronicle of adult bed wetting or anything. These days, thank goodness, the hero of Minari dreams only of Oscar gold.
Imphal: No newspaper was published and no TV news was produced in Manipur on Sunday as journalists ceased work, protesting against the attack on Manipuri daily Poknapham.

The decision to cease work was taken by the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild of Manipur (EGM), journalists said.

A hand-grenade was lobbed at the office of Poknapham in Keishampat Thiyam Leikai in the Imphal West district around 6.30 pm on Saturday, police said.

Protesting against the attack, journalists held a sit-in demonstration at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 11 am to 3 pm.

Later, a memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, urging him to ensure that the press in the state functions freely.

As per CCTV footage from the location, a woman came on a two-wheeler and lobbed the hand-grenade at the newspaper's office, police said.

The reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, they said.

No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added.

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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RUSSELL  COVID-19 has thrown a monkey wrench into everything that was once considered normal including The Great Metacomet Serum Run 2021 Klondike Derby, sponsored by the Metacomet District Western Massachusetts Council Boy Scouts of America.

For the 60 scouts that represented Southampton, Belchertown, South Hadley, Amherst and Granby, it was just another year of challenges  except masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing were now part of the effort.

Each year, the scouts visit the Russell location to hone their skills of fire building, knot tying, learning the stars, first aid, and survival skills all while pushing and controlling a Klondike-style sled.

The scouts also known as a patrol followed a course to various Alaskan towns and villages where an event had to be performed.

As the scouts visited each town or village the mayor of that town would score the scouts on their challenge and document that score on an official scorecard.

Each sled was pulled by scouts through the deep snow which was filled with enough supplies for the all-day journey. Each sled carried the patrol name, unit number and patrol symbol. Abby Thibodeau, of Boy Scout Troop 124, a volunteer judge at the Fire Building station, said the boys had to build a fire and cook a pancake on that fire and eat their pancake to successfully complete the challenge.

All they get is a stack of wood and they can use anything they want to start a fire except a lighter. Thibodeau said her troop tested the challenge to insure it would work in the allotted time and they were successful.

Each patrol consisted of five to eight scouts and one adult as a monitor for safety. Each town mayor was supplied with a two-way radio for communications. Patrols had 10 minutes to travel between towns and 30-minutes to complete each challenge.

Lynsey Brodeur, of the Western Mass Council Boy Scouts of America, said its all about fun and getting to play in snow.
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Egypts Minister of Health Hala Zayed discussed on Thursday ways to boost cooperation between the health sector and Siemens Healthineers with Siemens Healthineers Egypt Managing Director Michael Schmermer.

According to the Ministry of Health, the minister discussed with Schmermer ways of cooperation in transferring modern technology to support the Egyptian medical sector in the fields of education, training, project management and digital transformation.

Zayed spoke at the meetings about how to cooperate with the company in supplying the National Center for Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Control with the latest information systems as well as the centralised labs in the ministry, with the latest medical equipment.

They also discussed cooperation in the field of mobile smart clinics as well as upgrading the local medical units, centers and clinics at the villages chosen in the National Programme for the Development of Egyptian Villages in addition to the centralised hospitals in the governorates with the latest medical equipment.

From his side, Siemens Healthineers Egypt Managing Director Michael Schmermer asserted his companys keenness in supporting the health sector in Egypt with the latest modern medical equipment.

He also welcomed the cooperation with the health ministry especially in terms of the presidential initiative and national projects that contribute in developing the health system in Egypt.

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Vijayawada: As many as 579 sarpanchs have been elected unanimously ahead of the Phase III of gram panchayat polls on February 17.

The State Election Commission issued a statement here on Saturday stating that out of 3,221 offices of sarpanch going to the polls in 160 mandals in 13, polling would be held for 2,640 positions polls with the remaining positions getting elected unanimously. There are 7,756 contestants in fray.

The SEC said 11,732 ward members were elected unanimously, out of 31,516 positions notified to go for polls in 160 mandals. Polling would be held to elect 19,607 ward members sa the others were elected unanimously. There are 43,232 contestants in fray.

For the Phase IV polls on February 21, 20,156 nominations were filed for sarpanch elections and 88,285 for the positions of ward members by Saturday.
Zimbabwes government is urging citizens to take part in a free, voluntary COVID-19 vaccination program starting "immediately," now that the country has received 200,000 doses donated by China. But some citizens remain skeptical.

Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians welcomed the governments three-phase inoculation program, which starts with frontline workers at high risk of infection  such as doctors and nurses  and will be followed by those with chronic diseases, the elderly and the prison population.

The second phase is for those at medium risk, and the third phase covers everyone else willing to be vaccinated.

Dr. Nyika Mahachi of the physicians college said he hoped there wouldn't be any deviation from the program.

Efficacy questions

Some health experts have questioned the efficacy of the Sinopharm product. Mahachi said nevertheless that "while we are in an emergency situation, while even the efficacy [of the Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines] is not known," it was important "for us to be at least vaccinating the population. The other concern around these two vaccines is obviously their effectiveness against the South African-originating variant. We are expecting that the country benefits from the COVAX facility as well as the African Union facility so that we also have other known vaccines that have clear data.

On television Friday night, Zimbabwes deputy health minister, Dr. John Mangwiro, said that to reduce COVID-19 infections and deaths  which as of Saturday were at 35,045 and 1,393, respectively, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center in the U.S.  the government was introducing the voluntary, free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Sinopharm vaccine, which has proven to be effective in clinical trials and has efficacy rate ranging from 76% and 86%, has already been used by other countries in controlling COVID-19," he said. "The government is in advanced negotiations to acquire the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, which is also effective against COVID-19.

"In addition, the country is also pursuing global and regional facilities to secure more vaccines to cover all eligible people. May I conclude by encouraging all eligible people in the country to take up the vaccine when their turn comes."

Some have doubts

It might be a long while before some Zimbabweans comply. One of the reluctant ones is Mufaro Mutsigiri, 53.

We prefer to live the way we were living because, if I am vaccinated, does that stop the spread?" Mutsigiri asked. "Or will people die? Answers arent said out!

Some of the reasons are not scientific, though, as in the case of Dillion Machingura.

"The thing is, there have been rumors about people who have been taking the vaccine ... so I am not sure if it is safe to take it or not," Machingura said.

But others are eagerly waiting for it, such as Edwin Nyambuya.

"I will take that vaccine," he said. "I think its effective. The disease COVID-19 started in China. It has been used there and its proving to work. So, I believe it works.

Zimbabwes government says it plans to immunize 60% of its estimated population of 14 million in the hope of achieving herd immunity.
WAR: How Conflict Has Shaped Us. By Margaret MacMillan. Random House. 272 pages. $30.

The study of war, especially the modern version, can involve an ocean of facts, figures, images and interpretation, much of it obtainable with the click of a computer key, and all of it subject to an ever-growing cavalcade of new historical research and changing questions. Has the human species always been at each others throats?

Margaret MacMillan, author of War: How Conflict Has Shaped Us, thinks so. She cites the 1991 discovery in the Italian Alps of the preserved remains of the Ice Man, who lived around 3600 B.C., died from an arrowhead in his shoulder and had human blood on his own knife. How many soldiers perished in the American Civil War? A constantly evolving investigation puts them at between 600,000 and 660,000. How many rounds a minute can a Kalashnikov rifle get off? About 600, according to MacMillan.

People fight for food, shelter, sex and territory, as well as abstractions like religion, honor and messianic ideologies. Those abstract reasons often provoke the worst cruelty because every horror can be justified in the cause of achieving or defending the Kingdom of Heaven, or some earthly paradise.

Yet many, perhaps most, of these battles could have been solved or mitigated by means short of organized violence, leaving us wondering, even centuries after the Ice Man went down with an arrowhead: Why does war happen? Can it be civilized or controlled? Can it be prevented?

Taking on the multitude of issues related to this huge topic within the confines of 272 pages is an impressive, mind-boggling, possibly foolhardy endeavor. As MacMillan delves into, among other topics, the reasons for war, how it has been fought, how warriors are trained, attempts to create rules of engagement and how peace, often shaky, has been achieved over the ages, the result is somewhere between a veritable brain drop of information and a tour de force.

As such, it stands as a great general reference, a rich starting point for lively discussion and further study, as well as an introduction to the subject of war for those who have never thought much about it. But MacMillan does much more, and her achievement is twofold.

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She reminds us of the benefits that war has given the human race, most obviously technological wonders like the jet engine, transistors and computers, but also penicillin, blood transfusions and the triage method for dealing with wounded that became part of all hospital operations. The 20th centurys world wars, two of the most violent in history, also gave a leg up to the working classes, women and African Americans. Certainly, much of this might have occurred without war, but it was the demands of prosecuting war that provided the impetus and sense of emergency that ensured these gains.

Perhaps more importantly, MacMillan makes the case that we can be strangely drawn to war. There is an allure to war that is undeniable. The color and panache of dress uniforms, the rousing sound of marshal music, the gleam and awesome power of weaponry, among other things, can sometimes be lethally seductive.

This is often best portrayed in the arts. MacMillan cites the opening scene of the film Apocalypse Now as an example. Intended to be anti-war, the swaying palms, the thock thock of helicopters flying by, the wisps of smoke rising, the sweep of the camera before the whole scene goes up in flames is breathtakingly beautiful, hiding the bloody reality below.

There is often a great sense of relief when war approaches, with a corresponding confidence that, the impending storm  the heaviness in the air, the sudden flash of lightning, the crack of thunder, and a short, sharp rain  will be followed by fresh air and blue skies.

Then, there is the belief, often tragically wrong in retrospect, that war is the great solver of problems, the great decider of issues  except for the losers, for whom the disgrace of defeat can only be expunged by another war.

And what of future wars? MacMillan, author of Paris, 1919 and The War that ended Peace, quotes a former commandant of the U.S Army War College stating that any attempt to predict or characterize upcoming wars is the least successful enterprise in Washington D.C.  an assessment that may be all too accurate.

As recently as 1994, more than half a million Rwandans were slaughtered with something as simple as machetes. In contrast, just over two decades later, what many of us fear most is cyber warfare, which can be conducted, or go sickeningly awry, with the tap of a finger on a keyboard.
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February 14, as you all know, is celebrated as Valentine's Day all across the globe. Today, people shower their loved ones with gifts etc to express their affection for them.

And here is an interesting story that will reinstate your faith in love.

A man named Vinodbhai Patel in Ahmedabad decided to gift his wife, Ritaben Patel, something really precious. He gifted his wife a kidney so that she could live a longer life.

 ANI

For the past three years, Ritaben Patel has been suffering from autoimmune kidney dysfunction. She has been on medication as well and was put on dialysis a month back.



Without a well-functioning kidney, she would have had to undergo dialysis thrice a week for the rest of her life. Unable to see his wife in so much pain, he decided to take this step.

Speaking to a local daily Navjeevan Express, Patel said, " All these years, she stood with me in all the situations in life. Then, how could I let her fight this problem alone? Therefore, I have decided to donate her one of my kidneys. Call it my love or duty, she has been the most lovable and caring member of the family."

The transplant surgery was performed at a private hospital in the city today, which also happens to be their 23rd wedding anniversary.

As the news broke on the internet, people on social media took to Twitter to express how moved they were by this decision. Many called it the perfect example of 'true love.' "It's a true valentine," one user said. Another user added, "Great sacrifice on Valentine's Day. Gift to your wife. Salute you."

Many others wished her a speedy recovery as well.

Indeed, the couple has proved that love does not just mean to shower someone with materialistic gifts. It's the care and compassionate gestures that make a difference.

We wish Ritaben Patel a speedy recovery!

Tell us what you think about this heartwarming story in the comments below.
In the past week, three stories have emerged about leftist approaches to education. What binds them is the belief that minorities cannot achieve basic education standards and that the only way to achieve the lefts beloved equity is to lower the standards or abolish them entirely. Not only does this reveal the kind of racism that the KKK would have loved, but it also assures that America will decline precipitously, especially given Chinas reverence for hard sciences, such as math and engineering.

On February 9, 2021, the San Francisco Board of Education voted to end Lowell High Schools special admissions process requiring students to prove academic excellence before they can enter the school. Henceforth, Lowell (which will be subject to a name change as well), rather than being one of the nations top high schools, will be just another failing San Francisco high school.

The reason the board members gave for destroying Lowells decades of excellence was race:

Board members who voted for the change cited "pervasive systemic racism" and a lack of student diversity, while the two no votes argued for more community input before making a decision. According to the California School Dashboard, of Lowell's 2,900 students, 51% are Asian American, 18% are white, 11.5% are Hispanic and 2% are Black. Across the district, Black students represent 8% of the population and Hispanic students 32%.

It did not occur to the Board to bend their energies to improving K-8 education for minorities. Instead, their sole goal was to destroy the one aspirational school in the district. Its almost as if they believe minorities cannot achieve high educational standards.

On February 11, 2021, Christopher Rufo wrote about the William D. Kelley School in Philadelphias inner city. The majority-Black school (94% of the student body) has essentially abandoned teaching children reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, it is educating them in the revolutionary principles of Black power radicalism.

Fifth-graders recently did an homage to Angela Davis, a hardcore communist, who provided the guns that killed four people in a Marin County courtroom, including a judge. Again, its almost as if the teachers believe minorities cannot achieve high educational standards, so why not train them as revolutionary cannon fodder?

Lastly, on February 13, we learned that the Oregon Department of Education is encouraging teachers to register for a training program out of California that argues that accurate math is a racist part of White supremacy culture:

Part of the toolkit includes a list of ways white supremacy culture allegedly infiltrates math classrooms. Those include the focus is on getting the right answer, students being required to show their work, and other alleged manifestations. The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so, the document for the Equitable Math toolkit reads. Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict.

In George Orwells 1984, the states ultimate power is to train citizens to believe absolutely that 2+2=5, even as they knew that 2+2=4. In Oregons version of 1984, the goal, apparently, is to train citizens to believe that 2+2 equals anything but 4.

Again, the racism is appalling. American Cougar reminds us that absolute answers in mathematics benefit Blacks as surely as they do Whites:

Idiotic ideas like calling mathematics racist are why I urge ideological separation away from corrosive clutches of liberalism. I posed this question on other timelines and can do no less here, is it a manifestation of White supremacy for me as a Black person to expect correct change or accurate pay for services rendered? Debilitation isn't liberation.

He notes too that Blacks are the lab rats for leftist experiments  and that keeping Blacks incompetent improves their value as foot soldiers.

When it comes to education, leftists invariably make it clear that they believe Blacks are incapable of meeting the same standards as Whites. They never raise people up. They always create equity by dumbing everyone down.

In the modern world, though, our nation cannot survive with a dumbed-down populace. The real education revolution shouldnt be to make it impossible for us to compete with China, which will be building advanced computer weapons systems while our students will be engaging in the doublethink of denying that 2+2=4 as they celebrate Angela Daviss birthday.

Every student who has academic inclinations, regardless of race, should be encouraged whenever and wherever that ability appears. And those students whose talents lie elsewhere, rather than being forced onto a pointless academic path that will only see them fail, should be encouraged as well  to be skilled tradesmen or anything else that suits their abilities and enables them to lead fulfilling and profitable lives that also contribute to society.

IMAGE: Atlanta elementary school classroom by CDC on Unsplash.
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Stacker takes a look at the winner for Golden Globes' best drama from the year you were born.
Love in the time of a pandemic By Ruqyyaha Deane You can still have a romantic Valentines date while keeping safe View(s): View(s):

Valentines Day is here and it is a day dedicated to celebrate your loved ones. Today is the day that you can unabashedly spoil, shower and express how much you love someone without others being cynical about it. In a way to recognise the turbulent year that one has had to go through with an ongoing pandemic, it seems apt to try and do something different this Valentines Day to do something special to celebrate your significant other (all while keeping safe).

A movie date under the stars

Watching a movie at a cinema has always been a safe first date idea and for Valentines Day watching a movie together usually takes couples down memory lane. However with current restrictions and safety guidelines, most theatres are not functioning. This is where Reel Colombo comes in.

Wanting to give the public a taste of night life again but in as safe manner as possible, Reel Colombo is a co-streaming space where couples, friends, and families can come and enjoy their favourite movies while getting a chance to spend time together in a personalized teepee.

Reel Colombo will be hosting a small socially distanced event where couples can sit in their teepees (each six feet apart) and enjoy a meal while watching a classic romance film! To see and understand their concept better or even make a reservation, check them out on Instagram: @reelcolombo

A picture is worth a thousand words

Artistic or not, a creative way to spend time with your significant other is to paint something that commemorates your love story. Tipsy da Vinci host events where amateur artists (even ones who have never picked a brush up in their lives) are taught step-by-step how to paint by a professional artist while enjoying each others company along with food and drinks.

They have private packages ranging from Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 5,500 which can be done in the comfort of your home or they can provide a venue for the event. Some of the private packages also include a cheese platter and wine of your choice.

They used to have a monthly public event but due to the current situation in the country they do these events virtually. Their first virtual event was held in January in partnership with Supreme Flora where participants painted a flower arrangement organised by Supreme Flora.

Tipsy da Vincis provide all the art supplies from paint, canvases, easels, paint brushes, aprons and palettes for every event. For more information on them and their packages, check them out on Instagram @tipsydavincis

An experience like no other

Sometime it is hard to choose what to gift your loved ones because you want to make sure that they will really appreciate and cherish what you pick.

Silver Aisle Gifting features a curated selection of high-quality gifting options from sophisticated yet edgy flower arrangements and Infinity Roses which are real roses that last to upto a year to sumptuous confectionery boxes and more. The gifts they offer range far and wide however if youre looking to elevate the day a step higher, their curated experiences can be checked out on their website.

These include couples pottery classes, art masterclasses, aerial yoga lessons for couples and experiential dining at the most exclusive restaurants in town.

You can seamlessly order the gift of your liking and rest easy while Silver Aisle delivers it promptly to your loved one via their courier service.

Check out www.silveraisle.com for more information.
By Perry N. Halkitis, Shobha Swaminathan and Travis Love

For the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV or AIDS, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to undermine their physical, mental, social, and economic wellbeing.

These impacts on health are exacerbated in Black and brown communities  particularly Black sexual- and gender-minority men and women and Black cisgender women  who are coping with the realities created by COVID-19, ongoing systemic discrimination, and a plethora of other social inequities that create additional vulnerabilities to their overall health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed our efforts to bring an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, adding to the stigma, systems of oppression and structural racism that ultimately fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our state and country.

We know all too well that stigma is one of the reasons why patients continue to experience trauma related to their HIV diagnosis. In fact, for many people living with HIV/AIDS, reliving the trauma of isolation while simultaneously fearing for their lives should they become infected with COVID-19 has had a synergistic effect.

As a result of the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, many people who become infected with this virus may not want to know their status, fearing rejection from family, friends, and sexual partners. In fact, for those already diagnosed, the stigma and resulting trauma can prevent many from continuing to seek adequate care, undermining their viral suppression and resulting in the progression of HIV. This can also lead to increased infectivity to sexual partners.

In the early days of HIV/AIDS, victim-blaming was common and those who developed a detectable number of antibodies in their blood were categorized as either innocent victims (i.e. children and hemophiliacs) or immoral beings who through their actions brought the disease upon themselves (i.e. gay men and injection drug users).

We believe that stigma is the driving force behind the health disparities that continue to put people at risk for HIV/AIDS. In order to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must ensure more access to care and cultivate an ecosystem that combats systemic racism, homophobia, and transphobia.

We must call on the federal government to fund and tackle gaps in care and to prioritize care for individuals who are vulnerable to both COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS, who are too often Black and brown people.

It is very possible to envision a world free from HIV, given our current medical advances in the form of preventative medication, PrEP, and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), which when dosed properly creates a zero probability that an HIV-positive person can infect someone else.

What we need now, is a vaccine. After 30 years of research, a new clinical study, MOSAICO, shows promise and offers hope. The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Clinical Research Center (NJMS CRC) is currently seeking volunteers who are queer, gender non-conforming, and transgender to screen and enroll in the study. The research team also facilitates workshops to reduce vaccine hesitancy and to raise research literacy.

Yet, medications are not enough. While novel therapeutics remain key, behavioral interventions and social acceptance are essential for their success. By using a status neutral approach, we will stop the forced differentiation of HIV positive and negative people. This approach is simple: a person is ensured access to care if they are HIV positive. If a person is HIV negative, they are given access to preventative medications such as PrEP.

Practicing a status neutral approach can repair the schism that has existed for far too long between HIV-positive and HIV-negative populations. Our goal is to assure that everyone has a right to good health.

Gov. Phil Murphy has shown how deeply he understands and how passionately he cares about the structural drivers of disease. Now we must act. We cannot let the HIV/AIDS epidemic continue to take a backseat to pressing health care issues of the moment. As we continue to raise awareness, we are calling on New Jerseys Legislative leadership to enact the policies developed by Governor Murphys Statewide Task Force to End the HIV Epidemic.

We all need to raise our voices together to end this epidemic. The public can also make a difference by urging our elected officials to:

Fund and ensure access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment pharmaceuticals, such as PrEP. Enact policies that protect the rights of people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS, including eliminating HIV criminalization laws. Develop programming tailored to the experiences of people living with, and at the highest risk for, HIV/AIDS. Develop a status neutral approach to HIV care, treatment and prevention.

To learn more, join Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School as we strive to raise awareness of a Neutral Nation with a series of engaging events from February 17 to 20.

Dr. Perry N. Halkitis is dean and director of the Center for Health, Identity Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Dr. Halkitis also was a member of both the New Jersey and New York Ending the HIV Epidemic planning groups.

Dr. Shobha Swaminathan is an associate professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Medical Director of the infectious diseases practice at University Hospital in Newark. She was a principal investigator of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine trial in Newark.

Travis Love is a community educator who has served as a public health representative at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School since 2016.

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By Jason M. Williams and Michael B. Mitchell

The Biden administration has shown some promise within its first 20 days.

For instance, the executive order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government takes bold action to address race within government administration. This order shows Bidens commitment to addressing systemic inequities within society and the historical role government agencies have often played to reinforce harm onto marginalized populations.

The Biden administration has vowed to assess the extent to which the government can do better by historically marginalized communities such that genuine equity and opportunity for all may be achieved. The president boldly states that it is the role of the government to ensure the social sobriety of all citizens.

Through this initiative, the allocation of resources toward higher education could prove fruitful for historically disadvantaged communities. In fact, creating and strengthening existing pipelines to higher education among historically underserved groups could lead to a more diverse and educated workforce.

Education may play a role in ameliorating injustice in the criminal legal system, specifically around policing and race. Not only would these historically disadvantaged persons receive easier access to higher education, but they could be streamlined into a profession in which they are sorely needed and underrepresented.

Moreover, last year, the Trump administration halted diversity and inclusion training, claiming that they are indifferent to white Americans. However, President Biden has rapidly repealed those bans through the executives power, thus quickly reinstating diversity training with aggressive attention toward racial equity and inclusion. On broader policing and race matters, the current administration can swiftly reinstitute investigations into local police departments around allegations of unconstitutional policing and civil rights violations, which all too often involve racial minorities.

Regarding immigration, the Biden administration took executive action toward reversing administrative policies and executive orders established by the previous administration. First, this executive action will assemble a task force to reunite families previously separated at the border. It will develop a strategy to address migration specifically across the Southern Border and facilitate a more humane asylum system. Lastly, the action helps address and restore faith in legal pathways to immigration and the promotion of better integration strategies. Collectively, these initiatives respond to promises made during the Biden campaign and would especially have an impact on the Latinx community who was so viciously targeted by the previous administration.

Additionally, this order may likewise find credence with lesser-known communities like Black immigrants who are also affected by flawed immigration policies. However, given the increasing likelihood of deadlock in Washington D.C., much is left to be desired. Yet, Bidens executive action is likely to spark immense reaction on both sides of the immigration debate.

Through his many executive orders and decisions thus far, President Biden has shown a deep commitment toward achieving social justice for those who have been long forgotten; however, legislation is always the preferred option. Therefore, advocates will need to remain vigilant about the change they hope to see.

Jason Williams, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University. He recently co-edited, Black Males and the Criminal Justice System.

Michael Mitchell, M.A., is a visiting assistant professor of African American Studies and Criminology at The College of New Jersey.

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Mr Ivan Domasaa, a Senior Broadcaster in the Upper West Region, has bemoaned the falling standard of radio programming in the Region, blaming it on the "laziness" on the part of some presenters to research before producing.



"Radio workers we are lazy. We are making the traditional formats of radio to die. It's because we want things in a cheap way. But if you are to do a good radio production for people to listen unless you work hard," he said.



Mr Domasaa, who was the Acting Station Coordinator for Radio Progress, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa on the occasion of World Radio Day commemoration.



February 13 every year is set aside by the United Nations (UN) to promote radio as a medium of communication, increase accessibility and to encourage more people to use it.



This year's commemoration was hinged on the theme: "New World New Radio".



The Senior Broadcaster, with about 24 years of experience in radio work, noted that radio was a powerful tool for communicating to people, particularly in rural areas, in the language they understood.



He underscored the need for radio broadcasters to imbibe the skills of documentary and drama production.



"Drama production is one way you can use to entertain people and still inform them, but drama is almost missing in our radio programming.



"Documentaries and features are also some of them. If we take our time to research and gather information to produce, people will listen and enjoy it," Mr Domasaa explained.



On the impact of radio on society, he stated that it had helped to promote the culture of the people, especially preserving the language of the people in the Region through programming in their own languages.



Mr Seidu Bomanjor, a Development Communicator and broadcaster with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, said unprofessionalism and deliberate negligence of media ethics had negatively affected the radio industry.



He said the 1992 Constitution had created room for any individual to be a media practitioner, which had resulted to the proliferation of the radio industry with non-professionals who churned out false and half-truth to the public.



The 1992 Constitution says that there should be no censorship, and that we should hold government accountable, so all these are opportunities given to us. But whether we are living up to expectation or not is another matter.



There are people who are in radio without qualification, some too are qualified but are doing it deliberately. Mischief is part of radio today, he observed.



According to Mr Bomanjor, the public trusted radio and consumed every bit of information from it hence the need for the actors in the industry not to misinform the public.

Source: GNA









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The gates of the Matanda Hospital in Butembo, where the first case of Ebola died, in the North Kivu province of Congo Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. (Al-hadji Kudra Maliro/AP)

Congo Officials Confirm 2nd Death From Ebola in Eastern Province

BENI, CongoA second case and death from Ebola has been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congos North Kivu province, according to officials.

The victim was a 60-year-old woman who died Feb. 10 in the health zone of Biena, according to provincial health minister Nzanzu Syalita. He said she had been to the same health post as the first victim. Health officials had confirmed a case of Ebola on Feb. 14 in another woman who was from the village of Biena and died in Butembo.

The two cases have created panic and frustration among the inhabitants, the governors delegate in the Biena health zone, Longs Mabanga Julio, said.

The health ministry said it has deployed authorities to the Biena and Katwa health zones to trace more than 100 contacts.

Syalita, the provincial health minister, said the second victims body was handled by members of the community before burial, increasing worries of spread in the region. Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, and corpses are particularly infectious.

While the source of original contamination is still unknown, the first woman who died was the wife of an Ebola survivor, the government said Feb. 14.

The World Health Organization has said it isnt unusual for sporadic cases to follow a major outbreak.

The announcement had come less than three months after Congos 11th outbreak in the western Equateur province officially ended in November.

A 2018 outbreak in eastern Congo was the second deadliest in the world, killing 2,299 people before it ended in June. That outbreak lasted for almost two years and occurred amid unprecedented challenges, including entrenched conflict between armed groups, the worlds largest measles epidemic, and the spread of COVID-19.

By Al-hadji Kudra Maliro
New Delhi, Feb 14 : With China's burgeoning ambition to meddle a finger into the tiniest of geopolitical crevices, one can never be sure what will be found washed-up in one's backyard with the ominous 'Made in China' tag. Last month, an Indonesian fisherman mistakenly netted an innocuous object off Masalembu. The object later turned out to be an 'Underwater Glider' of Chinese origin.

Not surprisingly, a recent RUSI, think tank on international defence and security, report indicates that this is only one of the many such instances wherein such Chinese Uncrewed (or Unmanned) Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), also called Gliders, have been 'discovered' in different parts of the world's oceans.

In the recent past, there have been at least four other instances where Chinese Underwater Vehicles were found; in December 2020 near Selayar Island Indonesia; February and March 2019 at Bangka and off Riau Islands, Indonesia; and in November 2016 at Quang Ngai, Vietnam.

Further, a December 2020 report indicates China had deployed twelve such Gliders in the Indian Ocean from their specialist survey ship Xiangyanghong 06. These were recovered by the same ship in February 2020 after recording around 3,400 observations.

Interestingly, this recently recovered Glider in Indonesia, like the other four, belong to Sea Wing 'Haiyi' family developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It has an uncanny design resemblance with the Littoral Battle space Sensing- Glider (LBS-G) used by US Navy. Given that LBS-G of USS Bowditch was picked up by a Chinese Communist Party Navy (CCP-N) ship in 2016, one wonders whether the resemblance is a mere coincidence! In this regard, it would be telling that in February 2020, Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI had identified China as 'the biggest law enforcement threat to the United States', arguing that China was seeking to 'steal American technology by any means.' Perhaps, the similarity in design of the recovered glider can serve as an apt case study in how blatant technology theft can be fashionably positioned as 'reverse engineering'.

While these Gliders may appear benign to a layman, in reality they are designed to gather data like temperature, salinity, current, turbidity etc below the sea surface which is crucial for Submarine operations.

Every submarine operating country maintains such databases for their area of operation which gives them vantage on both submarine as well as anti-submarine operations or threats.

Gathering such data from the areas near other countries is an indication of a country's preoccupations with undertaking submarine operations in those areas.

The deployment of such a Glider in shores far away from China that too astride important routes towards the Indian Ocean, tells us something interesting about Chinese preoccupations.

One would expect that China would have become more circumspect, if not cautious, while resorting to underhand tactics to gather data, especially after the infamous Huawei fiasco which had invited the opprobrium from many countries, or India's banning more than 200 Chinese apps recently.

In addition to this, recent reports have indicated the increased and somewhat alarming presence of Chinese fishing and research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and other distant waters.

Gathering crucial bathymetric data as a prelude to conducting submarine operations appears to be one of the most logical reasons behind these deployments.

Interestingly, the present deployment pattern also covers the Northern approaches to Australia with whom China has had strained relations, over a series of defence, trade and foreign policy disputes. Add to this, a 'repugnant fake tweet' by the Chinese government showing an Australian soldier in poor light had further unraveled Sino-Aussie relations.

This, if nothing else, illustrates, albeit obliquely, the unethical, reprehensible, below-the-belt stratagems employed by the Chinese State machinery to gain any sort of vantage, over those it perceives as opposition. Thus, Chinese espionage equipment in one's backyard should not be surprising, and may only be the tip of the iceberg.

What is being done? It will be significant to highlight that this recent incident is not the first. Increased activity of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Navy warships, Research Vessels as well as Chinese fishing vessels in last few years is a clear indication of CCP's less-than-benign unscrupulous intentions in Indian Ocean region.

However, as any responsible and stabilising force in the Indian Ocean Region would do, India has stepped up surveillance with its Naval ships, maritime reconnaissance aircraft as well as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Recent lease of two predator drones has given an edge to the Navy in keeping track of CCP and Chinese vessels operating in the region.

As Indian Navy remains poised to uphold freedom of navigation and a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific, Chinese incursions in the Indian Ocean are unlikely to go unchecked, given that the CCP harbours malicious intentions against most Indian Ocean Region littorals.

Collaborative initiatives Unlike the Chinese, whose geopolitical machinations have left a trail of debt traps and underhand methods for making inroads into smaller countries, the vision espoused by India is inclusive, and genuinely tempered to ensure greater common good in the region.

To put things in perspective, one could surmise that India's retort to the Chinese 'string of pearls' strategy has been 'Security and Growth for all in the Region' (SAGAR), realized through a multitude of collaborative initiatives with Indian Ocean Region littorals.

Given the rising presence of dubious Chinese vessels and platforms in the Indian Ocean Region with their questionable, less-than-benign objectives, there is a need for concentrated efforts and an inclusive strategy to ensure the safety and security of the great commons.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
The rate of with additives has crossed the Rs 100 mark for a litre in Maharashtra's Parbhani district on Sunday morning, an office bearer of a dealers' association said.

After a 28 paise rise on Sunday morning, the per-litre rate of with additives for retail sale crossed Rs 100.

Parbhani District Petrol Dealers' Association President Amol Bhedsurkar told PTI, "The rates of petrol with additives in Parbhani has reached to 100.16 rupees for one litre. The cost of unleaded petrol is 97.38 here."



The cost of petrol in Parbhani is one of the costliest in Maharashtra. The cost is higher due to longer distance of transportation.

Fuel in Parbhani comes from Manmad in the Nashik district, which is at a distance of 340 km.

"We need Rs 3,000 extra for every tanker if prices go up by 10 paise. Hence, the investment in buying fuel has also gone up," Bhedsurkar said.

The transportation cost for fuel stands at nearly 21 paise a litre now, 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.)
Several people have lost their lives after a clash triggered by the fatal stabbing of a cobbler by a cart pusher in Sasha market, Ibadan, Oyo State, degenerated into an ethnic conflict.

The two men had a misunderstanding on Thursday and in the process, the cart pusher, said to be a Hausa man, stabbed the cobbler, said to be a Yoruba man, with a knife.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the ethnicity of the two men and there is no evidence that their fight was caused by ethnic issues.

The stabbed victim was confirmed dead in a hospital on Friday morning, leading to crisis in the community between the Hausa and the Yorubas, with the latter group trying to avenge the death of their tribesman.

Within hours, the conflict spread beyond the market, as the Hausa and Yoruba communities in Akinyele Local Government Area, where the market is located, went after each other.

Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that, at least, six people died from both sides in the reprisal attacks. Various shops and houses were burnt while the market was deserted in the process.

The reprisal attacks have led to the death of at least six people from the side of the Yorubas and the Hausas. In fact, many people in the community have scampered for safety, a resident of Akinyele, who simply identified himself as Khalid, said.

Another witness who did not want his name mentioned told PREMIUM TIMES that no one is safe. People have been rendered homeless. I know of 15 houses that have been razed and you cant tell if your home is next. What matters is safety, so people have deserted their homes.

Random killings

On Saturday morning, some Yoruba thugs blocked various highways, asking passengers to identify their ethnic groups.

Sources told this newspaper that those who were identified as Hausa were forced out of vehicles and attacked by the hoodlums.

Once you are an Hausa person, you will be dragged down from the car and be killed by the Yorubas who ordinary to them were avenging the death of the cobbler killed by a Hausa man, a witness, who said he saw several lifeless bodies at Moniya area of Ibadan, told PREMIUM TIMES.

As the killings continued, the military stormed the community in an attempt to stop the reprisal attacks and destruction of properties.

Speaking on the incident, the Oyo State police spokesperson, Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident, said normalcy is gradually returning in the area.

Massive Police deployment and that of the sister security agencies were made to douse tension. Critical stakeholders have also been consulted to appeal to the people.

Makinde imposes curfew

In order to forestall breakdown of law and order in the market and its environments, Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday imposed an indefinite curfew in the area.

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The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said anyone caught perpetrating violence will face the wrath of the law.

His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area.

The governor has also approved the imposition of (a) curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.

Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law, the statement read.

Governors, monarch weigh in

The governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and his counterparts in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, urged citizens not to allow a misunderstanding to degenerate into violence, maiming, and killing.

Mr Fayemi in a statement by his spokesperson, Yinka Oyebode, said we do not need any act of violence leading to the unnecessary death of citizens. Now is the time for the leadership of various ethnic nationalities, trading groups, and security agencies to halt the orgy of violence in Shasha area and work towards ensuring peace in different parts of the country.

We will enjoy enduring peace and progress through dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding for one another. Violence and attendant death and destruction would only spell doom for the country.

While commending Governor Makinde for his timely intervention in the crisis, we also express our sympathy to families of the victims as well as those who have lost properties and businesses during the crisis, Mr Fayemi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, said.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji, in a statement also urged people to eschew violence and bitterness by ensuring that minor conflicts do not degenerate to unnecessary tension.

He said many of our compatriots have been living with each other for a long time. We grow up and attend schools together. People from diverse ethnic groups do inter marry and give birth to lovely children.

Speaking on the crisis, he said immediately the report of the crisis got to us in the palace yesterday (Friday), the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde was the first person I called and we have his promise that appropriate action would be taken as sinners would not go unpunished, the monarch said.

Nigerians trend #StopKillingNortherners

In response to the clash, Nigerians on social media have been trending #StopKillingNortherners hashtag on Twitter.

Some of the tweets are as follows:

#StopKillingNortherners is a polite call by northern youths to their southern brothers for peace, protection & justice. Do not harm anyone that is innocent. Do not destroy their business. Whenever a criminal is caught, do not apply jungle justice. Let us stand by each other. pic.twitter.com/TIJVil0iHy  Dokun Ojomo (@DokunOjomo) February 14, 2021

Reminder; Yesterday, Yoruba boys went on rampage on northerners in Oyo state Burning trailers, destroying shops, killing & burning any Northerner in sight and the president & Nigeria media are silent about about it! Use your keyboard to keep spreading it #StopKillingNortherners   (@Mohnice_) February 14, 2021

https://twitter.com/MFaarees_/status/1360827732507164672?s=19

If u still defend this government after all we have seen , you r an abomination to mankind And if u r killing a fellow citizen when the real enemies r at aso rock living exotic life style

Then u r d biggest fool of all time#StopKillingNortherners  THE KING HERSELF. (@_hafsat_paki) February 13, 2021

https://twitter.com/MFaarees_/status/1360824066605805568?s=19

https://twitter.com/AM_Saleeem/status/1360727953714405384?s=19

As we woke up today our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent northern Muslims being killed yesterday in oyo state. An unforgettable day for the northerners. remember, We won't stop raising our voices until the government act and do the needful. #StopKillingNortherners  t e e j a y (@Ahmad___v) February 14, 2021

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Sivasagar: Accusing the BJP and RSS of dividing Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that his party will protect every principle of the Assam Accord and will never implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if voted to power in the state.

Addressing his first public rally in Assam ahead of the assembly elections due in March-April, Gandhi said that the state needs its "own chief minister" who will listen to the voice of the people and not one who listens only to Nagpur and Delhi.

"The Assam Accord has brought peace and it is the protector of the state. I and my party workers will protect each principle of the Accord. There will not be a single deviation from it," he said.

Gandhi said illegal immigration is an issue in Assam and exuded confidence that the people of the state have the capability to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Alleging that BJP and RSS are trying to divide the state on the issue of Assam Accord, he said, "If Assam is divided, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not be affected, but the people of Assam and the rest of India will be affected."

Talking about the controversial CAA, the senior Congress leader said that if his party comes to power in the state, the law will not be implemented under any circumstance.

All party leaders, including Gandhi, were seen wearing 'Gamocha' (Assamese scarf), where symbolically the CAA word was crossed, giving a message against the controversial law.

Gandhi said Assam needs a chief minister from their "own people" who will listen to their issues and try to resolve them.

"Remote control can operate a TV but not a CM. The current CM listens to Nagpur and Delhi. If Assam gets a CM like this again, it will not benefit the people. The youths need a CM who will give jobs to them," he said.

Taking a dig at the prime minister, the Union home minister and "businessmen close to them", Gandhi said, "I have devised a new slogan for Assam -- Hum do, humare do; Assam ke liye humare aur do, aur sab kuch loot lo."

He alleged that natural resources and PSUs in the state are being "sold off" to two leading businessmen of the country.

Gandhi also accused the Modi government of "looting" public money during the COVID-19 pandemic and waiving huge amounts of loans of his "two businessmen friends".

He said that the Congress government under the leadership of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had brought peace to Assam by ending the era of violence.

The Assam Accord provides for the detection and deportation of all illegal immigrants, who have entered the country after 1971 and living in the state, irrespective of their religion.

Under the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants and will be given Indian citizenship.

Anti-CAA protesters in the state say that the law violates the provisions of the Assam Accord.



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An American-Egyptian archaeological mission team, excavating in the northern part of Abydos archaeological site in Sohag, has uncovered evidence for what may be the worlds oldest industrial-scale beer production.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri said that the brewery consists of at least eight large semi-subterranean installations and was built on the edge of the desert in Abydos at the dawn of ancient Egyptian history. It dates all the way back to 3000 BC.

The capacity of the facility was industrial in its scale and unprecedented for its time, producing many thousands of litres. It was probably built to supply the funerary cults of Egypts first kings.

Matthew Adams of New York Universitys Institute of Fine Arts, who is leading the mission, explains that the brewery is made up of eight large semi-subterranean installations, (ca. 20m long  2.5m wide  40cm deep) built at Abydos, ca. 3000 BCE.

Approximately contemporary with the era of King Narmer.

Each brewery installation contained around 40 large ceramic vats (ca. 65-70cm in diameter, 70cm deep), arranged in two rows and held in place by rings of vertically-set sun-dried mud struts called fire legs.

The vats were used to heat grain and water mixture in a process called 'mashing,' which was then fermented to produce beer.

The industrial scale of production at Abydosestimated at approximately 22,000 litres per batchhas no known equal in the archaeological record from early Egypt.

British archaeologists excavated the brewery in the early 20th Century, but its importance was not understood at that time and the exact location had been lost.

The mission had located the brewery in 2018 and continued their investigation in 2020.

Deborah Vischak of Princeton University, pointed out that the brewery was located in a vast desert area reserved exclusively for the use of Egypts first kings; including Narmer. They were from Abydos, where they established Egypts first great royal necropolis and also built monumental funerary temples known as 'cultic enclosures'.

The brewery may have been built expressly to supply royal ritual at the enclosures, especially based on extensive excavation of the monuments and evidence for the use of beer in large-scale offering rituals in them.

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Jammu and Kashmirs Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Sunday informed that the Police thwarted a terror attack and arrested terrorists associated with Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Singh briefed that Police have arrested Lashkar-e-Mustafa commander Hedayatullah Malik who became active in August 2020.

Police thwart a terror plot in J&K

In an official statement, Dilbagh said, "Police recently arrested the chiefs of Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammeds India-based outfits - The Resistance Front and Lashkar-e-Mustafa respectively. He was also involved in looting a cash van in Sopian. Four of his associates including his wife have also been arrested. He used to work for Hizbul Mujahideen. He surrendered in 2006. He was again activated by JeM in 2019."

Lashkar-e-Mustafa commander built a network in Jammu

Singh asserted that Malik had built a network where he was bringing in weapons from Bihar and other parts of the country with the help of the Kashmiri-based students studying in Punjab. Lashkar-e-Mustafa commander was also involved in the recce of National Security Advisor Ajit Dovals office on instructions of his Pakistani handler whom he called doctor.

Also Read: NIA Files Supplementary Charge Sheet Against Hizbul Terrorist In J&K's Banihal Attack

Also Read: J&K Police Nab Wanted Terrorist Zahoor Ahmad In Samba; DGP Calls Op 'Big Success'

The DGP added, "Lashkar-e-Mustafa became active in August 2020. Police have arrested its commander Hedayatullah Malik. He was active for a long time in the terrorism-related world. He worked for long for OGW, and later on JeMs directions, he built a local outfit. He was currently trying to make a local hideout in Jammu. He has also built a network where he was bringing in weapons from Bihar and exporting them for different terror-related works."

J&K police arrested Zahoor Ahmad Rather a terrorist affiliated with TRF (The Resistance Force) from Samba on Friday night. He is accused of killing one Police personnel in Furrah, Kulgam and three BJP workers Fida Hussain Yatoo, Umer Rashid Beigh and Umer Ramzan Hajam, at YK Pora in Kulgam last year. Zahoor was in Samba to collect weapons consignment which was to be dropped via Pakistan through a drone.

(With inputs from ANI)

Also Read: J&K Police Nabs JeM Terrorist Hidayatullah Malik, Multiple Raids To Follow After Probe

Also Read: Did Not Forgive, Will Not Forget: CRPF On Pulwama Terror Attack Anniversary
An audit of the University of Sydney has revealed that its library staff have been underpaid for many years, bringing the estimated total of repayments due to all universities workers to $42 million.

The University of Sydney engaged Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to audit staff payments last year and wrote to it this month after it was found that library staff had long been underpaid.

Grant Wheeler outside Fisher Libary at the University of Sydney. Credit:Steven Siewert

There was previously some confusion as to the classification of library staff, which has led to the incorrect payment of shift loadings to some staff, the letter says.

The extent to which these incorrect payments may have affected staff pay is still being examined as part of the employee payments review.
For nearly a half-decade, Republicans became accustomed to saying one thing and thinking another. The impeachment vote was the last, best chance to break decisively with Mr. Trump. Yet once again most Republican lawmakers couldnt bring themselves to do it. Mr. Trump still seems to haunt them, to instill fear in them. More than that, however: He has become them, weaving himself into their minds and communities so seamlessly that they are no longer capable of distinguishing their own moral sensibilities and boundaries from his, as they might once have done. After the disgraceful impeachment vote, the task for Republicans hoping to separate themselves from the Trump years, which was already hard, if not impossible, became harder still.

So for conservatives who are longing for a responsible political home and for those who believe healthy conservative parties are vital to the survival of democracy, what can be done to salvage the Republican Party?

To begin with, it needs leaders who are willing to say that something has gone very, very wrong. They dont have to dwell on it, or make it the focus of their efforts every minute, but the next generation of Republican leaders cannot pretend that the last few years were politics as they ought to be. They need to acknowledge that a sickness set in and take steps to cure it.

From that should emerge a recognition that change is essential. That means putting in place a new intellectual framework, to do for the Republican Party in the 2020s what Bill Clinton did for the Democratic Party and Tony Blair did for the Labour Party in the 1990s, which was to break them of bad habits and modernize them. The situation is not exactly analogous (historical analogies never are), but there are some instructive similarities.

This is of course easier said than done, but Republicans need to move past cable news and talk radio. They must begin, again, to rely on think tanks and journals from various wings of the party to work toward a policy agenda to meet the challenges of the modern world, as they did in the 1970s and 1980s. Republican leaders need to change the way their party thinks about itself, and therefore the way the country thinks about the Republican Party. One way to do that is for different figures to put forward their vision for a new Republican Party, to see what gains traction.

For example, Senator Romneys Family Security Act is an ambitious policy aimed at slashing child poverty and strengthening families by reducing penalties for marriage. (It would provide a monthly cash benefit for families, amounting to $350 a month for each young child, and $250 a month for each school-age child.) There are some interesting ideas in the area of national service, including this one from the Brookings Institutions Isabelle Sawhill and Richard Reeves, encouraging a year of national service after high school as a way to foster national unity by bringing young people of different races, ethnicities, income levels and faith backgrounds together to work toward a common purpose, but also as a pathway to college. Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute is focusing his attention on ways to encourage social solidarity as a way to combat social alienation. My Times colleague David Brooks has written about this intellectual ferment on the right.

Right now all this may seem aspirational or even unachievable, but this is what has to happen if there is going to be a responsible conservative alternative to the Democratic Party. A new, post-Trump Republican Party should put in place a political infrastructure that supports conservatives in primary races who are responsible, intellectually serious and interested in governing rather than theatrics. Republicans need to talk about the countrys needs, not just the threats posed by the left. Having spread conspiracy theories and served as a battering ram against reality during the last four years, the Republican Party needs to root itself firmly in the world as it actually is. It must defend itself against QAnon and its allies whenever and wherever they present themselves, not just every once in a while. It must challenge those who want to make the Republican Party the nesting place of lunacy.
An infectious diseases expert and member of the federal governments powerful Infection Control Expert Group says the significant problem that led to the latest Victorian coronavirus outbreak was poor infection control, and not the more-contagious British variant blamed by the state government.

While evidence suggests the new variant is between 30 and 50 per cent more infectious than the original, Professor Peter Collignon said the real issue [in Victoria] is infection control. If you look at the three hotel outbreaks in Melbourne over the past week, all of them had infection control breaches.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, Premier Daniel Andrews and testing commander Jeroen Weimar on Saturday. Credit:Getty

The three hotels are the Grand Hyatt, the Park Royal hotel and the Holiday Inn. On Sunday a three-year-old child and a woman in her 50s were the latest people to contract the virus, bringing the size of the Holiday Inn cluster to 16. The childs mother is being investigated to confirm whether or not she has the virus.

Professor Collignon pointed to security guards not wearing eye protection, poor governance and supervision, and a lack of awareness that positive pressure inside hotel rooms could push the virus into the corridor when the door was opened, along with a guest using a nebuliser in a room, as contributing factors to the spate of outbreaks.
We needed to bring together cross-sections of people irrespective of where they sat in the hierarchy or what type of role they did, whether they were in the office or in the field or in a factory to come together to solve some of the problems we have. An example of innovative solutions found during this time included a group of factory staff quickly transforming the production of deodorant to hand sanitiser. It wasnt the intervention of senior management that made that happen. It was the will of a coalition in the business who were hands on about what needed to be done very practically, Ms Sparshott says. Unilever has also introduced programs designed to boost the self-esteem and job preparation skills of school students. In an interview with this masthead, Exley said that growing segregation of students from different socio-economic backgrounds in Australia and the UK was a recipe for disaster and part of the reason for lower levels of social mobility. He says there is a danger that people, including those who go on to become policymakers and company executives, would not get to know and understand others from a different social strata if they did not mix with them at school and in the workplace.

He says OECD data has shown that children of blue-collar workers who attended schools in which they mixed with the children of white-collar workers were twice as likely to get a university degree or enter a professional management occupation as similar children who did not have the opportunity to mix. The potential of schools to widen childrens opportunities appears to depend largely on whether they create social integration, he says. Just as the most skilled teachers are concentrated in schools where the children least need them, so are the children who could otherwise act as friends and mentors to non-privileged children. The most obvious way in which privileged parents can buy their child a place at an exclusive but non-fee paying school is by buying their way into the right catchment area, which inflates local housing costs and thereby drives less affluent families out. Victoria University education research chair Professor Stephen Lamb has studied the effects of segregation in schooling on education outcomes.

There are independent effects which suggest that segregation has an impact independently of everything else on the progress of kids in schools and what happens to them, he says. It is also likely to have an impact on shaping career aspirations because it is related to the peers that you connect with in schools that these things are partly shaped as well as the neighbourhoods and communities you engage in. Emeritus professor from the University of Western Sydney Centre for Educational Research, Margaret Vickers, is among Australian academics who have warned that increasing segregation in schooling is making it difficult for teachers to achieve good educational outcomes for students attending non-selective schools. Loading The NSW government has opened 21 fully selective high schools and provides gifted and talented streams in other schools to compete with independent schools for enrolments and top HSC results. Increases over the past three decades in the proportion of students attending private schools has contributed to greater segregation.

More and more the classes that are being taught in ordinary non-selective schools have fewer and fewer talented students in them and it is becoming harder and harder to pull them up, Professor Vickers says. If you end up being in one of the lower-ranked ordinary comprehensive schools, you have got far less opportunity than youve had in the past and you are much more likely to end up with a less advantaged life. We are seeing a larger proportion of our population having fewer opportunities and having lower career aspirations. A growing lack of opportunity is also felt by young people seeking their first employment opportunities. It can take several years to get a secure job after leaving school. That is so different from two decades ago, Professor Vickers says. Research released by former school principal and education researcher Chris Bonnor for the Centre for Policy Development, an Australian think tank, found high achievers were increasingly concentrated in the most advantaged schools.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several key projects and handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Army, at Chennai today.

PM Modi was in Tamil Nadu, where assembly elections are due this year, to open a series of projects including a section of the Chennai Metro Rail, among other things.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said, "These projects are symbols of innovation and indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu."

He said Thanjavur and Pudukkottai will be specially benefitted as the foundation to modernise the six hundred and thirty-six kilometres long Grand Anicut Canal System was laid today. The impact of this is going to be very big as it will "improve irrigation facilities for 2.27 lakh acres of land," the prime minister said.

PM Modi also lauded the farmers of Tamil Nadu for "record food grain production and good use of water resources". He said that the Grand Anicut is a living testimony to our glorious past. It is also an inspiration to our NationsAatmnirbhar Bharat" goals."

During the launch of a part of Chennai Metro Rail, which is about nine kilometre stretch of the city's Phase One,' Modi informed that the project has been completed on schedule despite the pandemic.

The project is in line with the boost to Aatmnirbhar Bharat as the rolling stock has been procured locally and civil construction activities were done by Indian contractors. Modi also mentioned that in this years budget, over 63,000 crore have been set aside for 119 kilometres of Phase two of the project.

"This is one of the largest projects sanctioned for any city in one-go. The focus on urban transport will boost Ease of Living for citizens here," he pointed out.

He also inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of 293.40 crores, traverses through Chennai and Thiruvallur districts. He also noted that the electrification of Villupuram Thanjavur Thiruvarur project will be a great boon to the delta districts.

PM Modi paid homage to the Pulwama attack martyrs on the anniversary of the attack today. He said We pay homage to all the martyrs we lost in that attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire generations."

Modi also said India has undertaken a massive effort to become self-reliant in the defence sector. During his visit, Modi informed that one of the two defence corridors of the country is in Tamil Nadu. The corridor has already received investment commitments of over 8,100 crore.

The Prime Minister noted that Tamil Nadu is already the leading automobile manufacturing hub of India. Saying this, PM Modi handed over to the Army the homemade Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) here. At a function, he also accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment here. Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs were also involved in the project. "This showcases India's united spirit  Bharat's Ekta Darshan," he said.

The Prime Minister expressed the hope that The Discovery Campus of IIT Madras with 2-lakh square metre infrastructure to house world-class research centres.will be a leading centre of discovery and draw the best talent from all over India.

Modi said that this years Budget gives special importance to the development of Indias coastal areas. Extra credit mechanisms for fishermen communities, upgradation of Infrastructure relating to fishing with modern fishing harboursin five centres including Chennai and seaweed farming will improve lives of coastal communities. He also informed that for seaweed cultivation, a multi-purpose sea-weed park will come up in Tamil Nadu.

The Prime Minister announced that Centre has accepted their long-standing demand of Devendrakula Velalar community to be known as Devendrakula Velalar. They will now be known by their heritage name and not the six to seven names listed in the Schedule to the Constitution.

The draft Gazette to amend the Constitutional schedule to correct their name as DevendrakulaVelalar has been approved by the central government. It will be placed before the Parliament before the start of the next session.

He thanked the government of Tamil Nadu for the detailed study done on this demand. Modi said this decision is more than a change of name. It is about justice, dignity and opportunity. It is our honour to work towards preserving and celebrating the culture of Tamil Nadu. The culture of Tamil Nadu is popular globally", he said.

PM Modi also asserted that the government has always taken care of the welfare and aspirations of our Tamil brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. Modi is the only Indian Prime Minister to visit Jaffna.

Speaking at the event, Modi said that the resources provided by this government in Tamal Nadu have been much more than in the past. The projects include 50,000 houses for displaced Tamils in North-Eastern Sri Lanka, 4,000 houses in the plantation areas.

"On the health side, we financed a free ambulance service which is widely used by the Tamil community. A hospital has been built in Dickoya.To boost connectivity, the railway network to Jaffna and to Mannar is being re-built," he said. He also added that flights have been established from Chennai to Jaffna. India has built the Jaffna Cultural Centre which will open soon.

The issue of Tamil rights has also been taken up by us consistently with Sri Lankan leaders. We are always committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice peace and dignity" said PM Modi

The Prime Minister also assured that the Government will always protect the rightful interests of fishermen and has always ensured early release whenever fishermen are apprehended in Sri Lanka. More than sixteen hundred fishermen have been released during the tenure of the current Government and there is no Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Similarly, three hundred and thirteen boats have also been released, informed the Prime Minister.

Governor of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly Industries Minister of Tamil Nadu were present on the occasion.

PM Modi also met spiritual leader Bangaru Adigalar in Chennai. He is later scheduled to visit Kochi in Kerala today.

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President Joe Biden had managed to assemble his foreign policy team with remarkably little trouble  until this past week. His picks to lead the State and Defense departments, and to fill senior intelligence posts, drew little controversy and almost no Republican opposition.

But a political crossfire erupted when the Biden administration announced the selection of Robert Malley to be its envoy for Iran. The choice of Malley, a longtime diplomat and conflict mediator, instantly resurrected a bitter Washington debate about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal abrogated by President Donald Trump and whether to restore it. It also inflamed the sensitive politics of Israel and, for good measure, served as a test case for the influence of progressives in Bidens new foreign policy team.

As Benjamin J. Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, joked: Rob is a proxy for everything.

Though in recent days he has been accused of holding dangerous views about the Middle East, Malley, 57, may seem an unlikely source of controversy. A soft-spoken Rhodes scholar with a Harvard law degree, he spent years as a diligent staff aide in the Clinton and Obama White Houses, where he was widely admired as a learned student of the Middle East, one with a formidable understanding of and unmatched personal relationships with its most important actors.

But Malley, the son of a Jewish Arab leftist, is a well-known advocate for engaging with groups and governments  including, over the years, Hamas, Hezbollah and President Bashar Assad of Syria  widely considered enemies of the United States and Israel and, by some, morally off limits for contact. To his critics, he is overly suspicious of American power and overly sympathetic to foreign actors including Iran and the Palestinians who have deep disputes with the West.

As Bidens point man for Iran, responsible for reining in its expanding nuclear program, those critics fear, Malley will press for a new deal with Tehran that will concede too much to its clerical rulers in the name of reconciliation. When word of his appointment first appeared in the news media, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., condemned radicals like Malley who, he said, holds a long track record of sympathy for the Iranian regime and animus towards Israel.

Other opponents of negotiating with Iran expressed concern in more temperate terms. The appointment of Rob Malley may be a clear indication that the Biden administration is prioritizing a return to the JCPOA over a policy of deploying American power to get a more compressive and permanent agreement, said Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he has long opposed. Malley is not a believer in American power, he added.

Defenders of Malley, whose position does not require Senate confirmation, say that he has become a convenient target for an opening salvo from the American and Israeli right intended to warn the Biden administration against trying too hard to work with Iran on another nuclear deal like the 2015 agreement that became one of the most bitter foreign policy battles of the Obama years.

Most of the judging of Rob comes from people who do not know him and who choose to believe that he has no conception of American national interests, and that its all about trying to find a way at any costs to reconcile with our enemies, said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East peace negotiator under multiple presidents who worked with and is close to Malley.

Largely unspoken on the right is a suspicion that Malley may have inherited too much political sensibility from his father, Simon Malley, an Egyptian-born, Jewish journalist and an Arab nationalist of the fiercely secular, anti-Zionist sort, as the younger Malley put it in a 2008 lecture. It was his father who awoke in me an interest in his part of the world, he said.

The elder Malley acquired three different names and nine citizenships  including an honorary Palestinian one  over a life of anti-colonial crusading in which he founded six different magazines. A man of dogma and convictions, he never felt at ease amid nuances or shades of gray, Malley said of his father.

Malleys friends say the opposite is true of the son: that he relishes complexity and nuance while avoiding the sort of ideological worldviews of which he is accused.

But many conservatives and some centrist Democrats have mistrusted him ever since he followed a stint as a Middle East peace negotiator in the Clinton administration by co-writing a 2001 essay in which he broke from a Washington consensus that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had been solely to blame for the collapse of US-brokered peace talks with Israel at Camp David.

Though the degree to which Malley blamed Israel for the failure of the talks is often overstated, the essay did illustrate his willingness to challenge Washingtons conventional wisdom about the roots of foreign policy dilemmas and received notions about American righteousness.

In the 2008 lecture, Malley lamented that the United States has often acted abroad in destructive ways, saying it anoints preselected leaders, misreads local dynamics, misinterprets local balances of power, misuses its might, misjudges the toxicity of its embrace, encourages confrontation, exports political models and plays with the sectarian genie. Though that view has grown far more common, particularly after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and ill-fated US interventions in places such as Libya and Somalia, it still stirs resentment in Washington.

That same year, the Obama presidential campaign dropped Malley as a foreign policy adviser after an uproar over reports he had met with members of Palestinian militant group Hamas, which the United States and Israel consider a terrorist organization. Malley, then working at the International Crisis Group, a conflict mediation think thank, made no apology for the contacts, saying they were vital to his work and not secret.

Malley eventually joined Obamas administration as its top official for Middle East affairs, becoming the White Houses chief negotiator, alongside Secretary of State John Kerry, for the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran and several other nations that capped Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Obama later placed Malley in charge of coordinating the US campaign against the Islamic State group.

After Cottons tweets and worrying, often anonymous criticism in Israeli news outlets, many Democrats rose to Malleys defense, seeing a crucial test case against the reflexes of a foreign policy establishment they view as too hawkish.

Those who accuse Malley of sympathy for the Islamic Republic have no grasp of  or no interest in  true diplomacy, which requires a level-headed understanding of the other sides motivations and knowledge that can only be acquired through dialogue, argued a statement in support of Malleys appointment signed by dozens of foreign policy professionals.

At a time when progressives are calling for a humbler US foreign policy, they see in Malley a valuable ally.

Malley has argued that the United States places too much weight on the effect of foreign aid and sanctions, and underestimates the role of ideology and religious faith in the decisions of militant groups and Irans Shiite revolutionary leadership.

Miller said that whatever Malleys views, he would not be making policy himself, and that critics were using him to indirectly pressure Biden and his new secretary of state, Antony Blinken, both centrists widely trusted in Israels security establishment.

Nor is he likely to be at cross-purposes with his new boss: Malley and Blinken attended school together in Paris as teenagers and have remained friends. (Malley was born in New York, where his US-born mother then worked at the United Nations before the family moved to Paris when he was 6.)

In the opposition to Malleys appointment, Rhodes sees alarm among critics of Obamas nuclear deal that it is sure to be restored.

Hes not the kind of person you appoint to just have an envoy flying around, piling on more sanctions, said Rhodes, who signed the statement of support for Malley. The appointment of Rob Malley suggests wanting to actually do a deal.

Progressive Democrats who see Malley as an ally were pleased that Biden did not back down under pressure and proceeded with the appointment. But after watching Biden assemble a mostly centrist foreign policy team, they are impatient to see more of their own win jobs.

They are now priming for a potential political battle over an expected State Department position for Matthew Duss, formerly the top foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Duss has written sympathetically about the plight of the Palestinians, leading some conservative activists and news outlets to brand him anti-Israel.

In his early days on the job for Biden, Malley embarked on a kind of listening tour, consulting with members of Congress and with allies in Europe, in Israel and among the Gulf Arab states.

If direct talks with Tehran should begin again, he is also likely to resume dialogue with Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, whom he knows well from negotiating the Obama-era deal.

By Michael Crowley

c.2021 The New York Times Company
US President has said that the Senate's acquittal of his predecessor for inciting a mob to storm the Capitol on January 6 was a reminder that democracy was "fragile" and every American had a duty to defend the truth.

While the final vote did not lead to the conviction of Trump, the substance of the charge is not in dispute, Biden said on Saturday in his first reaction, hours after the US Senate acquitted the former president on a charge of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

The 100-member Senate voted to impeach Trump by 57-43 votes, 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism have no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies, Biden, a Democrat, said in a late-night statement.

Biden said that 57 Senators including a record seven Republicans voted to find former President Trump guilty for inciting that deadly insurrection on American democracy.

Trump, a Republican, was accused of inciting riots in the US Capitol on January 6 which left five people, including a police officer, dead.

The Senate vote followed the bipartisan vote to impeach him by the House of Representatives. While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute, he said.

Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe was guilty of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and practically and morally responsible for provoking the violence unleashed on the Capitol, Biden said.

Biden is spending his first Valentine Day weekend with the First Lady at the picturesque presidential retreat of Camp David in Maryland.

Tonight, I am thinking about those who bravely stood guard that January day. I'm thinking about all those who lost their lives, all those whose lives were threatened, and all those who are still today living with terror they lived through that day, he said.

And I'm thinking of those who demonstrated the courage to protect the integrity of our democracy Democrats and Republicans, election officials and judges, elected representatives and poll workers before and after the election, Biden 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.)
Johann Chuckaree is the epitome of the modern Indo-Trinidadian.

The 31-year-old is a proud descendant of East Indian indentured labourers. Prays to Jesus Christ. And plays the pan.

The Woodbrook-born musician exuded equal passion for all three during a virtual sitting with the Kitcharee on Thursday night.
A Field Guide to Heart-Shaped Foods New Yorker

14 Pink Animals That Wow and Woo TreeHugger

Kraft IntroducesPink Mac and Cheese? Leites Culinaria

Chart: How Many People Are Looking for Love Online? The Wire

How a public uprising caused a province built on fossil fuels to reverse course on coal mining The Narwhal

Deepfake porn is ruining womens lives. Now the law may finally ban it MIT Technology Review

Why Conspiracy Theories Are So Alluring New York Review of Books

The Problem With the Postcolonial Syllabus Chronicle of Higher Education

The detail that unlocks the Mona Lisa BBC

Pause. Reflect. Think Aeon

US top court clears way for accused Ghosn plotters extradition Al Jazeera

Japans rabbit island Okunoshima has a dark and deadly history SCMP

Last call for Istanbuls meyhane bar culture? Qantara

Good Morning Heartache: The Life and Blues of Billie Holiday Vanity Fair

Covid-19: Five ways to avoid lockdown eye strain BBC

#COVID-19

I first linked to the original article last week. Worth a read if youve not yet seen it.

AIRBORNE & NO MASK: Why Opening Restaurants Is Exactly What #SARSCoV2 Wants Us to Do Reopening indoor dining before vaccinations become widespread could create superspreading playgrounds for variants & squander getting pandemic under control. #COVID19

https://t.co/qTP7BDGk1N  Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 14, 2021

Californias rainy season is starting about a month later than it did in the 1960s, researchers say LA Times

Climate graphic of the week: Saharan dust coats the ski slopes FT

How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate Change New Yorker

Class Warfare

Big tech lobbyists are upset that Apple and Facebook are fighting Advisers to the two companies, including law firms and lobbyists, are growing concerned that they wont be able to work for both tech giants, people who work for the firms said. https://t.co/0P7B786Q6g  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) February 14, 2021

Big Brother IS Watching You Watch

Impeachment

Trump Transition

Rotten to the Core? Foreign Affairs. From last month; the view from the Council on Foreign Relations is always germane. From the pen of the over-rated Francis Fukuyama. New York Prosecutors Investigating Trumps Manhattan Properties WSJ

Biden Transition

Julian Assange

Biden DOJ Files Appeal to Get Assange Extradited Consortium News

Brexit

Catalonia

India

China?

Once upon a time on a Chinese New Year Information Clearing House. Pepe Escobar.

The Koreas

Poll: South Koreans Drift Further Away from Unification The Blue Roof

Syraqistan

On this day in 1991, the U.S. bombed the Amiriya civilian air raid shelter in Iraq, which was sheltering a thousand sleeping civilians, massacring 408 Iraqi civilians (261 women and 52 children). pic.twitter.com/QsBsRoLyQs  American Values (@Americas_Crimes) February 13, 2021

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
The state of U.S. politics is horrifying.

A sustained campaign of lies on right-wing media  echoed by nearly half of the Republican senators  has convinced almost two-thirds of Republicans that the presidential election was stolen. These lies set the stage for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but a great majority of Republican senators appear set to acquit Donald Trump for his undeniable role in promoting that attack.

Yet President Joe Bidens plans to rescue the economy command overwhelming bipartisan support.

My sense is that the remarkably strong public consensus in favor of Bidenomics has largely flown under the radar. Im not saying that the surprising unity among voters on economic policy compensates for the terrifying fact that one of our major parties no longer accepts the legitimacy of elections it loses. But its still important for Americas future.

You might have thought that Democratic plans for a big rescue package, probably close to the $1.9 trillion the Biden administration wants, would lead to a tea party-style backlash. But a recent CBS News poll found that 79% of those surveyed believe the package is the right size or think that its too small. There are, of course, partisan differences, but even among Republicans, 61% support a plan as big as or bigger than the one in the works.

This broad public support is stunning given the depth of our political divisions. Its also very different from what we saw in the early months of the Obama administration, during the Great Recession.

Biden has lower overall approval and much higher disapproval ratings than President Obama did at this point in his presidency. But Obamas personal popularity didnt translate to strong support for his stimulus plan, which only a narrow majority supported. Why is this time different? Id suggest three reasons.

First, the Obama plan was sold as stimulus: deficit spending to boost overall demand. This was the right thing to do, but the economic theory that supports deficit spending during recessions has always been hard for many people to grasp. When John Boehner, the House Republican leader, complained that American families are tightening their belt, but they dont see government tightening its belt, he peddled junk economics, but it resonated with many voters.

The Biden plan, by contrast, isnt stimulus  even though many reports in the news media call it that. Its disaster relief. I think voters get that and they support aid to those hurt by the pandemic.

Second, the Obama stimulus was conflated in many peoples minds with other policies, such as Wall Street bailouts, that were deeply unpopular. In particular, the tea party movement was not, despite claims from commentators, mainly a protest against budget deficits. It began with outrage over the idea that losers might receive debt relief.

There isnt anything comparable this time. Americans seem to realize that people who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 arent suffering for their own fecklessness.

Finally, Republican politicians have lost all credibility on fiscal matters. In 2009 many people believed them when they pretended to care about budget deficits. Since then, both the failure of the often-predicted fiscal crisis to materialize and the way the GOP rammed through a huge, unfunded tax cut under Trump have made it hard to take such posturing seriously.

In fact, the only coherent objections to the Biden plan seem to come from center-left economists who worry that it will lead to economic overheating. Many, myself included, disagree, and the plan is likely to pass more or less as proposed. But its striking that GOP politicians barely even try to challenge Democratic plans on the merits.

This intellectual vacuum wont stop Republicans in Congress from voting against the Biden plan, possibly unanimously. But theyll be at odds not just with the general public but with many of their own voters. That may matter.

In a better world, Republicans continuing fealty to a former president who tried to overturn an election with lies and violence would produce massive voter backlash; in America 2021, not so much.

But bread-and-butter issues still move voters. Low unemployment helped Republicans do better in the 2020 elections than most analysts expected; the promise of relief checks helped Democrats win the Georgia runoffs, and with them control of the Senate  which is, by the way, one reason it would be foolish to scale back relief spending because some economists think its excessive.

This means that the refusal of Republicans in Congress to back highly popular economic policies may do the party more damage than their complicity in a violent attempt to reverse election results. It isnt fair or right, but the GOPs ideological rigidity in a time of economic crisis may matter more, politically, than its rejection of democracy and rule of law.

PAUL KRUGMAN writes for The New York Times.
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Erin Bauer, the commanders widow, then spoke about how about 25 years ago, she met the friend of a friend who had survived the crash of United Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa, which was supposed to land in Chicago from Denver. The friend described the first impact as they hit the ground and being suspended upside down  held by a seat belt. He said when he thought he was going to die, he thought about how at any second he will be standing in front of Jesus. He wondered if Jesus wouldve been happy with the way he lived his life. The story stuck with her.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on former President Donald Trump's second Senate impeachment trial (all times local):

4:10 p.m.

The Senates top Democrat says Jan. 6 will live as a day of infamy in American history and that the vote to acquit Donald Trump will live as a vote of infamy in the history of the United States Senate.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, took to the Senate floor on Saturday to decry the Senates acquittal of the former president on a charge that he incited the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

He applauded the seven Republicans who joined all 50 Democrats in voting to convict Trump.

He called the day of the riot the final, terrible legacy of Trump and said the stain of his actions will never be washed away.

___

1:08 PT

The Senate has acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial. That trial exposed the fragility of Americas democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to terms with the violence sparked by his defeated presidency. The vote was 57-43, short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. Seven Republicans broke for their party to find Trump guilty.

---

12:57 PT

Seven Republicans vote to convict Trump at Senate trial, most impeachment defections ever from a president's party.

---

3:50 p.m.

Enough senators have cast not guilty votes to acquit Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The vote will give the former president an historic second acquittal in an impeachment trial.

House Democrats, who voted a month ago to charge Trump with incitement of insurrection, needed two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, to convict him.

The Democrats argued in the short trial that Trump caused the violent attack by repeating for months the false claims that the election was stolen from him, and then telling his supporters gathered near the White House that morning to fight like hell to overturn his defeat. Five people died when they then laid siege to the Capitol.

Trumps lawyers argued that the rioters acted on their own accord and that he was protected by freedom of speech, an argument that resonated with most Republicans. They said the case was brought on by Democrats hatred of Trump.

___

3:40 p.m.

The White House was not involved in the discussion on Capitol Hill about calling witnesses for former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial. That's according to a senior administration official not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations and speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official says White House officials were watching the drama over witnesses play out in the Senate, but were not involved in brokering the agreement that ultimately allowed the trial to proceed to closing arguments and a vote Saturday.

President Joe Biden spent the weekend with family at Camp David, the traditional presidential retreat in Maryland, and had plans to meet with his national security advisers on Saturday.

___

HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SECOND SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL:

The Senate met in a rare weekend session to wrap up Donald Trumps second impeachment trial. An unexpected morning vote in favor of hearing witnesses threw the trial into confusion, but both sides ultimately reached a deal that allowed the trial to proceed with no witness testimony. The trial ended with closing arguments, followed by a vote on whether the former president incited the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol.

---

12:04 PT

The Senate is moving toward a final vote after reaching a deal to skip witness testimony in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. The agreement averts a prolonged trial and sets up closing arguments from both sides. Thrown into confusion, the senators had voted earlier in the day to adjourn while they tried to work out an agreement. The rare Saturday session was to be for closing arguments in Trump's trial over whether he is guilty of inciting the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Acquittal appears likely, underscored by news that Republican leader Mitch McConnell plans to vote that way.

---

11:15 a.m.

Former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial came to an abrupt standstill after a majority of senators voted to consider calling witnesses about the deadly storming of the Capitol.

Even senators seemed confused by the sudden turn of events Saturday. The quick trial had been racing toward closing arguments and a vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump.

Under Senate rules for the trial, it appears debate and votes on potential witnesses could be allowed, potentially delaying the final vote.

House prosecutors want to hear from a Republican congresswoman who has said she was aware of a conversation Trump had with the House GOP leader as rioters were ransacking the Capitol over the election results.

Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington has widely discussed her reported conversation with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who had called on Trump to stop the attack by his supporters.

Five Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting 55-45 on a motion to consider witnesses and testimony.

Trumps defense attorneys blasted the late action. Attorney Michael van der Veen said its time to close this case out.

Senators are in a brief recess as leaders confer on next steps.

___

HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

10:50 a.m.

The proceedings in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial have come to an abrupt halt, with senators seemingly confused about the next steps.

Senators were huddling on the floor of the chamber as leaders spoke to the clerks at the dais.

Impeachment trials are rare, especially for a president, and the rules are negotiated for each one at the outset.

For Trumps trial, the agreement said if senators agree to hear witnesses, votes to hear additional testimony would be allowed.

Its unclear if there will be support in the evenly split Senate for calling witnesses.

___

10:35 a.m.

Senators have voted to consider witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

Closing arguments were expected Saturday with no witnesses called. But lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland asked for a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information.

She has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions on Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

Raskin said it was necessary to determine Trumps role in inciting the deadly Jan. 6 riot. There were 55 senators who voted to debate the motion to subpoena, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who changed his vote in the middle of the count.

Trumps attorney Michael van der Veen balked at the request, saying hed then call 100 witnesses and said it was not necessary.

___

10:30 a.m.

Trump impeachment lawyer Michael van der Veen is telling senators that if Democrats wish to call a witness, he will ask for at least 100 witnesses and will insist they give depositions in person in his office in Philadelphia.

His animated statement was met with laughter from the chamber, which visibly angered van der Veen.

Theres nothing laughable here, he said. The trial is being held in person, but lawmakers are wearing masks and the coronavirus pandemic has halted most normal activity, including close contact in offices for depositions. In many civil and criminal cases, such work is handled via conference call.

Closing arguments are expected Saturday in the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump. But lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland has asked for a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information.

She has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions on Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

___

10:20 a.m.

House impeachment prosecutors say they will be preparing a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information in Donald Trumps trial over the deadly attack at the Capitol.

Lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland said Saturday he would seek to hear from the Republican congresswoman, who has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

Its unclear if she or any other witnesses will be called.

Raskin said he would pursue a virtual interview with the Washington lawmaker.

Senators are meeting in a rare Saturday session in what is expected to be the final day in Trumps historic trial.

___

10:05 a.m.

The Senate is gaveling open as the court of impeachment is expecting to wrap up Donald Trumps trial over the Capitol siege.

Senators were speeding toward an expected vote in the rare Saturday session on whether to convict or acquit the former president on the charge of incitement of insurrection in the Jan. 6 attack.

Some senators want to consider witnesses, but its unclear if any will be called to testify, or if there would be enough support in a vote to do so.

The weeklong impeachment trial is the first of a former president.

___

9:45 a.m.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell will vote to acquit Donald Trump in the former president's impeachment trial.

Thats according to a source granted anonymity to discuss the leaders thinking.

McConnells decision was made public Saturday ahead of what is expected to be a final day in the trial. Trump, the only president to have been impeached twice, is charged with inciting an insurrection in the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

The Republican leader's views carry sway among GOP senators and are likely to influence others weighing their votes.

While most Democrats are expected to convict the former president, acquittal is likely in the evenly divided Senate.

Senators are meeting for a rare Saturday session as the weeklong trial wraps up.

__ Alan Fram

___

9:45 a.m.

The closing phase of Donald Trumps impeachment trial is putting new scrutiny on what actions the former president took when his supporters overwhelmed police and stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. It comes as Democrats consider whether to force a debate on calling witnesses for the trial, which would require a majority vote of the Senate.

Democrats argue Trump incited the riot and then refused to stop it, putting Vice President Mike Pence in danger. Pence was in the Capitol presiding over the certification of President Joe Bidens election victory and was rushed to safety as the Capitol was invaded.

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, who was one of 10 Republicans to vote for Trumps impeachment in the House, said in a statement late Friday Trump rebuffed a plea from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to call off the rioters on Jan. 6. She said McCarthy had relayed the conversation to her.

Another Republican, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, said he told Trump during a call on Jan. 6 that Pence was being evacuated from the Senate.

Several Republicans who are seen as wavering on whether to convict Trump pressed Trumps lawyers during questioning to account for Trumps actions on Jan. 6.

One of Trumps lawyers, Michael van der Veen, responded to those questions by saying that at no point was the president informed of any danger to Pence.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said the Senate should suspend the trial to question McCarthy and Tuberville under oath, and to seek records from the Secret Service.

What did Trump know, and when did he know it? Whitehouse tweeted.

The trial resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. EST.

___

8:45 a.m.

A little over a month ago, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was voting to affirm Joe Bidens election as the 46th president.

On Saturday, the Senate is set to meet in a rare weekend session for closing arguments in Donald Trumps second impeachment trial. And the evenly-divided Senate is poised to vote on whether the former president will be held accountable for inciting the Jan. 6 siege.

It seems unlikely that the 100-member Senate will be able to mount the two-thirds vote needed to convict Trump. Acquittal could heavily influence not only Trumps political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors.

Trump is the only president to be twice impeached and the first to face trial after leaving office.

House prosecutors have argued that Trumps rallying cry to go to the Capitol and fight like hell for his presidency just as Congress was convening Jan. 6 to certify Joe Bidens election victory was part of an orchestrated pattern of violent rhetoric and false claims that unleashed the mob.

Trumps lawyers say Trumps words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment is nothing but a witch hunt designed to prevent him from serving in office again.

___

7:30 a.m.

Seldom has Mitch McConnell signaled so little about such a consequential vote.

Many expect the Senates top Republican to back acquitting former President Donald Trump of a charge of inciting rioters who assaulted the Capitol last month. But no one is really sure how McConnell will vote.

The Washington political universe and the world beyond will hold their collective breath when the Senate impeachment trial roll call reaches McConnells name. The suspense over how hell vote underscores how much is at stake for McConnell and his party, though it seems extremely unlikely that 17 GOP senators will join all 50 Democrats to convict Trump.

McConnell is the chambers most influential Republican and the longest-serving GOP leader ever, and a vote to acquit would leave the party locked in its struggle to define itself in the post-Trump presidency. A guilty vote could do more to roil GOP waters by signaling an attempt to yank the party away from a figure still revered by most of its voters.

(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press)

Bay Area politicians on Saturday voiced grief and indignation  but little surprise  after what is now the second impeachment acquittal of former President Donald Trump. They blasted Senate Republicans for an outcome that was widely viewed as inevitable.

The Senates verdict capped off a historic impeachment trial in which many members of Congress sought to hold the 45th president legally responsible for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. While lawmakers voted 57-43 to find Trump guilty, the verdict failed to meet the two-thirds majority needed to convict.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House impeachment managers laid out a case of overwhelming and irrefutable evidence that Trump incited and then failed to intervene in a mob attack that threatened to kill his own vice president, Mike Pence.

Donald Trumps incitement of insurrection against our democracy put senators, members of Congress, staff and heroic law enforcement officers in mortal danger, the San Francisco Democrat said in a statement. It is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president and is clearly deserving of conviction. A president must be held accountable from their first day in office until their last day in office.

Pelosi then took aim at what she described as the dishonorable Republican Senators who voted for Trumps acquittal and at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in particular, whom she deemed pathetic for keeping the Senate shut down during part of January, meaning that the trial could not proceed during Trumps final days in office.

Tragically, Senate Republicans who voted not to convict chose to abandon the Constitution, the country and the American people with this vote, Pelosi said. Thank God for the judges and Republican elected officials across the country who pushed back against Donald Trumps attempted overturning of our election which fueled the insurrection.

In a tweet, House impeachment manager and East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell said his team proved Donald Trump guilty of the greatest crime ever against our Constitution, to both the 57 senators who voted to convict and the court of public opinion.

And we did it with overwhelming, un-contradicted evidence, he said. We didnt need more witnesses, we needed more spines.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, called the result of Saturdays vote predictable but also tragic and sad.

There were seven Republicans who relied on the U.S. Constitution and voted to convict the ex-president of inciting an insurrection, Speier said of the senators who broke ranks with their party. The 43 other Republicans relied on political calculations about their future and voted to acquit.

Speier stressed, however, that justice wasnt just about securing a conviction but holding those responsible to account, doing the right thing when everyone is looking, and bringing the United States back to reality.

Its about entering the evidence into the historic record and showing Americans today, as well as future generations, who in the U.S. Senate had the courage, conviction and common sense to finally put country before party.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
There was mild drama in Zamfara State after the first executive governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima could not trace his name in...

There was mild drama in Zamfara State after the first executive governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima could not trace his name in the All Progressive Congress (APC) master list of members.

The situation caused confusion among the former governors supporters who noted that he was exempted from the nationwide revalidation and registration exercise of the APC without reason.

It was gathered that Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima arrived in Bakura, his home town on Friday for the registration and revalidation exercise of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Our correspondent reports that the revalidation committee ignored the Senator, who thereafter, went to Gusau, the state capital on Sunday to await a response from the team.

Senator Yarima said he had contacted all the relevant stakeholders and authorities to know the reason behind the committees action and for possible amendment.

However, Hon. Sani Aminu Jaji, an aide to the former governor of the state, Abdul Aziz Yari, claimed that the Senator did not come to Zamfara for the registration and revalidation exercise but for some other business in the state.

Senator Yarimas political dynasty has been pulled down in the state. He has since lost his political relevance and his political son, former governor Abdul Aziz Yari has taken over from him as the political leader in Zamfara State he said.

Egypt has categorically condemned Thursday's attack that targeted a UN convoy near the Afghan capital Kabul, which left five Afghan security members dead, said a statement released by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

The statement assured Egypt's support to Afghanistan to counter "the series of brutal attacks the country faced and support for its efforts to address all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism."

The Egyptian foreign ministry extended Egypts condolences to the families of the victims.

Unknown gunmen attacked a United Nations convoy on the outskirts of Afghanistans capital on Thursday, killing five Afghan security force members who were escorting the international agencys vehicles, reported Reuters.

Short link:



Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
She's been married to Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen since 2010.

And on Valentine's Day, Isla Fisher was spotted grabbing some groceries in Sydney's eastern suburbs - with an abundance of beautiful red roses in her arms.

The 45-year-old went incognito for the trip in a large face mask and sunglasses, but was still easily recognisable as she carted the pretty flowers on Sunday.

Valentine's Day treat? On Sunday, Isla Fisher was spotted grabbing some groceries in Sydney's eastern suburbs - with an abundance of beautiful red roses in her arms

Isla opted for a casual-chic ensemble for the occasion, sporting a white T-shirt, a pair of denim shorts and grey trainers.

She whisked her hair into a messy up-do, and appeared to wear minimal make-up on her pretty visage.

Along with the roses, Isla also carried a twelve-pack of sparkling water in a huge box that she placed in front of her arms.

Disguise: The 45-year-old went incognito for the trip in a large mask and sunglasses, but was still easily recognisable as she carted the pretty flowers through town on Sunday

Looking good: Isla opted for a casual-chic look for the occasion, sporting a white T-shirt, a pair of denim shorts and grey trainers

It's not known if Isla bought the roses for her husband, or if he had gifted them to her earlier in the day.

However, the delightfully loved-up duo are known to be one of the strongest couples to come out of Hollywood, so it's no surprise they chose to celebrate the romantic holiday.

Recently, the pair - who share three children together - appear to have moved to Isla's home country of Australia permanently, after enrolling their three children in a school in Sydney.

It has been widely speculated that they moved Down Under to escape the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the US late last year.

However, a recent report claimed they were actually fleeing America's tumultuous political climate.

Cute: It's not known if Isla was snapping up the roses for her husband, or if he had bought them for her earlier in the day - however, the loved-up duo are known to be one of the strongest couples to come out of Hollywood

Heavy? Along with the roses, Isla also snapped up a twelve-pack of sparkling water in a huge box that she placed in front of her arms

'They didn't want to raise their kids in Trump's America,' an insider told The Sydney Morning Herald last week of the couple's decision to move to Australia.

Meanwhile, Isla, who was raised in Perth from the age of six, has always dreamt of bringing up her children in Australia.

She told Marie Claire in 2018: 'I have this secret fantasy of slowing down, moving to Byron Bay, getting off the grid and sitting on the sand with a Vegemite sandwich.'

The Scooby-Doo star added that it 'isn't easy' raising children in LA, saying: 'There's not really a culture of bringing your kids to dinner parties or to restaurants past 6pm.

'I tend to entertain at home because I want to be with my family  its easier to put your kids to bed and have a wine with friends.'
The search for a man who made several panicked 911 calls saying he was trapped in an 18-wheeler with about 80 others has led to the arrest of at least one suspect, officials said Friday.

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office received calls about the incident around 9 p.m. Monday. The man told dispatchers he couldnt get out of a tanker truck on the side of the highway and feared for his life.

On Friday, an ICE spokeswoman said one individual was taken into custody in connection to the alleged incident. Officials did not identify the suspect, nor did they comment as to whether or not agents found the 18-wheeler or any undocumented immigrants.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing as agents are following up on leads to further the case and ensure the safety of the individuals.

San Antonio Police aided sheriffs deputies in a search for the 18-wheeler, focusing on the area near Fischer Road and Interstate 35 where the call originated, but officers didnt find it.

Those 80 folks could be anywhere, Sheriff Javier Salazar said. They may be all alive and well somewhere, or some of them may have passed as a result of what they were put through. I just want to know.

Multiple 911 calls were made because dispatchers kept losing the connection. The callers sounded like they were running out of oxygen, Salazar said.

BCSO provided two 911 calls. In one, a man could be heard telling the operator we are dying in Spanish while the callers attempted to get an address.

A second call came nine minutes later. During the call, a woman could be heard crying and a man struggling to breath. Another man in the background could be heard saying in Spanish, We dont have oxygen, tell them.

The caller told the operator there were about 80 people inside the white truck and that he believed they were parked on the side of a highway because he could hear cars passing by. The call dropped before the operator could get more details.

A sheriffs deputy on patrol narrowed the search area using cellphone tower data, then obtained surveillance video from a nearby trucking company that may have recorded the 18-wheeler. The company was not suspected of any involvement in the incident.

The footage did not include license plates or a clear shot of the drivers but matched the location and time frame of the calls. In the video, a white 18-wheeler is stopped on the side of the highway with a black pickup.

A pickup traveling in tandem with a commercial truck is unusual, Salazar said, noting the vehicles were likely coming from the Laredo area. They could have continued north to Dallas, headed to Houston or stayed in Bexar County and split up the group.

The sheriff rejected any suggestion the 911 calls were a hoax.

These people sounded desperate, Salazar said. If it was a hoax, theyre the best actors Ive ever heard because they were clearly in fear for their lives.

His office is working with San Antonio police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations on the case. People with information on the vehicles or the passengers are asked to call 210-335-6070.

Two cars could hold the key to solving a fatal shooting one year after a teenager was gunned down next to his p-plated Lexus.

Omar Elomar, 18, died after he was shot in the chest on Cabramatta Avenue at Miller, south-west Sydney, on February 15, 2020.

Police have renewed an appeal to find the people involved in his death and released CCTV footage of a silver sedan and red hatchback that were seen driving in the area around the time of the shooting.

'It has now been a year since the life of 18-year-old, Omar Elomar, was cut short in a senseless act of violence,' Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Dickinson said.

Mr Elomar was the younger cousin of Islamic State fighter Mohamed Elomar, who was killed in Syria in 2015.

Omar Elomar, 18, was killed on Cabramatta Avenue at Miller, south-west Sydney, on February 15, 2020

Police have renewed an appeal to find the people involved in his death and have released CCTV footage of a silver sedan and red hatchback that were seen driving in the area around the time of the shooting

Mr Elomar had no criminal history and was the younger cousin of Islamic State fighter Mohamed Elomar who was killed in Syria in 2015

Superintendent Dickinson said police were still searching for as many as five people who were of interest.

'Initial inquiries suggest four to five males of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance were seen in the area at the time of the incident and acting suspiciously,' he said.

'As we continue to seek answers for Omar's family, we are urging anyone with information about the incident who is yet to speak with police, to come forward.'

Noah Albert, 19, has already been arrested and charged with murder.

He pleaded not guilty at the Supreme Court on Friday and will stand trial on October 25.

Mr Elomar's family previously said the 18-year-old should not be linked to his notorious ISIS terrorist cousin.

Mohamed Elomar was infamously pictured holding a severed head of pro-Syrian government soldiers in 2014.

Noah Albert, 19, has already been arrested and charged with murder and pleaded not guilty to the charge on Friday

Forensic officers (pictured) search the park - which is popular with children and located next to Miller Park Technology School - for evidence

He travelled from Sydney to Syria in 2013 and quickly became a high-ranking member of the Islamic so-called caliphate until he was killed in a drone strike by coalition forces in 2015.

'Omar was beautiful, loving, caring and the type of person who would put others needs before himself sacrificing his social time, his weekends to care for his brother with special needs,' Omar's mother Souad Elomar said.

'He was ambitious, he had started a new job and was two weeks into his TAFE studies, ready to take on the world.

'Our family have never-ending days of grief knowing that he will never come home, so if you know anything do the right thing, come forward and help us find some peace.'

Hundreds of mourners turned out at Lakemba Mosque, in southwest Sydney, to farewell the teenager after he was gunned down

Omar Elomar, 18, (pictured) was gunned down next to his p-plated Lexus in southwest Sydney
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 16:42:18|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Ministry of Health said late Saturday that the country's cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed the 40,000 mark after 40 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.

According to the ministry, total cases now stand at 40,019 since Uganda recorded its first case on March 21, 2020.

The statement said 34 recoveries were registered, bringing total recoveries to 14,486. The country has so far registered 328 COVID-19 deaths.

Early this month, Uganda approved the purchase of 18 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. The vaccine doses are expected in the country next month.

The country's President Yoweri Museveni recently said schools should reopen on March 1 for some classes after nearly a year of closure. Enditem
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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has pledged to support the Nigerian governments policy on the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

Danladi Pasali, the national chairperson of IPMAN, said on Sunday that the resolution was made after the associations Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Kano.

Mr Pasali said the IPMAN Board of Trustees (BOT) and CWC deliberated on critical issues relating to the operations of the association in the downstream sector, and recommended collaboration with stakeholders.

The governments gas policy will help deepen the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Auto Gas Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Mr Pasali added that IPMAN was also in support of the proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian economy.

IPMAN is in support of the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly, with the inclusion of IPMAN representatives on the board of all relevant agencies, to protect the interest of members and the public, he said.

IPMAN will support the Petroleum Equalization Fund Management Board (PEFMB) and efforts should also be made to collaborate with its members in funding the gas expansion programme.

IPMAN would also support the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as it related to the Downstream Remote Monitoring System (DRMS), especially as it recognised Nigeria Legal Diversion of Petroleum Product (NLDPP), with licensed IPMAN members, and stop illegal diversion.

Mr Pasali disclosed that the association also called on DPR to support IPMAN with marginal oil fields in order to enable it construct modular refineries.

The IPMAN boss appreciated the readiness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to supply gas to the IPMAN members directly, as well as the continuous supply of petroleum products, using the latest technology and ensuring best practices in the operations.

He commended the DPR, NNPC and the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) for sending their representative to the meeting.

(NAN)
PM Modi in Kerala inaugurating key development projects. (Image Credits: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 inaugurated a slew of projects, including a Rs 6,000 crore petrochemical complex of oil major Bharat Petroleum and vessels of Inland Waterways at Willingdon Islands, in the poll-bound state of Kerala, which he said will help the country grow.

Governor and Chief Minister of Kerala, along with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister believes that these projects will not only energize the growth trajectory of the state but also strengthen the journey towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat.

The Prime Minister dedicated the Bharat Petroleum's Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at Kochi Refinery. This project will save foreign exchange, generate employment opportunities and a range of industries would be benefited, he said. He also dedicated the Inland Waterways Authority's Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, at Willingdon Island to the nation.

Along with that, he inaugurated Cochin Port Trust's International Cruise Terminal and Cochin Shipyard's Vigyana Sagar, campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute.

"The government is dedicated to developing infrastructure to boost tourism. The International Cruise Terminal is an example of good tourism infrastructure", said Modi at the event. It will cater to over one lakh cruise guests giving them both comfort and convenience.

Talking about Vigyana Sagar the PM said, "Vigyana Sagar is the new knowledge campus of the Cochin Shipyard. Through this, we are expanding our human resources development capital".

Modi also laid the foundation stone of Cochin Port Trust's South Coal Berth. He said this will bring down logistic costs & improve cargo capacities, both being vital for a business to prosper.

Projects in Kerala will boost infrastructure and tourism

In his speech at the foundation stone laying and inauguration ceremony, he mentions how the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged people to travel to nearby places hence giving a push to local tourism. He urges young startups to look into innovative products that will boost local tourism. He also said the government is undertaking several steps to boost the tourism sector, the international cruise terminal being an example.

The country is prioritizing the 'blue economy' and the vision of the government is to improve improving infrastructure, sustainable coastal development, coastal connectivity.

"Better connectivity means more commerce and convenience; It will further reduce congestion and pollution", said the PM.

The Prime Minister also believes for India the definition and scope of infrastructure have changed. He says that the country is looking for not only good quantity but quality as well.

"Rs 110 lakh crore for infrastructure creation has been allocated with special interest to the northeast, coastal, and mountain areas," said PM Modi. Adding to that the PM says, India is embarking on a rather ambitious journey of broadband connectivity to every village.

Prime Minister mentioned the growing popularity of seaweed farming and asked innovators and researchers to strengthen this fishery sector.

Indian Diaspora in the Gulf

Talking about the Indian diaspora in the Gulf, PM Modi reassures them that they have the full support of the Indian government.

"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian government was sensitive to the needs of the Indian diaspora especially in the Gulf", said the PM. He mentions that the Vande Bharath Mission was successful in getting more than 50 lakh stranded Indians back home, many of whom belonged to Kerala.

"The governments of various Gulf nations have also released many Indians who were sadly in prisons there. The government will always speak up for such people", added the PM.

Prime Minister also touches upon the significant resources and schemes that the recent budget has allocated to Kerala, which will benefit the state multifold. In the same context, he praises the Kochi metro network and says it has set a 'good example of progressive work practices and professionalism'.

Everything PM Modi did in Chennai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane and inaugurated several key projects at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on February 14.

At a function, he also accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, which has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with 15 academic institutions, 8 labs and several MSMEs.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM thanked the people of Chennai for the "warm welcome" they offered him. "The city is full of energy and enthusiasm. This is the city of knowledge and creativity," he said.

The PM further said that the world is looking at India with great enthusiasm and positivity. "This is going to be India's decade. The government of India is committed to doing everything possible to support this search of aspiration and inspiration," said the PM.

"From Chennai, we begin key infrastructure projects. These projects are symbols of innovation and indigenous development. The projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu," he said.

The PM also appreciated the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production. The Grand Anicut is a living testimony of our glorious past, he said. He laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System on the day. The canal is important for irrigation in the delta districts. The modernization of this canal will be taken up at a cost of Rs.2,640 crore, and will lead to an improvement in the water carrying capacity of the canals.

"I am happy that we have inaugurated the 9 km stretch of Chennai Phase 1 project. Chennai Metro is growing rapidly and helping us in realising our Aatmanirbhar Bharat dream," said the PM.

Earlier, on the day, PM Modi flagged off the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of Rs. 3770 crore, and commission the passenger services from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. This 9.05 km long extension will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.

The budget for Metro is one of the largest projects sanctioned for any city in one go. The project will boost 'Ease Of Living' for Chennai and Tamil Nadu, he added.

The PM also inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs.293.40 crore, traverses through Chennai and Thiruvallur Districts and will ease out traffic from Chennai Port. This section connects the Chennai Port and Ennore Port and passes through major yards, providing operational flexibility for the movement of trains.

On the occasion, the PM also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The Campus will be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs.1000 crore in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh sqm.

Speaking about it, the PM said that this Research Centre will be a leading centre of discovery.

The PM further talked about the fishermen community. "India is proud of its fishermen community. Budget 2021 has provisions to ensure modern fishing harbours for our fishermen. Modern fishing harbours will begin in 5 centres including Chennai," he said.

Our Budget 2021 has showcased the importance of reforms. Special importance has been given to the development of coastal areas, he said.

All you need to know about PM Modi's agenda at Chennai and Kochi today:

The PM will launch numerous development works in Chennai and Kochi on the day. Tomorrow, 14th February, will be in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Kochi (Kerala). Numerous development works would be launched that would add speed to fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The projects will boost Ease of Living for our citizens, PM Modi tweeted on February 13.

The prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several key projects and hand over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Army, at Chennai at 11.15 am.

From Tamil Nadu, the PM will travel to Kerala where he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate various projects to the nation in Kochi at 3.30 pm.

These projects will add crucial momentum to the growth trajectory of these states and help hasten the pace of realizing full development potential, said the Prime Ministers Office in a statement.
YouTube appears to be  no, it definitely is  blocking links to American Thinker. When one attempts to post a comment to a YouTube video or to reply to someone elses comment that includes a link to American Thinker, the comment cannot be posted. This is the message one receives:

We werent able to add your reply. Please try again.

Trying again achieves nothing except the same result no matter how many attempts are made. When the same comment is attempted again, but without the American Thinker link, the comment is posted immediately.

I first noticed this phenomenon on Friday as I attempted to reply to a viewers comment to the video of Jamie Glazovs interview with me on the subject of Whats Up With Fox News?  the same topic as my feature article at American Thinker today (Sunday, February 14). When my reply didnt go through after multiple attempts, I deleted the link to AT from my draft comment and it was posted without delay.

This is not a temporary glitch. The same result was noticed again in an attempt to post a comment to YouTube that I made this morning (February 14).

Screen shot of the result of an attempt to post a reply at YouTube with a link to American Thinker February 14, 2021

So, what are we to make of this? Its pretty clear  the algorithms or bots of YouTube, which is owned by Google, are blocking any links to American Thinker. This should not come as a total surprise. Back in the day (circa 2007 when I started contributing to American Thinker), a search of news sites using Googles news dot google dot com would produce multiple hits to AT articles. About two years ago, I noticed that that was no longer the case. It was not possible to find any links to anything published at American Thinker.

At that time (2019), searches at Googles main search portal still yielded links to American Thinker. Early this morning I tested Googles main search portal again. It now appears that the required search terms must be extremely precise and surrounded by quotes in order to return any links to American Thinker.

Google has a well-documented history of dissing conservative news and opinion sites including American Thinker. On August 15, 2019, I wrote an article at AT about Google whistleblower Zachary Vorhies, and this was the lead:

Buried deep in the extensive trove of internal documents documenting Googles onerous censorship policies is this gem: American Thinker was on the dominant tech giants list of blacklisted news websites

My article in 2019 included this telling paragraph:

The complete set of documents [leaked by Vorhies], which can be downloaded from Project Veritass web site, and Vorhiess testimony comprise an insiders complement to the work of noted research psychologist Robert Epstein, Ph.D., who I had the privilege of interviewing for an hour on September 4, 2018 on The Hagmann Report in a conversation titled Big Tech can shift 12 million votes in November [2018]. Epstein has emerged as a leading critic of Big Tech from a scientifically-grounded research viewpoint. In sworn testimony before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Google and Censorship through Search Engines on July 16, 2019, Epstein testified that In 2016, biased search results generated by Googles search algorithm likely impacted undecided voters in a way that gave at least 2.6 million votes to Hillary Clinton (whom I supported). Epstein went on to note that the potential for Google to influence millions of voters election results in 2020 is even greater.

Conclusion a year and a half later now? The censorship of social media including Google searches and now even including YouTube (the #2 most visited website in the world second only to Google) are growing more pervasive and ominous by the day. As well as unaccountable. What can be the reason for this? Am I the only one (I dont think so) who is concerned that the First Amendment is now hanging by a thread?

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who writes about politics, media, popular culture, and health care for American Thinker and other publications. He also appears in the media, including recently as a contributor to OANN, BBC World News, and The Glazov Gang. Peter's website is http://peter.media. His YouTube channel is here. For updates on his work, follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka.
The economic fallout from the pandemic has affected thousands of people in Alabama, but those who lost insurance coverage will soon get a chance to enroll through the federal marketplace.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order to create a special enrollment period from Monday, Feb. 15 to May 15 to help people who lost coverage last year. About 160,000 Alabamians purchase insurance coverage through the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. The recent recession may have made several thousand more eligible for free and low-cost plans.

Although the special enrollment period is marketed for people with recent job loss, anyone who buys insurance coverage through the marketplace would be eligible to switch plans between February and May. Cynthia Cox, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said Congress could pass additional subsidies to make health insurance more affordable.

This is getting at a couple different groups, Cox said. Its for people who recently lost coverage in the last month or so since open enrollment closed, making it easier for everyone to enroll with less paperwork. Sometimes the additional paperwork can make people just not sign up. Its also for people who could have signed up during open enrollment but missed it for one reason or another.

Open enrollment ended in December. People who experience job loss, marriage or the birth of child can apply for coverage any time, but must provide documentation that makes the process more complicated.

Former President Donald Trump drastically cut back on advertising for open enrollment. Cox said the foundation estimates that as many as four million Americans who qualify for free insurance through the marketplace have not applied for coverage.

Jim Carnes, policy director for Alabama Arise, said people without insurance should take advantage of the special enrollment period. But many in Alabama dont qualify for subsidized insurance because they are too poor. Alabamas leaders have not expanded Medicaid coverage to people living near the poverty line who cant purchase coverage through the marketplace.

The marketplace was really designed to work with Medicaid expansion, Carnes said. If you earn even one dollar less than the poverty level, you dont qualify for subsidies.

About 10 percent of Alabama residents dont have health insurance, but the rate varies across the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In Escambia County, near the Florida state line, about 15 percent of residents dont have health insurance. The rate is less than 7 percent in prosperous Shelby County outside of Birmingham. Black Alabamians are less likely to have health coverage than whites.

Pandemic-related job losses havent been as widespread in Alabama as they are in other places, but the states unemployment rate remains about 1.5 percentage points higher than it was at the beginning of 2020. Many of those job losses hit people in the service travel and construction industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Affordable Care Act created a marketplace at Healthcare.gov where people in Alabama can compare and purchase insurance plans. The site also offers subsidies to offset the high cost of premiums for qualifying customers. Some people with low incomes can qualify for free health plans.

Those bronze plans often come with high deductibles. Cox encourages people browsing marketplace plans for the first time to find policies with deductibles they can afford. But even people with no savings would benefit from a free high deductible plan, she said.

Ideally you want to be able to find a plan that has a deductible that is no more than what you have in the bank, Cox said. There is a group of people who could get free bronze plans. They might see an $8,000 deductible and think How could I possibly pay that? But its better than being uninsured, which is like having an infinite deductible.

Young Kim's tweet on wartime sex slavery Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



A Korean American politician in the U.S. has publicly rejected claims regarding the wartime sex slavery which were made by J. Mark Ramseyer, Mitsubishi professor of Japanese legal studies at Harvard Law School, in his paper "Contracting for Sex in the Pacific War."





Young Kim Korea Times file
Govt. to sign swap deal with China for US$ 1.5 billion; India deal unlikely By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s):

Sri Lanka will next week sign an agreement with Chinas Central Bank  the Peoples Bank of China  for a swap arrangement amounting to US$ 1.5 billion.

The move came as the Government is looking at measures to bridge the gap of another US$ 1 billion. The Sri Lankan Central bank was expecting this from India, but it is now unlikely, a senior Central Bank official said.

Under the swap arrangement with China, the funds are expected to be made use of to maintain the foreign reserves and for imports from China, the official said.

The money is to be paid back within three and half years.

A currency swap is a transaction in which two parties exchange an equivalent amount of money with each other but in different currencies. The parties are essentially loaning each other money and will repay the amounts at a specified date and exchange rate.

Sri Lankas request to the Reserve Bank of India for a currency swap of US$ 1 billion has so far drawn no response and the facility was unlikely to be received now, the official said.

He said that in view of the shortfall, the Central Bank was taking other measures including negotiating similar swap arrangements with other countries while continuing with other measures such as reducing imports.

Vehicle import restrictions were among the measures and will be continued until further notice, he added.

The Chinese swap arrangement would be useful to maintain a balance throughout the year, he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka plans to review eight trade agreements including two which have been stalled midway.

The controversial Indo-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) and the China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement which were stalled would be reviewed with the objective of renegotiating them, Trade Minister Bandula Guanwardena said.

The China FTA talks were halted in 2017 after six rounds of discussions while the ETCA was suspended in 2018 after 12 rounds of discussions.

Another trade agreement with Thailand would also be reviewed.

The India-Sri Lanka FTA effective from 2000 and the Pakista- Sri Lanka FTA effective from 2005 are among other agreements to be reviewed.

Mr Gunawardena said the objective of reviewing the agreements was to ensure that Sri Lanka benefited from the agreements currently in place as well the proposed agreements.

If there are clauses which are not beneficial to the country, we need to revise them, he said .

The minister said a Commerce Department team along with an expert committee would review the agreements.
He is now planning to create a new fund called Woodford Capital Management

Savers had been locked out of their investments as increasing numbers attempted to pull their money out

Disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford has apologised for the collapse of his investment fund  but said he doesn't want to 'hide away and beat myself up' about it.

In his first interview since the collapse of the fund in October 2019, the fallen star of the fund management industry said he is planning a new venture despite the financial scars left on small investors.

Many complain they invested heavily in Mr Woodford's funds and some even lost most of their savings.

Woodford, who has repeatedly declined the opportunity to say sorry, this weekend broke his silence as he said he planned to launch a new fund  based in Jersey.

Speaking publicly for the first time, he said he was 'very sorry for what I did wrong' and suggested two years was long enough to atone for the debacle.

Disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford (pictured) has apologised for the collapse of his investment fund  but said he doesn't want to 'hide away and beat myself up' about it

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he said: 'I don't want to, for the rest of my life, hide away and beat myself up about things from the best part of two years ago.'

He said he planned to create a new fund called Woodford Capital Management Partners but vowed not to repeat his mistake of investing ordinary investors' money in start-ups that might take years to pay out.

Woodford's fund was closed after investors tried to withdraw cash and many were cut off from their own money for months.

He said he was 'furious' at the administrator of Woodford Investment Management, Link Fund Solutions, for some of the failures that led to the collapse.

During the interview, Mr Woodford 'broke into tears' as he defended the firm's culture and denied claims that 'machismo and yes men' damaged the fund.

In his first interview since the collapse of the fund in October 2019, the fallen star of the fund management industry said he is planning a new venture despite the financial scars left on small investors

'When people say that sort of stuff about the organisation, about the culture, about the lies that have been told about the business and the people in it, that really, really hurts, because it wasn't like that at all.

'It was an amazing place, with amazing people, who fought to the end. I'm very sorry for what I did wrong.

'What I was responsible for was two years of underperformance  I was the fund manager, the investment strategy was mine, I owned it, and it delivered a period of underperformance.'

He blamed Link Fund Solutions for the decision to close Woodford Investment Management and insisted the situation would have improved had it stayed open.

'I can't be sorry for the things I didn't do. I didn't make the decision to suspend the fund, I didn't make the decision to liquidate the fund. As history will now show, those decisions were incredibly damaging to investors, and they were not mine. They were Link's decisions.'

Out-of-pocket investors are now discussing the handling of the fund and its closure with the courts.
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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Me Jean-Louis, forbidden to leave the country

Me Carl Giovanni Aubourg, Deputy of the Government Commissioner near the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, Me Carl Giovanni Aubourg informed the Director of Immigration and Emigration that Me Joseph Mecene Jean-Louis (the "President Appointed by the radical opposition to replace Jovenel Moise in case of departure) is forbidden to leave the national territory by air, sea and land accused of conspiracy against the security of the State and ofhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32974-haiti-flash-haiti-has-2-presidents.html implication in the attempted coup



Department of State: Moise expires in 2022

During a press briefing on Friday February 12, Ned Price the State Department spokesperson regarding the term of office of President Jovenel Moise responded to the journals "[...] regarding President Moise and his mandate, the Haitian constitution does not clearly address the situation, but President Moise was elected in November 2016 following the cancellation of the initial presidential ballot in October of the previous year. He was sworn in on February 7, 2017 for a five-year term, which is therefore expected to end on February 7, 2022 next year."



Gonaives : Arson

"The Haitian National Police and the Government Commissioner have been instructed to apprehend and prosecute the individuals who partially set fire to the premises of the Town Hall, the Office for the Protection of the Citizen (OPC) and the Prosecutor's Office near the Court call from Gonaives. In a democracy, one does not take power by violence," informed Rockefeller Vincent the Minister of Justice.



Follow the National Carnival live on HaitiLibre

As every year, HaitiLibre invites you to follow live on its site www.haitiLibre.com the retransmission of the National Carnival (except for unforeseen events preventing the conduct of the Carnival or its retransmission), which takes place this year at Port de Paix on 14, 15 and February 16. Happy Carnival everyone and be careful.



Australian Open : Naomie Osaka qualified for 1/4 finals

Saturday in the round of 16 of the Australian Open the Japanese Naomi Osaka (23 years old) proud of her Haitian origins won the victory against the Venezuelan Garbine Muguruza [4-6, 6-4, 7-5] who played for Spain and qualified for the 1/4 finals where it will face Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei (35) on Monday February 15 in Melbourne.







Read also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33016-haiti-news-zapping.html



The Embassy of Haiti in Washington closed

The Embassy of Haiti in Washington D.C. informs the general public that February 15 and 16, 2021 are public holidays. Therefore, its doors will be closed.



Monday February 15, 2011: Federal Holiday

Tuesday February 16, 2021: Mardi Gras



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Loading Those services have had those wards locked down. Staff, all those that she may have come in contact with, they are all isolating and have been tested, and we will be able to update you both on testing performance and results for primary close contacts and secondary close contacts over the hours and days to come. This has been a very rapid response and one that is filled with an abundance of caution, but that is exactly the approach that we ought to take. On Sunday, health officials revealed the three-year-old child and a woman aged in her 50s had contracted the virus, bringing the size of the cluster that began at Melbourne Airports Holiday Inn hotel to 16. They attended the family function in Coburg with a Holiday Inn worker who had not yet been identified as a close contact and returned an exceptionally rare false-negative test the following day.

A man in his 30s from Point Cook, who also attended the function, was identified as a positive case on Saturday. Victorias public health team was stymied for several days in identifying the Coburg function room as a high-risk exposure site because of the false-negative test. But authorities are confident they have now ring-fenced the cluster. Premier Daniel Andrews prepares to speak to the media on Monday. Credit:Darrian Traynor/Getty Images The Queen Victoria Market and three tram routes were added to the growing list of exposure sites on Sunday night.

Monday marked the start of three days of remote learning for Victorian school children who missed months of in-class learning last year. Loading Mr Andrews said he was not in a position on Monday to make a call about ending Victorias hard lockdown on Wednesday night. I would love to be able to be absolutely definitive on Monday morning about what will happen on Wednesday night, but that wouldnt be honest. We have to let this unfold. I know its painful and challenging, but you want the most contemporary picture, he said. Ive never been one to try and make bold predictions  we just have to take this one hour at a time, one day at a time. But I think this is a promising start.

There are renewed calls for quarantine facilities to be in regional areas in Victoria, with Burnet Institute epidemiologist Professor Mike Toole suggesting Avalon, Bendigo and Ballarat as possible alternatives. Victoria has paused international arrivals amid the latest outbreak. But Victorias opposition health spokeswoman, Georgie Crozier, said NSW had shown that quarantine facilities could work in major cities. [Premier] Daniel Andrews has to admit hes got it wrong and he needs to go to NSW and get help, Ms Crozier told Melbourne station 3AW this morning. Theyre doing it right, theyve been able to manage this ... we have not, we have failed time and time again.

The Australian Medical Association has also taken aim at Victorias hotel quarantine system, which Mr Andrews recently lauded as the best in the country. It is really frustrating that some of the clinical expertise and the hundreds of hours that a multidisciplinary team has put in, in terms of healthcare worker infection prevention, to come up with some excellent recommendations ... have not been listened to and have not been implemented, the AMAs Dr Sarah Whitelaw told the Today show. Clearly there are communication problems between the Department of Health and COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria which needs to be fixed before we go forward, she said. We made a lot of improvements in Victoria ... [but] were clearly not ready to handle the risk that quarantine poses under the current system. Weve got some improvements to make.

Meanwhile, a church in Melbournes south-east is under police investigation after footage emerged showing about 50 worshippers gathering without masks, singing and praying on Sunday despite the states stage-four lockdown. The service at Revival Christian Church in Narre Warren was filmed by right-wing YouTube activist Avi Yemini, who purports to work as a journalist for Rebel Media. Outside the church, the leader told police: I guess the question is do I obey God, or do I obey man? And so I have chosen today to open up the church and to keep my doors open to the people in obedience under God. In a statement, police said officers were called to a religious service on Victor Crescent about 11am on Sunday and would issue the organiser with an infringement notice for breaching the directions of the Chief Health Officer.

There were also several people seated at an adjoining cafe connected with the religious group, police said. People dispersed without incident upon police arrival. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing with inquiries being made in relation to possible incitement offences. A Facebook page associated with the church has previously shared discredited conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and claimed lockdown directions are unlawful. Last year Mr Yemini launched legal action against the state of Victoria, as the responsible body for Victoria Police, over his arrest at two anti-lockdown protests, accusing the force of false imprisonment, battery and hindering his career as a journalist. He also raised $100,000 through crowdfunding for a constitutional challenge against the lockdown.

Chandigarh, Feb 14 : Stray incidents of violence marked the 117 Punjab urban local bodies, including eight high-stake municipal corporations, where polling will continue till 4 p.m. on Sunday, officials said.

Officials said the turnout was high at many places. Some municipal councils witnessed stray incidents of violence, they said.

The main contest is among the ruling Congress, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The BJP, which is facing anger over the contentious Central farm laws, is also in the fray. It is contesting the polls for the first time in two decades without the Akalis, the oldest NDA ally that has parted ways from it over farm laws.

AAP activist Manveer got injuries in poll violence in Patti town in Tarn Taran district.

"AAP Punjab volunteer Manveer badly injured and fired upon by the Congress worker in both legs and head, in presence of Punjab Police during booth capturing effort by Congress goons. Manveer bravely resisted. Dismiss SSP Tarn Taran," the AAP Punjab tweeted.

Elsewhere, SAD candidate Parveen Kumar Pinna, who is contesting the Moga Municipal Corporation election as a councillor, was assaulted outside the polling booth.

Angered over the three contentious farm laws, activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee stopped BJP booth managers from setting up a help desk at polling booths in Amritsar.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the state election commission of failing to conduct free and fair polls.

However, local issues of towns and cities and the respective wards dominated the campaigning.

The voting is being held for eight municipal corporations -- Abohar, Bathinda, Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga -- and 109 municipal councils and municipal panchayats.

The results will be declared on February 17.

According to the state election commission, there are 20,49,777 men, 18,65,354 women and 149 transgender voters, totalling 39,15,280 for the civic elections.

A total of 9,222 candidates are in fray for 2,302 wards.

Political observers say these polls just a year ahead of the assembly elections is a 'semi-final' for the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government that is eyeing to repeat its government against the backdrop of the farm laws that has generated a wave of anger against the BJP.
By the time mourners arrived at the Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in eastern Nebraska, federal agents were already staked out outside. Their target was a man named Howard Farley Jr., a fugitive drug trafficking suspect who had been on the run for nearly 25 years.

On that chilly afternoon in October 2009, the investigators were stymied yet again. Farley never showed at his late brothers memorial service.

The man had been a ghost since 1985 when he was accused of running a transcontinental cocaine network.

He did a good job of disappearing, said Duaine Bullock, the former commander of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Unit.

But 11 years after the failed funeral home stakeout, a different team of investigators descended on a house in Weirsdale, Florida. The target that day was a man suspected of passport fraud. He had been living under the name Timothy Brown.

The raid was a success. The federal agents arrested the man as he attempted to board an airplane in his private hangar, prosecutors said.

It was only after the arrest that authorities learned the man taken into custody was in fact Howard Farley Jr., the longtime fugitive who prosecutors say had been using the identity of a baby who died in the 1950s.

IMAGE: Howard Farley Jr. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida)

Farley, now 72, is facing several charges including passport fraud. But he managed to do something highly unusual: Despite getting captured, he succeeded in outrunning his original charges.

The 1985 drug indictment was dropped in 2014, adding a curious wrinkle to an already extraordinary case.

He was the D.B. Cooper of Nebraska, said Jerry Soucie, a longtime lawyer from Lincoln, equating Farley with the man who disappeared after hijacking a plane in the skies over Seattle in 1971. A legend.

Soucie said hed sometimes bring up Farleys name to needle prosecutors in the years after the suspect went missing. One time, they asked my client to come in and said, Wheres he at? Soucie recalled. I said, Hes with Howard Farley. It really pissed them off.

Story continues

The arrest has triggered strong and starkly different reactions from those connected to the mans different lives.

Some people who knew him in his hometown of Lincoln feel its a travesty that hes not facing prison time on the drug charges. This group includes his ex-wife, who noted that the old drug case led to the suicides of two co-defendants who had agreed to cooperate against Farley.

So many sad outcomes have come about due to Howards drug sales, said Christine Schleis, who was briefly married to Farley in the late 1960s.

But many who know him from his second life in Florida hold him in high regard and are still in disbelief over his alleged past. Some think the government should go easy on a man now in his 70s who is not charged with any violent offenses.

Hes just this gentle soul, said Michelle Bearden, a journalist who befriended Farley in Florida. When I heard they called him a drug kingpin, it was crazy. If you met Tim  I know him as Tim  you would never in a million years think of him that way at all.

The case was front-page news in Lincolns main newspaper in 1985. Alleged leader of drug ring still at large read the headline in the Lincoln Journal on Oct. 24, 1985.

Farley was swept up in the largest drug indictment in Nebraska history. Some 74 people were charged, and all but one were arrested in what was known as Operation Southern Line.

Farley vanished before the indictment was unsealed. He was described as the alleged kingpin of the loosely organized drug network, which prosecutors said utilized a railroad line to distribute cocaine throughout the U.S.

As investigators hunted for Farley, the cases against his 73 co-defendants moved forward.

Soucie, the former Lincoln attorney, said it became clear to him and some of the other defense lawyers that many of the people ensnared in the investigation were not serious dealers but simply people who used drugs and occasionally sold them to feed their habits.

They were muscling everybody to snitch on everybody else, Soucie said of the prosecutors. It just got kind of ugly.

A month after the indictment was unsealed, the first of two tragedies struck. One defendant who agreed to cooperate took his own life. Then a month later, a second defendant who had agreed to work with prosecutors died by suicide.

The vast majority of the defendants took plea deals that spared them prison sentences, but Farleys own sister and brother-in-law were among those who served time on drug charges.

Even after all the other cases were closed out, law enforcement continued searching for Farley.

The last thing we heard is he was down south some place, said Bullock, the former Lincoln narcotics unit commander who was known as the brain because he never forgot anything.

The brains information turned out to be correct. Farley is now known to have spent much of his time on the run in Florida, living in plain sight.

He had been residing with his wife in a custom-built home in a gated community called Loves Landing, where most of the properties are equipped with aircraft hangars. They bought the plot for $95,000 in 2018 and completed construction of the $350,000 home in June 2019, records show. The couple also own a plane worth $150,000, prosecutors said in court.

Farleys wife, Duc Hanh Thi Vu, told investigators she met him on the Caribbean island of St. Martin in the mid-1980s. The pair got married in Broward County, Florida, in 1993.

Vu, who arrived in the U.S. with her family at age 11 after fleeing political persecution in Vietnam, earned a master's degree in computer science from Florida Atlantic University and built a successful career in computers.

Florida prosecutors have found no evidence that Farley earned any income while on the run, leading them to raise questions about how the couple afforded their globetrotting lifestyle.

Her income as a data analyst does not reflect the lifestyle they've led over the last 30 years: trips to Australia, deep-sea diving, deep-sea fishing, prosecutor Michael Felicetta said in court last month.

The couple lived in the cities of Naples and Homosassa before settling in the Loves Landing community, records show. They hosted dinner parties for friends and talked openly about their love of travel and outdoors activities like diving and fishing.

Farley was private about his past but not in a way that was odd or unusual, friends said.

There was no reason to be even slightly suspicious, Bearden, the journalist, said. Theyre a very good couple. He adored her and treated her very well. Shes a really smart woman. Were all just in shock.

Bearden is among a half-dozen family friends who expressed support for the man they knew as Tim Brown in reference letters submitted to the court.

"He is a man who truly exudes generosity, both in deed and, particularly, in spirit," Bearden and her husband wrote.

I cant think of a nicer or more helpful person than Tim, wrote another friend, David Shear. He is an individual of good character and Im proud to call him a friend and I will continue to do so.

Farley had been living under the name Timothy Brown since he vanished in the mid-1980s, according to prosecutors. The identity was taken from a baby who died in 1955 at the age of 3 months.

Farley had used the boys name and Social Security number to secure a passport and driver's license, prosecutors said. But when he applied for a passport renewal in February 2020, passport agency fraud-prevention staffers discovered something suspicious: Timothy Browns death record from 1955.

Investigators matched the mans passport photos with the image used for his driver's license. When federal agents raided his home on Dec. 4, they knew what the suspect looked like but had no idea who he really was.

A fingerprint comparison confirmed that Timothy Brown was in fact Howard Farley Jr., the longtime fugitive.

The news of his arrest triggered a series of phone calls and celebratory Facebook posts among the former law enforcement officials involved in Farleys old drug case.

Hell, a bunch of old narcs, including myself are at least going to sleep with a smile tonight, one former Lincoln police officer wrote on Facebook. Two plus years of my life were used up on that guy.

Farley was charged with passport fraud, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. But a month later, a Florida grand jury returned an indictment charging Farley with a series of additional offenses, including aggravated identity theft, Social Security fraud and operating as a pilot without a legitimate airmans certificate.

The federal agents who searched his home found a gun and ammunition in his nightstand, leading to an additional charge of illegal gun possession.

His wife was also charged with passport fraud as well as making false statements to a federal agency and employing a pilot without a legitimate airmans certificate. She and Farley have pleaded not guilty.

Vus lawyers argued in court papers that she did not knowingly harbor a fugitive. They pointed to statements made by one of the agents who interviewed her. The agent said in court that she told him she knew Farley had gotten in trouble with drugs in Nebraska, and thats why he changed his name, but not necessarily that he was a fugitive or wanted.

Lawyers Andrew Searle and Fritz Scheller, who are representing Vu and Farley, wrote: Even the governments own witness at the detention hearing confirmed that Ms. Vu never knew the full details about the defendants alleged past.

In an interview, Scheller said he understands why the old drug case made a big splash in Nebraska in the 1980s, but the allegations did not amount to the man known as Howard Farley Jr. being a major trafficker. He wasnt exactly the Pablo Escobar of Omaha, Scheller said.

Florida prosecutors said in court that Farleys drug indictment from Nebraska was dismissed in 2014 only because the lead prosecutor on the case was retiring and they needed to make a decision about the evidence  the age of the evidence.

Farley is now facing a maximum of 30 years in prison. In arguing for him to receive bail, Farleys lawyers described him as an elderly man who suffers from a host of significant medical conditions including two recent heart attacks, renal failure and spinal surgery.

But U.S. District Judge John Antoon II was unmoved. Antoon last month denied a defense motion to allow Farley to leave jail and await trial on home detention.

In his decision, the judge said the man had already proven he had the rare ability to disappear and elude authorities for decades.

Farley did not just flee and remain hidden away but instead had the foresight, resources and determination to start a new life and live in the open while evading capture for decades, Antoon wrote. Nothing in the records indicates that Farley is incapable of doing so again.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of creating "fake" narratives on several issues and said that the Wayanad MP is probably becoming the "doomsday man of India".

Replying to the discussion on the Union Budget 2021-22 in the Lok Sabha today, FM Sitharaman mentioned 10 expectations from Rahul Gandhi's speech in the Lower House on Thursday and said that the former Congress chief has constantly been saying things to demean India.

"The veteran leader is building 'fake narratives' identifying with the 'break India fringe group' and is constantly abusing the constitutional heads of the nation. I am scared that the veteran leader is probably becoming 'doomsday man of India'. The opposition is being led by the 'Doomsday man'," FM Sitharaman added.

The Finance Minister further stated that the Congress leader has been constantly insulting the country by not 'trusting' the nation.

"I remember what he said about the COVID-19 pandemic. I don't want to waste the time of the House by repeating the same but in summary, it was like I will continue to demean India," the FM said.

Sitharaman asked the Congress leader regarding the role he wants to play by 'not discussing the budget' which happens traditionally every year in the Parliament.

Sitharaman's reply comes a day after Rahul Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha that the country is being run by only four people with a 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' approach.

FM Sitharaman said, "Hum Do, Hamare Do is that - we are two people taking care of the party and there are two others who I have to take care of - daughter and damad... We don't do that."

Participating in the general discussion on the Budget 2021, the Congress leader had invoked the popular family planning slogan 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' and attacked the Centre, saying just four people are running the country.

"Now four people are running the country...and everyone knows who they are," Rahul Gandhi said.

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A brutal axe murderer made an outrageous outburst in a courtroom as he awaited sentencing for hacking his sleeping friend to death.

Benjamin John Elliott, 33, a meth addict with a string of violent offences to his name, was found guilty late last year of killing Samuel Darryl Riley at his home in Carter Street, Busselton, in October 2018.

While awaiting sentencing at the WA Supreme Court in Busselton, the killer shocked the judge with a strange and sudden outburst.

The axe used to hack 21 deep wounds into the skull of Samuel Darryl Riley, 31, as he lay defenceless and sleeping in his home in Carter St, Busselton, 230km south of Perth in 2018

Sam Riley, 31, (pictured) suffered from a disability, mental heath and drug addiction problems, but he was trying to turn his life around, studying landscaping at Tafe at the time he was killed

When Justice Stephen Hall asked Elliott if he wanted to say something before he was sentenced, Elliott did not show any remorse for his hideous crime.

Instead, Elliott told one of the state's most respected judges: 'Just hurry up'.

Justice Hall sentenced Elliott to 22 years' prison with no parole possible until April 2042.

'Your actions robbed Sam Riley of his life in a most brutal way and ended his hopes and plans for the future,' Justice Hall said, as reported in the West Australian.

Samuel Darryl Riley, 31, (pictured) was found dead in his bed, hacked to death by his 'friend' Benjamin John Elliott, 33, in Busselton, WA

Mr Riley's body was found by a carer on 30 October 2018, lying in bed with 21 deep 'chop like' incision wounds to the head.

The gruesome scene was so bloodied that at first he was thought to have been shot.

During the trial, the WA Supreme Court heard how Mr Riley, who was described by his mother as 'a very gentle soul, very kind and loving' had been struggling with mental health and drug addiction issues.

The 31-year-old man, who also suffered from a disability, was trying to turn his life around and had been studying to become a landscaper.

On the day of his death, Elliott went to Mr Riley's unit to shoot up opioids with him, sleeping in the spare bed after.

Sometime in the night, Elliott took a small axe to Mr Riley's bedroom where he started viciously hacking at his sleeping friend's head.

Tragically, Mr Riley's left hand showed defensive injuries meaning he had woken in terror and tried to protect himself from the deadly blows.

Police later found a Fiskars Tomahawk axe in a canal behind the unit.

During the investigation into her son's death in 2018, Sam Riley's mother Karen revealed the heartbreaking last words her son had said to her.

WA Supreme Court, Bussleton (pictured) where Elliott was sentenced to 22 years' jail

'I said goodbye to him at 5pm on the Monday, he said: "See you tomorrow mum, love you",' she said at the time.

Karen said her son had been a gentle soul, kind and loving.

'How can anybody harm a beautiful, gentle boy who never harmed anyone?' She asked in disbelief.

The Supreme Court heard testimony from witnesses, forensic experts and the convicted killer, Benjamin John Elliott, who bizarrely chose to represent himself.

Samuel Darryl Riley's mother, Karen, spoke out in 2018 about her shock and grief at the murder of her gentle and caring son, who had struggled with addiction but was turning his life around

Elliott maintained his innocence through the jury trial, including in a closing statement where he described Mr Riley as a 'friend'.

The 12-member jury rejected Elliott's claim that Mr Riley was still alive when he left.

Elliott had a string of violent offences to his name already, kept secret from the jury during the case to ensure a fair trial.

Last year he was convicted of hitting a 77-year-old cyclist with a bottle and kicking him while he was down, near Innaloo, Perth.

In 2012, Elliott stabbed a prisoner in the head and neck with a fork, and attacked a prison officer.

Earlier, in 2008, Elliott was found guilty of driving a man to the bush, tying him to a tree and assaulting him together with a gang.
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Chamoli: Two more bodies were recovered from the Tapovan tunnel early on Sunday morning by the rescue team who are trying to reach the more than 30 people trapped inside after a flashflood-hit Joshimath area of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand.

Confirming the development, Chamoli District Magistrate, Swati S Bhadauria said, "Two bodies have been recovered from the tunnel today. Search and rescue operations at Tapovan in Chamoli have been intensified following the recovery of the two bodies."

Rescue teams have been trying to reach out to the trapped people at the site of the flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project.

Many people are still trapped in the sludge-choked tunnel. The operation was temporarily halted following a rise in the level of water in the Rishiganga River.

The district magistrate had said on Saturday that 38 bodies have been recovered so far from the flood-hit areas of Chamoli district while 166 are still missing after the disaster.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat asserted that a lake has been forming in the upper region of the Raini village in Uttarakhand which may hamper the ongoing rescue efforts. He added that the authorities are closely observing the developments and that there is no need to panic.

She confirmed her relationship with Pilates instructor Adam Cooper late last year.

And on Sunday, Francesca Packer and her beau shared loved-up Valentine's Day posts to celebrate the romantic holiday - their first ever as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Francesca, 26, was the first to post an adorable message to her other half, as the duo enjoyed a steamy kiss while relaxing in a hot tub.

'Happy Valentine's Day, baby!' Francesca Packer shared a loved-up snap with her boyfriend Adam Cooper to celebrate the romantic holiday - including one of the duo sharing a cheeky smooch in a hot tub

'Happy Valentine's Day baby,' Francesca sweetly captioned the post, which Adam shared on his own Instagram page.

The fitness guru also posted a loved-up message of his own, sharing a shirtless snap of himself on a luxury yacht with Francesca who stunned in a cleavage-baring dress.

'Angel,' he captioned the shot, with the hashtag 'better together'.

Francesca later shared a photo of Adam kissing a male pal, which she cheekily captioned: 'My Valentines... looking like each other's Valentine's!'

'Angel': Adam shared a loved-up message of his own, posting a shirtless snap of himself on a luxury yacht with the brunette bombshell, who stunned in a cleavage-baring dress

Francesca also shared a photo of Adam kissing a male pal, which she cheekily captioned: 'My Valentines... looking like each other's Valentine's!'

The socialite confirmed she and Adam were a couple in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in December.

'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told the paper.

Adam is the Head of Training at Performance Vive Active, which has studios in Double Bay and Brookvale.

He is also a Pilates reformer trainer and personal trainer, as well as a member of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

Francesca herself lives in Darlinghurst, and laid out $16million for her five-bedroom, five-bathroom Horizon apartment.

Young love: The socialite confirmed she and Adam were a couple in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in December. 'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told the paper

The apartment occupies a whole floor of the Harry Seidler-designed complex.

Her home have 360 degree views of the harbour, Cote D'Azure marble, French oak herringbone parquetry, bespoke lighting and a wine room.

Over the years the heiress has had relationships with Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland.

Francesca reportedly recently split from Sam Zacharia, the personal trainer son of celebrity plastic surgeon Michael Zacharia.

She told Private Sydney: 'We're just good friends, in fact he is a very old friend of mine. I promise you there is nothing to announce.'
Republican Senator Ben Sasse released a statement saying the rioters came dangerously close to triggering a constitutional crisis. Credit:Bloomberg Ben Sasse The senator from Nebraska handily won re-election in 2020 and is considered a potential contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He publicly denounced Trumps false claims of widespread electoral fraud and said there was no basis to object to Democrat Joe Bidens November 3 victory. First, President Trump lied that he won the election by a landslide. He lied about widespread voter fraud, spreading conspiracy theories despite losing 60 straight court challenges, many of his losses handed down by great judges he nominated. He tried to intimidate the Georgia secretary of state to find votes and overturn that states election. He publicly and falsely declared that Vice President Pence could break his constitutional oath and simply declare a different outcome, Sasse said in a statement. He continued, The president repeated these lies when summoning his crowd - parts of which were widely known to be violent - to Capitol Hill to intimidate Vice President Pence and Congress into not fulfilling our constitutional duties. Those lies had consequences, endangering the life of the vice president and bringing us dangerously close to a bloody constitutional crisis.

Each of these actions are violations of a presidents oath of office, he said. Alaskan senator Lisa Murkowski. Credit:AP Lisa Murkowski Murkowski of Alaska became the first US senator in 50 years to win an election with a write-in campaign in 2010 after losing in the Republican primary. She called for Trump to resign after his followers rioted at the Capitol on January 6 to disrupt the formal certification of the election by Congress. Im sure that there are many Alaskans that are very dissatisfied with my vote. And Im sure that there are many Alaskans that are proud of my vote. And Im sure that that is the same of every 100 of us that just cast a vote in there, Murkowski said. Because the country is split. The country is divided. And the country has chosen sides in a way that, as we can see, can be very aggressive and can lead to violence. Politics is rough and tumble and we understand that. And Id love to think that we can argue back and forth about the merits of whether or not we need to increase the minimum wage or what we need to do on trade policy. Lets argue it, lets debate it. Lets have wins, lets have losses. But lets stop this hatred. Lets stop trying to denigrate the other side so that we can gain the advantage. Lets just talk about our good ideas. And thats why you should like us not because you hate the other guys more or you trust the other guys less.

Mitt Romney. Credit:AP Mitt Romney Romney, a Utah senator and the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has been a vocal critic of Trump. In 2020, Romney was the only Republican senator to vote for conviction during Trumps first impeachment trial. After careful consideration of the respective counsels arguments, I have concluded that President Trump is guilty of the charge made by the House of Representatives, Romney said. President Trump attempted to corrupt the election by pressuring the Secretary of State of Georgia to falsify the election results in his state. President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the Capitol, the vice-president, and others in the Capitol. He added, Each and every one of these conclusions compels me to support conviction.

Senator Patrick Toomey, a Republican from Pennsylvania. Credit:Bloomberg Pat Toomey The Pennsylvania senator announced in October 2020 he would not be seeking re-election. He said in television interviews that Trump committed impeachable offenses and called on him to resign after the January 6 attack. He began with dishonest, systematic attempts to convince supporters that he had won. His lawful, but unsuccessful, legal challenges failed due to lack of evidence. Then, he applied intense pressure on state and local officials to reverse the election outcomes in their states, Toomey said. When these efforts failed, President Trump summoned thousands to Washington, D.C. and inflamed their passions by repeating disproven allegations about widespread fraud. He urged the mob to march on the Capitol for the explicit purpose of preventing Congress and the Vice President from formally certifying the results of the presidential election. All of this to hold on to power despite having legitimately lost. Toomey, who is not running reelection in 2022, said Trump betrayed the confidence of millions.

US Senator Susan Collins. Credit:AP Susan Collins The Maine centrist was the only Republican senator re-elected in 2020 in a state also won by Biden. She said Trump had incited the January 6 riot. Collins, speaking on the Senate floor, said the impeachment trial is not about a single word uttered by Trump on the day of Jan. 6, but is rather about Trumps failure to obey the oath he swore on Jan. 20, 2017. That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence. Rather it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump that were aimed at overturning the results of the presidential election. The presidents unprecedented efforts to discredit the election results did not begin on January 6. Rather, he planted the seeds of doubt many weeks before the votes were cast on November 3, she said.

George Clooney has a reputation in Hollywood for pulling pranks. Hes been known to pull pranks on co-stars and friends. No one is safe, not even Clooneys own father. The Midnight Sky actor and director once played a prank on his dad, Nick Clooney.

George Clooneys father is a retired broadcast journalist

Nick Clooney and George Clooney | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Before Clooney graced the small screen as a doctor on E.R., his father had already spent decades on TV. The Oceans 11 star grew up seeing his dad host his own variety show. As a kid, the future actor used to appear on The Nick Clooney Show where hed dress up in costumes and get interviewed by his dad.

Clooneys father worked as a reporter, anchor, news director, and managing editor throughout his career in broadcast journalism. Now 87 and retired, Nick lives in Kentucky with his wife and Clooneys mother, Nina.

Close with their movie star son, Nina and Nick make occasional trips to Clooneys Lake Como villa. In fact, the actors parents were there when he met his future wife, Amal Clooney. She went to a dinner party at the Up in the Air stars Italian home when his parents were there for a visit.

RELATED: Why George Clooney Gave up the Lead Role in an Oscar-Winning Movie To Ben Affleck

George Clooney joked about his dads mortality at a screening of The Monuments Men

During an Esquire UK interview published on March 1, 2014, Clooney shared that hed played a prank on his dad. The actor gave his father a sneak peek of The Monuments Men, a movie he co-wrote, starred in, and directed.

Nick had a small role in the World War II drama. He played an older version of his sons character. The two sat down to watch a rough cut of the film and right at the end the actor decided to play a joke on dad.

In the very last shot of the movie, [Nick] walks out through this church and the music is playing and for the screening I had this card come up at the end: In loving memory of Nick Clooney. And hes like, Im not  what the h*ll? And I go, Hey, man, the movie doesnt come out for a while. Im just covering all my bases.'

How did Nick react to the joke about his advancing age? He mustve found it funny because, according to Clooney, he has a pretty good sense of humour.

The Monuments Men marked Clooneys fifth time directing a feature film. His co-stars  besides his dad  included John Goodman, Bill Murray, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett.

RELATED: George Clooneys Embarrassing Prank on Matt Damon Ended Up Getting Him Named Sexiest Man Alive

George Clooneys still making movies despite his sizable net worth

No surprise here, Clooneys a wealthy man. Thanks to his successful Hollywood career as well as endorsements he has a hefty net worth. But where the bulk of his fortune comes from is tequila.

Clooney created a tequila brand, Casamigos, with two of his friends. They eventually sold it in 2017 in a deal worth $1 billion. Clooneys cut? A reported $239 million. Factoring in his Hollywood earnings and what he made selling his tequila brand, Clooneys net worth is an estimated $500 million.

Even though he has more than enough money to retire from acting Clooneys still making movies. However, hes being more selective about it. As he told GQ in 2020, he had a conversation with his friend and producing partner, Grant Heslov.

Lets sit down and try to figure out how many summers we have left, Clooney said. Lets say we were 55 at the time. So lets say we have 25 more summers left25 years, 25 summers. That doesnt seem like that many if you lose a whole summer, right?

RELATED: George Clooney Almost Starred in Jack Frost Instead of Michael Keaton
He recently penned a scathing 2,000-word email to his staff after complaints surfaced online regarding working conditions at a local vaccination site.

And Sean Penn was seen on Saturday for the first time since reports of that communique broke earlier this month.

The two-time Academy Award-winning actor, 60, wore a black bomber jacket over a dark blue T-shirt whilst shopping at a furniture store in Malibu, California.

Getting some air: Sean Penn was seen on Saturday for the first time since reports of his angry communique broke earlier this month, dressed casually whilst shopping in Malibu

He had on standard bluejeans along with white sneakers.

The Milk stars hair was ruffled, and he sported some stubble as he carried around his black CORE face mask in his hands.

Sean is cofounder of Core, an emergency response nonprofit that stands for community organized relief effort.

Stepping out: The two-time Academy Award-winning actor, 60, wore a black bomber jacket over a dark blue T-shirt

The group is heading up the COVID-19 vaccination effort at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, which was the subject of a February 3rd article in the New York Times.

In that article, online complaints from two Core staffers originally appeared in which they detailed 18-hour workdays and six-day work weeks, along with lamentations regarding the 'same old lettuce wraps' for lunch every day.

In response, the Mystic River actor allegedly lashed out in an email suggesting that those staffers who were 'predisposed to a culture of complaint' and 'broad-based cyber whining' should quit, as per the Los Angeles Times.

Actor and activist: Sean is cofounder of Core, an emergency response nonprofit that stands for community organized relief effort

In the email, Penn accused those who commented of engaging in a 'broad betrayal of all' and described the 'highly visible' comments as 'shameful entries' and 'obscene critiques'.

The angry email described the comments left by staffers as a 'dissent in the low-hanging fruit of cyberspace'.

'To whoever authored these, understand that in every cell of my body is a vitriol for the way your actions reflect so harmfully upon your brothers and sisters in arms. I have taken counsel and here will refrain from using the words with which I would otherwise choose to describe the character of your actions,' the email read.

In a recent NYT article: Online complaints from two Core staffers originally appeared in which they detailed 18-hour workdays and six-day work weeks along with other issues

Penn added that CORE has 'strong complaint procedures' for staff and that anyone who was predisposed to complaining online should quit.

'Quit for CORE. Quit for your colleagues who won't quit. Quit for your fellow human beings who deeply recognize that this is a moment in time. A moment of service that we must all embody sometimes to the point of collapse,' he wrote.

Penn himself received the COVID-19 vaccine last month because he and his charity staff are helping administer the doses.

The vaccine site is run by the city of Los Angeles in partnership with the LA Fire Department, the Dodgers, Curative and Penn's nonprofit Core.
Senator Richard M. Burrs decision to vote for the conviction of former President Donald J. Trump on Saturday added fuel to speculation that Lara Trump, Mr. Trumps daughter in-law, will seek the North Carolina Senate seat Mr. Burr will vacate in 2022.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a former Trump critic turned stalwart defender, on Sunday predicted that Mr. Burrs somewhat surprising dissent would prompt a revolt from the right that would result in the election of more pro-Trump candidates.

My friend Richard Burr just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs, he said in an interview on Fox News.

Ms. Trump, 38, a former personal trainer and television producer who grew up in Wilmington, on the coast, has been floating herself as a possible Burr successor for months.
New Delhi: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait will join the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra to rally support for the ongoing farmers' protest against the three new farm laws.

BKU's media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said that Rakesh Tikait's meetings with the farmers of the three states is part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's outreach programme.

The Kisan Mahapanchayat will start from Sunday scheduled in Karnal, Rohtak, Sirsa and Hisar districts of Haryana, in Rajasthan's Sikar and Maharashtra's Akola. These meetings will begin on February 14 and will culminate on February 23.

Meanwhile, Tikait who has been leading the protests at Ghazipur border said the farmers won't end their movement until their demands are met.

Further on Saturday, Tikait demanded power connections for AC and coolers at farmers' protest sites. "The summer season would soon be setting in and farmers require AC and coolers to stay put at the protest site. The government should provide power connections at the site or else we have to install generators," IANS quoted him as saying.

While, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that his government is planning to bring a law under which protesters will have to pay for the damage to public properties during any protest. He was addressing the media after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws.

The three laws are - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Live TV

SIVASAGAR : Accusing the BJP and RSS of dividing Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that his party will protect every principle of the Assam Accord and will never implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if voted to power in the state.

Addressing his first public rally in Assam ahead of the assembly elections due in March-April, Gandhi said that the state needs its "own chief minister" who will listen to the voice of the people and not one who listens only to Nagpur and Delhi.

"The Assam Accord has brought peace and it is the protector of the state. I and my party workers will protect each principle of the Accord. There will not be a single deviation from it," he said.

Gandhi said illegal immigration is an issue in Assam and exuded confidence that the people of the state have the capability to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Alleging that BJP and RSS are trying to divide the state on the issue of Assam Accord, he said, "If Assam is divided, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not be affected, but the people of Assam and the rest of India will be affected."

Talking about the controversial CAA, the senior Congress leader said that if his party comes to power in the state, the law will not be implemented under any circumstance.

All party leaders, including Gandhi, were seen wearing 'Gamocha' (Assamese scarf), where symbolically the CAA word was crossed, giving a message against the controversial law.

Gandhi said Assam needs a chief minister from their "own people" who will listen to their issues and try to resolve them.

"Remote control can operate a TV but not a CM. The current CM listens to Nagpur and Delhi. If Assam gets a CM like this again, it will not benefit the people. The youths need a CM who will give jobs to them," he said.

Taking a dig at the prime minister, the Union home minister and "businessmen close to them", Gandhi said, "I have devised a new slogan for Assam -- Hum do, humare do; Assam ke liye humare aur do, aur sab kuch loot lo."

He alleged that natural resources and PSUs in the state are being "sold off" to two leading businessmen of the country.

Gandhi also accused the Modi government of "looting" public money during the COVID-19 pandemic and waiving huge amounts of loans of his "two businessmen friends".

He said that the Congress government under the leadership of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had brought peace to Assam by ending the era of violence.

The Assam Accord provides for the detection and deportation of all illegal immigrants, who have entered the country after 1971 and living in the state, irrespective of their religion.

Under the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants and will be given Indian citizenship.

Anti-CAA protesters in the state say that the law violates the provisions of the Assam Accord.

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Asserting that it is strongly committed to safeguarding media freedom, the (EU) said should reverse its ban on World News as it violated both the Chinese constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The EU added that it has repeatedly spoken out on cases of intimidation and surveillance of journalists and media workers in

In a statement issued on Friday, the EU condemned China's move to ban in the country, which was imposed in response to the UK regulators revoking the broadcasting license for Global Television Network (CGTN), stating that it restricted "freedom of expression and access to information inside its borders".

The EU recalled that according to Article 35 of the PRC Constitution citizens shall enjoy the freedom of speech and of the press and that according to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers".

Following China, Hong Kong on February 13 announced that it would no longer relay the programmes.

Responding to this announcement, the EU said this also illustrates the reduction of Hong Kong's autonomy within the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle.

"Another consequence of the Chinese authorities' decision is that the Hong Kong public broadcaster has announced that it will cease relaying BBC World Service radio and BBC News Weekly, thereby further adding to the erosion of the rights and freedoms that is ongoing in the territory, following the imposition of the National Security Law in June 2020. This also illustrates the reduction of Hong Kong's autonomy within the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle," the EU said.

"The EU remains strongly committed to safeguarding media freedom and pluralism, as well as protecting the right to freedom of expression online and offline, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference of any kind," it added.

The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of China barred the broadcasting of BBC World News on the mainland claiming that it has done a "slew of falsified" reporting on issues such as human rights violations in Xinjiang based on interviews of victims surviving "re-education camps."

Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government's mouthpiece, said that the British broadcaster is responsible "for falsified reporting" on China's handling of the coronavirus in the country.

The move came after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "BBC has made some false reports" on human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang after the British broadcaster reported systematic rape in so-called re-education camps.

(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 much-awaited first look poster of upcoming Tamil film Karnan was released on Sunday. The film, starring Dhanush in the lead, is written and helmed by Mari Selvaraj of Pariyerum Perumal fame.

 V Creations

A bruised and battered Dhanush is seen in handcuffs in the still which has set high expectations among his fans. However, his eyes speak of his determination to fight for his rights till the very end.



The Soul of Justice never dies, tweeted Mari Selvaraj, while sharing the poster.

 Instagram

Whens the release?

Producer Kalaipuli S Thanu announced that Karnan will open in cinemas on April 9, 2021. Touted to be an action-entertainer which is based on a real incident that happened in an estate near Tirunelveli, the film also stars Malayalam actress Rajisha Vijayan as the female lead and recently DOP turned actor Natarajan aka Natty was roped in a for a key role.

Meanwhile, Malayalam actor Lal, who was last seen in Seema Raja starring Sivakarthikeyan in Tamil, has also been roped in for this film.

Besides, the film also stars Lakshmipriya Chandramouli, Gouri Kishen, Lal, and Yogi Babu among others in pivotal roles.

Other details

Karnan will be Dhanushs first theatrical release since Pattas, which came out in January 2020. In fact, everybody had hoped that his long-awaited film Jagame Thandhiram will release after theatres were re-opened following the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. But, the films producer S. Sashikanth of Y Not Studios has surprised everyone by not revealing his release plans for Jagame Thandhiram.

The strong buzz is Sashikanth is considering a direct-to-streaming release, which has upset many stakeholders in the Tamil film industry. Rumours have it that even Dhanush had a fall-out with the producer over the matter.

Thank you Thani Sir for thinking of the theatre owners, distributors, exhibitors and everybody whos livelihood is dependent on films and theatres, even though you had other options (sic), Dhanush had said in his thank you note to producer Thanu, when he announced his intention to release the film in theatres earlier. Dhanushs statement was perceived as a veiled attack at Sashikanth.

According to reports, Sashikanth has signed a deal with Netflix. An official word on the same is awaited.

There is also growing pressure on Sashikanth to call off his plans for an OTT release and stick with the traditional theatrical window for Jagame Thandhiram. But, the producer has maintained silence on the matter so far.

Meanwhile, Dhanush took off to the United States along with his family earlier this week. He will camp in America for two months, during which he will shoot for Russo Brothers Netflix original, The Gray Man.

We are totally geared up for this one. What about you?
The Oxford University begins COVID-19 vaccine trial for children.

The study builds on previous trials of the vaccine, which have shown that it is safe, produces strong immune system responses and has high efficacy in adults.This new trial, a single-blind, randomised phase II trial, will involve 300 volunteers, with up to 240 of these volunteers receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, the University of Oxford said on Friday.The remainder will receive a control meningitis vaccine, which has been shown to be safe in children but is expected to produce similar reactions, such as a sore arm."The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound negative impact on the education, social development and emotional well-being of children and adolescents, beyond illness and rare severe disease presentations," said Rinn Song, Paediatrician and Clinician-Scientist, Oxford Vaccine Group."It is therefore important to collect data on the safety and the immune response to our coronavirus vaccine in these age groups, so that they could potentially benefit from inclusion in vaccination programs in the near future."The trial is funded by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and drugmaker AstraZeneca.AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, developed jointly with the University of Oxford, has been approved for emergency use in several countries. A version of the vaccine is also being used in India.While the vaccine remains effective against the original virus and at least one variant, first discovered in Kent, England, preliminary findings in a small-scale trial prompted South Africa to limit its use while it ascertains its efficacy against the variant that emerged there.AstraZeneca had said it could take between six to nine months to produce Covid-19 vaccines that are effective against new variants of the virus.Source: IANS
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
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Officers from Bong Countys Professional Standards Department, which is tasked with investigating complaints against the police, participate in a virtual refresher training and mentoring session.

Liberians now have a new, easy way to file complaints  or compliments  about police officers.

With support from The Carter Center, a Liberian company has developed the Find Officer app, part of a larger effort to build trust in the police by increasing accountability.

The Center began working with the Liberia National Police in 2016, first helping the force comply with the countrys Freedom of Information Act, then assisting it in developing and implementing standard operating procedures for handling complaints and commendations.

"In order for citizens to trust any government agency, there has to be transparency," said Laura Neuman, director of the Centers Rule of Law Program. "People need to know what their public servants are doing  and why, and they need to have a way to hold them accountable for their actions. We try to help with that."

The Carter Center, with funding from the U.S. State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, started working with the police in 2017 to help flesh out that system and establish the review board.

"First we did an assessment to determine how they were dealing with complaints," said Kari Mackey, an associate director in the Centers Rule of Law Program who helps manage the project. "We then worked with them to set up processes for receiving, tracking, and investigating complaints, and reporting on the results of investigations. We brought in police experts to work with them to ensure these processes were in line with international practices."

Patrick T. Sudue, inspector general of the Liberia National Police since 2018, said this was a great help to his officers, as was the Centers records management training. Now, he said, the Find Officer app "will help deter officers from unethical and/or unprofessional behavior in the discharge of their duties."

RoviaGate Technologies Inc. created the mobile-friendly app, which makes it possible for anyone to file a report just by entering an officers name, badge number or merely an uploaded photo  which is an important element because many police officers dont regularly wear badges or nametags. Even without any of this information, citizens can still report complaints and commendations by entering as much identifying information as possible.

Inspector General Sudue said he expects the app will be an important tool to "make our work easier, more professional, and more accessible."

Learn more about the Center's Rule of Law Program 
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is to commence implementation of tariff reduction on vehicles before the end of this month.

The NCS Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali, made the announcement at the flagship News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Sunday.

He said that the commencement of the policy followed the transmission of the directive to the NCS by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

NAN recalls that on January 26, the customs boss had said that the NCS was awaiting directives from the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the implementation of the Act.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Finance Bill, 2020 into law on December 31, 2020, stipulating downward review of Excise Duty on tractors and motor vehicles for transportation.

The Act has been transmitted to us. We received the ministers mandate this week, to start working on it, although we have to develop certain regulations and measures on how we intend to implement the law.

We have to change our codes to fit into the new law. You know that commercial vehicles levy is the only levy that has been reduced from 35 per cent to five per cent.

So we have to change the codes to fit into the new law and we hope well finish that in two days and the minister will have to look at it and agree that yes that is what we should do.

I hope not too long from now, by next week or next two weeks, this law will come into effect. We will circulate it to our own commands to begin to operate.

The customs boss noted that the new law would help the country to have vehicles meant for transportation with reduced duty for the benefit of Nigerians.

He noted that the high duty paid had also resulted to increased smuggling of vehicles into the country.

Mr Ali disclosed that statistics available to the service showed that about 300,000 to 400,000 vehicles coming into Nigeria first stop in Benin Republic before being smuggled into Nigeria.

He said that the reduction of duty, especially on the transport sector would make Nigeria to have strong vehicles for conveying goods and services as well as passengers.

(NAN)
China has made a desperate attempt to shift the blame of its role in Chamoli disaster onto the Indian army. Its mouthpiece, Global Times, has said that construction undertaken by Indian Army in the region is the primary reason behind the ecological disaster.

The Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times has blamed Indian Army for the glacial outburst in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Refuting Chinas role in the ecological disaster, a Chinese expert has argued that the main reason behind the disaster is the construction undertaken by Indian Army in the region, which has damaged the ecological environment in the region.

In what can be seen as a white-washing exercise and an attempt to shift the blame onto the Indian army, the Chinese have attempted to rubbish International Business Times, a US media outlets claim that the Chamoli disaster is a result of remotely controlled explosions conducted by China, with an aim to hit Indias infrastructure in the border areas.

The Chinese expert, named Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, has argued that China has not attempted to sabotage Indias nearby infrastructure. The glacial break, he claims, is the result of several military installations in the area by the Indian army. Hu has also remarked that the Indian government never reflects on its own destructive actions. It attempts to shift the blame onto China to avoid being held accountable by opposition parties and the people of the country.

Relief and rescue operations in the Chamoli district are currently underway. The Chamoli police, in its latest briefing, has shared that about 40 bodies have been recovered while 164 people are still missing. The police has further registered 29 missing complaints and DNA samples of 55 family members have been taken for assistance in identification.
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SANTA FE, N.M.  Las Vegas, N.M.  The New Mexico Highlands University Media Arts and Technology Department will build a digital community-based archive to preserve the histories of villages and towns of northern New Mexico, thanks to a $970,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Some of the communities that will benefit include Las Vegas, Taos, Chimayo, Abiquiu, Embudo Valley, Amalia and El Valle.

Were building a community-based archive for the people of Northern New Mexico in order to honor their history and ties to the land, said Miriam Langer, Media Arts and Technology Department chair. The idea is to connect through a collection of documents, images, video, audio and oral histories. Its called the Manitos Community Memory Project.

Langer said the grant work is important because communities are not static; people move and documents are lost or destroyed.

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The Mellon Foundation has given us an exciting opportunity to facilitate a stronger connection between Highlands and the communities we serve, Langer said.

Langer, co-writer for The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant and its technical director, said the funding will be used to create community memory labs. The grant team also includes Estevan Rael-Galvez, research director, and Mimi Roberts, project director.

A community memory lab is a location where we can take materials, such as documents, photos, audio recordings and films, and make them accessible digitally through a database. For the duration of the project, two years minimum, the memory lab will be at the media arts McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building. The database will be hosted by the New Mexico Humanities Council, Langer said.

Langer said the grant team is assembling a group of 10 community historians who will facilitate participation in the partner communities.

We are also working with Katie Gray, an archivist at Highlands Donnelly Library, and other librarians to make sure the community archive created is useful and sustainable, Langer said.

Langer said there will be many opportunities for media arts and technology students and graduates to contribute to the Manitos Community Memory Project.

Weve been fortunate to have great paid media arts interns who are assigned to this project. For example, we have Lily Padilla, a design specialist; Natasha Vasquez, an illustrator and animator; and well add an audio and video specialist who will work to record oral histories and prepare materials for the database. Two additional summer interns will be added each year, Langer said.

Langer said that the work the media arts students and graduates are doing on the community memory lab project has inspired more people in the communities to join the project. This new 2021 grant is the second phase of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant project Highlands began in 2017 to preserve historic and cultural documents in the communities.

Langer said Highlands Universitys main partner for the grant is the New Mexico Humanities Council.

The Manitos Community Memory Project makes it possible to continue and celebrate the traditions of communities, said Ellen Dornan, digital humanities program officer at the New Mexico Humanities Council. Its also a way to reach underserved communities and help them recover from previous historical extraction practices that minimized the importance of peoples lives.

Dornan said she has admiration for the Highlands media arts faculty and students.

They provide a unique service of innovation and problem-solving for interpreting New Mexico culture and history in exciting ways, Dornan said.

Other Highlands media arts and technology faculty who will contribute to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant project include Mariah Fox Hausman, Morgan Barnard and Lauren Addario.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the largest supporter of the arts and humanities in the United States.
Egypts Minister of Education, Tarek Shawki, announced the mid-year and final exams plan for school students in various grades as part of the countrys efforts to organise its educational process in schools and universities ahead of the second semester amid the pandemic.

Shawki said students between grades four to eight will receive a collective exam that includes all main subjects as an alternative to the adjourned first semester exams.

The first semesters exams in schools and universities were officially postponed in December due to coronavirus concerns.

Students at grades before grade four, according to the new educational system, do not receive exams.

The exams of both semesters for grade nine and grade 12 will be both held at the end of the educational year, Shawki noted.

Students of these two grades will also receive experimental exams from home in April.

For all grades, the subjects that are not added to the total grades, as well as the subjects of Arabic, social studies, and religion for international schools in Egypt will also be postponed until the end of the year.

The postponed exams for grades four to eight will be held starting Sunday 28 February until Thursday 4 March.

The grade four students will attend the collective exam on 28 February, with students from all other grades being absent on that day. Grades five, six, seven, and eight will attend the exams respectively from 1 to 4 March.

For grades 10 and 11, exams will be held from Saturday 27 February to Tuesday 9 March.

Students in grade 10 will have exams on 27 February, 1 March, 3 March, 6 March, and 8 March while the exams of grade 11 will be held on 28 February, 2 March, 4 March, 7 March and 9 March.

Exams of grade 12, the last year before university, will be held electronically at schools, the minister said.

It is unlikely that the grade 12 exam will start before July, Shawki said, as the ministry is keen to not cancel any parts from the curriculum.

Shawki added that the ministry is also keen to not allow students to move to the next grade until they undergo school exams to properly evaluate them.

Attending school days for the second semester starting 10 March will be optional, the minister said, with a formal approval from their parents.

For the second semester, grades from four to eight will have collective exams at schools, each on a certain day, in March, April, and May as an alternative to the semesters final exams.

Students of grades 10 and 11 will have electronic exams from home at the end of March, April, and May.

Exams for students residing abroad will be announced by the end of next week, Shawki said.

The ministers decisions also include giving the right for parents concerned with coronavirus circumstances to decide whether their students should retake the school year next year instead of attending the current years exams.

The new Egyptian Scholastic Test, designed for students in Egypts American Diploma system as an equivalent to the SATs, is recognised as the only way for these students to qualify for public universities, Shawki added.

The education ministers decisions come a day after the countrys higher committee tasked with managing the coronavirus crisis decided to extend the mid-year vacation for one more week.

The mid-year vacation was initially set for the period between 16 January and 20 February before being extended to 26 February.

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Our weekly roundup of books that should be on your radar.

We love stories, and even in the age of Netflix-and-chill, there's nothing like a good book that promises a couple of hours of absorption  whether curled up in bed, in your favourite coffeehouse, or that long (and tiresome) commute to work. Every week, we'll have a succinct pick of books, across diverse genres, that have been newly made available for your reading pleasure. Get them wherever you get your books  the friendly neighbourhood bookseller, e-retail website, chain store  and in whatever form you prefer. Happy reading!

For more of our weekly book recommendations, click here.

***

 FICTION

The Politician

By Devesh Verma

Penguin Random House India | Rs 599 | 376 pages

Journalist Devesh Vermas novel follows the ambitious Ram Mohan in a newly independent India, who soon realises that without political or bureaucratic power, a respectable life is only a pretence. And when Gulab Singh rescues him from being insulted by a thug, he becomes convinced of the usefulness of violence in certain situations.

Read more about the book here.

The Inheritance of Words: Writings from Arunachal Pradesh

Edited by Mamang Dai

Zubaan Books | Rs 350 | 198 pages

Writer Mamang Dai edits this anthology of womens writing from Arunachal Pradesh, which started changing after it opened up to tourism and the State introduced Hindi as its official language. The writings here discuss identity, home, belonging, language, folk culture, and more. Poets and writers have recorded much of their cultures oral histories, safeguarding tribal and collective memory.

Read more about the book here.

 MEMOIRS and BIOGRAPHIES

Louiz Banks: A Symphony of Love

By Ashis Ghatak

Rupa Publications | Rs 595 | 240 pages

Ashis Ghatak presents a biography of Louiz Banks, from his childhood as a Nepali boy in Darjeeling to becoming the godfather of Indian jazz. His earliest training was under his father George Banks who taught him the three-step process to successful musicianship: imitation, integration, and innovation. From starting with a band in Kolkata to meeting RD Burman in Mumbai, the book offers an anecdotes-filled story of his five-decade career, personal life, and the history of Indian jazz.

Read more about the book here.

 NON-FICTION

The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback

By Yashaswini Chandra

Pan Macmillan India | Rs 699 | 328 pages

Researcher Yashaswini Chandras book traces the story of horses in India. She discusses their political symbolism, their role in social life, religion, sport, and war, in shaping economies and forging human bonds. She traces the emergence of local breeds like the Kathiawari, Marwari, Zanskari, and Manipuri, and talks about famous horses like Chetak, Laili, and more, among other topics.

Read more about the book here. Read an interview with the author here.

Landscapes of Loss: The Story of an Indian Drought

By Kavitha Iyer

HarperCollins India | Rs 599 | 248 pages

Journalist Kavitha Iyers book details the story of Marathwada, which has seen a surge in farmer suicides. At the heart of the crisis is an almost decade-long cyclical drought. Unchanged by relief packages and loan waivers, farmers conditions are worsening each year due to bad credit and crop loss. The book tells the regions story through its people, including farmers, Dalits, landless labourers, farm widows, and children  one thats representative of the agrarian unrest in much of rural India.

Read more about the book here.

 YOUNG READERS

Shyamchi Aai

By Sane Guruji; translated by Shanta Gokhale

Penguin Random House India | Rs 299 | 336 pages

Novelist Shanta Gokhale translates Marathi writer Sane Gurujis book. Narrated over 42 nights, Shyam tells ashram residents stories about himself and his childhood days. Some about growing up around the beauty of Konkan, and others about growing up poor, embarrassed at his familys condition. But at the heart of each story is his Aai, with her wisdom and lessons.

Read more about the book here.

Mermaids in the Moonlight

By Sharanya Manivannan

Westland Publications | Rs 199 | 40 pages

Author Sharanya Manivannans book follows Nilayoli and Amma as they voyage through a lagoon in Mattakalappu, focusing on the mysterious sounds rising from the deep. Amma also starts narrating folklore about mermaids, from Luxembourgs royal mermaid Melusine to West Asias sea-born Julnar and from Ottawas shapeshifting Menana to the mermaid princess Suvarnamaccha, a daughter of Ravana who fell in love with Hanuman.
Adults under 65 with disabilities and underlying health conditions will soon be eligible to get coronavirus vaccinations, but disability rights advocates worry that efforts to require people to prove their eligibility could prevent or discourage some from being injected with the potentially life-saving vaccine.

Beginning March 15, two groups of younger, high-risk Californians  people with disabilities and people with severe underlying conditions  will be able to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, state health officials announced Friday.

But they havent yet said how high-risk Californians will be asked to prove they qualify, or how authorities plan to prevent people who dont meet those qualifications from making appointments or otherwise cutting in line. California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state will spend the next month determining what type of verification would be required.

For a senior to prove he or she qualifies for vaccination because of age, a drivers license or other ID will do. For a person with a disability or an ailment to prove he or she qualifies for vaccination, medical authorities say, no universal document is available.

More for you news Coronavirus live updates: Bay Area sees plunge in...

Some disability rights advocates downplay the likelihood of fraud but say that making the process of proving disabilities or underlying health conditions could be too onerous and end up either preventing or discouraging some people from getting shots.

As a person with a disability, I want to make sure we dont have to have proof of our disability that requires people to jump through too many hoops, said Christina Mills, executive director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and a member of a committee advising the state on its vaccination rollout.

The underlying conditions that will result in vaccine eligibility in March include cancer, chronic kidney disease at stage four or above, chronic pulmonary disease, Down syndrome, a weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, pregnancy, heart conditions, severe obesity  defined as a body mass index at or over 40  and Type 2 diabetes. The state did not specify which disabilities would qualify people to be included in this next group.

Andy Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, also an advisory committee member, said many people with severe disabilities are enrolled in programs or centers, or receive in-home care, and can be easily verified. But people with some disabilities and qualifying underlying conditions cannot easily prove their eligibility.

A woman in early pregnancy, for example, might have nothing more than the results of a home pregnancy test to prove her right to a shot under the expanded eligibility rules.

Requiring eligible people to visit or call their physicians to get some sort of verification could be difficult because many medical providers are already overburdened, he said. Mills said disability rights advocates fought off proposals that would have required those seeking vaccinations to provide three pieces of proof of disability or underlying conditions.

My hope is that concerns about fraud do not create barriers to people getting the vaccine, Imparato said.

Imparato and Mills both said they dont anticipate a lot of people feigning disabilities to get vaccines, but acknowledge that its a concern of state officials.

Bending the rules is not unknown in connection with health-related exemptions. Law enforcement officials have long complained of abuses in the use of blue disabled parking permits by non-disabled persons, and airlines have been concerned about the proliferation of emotional support companions  to the point that some are taking action to ban them on flights.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Steve Rubenstein contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchroicle.com
Historic Athens will host its second annual New Orleans-style masquerade on Feb. 25 at the 40 Watt Club.
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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines. February 14)  Immigration authorities say they have "rescued" four Filipinas bound for Dubai after discovering they could be victims of illegal recruiters.

The Bureau of Immigration said on Sunday the incident happened on Feb. 8 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Officials' suspicions were raised after the four gave inconsistent answers when asked about their travel itinerary.

The BI's Travel Control and Enforcement Unit said the women were supposed to be with two Chinese nationals who would then arrange for the travelers' employment in Dubai.

"They claimed they were traveling as tourists, but when interviewed, they gave highly inconsistent answers to questions regarding their travel itinerary, and were even found to have lied about their jobs here," BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said.

The women told officials they were sales representatives at a computer shop in Manila but could not give proof of their employment. They later confessed to be housekeepers for a Chinese businessman in the city and were allegedly invited by their boss to visit and tour Dubai, all at his expense.

However, the women were unable to give their supposed boss's name as well as other details.

"The passengers were then advised that if they intend to work abroad, they have to secure the appropriate overseas work permits. It was also highly peculiar that they attempted to leave via a special flight. Their recruiters might have thought that there would be less inspection as compared to those flying commercial," Manahan added.

Commissioner Jaime Morente reminded Filipinos who want to work overseas that they must secure proper documentation before traveling abroad.
Congratulations, bookcasesgalore.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

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PAGE TITLE Buy Bookcases at BookcasesGalore.com DESCRIPTION Bookcases: shop decorative, modular & ladder bookcases at up to 30% off. Store & display your library stylishly. Order today from BookcasesGalore.com. Fast shipping! KEYWORDS bookcase bookcases bookshelves book shelf book shelves book case bookcase furniture book cases OTHER KEYWORDS



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The Government's quarantine hotels plan has been plunged into chaos today amid claims by a hotel chief that the sites could become Covid infection hotspots, while union bosses warned the new system will not be enough to stop variants from spreading.

Ahead of the new rules being introduced at midnight, Meher Nawab, chief executive of the London Hotel Group, warned that many airport hotels rely on central air flow systems.

Pointing to Australia's system - which is currently under review amid an outbreak linked to quarantine hotels - he warned such systems could increase the risk of the virus spreading between guests and hotel staff.

Mr Nawab also warned that airport hotels often use central air conditioning systems - rather than individual units - and sometimes have windows that cannot be opened.

The warning comes as passengers were today seen making a desperate dash to return to the UK before the rules come into force.

Union chiefs meanwhile warned that the quarantine measures were not enough to prevent Covid variants spreading in the UK.

The GMB union also raised concerns about its members interacting with arrivals from 'red listed' countries which are included in the quarantine hotel scheme.

The measures, which come in from midnight tonight, will mean passengers arriving from the 33 countries will be forced to quarantine in designated hotels for 10 days (11 nights).

Quarantine hotels could become Covid infection hotspots due to the type of ventilation systems they use, a hotel group chief has today claimed. Pictured: Arrivals at Heathrow Airport yesterday

Passengers were today seen arriving in the UK at Heathrow Airport (pictured) before the rules come into force at midnight

Arrivals in the UK from 33 red listed countries are to be forced to quarantine in hotels from midnight. Pictured: Arrivals at Heathrow today

Meher Nawab, chief executive of the London Hotel Group, warned airport hotels often rely on central air flow systems, which he said raised the risk of the airborne virus spreading between guests and staff. Pictured: Cones are set up at Heathrow ahead of the new quarantine scheme

Passengers will have to pay 1,750 for their stay in the hotel, which includes the cost of their room, the transport, food, drink, security and cleaning costs.

The Government is already thought to have contracted 16 hotels to take part in the scheme.

Parents who will be spending ten days in quarantine hotel with a five-week-old baby slam the government for treating them like 'guinea pigs' A paramedic couple returning to the UK with their five-week-old daughter after four years living in Abu Dhabi have said travellers should not be used as 'guinea pigs'. From Monday, UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 countries will be required to spend 10 days in Government-designated quarantine hotel at a cost of 1,750 for an individual. The regulations have been published just days before the scheme becomes law. But border guards and Heathrow airport have spoken today of how they feel under-prepared for the new rules, with officials saying earlier today that they feel powerless to stop travellers who may 'leg it' from airports to avoid quarantining. A Heathrow spokesman said on Saturday that the government's plan has 'significant gaps', while border officials said they did not feel adequately prepared, saying they have had little guidance on what to do if people refuse to comply. Parents living abroad whose unaccompanied minors travelling back to school in the UK have also pleaded with the Government to rethink hotel quarantine rules. And families returning to live in the UK have been left exasperated by the lack of clarity around childcare. Beckie Morris, 30, planned to repatriate to the UK from the United Arab Emirates with husband Matthew and their daughter, but they now face a quarantine bill of thousands of pounds if they do. The new mother said there was 'no information' on the Government website about what to do with young children. She said: 'We'd have to arrange all the formula. I don't know what we do about sterilising bottles, or nappies or washing their clothes - there's all this unknown. 'I tried to reach out, and I know it's still really early days, but there's just no information. 'They haven't really laid out what actually happens when you get to that hotel and I don't think that's going to be known until the first person goes in there. 'People shouldn't be used as guinea pigs - especially not paying that amount, that is an extortionate amount of money.' Advertisement

But ahead of the new measures coming into force, Mr Nawab, whose London Hotel Group cares for homeless Covid-positive patients for the NHS, warned about the ventilation systems in the types of hotels the Government has chosen.

In an email sent to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the group which has been tasked by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to book the hotels, he set out a series of requirements for hotels needed as part of the scheme.

In the email, seen by the Sunday Telegraph, he said: 'Hotels to be avoided where central air conditioning/ventilation systems exist, ideally individual air con units per room to heat/cool room and individual heat recovery units (HRU).

'Alternatively if no individual air conditioning is available the window should be openable in the bedroom.'

It is not known how many of the 16 hotels the Government has chosen meet the requirements.

Though Covid is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory and contact routes, the Government has warned that airborne transmission can occur - primarily in health and care settings.

However the Government says airborne transmission 'may also occur in poorly ventilated indoor spaces'.

The warning came as bosses of the GMB Union, which represents hotel security and staff, told the Observer that it had raised concerns from members about passengers being able to mix with other travellers and staff before entering the quarantine hotels.

Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, told the paper: 'If you've got people getting off planes from the red list countries, then being crammed into areas with passengers who aren't going into quarantine  and staff as well - you've failed at the first hurdle.

'Our members working at, the ground staff, security staff, have been raising concerns about this for two weeks now. Heathrow just isn't safe at the moment.'

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, she added: 'Staff need thorough risk assessments, full PPE, a knowledge of the ventilation system in each hotel and a much clearer understanding of what roles security workers are expected to play.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are working closely with airports and hotels to ensure the new process runs as smoothly as possible, and we are clear the safety of all staff and passengers is a priority.

'All contractors have been instructed to ensure their facilities and services are provided in a Covid-secure way, including plastic shields and PPE where necessary.

'For hotels, air conditioning systems must not re-circulate air and for those without air conditioning, they must provide adequate natural ventilation.'

It comes as Britain's biggest airport has warned Boris Johnson it is not ready to roll out the Government's scheme to force travellers to quarantine in hotels from tomorrow morning.

The majority of those required to quarantine will arrive at Heathrow, but its bosses yesterday said that 'significant gaps' about how the scheme would operate remain.

Immigration officials also predicted long queues at the border while the Government faced accusations of failing to conduct risk assessments to ensure staff at the quarantine hotels were protected from infection.

In an effort to avert chaos, Health Secretary Matt Hancock held urgent meetings with Heathrow's bosses but a spokesman for the airport admitted: 'We have been working hard with the Government to try to ensure the successful implementation of the policy from Monday, but some significant gaps remain and we are yet to receive the necessary reassurances.

'We will continue to work collaboratively with Government over the weekend but Ministers must ensure there is adequate resources and appropriate protocols in place for each step of the full end-to-end process from aircraft to hotel to avoid compromising the safety of passengers and those working at the airport.'

Airport and immigration officials are particularly worried about passengers spreading Covid-19 as they wait in queues inside the terminals and the logistics of getting them to the quarantine hotels.

The majority of those required to quarantine will arrive at Heathrow, but its bosses yesterday said that 'significant gaps' about how the scheme would operate remain. A plane is seen near Heathrow above the Novotel Hotel, which is participating in the scheme

Border force workers said they remained unaware of exactly what rules they will be enforcing from tomorrow after the Government pushed out the legislation late on Friday night.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the Immigration Services Union, which represents border staff, said: 'We've got no information on what we do if someone doesn't fill out their passenger location forms, what we do if they turn up at an airport which is not a designated airport.

'What happens if they leg it? Are we supposed to chase?'

All arrivals from 33 'red list' countries will have to quarantine in one of 5,000 Government-booked airport hotel rooms for ten days at a personal cost of 1,750 for the duration of their stay.

Some hotel firms have opted out because the Government contract states Ministers can extend the scheme on a rolling basis beyond March 31 with the daily rate capped at between 50 and 80 for a room and three meals a day. One of the hotels advertising a quarantine package is seen above

The Government has agreed deals with 16 hotels for just under 5,000 rooms until March 31, but leaked documents show they may need up to 28,000 hotel rooms to accommodate 1,425 arrivals per day.

Some hotel firms have opted out because the Government contract states Ministers can extend the scheme on a rolling basis beyond March 31 with the daily rate capped at between 50 and 80 for a room and three meals a day.

Travellers who need to quarantine have to book a hotel room through the Government's website, which crashed last week but was running normally yesterday.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with airports and hotels to ensure the new process runs as smoothly as possible, and we are clear the safety of all staff and passengers is a priority.

'All contractors have been instructed to ensure their facilities and services are provided in a Covid-secure way, including plastic shields and PPE where necessary. For hotels, air conditioning systems must not re-circulate air and for those without air conditioning, they must provide adequate natural ventilation.'
 Notable reviews of extreme sentences in Pennsylvania | Main | Reviewing the still uncertain state, and the still certain need, for effective federal crack retroactivity resentencing 

February 13, 2021

"Bargained Justice: The Rise of False Testimony for False Pleas"

The title of this post is the title of this new article available via SSRN and authored by Andrew Pardieck, Vanessa Edkins and Lucian Dervan. Here is its abstract:

The authors conducted a multi-year psychological deception study in the United States, Japan, and South Korea to gain greater understanding of the phenomenon of false pleas of guilty by the innocent. The study also explored whether innocent participants would be willing to offer false testimony in return for the benefits of a plea bargain. Our data indicate that a significant number of individuals are not only willing to falsely plead guilty in return for a benefit, they are also willing to falsely testify against others in official proceedings to secure those advantages for themselves. This is the first time laboratory research has demonstrated the false plea phenomenon in different countries, cultures, and legal systems. It is also the first time laboratory research has documented the phenomenon of false testimony in return for the benefits of a plea bargain. The article also contains information regarding the history of plea bargaining in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, a discussion of the current debate about plea bargaining in each jurisdiction, and a brief review of potential paths forward to address plea bargaining's innocence problem.

February 13, 2021 at 06:21 PM | Permalink

Comments

Well, I'm shocked...

Posted by: Tom Root | Feb 14, 2021 8:32:45 AM

Plea bargaining should be banished forever. It perverts justice and perverts America. If you want to bring so many cases, hire more attorneys, appoint more judges. Trial by jury should be mandatory in every county in the United States. Now that would be some real prison overpopulation reform.

Posted by: restless94110 | Feb 14, 2021 1:36:56 PM

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to farmers as parasites has deeply hurt the farming community, leaders of unions protesting against the Centres agriculture laws said on Saturday.

They also called on the farming community to respond to the diplomatic abuses with diplomatic punishment by rejecting the government.

The remarks came as farmer leaders Darshan Pal, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Rakesh Tikait of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha held an interaction with the press at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

The farmer leaders also announced that on Sunday torch processions and candle marches will be organised across the country to pay homage to the soldiers who have laid down their lives in line of action and the farmers who have died during the ongoing stir on the Delhi borders since November.

The event will be held from 7 pm to 8 pm, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said in a statement.

Farmer leader Darshan Pal said through the "kisan panchayats", they are trying to put pressure on the government so that it accepts their demands and the protest could end.

Farmers of the entire country are involved in the movement, he said.

Referring to a discussion on the farmers' movement in the British Parliament, Pal said, The government should understand our problem.

Balbir Singh Rajewal said the prime minister has given diplomatic gaaliyan (abuses) to farmers in Parliament.

By calling the farmers parasites, he has deeply hurt the entire farming community. The prime minister, through his statement, has given wounds to the farmers of the country that would be remembered for generations, Rajewal said.

He added that the government has given diplomatic abuses to farmers, who should reject it and give a diplomatic punishment.

Chaduni claimed that with the new laws, the entire business of farming will go to big corporates and the farmers would be left to fend for themselves.

He was also apprehensive that the big corporates would hoard grains in warehouses and control price of crops according to their will.

Farmers are not going to leave the borders of Delhi without having their demands met by the government, he added.

Tikait said the protesting farmers are guests of Delhi who will keep coming to the national capital and going back to their homes to look after their farms.

We are holding farmers meetings across the country and will keep doing it until the demands are met. We are ready for talks with the government but the channel would remain samethe Singhu border," Tikait said.

He also said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will provide a list of questions to farmers who will pose these to their elected representatives.

He called on farmers to keep the momentum of the protests going, along with keeping an eye on their farms.

The farmer leaders also expressed concern over protesters missing since the January 26 violence in Delhi and those arrested by police in connection with the probe into the incident.
Seattle: The low-profile Washington state congresswoman with the nerve to escalate the fight of her political career against one of the biggest brawlers in the ring - Donald Trump - hails from a town called Battle Ground.

And it may be in places like Battle Ground, Clark County, Washington, with incumbents like Jaime Herrera Beutler, where Republicans vie for the direction of their party amid deep divisions left in the wake of the twice-impeached Trump.

Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler. Credit:AP

Herrera Beutlerlit the national news cycle afire Friday night when she shared an account of a purported exchange between the former president and GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as a violent mob ransacked the Capitol.

The account briefly upended Trumps second impeachment trial as Democrats scrambled to call her as a witness. Herrera Beutler said in a statement that McCarthy had relayed to her that when he reached the president by phone during the January 6 attack and asked Trump to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated a falsehood that anti-fascists were responsible.
Education fights in big cities are the Democratic Partys family feud. Do you feel you had national support? Because on several occasions, when asked about the dispute in Chicago, whether it was President Biden or some of his staff members, they seemed hesitant to wade into labor issues.

I was absolutely fine with the way that it was addressed by the president and the White House. Every situation has a history and an arc. Its hard to understand that and weigh in when youre viewing it from a distance. I think the folks in the White House understood that. I felt like we had a lot of very candid conversations, and certainly we were sharing our perspective of things on the ground. They were appropriately deferential to let this play out here locally.

You have said that you want to be the voice for parents and students in this debate. But some families were troubled by the districts move to lock teachers out of their remote learning platforms if they refused to go back to the classrooms. We know a majority of Chicago parents who completed a survey said they wanted to continue with remote learning for now. Do you feel that the threat of lockouts may have seeded distrust?

I understand that the notion that we would lock teachers out was disturbing to all. It should be. But it should also be disturbing when teachers say: I dont care what you say. I dont care what you do. Im not going to abide by the contract or the rules that have been set for my place of employment. Thats chaos.

I have used the word feisty to describe the Chicago Teachers Union. You might choose other words. How would you describe the role that C.T.U. plays and its history?

Let me put it in a context of labor across the city. We have relationships with over 40 [organized labor] units. We have labor peace with almost every single one, except for two. The Fraternal Order of Police, which has a lot of right-wing Trump aspirations, and the Chicago Teachers Union. When you have unions that have other aspirations beyond being a union, and maybe being something akin to a political party, then theres always going to be conflict.

The teachers union might say that its larger aspirations are to increase funding for schools and to achieve goals like police reform so students are not criminalized.
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
Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON:GSK) is about to go ex-dividend in just three days. You can purchase shares before the 18th of February in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 8th of April.

GlaxoSmithKline's upcoming dividend is UK0.23 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of UK0.80 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, GlaxoSmithKline has a trailing yield of 6.3% on the current stock price of 12.78. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether GlaxoSmithKline's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

Check out our latest analysis for GlaxoSmithKline

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. GlaxoSmithKline paid out 69% of its earnings to investors last year, a normal payout level for most businesses. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Over the last year it paid out 53% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're discomforted by GlaxoSmithKline's 7.9% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. GlaxoSmithKline has delivered an average of 2.7% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past 10 years of dividend payments. Growing the dividend payout ratio while earnings are declining can deliver nice returns for a while, but it's always worth checking for when the company can't increase the payout ratio any more - because then the music stops.

Final Takeaway

Has GlaxoSmithKline got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? While earnings per share are shrinking, it's encouraging to see that at least GlaxoSmithKline's dividend appears sustainable, with earnings and cashflow payout ratios that are within reasonable bounds. It's not an attractive combination from a dividend perspective, and we're inclined to pass on this one for the time being.

With that in mind though, if the poor dividend characteristics of GlaxoSmithKline don't faze you, it's worth being mindful of the risks involved with this business. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with GlaxoSmithKline and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
Chennai, Feb 14 : England on Sunday set a new record for the highest total without conceding an extra run by the fielding team in the ongoing second Test against India here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

India were bowled out for 329 runs in the morning session on Day Two of the Test match. England, who took 95.5 overs to bowl out India, did not concede even a single run through an extra. Off-spinner Moeen Ali took four wickets, fast bowler Olly Stone claimed three dismissals, Jack Leach bagged two wickets while captain Joe Root also scalped a wicket.

England's disciplined bowling performance was in stark contrast to that of India in the first innings of the series opener when the hosts conceded 45 extras, including 20 no-balls.

The previous record belonged to India when they conceded 328 runs in the 187.5 overs they bowled against Pakistan without giving an extra run in a Test match in Lahore in 1955.

In 1931, England had conceded 252 runs in 130.4 overs against South Africa in Durban with conceding an extra run.

Meanwhile, India bundled out Joe Root's men for 134, thereby taking a 195-run lead in the Chennai Test.

England lead the four-match series 1-0, having won the first Test by 227 runs.
In suburban Cook County, more than 233,000 people have been vaccinated with first doses, but demand far outpaces supply. In a joint statement, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said, Our goal is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible. That said, our greatest challenge in doing so is the very limited supply of vaccine.
TV production companies must now meet minimum diversity requirements, ensuring the inclusion of under-represented people and perspectives, in order for their programs to be commissioned by the ABC.

From Monday, all externally produced series ordered by two major divisions of the public broadcaster  entertainment and specialist, and regional and local  must comply with the ABCs diversity and inclusion commissioning guidelines for screen content.

Michael Carrington, ABCs director of entertainment and specialist programming, and Sally Riley, head of drama, comedy and Indigenous. Credit:Steven Siewert

While we already prioritise diversity and inclusion at the ABC, this is the first time we have prescribed guidelines to track progress towards our goal of looking and sounding like contemporary Australia, said Michael Carrington, ABCs director of entertainment and specialist programming. Weve already taken steps in this direction but we need to do more to better reflect the wonderful diversity of this nation.

As a general rule, externally-produced series must be either about under-represented communities or experiences, or include at least one main cast member who is Indigenous Australian or from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, someone who lives with a disability or someone who identifies as LGBTQI+.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
New Delhi, Feb 14 : A while ago, a group of general physicians in the UK claimed that common cold symptoms should not be taken for granted, instead treated as a sign of coronavirus. But there is a divergent view, the President of AIIMS, Bhopal and Jammu, Y.K. Gupta told IANS that cough, fever and common cold cannot be 100 per cent termed as signs of coronavirus.

Reportedly, 140 east London general practitioners (GPs) and health care professionals had written and signed an open letter to chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Susan Hopkins of Public Health England, claiming that patients usually experience typical symptoms of common cold like sore throat, a runny nose and headaches before testing positive for coronavirus. Gupta, who was former Dean (Academics), and ex-Head, Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS New Delhi, said: "Common cold cannot be 100 per cent sign of coronavirus. Most common cold viral infections are on decline, but that does not mean that people should drop their guard. It is essential to wear mask and maintain social distancing." As the spurt of Covid cases begins to taper, Gupta cautioned though there has been a decline in the Covid cases recently, but this does not mean that danger is over. He stressed the factors contributing towards the decline in cases and deaths could be the ongoing vaccination drive and the intrinsic immunity of people in the country. "A large population has already been infected, which sub clinically may contribute to decline. The pathogenicity of this is decreasing maybe", he said.

On the aspect of increasing numbers in western countries and consistent decline in cases in India, Gupta indicated that this is perhaps due to a higher immunity of the Indian population towards the virus than western population, but there is not sufficient data to establish this.

People who got vaccinated after contracting Covid-19 have developed some health issues. Does it have a potential to become a lasting health problem? Gupta replied that it may be a residual health problem and not vaccine residual side-effect, in fact after vaccination allergic reaction does not last for more than two days.

When queried, has he come across any safety issues associated with Covaxin in any particular age group, especially senior citizen, or people with comorbidities so far, Gupta said nothing so far, because data is not fully available and added that data regarding the Phase 3 trial of Covaxin may be available by March end, which would establish its efficacy.

(Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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A member of NPHET has said she is concerned about the stubbornly stuck COVID-19 figures.

Dr Mary Favier, coronavirus spokesperson for the Irish College of General Practitioners and member of NPHET, has said that, while COVID infection rates are gradually slowing, they are currently 'plateauing.'



The Department of Health confirmed 1,078 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in the Republic to 208,796.



A total of 66 additional deaths were also reported. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland now stands at 3,931.



The highest distribution of cases remains in Dublin with 433 reported positive tests.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh, Dr Mary Favier noted that figures are slowly reducing.



She said: I think people should be reassured that it is making a difference and the numbers are coming down, and they will, it's just taking a long time.



"While we would never comment on just one day, however, there is some concern that they are very much slowing, there is some plateauing, and other things like the positivity rate are stubbornly stuck at just over 5 per cent.



"There's a number of weeks yet in it, we're looking well into March before we see substantial differences to the figures," she said.



"At the moment, we're still looking at figures that are four times higher than what they were in early December, and a hundred times what they were last July, so there's a way to go."

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The Taoiseach has said that the Government are considering the idea of keeping Level 5 restrictions in place until Easter (4th April).



Dr Favier continued that the level of close contacts is "relatively stable" at three per person, but the transmission rate varies from some having zero to others having up to ten, "which is really quite alarming.



However, she assured Newstalk listeners that there is a "really positive week" coming up in terms of vaccinations.



She explained: "Next week, the large general practices that have large numbers of patients over-85 are going to get the first deliveries of the vaccine, about 80 practices.



"If for any reason somebody doesn't have a GP, which would be very unusual in the over-85s or the over-70s, ring the HSE helpline (1850 241 850) and you'll be facilitated in finding a GP."

UPDATE (Monday, Feb. 15): Icy conditions, freezing rain to lead to treacherous travel, potential power outages

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for parts of northern New Jersey until Tuesday morning, with other portions of the state under a winter weather advisory.

The ice storm warning, which covers Morris, Sussex, Warren, Somerset and Hunterdon, will go in effect at 6 p.m. on Monday and continue until 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the weather services (NWS) Mount Holly office. Parts of eastern Pennsylvania are also under the warning.

A wintery mix will develop Monday evening before changing to freezing rain Monday night and through through Tuesday, the NWS said in a Sunday briefing.

Significant icing is likely, with up to an inch of ice and snow and total ice accumulations up to half an inch in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, the service said.

Scattered power outages are possible and tree damage and driving could be extremely difficult, the NWS said. Hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.

Ice Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are now in effect from Monday through Tuesday. Significant icing is likely. A full briefing package will be available by early this evening. https://t.co/9VLwLqHhNY#NJwx #PAwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/89BxomshaE  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 14, 2021

Parts of Central and South Jersey will also be under winter weather advisories from 1 p.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday, including Middlesex, Mercer, western Monmouth, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Ocean counties. Northern Delaware is also under the advisory.

The NWS said residents can expect freezing rain and total ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch. However, ice accumulations may vary widely. Freezing rain will change to plain rain on Tuesday during the day, the agency said.

Hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute on Tuesday, the agency said. Those traveling should drive slowly and use caution.

The NWS will give its next briefing at 8 a.m. Monday.

Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories are now in effect from Monday through Tuesday in New Jersey, the National Weather Service said on Sunday Feb. 14, 2021. The dark purple areas are under an ice storm warning, while the light purple are under a winter weather advisory.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
Abandoned LRT projects consultants demand Rs. 5 billion for work done By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):

Project consultants for the Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded Light Rail Transit (LRT)  which was cancelled by the Government last year  have lodged a claim of around Rs 5bn for work already done, other expenses and loss of profit.

The consultants are a joint venture between Oriental Consultants Global of Japan and Sri Lankas Consulting Engineers & Architects Associated. Unless the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has other sources, the payments will likely be made through the JICA loan which remains active despite the project cancellation.

Treasury sources confirmed that the Government had still not discussed terminating the first tranche with the lender. Disbursements already made by JICA will have to be repaid, despite the project being called off. The focus of the first two years was to have been detailed design and procurement.

In March 2019, the Sri Lankan Government signed an agreement with JICA for a loan of 30bn Yen (US$ 285mn at prevailing rates) to meet part of the cost of the Colombo LRT. The total project cost was estimated to be 246,641 billion yen (US$ 2.3bn) but this includes land acquisition, administration, interest and taxes which are not financed by the loan.

The consultants started work in early 2019. Their seven-year contract was signed with the Ministry of Megapolis and covers detailed design and related engineering services, procurement assistance, construction supervision, testing and commissioning as well as defect liability check.

In September last year, however, Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundera instructed the Transport Ministry Secretary to terminate the JICA-funded LRT as it was very costly and not the appropriate cost-effective transport solution for the urban Colombo transportation infrastructure. The consultants had not been paid since mid-last year despite sending the bills to the UDA, the sources said.

While the 30bn Yen is the first tranche, later segments of the loan were to be approved as the initiative progressed. The JICA-funded line was to have 16 stops between Fort and Malabe. The entire track and stations were to be on elevated viaducts.

Meanwhile, the Government is proceeding with light rail projects across the Western region. Last week, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) released of public comment the environmental impact assessment report for the Blue, Red and Green lines of the Western Region Light Rail Transit Project.

Separately, the Urban Development Ministry Consultants Procurement Committee has called for bids from consultants to carry out the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for the Purple Line of the Colombo Light Rail Transit System.

The Purple Line (32km) will run from Port City in Fort through Pettah, Maradana, Borella, Rajagiriya and Battaramulla to Malabe from where one branch will end in Kaduwela and the other at Athurugiriya.

The relevant advertisement states that the consultants will also have to review and refine previous studies conducted for part of the Purple Line and perform the feasibility studies for the rest. Previous studies is a reference to the feasibility conducted for the Fort to Malabe section through a Japanese grant.

A feasibility study is designed to reveal whether a project is viable. It is an assessment of the practicality of a proposed project and takes into account economic, technical, legal, and scheduling considerations, among others.

Gardai investigating a murder-suicide in Kanturk have found that a father and son were "equal partners" in a "joint criminal enterprise" to shoot the older brother who stood to inherit the family farm.

As the inquiry into the shocking killings draws to a close, detectives are investigating whether the overlooked younger son may have been the driving force in a deadly conspiracy they believe was days in the planning.

Tadg O'Sullivan (59) and his son Diarmuid (23) shot older brother Mark (26) in the bedroom of the family home in Assolas, near Kanturk, on the morning of October 26 last year. They took their own lives but allowed wife and mother, Anne O'Sullivan (60), to escape in what gardai suspect was a cruel punishment for favouring her elder son Mark.

Gardai believe the shocking events were the culmination of a festering grievance over Anne's decision to leave the bulk of a 115-acre farm she inherited from her own father and uncle to Mark, in her will.

Read More

Detectives believe Tadg O'Sullivan lured his wife and their older son, who had been staying with friends, back to the family home and have investigated whether he influenced his younger son to join in his murderous pact.

But an informed source close to the inquiry suggested that Diarmuid, an accountancy graduate, was more likely the instigator of the plan, motivated by intense anger at his mother's decision to favour Mark in her will.

Investigators had to consider who was the "most educated, who was the most manipulative" and whether sibling rivalry was at play, the source said. "You can factor all of those issues. Who is the person with the degree in accountancy, who was the person with most to gain, who was the person who wanted it more, who was the person who had animosity more towards the mother?"

Ultimately both were equally culpable, the source said: "From a criminal point of view, it is fully apparent that they both acted in concert, jointly, in a common enterprise and they were both, in terms of the actus reus, equal partners in every respect. It matters little who pulled the trigger four times and who pulled the trigger two times."

A file on the case is expected to be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within weeks. As gardai are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, the DPP is expected to clear the way for North Cork's coroner to hold an inquest into the case later this year.

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The shocking events unfolded at the O'Sullivan farm in Assolas, a townland close to the village of Castlemagner, outside Kanturk. The couple did not farm the land themselves, but leased it. Anne worked as a nurse, and Tadg worked in a local garage. Their sons were high achievers.

Diarmuid was known locally as a studious and quiet young man. He studied for four years at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and he was about to be conferred with a first-class honours degree in accountancy at the time of his death. Dr Dan Collins, head of student affairs at CIT, said staff at the department of accounting and information systems described him as "a young man with promise, who was a hard worker, respected, and held in high regard by staff and students alike".

Mark graduated from the University of Limerick with a business and law degree and moved on to do a master's degree at University College Cork. He was active on Facebook, posting photographs of outings with friends, his time studying in Greece, and his graduation.

The brothers had part-time jobs locally, Mark in a local nursing home and Diarmuid in a local hardware store.

It appears difficulties in the family arose after Anne O'Sullivan was diagnosed with a serious illness and she prepared to organise her affairs. She decided to leave the farm to her elder son, which would leave the land intact. The dispute this caused festered for months, with Diarmuid and their father pitted against Mark and their mother.

But the likely catalyst for the violence, detectives believe, was a solicitor's letter intended for Anne but intercepted by her husband which set out the terms of her will. At the time, Anne and Mark were staying with friends in the locality, rather than in the family home. They returned home on Sunday, October 25, on the promise of peace.

Tadg and Diarmuid O'Sullivan set the plan in motion overnight, destroying the house phone and the mobile phones, locking the gates to the farm, and arming themselves with two .22 rifles, one a semi-automatic. Anne O'Sullivan awoke at 6.40am to the sounds of gunshot and witnessed her husband and son standing at Mark's door.

Mark died instantly after being hit by seven bullets. Gardai say spent shells recovered at the scene suggest that most of the shots were fired from the semi-automatic rifle, but they are not certain whether Tadg O'Sullivan or his son fired the weapon. "It is not 100pc which one of the two fired the majority of shots," said the source. "We are undecided to a great degree which one of the two was carrying the gun at that time."

The bodies of Tadg and Diarmuid O'Sullivan were found by a fairy ring beside their guns. Gardai recovered a 12-page suicide note attached to Diarmuid's leg which outlined his grievances. It also made clear that Anne was deliberately spared so she would have to live with the torment. A short note from Tadg was found in the house. Detectives also recovered notes from Mark, in which he recorded his concerns over the dispute and its potential consequences.

The Garda file is expected to set out the facts of the killings, based on the results of ballistic and technical examinations of the scene and interviews with dozens of witnesses. More than 50 statements have been taken from relatives, friends and neighbours of the O'Sullivan family, along with statements from the significant numbers of gardai called to the scene of what was at the time a suspected siege situation.

Gardai have spent considerable time taking a detailed statement from Anne O'Sullivan, the only witness to the killing, on the events that unfolded that morning and the roots of the family dispute.

The inquiry team has examined letters, notes and computers recovered from the O'Sullivan household.

They have also interviewed a friend of the O'Sullivan family who was very concerned for Anne O'Sullivan and Mark and contacted local gardai some time before the killings.

But the witness did not identify the O'Sullivan family to local gardai at the time but instead presented them with a "hypothetical situation" involving an unnamed family and a dispute over a will, and sought advice on behalf of the mother.

The Garda investigation has been "very comprehensive", the source said: "Three people died and we want to get the facts."

Anne O'Sullivan attended both funerals. Diarmuid and Tadg were buried together in Castlemagner and a separate funeral was held for Mark in Kanturk.

In a tribute read to the congregation, his close friend Sharmila Rahman spoke of his "unbreakable bond with his mother". "Mark had such a big heart and so much love to give. I can't imagine how much effort and love he put into being Anne's son."

NEW DELHI : Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) on Saturday posted a consolidated net loss of 13,095.38 crore in the third quarter ended December 2020 against a net profit of 934.31 crore in the year ago quarter. Sequentially, the company witnessed widening of net loss from 2,122.65 crore in the second quarter ended September 2020.

Crisis-ridden DHFL, which is under the process of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CRIP), under the provisions of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 said during this quarter, additional transaction amounting to 1,039.84 crore is identified and reported by the company to stock exchanges and National Housing Bank (NHB).

The company has made provisions as per NHB guidelines on provisioning pertaining to fraud accounts.

The company, now being run by an RBI appointed administrator, is being investigated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs from December 2019 through the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to look into affairs of the company.

Also, the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the company in connection with loans given by it to certain borrowers. The Central Bureau of Investigation has also initiated investigation in connection with certain loan granted by the company.

Apart from this CBI is also investigating into the matter of amounts invested by an Uttar Pradesh State Government entity - Provident Fund in the Fixed Deposits of the company.

"The company is fully cooperating with all the investigating agencies and providing the necessary information/data as and and when the same is sought," DHFL said.

Company's chartered accountants KK Mankeshwar & Co in its limited review report said that the net worth of the company is fully eroded rendering the company unable to comply with the regulatory requirements of NHB in respect of the Net Owned Fund (NOF) and which also resulted in multiple contraventions of the provisions of NHB Act, 1987, Directions and Guidelines thereon.

"Although the aforesaid non-compliance may in ordinary course result in potential action against the company by NHB in this regard, we are not commenting on the same since the company is presently under moratorium imposed by the NCLT which prevents any actions against the company," it said.

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Two Harris County sheriffs deputies walked into the makeshift village of tents in cold mud and announced their intentions: They had arrived armed with information, blankets, sleeping bags, winter coats and gloves to help, not to get anyone in trouble.

The pair, working during the day Saturday, were part of a 24-hour operation launched by the sheriffs office to bolster its homeless outreach as potentially historic cold weather carried a nasty blend of frigid precipitation toward the Houston region.

Their efforts were among numerous to assist one of the most vulnerable populations  unhoused individuals  in the final hours before roads may become too icy for safe travel. Community organizations have been handing out food and cold weather gear. Harris County officials were finalizing plans to open warming centers throughout the county. And in Houston, city officials began arranging cots for a warming shelter scheduled to open Sunday afternoon.

Biggest concerns now, I think, is just not freezing to death, said Deputy James Kelley, whos worked in the sheriffs office homeless outreach team for six years, since it was started as a pilot program. Ultimately, we want to make sure if they dont want help, we can offer them these items that make sure theyre trying to get comfortable  comfortable as they can  while they are out here in these conditions.

The forecast predicted snow, sleet and ice accumulation, amounts varying across the region from Sunday night to Tuesday. Intense cold, as temperatures were projected to plummet into the teens and close to single digits Monday night, was expected to be exacerbated with wind chills maybe falling sub-zero in some inland areas.

Already, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Southeast Texas. Usually, the average temperature in Houston on Valentines Day is 56.2 degrees, according to the services records. For Sunday, the service has predicted a high of 38 degrees in the city. And a low, at night, of 19 degrees.

You can die of hypothermia when its not even freezing, said Dr. David S. Buck, associate dean of community health at the University of Houstons College of Medicine, who added that homeless individuals face a number of threats and dangers any given day even before the coronavirus pandemic. This acute cold snap could be lethal, but the other risks are formidable.

Warming centers had not yet opened by Saturday afternoon, but Kelley and his partner, Deputy Jason Dean, assured every individual they spoke with that they could find them transportation to get to one once they opened. They encouraged people to give them a ring. Even if people couldnt call, the two deputies, and others scheduled to work across different shifts, planned to continue checking in on them.

After giving out blankets, gloves, surgical face masks and even a tent to one woman who had been sleeping underneath a tarp  items donated to organizations that partner with the office  they offered their business cards with their contact information. At the very least, they told people, feel free to dial 911. Someone will help.

Its going to be cold, Kelley told a man and woman who anticipated braving the weather. You cant be overly prepared.

The deputies said they had not found people who were at usual spots they visit, but heard from others that some had grouped together and pooled money to get a cheap hotel for a few nights. Likewise, they said theyd talked to individuals who felt certain they would be fine without going to a warming center.

Thao Costis, the chief executive of SEARCH Homeless Services, which had its own members distributing sleeping bags, blankets and gloves in downtown Houston, said it was challenging for unhoused individuals to find the means to get to shelters even before the pandemic.

With COVID, I think theres greater concerns about too many people being in small or relatively confined spaces, Costis said.

Additionally, Costis noted some people, a number of whom are already physically vulnerable, may not want to abandon their set-up.

Its challenging for them to consider leaving whatever material goods they may have accumulated for fear of it being lost or stolen, Costis said. You cant make people go, so you try to provide them with the means to be able to hang in there.

In Houston, city officials started setting up cots at the George R. Brown Convention Center, which was scheduled to open at 2 p.m. Sunday as an emergency shelter.

These shelters are necessary to get our populations that dont have the capability to eat at their own homes and the populations that are experiencing homelessness  to get them out of the weather and get them in a warm place, said Mark Rayne, the citys deputy emergency management coordinator, in a video shared by city officials.

The shelter will accept individuals with pets, which helped deputies Kelley and Dean pitch it to a woman at the last encampment they visited before the next pair of deputies started their shift.

But the center is pretty far away from the womans stuff in a lot off Hardy Toll Road in the Aldine area, she told the deputies.

How would she get back?

You got our card, Dean told her. I promise you, all you have to do  you know well come get you.

She would try to call, she told them, but her phone recently broke.

The deputies told her it sounded like she would really consider it. They planned to stop by again on Sunday before the cold night.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
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Two bodies have been recovered today during the rescue operations at the Tapovan tunnel in Joshimath of Chamoli district where a glacier burst on Sunday triggered an avalanche and a deluge in the Alaknanda river system.

Ashok Kumar, Uttarakhand DGP said, "Two bodies found this morning from escape tunnel are suspected to be casualties of the glacier mishap. Overnight excavation has resulted in debris mostly. Teams have reached up to 130m inside and trying to fasten the process to reach next tunnel soon."

Total 40 bodies recovered, 164 people missing so far, said Uttarakhand Government. 11 of the dead have been identified.

Eighteen body parts had also been recovered from the flood-hit areas, of which 10 have been cremated after taking their DNA samples so far, he said.

Chamoli District Magistrate Swati Bhadoria informed: Search and rescue operations have been further intensified following the recovery of the bodies.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Army are part of the multi-agency rescue effort that is conducting the search in the area.

As per a PTI report yesterday, a temporary lake formed at river Rishi Ganga has started discharging water, reducing the risk of another flash flood in the region, while rescuers on Saturday began boring a wider and deeper hole into the tunnel at the flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project in an attempt to reach the over 30 people trapped inside for nearly a week.

The Silt Flushing Tunnel (SFT) was punctured on Friday night itself by drilling a 75mm-diameter hole into it but now it is being widened to 300 mm so that a camera and a water flushing pipe could be inserted into the tunnel where the trapped are possibly located," General Manager of the NTPC project R P Ahirwal said.

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The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive action to stop the inter-ethnic violence in parts of South-west Nigeria.

Mr Matawalle made the call on Sunday through a statement signed by his spokesperson, Zailani Bappa.

The governor issued the statement in reaction to the violence on Friday at Shasha market in Ibadan that pitted hoodlums from two ethnic groups against each other.

Condemning ethnic discrimination and regional dichotomy in Nigeria, Mr Matawalle also appealled to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to douse the violence in his domain.

Tension has been rising in many parts of Nigeria between indigeneous communities and Fulani settlers over violent crimes and attack on farmers widely attributed to cattle herders.

The development has reared its head in Oyo, too, where Sunday Igboho Adeyemo last month led some hoodlums to sack Fulani settlements in the Ibarapa area of the state.

But last Fridays disturbances in Ibadan were sparked by a minor dispute in the market between two persons.

Read the full text of the Zamfara governors statement below.

ZAMFARA STATE GOVT HOUSE

(PRESS RELEASE)

GOV MATAWALLE CONDEMNS ETHNIC ATTACKS, IMPLORE PRESIDENT TO ACT

In the light of ongoing wanton attacks and primitive violence on the Northern community in Ibadan, Governor Bello Mohammed has strongly condemned any act of ethnic discrimination and regional dichotomy.

Governor Matawalle, who assessed and sympathised with the victims of the ethnic

attack, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive action on the spate of violence gripping some South-Western States and gradually turning into criminality.

It is inexcusable that at this stage of our journey as a nation, we are yet to come to terms with the fact that God has made it a destiny for us to live as one people. It is unfortunate that while our counterparts elsewhere are fusing up from particularity to generality as a people, we are fast sliding backwards from semblance of generality to particularity as a people, Governor Matawalle lamented.

He noted that ethnic hate and regional dichotomy will not lead us to whatever we think we can gain out of it but backwardness and doom.

Governor Matawalle called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive step towards ending the ethnic profiling of the Fulani tribe in some parts of the country which is now graduating to include the entire Northern communities especially in Oyo state.

I also urge my colleague, the Governor of Oyo state to take concrete steps in curtailing the ongoing senseless attacks and ensure that such happenings do not occur again. We are battling with insurgency and banditry as a nation and here are supposed law abiding citizens unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens to compound the spate of insecurity in the country, Governor Matawalle lamented.

We must eschew primitive hatred against one another and learn to live with ourselves as one people. Our common enemy is not among those we live in the same community, buy and sell from one another, but those who take up arms against us in the name of banditry and insurgency, Governor Matawalle observed and advised.

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Zailani Bappa

Special Adviser

Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

14/2/2021
Amanda Holden is devastated she had to break lockdown rules to visit her elderly parents in Cornwall, according to her agent.

The Britains Got Talent judge said she made the trip after receiving a distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon, he said in a statement.

According to The Sun, she has been reported to police over the journey.

Amanda is aware that all families are going through difficulty during these turbulent times but received a distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon, the statement added.

On balance Amanda felt the round-trip to Cornwall was necessary to contain the matter at her family home.

Holden is now back in London, he said, adding: Amanda did not act on a whim and has adhered to Covid rules every step of the way in all three lockdowns.

Amanda is aware of the travel rules and is devastated she had to break them on this one occasion.

Holdens parents have both been vaccinated and she is being tested weekly and so felt she was not putting her parents at risk, the statement added.

Before receiving the call from her father, Holden presented her Heart Radio programme on Friday where she was presented with gifts for her 50th birthday, which is on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian president is paying an official visit to the UAE.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan have signed an Agreement on joint fight against crime and a Memorandum on mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses.

Read alsoUkraine, UAE to intensify bilateral cooperation in defense industryThe documents were signed during the official visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to the United Arab Emirates, the Ukrainian ministry's press service wrote on Telegram on February 14.

Avakov stressed that drivers would be able to use their driving licenses received in their countries.

"From now on, tourists will be able to rent a car holding their [driving] licenses, while residents and people who work in the UAE will be able to change their licenses to local ones free of charge, without passing driving license exams," the minister said.

Zelensky's visit to the UAE

On February 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska arrived in the UAE on a two-day official visit.

Zelensky is expected to hold talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of the UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the President's Office wrote on its website on February 13.

As part of the development of cultural diplomacy, the First Lady of Ukraine will meet with the Minister of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, representatives of the Dubai Opera, as well as historical and cultural sphere of Abu Dhabi.

Reporting by UNIAN

Saudi Arabia will continue to treat Houthis as a terrorist organisation despite a US decision to lift the designation on the group, according to the kingdom's permanent representative to the United Nations. On February 12, the Joe Biden administration rescinded terrorist group designation from the Yemeni group, fearing it would block global aid to the country. However, Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in a battle against them since 2014 stated that it would continue to forward with the designation.

Read: UN Hopes For political Solution After US Revoked Yemen's Houthis As Terrorists

Speaking to state-owned Asharq News, top diplomat Abdullah Al-Muallami, said that despite USs decision, Saudi Arabia would still deal with the Houthi militia as a terrorist organisation and address its threats with military action. While the Kingdoms government has yet not issued an official response, commentators have denounced the move stressing that it would embolden Iran backed group to conduct increased attacks.

Read: UN Hopes For political Solution After US Revoked Yemen's Houthis As Terrorists

US remains clear-eyed

Yemen has been engulfed in chaos since a civil war began in late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the control of several northern provinces and even forces the globally-recognised government headed by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Later in 2015, the Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict to back Hadis government. According to AP, the conflict has been disastrous for Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, killing more than 112,000 people, creating a humanitarian disaster, and wrecking infrastructure from roads and hospitals to water and electricity networks.

While announcing the decision, Blinken said the United States remains clear-eyed about the Houthis malign actions and aggressions including taking control of large areas of Yemen by force, attacking US partners in the Gulf, kidnapping and torturing citizens of the United States and many of our allies, diverting humanitarian aid, brutally repressing Yemenis in areas they control, and the deadly attack on December 30, 2020 in Aden against the cabinet of the legitimate government of Yemen.

Read: UN Welcomes US Revocation Of Yemen's Houthis As Terrorists

Read: Yemen's Houthi Rebels Claim Responsibility For 'accurately' Hitting Saudi Airbase
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Persecution in China Casts a Shadow on New Year Celebrations for Millions

NEW YORKAround this time every year, what Gao Hongmei looks forward to the most is a phone call. In a conversation that would sometimes stretch for hours, she would exchange Lunar New Year greetings with her mother in Chinawhom she last saw face-to-face 12 years ago before she left the countryand chat about other random things in life.

But this year, distance was not the only factor keeping them apart.

Gao, originally from Chinas northeastern Jilin Province, and her mother Hu Yulan practice Falun Gong, a spiritual practice brutally suppressed by the Chinese regime. Last May, Hu was arrested for distributing Falun Gong-related materials to her neighbors. The authorities formally charged Hu in July and later punished her with a five-year prison sentence. At the time, she had a three-year suspended sentence from a similar offense in 2018.

Citing the ongoing pandemic, guards have barred family visits and refused to accept the winter clothes they sent to ensure Hu stays warm.

They only ask for money, Gao said in an interview from New York, where she now resides. Everyone knows that things are expensive in prison, you know?

Stories mirroring Gaos are happening across China. The pandemic has not slowed the atheist communist regimes suppression of faith. The year 2020 saw over 15,000 Falun Gong adherents experiencing arrests or police harassment, with 622 sentenced for their faith, according to Minghui, a U.S.-based website dedicated to documenting the persecution. Of the persecuted, nearly 1,200 were seniors over 65 years old, and 17 of them aged 90 or older.

Falun Gong features three core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, along with five slow-moving exercises. After it was made public in 1992, its following in China grew to 70  100 million by 1999, when the regime deemed the practices popularity a threat and launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate it.

A shopkeeper puts up the character Fu for good luck outside his shop before opening for the Chinese New Year marking the Year of the Ox, and Spring Festival in a commercial area in Beijing, China, on Feb. 11, 2021. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Dad Misses You

As Chinese communities worldwide usher in the Year of Ox, an untold number of survivors like Gao who escaped overseas are anxiously watching home, looking for signs that their families are safe.

Lunar New Year is a time for family reunion. But in mainland China, how many families have been torn apart? said Wang Jing, a Falun Gong practitioner who fled to the United States from Dalian city in Liaoning Province, which borders Jilin.

Last June, police broke into Wangs family home in Dalian without a search warrant, and arrested Wangs husband Ren Haifei, also a practitioner. Among the valuables they confiscated were 550,000 yuan ($85,164) in cash and 200,000 yuan ($30,969) worth of memory cards and flash drives. Wang said that due to the persecution and authorities surveillance, her husband keeps large sums of cash at home. The tech equipment contains Falun Gong materials.

Ren went through a brutal beating by police that caused kidney and heart failure, and was sent to the hospital for emergency rescue. He was hospitalized for 19 days, before being sent to a detention center.

The 45-year-old was only able to reveal this incident in September in a phone call with his lawyer, the first of two calls the guard has granted so far.

Rens arrest was a huge blow to the family. Wangs mother-in-law, who is in her 70s and lives in another province, had a stroke upon hearing the news, and is now half paralyzed.

Ren had previously spent seven and a half years in incarceration, during which the guards force-fed him through a tube to torment him. Currently held without charge, Ren has developed symptoms of diabetes, according to Wang.

My husband is merely trying to uphold his faith, to be a better person, Wang said. It depresses me to think that Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted by the communist party with impunity just for being good.

Wang Jing and her husband Ren Haifei in Dalian, China, in April 2012. (Courtesy of Wang Jing)

Like Gao, Rens family in China were unable to see him or send clothing. When Wang called from New York to ask about Ren, the detention center refused to disclose anything, saying they couldnt verify her identity.

They have used the virus as an excuse to block communications with the outside  to indefinitely postpone them, she said.

Gaos mother spent her 75th birthday on Jan. 24 in Jilin Detention Center. Gao has called all the prison numbers she could find to reach her and sent her a hand-written letter to mark the occasion; she and friends also mailed a flurry of New Year greeting cards, not knowing whether any of these has reached Hu, or if they ever will.

Gao lost her father in November 2020. During their last phone call that April, her father told her multiple times, dad misses youa rare sentimental moment from her sometimes brusque father. Gao later learned that after putting down the phone, he broke down and cried with such passion that his neighbor from an adjacent floor came to check on him. The pain of not being able to see her father for the last time, and missing his funeral, haunts Gao to this day, she said.

A Tough New Year

Chen Fayuan, a 16-year-old studying in New York, felt something was off after three days went by without a phone call from her parents. When she checked the Minghui website, she was shocked to see her parents name mentioned in a police house raid from her hometown of Changsha, capital of Hunan Province in central China. The couple were among a dozen people reading Falun Gong teachings at the time.

I almost wanted to cry, she told The Epoch Times. Chen has no family here, and is dependent on teachers and friends for support. She hasnt been in touch with other family members and doesnt know how her grandparents are coping with the situation, she said.

This new year is a bit tough to get through, Chen said.

Chen Fayuan at 5-years-old with her mother Huang Zhimin in Changsha city, Hunan Province, China, around 2010. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

Chen, who plays the two-stringed Chinese instrument Erhu, explained that her given name means having destiny with the Fa, or cosmic law, a reference to the teachings of Falun Gong.

But until she came to the United States two years ago, Chen dreaded telling people her full name because of the intense pressure. Her primary school had showcased display boards that vilified her belief, and her middle-school principal had echoed similar state propaganda in a school-wide speech, she said.

She urged people around the world not to overlook the persecution, which she said has treaded upon the basic human values.

No matter what, the teen is determined to stay hopeful. The sky will clear up after the storm, she said.

Wang shares the same belief. If shes allowed to speak to her husband again, she plans on telling him, If the hope is not lost, the dawn will not be far away.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Chen cover her tuition, food, and lodging for the coming fall semester.
Australia has suspended its quarantine-free travel arrangement with New Zealand following the detection of COVID-19 in a couple and their daughter in Auckland at the weekend.

After initially saying there would be no change to the travel bubble, Australias Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly convened an urgent meeting late on Sunday with the chief health officers from NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

It was decided at this meeting today that all flights originating in New Zealand will be classified as Red Zone flights for an initial period of 72 hours from 12.01am on 15 February, a statement from the Department of Health reads.

Australias Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, has announced a 72-hour suspension of the New Zealand travel bubble. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

As a result of this, all people arriving on such flights originating within this three-day period will need to go into 14 days of supervised hotel quarantine.
The impeachment trial of Donald Trump made crystal clear his guilt in inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and violating his oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Sadly for our nation, Saturdays verdict made it equally clear that 43 Republican senators were willing to violate their oath, too, in order to instead protect and defend the leader of the insurrection.

This cannot be the end of the matter. Mr. Trump will surely take this acquittal as vindication of his reckless, incendiary, divisive and dangerous brand of politics. He will see it as a signal that as long as there are enough senators too craven to stand up to him, the republic he and his mob attacked will be too weak to stop his quest to regain power by any means.

Congress still can  and must  at the very least take steps to ensure that he cannot run for office again.

House impeachment managers laid out a devastating case against Mr. Trump, drawing a bright line from his months of treacherous, untruthful rhetoric  both before and after the election  to the riot that left five dead, including a police officer in the Capitol.

They showed that Mr. Trump fueled a volatile situation by relentlessly promulgating the lie that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen from him.

They showed that his disinformation campaign inspired militia members, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists to plot violence.

They showed that when more than 60 courts rejected a slew of frivolous lawsuits, he turned to illegal means, trying to strong arm Georgia officials to change the results.

They showed that he assembled thousands of supporters in Washington, D.C., for a Stop the Steal rally Jan. 6; that he provoked them to try to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens Electoral College victory, and to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to somehow block the vote using powers the Constitution did not afford him.

And as if all that were not incriminating enough, the House managers showed that Mr. Trump stood by for hours, as live television showed his loyalists overrunning barricades, attacking police, breaking windows, and rampaging through the Capitol, while lawmakers, staffers, family members and Mr. Pence scrambled for their lives. They showed that he ignored pleas for intervention, instead watching the insurrection as an arsonist would relish the flames of a blaze he had set.

And when Mr. Trump finally did communicate publicly, it was to attack Mr. Pence  even as the mob was chanting threats to hang him. He praised the demonstrators, declared his love for them, and repeated the big lie of the stolen election that had enraged them, then belatedly told them to go home in peace. That evening, he tweeted an inspiration to supporters: Remember this day forever!

His defense? He has a right to free speech. Hes a private citizen and cant be touched by Congress. He wasnt responsible for the mob he assembled, inflamed, and sicced on the Capitol. He has said he stands for law and order, so he couldnt possibly do something contrary to that. Didnt he (eventually) call for peace? Oh, and other politicians have used violent language and imagery, too. Not to defend such talk, but that argument ignores, of course, the critical context: Other politicians didnt precipitate an insurrection by launching a concerted campaign of lies, as the president did  which everyone could see was rousing radicalized right-wing fringe groups, known by federal authorities to be violence-prone, to plan violent action.

And why? Because he wanted what all autocrats crave: to hold power, even if it requires illegitimate acts. He sought to undo an election acknowledged by every state and by election officials on both sides of the aisle to be secure and fair. He precipitated a coup attempt that he then took no steps for hours to stop, and people died for his wanton ambition. He not only betrayed his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, he attacked it.

And in the end, he got off. Now, 245 years after this nations founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to this country, 43 Republican senators showed us where their loyalty lies  not with the nation, not with the Constitution, but with a dangerous demagogue.

To let Mr. Trump get away with this would invite him to run again and do whatever he wishes in his quest for power. It would tell his most radical followers that those 43 cowards are allies in their treasonous cause, their condemnations of violence mere obligatory tut-tutting for the cameras. It would pave the way for the next demagogue  perhaps one with a bigger, better armed and organized mob  to try to succeed where Mr. Trump and his mob failed.

Mr. Trumps acquittal has put our nation in new peril. It does not, however, have to be the end of this.

The case has been made and affirmed by a majority of senators that Mr. Trump incited an insurrection. Congress can retake that vote to apply the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who engages in or provides aid and comfort to an insurrection, after previously taking an oath to support the Constitution, from holding any federal or state office office again. They need only the simple majority they already have. And it would take an unlikely two-thirds vote of each house of Congress to restore his access to the ballot.

Donald Trump betrayed the nation and his oath. He should never be given the chance to do it again. As for the 43 senators who gave him a pass on this act of treason, voters, and history, should see them for what they are.
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Showers developing late tonight with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers developing late tonight with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

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The cleared the way Saturday for the extradition of an American father and son wanted by Japan in the escape of former Motor Co. boss

Justice Stephen Breyer denied a bid to put the extradition on hold to give Michael and Peter Taylor time to pursue an appeal in their case challenging the US officials' plans to hand them over to Japan.

Michael Taylor, a US Army Special Forces veteran, and his son are accused of helping Ghosn, who led the Japanese automaker for two decades, flee the country last year with Ghosn tucked away in a box on a private jet.

The flight went first to Turkey, and then to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Lawyers for the Taylors argue the men can't legally be extradited and will be treated unfairly in the Japan.

Their lawyers told the Supreme Court in a brief filed Friday that the men would face harsh treatment in the Japanese criminal justice system.

The issues raised by petitioners merit full and careful consideration, and the stakes are enormous for them. The very least the U.S. courts owe the petitioners is a full chance to litigate these issues, including exercising their appellate rights, before they are consigned to the fate that awaits them at the hands of the Japanese government, their attorneys wrote.

US authorities had said they would not hand the men over to Japan while their bid for a stay was pending before Breyer, an attorney for the Taylors said.

Michael Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press that he feels betrayed that the US would try to turn him over to Japan after his service to the country.

Taylor refused to discuss the details of the case because of the possibility that he could be tried in Japan, but he insisted his son had no involvement.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston refused Thursday to put the extradition on hold, finding that the Taylors are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their case.

The Taylors have been locked up at a suburban Boston jail since their arrest last May.

Ghosn was out on bail at the of his escape and awaiting trial on allegations that he underreported his income and committed a breach of trust by diverting money for his personal gain.

Ghosn said he fled because he could not expect a fair trial, was subjected to unfair conditions in detention and was barred from meeting his wife under his bail conditions. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing.

(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.)
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy Virginia crews are working to restore power following an ice storm that swept across Virginia on Saturday, causing downed power lines and broken poles. More than 220,000 customers have lost power since 4 a.m. Saturday. Crews have been assessing damage and are working around-the-clock to restore power as safely and quickly as possible to the 145,000 customers who remain without power as of 7 p.m. Saturday.

An accumulation of ice on trees and power lines caused by several days of freezing rain brought significant damages and power outages to parts of the Richmond metro area  including Amelia, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Hanover and Henrico counties  and Southern Virginia -- including Charlotte, Mecklenburg, and Nottoway counties.

Ahead of the storm, Dominion Energy employees and contractors began preparing to support the power restoration effort. For planning purposes, Dominion Energy encourages customers in the hardest-hit areas to prepare for the possibility of being without power for multiple days.

"We know many of our customers are staying home and counting on us for reliable service," said Charlene Whitfield, senior vice president of Power Delivery for Dominion Energy. "We appreciate our customers' patience and want to assure them that we will continue to work tirelessly until we restore power to every customer affected by this ice storm."

Snow and ice have caused hazardous travel conditions and made some areas more difficult to access. As soon as patrol teams get to a work site, the first thing they will do is assess damage and gather data  a critical step in establishing estimated restoration times for customers. Dominion Energy is committed to sharing restoration times as soon as it has enough information to provide an accurate estimate.

As assessments are made, crews work first to restore power to facilities critical to public health and safety, such as hospitals, fire and police departments, and public water systems. Next, they work to return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time. Once major repairs are completed, restoration efforts will then focus on smaller groups of customers and individual homes and businesses.

To ensure the fastest response, Dominion Energy asks that customers report their power outages. The fastest way to report or track an outage is using the Dominion Energy app or online at DominionEnergy.com. Customers may also call 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) to report an outage.

Here's how customers can stay safe:

Beware of downed power lines and remember that they could be covered by snow. Assume they are energized and dangerous. Please remain at least 30 feet away and ensure that others also avoid the downed line. Virginia and North Carolina customers should call 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) right away to report a downed power line.

and remember that they could be covered by snow. Assume they are energized and dangerous. Please remain at least 30 feet away and ensure that others also avoid the downed line. and customers should call 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) right away to report a downed power line. Ensure generators are properly connected. Be sure they are fueled, tested and connected in a well-ventilated area outdoors. Improper use of a generator could be life-threatening for customers and crews working to restore power.

About Dominion Energy

More than 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

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The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) board has lifted the ban imposed on Ghanaian artistes, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.



It may be recalled that the ban was after a brawl occurred between the two during the 20th Anniversary edition of the VGMA in 2019.



In a statement issued on February 12, 2021, the Board (VGMA) agreed to admit them back to the scheme, hoping that such altercations that bring the scheme into disrepute, do not occur in future events. This makes them eligible to participate in this and subsequent editions of the VGMA, If they so desire. By extension, their collaborative works with other artistes are eligible for participation in the VGMA



Meanwhile, deadline for nominations for the 22nd edition of the VGMA closes on Monday, February 15, 2021.



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"Darling, I hope you like this rather weird pose. This was the surprise I had for you and I do hope you like it. I love to keep you well supplied with pictures, so you won't ever have a chance to forget me ... so this photo is from me ... Lots of love and millions of kisses, Pat."

Those are the words Patricia Brim, 20, wrote to her husband, Raymond, on Valentine's Day 1944, with a photo of her "rather weird pose" attached. Raymond was in the Army Air Corps, fighting the Nazis in Europe on dangerous bombing runs. A little more than a year earlier, he had gone AWOL from his air base in Wyoming for 48 hours so he could quickly marry Patricia in Utah before being sent overseas.

"My dad said a hundred times, a thousand times: 'I swore to myself I would come home to Pat,'" said their daughter Celia Straus on Saturday.

He did. Now, 77 years later, Straus, who lives in Washington, D.C., is handing her mother's love letters over to a longtime acquaintance, historian Andrew Carroll.

"These are really rare," Carroll told The Washington Post. "Back then it was mostly men writing home to their wives, so they (the wives) could keep the letters. But if the wives wrote the husbands, they (the husbands) couldn't in many cases hold onto them."

Carroll knows this better than anyone; he has been collecting war letters since his sophomore year of college in 1989. His family home in D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood burned down that year. He was upset over the loss of family memorabilia, so, perhaps to console him, an older cousin showed him a letter the cousin had sent his wife during World War II.

When Carroll tried to return the letter, the cousin told him, "Keep it. I probably would have thrown it away anyway."

"And that was the spark," Carroll said.

Since then, Carroll has collected more than 100,000 war letters. He has letters from American conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (which now come in email form). He has often picked up old letters in person, earning him the nickname "the historian who makes house calls."

There was a book compilation of the letters, a PBS documentary, and a play that made it to the Kennedy Center. The latest iteration is a podcast, called "Behind the Lines," with journalist Barbara Harrison.

Other than descriptions of combat, the most common subject of the letters is love.

"Everything becomes more vivid in the prism of warfare," Carroll said, "The letters of faith are a little more philosophical; the letters of love are a little more impassioned, because a lot of them realize this might be the last letter their spouse receives."

There are tragic ones. During World War II, a woman named Gene Sobolewski, who was in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, sent a letter to her fiance on the front lines:

"Dearest Sweetheart,

I didn't write to you last night, Honey, but I guess you won't miss one letter. You get my mail in bunches anyhow. Besides, I always write about the same subject, hundreds and thousands of books were written about it also. I'm talking about 'love.'"

Months later, the letter was returned to her unopened with red letters on the envelope: "Deceased."

"It's heartbreaking," Carroll said. "Because they weren't married, she was not officially notified. His parents got the official notification, so this was how she found out the love of her life was gone forever."

Sobolewski eventually married another service member and had children, but she kept the unanswered letter her entire life. Her daughter donated it to Carroll.

There are happy stories, too. Nathan Hoffman had gone on only five dates with Evelyn Giniger in New York City before he was shipped overseas during World War II. They wrote each other every day, and because of Hoffman's assignment as an Army clerk, he was able to keep her letters. When he returned to his hometown of Waco, Texas, 16 months later, she was there waiting for him. They married soon afterward.

They were still happily married in 1999 when they donated their complete collection - more than 2,000 letters, Carroll said. Months later, director Steven Spielberg contacted Carroll. Spielberg said was directing a special millennium celebration show for CBS and hoped to have an elderly couple read their World War II letters onstage; might Carroll know anyone who fit the bill?

That was how the Hoffmans found themselves on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on New Year's Eve, surrounded by celebrities and in front of President Bill Clinton, reading their sweet nothings aloud.

"My dearest Evelyn, in leaving I have only one regret - that I was unable to see you just one last time. There was so much that we didn't get around to talking about, a great deal that I'm sure each of us would have said that now will have to wait . . ."

"My dear, every day I miss you a little bit more. And today, I miss you like tomorrow. The knowledge that you're getting closer to the front makes me tremble every time I think of it. I wonder how you must feel. All I can do is pray and keep a hopeful heart ..."

Nathan Hoffman died in 2005, Evelyn Hoffman in 2011. They were married for 59 years.

Carroll has acquired letters from gay and lesbian service members, but none of them are love letters - an empty space he very much hopes to fill. He is still haunted by a radio interview he did 15 years ago, when a man called in and said he and his boyfriend used to send each other love letters in code during the Vietnam War. Carroll told the man he would be honored to have the letters; the man said he would consider it, but Carroll never heard from him again.

He has tried, without success so far, to contact Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, about a letter he spoke of on the campaign trail. Buttigieg described writing a "just in case" letter to his parents in 2014 before leaving for Afghanistan. He vowed to come out of the closet if he returned home safely.

"It's funny to think that I wrote that trying to project a sense that I didn't have any resentment over missing out on things, when what I was missing out on then was now the most important thing in my life," Buttigieg told USA Today in 2019. He met his husband, Chasten, after returning from Afghanistan in 2015.

For a time, Carroll rented the apartment next door to his own just to store the letters. In 2013, he donated the collection to Chapman University in California, and it became the Center for American War Letters, where they will be preserved and digitized.

He was still making house calls on the center's behalf when the pandemic hit. Though the work has been put on hold for nearly a year, the center is still accepting submissions. "We've actually seen a huge uptick in donations throughout the pandemic, and it's because people are trapped in their homes," Carroll said.

Straus, who works with veterans experiencing PTSD and traumatic brain injury, has known about Carroll and his letter-collecting mission for years; they have worked together on veteran support projects. Her parents were happily married for 65 years until her mother's death in 2007. Her father died in 2019, and she inherited the old manila folder stuffed full of letters. Reading them is inspiring, she said, because the immediacy "makes me grasp the bravery of these kids."

Straus has received the coronavirus vaccine, and Carroll followed strict guidelines so he could safely meet with her Saturday and accept the letters.

"I hope their story inspires others to save their letters from relatives who served, because they are so important to our country," she said. "Particularly right now."

So, in honor of Valentine's Day, here is a transcript of one her mother's letters, written for a different holiday, Christmas 1943:

- - -

My darling,

This is just to try and half express what I feel - because it's Christmas and because you're over there and I'm here so far away from you. Of course, I'm writing it way ahead of time but the feeling is the same and always will be, dearest, for that matter.

To say that I am thinking of you, dear, is not to touch it. Christmas Eve is when it will be the worst, because all I'll see is us last year - having our little supper and our tree - and church in the snow and all that. We were afraid we'd be homesick and darling, I can truly say I've never in my life been less homesick or more happy. It was all heaven, every moment with you - loving you as I do, and knowing that I have a husband who is so wonderful and sweet and tender and loves me so terribly.

Darling, I've missed you terribly since you went away, but it's nothing to how I'll feel when you read this. I've tried to send a few things to help make it a better Christmas but perhaps I can promise that next year, when we're together, we'll have our love and happiness and the most perfect Christmas in the world. Ray, my dearest darling, I love you. I love you with all my heart and body and soul. Nothing can ever change it. And so, darling, a Merry Christmas and God keep you always,

Your own,

Pat
Japan's sake industry is taking on the problem of a surplus of rice specially grown for making the fermented alcoholic beverage as the coronavirus pandemic causes a sharp drop in demand for the drink due to the closure and reduced operating hours of restaurants and bars around the world.

According to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, demand for rice used in sake manufacturing last year is predicted to drop by about 10% from 2019 on the hit to orders for the traditional beverage.

"The biggest problem is sake rice harvested in 2020," Kosuke Kuji, president of Nanbu Bijin, a sake producer in Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, said at a news conference. Some of that, he added, "has nowhere to go."

The company aims to tackle the issue of what to do with the rice overflow by starting production of rice-based Japanese craft vodka and gin in early 2021. "We decided to make new [rice-based] sprits instead of making sake that may be in surplus," Kuji said.

Such drinks are rare and produced only in Japan, while the unit sales price of such sprits is higher than for sake as they require more time to make, according to Nanbu Bijin.

It plans to commence sales by March after starting up a new production plant early in 2021 and will use charcoal from local white birch trees as filtration in distilling the rice spirits-based vodka.

Nanbu Bijin plans to sell the new products at domestic department stores and supermarkets. But Kuji sees "stronger interest" from overseas buyers and has been talking to ones from New York and Myanmar, he added.

Kuji said the company "will increase profit channels through diversification" by moving away from sake production alone. He called that "a new management strategy for the brewer in the coronavirus era."

The sake industry is facing a significant decrease in demand in Japan as the coronavirus has caused a drop in travel, purchase of the alcohol for souvenirs and eating out. Kuji, the fifth-generation operator of the brewery, said the company last year will see a 15% decline in sales.

Despite the declining demand, Nanbu Bijin has purchase contracts with rice farmers, meaning the company "must buy" from them, Kuji said. He stressed that once the planting of rice for sake stops, it becomes difficult to maintain high quality when demand recovers and the process restarts.
Love Island bosses are said to be on the hunt for 'brains as well as brawn' as they continue their search for potential contestants for the upcoming series.

Producers are reportedly keen to include a key worker in the line-up due to the recognition they have received for their hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS doctor Alex George, 29, and solicitor Rosie Williams, 29, were both hits with viewers after they appeared as contestants on the fourth series of the dating show in 2018.

Looking for key workers: Love Island bosses are said to be on the hunt for 'brains as well as brawn' as they continue their search for potential contestants for the upcoming series

Popular: NHS doctor Alex George, 29, and solicitor Rosie Williams, 29, were both hits with viewers after they appeared as contestants on the fourth series of the dating show in 2018

Dr. Alex has been working tirelessly on the frontline throughout the pandemic, and was recently appointed as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador by Boris Johnson after speaking out following his brother's death last year.

A source told The Sun On Sunday: 'The team have had over 100,000 applications and have been looking for talent with a bit of edge.

'Some of the best contestants over the years have been those who don't just want to be famous - those with some real ambition, a solid career and a story to tell, especially of the key worker variety.'

Hard at work: Dr. Alex has been working tirelessly on the frontline throughout the pandemic, and was recently appointed as a Youth Mental Health Ambassador by Boris Johnson after speaking out following his brother's death last year

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Love Island for comment.

Love Island has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bosses have reportedly been swamped with over 100,000 applications for the upcoming series, which be broadcast this summer.

Off the air: Love Island has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic

The new series is rumoured to be the 'biggest in history', as excited ITV bosses gear up for the highly anticipated comeback later this year.

It's said producers are optimistic that plans can go ahead for the series in July and August, with strict safety provisions in place in the villa.

However, one of the top bosses of the show recently admitted that it might not be able to go ahead this year.

Hopeful comeback: The new series is rumoured to be the 'biggest in history', as excited ITV bosses gear up for the highly anticipated comeback later this year

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, to which she replied: 'I genuinely don't know.'

As reports The Sun, McCall added: 'We will want to put Love Island on air because it's been off air for a while. We didn't do it last summer.

'We are looking at all our options at the moment. The pandemic makes it hard.'

It might not happen: However, one of the top bosses of the show recently admitted that it might not be able to go ahead this year

The series usually films in Majorca, with the first winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold.

It was also reported that the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year.

According to reports, those behind the scenes have been keen to line-up some locations on home shores after the show was postponed last year.

Travel off limits: The series usually films in Majorca, with the first winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold

A source told The Sun: 'As a precautionary measure, producers have looked at several UK sites to hold the series, so if travel restrictions remain strict they have a back-up plan.

'Cornwall has been optioned, as well as Torquay, the Isles of Scilly and even Barry Island, where Gavin and Stacey was filmed.

'ITV bosses are also worried about a fan backlash against the show if contestants are allowed to go away claiming work reasons but the rest of the country is still stuck at home.'
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the Indian diaspora in the Gulf, particularly a large number of Keralites working there, saying the country is proud of them and assured them of his government's full support.

Referring to the plight of Indians who were languishing in jails in the Gulf countries, the Prime Minister, while addressing a programme after inaugurating various infrastructure projects here, said governments of many gulf nations have over the last few years released several such Indians aftet the intervention of his government.

"Our government will always speak up for such people", Modi said.

The Prime Minister thanked the governments of various gulf nations for their sensitive approach on this subject.

"The Gulf kingdoms responded to my personal appeals and took special care of our community", he said.

Recalling his previous visits to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain, the Prime Minister said he had shared meals and interacted with them.

Modi said India is proud of its diaspora in the Gulf.

He said over 50 lakh Indians who were stranded in foreign countries due to COVID-19 pandemic had come back home under the 'Vande Bharat Mission.' "Many of them were from Kerala. It was our government's honour to serve them at such a sensitive time", Modi said.

The PM said the Gulf countries are giving priority to the return of Indians to the region.

"We've set up air bubbles to facilitate that process.

Indians working in the gulf should know they have full support of our government", Modi said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The leaders of Australias peak international education groups will lobby federal ministers this week for a survival strategy for the $40 billion sector as it faces another year of overseas students being unable to enter the country.

The challenge for the industry comes amid a brewing debate over Victorias push to cut weekly hotel quarantine arrivals from thousands to hundreds, a move that would further delay the return of offshore Australians. The state has paused the arrival of international flights from Saturday as it went into a five-day lockdown last Friday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a cold, hard discussion was needed over whether overseas arrivals should be limited to those on compassionate grounds. Credit:Getty Images

Phil Honeywood, chief executive of International Education Association of Australia, said Victorias Premier Daniel Andrews bid to restrict re-entry to Australia to those on compassionate grounds was absolutely devastating.

Mr Andrews latest thought bubble will potentially push back international student returns well into next year, Mr Honeywood said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Impeachment Based on Political Differences Becoming the Norm: Lindsey Graham

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that impeachments based on partisan differences appear to be becoming normalized, suggesting that future presidents will face impeachment challenges.

I hope I will be proven wrong, but it seems that impeachment based on partisan differences seems to be becoming the norm, not the exception, Graham wrote on Twitter.

I fear that if this model is followed in the futureimpeachment to disqualify one from holding office based on partisan hatredwill become the norm, the Republican from South Carolina added.

It came after former President Donald Trump on Saturday was acquitted in the Senate 57-43, with seven Republican senators joining all Democrats. The Senate requires a 67-vote threshold to convict a president.

Graham suggested that during the impeachment trial, there were key processes and practices that were omitted.

For the good of the country, I hope this will be the last Senate impeachment where a President is impeached  without witnesses, and a trial record is built on hearsay upon hearsay, he said.

Trumps lawyers primarily focused on the legality of the impeachment effort, saying the effort goes against the Constitution because Trump doesnt hold office.

House impeachment managers, however, disagreed.

In the most bipartisan presidential impeachment vote in the history of the country, a powerful majority of both houses of Congress found that the former President incited violent insurrection against the Union & the Congress. History will record his terrible constitutional crime, lead manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote on Twitter following the acquittal vote.

Last month, the House impeached then-President Trump for allegedly inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol, claiming his speech on Jan. 6 prompted a crowd to breach the Capitol building during the Joint Session of Congress.

The president, during his speech, told his supporters to protest peacefully and patriotically.

Republican Sens. Richard Burr (N.C.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Ben Sasse (Neb.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.) voted to convict.

Im sure that there are many Alaskans that are very dissatisfied with my vote, but Im sure there are many Alaskans that are proud of my vote, Murkowski told Politico after the trial. Murkowski is the only one of the seven who is up for re-election in 2022.

Trump, in a statement, said that he viewed the impeachment effort as a sad commentary on our times.

In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, he said after his acquittal.

Reuters contributed to this report.
New Delhi:

Telecom regulator Trai denied for fixing a minimum floor price for voice call and data services by saying that industry has reached a consensus that it is "not a workable idea".

The decision came after Trai meet all operators on Friday. Chairman of Trai R S Sharma along with senior regulatory officials met representatives of all telecom companies for a detailed discussion on the issue.

Some telecom operators were urging Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to fix a 'minimum floor price' for both data and voice calls. Last year the entry of Reliance jio has changed the economic picture of whole telecom sectors.

As, Jio provided free data and voice calls, it prompted many customer to change their networks to Jio and as many did so, if lefts other telecom player in a big loss.For sustaining in the free service market,many others such as Airtel forced to provide free services at less price.

Currently the tarrifs are under forbearance,where operators virtualy have a free hand in fixing the rates and reports plans to Trai in 7 days.

During the meeting, Idea Cellular argued for fixation of a minimum floor price through adetailed presentation, while Reliance Jio opposed the concept terming it regressive and anti-competitive.

Now a conclusion came that prices which are under forbearance should continue under forbearance as of now.

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This is the heart-warming moment a six-year-old boy rung the bell after beating leukaemia following a gruelling three and a half year battle.

Saahib Randhawa, from Ashbrooke, Sunderland, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, an aggressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells, when he was just three.

Following years of intensive treatment, Saahib was able to ring the bell after he was given the all-clear on Tuesday at the Great North Children's Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

His mum Gurpreet, 36, said the moment was a 'massive relief' for the family.

Saahib ringing the bell with his proud mum and dad, Gurpreet and Manprit. The six-year-old managed to beat his illness while smiling the whole time

Saahib Randhawa with his sister Mia during his cancer treatment. They both took part in the storytelling and pottery sessions at the hospital, with Newcastle-based storyteller, Shelley O'Brien

His mum Gurpreet said: 'I hope people will see the pictures of Saahib and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel'

She said: 'We are so proud of how Saahib has dealt with it, he has always smiled his way through it.

'Obviously, there has been a lot of tears along the way, but he got here in the end.'

She said when he was diagnosed in late 2017, she feared Saahib would not make it to Christmas.

'I had to have counselling at the time because I just couldn't cope with it,' she added.

The family credited children's cancer charity Henry Dancer Days for supporting them through treatment with their storytelling sessions, which Mrs Randhawa described as 'opening up a world outside chemotherapy'.

The family, including dad Manprit, 37, and younger sister Mia, four, have taken part in more than 40 Henry Dancer Days storytelling and pottery sessions at the hospital, with Newcastle-based storyteller, Shelley O'Brien.

'Shelley was a nice, friendly face that wasn't testing, or giving medicine, or taking your blood,' said Mrs Randhawa.

Saahib was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, an aggressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells, when he was just three

Saahib Randhawa with storyteller Shelly O'Brien at the Great North Children's Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle

'She was a safe person.'

Mrs Randhawa said Mia has had to grow up alongside Saahib's diagnosis, as she was just one when he became ill: 'The storytelling has been a good way of helping Mia feel included and just as special as Saahib.'

Henry Dancer Days was set up almost a decade ago by grieving mother Jane Nattrass, who lost her child Henry to a rare form of bone cancer.

Ms Nattrass, charity director, said: 'Storytelling is a fabulous form of escapism that allows the young people and their families to be transported into a magical world where cancer doesn't exist.

'The time spent with the storytellers is a welcome distraction from the gruelling demands of cancer treatment.

'The storytelling helps to mask the treatment-specific words being used on the ward and replace them with amazing adventures that take their young minds on a wonderful journey.'

Now they do not need to spend as much time at the hospital, the family hope to be able to go on holiday together, once Covid restrictions are lifted, as Saahib wants to go swimming in Cyprus.

'I hope people will see the pictures of Saahib and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel,' Mrs Randhawa said.This is the shocking moment a mass group of thugs, some armed with knives and hammers, had a mass brawl on the streets of Salford.
The European Union will fast track approvals of coronavirus vaccines adapted to combat mutations, the bloc's Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

"We have now decided that a vaccine that has been improved by the manufacturer on the basis of the previous vaccine to combat new mutations no longer has to go through the entire approval process," she told Bavaria's Augsburger Allgemeine.

"So it will be faster to have suitable vaccines available without compromising on safety."

Also Read: India first country to vaccinate over 70 lakh people in 26 days; Bihar, Tripura top performers

The European Commission has come under fire from EU member states over delays to deliveries of vaccines which has seen the bloc lag behind countries such as Britain, a former member, and the United States.

Kyriakides is a member of a new task force, led by Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton, to eliminate bottlenecks in production plants and adjust output to new variants.

While vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021 have started slowly, the second quarter would see a pick-up and by the end of September the EU expects to have received sufficient doses from licenced producers to cover over 70% of its population, Kyriakides said.

Also Read: 'COVID-19 vaccine didn't implant genius father into my brain,' says Bill Gates' daughter after vaccination

She also reiterated the commission's view that closing borders was not an effective weapon against infections.

"I think it is wrong for us to return to a Europe with closed borders, as in March 2020," she said.

Germany will enforce entry bans on travellers from the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region from Sunday to prevent the spread of new variants.

No more PCR tests at airports; entry rules relaxed By Tharushi Weerasinghe View(s): View(s):

About 25 flights are landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) every night, officials said.

Things are more or less back to normal, said the Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) Chairman Major Gen (Rtd) G.L.Chandrasiri.

Every day, about 750 passengers arrive and the number of passenger and cargo flights has increased following the removal of restrictions.

PCR tests for COVID-19 are no longer done at the airport and there is the usual, mandatory health declaration requirement. The duty-free shops are open.

Those arriving on repatriation flights are taken to quarantine centres by the army. There is one such flight a day.

Some who arrive have paid for their air tickets and hotel quarantine. Others come as a part of a tourist bubble under the Tourist Board. Hotels that are categorised as grade 1 and grade 2 have been selected to accommodate these tourists and must be pre-booked by them.

Visitors are picked up by the hotel on arrival and undergo a seven-day quarantine after a PCR test at the hotel.

They can travel to 18 selected locations including Sigiriya.

According to the chairman, the staff in these locations have been trained and tourists are transported in buses. The Sunday Times contacted some Sri Lankans who arrived over the past few months and they noted the differences in the procedures.

Dr Shenali Amaratunga flew in from Prague to visit her parents and landed at BIA on a Qatar Airways flight last Sunday.

There was a big rush to get to immigration but we passed it relatively quickly, she said.

After baggage check, passengers were directed to the arrival area where those awaiting hotel quarantine were asked to step to the left side along with their baggage trolleys.

Passengers were loaded onto two buses. They waited for more than two hours for Police/Army escorts. She later checked into a hotel quarantine run by the army.

While the long wait times were exhausting, she said the process was efficient overall.

The only health protocols in place were face masks, social distancing, and a few hand sanitiser machines around the airport. Her baggage was disinfected at the hotel. She noted that the airport was not crowded as only two flights had landed at the time.

Another respondent, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Sunday Times, that she flew in on Sri Lankan Airlines in September for personal reasons and landed at Mattala airport.

We got off the plane and were greeted on the tarmac by men spraying us from head to foot, as well as any hand luggage, she recalled.

They were asked to discard their face masks and then given new ones and gloves. Then they underwent PCR tests that included throat and nose swabs.

We were given a series of little stickers corresponding to whatever stage of the process we were at, she said.

Once this part was completed, passengers were allowed to enter the building and queue up for immigration clearance.

Because I was on a landing endorsement I had to wait quite a long time and they took my passport away, she said.

She was later told she had received the approvals to arrive.

Then it was the usual baggage arrival hall and on to another queue to find out about the hotel. Then, people were directed to a bus. She said Mattala lacked the infrastructure to handle passenger flights, unlike the BIA.

But, she felt that the journey could have been better had it not been for the epidemic.

The AASL Chairman said operations at Mattala were being expanded beyond what had existed in the pre-pandemic period.

The airport is focused on flights from countries like Kazakhstan. While about ten flights landed at Mattala airport earlier, almost 22 arrive now. More than 200 passengers arrive at Mattala daily now, he said.

There are plans to expand Mattala as a cargo hub and the Government plans to sell and give long-term leases on lands near the airport for aviation-related business.
The 'impractical, unscientific and unethical notification' should be immediately withdrawn, read the statement during their strike

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had held a pan-India relay hunger strike from February 1-14 on the issue (PTI)

New Delhi: The IMA on Sunday announced a mass petition movement from February 15-March 31 against a Central Council of Indian Medicine notification that authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of ayurveda to perform general surgical procedures.

The doctors' body also said that this notification will lead to "mixopathy" and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had held a pan-India relay hunger strike from February 1-14 on the issue.

The "impractical, unscientific and unethical notification" should be immediately withdrawn, it said in a statement, adding that besides the petition movement, it will also spread awareness among the people on the notification.

The IMA also said that it will submit a list of 1,000 modern medicine doctors willing to serve in remote areas of the country to counter the false claim of lack of doctors.

"All IMA members, all specialty organisations, all modern medicine students, all women doctors across the country will educate people about this retrograde and unscientific mixing of different systems of healthcare. All modern medicine hospitals will promote the importance of scientific ethical surgical expertise," the doctors' body said.

The IMA also announces non-cooperation movement "henceforth in which modern medicines surgeons and anesthesiologists shall not cooperate with AYUSH persons training and performing surgery", it said.

The doctors' body has been opposing the notification by Central Council of Indian Medicine, a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy).

The notification authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of Ayurveda to be trained to perform surgical procedures such as excisions of benign tumours, amputation of gangrene, nasal and cataract surgeries.
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A feminine wash for teens angered parents and obstetricians-gynecologists and brought it to social media.

A Canadian-American OB-Gyn and columnist, Jennifer Gunter, is on a crusade to make sure teens know that vaginas must smell like vaginas, not creamsicles - as the brand markets. Since her 2017 Goop takedown, the Bay Area gynecologist and author of "The Vagina Bible" has waged a high-profile battle against various vaginal hygiene products and practices. She takes specific issue with advice that women put jade eggs in their vaginas and perform vaginal steaming. Today, Vagisil, a vaginal care goods company, launched a line specifically for teenagers this summer.

According to Vagisil website, their OMV product line sells serums, washes, and wipes, so the "period funk and bikini itch" do not get in the way." "For a creamsicle scent that is sweet and citrusy, we mixed vanilla and clementine," reads one Instagram post. "It's perfect for the glow care of the intimate part."

READ: A Kid's Mental Health Left Unchecked Could Possibly Lead to Suicide, Experts Warn





Gunter's expertise says otherwise, and now she is targeting her ire at them. She said, "Society is always looking for ways to make individuals with vaginas feel ashamed." She added with passion," I hate the industry because it capitalizes on vaginal and vulvar shame. But seeing it being sold to teens? Well, not on my watch." Referring to the $21.6 billion feminine hygiene global business according to IMARC, a leading market research agency that conducts business intelligent studies worldwide.

The main medical risk, gynecologists claim, would be if the ingredients used to make those products and others such as gel sanitizers, scented washes, and feminine wipes reached the vagina's internal parts rather than staying externally on the vulva. They can be outright harmful because they disrupt the natural environment of the vagina, stripping it off the bacteria that combat infections. In fact, those products may increase the chances of users having urinary tract infections or yeast infections.

While items such as tampons are indeed needed as they are sanitary products, Gunter pointed out that Vagisil's product is not one of them. The company, on the other hand, demonstrated in a tweet that it was not the product's purpose. Separately, a spokesperson said that they do not create or promote showers' use.

ALSO READ: Here are 6 Things Pediatricians Won't Keep in Their Own Kid's Bedroom

Reactions of Netizens to Feminine Wash for Teens

Thousands of disappointed women, disgruntled parents, and social-media-savvy gynecologists joined Grunter the next day, through tweets, TikTok videos, and YouTube videos.

A YouTube video about the Vagisil controversy was made by Danielle Jones, a gynecologist in Austin. "I do not know that these products are inherently dangerous," Jones said in the video, which garnered 2,400 views in 24 hours. "It's less about being awful about the product and more about predatory marketing," she added.

Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, Jennifer Lincoln, a gynecologist, who posted four videos about the controversy said to her 1.7 million TikTok followers, "The way they make money is that they make us feel dirty."

In the Seattle area, an attorney, Shannon McCarthy, also shared her thoughts and said, "I was appalled when I first saw Dr. Gunter's tweet," and added, "I grew up feeling very private and ashamed of human sexuality and bodies, and I don't want to make my kids feel that way." So, when she was alone with her 13-year-old daughter, she demonstrated that the vagina is a self-cleaning organ that does not require special items.

These issues have acted as a reminder of the minefield facing teenage girls on social media, and a starting point for some parents' conversations with their teens.

READ MORE: Report: DoorDash Driver's Minivan got Stolen With His Kids Inside
A haunting video art installation acknowledging the murderous history of anti-communist purges in Bali has won this years Blake Prize.

Sydney artist Leyla Stevens Kidung/Lament was selected from a record-breaking 1200 entries  double those of the 2019 award  to win the $35,000 biennial prize that aims to encourage a conversation about spirituality and religion through art.

Blake Prize winner Leyla Stevens Credit:Dean Sewell

Stevens Kidung/Lament is a three-channel video work framed around a pohon beringin or banyan tree that marks an unacknowledged mass grave site from Indonesias 1965 anti-communist massacres. A chant that laments the missing and the dead forms the soundtrack.

As many as 80,000 people are thought to have been killed in Bali in 1965-66, the political violence initiated by so-called militia death squads drawn from local civilian populations.
In November 2020, the ministry had issued a notification making FASTag mandatory by January 1, 2021.

The use of FASTag will be mandatory from February 15 midnight, said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Those vehicle users who fail to install FASTag on their vehicles would be charged double the toll amount on national highways, an official statement said.

"It has been decided that all the lanes in the fee plazas on national highways shall be declared as 'FasTag lane of the fee plaza' with effect from midnight of 15th /16th February 2021," the statement said.

"Vehicles not fitted with FASTag or without valid/functional FASTag entering into the FASTag lane will pay two time equivalent fee of the fee applicable to that M and N category vehicles," the ministry clarified.

Here are all your questions answered about the FASTag:

What is FASTag and how long is it valid?

It is a sticker that is attached to the windshield of your car from the inside. The FASTag also has an imprinted radio-frequency Identification (RFID) barcode that is linked to all the registration details of your vehicle. It is valid for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

How does it work?

While you pass through a toll plaza, there will be FASTag readers available that will read into your sticker and then deduct the required amount. This process will eliminate the need to stop, interact with a human being at a toll plaza and having to pay cash.

What documents do you need to buy it?

In order to purchase a FASTag, an applicant will need to furnish the vehicle registration document and personal identity for mandatory KYC process. Whereas, at banks, if you are already a customer, you will only need an RC report. If you are applying through other means such as Airtel and PayTM, you don't need to produce a personal ID and all you need is the RC.

What are the advantages?

According to Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the FASTag is useful for the commuters as they would no longer be required to stop at toll plazas for cash payments. The switch to automatic toll payments system would eventually save time and fuel.

Where can you get one?

The government has partnered with several agencies including banks and e-commerce channels to home-deliver a FASTag. As of now, banks that currently offer FASTags include HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda to name a few. Recently, ICICI Bank and Google announced a collaboration, which would allow applicants to pay for a FASTag via its payment service Google Pay. Some other options also are on Amazon, PayTM or Airtel Payment App. Traditional methods such as purchasing them at certain toll plazas across India are also available.

How do you check the balance and recharge a FASTag?

The issuing bank's e-commerce partner will create a FASTag wallet for applicants. All that is required after that is to add money to the wallet.For example, if a person has purchased a FASTag through a bank, they will directly deduct money from your account and you need to maintain a balance in the bank account.In the case of mobile payment banks, the services will also let you recharge FASTag using debit card, credit card, UPI and other payment options. This is also similar if you are purchasing it through Airtel. You can recharge your FASTag via Airtel Payment.

Who's exempt from getting a FASTag?

People who are exempted from paying toll don't need to use FASTag. They include judges, lawmakers, ministers, top bureaucrats, top military officers and emergency service workers, among others.
The Srinagar Police countered National Conference (NC) chief Omar Abdullah's claims of being 'locked up in their homes' on Sunday, noting that the movement of VIPs and protected persons has been restricted on the 2nd anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack. The NC leader took to Twitter on Sunday morning to take a jibe at 'Naya Kashmir', and claimed that his father Farooq Abdullah - a sitting MP - along with his sister and her children had been locked up in their homes. Omar Abdullah further complained that the staff of his residence weren't being allowed to enter the premises and declared that he was still 'bitter and angry'.

This is the naya/new J&K after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. Its bad enough theyve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, theyve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well. pic.twitter.com/89vOgjD5WM  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house arent being allowed in and then you are surprised that Im still angry & bitter.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

READ | Pro-Khalistan Outfit SFJ's Website Banned By Govt Of India Just Four Days After Its Launch

JKNC condemns the arbitrary detention of party President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Vice President Jb @OmarAbdullah and their family at their residence in Gupkar, Srinagar. The party demands immediate lifting of these uncalled for and unlawful measures.  JKNC (@JKNC_) February 14, 2021

However, the Srinagar Police refuted Abdullah's claims, pointing out that the movement of political leaders was discouraged on Sunday after having received adverse inputs. Further, it also pointed out to the NC leader that they had been informed about the restrictions in advance and were asked not to plan any tours on Sunday. J&K's unit of BJP also cancelled an event that was scheduled to be held on Sunday to pay respect to the 40 jawans who were martyred on February 14, 2019, in a suicide attack at Lethpora, Pulwama.

https://t.co/3Vtj1sPcvi Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged

and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today. @OmarAbdullah  SRINAGAR POLICE (@PoliceSgr) February 14, 2021

READ | Delhi Police Arrests Bengaluru Activist Disha Ravi In Probe Into Greta-shared 'toolkit'

Responding to Srinagar Police's counter, Omar Abdullah demanded to know under what law he had been detained in his home. The NC leader argued that he could only be advised to not leave his residence and that he cannot be forced to stay inside citing security. Omar Abdullah also questioned the authenticity of the Srinagar police's Twitter handle, pointing out that it did not have a blue tick and wasn't verified.

Im not even sure if this is actually a police Twitter handle since its not verified but assuming it is - please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today? You can advise me not to leave my house but you cant force me to stay in using security as an excuse. https://t.co/wfWwYPiTM4  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

READ | NIA Files Chargesheet Against Ex-J And K Cop Who Joined Hizbul Ranks For Attack On CRPF Convoy

Pulwama Terror Attack: A black day for India

Two years ago on February 14, 2019, 40 Indian soldiers were martyred in one of the worst terror attacks on Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. After the deadly attack, a Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for this terror attack. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The attack, which was reported near Awantipora at nearly 3:15 pm resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, while many others were left injured.

After this attack, India had also withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan and the whole international community had expressed its strong support to India in the wake of the terror attack. The memorial having names of all 40 jawans killed in the attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020, at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty). India had conducted precision air strikes deep into Pakistani territory, hitting a Jaish terror training campus at Balakot and killing an estimated 300 terrorists under training.

READ | Netizens Remember Sacrifice Of CRPF Soldiers On 2nd Anniversary Of Pulwama Terror Attack
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We must not forget the purpose of this panel: To address injustice and create accountability for the SARS brutality and heinous events of October 20, 2020. When calls for justice are subsumed under commercial concerns and vested interests, it calls into question the legitimacy and integrity of the entire affair and the impartiality of the proceedings.

After going silent for a month, troll accounts dedicated to disparaging my work and sowing doubt about my age, occupation and right to express myself as a citizen of Nigeria were reactivated. Their task was simple: Target me by releasing fake tweets and turn the public against me. My stand on the reopening on the toll gate remains clear; the state government and the private organisation which operates the toll have not been cleared of collusion with elements allegedly deployed by the Federal Government to target Nigerian citizens on home soil during a time of peace, without provocation. Justice has not been served, and as a representative of the Nigerian citizenry, my only recourse is to stay the course of justice.

Let me be clear: I chose to honour the invitation to represent my peers and to stand as an example that any Nigerian has the right to demand accountability of elected government officials and that our institutions, however flawed, can still deliver justice. What I will not do is be part of a cover-up. I am proud that I took the invitation because some of the successes the panel has recorded so far have been incredibly powerful for the people. For the first time, SARS victims have had the opportunity to be truly seen and heard by the government, by the public, and by the system that allowed them to be victims in the first place. The panel allowed victims of police intimidation and brutality to have their day in the light of justice. They got to expose the violence that was meted out, to experience some catharsis from having the government acknowledge its failures and, in many cases, are going to be receiving some compensation, however inadequate, for the disruption to their lives. This is further than we have ever come as a nation, and while this same rigour was not applied to the case of the Lekki tollgate shootings, we can at least celebrate the wins that our brothers and sisters can finally claim in their fight for justice, and recognise that our collective will is more powerful than any institution. However, partial wins are not enough for me. I decided to join this fight because I wanted the government to recognise its failures and work to overhaul its security institutions. I did not expect piecemeal acknowledgements and efforts to sabotage vital proceedings.

On February 6, we were ambushed with votes to reopen the toll gates. I participated because I do not believe in silence. It is clear where my loyalties lie. But at the end of the day, parties on the panel voted to reopen the tollgate, citing lost jobs as more important than justice for lost lives through a proceeding that didnt form a proper quorum, and without any of the youths who represent the youth constituency that birthed the idea of the panel, on whose mandates the panels were set up, involved. Coupled with the undue intimidation of peaceful protesters, the cyber attack accounts loyal to the government, and many more, I will be stepping down from the Lagos Judicial Panel as it is now obvious that the government is only out to use us for performative actions.

For anyone tired of hearing me demand better of my country: The only way to convince me to back down is to do your part to make Nigeria work. I will be doing mine, in the communities where it matters, with the tools at my disposal. I fear for myself, my family, and my friends; for my future but so did the young people whose blood taints the Lekki Tollgate.

We must not forget the purpose of this panel: To address injustice and create accountability for the SARS brutality and heinous events of October 20, 2020. When calls for justice are subsumed under commercial concerns and vested interests, it calls into question the legitimacy and integrity of the entire affair and the impartiality of the proceedings. Without a final panel report for actionable steps, we are

returning to the status quo.

I might be one woman, but there is so much I can do, outside this cycle of hand wringing and lies, and I refuse to be manipulated into gaslighting the people and attaching my name to a rubberstamped and foregone conclusion. I have held the government accountable even when my life was threatened, and I will continue to do so. There are trolls at every level that must be countered with facts and victims that are affected by the actions of this government, even if they dont have the words to articulate their suffering. Some have lost their loved ones, many permanently disabled for life due to torture or bullet effects, while others are forever scarred from encounters with the Nigerian law enforcement agencies who are supposed to protect us. I hope to spend the next few months reconnecting with these people, documenting their stories, and empowering the children and family of the deceased SARS victims who are not alive to fulfil their dreams.

For anyone tired of hearing me demand better of my country: The only way to convince me to back down is to do your part to make Nigeria work. I will be doing mine, in the communities where it matters, with the tools at my disposal. I fear for myself, my family, and my friends; for my future but so did the young people whose blood taints the Lekki Tollgate. It is from them I draw inspiration to continue my fight.

May we all see the Nigeria we deserve.

Rinu Oduala, a brand strategist, is one of the prominent activists of the #EndSARS campaign.
Across Southern Europe's tourist hotspots, all they can do is get ready and hope.

Vaccinations for the coronavirus are being rolled out, but it's going to be months before enough shots are delivered that people can start crowding onto planes, taking cruises, or hanging out in packed bars along the beach. That means businesses are largely in the dark about this year's summer season.

The expectation is that it will be better than 2020, but that's a low bar to hit. On the Greek island of Santorini, just three cruise ships arrived last year, compared with close to 600 in 2019. European Commission figures released on Thursday showed non-resident holiday nights in Italy, Spain and Greece fell at least 70%, and it warned the industry to brace for another quiet year.

"Tourism flows on the whole are not expected to fully recover to their pre-crisis levels in 2021," the commission said. In Italy, tourism will lag behind the broader economic recovery as visitors "only gradually return as uncertainty diminishes."

For those in the industry, that's already apparent less than two months into the year. Paolo Manca, who runs the Felix Hotels chain in Sardinia, says he would normally see summer reservations at 30% by now as people grow weary of long winter nights. Instead, he's looking at near empty books.

It's a difficult situation for owners, who still have maintenance and hiring costs with no guarantee of income.

"We need to be ready without knowing if we can open," said Manolis Karamolegos, who owns Meltemi Hotels and Resorts in Santorini and is president of the local hoteliers 'association. "We can't leave preparations to the last minute."

Tourism is crucial for many places along Southern Europe. It accounts for 21% of the economy in Greece, and 17% in Portugal. It's often the main employer in regions where other industries are absent, providing crucial income for families and support for local economies.

The outlook will improve as vaccinations continue, with pent-up demand leading to more spontaneous holiday bookings. But the emergence of vaccine-resistant strains across the continent could scupper that.

Even if there's a surge in last-minute bookings, the benefits won't be felt evenly. The European Commission says they will favor destinations at home or within driving distance over places like Greece and Portugal.

Meanwhile, as the European Union's inoculation campaign progresses slowly -- and controversially -- governments are looking at any opportunity to help tourism.

Greece wants the European Union to create a certificate so those who are inoculated can travel freely. It's already made an agreement with Israel, which is the world leader in vaccinations, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

TUI, the world's biggest tour operator, said this week it's sticking with plans to offer four-fifths of its usual holiday program this summer. It's betting that the rapid pace of the U.K. vaccine rollout will boost demand from British sunseekers.

But its enthusiasm isn't shared by the U.K. government. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps advised Britons this week against booking holidays yet given the uncertainty.

"I simply don't know the answer to the question of where we'll be up to this summer," he said. "The best advice is do nothing at this stage."

Some hotels in Southern Europe are seeing stronger domestic demand, which will offset some, but not all, of the hit to revenue. In Portugal, Pestana Hotel Group Chief Executive Officer Jose Theotonio said rooms in his January sales were snapped up by locals, as ongoing fear of travel bans and quarantines deterred foreign visitors.

While vaccines should bring to an end such harsh measures, it's still very unclear when. And governments have often been haphazardly introducing restrictions, keeping businesses, and their potential customers, on edge.

"We need precise indications from the government, in terms of safety guidelines, protocols, in order to plan ahead," said hotelier Manca, who is also head of hoteliers' association Federalberghi Sardegna. "For tourism, lack of clarity is as damaging as covid itself."
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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Fifteen Turkish sailors kidnapped by pirates last month in the Gulf of Guinea arrived back in Turkey on Sunday and the ship's captain described how they faced death threats and were held in a forest during their three-week ordeal.

The sailors hugged relatives as they arrived before dawn at Istanbul Airport, where they were greeted by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and other officials, two days after news of their release in Nigeria emerged.

"We were in a forest. There were tough conditions. There were constantly armed men at our side," Mustafa Kaya, captain of the ship "Mozart" from which the crew were abducted, was cited as saying by the Demiroren news agency.

The Liberian-flagged container ship was headed to Cape Town from Lagos when it was attacked on Jan. 23, 160 km (100 miles) off Sao Tome island, maritime reports showed. One Azeri sailor was killed in what the crew described as a sophisticated and well-orchestrated attack.

"We didn't experience physical violence but they exerted psychological pressure during the negotiations. They said 'we will kill you if your company does not do what we want'," Kaya said.

Kaya said that at the time of their abduction the crew had locked themselves in a secure room but that the pirates had forced their way in after a five-hour struggle.

"They were constantly opening fire, firing randomly inside. At that time one of our colleagues died. He was shot in the belly. We are very sad," he said.

The crew was finally taken by boat and released at a safe place specified by the company. Their release came two weeks after the attackers made contact to discuss a ransom.

After their release, Levent Karsan from Istanbul-based Boden Shipping had said that the sailors were all in good health and that it was not a political kidnapping, but solely aimed at getting a ransom, with talks handled by a team based in Hamburg.

(Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Michael Perry)
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Chidiebere Onyia, a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), who was abducted on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by gunmen, has regained her freedom.

The nursing mother was said to have been released by her abductors in the early hours of Sunday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mrs Onyia was abducted on Tuesday evening at Woji while driving home after work.

The police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed Mrs Onyias release in a statement on Sunday, described her release as a Valentine gift to her family.

The Rivers Police Command is pleased to announce the unconditional release of Chidiebere Onyia, a reporter with NTA Port Harcourt, who was kidnapped last week.

Her release was made possible due to the intense pressure mounted by the command as directed by the authority.

Her abductors on seeing the red flag and oblivious of the fact that we were closing in on them, however, bowed to the seeming pressure and abandoned her, from where she was sighted and rescued.

She is currently receiving medical attention and will be debriefed and released to reunite with her waiting family, Mr Omoni, a superintendent of police, stated.

He said at the time of her abduction, the police had assured her family, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and civil society organisations that the police would secure her early release.

The police have kept to their promise, Mr Omoni said.

The command remains resolute in providing the enabling environment for all to realise their full potential in the state, the spokesperson added.

(NAN)

Farmers on Sunday raised slogans and protested against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the new farm laws as the polling for the civic body elections in Punjab were underway in Ward number 37 of Amritsar.

Polling for 117 local bodies including eight municipal corporations and 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats is underway in Punjab.

Sonu Mahal, a farmer present during the protests said, "Today, during the local body elections in Amritsar, we are protesting against the BJP. A large number of our farmer brothers are riding on bikes and arriving in ward number 37 to participate in the protests."

"The BJP government is not taking back the new farm laws. So today we will not allow the BJP booths to be set up on election day and we shall oppose wherever the party's booths are installed," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria who had arrived to cast his vote at a polling booth said, "Even the British are opposing the BJP because the farmers are the backbone of our economy and the whole country is with the farmers. Congress stands in solidarity with the farmers."

The polling for Punjab civic body elections began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Bathinda recorded the highest voters' turnout with 48.42 per cent polling till 12 pm on Sunday. Ludhiana's Sahiwal Nagar witnessed 20 per cent voter's turnout till 10 am while the polling percentage in Ludhiana's Jagraon was 13 per cent.

The voters' turnout in Ludhiana' Payal was recorded at 14.6 per cent till 10 am.

The voting trend at Jalandhar Municipal Corporation was 14 per cent while it was 22.62 per cent in Nihal Singh Wala in Moga district.

The counting of votes will take place on February 17 while the results of the polls will be declared on February 20.

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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FARMINGTON - A potential buyer is interested in the Fotis Dulos mansion, which was just listed for sale on Friday, and items from the home and one of his other properties are being prepared for auction.

Attorney Richard Weinstein confirmed Monday there is a possible buyer for the property at 4 Jefferson Crossing and he expects the sale to be completed in a short amount of time. Weinstein represents Gloria Farber, the mother of Jennifer Dulos who is foreclosing on the property.
Love Island Australia star Tayla Damir has shared her relief that she's finally 'got answers' after battling a mystery illness for years.

On Sunday, the 24-year-old explained she had just this week been diagnosed with endometriosis, a disorder in which the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus.

Tayla shared the news alongside a photo of herself in hospital, explaining how for so long she had suffered from excruciating pain, extreme tiredness and mood swings and had 'no idea what was wrong'.

Diagnosis: Love Island Australia star Tayla Damir [pictured] has shared her relief that she's finally 'got answers' after battling a mystery illness for years. She was diagnosed with endometriosis earlier this week

'For as long as I can remember, Ive had stomach and hormone issues,' she began. 'As you guys know, I get extremely bloated and can have massive mood swings and fatigue.

'I have had countless blood tests, seen naturopaths, hormone specialist, doctors and was always given the same answer: You have a sensitive body and need to stress less.'

However, at the start of last year, Tayla - who shared a string of photos documenting her condition - admitted the pain and symptoms heightened to a whole new level.

She went on: 'I was having excessive hot flushes and excruciating period pain - I would have a hot pack on my bare skin, so that pain would hurt more than the pain of the cramps.'

Pain: Tayla explained she had suffered from excruciating pain, fatigue and mood swings and had 'no idea what was wrong' with her

Her story: 'For as long as I can remember, Ive had stomach and hormone issues. As you guys know, I get extremely bloated and can have massive mood swings and fatigue,' Tayla wrote

Speaking out: Tayla also shared pictures of her bloated stomach, which she suffered with for years before her diagnosis this week

Pain: Tayla also added that she had abdominal pain whenever she did hiit training, felt nauseous around her period and suffered from heavy fatigue

She added that she suffered with abdominal pain whenever she did hiit training, felt nauseous around her period and became unbelievably tired at all times.

After going to hospital last year, Tayla says she finally found a doctor 'who would listen' to her, and uncovered what had been wrong for all those years.

'I had my first laparoscopy on Friday to confirm if I had endometriosis,' she said. 'The endo was discovered growing on the left tube, but thankfully I only had a very small amount.'

Finally: 'I had my first laparoscopy on Friday to confirm if I had Endometriosis. The endo was discovered growing on the left tube but thankfully I only had a very small amount,' she wrote alongside this photo

'We also discovered I have an overactive pelvic floor which is where most of my pain comes from, so Ill be doing lots of physio therapy to get that under control,' she added.

She went on to say that she's still in 'lots of pain', but can't help but still feel 'gratitude to have answers'.

'This post is to remind people to listen to their bodies,' Tayla concluded.

Tayla won Love Island three years ago alongside her then partner, Grant Crapp. The two didn't last, however, and Tayla is now dating AFL star Nathan Broad.
Need to take a New York State-approved boater safety course?

Last year a new state law took effect, mandating that all motor boat operators, regardless of age, will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025. The legislation includes a five-year, phase in plan.

Both online and in-classroom boater safety courses are currently available, according to Brian Nearing, a spokesman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which oversees the courses. Last year, the vast majority of courses taken were online. That trend will undoubtedly continue this coming year.

As for in-classroom safe boating courses, they may now resume in counties that are in Phase 4 re-opening, according to the Parks website. Contact the instructor listed to confirm if the course you are interested in attending is still being offered. Students must wear face coverings during courses whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.

The legislation, called Briannas Law (S.5685/A,4853.A) was signed into law in 2019 and took effect Jan. 1, 2020. Prior passage of this law, only boaters born on or after May 1, 1996 were required to complete a boater safety course.

Briannas Law expanded that requirement. Under the 5-year phase-in plan:

*All motor boat operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 needed a boating safety certificate beginning in 2020;

*Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2022;

*Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023;

*Those born on or after Jan. 1. 1978 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024;

All motor boat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025.

Students must be at least 10 years of page to participate in both classroom or online courses.

Those who pass the course will be issued a boating card and required to have it on their person when on the water. Failure to do so could result in a fine between $100 and $250, depending on the circumstances.

An alternative to carrying the boating card is to go to the state Department of Motor Vehicles and have it noted on your drivers license that you have successfully completed the course.

The cost of these courses vary depending on whos offering them.

In-person courses can be taken for free up or up to $65 and more. Check with the instructor ahead of time for the price. For those 18 or older, in addition to the class fee an extra $10 fee is charged for your boating safety certificate from state Parks.

Online courses, vary as well, with costs as high as $49.95, with the cost for the boating safety certificate included in the cost.

Approved courses include those offered by NYS Parks, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron or U.S. Powerboating. See the NYS Parks website for dates of a boating safety class being offered near you and information about the state-approved online courses.

Those whove previously taken a state-approved boater safety course and dont have a certificate to prove it, wont have to take the course again. A new certificate can be obtained through the New York State Parks website at a cost of $10.

Certain allowances to this law have been made for visitors to New York, persons renting a boat from a livery and persons purchasing a new boat for the first time. See the NYS Parks website about this and other frequently asked questions.

The classes, both in-person and online, last about 8 hours, which includes the final test. A quick, informal survey of courses being offered illustrates the various costs.

Steve Holger, an independent contractor, is offering an in-person class today (Valentines Day) and several other dates this year at Seager Marine in Canandaigua in Ontario County. Hes charging $50 per person, $25 for those under 18 and for veterans.

On March 6, Christian Misciagna, of the NY B.A.S.S. Youth program, is offering a course at New Life Liverpool Church in Liverpool in Onondaga County. Cost of the course is free but students must pay the $10 to get their boating safety certificate, he said.

Allan Miller, is offering a two-session class on April 6-7 at the Malta Community Center in Malta in Saratoga County. Cost is $51 for Malta residents; $56 for non-residents, plus the $10 for the boater safety certificate. The money raised by the class will go toward the Community Center, he said.

Miller said the online course is convenient for many, but added that the in-person classes offers the opportunity for students to ask questions about local bodies of water, resources available and other bits of important information.

Amanda Dudley, director of education for the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, on the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson County, is once again offering boater safety courses in conjunction with the National Coast Guard Auxiliary. However, just like last year the courses will be all online (a Zoom format) and cost $35 to take.

Our smallest class size (last year) was 5, the biggest 12, she said,. We held them one hour a night, Monday through Thursday for two weeks. This year, were doing two- hour classes Monday through Thursday, finishing things up in one week.

The classes will be offered from June to September, she said.

We find that people take their safety course when theyre thinking of boating, Dudley said. We had a November session and we had to beg people to sign up.

The legislation mandating the taking of a boater safety course is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old girl killed in a boating incident in Long Islands Great South Bay in 2005. The girls mother, Gina Lieneck of Deer Park, lobbied lawmakers to pass the boater safety bill.

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which administers the law, estimates that nearly one million boaters will have to take the safety course before the end of the phase-in period Jan, 1, 2025.

In 2019, prior to the implementation of Briannas Law, about 24,700 students took either an online or classroom course, Nearing said. In 2020, more than 40,000 students took the course, with the majority choosing online courses.

He added that in-person courses were not offered from mid-March until early July last year under Gov. Cuomos NY Pause order.

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Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

Dental hygiene has come a long way since the days of wine-soaked toothpicks and the urine mouthwash once thought to disinfect mouths and whiten teeth.

Some of the earliest tooth-cleaning artifacts archaeologists have found are ancient toothpicks, dental tools and written tooth care descriptions dating back more than 2,500 years. Famous Greek doctor Hippocrates was one of the first to recommend cleaning teeth with what was basically a dry toothpaste, called a dentifrice powder.

Ancient Chinese and Egyptian texts advised cleaning teeth and removing decay to help maintain health. Some of the early techniques in these cultures included chewing on bark or sticks with frayed ends, feathers, fish bones and porcupine quills. They used materials like silver, jade and gold to repair or decorate their teeth.

People in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent traditionally cleaned their teeth with chew sticks made from the Salvadora persica tree. Theyre called miswak. Europeans cleaned their teeth with rags rolled in salt or soot.

Believe it or not, in the early 1700s a French doctor named Pierre Fauchard told people not to brush. And hes considered the father of modern dentistry! Instead, he encouraged cleaning teeth with a toothpick or sponge soaked in water or brandy.

In the late 1700s, Englishman William Addis was the first to sell toothbrushes on a large scale. He got the idea after making a toothbrush from bone and animal bristles while in prison.

Before modern-day toothpaste was created, pharmacists mixed and sold tooth cream or powder. Early tooth powders were made from something abrasive, like talc or crushed seashells, mixed with essential oils, such as eucalyptus or camphor, thought to fight germs. Their flavors came from oils of cinnamon, clove, rose or peppermint. Many contained other chemicals such as ammonia, chlorophyll and penicillin. These ingredients fight the acid-producing bacteria that can cause tooth decay and bad breath.

Story continues

By the 1900s, children of immigrants to the U.S. were taught oral hygiene as a way to help Americanize them and their families. Factories examined and cleaned their workers teeth to keep them from missing work due to toothaches.

Daily tooth brushing became more common thanks to World War II, when the American army required soldiers to brush their teeth as part of their daily hygiene practices. The first nylon toothbrush was made in 1938, followed by the electric toothbrush in the 1960s.

Nowadays, there are dozens of kinds of tools and potions to help keep your mouth healthy. As a professor of dental hygiene, I believe its most important to clean your mouth daily, no matter how you choose to do so. Well, maybe stay away from the urine mouthwash.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.

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Jane Cotter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Agencies | Riyadh

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Arab coalition yesterday thwarted yet another attempt by Houthis to attack the Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Coalition forces intercepted an improvised explosive device (IED) moving towards the airport, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, the coalition spokesperson, said.

Al-Maliki said the terrorist attacks by the Houthis are a systematic and deliberate attempt to target civilians.

The latest attempt follows a drone attack by Iran-aligned Houthis on Abha airport causing a fire in a civilian aircraft.

The group took responsibility for the attack shortly after hitting the airport. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea had said they used four drones for the attack.

The attack was widely condemned by world nations, with the US and Saudi officials holding talks to enhance defence.

The United States, in a statement, had warned that it would not let the Houthi leadership in Yemen off the hook for such attacks. Houthi leadership will find themselves sorely mistaken if they think this administration is going to let off the pressure, is going to let them off the hook for the reprehensible conduct that they continue to undertake, Ned Price, the US State Department spokesperson, said.

The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Houthis.

Bahrain blasts cowardly terrorist act

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias attempt to target Abha International Airport, terming it a cowardly terrorist act. Bahrains Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said the attack using an explosive-laden drone aimed at the lives of innocent people and civilian facilities.

This constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, said the statement.

The Kingdom praised the vigilance of the coalition forces in intercepting and destroying the drone.

Bahrain also reiterated its position that supports the relentless efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting dangerous terrorist acts.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-15 06:10:50|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Health Minister Enrique Paris said on Sunday that despite the success of the vaccination program, through which 1.8 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, citizens must continue to take care of their health.

"We all have to work together to continue reducing these indicators, for which we need people to be vaccinated according to the schedule we have established," the official said in a statement.

Paris stressed that citizens must, above all, follow self-care measures such as the use of masks, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of the virus.

He also said that in the last 24 hours, six regions of the country showed a decrease in the percentage of positive cases of COVID-19, while another six maintained their percentages.

The Chilean Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 3,815 new COVID-19 cases, for a total of 776,209, and another 98 deaths, bringing the death toll to 19,541.

The ministry also announced that so far, 733,731 patients have recovered from the disease, while 22,484 are still in the active stage. Enditem

Nation proud of Indian diaspora in the Gulf: PM Modi

India

oi-Deepika S

Kochi, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the Indian diaspora in the Gulf, particularly a large number of Keralites working there, saying the country is proud of them and assured them of his government''s full support.

Referring to the plight of Indians who were languishing in jails in the Gulf countries, the Prime Minister, while addressing a programme after inaugurating various infrastructure projects here, said governments of many gulf nations have over the last few years released several such Indians aftet the intervention of his government.

"Our government will always speak up for such people", Modi said.

The Prime Minister thanked the governments of various gulf nations for their sensitive approach on this subject.

"The Gulf kingdoms responded to my personal appeals and took special care of our community", he said.

PM Modi launches projects in Kerala, focusses on tourism

Recalling his previous visits to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain, the Prime Minister said he had shared meals and interacted with them. Modi said India is proud of its diaspora in the Gulf. He said over 50 lakh Indians who were stranded in foreign countries due to COVID-19 pandemic had come back home under the ''Vande Bharat Mission.''

"Many of them were from Kerala. It was our government''s honour to serve them at such a sensitive time", Modi said. The PM said the Gulf countries are giving priority to the return of Indians to the region.

"We''ve set up air bubbles to facilitate that process. Indians working in the gulf should know they have full support of our government", Modi said.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 19:07 [IST]
It's been 19 years since Louisiana, stung by a $1 billion court judgment, last opened its water bottoms for new oyster leases. But the state is now lifting its moratorium, raising hopes among oyster harvesters who have endured a series of setbacks from Mother Nature as well as the BP oil disaster.

Some of their never-considered lease applications date back to 1998.

"This is a big deal, a momentous occasion to be getting back into leasing water bottoms again," said Marc Maniscalco, oyster lease program manager for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The department changed its leasing rules last year and has now started reviewing 35 applications that have gone unprocessed over the past 22 years. Some of these applicants have been tied up in litigation with the state over the oyster grounds in Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Terrebonne parishes.

Corey Dunbar, a Belle Chasse-based lawyer represents some of the applicants, including longtime oyster harvester Terry Alexis, who since 2000 has been seeking leasing rights to more than 450 acres of water bottoms. Dunbar said all of clients are eager to see more leases open up in new grounds and to expand their current leases.

+7 Massive, unexplained bivalve die-off sends many Louisiana oystermen back to square one Mitch Jurisich, a third-generation oysterman, dropped a long pair of oyster tongs into the Gulf of Mexico and lightly raked the water bottom.

Ultimately, the oyster fishers just want to focus on their livelihood: growing and selling oysters.

"When they're having to deal with the politics of everything, they're not able to grow and sell oysters," Dunbar said.

The ban aimed to limit the state's liability should coastal restoration work affect water bottoms, after the 1993 operation of the Caernarvon freshwater diversion project rendered some of private oyster leases on Plaquemines Parish's east bank unproductive. Oyster fishers sued over their losses in Breton Sound.

A jury ruled in the fishers' favor, almost forcing the state to pay out more than $1 billion in damages. That ruling was overturned by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2004, recognizing that clauses placed in lease agreements held the state harmless. But the moratorium on new leases persisted.

Louisiana looks to streamline buyouts of oyster leases impacted by coastal work When the state's efforts to rebuild Louisiana's coastline impact a leased oyster bottom, a 14-year-old program guides how payments or buyouts 

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Louisiana's $317 million oyster industry has been battered with challenges such as the BP's Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in 2010 and record Mississippi River flood seasons. In the coming years, some efforts to restore Louisiana's eroding coast will likely cause extensive, short-term harm to oyster leases.

Talks between state officials and the Louisiana Oyster Task Force led to the lifting the moratorium and opening new areas for harvesting in attempts to ease some of the burden.

Byron Encalade, Louisiana Oysterman Association president, said he thinks new leasing will help his industry more forward. Encalade lost more than 60% of his oyster leases after the Caenarvon freshwater diversion structure opened.

"We need to take the handcuffs off our oyster industry so that the state ... can better manage it," he said. "There needs to be more options to work with the oyster industry and make sure we have a viable industry down here."

Once the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries works its way through the old applications, it will move to offering the former owners of leases affected by the Caernarvon project the chance to reinstate their leases.

The state is taking a phased approach to lifting the ban. Maniscalco said he thinks the first two phases will be finalized in the next two to three years. From there, current leaseholders will have the chance to expand their lease boundaries as far as 500 feet in all directions to where land has receded, a privilege lost to the oyster harvesters when laws changed in 2010.

After current lessees expand, the department will focus on cataloguing areas where water bottoms are dually claimed by the state and a private property owner. In some cases, property owners who bought land before the soil eroded have their own lease agreements with oyster harvesters for the water bottoms.

In the past, the state has issued its own leases to oyster fishers for a contested area and ticketed others who hold agreements with private property owners. This phase of the agency's work will help it catalogue where private agreements exist and reconcile the conflicts.

The final two phases will let the general public enter a lottery to apply for an oyster lease for the remaining available areas. The department has also announced plans in its draft oyster habitat strategy to open at least 100 new oyster leases in productive areas, giving longtime harvesters the chance to diversify outside of areas that will probably be affected by coastal restoration projects and giving first-generation fishers a shot at their own lease.

"We want to give everyone the opportunity to apply if they feel like it's something they want to do and we need acreage to be able to do that," said Maniscalco.
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The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced a former Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, Mutiat Adio, to five years imprisonment for issuance of dishonoured cheque.

A statement by the EFCC on Sunday said the Ibadan zonal office of the commission secured the conviction of the courts top official on Friday.

The statement stated that Ms Adio was convicted after pleading guilty to fresh charges of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dishonored cheque.

The prosecution accused her of fraudulently obtaining a 2000 Model Toyota Pathfinder SUV valued at N1, 500,000 from one Fabunmi Samuel of Fatai Olanrewaju Motors by issuing a cheque without corresponding value cash value in the account.

The victim was said to have released the said vehicle to her but the cheque was dishonoured within three months of issuance for insufficient funds in the account.

Upon arraignment on January 30, 2018, the defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but later changed her plea to guilty after a plea bargain agreement leading to the amendment of the charges.

The trial judge, M. L Owolabi, thereafter pronounced the defendant guilty of the offence and sentenced her to three years in prison.

The court also ordered her to restitute to the fraud victim, Mr Samuel of Fatai Olanrewaju Motors the sum of N500,000 in addition to the sum of N1,000,000 she had previously paid in restitution to the victim.

Ms Adio had been previously jailed twice for fraud on May 18, 2018, when she was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for obtaining N9.2 million from one Abiodun Olonade, a Nigerian resident in Ireland, by false pretence.

Also, on March 6, 2020 she was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for stealing N22,375,913 from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
Savers who lost thousands when Neil Woodfords empire collapsed have voiced their dismay after the disgraced fund manager revealed he plans to start over again.

Up to 500,000 were affected when the 60-year-olds business failed in 2019, leaving many with huge losses and their remaining cash tied up in investments that were difficult to sell.

Some 200million is still owed to investors, according to stock broker AJ Bell.

Those who backed Mr Woodfords equity income fund from the start are sitting on losses of more than 25 per cent.

The events leading up to the collapse are being investigated by City regulators, while a legal battle is under way to secure compensation for savers.

Neil Woodford announced yesterday that he is preparing to launch a Jersey-based fund called Woodford Capital Management Partners with business partner Craig Newman.

Despite this, Mr Woodford announced yesterday that he is preparing to launch a Jersey-based fund called Woodford Capital Management Partners with business partner Craig Newman.

Industry experts said the news was likely to anger thousands of embattled investors who have been left financially scarred by the scandal. Many were enraged about him continuing to charge a total of 60,000 per day in management fees while they were unable to pull their money out.

Ken Goodwin, 73, and his wife Margaret lost between 35,000 and 40,000 of a 75,000 investment in Mr Woodfords fund.

The retired computer software technician, from Leicestershire, said: I dont appreciate him setting up a new fund at all. He took risks gambling with other peoples money, which was not what it said on the box.

Retired project manager Brian King invested 10,000 and lost around 3,000. The 79-year-old, who lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife Sylvia, said: I dont think I would ever want to invest any money with him again.

But like a lot of things, somehow, these people always manage to get the money and keep going. I lost thousands of pounds and am still waiting for money.

In a tearful interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Woodford said he was very sorry for what I did wrong but insisted he could not be blamed for the suspension. He said: I cant be sorry for the things I didnt do. I didnt make the decision to suspend the fund, I didnt make the decision to liquidate the fund.

Industry experts said the news was likely to anger thousands of embattled investors who have been left financially scarred by the scandal

He added that he did not want to hide away and beat myself up about things that happened the best part of two years ago. He also claimed that if backers had stayed with him they would now be enjoying the fruits of that faith and trust in me as a fund manager.

Mr Woodfords fund empire collapsed in October 2019 after hordes of backers tried to exit but were unable to receive their cash. This was because he had ploughed it into several unquoted or illiquid investments, which are difficult to sell quickly.

Link Fund Solutions, the administrator, sacked Mr Woodford and closed the fund, meaning investors could not withdraw their money at will. Instead they have been paid out in tranches based on what has been recouped from selling the remaining assets. Many suffered big losses to their life savings as a result.

Ryan Hughes, of AJ Bell, said: There will be little sympathy for Woodford. He clearly hopes that much of the emotion and fury that he has faced over the past two years will disappear.

However, given the broader damage in trust and confidence that this whole affair has caused to the investment industry, it looks unlikely that investors of any kind will find it so easy to forget.

Commentary by Alex Brummer, City Editor

The return of Neil Woodford to investment management just 18 months after the crash of his 15billion empire  leaving as many as 500,000 ordinary savers nursing big losses  will be a source of anger and astonishment nationally.

And the idea that anyone should have sympathy for this self-serving egotist because he felt compelled to sell his 30million Cotswolds estate  with its stable of show-jumping horses  in the aftermath of the collapse is risible.

Yet in his interview in the Sunday Telegraph, a lachrymose Woodford lashes out at everyone except himself  before shamelessly promoting his new venture.

He acknowledges that many people wouldnt touch him with a ten-foot disinfected barge pole  and hes right.

Savers who lost out  including this writer  are still waiting for an explanation as to why regulators failed to intervene as the Woodford empire headed for the buffers in the spring of 2019.

The full and urgent inquiry demanded by both the Commons Treasury Select Committee and the Treasury itself has yet to happen.

Meanwhile, the Mails requests to the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, for updates on the state of its probe have, so far, met with a stonewall.

For more than two decades at City giant Invesco Perpetual, Neil Woodford was regarded as an investment genius, having turned 1,000 into 25,000 for those savers who stuck with him for a generation.

Neil Woodford acknowledges that many people wouldnt touch him with a ten-foot disinfected barge pole  and hes right

So it was not surprising that when he struck out on his own in 2014, his empire grew fast.

That growth was aided and abetted by the unquestioning backing of investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown which exposed a third of its nearly one million clients to Woodford.

As his own boss, there were few constraints on where Woodford invested client money. He piled into unpopular quoted shares, such as doorstep lender Provident Financial, and dozens of unknown start-ups in biotech and science-based companies despite having unproven expertise in this area.

When the performance of his investments failed to live up to expectations, shrewd investors rushed to get their money out.

A crisis was triggered in June 2019 when Kent County Councils pension fund sought to withdraw 250million from the Woodford fund.

The cash wasnt there and the fund was frozen. The Council and its pensioners took a hit of 63million, and hundreds of thousands more were suddenly unable to access their money.

In his first interview since the collapse, Woodford, 60, accuses the administrator, Link Fund Solutions, of acting too hastily in suspending trading in his flagship Woodford Equity Income Fund and closing it down.

If anything, Link and the FCA acted too slowly. Action should have been taken as soon as cash started to flood out.

Woodford behaved like a gambling addict who thinks that his luck will turn but runs up bigger losses. t the peak of his troubles in 2019, he tried a series of desperate gambits to keep his funds from breaching regulations.

He dumped unquoted investments from his main fund into his Patient Capital fund at over-ripe prices.

He also supported the decision of some of the biotech firms in which he was invested to float on the virtually moribund Guernsey stock market.

This enabled Woodford to count them as liquid, easyto-dispose-of assets. But so suspicious was the Guernsey exchange that it notified the FCA.

Now, the big question for savers, who have lost at least 25 per cent of their money in the main Woodford Equity Income Fund, is how on earth can someone who has done as much harm to Britains savings culture make such a rapid return to investment management?

An FCA verdict is still required on Woodfords personal culpability and the roles of Hargreaves Lansdown and wealth management adviser St Jamess Place which sent so much money in the failed gurus direction.

Indeed, the lack of urgency and intervention by the FCA itself has still to be established. One thing is certain: the FCA and the Bank of England, which is responsible for financial stability, cannot allow Woodford to return to active advice and management.

Incidentally, at the time of the Woodford implosion, the chief executive of the FCA was one Andrew Bailey who has since moved on to greater things as governor of the Bank.

Just last week Bailey found himself entangled in a disagreement with former Appeal Court Judge Dame Elizabeth Gloster over his share of responsibility for the collapse of the smaller mini-bond firm, London Capital & Finance, with 11,000 investors.

But to return to Woodford.

He and his associates say they will only be dealing with professional investors not ordinary retail savers in their new venture.

The distinction is ridiculous. Professional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, are harnessing our money.

Woodford and his cohort must be stopped before they cause more damage.
Last week, just under half the Fianna Fail parliamentary party told The Irish Times they would consider Sinn Fein as a coalition partner after the next general election.

Not one mentioned that Sinn Fein is still directed by a paramilitary body, still less that the party has never atoned for a campaign of murder that continued to 1994, although civil rights had been conceded by 1974.

Although I have been an atheist most of my life, I have no doubt that Christianity is the source of my sense of right and wrong.

Accordingly, with every bone in my body, I believe that bringing Sinn Fein into our government would corrupt our democracy.

That is why I believe Micheal Martin's determination to deprive Sinn Fein of government was the most important act of moral authority in my lifetime - and caused SF to struggle in opposition.

So when Martin talks cryptically about "evolving" policies, I am fairly sure he expects SF to do most of the evolving in relation to Northern Ireland.

What is sickest about his political opponents is their degraded deep antagonism to his moral antipathy to Sinn Fein.

Here they have much in common with Carmela Soprano, the conflicted wife of Tony Soprano.

Like Carmela, while not getting their own hands dirty, they want any goodies going from consorting with those who consort with political criminals.

So this week I am playing the same role as Dr Krakower, the Jewish psychiatrist who gives Carmela a reality check.

Carmela: He's a good man, a good father.

Dr Krakower: You tell me he's a depressed criminal, prone to anger, serially unfaithful. Is that your definition of a good man?

Carmela: All I did was make sure he's got clean clothes in his closet and dinner on his table.

Dr Krakower: "Enabler" would be a more accurate job description for what you do than "accomplice"?

At least Carmela got some material benefits from her Faustian pact with Tony Soprano. But the FF Carmelas will only get a plastic marker saying: "Died from personal ambition and toxic nationalism."

Nothing points up the nihilism of the FF Carmelas more than their weird willingness to give up real power in the present for playing second fiddle to Sinn Fein in the future.

Right now, FF has far more power than it will ever see as a junior partner with Sinn Fein. It holds the top position of Taoiseach and the powerful portfolios of Health, Housing and Education. Why are FF Carmelas willing to give up four birds in the hand for a piggish terminal poke from SF?

The answer is they are suffering from the same death wish that first surfaced in 1970 and nearly finished FF. That death wish is caused by tribal nationalism that has nothing in common with Wolfe Tone or Seamus Mallon's republicanism.

This sickness can be sourced to Haugheyite rhetorical rubbish about a united Ireland that is as shallow as the recent Red C poll in which 70pc said "yes" when asked if they would "like" a united Ireland.

This is what I call the Mars Bar question, where context is all: "Would you like a Mars Bar? Yes. Would you like a Mars Bar laced with cyanide? No."

Would you like a united Ireland with Sinn Fein rampant in the south and continually provoking trouble in the North? No.

The recent rise of Shinnerism in FF started with senior party figures like Jim O'Callaghan, Barry Cowen and Billy Kelleher ramping up rhetoric on a united Ireland. Last September, O'Callaghan told us re- unification is the "biggest issue" after Covid and Brexit.

So much for those without a roof over their heads or private sector workers without adequate pension provision.

Last week, the feeble FF Carmelas gave us a foretaste of their future flabbiness in government with Sinn Fein by staying silent while that party's grandees gloated and patronised them.

Senator Lynn Boylan told Claire Byrne on Friday that Fianna Fail had "woken up to reality". But even before the Carmelas' surrender, Eoin O Broin had sensed their supine willingness to turn themselves into a satin footstool for Sinn Fein.

He loftily told the Sunday Independent he was open to the possibility of a left-led government, given what he correctly called Fianna Fail's "ideological promiscuity".

Translated, that means Fianna Fail Carmelas have no policy separate from Sinn Fein's.

More to the point, he said this "would have to include a programme of government we have never seen before in the history of the State".

What exactly does that mean in terms of practical economics?

It means Fianna Fail will have to support Sinn Fein's tax-and-spend brand of Venezuelan economics.

Sinn Fein in power will spend like hell, tax the guts out of anyone above 50k a year and stir Northern Ireland to a frenzy.

Incredibly, the FF Carmelas, a cabal that showed no loyalty to their successful leader, think they can go to bed with a party of disciplined Tony Sopranos and rise whistling next day.

In reality, the Carmelas will have to suck up being shoved around the place - sometimes literally - by Sinn Fein, whose militaristic culture leads to physical and media intimidation.

Remember the irate entourage that sullenly hung around RTE studios after Miriam O'Callaghan's scorching interview with Martin McGuinness?

Remember Christine O'Mahony, visited at her home late at night by a convicted criminal?

Remember, as late as last week, Leas-Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly being accosted by Sinn Fein TDs following a disagreement about Dail procedure?

To personal intimidation Sinn Fein adds constant media bullying and abuse. Last December, The Irish Times exposed an abusive Facebook group followed by 16,000 Sinn Fein supporters.

Posts referred to Labour's Joan Burton as a "c**t" and an "ugly b***h", and one said they would like to "throw her out of a plane with no life jacket".

Last week, Relatives For Justice, a campaign group promoted by Sinn Fein, announced they were making a complaint to RTE News about Tommie Gorman's perfectly balanced report on the events of Ormeau Road.

Adding up all that, let me make three firm predictions, which, for the sake of my country, I hope will be flung in my face in the future.

First, common sense says that when a lying lion lies down with a gullible lamb, only the lion leaves. Accordingly, I predict SF will finish off FF for good.

Second, a Sinn Fein government given cover by compliant FF Carmelas, faced with a national debt of 270bn and a post-Covid bill of 50bn, will not cut back on its spending pledges of 20bn, but will tax the productive, destroy our economy and, most certain of all, will blame FF.

Finally, Sinn Fein will keep whipping up trouble in Northern Ireland, opening cans of poisonous worms that might well wriggle to our side of the Border.

All of which will create a generation of demented young people, at the mercy of leaders without morals.

We end with Dr Krakower's final words to Carmela. "One thing you can never say: that you haven't been told."
Even as his song Coke continues to rule YouTube Trending in Jamaica over the past week, Skillibeng is being asked to undertake yet another task, in furtherance of the crashed plane saga which inspired the hit track.

This time he is being prompted to formulate a song in relation to the reported capturing of two Nicaraguan ganja smugglers on a beach in Westmoreland last night, by Jamaican Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton, an event that has seen Jamaicans calling for the politician to be elevated to Minister of National Security.

The call for the follow-up song came from Zip FM disc jockey and music producer ZJ Sparks. However, not only did she suggest that Skilli apply his writing skills to the new development, but also that Dancehall artist, Govana, who rocked the music scene last year with his HAMANTS Convo series featuring Wicked Man Chris, do the same.

TUFF MOVES. Bad Man Chris ah you dat? Well, guess him always always guh handle di crime portfolio next. Sidenote: awaits Skilli or Govi fi duh 1 song bout dis #Jamaica #ChrisTufton, she wrote in an Instagram post where she shared snippets of the breaking news story which was carried by Nationwide Radio this morning.

According to Nationwide, the two Nicaraguan men are now in the custody of the police after they were detained by the Health Minister and a friend on Friday night on the southwest coast of Westmoreland in Jamaica.

According to the report, Dr. Tufton and two of his friends were at a private residence in Westmoreland when a man who later identified himself as a Nicaraguan, appeared from the vicinity of the beach.

Law enforcement sources say Minister Tufton and his two friends reportedly confronted the Nicaraguan who was subsequently tied up until the police arrived. A colleague of the Nicaraguan who later arrived on the scene was also restrained by Minister Tufton and his two friends, the report said.

Nationwide also reported that another male from Nicaragua, who is believed to have been on a nearby boat at sea, allegedly fled the scene. The radio station also stated that the Nicaraguans who are in custody indicated that they were in Jamaica to pick up a stash of ganja but were unable to find the location they were searching for.

Jamaican police sources have also said the Nicaraguans reportedly said it was their third time visiting Jamaica and noted that on a previous occasion they had visited Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth to pick up ganja, Nationwide revealed.

Following the drama, a heavy contingent of police and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers descending on the community where the Minister and his friend had captured the Nicaraguans. The police are also investigating whether the Nicaraguans arrived on the island legitimately and what was the purpose of their visit.

The Minister who was contacted for a comment, this morning declined to say anything, as the case is now a police matter.

The scenario would make a perfect follow-up to Skillis Coke which scored more than three million views on YouTube since its release just over a week ago.

Skillibeng had capitalized on the mystery surrounding a Mexican 12-seater aircraft that crash-landed at Rocky Point, on Jamaicas South Coast on January 23. The video for Coke, shows the St. Thomas artist sprawled atop the aircraft, whilst spurting lyrics about a plane belonging to him which had crashed wid di coke, drawing on popular sentiments being bandied about by the Jamaican population that the plane was being used for smuggling or other nefarious activities.

As for Govana, his Wicked Man Chris title given to Jamaican comedian Deno Crazy who plays the role of Chris, in a love triangle, was planted on the Health Minister by Dancehall fans last year leading up to the Jamaican General Elections after he was involved in an imbroglio involving a marketing contract, is apparently the genesis of Sparks recommendation for a song from him.
Page 92 of volume one of the Bergin report into Crowns planned gambling mecca for Sydney, released in the past week, gives a sweet insight into how casino business is done in this country.

Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit:

In around February 2012 Mr James Packer met with then NSW Premier Mr Barry OFarrell OA, at the home of media identity Mr Alan Jones, the inquiry report reads. Mr Packer outlined his vision to build a $1 billion-plus hotel, casino and entertainment complex at Barangaroo. Later in February 2012 concept plans for a state-of-the-art, 350 room hotel and casino at Barangaroo were released to the media.

Business journalist Damon Kitneys book on James Packer, The Price of Fortune, offers more detail. The meeting took place at Jones pied-a-terre in the controversial toaster building at Circular Quay, nestled next to the Opera House. Visitors to the apartment were generally greeted in the lobby by Jones butler, David, and then ushered upstairs to a couch studded with Versace throw cushions.

On that day, Packer, OFarrell and Jones had lunch at the grand timber dining table. It was the first time the then-premier and Packer had met. Jones said there was nothing untoward about the meeting at all.
Eskom has spent millions of rand on properties in the Eastern Cape coastal town of Thyspunt, turning many landowners in the area into instant multimillionaires.

This is according to an investigation by the City Press, which uncovered that Eskom had been purchasing land at exorbitant prices for the development of a new nuclear power station in the area from 2012 until 2018.

The plan to build a nuclear power station in Thyspunt, which lies between Oyster Bay and Cape St Francis Bay, was scrapped in 2018.

By this point, however, enterprising property buyers  including companies with alleged ties to former Eskom employees  had flipped land in the area to Eskom for massive profits.

The City Press investigation found a number of deals which turned property owners into overnight multimillionaires, including one case where a farm was purchased for R87,000 and sold 12 years later for over R12 million, as well as a case where a portion of a farm was sold to Eskom for over R18 million despite being valued at R500,000 by the municipality.

Eskom told the City Press that these prices were based on market value and there was nothing untoward about the transactions.

Old nuclear plan

The Thyspunt nuclear power station formed part of the governments now-defunct plan to build three new nuclear power stations in South Africa.

These power stations would collectively have delivered 9,600MW of power to the national grid, and their planned construction caused a significant amount of concern amongst activist groups and concerned residents.

Critics also pointed to the difficulties and gross inefficiency involved with the construction of the Medupi and Kusile coal power plants as a reason to scrap plans for new nuclear power stations.

It was estimated that if similar issues had plagued the proposed nuclear build, it would have cost Eskom R1 trillion and would have taken 20 years to complete.

This may have saddled Eskom with a significantly higher debt burden and further reduced its potential for financial recovery.

The new plan to save Eskom

In his State of the Nation address on 11 February 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined a number of priorities for the governments national recovery plan.

These included steps to restore Eskom to operational and financial health and accelerate its restructuring process.

Ramaphosa said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will soon announce the successful bids for 2,000MW of emergency power to help curb load-shedding.

Independent power producers are also now able to sell electricity to local municipalities.

The necessary regulations have been amended and the requirements clarified for municipalities to buy power from independent power producers, Ramaphosa said.

In addition to these measures, the government will also soon procure an additional 11,800MW of power from renewable energy, natural gas, battery storage and coal, he said.

Regulation will also be amended to increase the licensing threshold for embedded generation to reduce strain on the national power grid.

Recent analysis suggests that easing the licensing requirements for new embedded generation projects could unlock up to 5,000MW of additional capacity and help to ease the impact of load shedding, Ramaphosa said.

We will therefore amend Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act within the next three months to increase the licensing threshold for embedded generation.
James Paxton is going back to the future after two years with the Yankees, one very good one and the other destroyed by more injury woes.

Big Maple spent his first six big-league seasons with the Seattle Mariners from 2013-18, and thats where the power left-hander is returning. According to multiple reports, Paxton signed a one-year, $8.5-million contract with Seattle on Saturday night.

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The Western Canada reportedly had drawn interest from the Toronto Blue Jays and Mets before opting for Seattle.

Paxton, 32, probably would have landed a deal for more years and a lot more dough if his health wasnt a concern. Last year alone, Paxton had back surgery in February (a week before the start of spring training), then after being ready to pitch by the time the pandemic-shortened season began in late July, he suffered a season-ending left flexor strain during his fifth start.

Thats not how Paxton, who has been on the injured list 10 times in eight MLB seasons, wanted to hit the free agent market for the first time.

Although there have been reports throughout the offseason that Paxton is fully healthy and looking great on the mound  one coming last week from Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd  there would be no big-money offer from anyone.

Like with the Yankees, Paxton pitched like an ace at times during his time in Seattle. His highs included a 12-5 season with a 2.98 ERA in 2017 and an 11-6 season with 208 strikeouts over 160.1 innings plus a no-hitter in 2018.

With Seattle looking to trim payroll after the 18 season, Paxton was traded to the Yankees for three prospects  touted left-hander Justus Sheffield, promising righty Erik Swanson and outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams.

Buy Gerrit Cole Yankees gear: Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com, Lids

Paxton established a career-high for wins and starts pitching for the Yanks in 2019, going 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings over 29 outings. He was just 5-6 with a 4.72 ERA through July, but finished 10-0 with a 2.51 ERA over his last 11 starts.

Last year, Paxton allowed three runs over one inning in his first start on July 25, a road loss to the Washington Nationals, and he wasnt much better before suffering his flexor issue, finishing with a 6.64 ERA with 17 runs allowed, 15 earned, over 20 1/3 innings.

But Paxton is getting another fresh start this year in his old stomping grounds, and a good season with no health issues could lead to a big payoff next winter.

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This Valentines Day is unprecedented. All couples, and especially those who are long distance, are having to adjust the way that they celebrate this year to keep themselves and those around them safe.
February 14, 2021 marks two years of the Pulwama terror attack, when 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed after a 22-year-old suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them, making it the bloodiest attack the Valley had witnessed during its 30-year-old insurgency period.

Days later, Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the attack and police identified the suicide bomber as Adil Ahmad Dar who had joined the terrorist organisation in 2018. Dar drove a IED-packed Maruti Eeco onto the highway and rammed it into the passing CRPF convoy.

Twelve days after the attack, in the wee hours of February 26, Indian Air Force jets bombed the JeM camp in Balakot, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. India also launched extensive diplomatic efforts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar categorised as a global terrorist and it became a reality on May 1, 2019, when China lifted its technical hold on a proposal introduced by the US, the UK, and France in the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

Marking the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a tweet paid tribute to the brave soldiers on Sunday and said the country will never forget their sacrifice. I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019. India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice, he wrote.

I bow down to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack on this day in 2019.India will never forget their exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 14, 2021

The Congress also pay tribute to the tremendous courage of the Indian Soldiers. Exactly 2 years ago, divisive, violent & hateful forces took away 40 of our brave jawans in Pulwama. Today we honour these martyrs & pay tribute to their tremendous courage. We are all duty-bound to stand by each brave jawan as they strive to protect our nation. Jai Hind, it tweeted from its official handle.

Salute the martyrdom of the brave soldiers of the country who were martyred in the Pulwama attack, all of us countrymen will remain indebted to them for their courage and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, The Hindustan Times reported that Interpol has issued red notices against Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three of his relatives in connection with the 2019 attack, tweeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The NIA, which is probing the case, wants Pakistan -- where Masood Azhar is reportedly hiding, will honour the Interpol notice and take action against those responsible for the attack.
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The woman accused of trying to con The Block with fake receipts now claims she has given up on buying Jimmy and Tam's $4.2million home and that she's the victim of a conspiracy.

A month after her failed purchase of the Palm Springs-style home, alleged cyber-security expert Emese Fajk has published an entire website detailing 'her side of the story'.

There, the 27-year-old - who famously claimed to have worked with Apple and the United Nations - published a blizzard of texts and emails she claims she exchanged with the Nine Network and a jilted acquaintance she blames for an expose about her.

The contents of the website reveal how, just a day after she was exposed on national television by A Current Affair, Ms Fajk was still telling The Block that she was ready to buy the home, despite her property settlement spectacularly falling over.

She wrote an email to the show's executive producer Julian Cress on December 23: 'Hi Julian, Funds have been returned by (property payment platform) PEXA. So technically I could get back to making settlement happen ASAP.'

But she forecast there could be a big obstacle in the way: Christmas.

Not much to celebrate! Emese Fajk with Jimmy and Tam after 'buying the property' ... a process that ended in disaster

Ms Fajk (who also goes by the last name 'Fayk') shared this December 23 email exchange with the executive producer of The Block suggesting she could still buy the house

'Given that everyone is off during xmas, I'm not sure who to reach out to or how to set this up?' she said.

Mr Cress replied in just a few words, telling her that he had referred her message to the Nine Network's legal department.

In her 907-word blog, published only recently, Ms Fajk said she would still like to buy The Block home.

But she said 'it is now obvious that there will be no closure or positive outcome as my attempts to contact Channel 9 are being ignored.

'I quietly waited for over a month.'

Ms Fajk blamed an unnamed man for bringing about a Channel expose about her past conduct.

In her blog, Ms Fajk once again claimed that an unnamed man had been 'harrassing me and trying to intimidate me... He contacted friends, family, everyone he could, telling them I had taken money from him.' She also alleged he had threatened to 'slut shame' her.

However, Daily Mail Australia is aware of multiple parties who have come forward claiming she has owed them money.

Ms Fajk also shared an email from a man claiming he had set a private investigator on her in 2019 to get 'all my money back'

Late last year, the Mail obtained emails Ms Fajk sent to Nine in December as 'proof' that she had paid for the winning Block house.

The emails featured screenshots of her alleged payments via bank transfer for the property purchase - a rarely used method in Australian property settlements, which are generally direct debited.

Analysis by graphic designers and sources in the banking industry said Ms Fajk's receipts showed clear signs of being doctored.

This is the screengrab of an ANZ bank transfer which Emese Fajk sent to Channel Nine as proof she had paid $4,072,951 to buy Jimmy and Tam's property on The Block. The funds never arrived

Above is Coutts Bank document Emese Fajk is alleged to have sent to an ex-partner as evidence that she had paid them 50,000 pounds owing. (She denies having done so.) Photoshop experts said the receipt showed clear signs of being doctored - with a grey-and-white pattern showing where erasures have previously occurred

Above is another screengrab Ms Fajk sent to a European designer to seemingly 'prove' she had paid her $1043.49 bill. However, it too never arrived

In her blog statement, Ms Fajk said of The Block saga: 'I didn't expect the process to be complex, because I knew the house was brand new ....

'I also did not know how electronic settlements work.'

Since the story has broken, Daily Mail Australia has published the claims of two separate parties who have come forward to allege Ms Fajk sent them Photoshopped proof of payment.

They included what appeared to be a doctored Coutts Bank payment statement showing the transfer of 50,000 pounds to a former partner, which allegedly never arrived. (Ms Fajk has denied making such a payment.)

Additionally, a European graphic designer shared an ANZ screenshot Ms Fajk sent her that apparently proved she had transferred $AUD1043.

That payment, too, never came.

The Block host Scott Cam recently denied a rumour that he was going to purchase Jimmy and Tam's home

When questioned last month about the failed transaction to the European designer, Ms Fajk said: 'I'm more than happy to sit down with people, in person, and refute any allegations against me.

'I'm not going to send any documents etc over in emails, but I'm more than happy to show whatever is relevant, from the relevant sources so it can br (sic) verified, in person.'

But Ms Fajk did not respond to a January 31 emailed offer by Daily Mail Australia for a sit down interview.

For Jimmy and Tam, the saga continues, with real estate agents recently walking potential buyers through their off-market Brighton home.

Michael Townsend, principal of McGrath Real Estate St Kilda, told Daily Mail Australia the home was 'still available', as far as the agency was aware.

The Block's host Scott Cam was recently forced to deny he had purchased the property following rumours published by New Idea magazine.

Do you know more? Contact this reporter: Daniel.Piotrowski@mailonline.com

The second dose of the jab can be delayed between four and 12 weeks (Ben Birchall/PA)

More than 15 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine  just over two months since the first jab was administered.

Here are your questions answered about the future of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history.

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 How many people have been vaccinated so far?

Initially the NHS reached out to the top four priority groups, including those over the age of 70 and health and care staff, aiming to offer the jab to everyone in this group by mid-February.

On Sunday the Government said 15 million people in the UK had received their first dose.

Government data up to February 13 shows that of the 15,599,904 jabs given in the UK so far, 15,062,189 were first doses  a rise of 505,362 on the previous day.

Some 537,715 were second doses, an increase of 2,846 on figures released the previous day.

 When will they get their second dose?

The second dose of the jab can be delayed between four and 12 weeks. This means people receiving their jab today may be getting their second vaccine in May.

 What are the priority groups?

The priority list set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is:

1. care home residents and their carers

2. people over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers

3. people over the age of 75

4. people over the age of 70 and those deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable

5. people over the age of 65

6. people aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and death.

7. people over the age of 60

8. people over the age of 55

9. people over the age of 50

 Which priority group will be offered the jab next?

In England, people aged 65 to 69 and those who are clinically vulnerable are being invited to book their Covid-19 jab as the vaccination programme moves into a new phase on Monday.

The Government has announced that it plans for everyone in the top nine groups to be offered their first vaccine before May.

Even after you've had your #COVID19 vaccination, you still need to:



ai Follow national restrictions

ai Wash your hands regularly

ai Cover your face

ai Keep your distance



More info: https://t.co/B5owWzGRE5 pic.twitter.com/9J5BChaCzF  Public Health England (@PHE_uk) February 10, 2021

 What about other adults and keyworkers?

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not yet set out plans on who should be vaccinated beyond the top nine priority groups.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock has pledged that all UK adults will be offered a Covid vaccine by autumn.

It is unknown whether keyworkers will be offered the jab as a priority.

The JCVI is currently discussing what the future plans should look like and expects to set out these recommendations by the end of the month.

 What will this mean for the NHS?

The impact of the vaccination programme will not be immediately felt in the NHS.

But the health service should soon start to see some big reductions in hospital admissions.

It has been estimated that giving people in the top nine priority groups the jab will reduce deaths by up to 99%.

Expand Close Matt Hancock has pledged that all UK adults will be offered a Covid vaccine by autumn (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Matt Hancock has pledged that all UK adults will be offered a Covid vaccine by autumn (Peter Byrne/PA)

 Can I mix with other people now I have had my jab?

Not yet. We dont know whether or not the vaccines stop people from transmitting the virus. And questions have been raised about how protective they are against new variants.

And it takes time for the body to build up immunity after the jab  people are not protected straight away. And it is important to get the second jab to get the full protection offered by the vaccine.

 Im over 70 and I havent been offered my jab yet, what should I do?

The NHS changed messaging from wait until we contact you to contact us to ask people to book their jab.

Over-70s can book through the website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119.
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Nigerian Army Headquarters says the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango on Tuesday eliminated two most wanted Boko Haram terrorist leaders, Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib in an encounter at Pulka axis of Borno.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Yerima said the renewed offensive operations by troops under the theatre command, Operation Lafiya Dole, had continued to inflict heavy casualty on the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.

He said the troops of 121 and 151 Battalions, on Tuesday, laid ambush at the terrorists crossing point between Vuria and Guja settlements along road Banki Junction  Pulka axis.

He said that three terrorists, including the two wanted commanders, were neutralised during the ambush.

According to him, the troops also recovered three GPMG, seven AK47 rifles, a belt of ammunition containing 446 rounds of 7.62mm, one Boxer motorcycle and one ITEL 2160 mobile phone among others.

Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib were among the top BHTs commanders of the Shekau faction operating in Sambisa forest and environs.

The two terrorist commanders have been on the intelligence watch-list for some time.

Abul-Bas was a top commander second to Abu Fatima, while Ibn Habib was the BHT Commander in charge of Njimia and Parisu camps in the Sambisa Forest, he said.

The spokesperson said the elimination of Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib by the gallant troops had inflicted a big blow on the operations of the terrorists and further boosted the morale of the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has commended the troops for this feat and other successes being recorded in the Theatre.

He further charged them to intensify the aggressive clearance operation in order to clear the Sambisa Forest and environs of all remnant terrorists and their collaborators, he said.

(NAN)
During a two-day visit on 17-18 Feb, the envoys are likely to meet some of the elected DDC members. They are also likely to be briefed about the security situation in the UT

New Delhi: A group of envoys from Europe and Africa will visit Jammu and Kashmir later this week to take stock of the development and security situation in Kashmir especially after the successful exercise of the District Development Council elections, officials said on Sunday.

The officials said the two-day visit was scheduled likely for 17 February during which the envoys will receive first-hand information on the development work undertaken by the Union Territory administration after abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The envoys will meet some of the elected DDC members besides holding a meeting with a few prominent citizens and administrative secretaries.

The showcase will be the recently concluded DDC elections which was completed in December last year, the officials said.

"Strengthening of democratic institutions at the grassroots level will be significantly highlighted," the officials said, adding that during the presentation the envoys would be shown how panchayats have been empowered by giving them financial powers.

The next day, the ambassadors will visit Jammu where they are likely to meet DDC members and representatives of some social organisations, they said.

This is yet another diplomatic exercise being carried out by the government to counter the propaganda being orchestrated by Pakistan at international foras, the officials said.

The envoys will be briefed about the security situation by senior officers involved in the law and order situation in the Kashmir valley especially attempts of Pakistan to push terrorists into India through the Line of Control and frequent ceasefire violations, they said.

Last year, foreign envoys from 17 nations including the United States had visited Jammu and Kashmir and the team also comprised ambassadors from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru.

Three months after the Centre withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by revoking Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into two union territories, a delegation of 23 EU MPs was taken on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the Union Territory by the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies, a Delhi-based think tank.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has already been passed by Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah gave an assurance in Lok Sabha on Saturday that the Centre will grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time and asserted that the government has done more for it since Article 370 was scrapped in August 2019 than those who ruled it for generations.

Replying to a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, he also slammed some Opposition members for their claim that the proposed law negates the hopes of the region getting back its erstwhile statehood.

The bill to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of all-India services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was later passed by Lok Sabha by a voice vote.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has already been passed by Rajya Sabha. It replaces an ordinance issued last month.

This legislation has nothing to do with statehood, and Jammu and Kashmir will be accorded the status at an appropriate time, Shah said.

He took a swipe at the Congress and other parties -- which had backed Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir -- saying this was a temporary provision but they continued with it for over 70 years before the Modi government annulled it.

Jammu and Kashmir has been a top priority for the current government since it took power in 2014, he said.

Responding to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shah said opposition parties were free to visit the region.

Chowdhury had claimed that foreign delegations were being taken to the region, no all-party delegation was sent.

The home minister also gave the assurance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that "no one will lose their land". The government has sufficient land for development works, Shah said.

Decentralisation and devolution of power have taken place in the union territory following the revocation of Article 370, Shah said, noting that panchayat elections saw over 51 per cent voting. Panchayats have been given administrative and financial powers for local development, something they lacked earlier, he added.

Now people chosen by the masses will rule Jammu and Kashmir, not those born to "kings and queens", he said, attacking dynastic parties in the region.

Even our rivals could not allege any wrongdoing in these polls which were conducted fairly and peacefully, he said.

Work on two AIIMS in the region has begun, and the Kashmir Valley will be connected to the railways by 2022, the Union Home Minsiter said.

Attacking the opposition, he said while they were seeking a report card from the government about the development of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, "have you brought a report card of what you have done in the last 70 years". Shah said the government expects that around 25,000 government jobs will be created in Jammu and Kashmir by 2022.

Replying to AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, he said 4G services are resumed not under pressure of any foreign government.

"This is Modi's government and in this, the country's government and Parliament takes decision for its people," he added.

Criticising Owaisi, he said the AIMIM leader was creating a divide between Hindu and Muslim officers.

Citing certain developmental projects, he said by 2022 we will be providing rail connectivity to Kashmir valley.

Since the imposition of President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has almost completed the work of giving electricity to every house.

Shah said the government has changed the land laws to facilitate setting up of industry. "We are providing Rs 13,000 per month cash assistance to those 44,000 displaced Kashmiri families who have 'Rahat Cards'," he said adding they were displaced because Congress had failed to provide them security.

"We should not do politics on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. There are several issues over which politics can be done. These are sensitive places and people have suffered a lot. We need to assuage their feelings," he observed.

Participaing in the discussion earlier, Owaisi said the bill will further alienate the Muslims and Kashmir. He also sought to know about the number of youths from the Valley arrested under the Public Security Act (PSA).

Manish Tewari (Cong) said when the government says the statehood will be restored, the bill to merge the J&K cadre with AGMUT is a contrary step.

Shah explained that states such as Mizoram, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh are part of the cadre and the suggestion is unfounded.

Attacking Chowdhury for his comment that the cadre should be local and officers having ground knowledge should be appointed there, Jamyang Namgyal, BJP MP from Ladakh, said when local officers were appointed the Valley on the same logic, there was no let up in cases of terrorism.

He said when it came to promoting locals it was not applied to the Valmikis, Gorkhas and those came from west Pakistan.

Namgyal said the move will ensure that efficient and experienced officers will be able to work in Ladakh and even officers from the UT can work in other parts of the country.
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 to address public meeting in Puducherry on Feb 17

India

oi-Deepika S

Puducherry, Feb 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will kick start Congress poll campaign here by addressing a public meeting on February 17.

The Union Territory, along with Tamil Nadu, will go to the assembly polls in the next few months.

PCC president A V Subramanian said in a release on Sunday that Rahul Gandhi would address the public meeting at the AFT mill ground opposite the court complex here.

The Congress now heads the government here with support of DMK from outside. The party was returned to the House from 15 segments in the polls held in 2016.

It however suffered a setback in the wake of resignation of A Namassivayam from the post of PWD Minister and also as MLA on January 25.

Another Congress legislator E Theeppainthan also quit the post of MLA the same day, reducing the strength of the Congress in the 30 member House to 12, including the Speaker.

They shifted their allegiance to the BJP. Congress legislator N Dhanavelou was disqualified for anti party activities by the Speaker in July last year.

The three member DMK has been supporting the Narayanasamy led government from outside

Two DMK legislators R Siva and M Geetha are chairpersons of State government owned Industries Development Corporation and the Puducherry Power Corporation in Karaikal.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 20:18 [IST]
P

atrick Dempsey is quarantining in a rental apartment in New Jersey while he waits to film a TV pilot. The room is white and characterless  at least, what I can see of it is. Im not allowed outside, he explains. I have to take two more Covid tests before I can go to set for pre-production.

Its only natural that our conversation would start this way. Not just because the pandemic is impossible to ignore, but because, as with most Hollywood actors, its the only thing the 55-year-old and I have in common. This is the man whose face people around the world grew up swooning over. Floppy haired and cheeky grinned, Dempsey cut his teeth in the 1980s with roles in Heaven Help Us, Cant Buy Me Love and Loverboy before going on to play a series of equally charming leading men in romcoms such as Enchanted, Made of Honor and Bridget Joness Baby. Ask any fan of the hit medical drama Greys Anatomy, though, and Dempsey will always be known as McDreamy, the nickname bestowed upon his character, the selfless neurosurgeon Dr Derek Shepherd. Strangers still call him that on the street, despite the fact he left the show in 2015. But more on that later.

Today, were here to talk about Devils, a frenetic financial thriller based on Guido Maria Breras bestselling Italian novel of the same name. Set in an investment bank in London, the series follows high-flying trader Massimo Ruggeri (Alessandro Borghi) as he becomes embroiled in a political scandal following the murder of his rival, a crime for which he is the prime suspect. Dempsey plays Dominic Morgan, CEO of the fictional NYL bank and Massimos mercurial mentor-slash-opponent in the psychological chess match around which the story unfolds.

It was a great opportunity to play a different kind of character, something thats darker, says Dempsey, astutely aware of the pivot hes making, though its one he initiated in 2018 when he played Harry Quebert in the Epix miniseries The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. For Devils, Dempsey prepared by spending a lot of time with Brera, a financier and professor and sort of Italian Michael Lewis. The way he looks at money is different to what I expected, says Dempsey. Yes, the story is about finance but its also about life. He goes on to mention a particularly poignant scene where Massimo revisits his hometown in Italy and reflects on the consequences of capitalism and the impact of his career. These are things that Dempsey clearly spends time thinking about, too.

The thing weve learnt this year is that were interconnected, globally, he says. Like, all our economies, if anything happens, were all affected, were all vulnerable to that. We all need each other for survival.

Hes been pondering his time with Brera. Guido is generous, compassionate, empathetic and hes incredibly successful, he says, but he realises thats not what life is about, and I think thats what we have to look at as a society: what is the real meaning of life? Is it just about power and money? What does that get you at the end?

The finance industry has long served as inspiration for compelling popular culture. From The Big Short to The Wolf of Wall Street, both of which are indebted to Oliver Stones Wall Street, countless examples have emerged in recent years. And most of them have been hits. The latest of these came along last November in the form of Industry, the feverish BBC series that explored the Faustian bargain on offer to a group of very high, and very horny, graduate students in banking. Devils offers a more grown-up look at this world, and not just because the characters are older. The stakes are even higher and so is the death count. And while Industry does pose difficult questions to the viewer  such as how much a person will give up for the sake of money and power  Devils does so with a greater sense of urgency by showing how such sacrifices affect societies as well as individuals. What both shows do, though, is epitomise the perpetual appeal of financial drama. Its not just about wanting to see powerful men yelling across the trading floor in Savile Row suits. If it was, people wouldnt still be watching them.

Devils is about finance but its also about life' (Sky)

Theres this mythology of that period in the 1980s when greed was all sexy and cool, says Dempsey, alluding to the era encapsulated by the greed is good mantra of Michael Douglass Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. But theres a dark side to that, thats what were seeing now [during the pandemic] and its what we need to highlight. Thats a lot of what the show is about. Dempsey takes his point wider  something I begin to notice he does a lot  and reflects on his own upbringing.

I came from a rural community, not a lot of opportunity, you know, hard-working, middle class people and thats gone now, he says. (He grew up in small-town New England.) So peoples value systems have changed? We look at these celebrities and what theyre doing on Instagram and thats what we think we need for happiness. Then when you get all that, you realise thats not it at all. Thats not the key to happiness. Youre still going to have the same problems. Youre going to look in the mirror and youre going to have to deal with those same issues.

Dempsey, who has 5.8 million followers on Instagram, says that the pandemic has made him rethink how he uses his own platform. You cant be tone deaf to whats going on in the world, he says, after I bring up Gal Gadots widely derided Imagine video that featured numerous celebrities singing the lyrics to the famous John Lennon song last year. Instead of participating in such a video, Dempsey spent much of last year helping to maintain his holistic cancer-treatment centre, The Dempsey Centre, which has had to take most of its work online. Thats what life is about, he says of his work there. Being altruistic and giving back. Everything else is a distraction.

Patrick Dempsey and Renee Zellweger in Bridget Joness Baby (Rex)

While very nice, Dempsey, I realise, is one of those actors who swerves specificities, often ending his answers with platitudes that sound like theyve been ripped off mugs from Oliver Bonas. Still, he does offer some insight when I probe him on the many controversies that have surrounded Greys Anatomy over the years. These include reports of Isaiah Washington using a homophobic slur on set, Katherine Heigl withdrawing her Emmy nominations over a lack of good material, and, of course, rumours surrounding the sudden death of Dempseys character in season 11. Did he ever notice the serious culture issues that his co-star, Ellen Pompeo, described in a recent Variety interview?

I think any time where you have an environment where youre working 17-hour days, six days a week, its very hard to keep that a healthy environment, he says, explaining how things started to improve shortly before his departure in 2014. I noticed things shift in the leadership of the day-to-day operations. Theres more equality within the crew and within the dynamic. People have grown up, changed and learnt, and come out the other side. Thats what life is about. This is the second meaning of life Dempsey offers up during our conversation.

Im keen to get Dempseys views on financial parity in Hollywood, particularly given that its something hes experienced the weight of first-hand. In 2017, Pompeo famously signed a $20m deal, making her the highest-paid actress on a primetime drama. However, she has since claimed that, at the start of the series, Dempsey was being paid almost double what she was, and called his departure from the show a defining moment for her. They could always use him as leverage against me  We dont need you; we have Patrick  which they did for years, Pompeo said, adding that she asked Dempsey to join forces for salary negotiations, but he refused. I begin to put this to Dempsey, but halfway through my question  Ellen said that you leaving the show was good for her, financially speaking  Im sternly told to move on by his publicist.

Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey in Greys Anatomy (ABC)

Whatever happened, it seems that Dempsey hasnt burnt any bridges given that he recently reprised his role as Shepherd  albeit in a dream sequence  for an episode about coronavirus. He'll appear in at least a couple more instalments, too. It was really a special experience for all of us, he says. We all cried and we all had a lot of movement emotionally. It was very healing.

Does he mind that people still call him McDreamy? It is what it is, he replies, shrugging his shoulders. Its a character that some people are just discovering for the first time, so if they see me and it makes them feel good, and my identifying that for them makes them feel validated, then Im very happy about it. That doesnt mean there werent downsides to playing a character whose nickname derives from his good looks. I ask if he ever felt objectified. Well certainly with Greys, yes. I mean, its the way its constructed. Its an archetype and you have to hold that energy, but thats not who I am.

Given the swerve that Dempseys career has taken in recent years  he hasnt done a romantic comedy since Bridget Joness Baby  it seems like hes becoming more selective about the projects he takes on. While he explains that it can be confining to stick within a single genre, he admits that the industry has also changed. Theyre not making romantic comedies any more like they used to; I think thats gone, he says. Im certainly older, so Im not going to play those kinds of roles any more. That said, he is returning to his role as Robert Philip for Disneys sequel to Enchanted that is due to begin filming this summer in Ireland  although, he points out, that is a pre-existing piece of material thats being revisited after 14 years.

If Devils has taught him one thing  though by the sound of it, its taught him rather a lot  its that a project has to offer more than just a decent script if hes going to get on board. It depends on the director and the cast and the quality of life, he says. What am I going to learn from that project? He reiterates how much he valued filming in Rome, and learning about Roman history and the ins and outs of finance with Brera. Then its time to make another wider point about life. We start to look at where we are right now, in this moment of time in the context of life, and this phase. Well come out the other side of it eventually. So those things are important. And that type of experience is a rich one to have. Is he at all worried about the state of the film industry? The business will survive; we need content, so well find a way to make it, he replies, confidently. Its just a question of how is all this going to impact the type of storytelling that people are going to want to see? What breaks through that noise?

Devils airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV on Thursday 17 February
New Delhi:

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDAs policies have burnt Kashmir. He stressed that instead of talks with Pakistan and China, there should be discussions on Kashmir.

"I have been telling for a long time now that Narendra Modi and NDAs policies have burnt Kashmir. Whatever being said to Pakistan and China is not needed, instead there should be discussions on Kashmir. Kashmir is India and India is Kashmir," said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul said that Kashmir issue is our internal matter and no one has to do anything about it.

Earlier in the day, former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah suggested the Indian government to take help of friendly countries in talks with Pakistan to resolve cross-border firing. The statement came a day after India warned the neighbouring country to face strong retaliation if firing and shelling does not stop in the border areas.

Also read: Govt looking for a Math tutor, please apply to PMO ASAP, says Rahul Gandhi on RBIs counting of demonetised notes

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After the war of 2016, we realized that we have entered a period of other types of wars, military operations, and we had to make appropriate changes. However, we could not reach the level that would allow us to adequately fight against the technology used by the adversary. Raffi Kassarjian, Executive Director of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) of Armenia, said this in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Reflecting on the use of Armenian-made drones in the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war, Kassarjian stated that a certain number of such UAVs, and even those which have reached the pilot period of some enterprises, were used in this war. "We could have achieved much better results in this matter as well, but it is also not the case that nothing has been done. At the same time, we learned a lot during this war, which is taken into account today when preparing a new generation of UAVs," he said.

The UATE is currently working on both the projects commissioned by the Ministry of Defense and the implementation of the ideas of its own specialists and enterprises.

When asked whether the IT sector of Armenia had a shortage of the scientific mind and specialists, Kassarjian responded: "Naturally, the funding given to scientific mind is small, even for countries like us. The state must increase funding. Within a few years, we have set a target for those sums to grow and reach 1 percent of the GDP and 4 percent of the state budget. The state must also create the right tasks. The state must participate in the work of this sphere, both financially and ideologically."

And when asked how Armenia was now preparing for the next possible wars, and what the countrys respective capabilities were, Raffi Kassarjian emphasized: "Our whole community understands that we must work faster and in a directed way, make joint efforts to achieve the desired result. But you can't win with technology alone, even in the 21st century. Different types of military and industrial solutions must be integrated to the military strategy, tactics. In order to prepare for the next war, the militia, mobilization units must be ready from the very beginning. We must be ready for war not only technologically, but in general.

Highlighting the priority issues in the IT sector of Armenia, the head of UATE underscored the educational gap, as there is an issue with the number and quality of good specialists, and there is also a need to return to Armenia the compatriots who are living abroad and are successful in this sector.

Russia bears responsibility for those slain and maimed in a conflict they foment and fuel in eastern Ukraine.

Charge dAffaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Courtney Austrian said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, February 11, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

We track closely reports of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine. Last week saw a short period of relative quiet again shattered by a spike to 349 violations recorded between February 5 and 7. Thankfully, civilian casualties in 2021 are lower than at this time last year, but more can and should be done. In the past week alone at least two Ukrainian Armed Forces service members were killed by IEDs with multiple more wounded. Russia bears responsibility for those slain and maimed in a conflict they foment and fuel, she said.

The American diplomat added that the increase in fighting over the past weekend in Donbas showed that "Russia is able to dial up the violence in Ukraine whenever it so chooses."

"This is a stark reminder Russia is in control of the conflict in Ukraine. It also underscores the necessity to fulfill the Minsk agreements, starting with Russias withdrawal of its military equipment and ending support for armed formations, proxies, and other groups," Courtney Austrian said.

She called on Russia to demonstrate political will in negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas.

If we hope to see any real progress toward a peaceful and sustainable resolution to this conflict, Russia must cease its futile efforts to deny its role in the conflict and reciprocate the political will demonstrated by Kyiv. Only when Russia does so there can be progress on goals the Normandy leaders outlined at their 2019 Summit," she summed up.

ish
The Outlook is today's look ahead at the week's weather, its impact on the Berkshires and beyond. Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : In wake of the government announcing the disinvestment of two public sector banks and one insurance company, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday asked if the BJP government in Gujarat will privatise PSUs of the state.

"Here is a list of public sector undertakings in Gujarat (see thread) "When will Mr. Narendra Modi and the BJP government in Gujarat privatise them? "Will they privatise the Gujarat PSUs BEFORE two public sector banks and one public sector insurance company are privatised?" he said in a series of tweets, listing out 30 organisations.

Chidambaram has been critical of the Budget and in his Rajya Sabha speech during the debate on it, he charged the government with ignoring the poor.

"The most deserving were left to their fate -- the poor, farmers, migrant workers, MSME sector, middle class, and the unemployed," he had said, adding that the Congress "rejected" the Budget since there was nothing in it for the poor.

He also contended that there was no mention of the defence sector in the Budget either.
A new variant of Covid-19 would be enough to close schools in Wales after they reopen later this month, the First Minister has said.

Foundation phase schoolchildren aged three to seven will return to classrooms in Wales from February 22, along with some older learners on vocational courses.

But Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that the decision could be reversed if things were to go against us.

First Minister Mark Drakeford (Ben Birchall/PA)

Mr Drakeford said: The advice to us from our chief medical officer and scientists is that you should, in these early stages, always take measures that could be reversed quickly if you needed to do that.

If there were to be unintended consequences of having three to seven-year-olds back into school, then, of course, we would be able to go into reverse.

He said Wales was in a position to allow the youngest children back into school as a result of its national lockdown which began shortly before Christmas.

But he stressed that return was a tentative first step, which would be closely monitored.

Mr Drakeford added: We want this to be the first step on the journey to getting more children back into the classroom.

But if things were to go against us, if a new variant were to appear for example, then we could go back to the position we are in today.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Plaid Cymrus leader Adam Price, meanwhile, said Covid-19 cases should be reduced even further before lockdown is lifted as another wave would be disastrous for the economy.

He told BBCs Andrew Marr Show: Now is the time to ensure we have steady progress and avoid the possibility of a third or fourth wave, which would be not just disastrous in terms of public health, but also in terms of economy.

Because it is that stop, go cycle of lockdown, then release, then lockdown again, which has led to great uncertainty in economic terms and we should avoid that at all costs.

So lets drive down the level of cases even further.
A 47-year-old Myanmarese has been arrested and heroin worth Rs 19.25 lakh seized from his possession in Mizoram's Hnahthial district, an official said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, Excise and Narcotics Department sleuths along with Assam Rifles personnel seized 667 gm of heroin from the man in a forest near New Ngharchhip village along the India-Myanmar border on Saturday evening, a spokesperson of the department said.

The contraband is suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar, he said.

The accused has been booked under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Posted Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:24 pm

A Thurston County Superior Court judge Friday rejected a legal challenge brought by Tim Eyman, Clint Didier and others seeking to strike down Gov. Jay Inslee's mask requirement.

Friday's ruling from the bench is the latest upholding of Washington's government orders seeking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid the pandemic.

Opponents have argued that orders such as business restrictions or facial-covering requirements to stem the virus infringe on constitutional rights or are overextensions of the governor's emergency powers.

Eyman, a longtime anti-tax activist, and conservatives like Didier, a Franklin County commissioner and former candidate for U.S. Congress, have opposed such requirements.

In this case, Eyman attorney Stephen Pidgeon contended there was no proof that masks prevent the spread of COVID-19, and there was therefore no rational basis for the government to require them. He also contended the requirement violated the First Amendment.

"Because the mask is demonstrably ineffective, its purpose is singular  to force the expression of submission among the body politic to the dictates and whims of the governor and his secretary of health," Pidgeon wrote in a legal filing in December. "Such actions are constitutionally prohibited as impermissible forced expression."

The argument did not sway Judge Chris Lanese, who said in his ruling that wearing a mask does not "constitute compelled speech."

He cited doctrine from both the state and the U.S. supreme courts contending, "There must be an intent to convey a particularized message and a great likelihood that the message would be understood by those who view it."

But masks can be worn for many reasons, the judge said. Some believe in the science behind them, or wish to follow government requirements, while others could simply choose to wear them for fashion purposes. Some people could wear masks even if they are unconvinced about them but think, "What's the harm in wearing it if it might protect my fellow neighbors?"

"The mere act of wearing of a mask may be viewed in a whole host of ways to convey different meanings," Lanese said. "If any meaning is intended at all."

The judge added that Inslee and the state Department of Health did have a rational reason to order people to wear masks amid the pandemic.

At the end of the hearing, which was held virtually and available on Zoom, several people chimed in to criticize the ruling.

"You're biased," one person said. Added another: "Masks don't work."

In a statement, Eyman said, "Having 1 person  Jay Inslee  making all decisions for all 3 branches of government is unprecedented and disturbing."

"The judiciary and legislative branches have refused to assert their rightful role," Eyman said in prepared remarks. "Citizens deserve checks and balances and they aren't getting any."

In an email, Inslee spokesperson Mike Faulk wrote, "We appreciate the court's careful review of this issue."

Lanese's ruling came just days after another Thurston County judge ruled that Eyman committed "numerous and particularly egregious" violations of state campaign-finance law after a yearslong investigation.

In that case, Judge James Dixon barred Eyman from "managing, controlling, negotiating, or directing financial transactions" for any kind of political committee.

Dixon issued a fine of more than $2.6 million and barred him from "managing, controlling, negotiating, or directing financial transactions" for any type of political committee.

___

(c)2021 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
At the risk of being charged for excessive hyperbolism, AK-47, cows and the word, Fulani, are the most notorious cliches on parade in Nigeria today. And, come to think of it, they are woven together in narratives of the affliction that threaten to tear Nigeria asunder today. As if by coincidence, the three also bear very similar traits that unite them. While the Fulani herdsman is one of the most ubiquitous tribes in Africa, encircling the region like a contagious pestilence and sowing tears and sorrows in their trails, the cow is a common denominator on every dining table on the continent. Aside kittens and dogs, the cow is one of mans most abiding acquaintances. Until it shows its destructive tendency and inability to differentiate between what to eat and what not to trample in a plunder, the cow has a gentle demeanour.

The AK-47, also referred to as Kalashnikov Model 1947, is a Soviet assault rifle rated to be the most pervasive and widely used shoulder weapon in the globe. The word AK, the guns initials, is a representation of the name Avtomat Kalashnikova, a Russian byword for automatic Kalashnikov, and a memorialization of Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, the man who designed the gun. Kalashnikov designed the assault rifle in 1947. The rifle looks very inviting while lying undisturbed, with its brown wooden butt and nose like a hippopotamus.

The Fulani herdsman too has an ambiguous persona, with a tender, inviting, ripe pumpkin-like skin and friendly mien. Shunned of histrionics and profiling, however, make no mistake about their seeming friendliness: the AK-47, Fulani herdsman and the cow are a deadly trio. While the cow is deadly and destructive with its hooves, orange spurts from the mouth of a Kalashnikov assault rifle can assault a life and bring it quickly to the presence of its creator. The Fulani herdsman, especially the variant in the last decade, can also unconscionably ruin a whole village, especially if his cow gets killed.

Since the Soviet military officially adopted it into its weaponry in 1949, the AK-47 has manifested its simplicity to operate, ruggedness in the midst of use and reliability to manipulate, even under pressure. However, like the cow and the Fulani herdsman, even the Soviet military couldnt stand the AK-47s lack of scientific accuracy. This is said to be due to challenges with the guns recoil forces, a product of its powerful 7.62-mm round. Other shooting mechanisms called blowback, engendered by the guns heavy internal mechanisms are also responsible for its inaccuracy.

These three indices are the most constant bywords in Nigerias troublous narratives today. Unless Nigeria successfully interrogates the place of the three, it may be difficult for her to make any headway. Apart from these, one other unifying characteristic of the AK-47, the Fulani herdsman and the cow is that none of them considers any land, any man or any object sacred: Once the cow, Kalashnikov and Fulani are on their devious assignment, they can penetrate the most inviolate territory. Again, wherever the troika decides to unleash their anger, logic is always absent.

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, demonstrated this last week and even more. At the closing ceremony of the 2021 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Councils Correspondents Chapel, Mohammed literally went back to that same self-serving argument that Fulani, cows and AK-47 have a right to any part of Nigeria, no matter the villainy they demonstrate to their hosts. You can glean from his long sermon a feeling of Fulani conquest and superintendence over the rest of Nigeria, a belief that other tribes are captives of his ethnic group. His prong for exhibiting all these was what he perceived as some of his governor colleagues inability to accommodate Fulani herdsmen who the former have ample evidence to confirm are unleashing violence on their constituents. Remove the siren, the expensive babanriga and the environment where Mohammed made the statement, you would think a Miyetti Allah representative was spewing their regular territorial bunkum.

Yes, regular. Some Miyetti Allah cattle officials have spoken in the same vein before now. They all took their inspiration from Sokoto Caliphate founder, Fulani warlord and religious reformer, Usman Dan Fodio, who was quoted to have said that he would not stop expanding the Caliphates territory until he dipped the Koran into the sea. Initially sounding like a tale from the moonlight, but when you hear otherwise highly placed individuals like Mohammed espousing such territorial irritancy with amazing candour, then you begin to wonder. All forests belong to Nigeria and Fulani herdsmen can ply their trade everywhere. Fine. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees all Nigerians the right to live in any part of Nigeria, so far it is their place of choice. Great.

You have seen what our colleagues in South-West are doing and some of them in South-East. Some of us told them with all modesty and humility  you are wrong Governor (Samuel) Ortom, he started all these. If you dont accommodate other tribes, we are also accommodating your people in Bauchi and other places. We have so many Tiv people working and farming in Alkaleri, farming in Tafawa Balewa, farming in Bogoro Local Government areas of Bauchi, has anyone asked them to go? We have not, because it is their constitutional right to be there. We have Yoruba people in Bauchi for over 150 years, even before the birth of Nigeria. Nobody has told them to go, some of them have risen to become permanent secretaries in Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno. Nobody owns any forests; the forests are owned by Nigeria, he said.

And now, the Fulani man is practicing the tradition of pastoralism, he has been exposed to the dangers of the forests, the animals, and now, the cattle rustlers, who carry guns, kill him and take away his commonwealth, his cows, he had no option than to defend himself because the society and the government are not protecting him. It is not his fault, it is the fault of the government and the people, you dont criminalize all of them because in every tribe there are criminals. You should be very sensitive, he concluded.

The above was the long-winding defence of the Fulani by Governor Mohammed, which can be broken into the conversation in this piece, to wit the troika of AK-47, cow and Fulani. One wonders what Mohammeds Fulanis kin have done to warrant this chest-thumping that other tribes havent done in amazing proportion. Go to Afenai Market or even the Ogbete Market in Enugu and you will wonder whether you were in Ilela in Sokoto State, with the heavy presence of Hausa and Fulani therein. They have been there for almost a century. In fact, as far back as 1952, Mallam Umaru Altine became the First Mayor of Enugu Municipal Council and administered it till 1958. Altine, a cattle dealer who hailed from the Sokoto province, had sojourned to the Coal City and got married to an Igbo named Esther. He later became youth president of the Enugu branch of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

Go to Kishi in Oyo State and you will momentarily think you had crossed the southern border into the north. About half of the blood of the people in the latter place is said to contain Fulanis due to intermarriage. Some of them get elected councilors and even angle to head local councils. More fundamentally, if southerners living in those places were as violent as the Fulani living in the south, they ostensibly could never have risen that high in their places of domicile in the north. So what is the need for Governor Mohammeds self aggrandizement?

To proceed from the elementary reasoning level that Governor Mohammed inhabited and get to the level of articulating why people who had lived together for almost a century, now seek to live apart, is where the intellectual competence of anyone canvassing Fulani spatial hegemony seems to meet its waterloo. What went wrong is, first, Fulani settlers in those lands became hostile to the lands, raping, stealing, killing and kidnapping their hosts. So, the land, which the Yoruba venerate as a spiritual object  the ile ogere afikuyeri  rebelled against them.

Again, with the advent of Muhammadu Buhari and his ultra-underscore of Fulani ascendancy, foreign Fulani herders, many of whom obviously had fraternal relationship with notorious terrorist groups in the world, are infiltrating the Nigerian borders and Buhari is too ethnic-blind to stop them. For as long as Nigerian Fulani justify the infiltration of Nigerias borders by foreign herdsmen, in the name of Fulani nationalism, they and their kin in Nigeria who we had been living with in peace for about a century now, without any bother, would continue to have criminal blankets spread over them, without any demarcation. This is because many southerners cannot differentiate between them. A dog which, awhile ago, wagged its tail in obvious welcome and acceptance of its host and which, awhile thereafter, kept on barking in obvious hostility, should alert any sensible person of the need to conduct an examination into this obvious u-turn.

Many submissions on Fulani pastoralists residency in southern forests, especially the reserves, have been made. They perfectly responded to Mohammed-type puerile constitutional backing and latitude to Fulani inhabiting the forests. Thus, responding to him would be worthless. One of such is: how can a right-thinking person, in a 21st century Nigeria, justify human habitation of the forest? Those who reserved the forest did so for its habitation by flora and fauna, not human beings. Even if Fulani forefathers had been making forests their habitation, there is the need for a u-turn by their current progeny.

Governor Mohammeds justification of the ownership of AK-47 by Fulani pastoralists is another self-serving slant of an extremely self-centered Fulani irredentist. If he glibly mouths constitutional explanation for Fulanis ubiquitous rove across Nigeria, he should also address the constitutionality of these pastoralists owning AK-47. Where and from whom did herders get licensed to possess guns? If anyone who roves the bush could own an AK-47 because of dangers of the forest, farmers and chicken farmers should also be licensed to do same as they are equally exposed to dangers of foxes and reptiles. Mohammed should explain the transmutation of Fulani herders of yore, who only went about with knives to confront their attackers, into wild terrorists who wield deadly AK-47 as weapon.

Why is it that when it comes to AK-47, cow and Fulani, Fulani elite think like people who recently leased out their faculty? It was the same poisoned thinking that oozed out of renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi a few weeks ago. After meeting AK-47-wielding bandits inside the forests of Shinkafi and Gummi council of Zamfara State, Gumi asked for federal amnesty for these criminals. You all have a legitimate concern and grievances and I believe that since the Niger Delta armed militants were integrated by the Federal Government and are even in the business of pipelines protection, the Federal Government should immediately look into how something like that will be done to the Fulani to provide them with reasonable means of livelihood, including jobs, working capitals, entrepreneurship training, building clinic and schooling, he said.

If that isnt the height of criminal complicity and opaque thinking, I cannot find a substitute. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on a TVC programme last week, even confirmed that Gumi had the consent of the Federal Government to go inside the forests to talk to those bandits. He further said that the doggerel-spitting Sheikh was acting as a bridge between government and the bandits. How come Gumi didnt go to Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun to talk to Fulani terrorizing the Yoruba in those enclaves if indeed peace was what he desired?

President Umaru YarAdua, who gave amnesty to Niger Delta militants during his tenure, didnt do that because he loved the Niger Delta. He did it because militants at that time had constituted an economic sabotage to Nigeria. Without that armistice ensured by YarAdua, Nigeria would probably vanish from the economic world. On the reverse, these terror-baking pastoralists are social leeches whose nuisances are basically their irritancy. Unlike the militants whose umbilical cords are tied to the oil from their land, the oil which has served as water trough which wets northern arid lands, the bandits are criminals, plain and simple. So why does any reasonable government need to court, rather than execute, them for their spate of murders?

The audacity of Fulani herders and their violence are on the ascendancy because the Buhari government looks the other way while their impunity lasts. They dont have a monopoly of killing and violence but the feeling that they have governments backing makes their victims look like cowards. It is that audacity that explains Fulani and their cows  probably with an AK-47 abetting them  infiltrating Wole Soyinkas own forest of a thousand daemons territory in Abeokuta last week.

The truth that Bala Mohammed and the Fulani elite may not want to listen to is that, southerners who have lived for almost a century with their well-behaved Fulani neighbours, could not have turned against them, all of a sudden, if they had not chosen to be social leeches, burdens and threats to their existence. In case it is bitter for them to swallow, let me embitter their spleen once again: Nigerians will continue to resist this mentality that excuses, legitimises and justifies the tyranny of the cow, AK-47 and Fulani terrorists.

The Saturday Lekki Toll Gate Clampdown

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The Lekki Toll gate in Lagos has no doubt become a metaphor for injustice. Its notoriety as the place where the Nigerian government demonstrated its scant regards for human life reverberates across the world. When the CNN did an expose on the youth protest called EndSARSlast year, the ears of the world tingled. It occurred to it that, despite its pretext to democracy, Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari was worse than the Iron Curtains and it has this phobia for peoples power.

Yesterday, government went ahead to demonstrate this phobia. It breathed down its dinosaur fire on demonstrators against the Lagos 2020 protest panels decision to give the concessionaire the go-ahead to operate the toll gate without a proper dispensation of the issues before it. In saner climes, this right is taken as given.

Government is merely being myopic about this periodic brimming of fire and brimstone on protesters. This is because democracy comes with appurtenances of freedom and free speech. If runners of Nigerian democracy think that they can eat their cake and refuse to have its manifestations, they have a think coming. Democracy is not about the big cars, the retinue of hangers-on and the big fat stomachs they acquire. Those who profess democratic qualities also have to allow free speech to reign. Freedom to ventilate the anger or disavowal of the people with how they are being governed is a fundamental right. Let President Muhammadu Buhari and his Lagos governor know this. When they block the peoples rights to show their grievances, what they invariably do is allow angers to metastasize. God help them when these angers unfold in their burning fury.

Exit of Ibadan Premier Bar Man

The oldest Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branch in Nigeria, the Ibadan branch, lost one of its most dogged and resilient members recently. Born in Imesi-Ile, Osun State, he graduated from the University of Ife in 1968 and got admitted to the Bar in 1969.

Pa Emmanuel Abiodun was an encyclopedia of the bar and was generally rated as a Bar man per excellence. Before studying law, he was Second World Chief of Kegites Club. It was also conferred the Grand Patron of the club.

Since becoming a lawyer, Pa Abiodun held the position of Chairman of this Premier Bar and later, alongside Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, became its patron. Members of the Bar remember him as very forthright and honest man. His selflessness, altruism and generosity were almost a singsong on the lips of members of this Premier Bar.

May the soul of this frontline lawyer find anchor in the bosom of his Creator.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.
This British TV reporter Amelia Dimoldenberg made a tongue-in-cheek dance video to celebrate being single

Poet Lang Leav wrote;

Love looks pretty on you. Makes you soft, tender, proud. Makes you sit up and take notice. Gives you a home to set down your things.

What a blessing it is, to have music and dancing and poetry. What a gift it is, to look at someone and say,

Im so happy to have found you  at last, at last, at long last  youre here.

The Royal College of Surgeons archive in Edinburgh have taken the love hearts theme far too literally

In this photo taken in Paris Saturday 13 February, a heart padlock hangs near the Eiffel Tower, Paris. Love padlocks are a popular phenomenon in many European cities, where couples attach a lock to symbolize their love. Paris is the capital of love, which is why lovers make a pilgrimage to the French capital every year on Valentine's Day.

Full screen Paris, France - February 13: A red heart-shaped love padlock hangs on a grid near the Eiffel Tower on the eve of Valentine's Day on February 13, 2021 in Paris, France. Chesnot (Getty Images)

This Twitter user posted a wild wintry beach snap from the Shetland Islands in the UK.

This Twitter user from a small rural town in the US found his valentine in an unexpected spot!

Unsurprisingly there have been more than a few covid-19 valentines references

"Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Keep social distance,

Or youll get sick too!"

A parody Pfizer vaccine valentine's advertisement has even been made with the romanic valentine's message; inoculate yourselves.

This poem leaves alot to be desired...perhaps the most appropriate for 2021.

"Roses are red

You hungry?

Yeah...Me too

Lets order a pizza"

Laura Eliza Haynes has composed a reminder that it's just as important the rest of the year to show love and commitment:

"I distrust Valentines Day.

How can one condense their love, In such a way?

Rather that you think of me.

Be there for my ups and downs,

On any day..."

And rapper-turned TV producer 50 Cent made a controversial dig at Power actress Naturi Naughton. He coupled a video of Naughton as her character Tasha St. Patrick removing her wig and shedding a tear with the caption "When it's Valentine's Day, but he says he's working late and he'll take you out tomorrow."

Luckily there were no hard feelings. Naughton commented, "Now THIS is funny! Cant front."

And finally, on the day that Donald Trump was acquitted a second time by the Senate for impeachment:

What is Valentine's Day?

Celebrated on 14 February every year, Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is a day on which people express their affection for another person by sending them a card with a message of love, and often gifts such as chocolates or flowers.

The oldest known Valentines Day message dates back to 1415, when the Duke of Orleans sent a poem to his wife from the Tower of London, where he was being held prisoner.

Today, Valentine's Day has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to research carried out by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, people in the US are expected to spend a total of $21.8bn in the process of celebrating the occasion in 2021.
Then she was evacuated by motorbike, with a driver steering and another man holding the top part of my shattered tibia together. That trip lasted six hours.

Judd was injured when she and researchers were up early in a rainforest looking for bonobos, walking in the dark with a faint headlamp, when she tripped over a log and the fall shattered her tibia. She was carried out the rainforest in a hammock and back to camp.

Speaking on Instagram Live the actor said she was stuck on the ground for five hours with a badly misshapen leg, biting a stick because of pain, and howling like a wild animal.

New York: Ashley Judd has recounted a painful ordeal she believes almost cost her leg after tripping in a Congolese rainforest and having to be evacuated by motorbike.

She described it as a catastrophic accident and added that she nearly lost my leg. She conducted the interview from a hospital bed in South Africa and revealed that if she wasnt a famous actor, she thinks she might have lost her leg and her life during the 55-hour ordeal.

Im in a lot of love, Judd said with tears in her eyes, when asked if she was in pain. Im in a lot of compassion, and Im in a lot of gratitude.

Judd said that one of her colleagues supported her badly misshapen leg, while another ran for help. During this time, Judd said she was lying in agony for hours, knowing that this was only the beginning of the pain.

Im going into shock, she recalled. Im passing out... and all I can do is narrate and say, The pain is really bad right now. My teeth are chattering. Im in a cold sweat. I think Im gonna vomit. Can I have some water? The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. And I believe that God is with us in our suffering.

Five hours later, Judd said she was carried in a hammock for an hour-and-a-half-long trek out of the rainforest and back to camp. Judd was later driven on a motor bike to a hut where she stayed the night and then was flown out on a bush plane to the capital city of Kinshasa.
PRISTINA  Kosovo's leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party appeared set to win the country's early parliamentary elections by a massive margin, according to partial official results, which could further complicate efforts to resolve the country's decades-long dispute with neighboring Serbia.



With more than 56 percent of ballots counted in the February 14 elections, Vetevendosje had 48 percent of the vote, far ahead of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 18 percent, the now-ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 14 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with 8 percent.



Vevendosje would have to join forces with at least one other party to govern the Balkan country if it does not secure a majority of 61 seats in parliament.



The party has won support on pledges by its leader Albin Kurti, who served as prime minister for less than two months last year, to fight widespread corruption and on a stance that there should be no compromise in a dialogue with Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed its forces.



"Kosovo as an independent state, this Sunday, is turning to its people as the source of sovereignty. We should vote with love for the country," Kurti said after casting his ballot in Pristina.

At a press conference late in the day, Albulena Haxhiu of Vetevendosje called upon party supporters to celebrate at home instead of going to the streets because of the coronavirus pandemic and cold weather.

AAK head Ramush Haradinaj expressed readiness to form a coalition with Vetevendosje.



"We have declared that we have no red lines, neither for Vetevendosje nor for any political entity," Haradinaj said.

Some 1.8 million eligible voters are being asked to choose 120 lawmakers among more than 1,000 candidates from 28 political groupings.

Election authorities put the turnout at about 47.08 percent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than during the 2019 parliamentary elections. Vetevendosje won 26 percent of the vote in the 2019 polls.

Amid the pandemic, voters were required to wear masks and keep at least a 2-meter distance in polling stations. Election officials said that those infected by the coronavirus will be able to vote through mobile polling teams.



Some 100,000 Kosovars living abroad were also eligible to vote by post. Some 43,000 votes from the diaspora have already arrived in Kosovo.

The national elections are the fifth since independence. They were called on short notice by acting President Vjosa Osmani after the Constitutional Court ruled that the parliamentary vote electing a new government in June was unconstitutional.

The court ruled on December 21 that the election of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of the LDK was illegal because one member of parliament who voted for the government had previously served time in prison.



Since then, the campaign has featured disqualifications of Kurti and other senior politicians based on the same law.

'Multiple Reforms' On Agenda



A coalition government led by Kurti lasted only 51 days last year before it was toppled by a no-confidence vote based on its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.



In a televised address on February 12, Kurti said dialogue with Serbia was "not one of the first priorities."

He has also said that multiple reforms would be on the new government's agenda.



"We plan to focus on the strengthening of our state, and two key concerns of the citizens of Kosovo are jobs and justice," Kurti said in an interview last week with the Associated Press.



Nearly one-quarter of Kosovo's workers were unemployed at one point last year, according to the national statistics agency. The World Bank says the coronavirus pandemic slowed the countrys growth by 4.5 percent in 2020.



Most Western nations have recognized Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence, but Serbia, backed by Russia, does not, and normalization talks have stalled. The situation has blocked Kosovo from joining international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
The two big US technology giants may not be required to pay media companies for articles that appear in their two most popular services - Google search and Facebook newsfeed - if they convince them to sign up to their news products, under a concession to the proposed laws being considered by the federal government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg urged the tech giants to strike deals with news publishers outside of the media bargaining code in a series of high-level talks with Google and Facebook over the last two weeks. The government also said it was prepared to allow the tech giants not to pay media companies for news stories people read after searching on Google or scrolling through Facebooks main newsfeed.

Google chief Sundar Pichai and Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg have personally contacted Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg about the proposed laws. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Searching on Google and scrolling through a personal Facebook newsfeed are two main ways people find news stories online. Potentially allowing the two technology giants to exempt these services from the bargaining code would represent a major concession from the government. Large media companies such as Guardian Australia, News Corp Australia and Nine Entertainment Co (owner of this masthead) have lobbied to include Google search and Facebooks newsfeed in any negotiations over how the tech companies should pay for the news that appears on their sites.

The code is set to be debated in Parliament this week and could be law by the end of the sitting fortnight. Under the proposed laws, the Treasurer has the power to designate which services must be included in the code. Mr Frydenberg said in December he would designate Google search and Facebook newsfeed - a move fiercely resisted by both companies on the grounds it would require them to pay for linking to news content in search results and newsfeeds.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Gov. Eric Holcomb is directing that flags be flown at half-staff across the state in honor of former Indiana first lady Susan Bayh, who died last week at age 61 after a battle with brain cancer.

Holcomb issued the order Friday, asking that flags be lowered, including by businesses and state residents, to half-staff until sunset on Feb. 18.

Holcomb's office noted in a statement that a memorial for Bayh will be held at a later date when health conditions allow."

Bayh, who was an attorney and wife of former Gov. Evan Bayh, died on Feb. 5 in McLean, Virginia, after a long and courageous fight against brain cancer, her family announced.

She was Indianas first lady for eight years after her husband, a Democrat, became governor in 1989.

Evan Bayh served two terms as governor before being elected to the U.S. Senate. The Bayhs have twin sons, Beau and Nick, who were born in 1995 while their father was governor.

Susan Bayh first underwent brain surgery in 2015 to remove a benign tumor. She later had multiple surgeries and radiation and immunotherapy treatments after a malignant glioblastoma was discovered in May 2018. That is the same type of aggressive brain cancer that killed Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2018.

Holcomb said in a statement following Bayh's death that she was an extraordinary and radiant public servant, wife, mother and friend, who leaves a remarkable impact on our state and nation.

Since school holidays have begun in Luxembourg, our colleagues from RTL 5minutes took a closer look at what to expect when travelling to a destination abroad.

Most European countries have by now implemented a series of measures to render travelling increasingly difficult.

READ: Around 1,000 people travelled abroad on Saturday

Here is a closer look of the most pertinent restrictions.

Luxembourg's greater region

In France, every arrival is conditioned to the presentation of a negativ PCR test (no older than 72 hours). Controls are most frequent in air and train travel, but can also be conducted for road traffic. Ski resorts have to remain closed for the time being, same as cinemas, museums, bars, and restaurants.

In Belgium, non-essential travel is completely forbidden. Exceptions may include work, studies, and family reasons. People living in the border area are moreover permitted to cross to buy essential goods. Travelling through the country is allowed, but if people intend to stay in Belgium, they need a negativ PCR test (no older than 72 hours). The country also has a curfew in place and the hospitality sector is closed.

In Germany, measures have recently been extended to 7 March. Officials further decided to close the borders to the Czech Republic., as well as the one to the Tirol region in Austria. Saarland announced that border checks may also be reintroduced with Luxembourg and France.

The rest of Europe

Portugal announced a prolonging of border checks until 1 March, which have already been in place since the end of January to combat the incremental increase in positive cases.

Greece has reinforced its lockdown measures, while Ireland have extended their restrictions until the beginning of April.

The Czech government has announced the isolation of three of the country's regions.

Italy has prolonged the restriction of interregional travel for another ten days.

On Friday, Poland reopened theatres, hotels, and swimming pools. Museums, libraries, art galleries, and commercial centres were already allowed to reopen last Monday.

Via this link, you will find an overview of travel restrictions across the European Union.

Kicking off Congress' Assam campaign, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, vowed that if voted to power, Congress will ensure that CAA will not be implemented, adhering to the Assam accord. Wearing a 'Gamcha' at a rally in Assam's Sivasagar, Gandhi pointed out that he had crossed out CAA written on it, highlighting his aversion to the law. Lashing out at the Centre, repeating his 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' slogan, Gandhi said BJP had destroyed the nation with GST, demonetisation, farm laws etc. Assam goes to polls in April-May.

Disha Ravi sent to 5-day police custody in Greta 'toolkit' probe; breaks down in court

Rahul Gandhi: 'CAA will never happen'

"I have worn a Gamcha which has CAA written on it. I have cancelled it. Whatever happens, CAA will not happen. 'Hum Do, Hamare do', listen. It (CAA) will never happen," said Gandhi adding "I and all Congress workers will protect the principle of Assam Accord. We will not deviate an inch from it."

Lashing out at Centre, he added, "Govt did demonetisation, GST etc. 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' only benefitted towards GST. Congress is a party of the poor and farmers. We will bring employment in Assam for youth. Congress united people of Assam. Earlier there was no surety whether one would return home from public meetings due to violence."

Home Minister Amit Shah proclaims 'No Muslim will lose citizenship due to CAA', slams Oppn

CAA rules being framed: MHA

On February 2, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were being framed. Rai informed that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have granted an extension of time up to 9 April and 9 July 2021, respectively to frame these rules. Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah had said rules of CAA are yet to be framed and the law will be acted upon after COVID vaccination is completed.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act amends the previous Citizenship Act 1955 to make refugees who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship. Moreover, the Bill exempts the inner line permit areas in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and areas falling under the Sixth Schedule in the regions. It will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. The Supreme Court is yet to hear the 150 pleas challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), after it refused to stay its implementation.

Himanta Biswa Sarma claims Bengali Muslims don't vote for BJP in upcoming Assam polls

BJP's Assam push

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam has kickstarted its election process for the upcoming Assembly polls with the formation of a 16-member State Election Committee - including CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma and state chief Ranjeet Kumar Das. With Amit Shah and PM Modi kicking off the campaign at Kamrup, BJP eyes to retain the state. Assam witnessed massive protests against the CAA-NRC-NPR, as Assamese people fear a massive inrush of migrants which will threaten their indigenous culture - violating the Assam accords. The BJP is yet to convince the state subjects of the merits of CAA, after the disastrous NRC drive which resulted in the exclusion of 19 lakh citizens.

Assam slashes petrol and diesel prices by Rs 5/lt; Congress says 'BJP doing use & throw'

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A MURDER investigation has been launched after a man died of stab wounds to the chest.

The victim, 24, was found by police at Managua Close in Caversham at around 12.55am on Sunday (February 14) and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thames Valley Police have started house-to-house enquiries as part of their investigation and a cordon will be in place.

Officers have appealed for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from Managua Close, Nire Road and Ian Mikado Way between 11pm yesterday and 1am today to make contact.

The mans next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Det Insp Nicola Douglas, senior investigating officer, said: Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the man who has sadly lost his life.

We are in the very early stages of this investigation and we will be working quickly and thoroughly in the community to find those responsible.

Something which may seem insignificant to you could be very significant for the investigation, so please let us know about it.

Anyone in the area who saw or heard anything is also asked to contact Thames Valley Police, we need to build a picture of exactly what happened and need the publics help to do this.

I can assure the community, we will be doing everything we can to find out exactly what has led to the death of the victim.

If you have concerns, there will be officers in the area so please feel free to approach them and they should be able to reassure you.

We would ask that speculation is kept off of social media, instead please report any information to police to help this investigation.

A section 60 order has been put in place, which gives police enhanced powers to stop and search for a limited time.

Ch Supt Bhupinder Rai added: Currently we are in the very early stages of this investigation and would again stress the importance of anyone with information to please come forward. Even if you believe the information you have is insignificant, it could be vital with the other pieces of the puzzle the investigation team is putting together.

"There is currently a large police presence in the area and a cordon is in place to help the investigation team. Please dont be alarmed, and if you have concerns do not hesitate to speak to one of the officers.

"I understand this may be a very distressing and worrying time for our communities and I would like to reassure you that officers and staff are working hard, alongside our partner agencies to address any concerns you may have.

I am also aware there have been a number of concerning incidents in the Reading area in the last couple of weeks. Although the investigation team will always keep an open mind, at this time this latest incident is not being linked to any others which have occurred recently.

"We will continue to thoroughly investigate this murder and aim to bring anyone involved, in any way, to justice. We must come together as one community, as our co-operation between each other is our most powerful defence."

If you have any information, contact the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference number 43210062322.

You can also make a report to the independent charity Crimestoppers while remaining anonymous by calling 0800 555 111.

Visitors to an Ashtabula County Health Department COVID-19 vaccination clinic wait for service as vaccines are prepared, back center, at Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson, Ohio on Jan. 23, 2021. (Ashtabula Star Beacon, Warren Dillaway/AP)

CDC Director: We Need a Lot More Resources in Order to Get the Schools Safe

In order for schools to be reopened amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, many more resources are needed from the federal government, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Rochelle Walensky on Sunday.

I think we need a lot more resources in order to get the schools safe. One of the things thats really been emphasized in the school reopening is how unsafe some of our school ventilation systems are, Walensky told Fox News. Thats a problem not just for SARS-CoV-2 but for other respiratory viruses, for children with asthma, for exposure to mold, she said, referring to another name for the CCP virus, which causes COVID-19.

So I think that theres a lot of work that we need to do in order to get our schools a safer environment, she said.

Other mitigation efforts include more space for children, fewer children in classrooms, more nurses and staff, and screening, said Walensky, responding to questions about funding to get schools reopened.

Her comments came after Biden administration officials said that schools will be considered opened as long as they teach in-person for at least one day per week.

His goal that he set is to have the majority of schoolsso, more than 50 percentopen by day 100 of his presidency, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week. And that means some teaching in classrooms. So, at least one day a week. Hopefully, its more.

Reopening efforts have faced roadblocks due in part to slow vaccine rollouts and standoffs with teachers unions. While schools in some areas are teaching in-person, many remain mostly or entirely online. In cities including Chicago and San Francisco, districts have faced resistance from teachers who refuse to return until certain demands, such as making vaccinating all teachers a priority, are met.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Bidens school reopening goal may not happen because there may be mitigating circumstances, including new strains of the CCP virus.

On Feb. 12, the CDC stated that reopening schools as soon as possible is a priority.

It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services, the CDC said in a statement. To enable schools to open and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 both in schools and in the community. If community transmission is high, students and staff are more likely to come to school while infectious, and COVID-19 can spread more easily in schools.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has allegedly been sitting on a dossier implicating former Labour and Social Welfare minister in the siphoning of public funds for over two years amid claims that she was untouchable.

Petronella Kagonye was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in President Emmerson Mnangagwas office over alleged illegal land sales in Mashonaland East and Harare. She was released on $30 000 bail on Monday after spending a night in custody.

Zacc insiders said the former minister should have been arrested a long time ago over the alleged pilfering of US$400 000 from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), but was being shielded from prosecution by a relative at the anti-graft body.

Kagonye allegedly used the money to fund her election campaign before she was booted out two years ago.

The dossier was based on revelations made by former NSSA board chairperson Robin Vela in court papers where he was challenging a forensic audit by BDO Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants. Vela had been implicated in alleged massive plunder at NSSA during his reign.

The former NSSA boss successfully challenged the BDO report at the High Court. Kagonye is accused of using associates at Zacc to shield herself from arrest on allegations of abusing resources at the state pension fund.

A case of abuse of office when she was Labour minister was opened with Zacc, but because she has a relative linked to the husband (name supplied), it has been difficult to pursue this issue, said a source at Zacc.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure said he needed time to check investigations into the NSSA cases before the commission.

I need time to look at those issues, I will come back to you, Makamure said. Vela, in an affidavit, revealed that Kagonye took a staggering US$400 000 from the state pensions body to fund her election campaign.

I must point out that the report makes no mention of the fact that minister Kagonye forced NSSA to sponsor to the tune of US$200 000 a disability conference in her Caledonia constituency and a further sum of US$200 000 to a school in Ruwa immediately prior to the July 2018 elections, he said in the affidavit.

Involved in this were the minister Kagonye, the permanent secretary Ngoni Masoka, then principal director now permanent secretary in the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

This vote-buying done through pensioners funds for private benefit is not mentioned! Is it because the auditors had a wider political audience to satisfy or otherwise not offend?

Kagonye also allegedly ordered that Lameck Danga be appointed the National Building Societys boss, despite the fact that he had come second during interviews. Standard

When news broke last week about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's intentional withholding of data on nursing home resident deaths from COVID-19, its significance was underscored by the bipartisan nature of the reaction from state legislators.

Democrats and Republicans both were loud in their criticism and demanded accountability. While the GOP predictably wants more punitive actions, such as resignations and criminal prosecutions, a substantial number of legislators from both sides of the aisle are calling for the removal of the governor's COVID-19 emergency powers.

That absolutely must happen. If it doesn't, the Legislature sends a clear signal that it is has abandoned its duty to provide oversight on the executive branch.

Unfortunately, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins have not been among the loudest voices calling for this power balance to be restored.

An important timeline got lost in the shouting last week over the governor's team claims that a politically motivated investigation by former President Donald Trump's justice department is what caused the delay in getting requested nursing home fatality information to legislators.
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Eleven people were killed during attacks by separatist insurgents on two military sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo's main mining centre of Lubumbashi on Sunday, the city's mayor said.

The dead were six insurgents, four members of the security forces and one civilian, Lubumbashi Mayor Ghislain Robert Lubaba Buluma told AFP.

Short link:


Ford said 175th Street was chosen because it is a major thoroughfare that passes through both municipalities. Ford and Carolyn Carter, the director of community and business relations for Hazel Crest, both said the hope is that others in the Southland may join them in honoring King.
The recent winter rains and extreme cold have exacerbated the suffering of thousands of residents of displaced camps in northern Syria who are in need of winter clothes and heaters as they struggle with mud slides that are disrupting movement inside the camps.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic, rain is far from the only concern for these displaced Syrians.

The United Nations has described the conditions in the camps in northern Syria as the largest catastrophe of the 21st century.

International humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned against the deteriorating conditions of the displacement camps in north Syria that are worsened by the heavy rainfall that hits the region each year. But 10 years into the Syrian war, these organizations are still struggling to contain the crisis.

According to estimates by the Syria Response Coordination Group, a local organization operating in the areas controlled by the Syrian opposition in northwestern Syria, 403 camps were severely affected by three rainstorms during the month of January.

Amid a lack of international aid, camp residents have found themselves compelled to seek their own solutions and some decided to build houses outside the camp to shield them from the cold winter and the heavy rain. But as soon as they started to build concrete houses on the farmland where they reside in the Idlib countryside, the Syrian Salvation Government, which is affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), imposed a building permit tax ranging from $1 to $3 per square meter.

Mohammed al-Ahmad, a displaced man in the eastern countryside of Idlib, told Al-Monitor, After the rainstorms struck the area and rain flooded the tents, we spent several sleepless days due to the bitter cold. We subsequently managed to buy a small plot of land in the vicinity of Kafr Takharim town [in northern Idlib] to build a house. However, as soon as we began construction, an official from the Salvation Government asked us to immediately halt the works and threatened us with imprisonment if we did not comply. He said we had to pay a building permit fee of $3 per square meter to build a house. We were consequently forced to return to the camp and spend the rest of the winter season there because we were unable to pay the tax.

Hasna Faysal, who is displaced in Kafr Takharim, told Al-Monitor, The HTS-affiliated Salvation Government imposed a building permit fee of $3 per square meter, which raised the cost of building and prevented us from leaving the camp. The area where we would like to establish our house does not receive basic services such as sanitation, drinking water, electricity and paved roads, as it lies outside the city zoning, so there is no reason to impose such fees. We raised the issue to the local council, but it was unable to explain the reason behind the decision and said it was under orders.

I lost my husband in the shelling in the countryside of Aleppo and I had to flee with my two children to the camps on the Syrian border. It was the only place I could go after I lost my home and my husband. Everyone knows how bad the conditions are in the camps due to poor hygiene and insufficient resources to fight the spread of the pandemic. And then the torrents at the beginning of every winter season and the storms that hit the region uprooted the tent and left us with no option but to sleep outside in the cold. Some of my relatives learned about my conditions and decided to help me out, so I went to build a two-room house for my children and me. However, instead of supporting the families, the Salvation Government imposed taxes and prevented them from seeking better conditions, she added.

Raed al-Hamed, an activist in the Idlib countryside, told Al-Monitor, The Salvation Government imposed a construction tax of $1 to $3 per square meter depending on whether the area was located in an agricultural or residential area, on whether the building was personal or commercial and on the number of floors.

Hamed went on, As I was about to start building an apartment for my family in the city of Harem in the countryside of Idlib, I went to the local council in the city to ask how much I had to pay, and the council head told me that he would exempt me of the fees. But it was short-lived joy. After buying an agricultural plot and building materials and starting construction works, I received a notification from the local council in Harem whereby I had to stop because the area was located within a protected zone where no construction is allowed. It was then that I thought that I should have rejected the exemption because I am no different than the displaced who could not afford the fees, could not continue construction and had to return to the camps.

He explained that the areas where the displaced want to establish their homes are located outside the cities and do not benefit from the services provided by the Salvation Government, so the fees are not imposed in return for anything. They are just another way for HTS to collect taxes in addition to the fees on vehicles and at crossings connecting the areas under their control to the areas controlled by the Turkish army, he added.

There are about 2.1 million internally displaced people in northern Syria, out of more than four million Syrians living in the areas controlled by the opposition. The camps population amounts to more than a million people living in 1,304 camps, including 187,764 people in 393 camps informally set up on agricultural lands without any UN support or other humanitarian aid.
Midnight. Not a sound from the pavement. Has the moon lost her memory? Not if I have anything to do with it.

For I am here to remind you all of a very special anniversary, my ten years in office, serving this country to the best of my ability. My name is Larry the Cat, but most of you will know me by my official title  Chief Mouser To The Cabinet Office.

This week marks my decade of service prowling the gutters and sewers of Downing Street. That's nearly 4,000 days and nights seeking out pests and cuffing rodents, while giving vermin and parasites no mercy. Yes, my job description does indeed vary very little from that of the Chief Whip, whose job it is to discipline and sometimes even exterminate disobedient MPs.

In my time here, I have loyally served three prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. I have bonded with them all, in very different ways.

For example, there isn't a corner of this building where I haven't sat and lovingly groomed myself for hours, just like David. There is barely a sofa cushion or a tea towel that I haven't shredded in rage and frustration, just like Theresa. And there isn't a comfy chair where I haven't stretched out, scratched my fluffy bits and snoozed away many afternoons, just like Boris.

During my tour of duty in the corridors of power I've seen it all, I've heard it all, I've sniffed it all.

I've watched great and powerful leaders come and go  from other countries, of course. Our lot are a complete shower, as you all know.

I've come to understand that in life, as in scratching posts, you have to take the rough with the smooth. One day you are the cat's pyjamas and the next day you are Nadine Dorries. And that is not all I have learned. Ears up! Backs arched! This is my story.

Dressed to the nines in patriotic red, white and blue for Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton

Flying the flag for all my furry friends

Some cats get launched into outer space. Some are left a fortune by little old ladies. And some cats have to wear a Union Jack bow tie at moments of national importance.

You might think I look smart and handsome, but I felt humiliated. Oh, the cats whiskers I most certainly am not!

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the day of Prince Williams wedding to Kate Middleton.

Im going to make you an outfit, Larry! cried Mrs Samantha. Dont worry darling, I am a dress designer.

I dreamt of a nice waistcoat, a top hat, maybe even a tailcoat! Instead, she ran up a bow tie made out of a paper napkin, and stuck it on with a bit of Sellotape. Oh, the shame.

Larry the Cat en route from Battersea Cats' Home to his new home in Downing Street in 2011

I'm the new top cat

There I was, minding my own business at Battersea Cats' Home in 2011 when the summons was received  a five-bell alarm from Downing Street.

Urgently needed! A top cat to deal with an infestation at the heart of government.

At first, I thought they meant Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne, but no. It was even worse than that.

They were worried about real vermin, not just Lib Dem creepy crawlies. I unsheathed my claws, slipped inside my basket, jumped into the catmobile and headed off to meet my destiny.

When my call came, I was ready.

A prop to make him look more human?: Larry enjoyed a cosy cuddle with David Cameron

In the lap of power

'I've been expecting you, Mr Bond.' Here I am, sitting on David Cameron's lap. A cosy scene.

Some people said that prime minister David didn't really like me. That I was just a prop, to make him look human. To give him that common touch. To make him look kind and warm.

'What is that mangy creature doing in here again?' he once shouted during a Cobra meeting.

But he wasn't talking about me  he was talking about Chris Grayling. David and I always got on fine.

Larry recalled that he and Theresa May didn't always see eye to eye when it came to fashion

You can't go out looking like that!

Like all cats I have poise and a natural sense of elegance, whereas Theresa May had neither.

We had a lot of chats about it. 'Theresa, old girl,' I would tell her, 'you've got to stop going out looking like something I dragged in.'

She promised she would try. Yet I turn my back for five minutes, and look what she would skip out the front door in  I mean, this isn't an outfit, it is a cry for help.

A blazer with a built-in life jacket? Who wears that? As you can see, I found it hard to conceal my disapproval.

Top marks for the flea collar, though  or should that be necklace, as you humanoids say? Theresa needed something strong and stable to keep the pests at bay. That monster seemed to do the trick. For a while, at least.

Larry had a front-row seat when former US president Donald Trump visited in 2019

Trump's 1.2million armour-plated limousine provided the ideal shady spot from which to watch the proceedings

I'm the big beast around here...

Hang about. Who is this big ginger tom cruising on my patch in June 2019?

Prime Minister May told me to keep out of the way, but there was no way I was going to miss this show.

The big guys always love me. Obama still sends me a chew every Christmas.

Someone told me The Beast was outside. Palmerston again!

I investigate, but it turns out to be President Trump's 1.2 million armour-plated limousine.

Fun and games with Boris Johnson who taught Larry how to flip-flop and soft pedal

We've both strayed

Here I am, helping Boris make important decisions. Already I have learned many things from him, chiefly that 'flip-flop' and 'soft pedal' are not fun games we can enjoy together, which is disappointing.

But I like Boris because he feeds me kitty bits and holds me tight when we hide in the cupboard to escape from his girlfriend.

'I'm scared of her,' he whispers in my ear. I feel the same way.

'You were a stray before and you can be a stray again,' she shouted at me the other day. At least I think it was me.

Larry was once arrested for committing GBH on a pair of Theresa May's leopard-print shoes

Very strong on paw and order

Like all cats, I do my own thing. I take two bites of my lunch and walk away. I sharpen my claws where I damn well please.

But the only time I took it too far was when I was arrested by the police for committing GBH on a pair of Theresa May's leopard-print shoes.

It's all right officer. I'll come quietly.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock can't resist giving Larry a pat, even if it means breaking social distancing rules

Space please, Mr Hancock!

This much I know. There should be a health warning against Health Secretaries.

I heard that Andy Burnham was all right, but he always wanted to compare eyelashes with the government cats, to see whose were the longest.

Andrew Lansley? The name rings a bell. Jeremy Hunt was always good at hiding my medication in the salmon snacks, give him credit for that.

But I don't know what to make of this Matt Hancock bloke. He's either crying or laughing hysterically or asking me over and over if I have had my jab yet. Has he been wormed? Something has happened to him.

In 2012, Larry had a scrap with Freya (right), who belonged to George Osborne next door

Larry tussles with his archenemy Palmerston (left), the mouser from the Foreign Office

Facing off against a police sniffer dog called Bailey just before the 2015 general election

Here's a taste of my southpaw!

Political life is one long sparring match, and it is no different for us cats.

In 2012, I had a scrap with Freya, who belonged to George Osborne next door. Look at her land a left uppercut!

My arch enemy, however, is Palmerston, the mouser from the Foreign Office. Black cats are supposed to be good luck, but he has done nothing for me. Yet we can form a coalition against a common foe.

Like in 2015, just before the general election. Here I am, snout to whiskers with a police sniffer dog called Bailey. I send him packing.

The Chief Mouser prepares to strike an unsuspecting victim who appears aware the end is nigh

Looking for the mouse of Commons?

Alcohol units nil. Calories consumed this week 8,400 (v.g., although would love something different from chicken, liver and fish). Mice caught over the past ten years; 745. Mice that got away; 19,582.

The statistics, as Rishi Sunak is always saying, speak for themselves. So no. I am not the best mouser in the business. That much is painfully clear. But I take my cue from my first boss, David Cameron.

Hug a Hoodie, Larry he once urged me. And his caring nature rubbed off on me. Thats one reason I dont particularly want to Mug a Mousie.

Look at them. They are actually quite cute. The other reason is that they are too fast for me.
Capitol police officers stand guard as protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Acting Capitol Police Chief Vows to Prioritize Officers Well-Being After No-Confidence Vote

Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said on Feb. 13 that shes committed to making progress in protecting officers well-being after U.S. Capitol Police officers issued a vote of no confidence in the forces top leaders over the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol.

Its been just over one month since one of our nations darkest days, and the trauma is still incredibly raw and difficult for the many officers who fought heroically on the 6th. Since being sworn in on January 8th, my executive team and I have made the well-being of our officers our top priority, Pittman said in a statement.

While progress has been made, more work remains. And I am committed to ensuring every officer gets what they need and deserve.

Voting totals of seven members of the forces leadership were shared with CNN by unidentified sources, who say each leader received a vote of no confidence from rank-and-file officers. The votes were issued against Pittman, two assistant chiefs, three deputy chiefs, and a captain of the division that staffs the Capitol.

Pittman was named acting police chief on Jan. 8 after then-USCP Chief Steven Sund announced his resignation on Jan. 7, in response to pressure from lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and critics to step down.

The no-confidence vote was initiated by the executive board of the Capitol Police Labor Committee (Capitol Police union) and was announced on Feb. 10.

Gus Papathanasiou, the Capitol Police union chairman, said in a statement at the time that the enormity of the multiple leadership failures both in leading up to the insurrection, and in the Departments response to it, have convinced us there is no other choice. The leadership has failed us, and we have paid a terrible price.

The union previously noted that Pittman had acknowledged in her testimony to Congress over the Jan. 6 event that the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020.

We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would be attending, she also told the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 26. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. We knew that there was strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target.

Papathanasiou didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment on the vote.

The vote follows a month after a group of rioters and some protesters breached the U.S. Capitol while lawmakers were counting Electoral College votes. Thousands of other protesters peacefully protested outside the building, while one protester was fatally shot by Capitol Police, one was trampled to death, one died of a heart attack, and another from a stroke.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died from a stroke on Jan. 7 after being injured while physically engaging with protesters on Jan. 6, after which he returned to this division office and collapsed, the Capitol Police said in a previous statement. Sicknick died of natural causes, the chief medical examiner for Washington later said.

Howard Liebengood, a 15-year veteran of the Capitol police, also died while off-duty on Jan. 10 by suicide. Another officer, Jeffrey Smith, who had served the D.C. Metro Police Department for about 12 years, reportedly took his own life after the incident.

Former President Donald Trump had offered to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to Washington prior to Jan. 6, the day of the Capitol building breach, on multiple occasions, but his offer was rejected every time, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows recently told Fox News.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Feb. 11 that U.S. Capitol Police officers who protected the building and lawmakers during the events of Jan. 6 will receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

Its been such a sad time for us, but as we see what is being presented, we also see the extraordinary valor of the Capitol Police who risked and gave their lives to save our Capitol, our democracy, our lives. They are martyrs for our democracy. Martyrs for our democracy, those who lost their lives, Pelosi told reporters in Washington during a press conference.

Mimi Nguyen-Ly contributed to this report.

Editors Note: This article has been updated with new information about Sicknicks cause of death.
Then-candidate Peter Meijer introduces then-Vice President Mike Pence at a campaign event at Lacks Enterprises, Inc. in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 14, 2020. (Jeff KowalskiY/AFP via Getty Images)

Michigan County GOP Censures Rep. Meijer Over Vote to Impeach Trump

The executive committee of the Calhoun County Republican Party in Michigan voted on Feb. 11 to censure Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) for his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump, according to The Detroit News.

The censure is the first of its kind for Meijer, but several other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump had already been censured by state and local parties. Two days after Meijers censure, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Trump, clearing the former president of the charge that he incited the mob that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.

As our membership diligently debated what course of action to take in this matter, it ultimately came down to the fact that, without so much as a hearing, with few settled facts at your disposal, no due process, and with a key charge of the impeachment resolution that you clearly disagreed with, you still chose to join Democrats in a partisan rush to judgment in an attempt to remove a president that was already set to leave office in just seven days, the formal censure letter states.

Days prior to the Calhoun GOP censure, the Republican leaders in Meijers district deadlocked on a vote and failed to advance a resolution censuring Meijer.

Its not a surprise, Meijer told WZZM of the censure. This was not a decision that we expected would be politically popular. We made the decision based on what we thought was right and necessary and where we think accountability should lie for the events of January 6th.

Another Wolverine State congressman who voted to impeach Trump, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), has already been censured by two county Republican parties. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third-ranked House Republican, was censured by her states GOP earlier this month.

Cheney is facing at least two challengers for the Republican 2022 primary. She is also on a shortlist of Republicans targeted for primary challenges by a political action committee run by former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

Meijer, who has been in office for one month, has already drawn a primary challenger of his ownTom Norton. Meijer had defeated Norton in last years primary.

Meijer took over the seat vacated by former Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) who had quit the Republican party after voting in favor of the first impeachment of Trump.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 21:28:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Professionals on a World Health Organization (WHO) team, who have concluded their mission on COVID-19 origin-tracing in China, have denounced The New York Times for a controversial report, stressing that their colleagues were "selectively misquoted" and the story was not true.

"This was NOT my experience on @WHO mission. As lead of animal/environment working group I found trust & openness w/ my China counterparts. We DID get access to critical new data throughout. We DID increase our understanding of likely spillover pathways," Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO team, clarified on Twitter after he was quoted by The New York Times.

The misguiding report accused Chinese scientists of refusing to share important data about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing independent investigators for the WHO.

The international team, having finished its work in Wuhan of China earlier this week, comprises experts from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Britain, the United States and Vietnam.

The team also includes WHO experts and those of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health.

In the report, Daszak said their trip was emotionally draining as they came to terms with the trauma of the early days of the pandemic.

Thea K. Fischer, a Danish epidemiologist on the team, also immediately refuted the report, which she said "intendedly twisted" the interviewees' remarks and cast "shadows over important scientific work."

"This was NOT my experience either on the Epi-side. We DID build up a good relationship in the Chinese/Int Epi-team! Allowing for heated arguments reflects a deep level of engagement in the room," she explained on Twitter.

Echoing Fischer's anger, Daszak tweeted in a reply note: "Hear! Hear! It's disappointing to spend time w/ journalists explaining key findings of our exhausting month-long work in China, to see our colleagues selectively misquoted to fit a narrative that was prescribed before the work began. Shame on you @nytimes!"

Other health experts also voiced their opinions on the incident, calling for mutual trust and respect for international cooperation on COVID-19 research.

"Collaboration is all about mutual trust and respect. If you don't have that, no one is going to share data with you. As EID scientists, we urgently need to jettison the political crap. Hopefully there is enough enduring personal goodwill for us to effectively proceed..." tweeted Hume Field, a science and policy advisor of EcoHealth Alliance in New York.

There was no widespread and no large cluster of COVID-19 in or around China's Wuhan in months prior to December 2019, Peter Ben Embarek, head of a WHO expert team, told a virtual press conference from Geneva on Friday, saying the mission was "successful in many ways."

Experts still continue to look for answers on this point as "there's not a clear candidate for intermediates or hosts yet," explained virologist Marion Koopmans, a member of the team, at the WHO press conference on Friday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the international team presented their initial findings at a press conference in China, ruling out the hypothesis that the virus escaped from a laboratory.

The team has been working on a summary report expected to be published next week and a full final report will be published in the coming weeks, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO.

The WHO chief explained that the mission achieved a better understanding of the early days of the pandemic, and identified areas for further analysis and research.

"We have always said that this mission would not find all the answers, but it has added important information that takes us closer to understanding the origins of the virus," he added.

COVID-19 origin-tracing is "a complex scientific issue involving many countries and regions," and should be carried out by global scientists in collaboration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said earlier this week.

"The Chinese government has provided strong support and assistance for the WHO mission's visit to China as part of the global origin-tracing study cooperation," he noted, stressing that China will maintain openness and transparency, close communication and cooperation with the WHO. Enditem
President Joe Biden leaves the White House to spend the weekend in Camp David, in Washington on Feb. 12, 2021. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Says Democracy Is Fragile Following Senate Vote to Acquit Trump

President Joe Biden late on Saturday responded to the Senates vote to acquit former President Donald Trump on an article of impeachment for inciting the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Biden said the events of Jan. 6 and the outcome of the impeachment trial are a reminder that democracy is fragile, according to a statement released hours after the upper chambers vote. He called on Americans to stay vigilant and to ensure that democracy is always defended.

This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America, Biden said. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

The Senate on Saturday voted 57-43, resulting in an another acquittal for Trump. Democrats needed 67 votes in order to convict the former president.

Biden, who was at the Camp David presidential retreat when the Senate was conducting the vote, said that although the final vote did not lead to a conviction, he believes the substance of the charge is not in dispute.

Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and practically and morally responsible for provoking the violence unleashed on the Capitol, Biden said.

McConnell voted to acquit Trump on Saturday but he castigated the former president, saying he felt that Trump was morally responsible for the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. The breach forced lawmakers who were counting electoral votes to evacuate or shelter in place as law enforcement attempted to gain control of the protesters who illegally entered the congressional buildings.

The top Republican said he voted not guilty because he believes a former president could not face trial in the Senate.

House Democrats during the trial argued that Trump was responsible for inciting the breach by rehashing claims that the 2020 presidential election was tainted by irregularities and allegations of voter fraud, and for telling his supporters to fight like hell. However, the impeachment managers argument left out parts of Trumps speech where he told his supporters to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.

Trumps legal team argued that protesters who breached the Capitol had acted on their own volition and that the former presidents remarks were protected by freedom of speech. Senate Republicans pointed out that if words like fight like hell constitute incitement, then every single political candidate in America is guilty of incitement.

I guarantee you, all 100 senators in that chamber have stood on the stump and said we need to fight or fight like hell,' Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Thursday.

Several Senate Republicans who voted to acquit Trump said they were concerned about the lack of due process and constitutionality of the trial. Meanwhile, some Senate Democrats accused their Republican colleague of already setting their mind on acquitting Trump even before the trial started.

All Senate Democrats voted to convict Trump, while seven Republicans joined their Democrat colleagues.

Trump also issued a statement in reaction to the acquittal by expressing gratitude to his supporters, while calling out the Democrats for their actions over the last few years that he believes assault democracy.

Democrats are given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree, Trump said in the statement.

He also vowed to be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.
Many of the 1500 people linked to the current Melbourne cluster who travelled to Queensland have now left the state, the health department has confirmed.

For the 38th consecutive day, no new local cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland on Sunday as the state moved to lock down anyone linked to Melbournes Holiday Inn cluster who was still here.

Three travellers from Greater Melbourne were turned around at Gold Coast Airport on the weekend. Credit:Shutterstock

Queensland Health confirmed on Saturday that all of the approximately 1500 people connected to exposure sites at Melbourne Airport before travelling into the state have now been contacted and told to get tested and quarantine in their own residences for 14 days.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday that a lot of the travellers had already left Queensland as they were not residents, although she couldnt confirm the exact number.


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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 3-day visit to Assam, Manipur

PM Modi extends best wishes to people on statehood days of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya

Army Captain felicitated by Manipur CM for Galwan bravery

Manipurs news website becomes first target of new rules on digital media, later withdrawn

NIA charges 5 persons after they declared independence of Manipur from India

Hand grenade lobbed at Manipur newspaper office

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Imphal, Feb 14: Unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade inside the office of a leading Manipuri newspaper at Keishampat in Manipur's Imphal West district on Saturday evening, police said.

However, the grenade lobbed in the office of 'Poknapham' did not explode.

Bomb experts of the state police removed the explosive weapon from the spot.

A search operation has started to find out the culprits behind the incident, police said.

No arrest was made in this connection till late night.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:20 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-15 03:48:13|Editor: huaxia

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by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Despite some positive signals, Turkey and the United States are not in a rush to mend their strained ties since the new U.S. government led by President Joe Biden took office last month, analysts said.

The two countries have to strike a critical bargain in order to recalibrate their diverging policies which have plagued the relations between the two NATO allies in recent years, they argued.

For most analysts, the Biden administration is likely to have a tougher stance on Ankara compared with its predecessor under former President Donald Trump. But in the meantime, it also tries not to totally alienate the NATO ally which has been pursuing increased cooperation with Russia in recent years.

The analysts pointed to some positive signals emerging since Biden won the U.S. elections in November, 2020.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed Murat Mercan, former lawmaker of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his close friend, as the new ambassador to Washington, in a move seen as a "charm offensive" toward Biden.

"We believe that Mr. Biden will pay attention to Turkish-American relations ... We want to turn a new page in the new year," Erdogan said last December, playing down Turkey's purchase of Russian missiles.

"If Biden wants to repair the U.S. relations with Turkey, he will have to do so not just for the U.S. but for the whole trans-Atlantic community," Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Istanbul-based EDAM think tank, told Xinhua.

"Over the past decade, Ankara's relations with its traditional Western allies have been so strained that a divorce from the western family of nations is not unrealistic," he argued.

If the Biden administration doesn't want to lose its Turkish ally, "the only way to reach a proper reset is a bargain with Erdogan," Ulgen said, adding that the failure to do so could lead to the risk of a permanent rift in Turkey's Western orientation and a strategic realignment with Moscow.

There are several thorny issues between Turkey and the U.S.: Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, the U.S. support to the Syrian Kurdish faction YPG, and the court case in the U.S. against the Turkish state-owned Halk Bankasi, which was accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. responded to Turkey's purchase of the S-400s by suspending Turkey's involvement in the F-35 fighter jet program and targeting Turkey's military procurement agency with sanctions last December.

New U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called the S-400 deal as a flashing point in the U.S.-Turkey ties, citing that it's not acceptable for one of U.S. strategic partners "to be in line with one of our biggest strategic competitors in Russia."

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar signaled, however, that his country could make concessions on the missiles, if the U.S. severs support for the YPG forces which Ankara views as a security threat.

Akar cited the installation of an earlier generation of Russian missiles for limited use in Greece as a possible model.

"We said we are open to negotiations," Akar said in an interview with Hurriyet daily earlier this week. "It's not like we will use it constantly. These systems are used if a threat appears."

Despite the positive signals, analysts believe that both sides are currently weighing on how they can co-exist within a mutual balancing act that would include "give-and-takes" on friction points.

"It's surely too early to talk about the course of the ties between the two countries, but the first three weeks have not marked a very good start," Serkan Demirtas, a political analyst, told Xinhua, underlining the lack of a direct contact between leaders of both nations.

The sole contact between the two allies so far was a phone conversation on Feb. 2 between the two presidents' chief advisers, Demirtas noted, stressing that there is limited room for progress on thorny issues.

He said that Ankara and Washington should prioritize crisis management to shape their future relations within established boundaries and with a focus on shared interests.

Moreover, the new U.S. administration would want to work with Turkey on Middle Eastern policies, especially the Libyan conflict and Iran, said Batu Coskun, a researcher at the Ankara-based think tank the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research.

"The U.S. has avoided the region for so long that re-engagement will be a prolonged and difficult affair and might never produce the results that Washington hopes to see," he wrote in an article published on the Sabah Daily. Enditem
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2 years after Pulwama attack, J&K Police recovers 7 kg IED at Jammu

India

oi-Deepika S

Srinagar, Feb 14: The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday thwarted a major tragedy with the timely detection of a seven-kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the crowded general bus stand area in Jammu city.

The incident comes exactly two years after a terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in south Kashmir's Pulwama killed 40 security personnel.

Addresing a press conference, Jammu Inspector General of Police (IG) Mukesh Singh said "We were on high alert as we had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the anniversary of Pulwama attack. Last night we arrested a person named Sohail and recovered 6-6.5 to 7 kgs of IED from his possession."



"Sohail revealed during probe that he studies in Chandigarh and he received message from Pakistan's Al Badr Tanzeem to plant IED here," he said.

"Sohail was given three-four target locations to place the IED, after which he was supposed to take a flight to Srinagar where an Over Ground Worker of Al Badr Tanzeem named Athar Shakeel Khan would have received him," he added.

Further elaborating on the attack, the cop said "a person named Qazi Waseem in Chandigarh was also aware of this matter, he has been held. We have also arrested a person named Abid Nabi."

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Manhattan's district attorney is now looking into loans totaling more than $280 million taken out against properties such as Trump Tower as part of his criminal probe of Donald Trump and his company, according to a new report.

District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr's office is investigating the loans made since 2012 by subsidiaries of Ladder Capital, a New York City-based real-estate investment trust, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

The loans were made against the iconic Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, as well as other Trump Organization properties including 40 Wall Street in the Financial District, Trump International Hotel and Tower on Columbus Circle and Trump Plaza on the Upper East Side, the people said.

The loans add a potential target to the previously disclosed probe, which began as an investigation into hush money payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump, and has widened into examining potential tax, loan and insurance fraud at the Trump Organization.

DA Cy Vance Jr (left) is now looking into loans totaling more than $280 million taken out against properties such as Trump Tower as part of his criminal probe of Donald Trump

The loans were made against the iconic Trump Tower (above) on Fifth Avenue, as well as other Trump Organization properties in Manhattan

Trump has previously called Vance's probe 'a fishing expedition' and 'a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history,' accusing the elected Democrat of partisan motives.

While the precise object of Vance's inquiry into the loans wasn't clear, he could be scrutinizing the loan applications in comparison with other documents, such as tax returns and insurance filings, looking for any discrepancies.

Knowingly providing false information on a loan application is a crime under New York law, as well as federal statutes.

A separate state attorney general's civil probe into whether Trump's business falsely reported property values got a boost on January 29, when a New York Supreme Court judge ordered the Trump Organization to turn over documents.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision is expected soon on whether Vance can obtain eight years of Trump's tax records and other financial information from accounting firm Mazars. Two people familiar with the district attorney's criminal probe expect the court to act this month.

Both the district attorney and the New York attorney general are focused in part on whether Trump's businesses improperly falsified values on real-estate assets to secure tax breaks, loans or other benefits.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (above) is also conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits

Also in the spotlight: The New York AG is investigating whether there was a tax fraud involving the Seven Springs Estate in Bedford, Westchester County, north of New York City.

Trump's tax returns could provide compelling evidence in the criminal probe if they differ significantly from other financial statements reported by the Trump business, said Daniel Horwitz, a white-collar defense lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor.

But in addition to records, he said, prosecutors will likely need witnesses who could 'testify about false documents and why they were falsified.'

Lawyers for the Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment. The Trump Organization has denied in court filings that the company falsified property values, and has rejected other allegations being investigated by Manhattan District Attorney Vance and New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

Trump's lawyers have tried to block the disclosure of his tax records by appealing the Manhattan district attorney's request to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lower courts rejected an argument by Trump's attorney that the request amounted to political 'harassment.'

Trump's team has requested a stay of the Supreme Court proceedings. The high court normally acts quickly on such 'emergency applications,' but Trumps request has been pending since October.

Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments made by the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen (center)

Another ruling in favor of the district attorney would clear the way for prosecutors to access the tax and financial records.

The Manhattan district attorney said in an August filing that the office is investigating 'possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct' at the Trump Organization.

In a September filing, he said 'mountainous' misconduct allegations could justify a grand jury probe into possible tax fraud, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. James' office has filed a civil lawsuit to compel the Trump Organization to produce documents but has not alleged any crimes.

A spokesperson for Vance declined to comment. A spokesman for James' office said the Trump Organization has turned over all the documents that prosecutors sought but declined to comment further on the inquiry.

The investigations face challenges. The Manhattan district attorney may struggle to prove that inaccurate property estimates amount to fraud because the standards for valuing properties vary, legal experts say.

Such appraisals are also typically performed by outside parties, potentially putting distance between any controversial valuations and Trump's businesses.

'There's a lot of expertise to hide behind,' said Joshua Levine, a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York who now specializes in white-collar criminal and regulatory law in private practice.

General Motors, the largest US automaker, has announced that it plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and has committed to setting science-based targets to achieve carbon neutrality.

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In the announcement, GM covered all aspects of its auto business with GM Chairman and CEO, Mary Barra, explaining how it is adapting its processes to eliminate carbon production with its move to all-electric vehicles, carbon neutral vehicle production, factory operation, supply chain and charging infrastructure.

General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world, said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.

GM plans to decarbonize its portfolio by transitioning to battery electric vehicles or other zero-emissions vehicle technology, sourcing renewable energy and leveraging minimal offsets or credits.

GM will offer 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40 percent of the companys U.S. models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025. GM is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles in the next five years  up from the $20 billion planned before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This investment includes the continued development of GMs Ultium battery technology, updating facilities such as Factory ZERO in Michigan and Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee to build electric vehicles.

More than half of GMs capital spending and product development team will be devoted to electric and electric-autonomous vehicle programs. And in the coming years, GM plans to offer an EV for every customer, from crossovers and SUVs to trucks and sedans.

To address emissions from its own operations, GM will source 100 percent renewable energy to power its US sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035.

To account for the expected remaining carbon emissions, GM expects to invest in carbon credits or offsets. The company will assess credit and offset solutions in the coming years as the most efficient, equitable and inclusive ideas mature. The company recognizes that offsets must be used sparingly and should reflect a holistic view of mitigating the effects of climate change and helping people thrive around the world.

The company is implementing plans to reduce the impact associated with its supply chain while supporting grids and utilities to power electric vehicles with renewable energy.

While electric vehicles themselves do not emit tailpipe emissions, it is critical that they be charged with electricity generated from renewable sources like wind and solar. GM has worked with utilities and developers to support investments in renewable energy found in and around communities that have GM facilities via power purchase agreements and green tariffs. The company is also working with EVgo to triple the size of the nations largest public fast charging network by adding more than 2,700 new fast chargers by the end of 2025, a move set to help accelerate widespread electric vehicle adoption. The new fast chargers will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. GM believes that the energy sector is well on its way to a decarbonized grid and that an all-electric future will be supported by renewable infrastructure and technology.
The police have reportedly alleged that the activist, Disha Ravi, shared the toolkit and contributed written material for it

A Delhi Police team on Saturday arrested a 21-year-old climate activist in the Greta Thunberg 'toolkit' case.

The police have reportedly alleged that the activist, Disha Ravi, 'shared' and 'spread' the toolkit about the ongoing farmers' protest, which was later mentioned by Thunberg in a tweet.

Disha is a co-founder of Fridays For Future, a global movement questioning political inaction over climate change.

According to a report in The News Minute, the police have accused Disha of contributing written material for the toolkit.

An FIR in this regard was filed on 4 February under charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy and promoting hatred. This is the first arrest that has been made in the case.

Disha is a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate from Bengaluru's Mount Carmel College. She works as a culinary experience manager with Good Mylk company, and was working from home when she was picked up by the police, according to a report in The New Indian Express.

Addressing a press conference earlier, a senior Delhi Police officer said initial investigation linked the document with a pro-Khalistan group named "Poetic Justice Foundation".

According to the police, the "toolkit" has a particular section that mentions "digital strike through hashtags on or before 26 January, tweet storms on 23 January onwards, physical action on 26 January and watch-out or join farmers march into Delhi and back to borders".

The "toolkit" was aimed at spreading disaffection and ill-will against the government of India and creating disharmony among various social, religious and cultural groups, the police had added.

On 3 February, climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg had come out in support of the ongoing farmers' protest at Delhi's borders against the Centre's new agri laws.

"We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India," she had tweeted.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at the National Capital's borders for over two months against the laws.

They are demanding that the government repeal the Farmers'' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

With inputs from PTI

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-13 23:10:59|Editor: huaxia

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An army medical worker prepares COVID-19 vaccine at a new COVID-19 vaccination center in Athens, Greece, on Feb. 13, 2021. The mega vaccination center in Athens, transformed from an exhibition center, will open on Monday to host up to 5,760 people each day. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday called on citizens who remain skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines to get vaccinated.

He made the call at a time when 500,000 vaccinations have been carried out across the country.

"We are fully focused on the commitment we have made to vaccinate our fellow citizens, who want to be vaccinated, as quickly and safely as possible, depending on the flow of vaccines we receive each week," Mitsotakis said while visiting one of the country's four mega vaccination centers established recently to speed up the vaccination process, according to an e-mailed statement.

The mega vaccination center in Athens, transformed from an exhibition center, will open on Monday to host up to 5,760 people each day.

"This adventure will end when a significant percentage of our fellow citizens have been vaccinated...We need to convince the rest of our fellow citizens, who may still be skeptical, that vaccines are both safe and effective," he added.

Greece started vaccinations against COVID-19 on Dec. 27, 2020. Vaccination is free and on a voluntary basis in the country. Following health professionals and residents at nursing homes, the elderly are currently getting vaccinated.

Some 74 percent of respondents in a recent survey conducted for local SKAI TV said that they intend to get inoculated, but 21 percent were categorically against the vaccination.

Greece is currently under a nationwide lockdown, which started on Nov. 7. The country recorded on Friday 1,410 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 170,244.

Greek authorities also announced 21 new deaths on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths to 6,077.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 242 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Feb. 9. Enditem
She's celebrating Valentine's Day with her beau Dan Edgar.

And Amber Turner was sure to turn up the heat as she flaunted her sensational figure in pink lingerie and suspenders to mark the occasion.

The TOWIE star, 27, sizzled in the sexy set which boasted a delicate floral lace pattern as she posed up a storm next to a huge box of pink roses.

Sizzling: Amber Turner was sure to turn up the heat as she flaunted her sensational figure in pink lingerie and suspenders to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday night

Amber exuded confidence as she showcased her toned physique in the pretty bra and thong from Harness Brazaar which was adorned with several lace roses.

She wore her blonde locks down and perfectly styled into curls, letting her tresses cascade over her tanned shoulder as she sizzled in front of the camera.

Keeping the rest of her look equally romantic, Amber donned a touch of pink lipstick and blusher as well as a matching blush manicure for the weekend of love.

The beauty also took to Instagram Stories on Saturday night to reveal she and Dan had celebrated Valentine's Day at home with a meal.

Valentine's celebrations: The TOWIE star, 27, celebrated the weekend of love by getting dressed up in a busty corset top for dinner at home with her beau Dan Edgar

Amber rocked a very busty corset top for their evening in which she paired with some black trousers and heels.

The couple appeared to be in great spirits as they enjoyed their food and posed for a few loved-up snaps shared with Amber's 827K fans.

The couple's Valentine's Day celebrations come after Amber spoke of her plans to have a baby with her TOWIE beau.

The reality star 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.

Beauty: Amber showcased her ample assets in the eye-catching number as she posed up a storm for some mirror selfies

Loved-up: She also declared her love to Dan as they packed on the PDA on Instagram Stories

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.'

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.

Speaking about their time apart, Amber said: 'Sometimes relationships need that break for people to really realise whats important.'

Beautiful: Amber was treated to a stunning box of flowers for Valentine's Day

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.

'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.
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and the Sourland Conservancy are partnering again to present their Gospel Brunch fundraiser  with a twist this year, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, guests will have access via YouTube to a virtual gospel music concert by baritone Keith Spencer, with informational segments and interviews with board members and staff.

Tickets are $30 per household and available online through 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. Admission allows access to the pre-taped video performance for 24 hours.

We may not be able to gather together, as usual, to celebrate the beautiful diversity of our community, listen to great gospel music and feed our bodies with delicious food, but the sweet baritone of Keith Spencer will certainly nourish our souls, said SSAAM board president John Buck.

Spencer will be accompanied by pianist Peter Hilliard. A native of Philadelphia, Spencer has participated in Broadway tours and has been a concert backup vocalist for Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney and Sandi Patty. He was chosen by the Paul Robeson House of Princeton to perform for Robesons 120th birthday celebration and was a featured concert soloist with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey.

Spencer also has developed a series of programs celebrating the African-American cultural experience and music performed by renowned African-American artists.

We are incredibly fortunate to have the technology that enables us to stay connected during these difficult times, said SSAAM executive director Caroline Katmann. SSAAM and the Conservancy are working hard to keep our constituents engaged by providing virtual events and programs.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Sourland Education and Exhibit Center, which will be located adjacent to SSAAMs home at the Mt. Zion AME Church on Hollow Road in Skillman. The center will provide space for exhibits and educational programs, as well as much-needed office space for both nonprofits. The two organizations have begun work with Mills + Schnoering Architects of Princeton, NJ to develop a plan for the site.

The gospel brunch has sold out every year, said Sourland Conservancy executive director Laurie Cleveland. Were looking forward to sharing the events positive energy and SSAAMs powerful story with everyone. The funds we raise will help us create a space to honor and celebrate the important history and ecology of our area.

Visit ssaamuseum.org or https://bit.ly/3cniIym for tickets. For more information, email info@ssaamuseum.org.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Send event information to events@starledger.com


Michael van der Veen, attorney for former President Donald Trump, is seen in the Senate Reception Room before the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment trials for former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Greg Nash/Getty Images)

Home of Trump Attorney Van Der Veen Vandalized With Graffiti

The suburban home of one of the attorneys who defended former President Donald Trump in the Senate impeachment trial had been vandalized, authorities said.

Detective Scott Pezick of the West Whiteland Township Police Department in Chester County, Philadelphia, confirmed to The Associated Press that the vandalization of attorney Michael van der Veens home was reported to authorities at around 8 p.m. on Friday.

A photograph from the scene showed someone had spray-painted traitor in the driveway of van der Veens home.

As of Saturday, no arrest has been made, Pezick told the news wire, adding that police are present in the area to deter anything from happening.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a group of protesters had also targeted van der Veens Center City law office, chanting, When van der Veen lies, what do you do? Convict. Convict.

Van der Veen told reporters that he was aware his home was attacked, adding that he did not want to go into the details of the attack to prevent others from following suit.

My home was attacked last nightwindows broken, spray paint, really bad words spray-painted everywhere, he said, adding, Ive had nearly 100 death threats.

The thing is, you guys dont know me but you know Im not a controversial guy. Im not politically minded so to speak. Im a trial lawyer and I represent peoples interests in court. Thats what I do. I love doing it. And Im disappointed that that is the result of just me doing my job, he added.

Van der Veen delivered closing remarks on Saturday, where he argued that the second impeachment trial against Trump was a complete charade from beginning to end, fueled by partisan hatred against the former president.

At no point did you hear anything that could ever possibly be construed as Mr. Trump encouraging or sanctioning an insurrection, the lawyer said on the Senate floor.

The act of incitement never happened. He engaged in no language of incitement whatsoever on Jan. 6 or any other day following the election.

House Democrats during the trial argued that Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol for rehashing claims that the 2020 presidential election was tainted by irregularities and allegations of voter fraud and for telling his supporters to fight like hell. However, the impeachment managers argument left out parts of the speech where Trump told his supporters to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.

Trumps legal team argued that protesters who breached the Capitol had acted on their own volition. They also argued that the former presidents remarks were protected by freedom of speech. Senate Republicans pointed out that if words like fight like hell constitute incitement, then every single political candidate in America is guilty of incitement.

Because I guarantee you, all 100 senators in that chamber have stood on the stump and said we need to fight or fight like hell,' Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Thursday.

The Senate on Saturday ultimately voted 57-43, resulting in an acquittal for the former president. Democrats needed 67 votes in order to convict Trump.

All Democrats voted to convict him. Seven Republicans joined their Democrat colleagues.

Trump responded to the acquittal by expressing gratitude to his supporters while pointing out that Democrats are given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree.

I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate, he said.
PRISTINA  Kosovo's leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party appeared set to win the country's early parliamentary elections by a massive margin, according to partial official results, which could further complicate efforts to resolve the country's decades-long dispute with neighboring Serbia.



With more than 56 percent of ballots counted in the February 14 elections, Vetevendosje had 48 percent of the vote, far ahead of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 18 percent, the now-ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 14 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with 8 percent.



Vevendosje would have to join forces with at least one other party to govern the Balkan country if it does not secure a majority of 61 seats in parliament.



The party has won support on pledges by its leader Albin Kurti, who served as prime minister for less than two months last year, to fight widespread corruption and on a stance that there should be no compromise in a dialogue with Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed its forces.



"Kosovo as an independent state, this Sunday, is turning to its people as the source of sovereignty. We should vote with love for the country," Kurti said after casting his ballot in Pristina.

At a press conference late in the day, Albulena Haxhiu of Vetevendosje called upon party supporters to celebrate at home instead of going to the streets because of the coronavirus pandemic and cold weather.

AAK head Ramush Haradinaj expressed readiness to form a coalition with Vetevendosje.



"We have declared that we have no red lines, neither for Vetevendosje nor for any political entity," Haradinaj said.

Some 1.8 million eligible voters are being asked to choose 120 lawmakers among more than 1,000 candidates from 28 political groupings.

Election authorities put the turnout at about 47.08 percent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than during the 2019 parliamentary elections. Vetevendosje won 26 percent of the vote in the 2019 polls.

Amid the pandemic, voters were required to wear masks and keep at least a 2-meter distance in polling stations. Election officials said that those infected by the coronavirus will be able to vote through mobile polling teams.



Some 100,000 Kosovars living abroad were also eligible to vote by post. Some 43,000 votes from the diaspora have already arrived in Kosovo.

The national elections are the fifth since independence. They were called on short notice by acting President Vjosa Osmani after the Constitutional Court ruled that the parliamentary vote electing a new government in June was unconstitutional.

The court ruled on December 21 that the election of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of the LDK was illegal because one member of parliament who voted for the government had previously served time in prison.



Since then, the campaign has featured disqualifications of Kurti and other senior politicians based on the same law.

'Multiple Reforms' On Agenda



A coalition government led by Kurti lasted only 51 days last year before it was toppled by a no-confidence vote based on its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.



In a televised address on February 12, Kurti said dialogue with Serbia was "not one of the first priorities."

He has also said that multiple reforms would be on the new government's agenda.



"We plan to focus on the strengthening of our state, and two key concerns of the citizens of Kosovo are jobs and justice," Kurti said in an interview last week with the Associated Press.



Nearly one-quarter of Kosovo's workers were unemployed at one point last year, according to the national statistics agency. The World Bank says the coronavirus pandemic slowed the countrys growth by 4.5 percent in 2020.



Most Western nations have recognized Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence, but Serbia, backed by Russia, does not, and normalization talks have stalled. The situation has blocked Kosovo from joining international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
When it comes to Internet Challenges, some people can go overboard and they really do not care about the consequences.

More recently we heard of a girl named Tessica Brown who got her hair unstuck after an exhausting surgery but seems like people didn't learn a lesson from her ordeal.

Instagram

A man named Len Martin refuses to believe the girl and he opined that she is 'making the story up.'

He took to his Instagram page to prove a point. He decided to use the glue to stick a red Solo cup on his mouth.

Also Read: The Internet Refuses To Believe That Kim Kardashian's 7-YO Daughter North West Painted This Oil Painting

"I thought that chick with the gorilla glue was making the story up... but no.. it's real... I dont kno why I tried it..now they talking bout cutting the tip of my lips off in surgery...yall pray for me," the caption said. He also added a hashtag saying 'Gorilla Glue Challenge', in a bid to get the internet to take this up.

"Everyone is on social media, every day there is a new challenge, but I did not think it would go this far," he told a local news outlet called WVLA.

Martin described what the doctor did as painful peeling. The Louisiana native was told that if it does not heal correctly, the tip of his lip will have to be taken off via surgery. Martin says, This is not the challenge you want to try.

Also Read: Woman's Hair Stuck In Same Style For A Month After She Used Gorilla Glue Instead Of Hairspray

Twitter

Tessica Brown had to go to Los Angeles to see a plastic surgeon who had spent around four hours removing the adhesive. While this may give her some relief, Martin will still be in a world of pain at the moment.



Dr. Michael Obeng removed the glue during a four-hour surgery on Wednesday, TMZ reports. The plastic surgeon used a combination of medical-grade adhesive remover, aloe vera, olive oil and acetone to dissolve the glue.

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China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

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ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

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Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia

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"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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OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan

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European doctors are snubbing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine after a concerted EU campaign casting doubts on its effectiveness.



Mild 'side effects' including high temperatures and headaches have been reported by a small percentage of medical staff on the continent, despite there being no evidence of such occurrences in the UK, where the jab has been rolled out even more widely.



As Brussels missteps in its vaccine procurement process became clear, and it demanded that AstraZeneca ramp up supplies to Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to 'manage demand' for the vaccine by questioning its effectiveness in the over-65s.



'What I can tell you officially today is that the early results we have are not encouraging for 60 to 65-year-old people concerning AstraZeneca,' he said.



And the German regulator also raised questions by failing to approve it for the over-65s.



Both statements were based on the relatively small number of over-65s in the original clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine.



But their claims have been debunked by the World Health Organisation last week which officially recommended the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for people over the age of 65 and said it should be used 'without an upper age limit'.



It came after scientists slammed spurious claims published in German newspapers Handelsblatt and Bild which said government sources had warned the jab only appeared to be eight per cent effective but didn't publish any data to prove it.



Oxford University rubbished the report, saying there was 'no basis' for the allegation, and that their data has already been 'released transparently'.



AstraZeneca, manufacturing the jab on behalf of Oxford, said it was 'completely incorrect'.



And scientists added they had 'no idea' where the figure has come from, adding that it was not proved by research on the vaccine.



Despite EU rancour last month, the European Medicines Agency, the Bloc's regulator, then granted approval to the AstraZeneca vaccine for all age groups.



Furthermore, Oxford researchers said the jab appears to be between 62 and 90 per cent effective in the adult population in general.



Despite the growing evidence, however, scepticism remains in large areas on the continent.

Source: Dailymail









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OP-ED: Nothing Complicated About this Pension Plan

By Jim Waters, Bluegrass Institute





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LEXINGTON -Northern Kentucky Rep. Buddy Wheatley recently described legislation aimed at bringing more fairness and stability to agencies in the Kentucky Retirement Systems as a complicated onion.Wheatley, D-Covington, offered the analogy during a recent House State Government Committee considering legislation addressing severe inequalities resulting in some agencies paying more  often much more  into the states pension system than they rightfully owe while other entities dont contribute anywhere near their actual liability.The agencies most negatively affected by the current arrangement are quasi-governmental groups like universities, local health departments and mental-health centers, whose very existence and work is threatened not only by the fact that theyve long been forced to pay significantly more in pension costs than they owe, but that those expenditures have increased exponentially in recent years and will continue to do so unless changes are made.Rep. Jim DuPlessis, R-Elizabethtown, the primary sponsor of House Bill 8, noted in committee testimony that rape crisis centers currently are forced to sink half the amount of their payroll into the pension system even though they actually owe less than 30% of their pay.But thanks to past ill-advised actions taken by the boards and bureaucrats who run Kentuckys retirement systems, that price tag this year will jump to around 85% of payroll for many of these agencies unless theyre granted relief, which DuPlessis bill does.This means employers will be forced to contribute $850 for every $1,000 they pay employees unless the General Assembly takes action.Understanding the negative consequences of such a mandate on an agency committed to providing vital services doesnt seem complicated.Lotus, which serves as a safe haven for sexual assault victims and a child advocacy center in an eight-county area of western Kentucky that includes Paducah, faces the possibility of being forced to increase its contribution to nearly $1 million a year just in pension costs if some fiscal sanity doesnt rule this legislative session.Lori Brown, the agencys executive director, told a local television station that DuPlessis proposed changes would reduce Lotus pension obligation to 18% of its payroll, allowing more dollars to go toward providing critically needed services versus being forced to cut programming and staffing needed to fulfill its mission.The proposed policy change ensures that an agency like Lotus can keep serving its region by changing the calculation of its pension costs from a set percentage of payroll to determining what it owes the system and establishing payments designed to pay off that liability in 30 years  instead of the state raising the percent KRS employers are forced to pay every couple of years.The change is also designed to discourage employers in the retirement system from reducing their workforce in order to lower pension payments, and instead focus on what they really owe.Supporters hope DuPlessis approach will prevent needed agencies like Lotus from being forced to cut back or close altogether  especially if pension costs were to come close to equaling its total payroll  while other agencies lay off workers and then rehire them as contractors to avoid paying their pension bills  an oft-played-out scenario.It remains to be seen whether this approach will, as supporters claim, reduce the normal cost of using traditional employees  especially when considering the totality of future benefits they accrue  and incentivize employers and employees to stay in the system.Whats not up for questioning, however, is DuPlessis assertion: I think we can all agree: nobody wants to pay somebody elses bill. And thats what this legislation does: It says, youre going to pay what you owe  no more, no less.Nothing complicated about that, at all.
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HOUSE prices in Limerick could rise by as much as 7% this year due to record lows in supply, a new report has found.

According to the OConnor Murphy Limerick Property Price Index, the availability of property has fallen to its lowest levels since 2006, pushing up the cost of second-hand homes across the city and county.

We expect to see a 5% to 7% increase in three and four bed semis throughout the coming year  we are already seeing this with good second-hand houses attracting multiple bidders, said Managing Director, Michael OConnor.

According to the report, November was a record month for mortgage approvals nationally and this is reflected in the local market.

The increase in remote working during the pandemic has seen many people return to Limerick  largely from other cities across Ireland, but also from abroad.

Strong demand is very evident for three and four-bed semis in all major suburbs, especially Raheen, Dooradoyle, Corbally, Ennis Road, Castletroy and Annacotty, said Mr OConnor who added there is likely to be a knock-on effect in towns and villages outside the city.

The market has several influencing factors such as the revolution in remote working, There is also demand from the enhanced spending power of middle to high income workers at companies such as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which are constantly growing, he added.

In the city, the Index predicts the price of an average three-bed semi-detached house to rise by 7.5%, from 270,000 to 290,00 and by 6% in more rural areas (from 165,000 to 175,000).

"With prices in the middle and upper end of the market moving further away from the buying capacity of young people trying to get on the property ladder, there is keen interest in fixer-uppers, said Mr OConnor.

As a result, we anticipate a strong increase in the price of properties at the lower end of the market," he added.

Last year, 210  or 16%  of the 1,330 houses sold in Limerick were new homes but with the Covid-related slowdown in the building industry, is ist likely to be a contributing factor in the lack of supply.
A woman and a man fought back against carjackers in separate incidents in New Orleans on Saturday, New Orleans police reported.

On Saturday afternoon, a woman was sitting inside her vehicle in the 2500 Block of Tricou Street when a man attempted to carjack her, New Orleans police said. He grabbed her hair through her window, dragged her outside of her vehicle and entered it. The woman then pulled the suspect out of the vehicle and he ran to a getaway car, a Black Nissan Altima .

Later that evening, a 54-year-old man exited his vehicle briefly at Port and Royal streets when a man approached and got into the car. The victim then jumped into the vehicle's hatchback to stop the suspect from getting away. The suspect stopped the vehicle suddenly, jolting the victim forward and onto the suspect. The two began to struggle, and the victim forced the suspect out of the car. The victim told police he noticed at that point that the man was armed with a black handgun. The suspect fled the scene on foot, running northbound on Port St., then East on Dauphine St.

Armed robberies near Tulane: See mapped timeline of when, where incidents took place New Orleans police have booked Phillip Barbarin in the following seven armed robberies, including a shooting and a carjacking, between Saturda

In a separate carjacking incident on Saturday, two victims, a 60-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, were carjacked by two men. The victims were picking up a passenger when the suspects approached them with guns. The suspects demanded the car keys, and the victims handed them over. The suspects fled in the vehicle, though it was eventually recovered.
Vipin Kumar BHPian



Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lucknow Posts: 556 Thanked: 485 Times

Re: LTC cash voucher scheme Quote: autotranny Originally Posted by Net effect, is that a Govt employee (with wife and 2 kids), gets upto Rs 1.44 Lacs (36x4) effective discount on purchase of a car (min purchase price 4.32 Lacs)



At the same time for a Private Sector employee buying the same car, he can claim tax exemption on this Rs 1.44 Lacs, that translates into a max benefit of Rs 40,000 (assuming he is in the highest tax bracket).



It means that the private sector has organized this in a very different way.



These figures are of the highest salary bracket. Just below is Rs 20000 per head instead of Rs 36000.



The govt anyway is not at any real loss. It gives you 36000 and asks you to make purchases for a min of 108000. If you buy a car or some AC units, you pay tax at 28%, which means the govt recovers significantly more than what it gives you. From the other component, it already takes the tax at 30%, and when you utilise that component (@ pre-TDS total), you have to give another 12% GST minimum So, out of say 1 lakh INR, you have to give a tax of minimum Rs 43200 (31200 + 12000).



All the while, it gives a considerable discount on purchases that you make. No doubt about it.



If the govt gives the usual LTC to employees, it will have to spend much more than these figures on its employees. It translates as clear discount, and this amount (Rs 36000 x 4) is not taxable also. But, apart from this, the employee must claim earned-leave encashment for ten days also, which may come to another 80000 to 1 lakh, depending on salary drawn. This component, however, is taxable at source. This component, again, needn't be multiplied into three times while spending, unlike the component of 36K.It means that the private sector has organized this in a very different way.These figures are of the highest salary bracket. Just below is Rs 20000 per head instead of Rs 36000.The govt anyway is not at any real loss. It gives you 36000 and asks you to make purchases for a min of 108000. If you buy a car or some AC units, you pay tax at 28%, which means the govt recovers significantly more than what it gives you. From the other component, it already takes the tax at 30%, and when you utilise that component (@ pre-TDS total), you have to give another 12% GST minimumSo, out of say 1 lakh INR, you have to give a tax of minimum Rs 43200 (31200 + 12000).All the while, it gives a considerable discount on purchases that you make. No doubt about it.If the govt gives the usual LTC to employees, it will have to spend much more than these figures on its employees. Last edited by Vipin Kumar : 15th February 2021 at 13:53 .
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In one fell swoop, the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) and its chief executive, Davlin Thomas, have managed to cast public doubt on the professional competence of several of its own senior doctors and the quality of care given by it to patients at the Couva Hospital, while focusing attention on its own failure to act expeditiously in saving patients lives and protecting their health.
A Mexican community police member stands guard in an area where people have taken the fight against organized crime into their hands (AFP or licensors)

Police in the Western Mexican State of Jalisco have found eighteen bags of body parts, in another horrific chapter of the Country`s ongoing fourteen years Drug War.

By James Blears

The grisly discovery was made by Police Officers, on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico`s second city, and the capital of the State of Jalisco. They came across this, after finding a severed human leg, near a highway bridge. During a more detailed search, they found a huge pile of black plastic bags taped shut. On opening them, they found a carnage resembling a slaughter house.

The ultra violent "new generation Jalisco drug cartel," which is based there, is the prime suspect in this slaughter. Its henchmen have killed hundreds of people and it`s spread its tentacles of influence throughout the entire Country. Several years ago, they even shot down a police helicopter, killing all of its occupants, using a rocket launcher.

Since Mexico`s Drug War started in in 2006, more than quarter of a million people have been killed and more than eighty thousand people have vanished. Experts also estimate that thousands of Central American migrants go missing annually, as they trek across Mexico, trying to reach the US Border and cross. Often as not they`re kidnapped by the cartels. then there are three options. Their relatives pay a ransom, or they join the ranks of organized crime, or if they refuse, they`re shot in the back of the head and dumped in clandestine gravesite shallow ditches, mostly located in desolate badlands.

SLTC  Deakin Intake now on; Four New Degrees Offered by Prestigious Deakin University, Australia View(s):

Sri Lankas foremost provider of quality foreign education in technology and related disciplines, Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), has opened its 2021 intake coinciding with the institutions partnership with Prestigious Deakin University, Australia.

Through this partnership, STLC will provide onsite study support for four highly sought after Deakin University degrees, namely, Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence (3 years), Bachelor of Computer Science (3 years), Bachelor of Information Technology (3 years) & Bachelor of Software Engineering (4 years). All of the teaching will entirely be via Deakins Cloud Campus. The SLTC  Deakin collaboration was initiated by Prof Bas Baskaran, a distinguished academic of Sri Lankan heritage, serving as the Associate Dean  International &Partnerships, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment at Deakin University.

SLTC will help to facilitate an authentic Deakin Experience via the Deakin Cloud Campus which has a student population exceeding 60,000 at present. Deakin Cloud Students receive the same recognition and access to resources as on-campus students from day one.

Eligible students who wish to join this unique pathway to transfer to Deakin in Australia will be guaranteed a 50% tuition fee bursary for the first year of the above mentioned degrees (and the first two years of the Software Engineering degree) for the upcoming 2021 March and July intakes.

The Founder President/ CEO Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe: Deakin University has decided to offer these discounts as a way to incentivise school-leavers to pursue higher education notwithstanding the challenges posed by the pandemic. We are excited to make education affordable as well as accessible while also making sure the quality is not compromised; in fact we hope to pursue more meaningful collaboration within the year to expand our offering to cater to diverse interests.

Meanwhile SLTC also launched their Center for Global Education (CGE) early this year to serve as an education center for faculty & students. The unit is responsible for globalizing research, teaching & outreach missions, facilitating direct transfers and assisting students upon request to leverage competencies to meet the global expectation.

Deakin University is highly competent with more than 40 years of distance & online teaching excellence. It is ranked in the top 1% universities worldwide (Shanghai Rankings World University Rankings). SLTC is the first research-based, residential, private university with strong industry links locally & internationally offering a wide array of Ministry of Education & University Grants Commission-approved degrees and diplomas.
ARMSTRONG, Iowa (AP)  The police chief of a small Iowa town, who was charged with several crimes along with three other local officials last week, has been arrested in Minnesota.

The Martin County, Minnesota, Sheriffs office said Armstrong, Iowa, Police Chief Craig Merrill was arrested Saturday just over the border from the town where he was employed. Armstrongs mayor and the current and former city clerks were all arrested Friday and charged with several felonies and misdemeanors after a long investigation uncovered embezzlement and other offenses.

Merrill is awaiting extradition to Iowa to face the charges. It wasnt immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
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China's courier companies have witnessed a package boom during the Spring Festival as millions have stayed put for the annual holiday.

On Thursday and Friday, the first two days of the week-long Spring Festival holiday, Chinese express delivery firms handled some 130 million parcels, up 223 percent year on year, showed data from the State Post Bureau.

Ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, an important occasion for family reunions that usually sees mass human migration across the country, Chinese authorities had advised migrant workers and residents to stay put to stem the spread of COVID-19.

To make up for the loss of family gatherings, holiday parties and get-togethers, many have chosen to send "gift parcels" or make purchases online for their families and friends far away, giving rise to logistics demand.

The government has pledged to guarantee sufficient supplies of daily necessities and asked e-commerce platforms and logistics companies to ensure normal operation during the period.

As of Sunday, China's express delivery firms had dispatched 10 billion parcels domestically in just 38 days this year, creating a new record.

The spell is much shorter than the 80 days in 2020 and 79 days in 2019, said the State Post Bureau.

The express delivery sector is expected to handle 95.5 billion parcels in 2021, up 15 percent year on year, the bureau forecast in January.
As the pandemic drags on, time is running out for many homeowners. People with loans in forbearance have to resume payments this year, likely as soon as the end of March.

It leaves many borrowers with difficult choices  either find the money to pay their mortgage, refinance if possible, convince their lender to ease the terms of their loan, or default.

When decision time comes at the end of the current foreclosure moratoriums, millions of people could lose their homes.

Twelve percent of Connecticut households with mortgage loans have reported they werent caught up on their payments. Many are in forbearance, but even more are past due and delinquent.

In the state, 7.1 percent of mortgages are delinquent, according to Black Knight, a firm that provides lenders and mortgage servicers with data and analytics. Delinquencies peaked in May at 9.6 percent, the highest level since the Great Recession.

Among those homeowners who are behind, nearly 20 percent think they might face foreclosure in the next two months, according to the Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey.

A foreclosure tsunami is beyond the loss of wealth and homeownership, said Erin Boggs said, executive director of Open Communities Alliance. Its a really intractable problem for the economy in which people are ready and willing to work but wont have a stable place to live. Its really untenable and this one is really on the government to step up and show us what good government looks like.

For homeowners who cant afford to keep up with mortgage payments because of income loss, the Federal Housing Administration established relief options for those federal mortgages, which make up about 70 percent of Connecticuts home loans.

As one of his first actions in office, President Joe Biden extended the federal eviction and foreclosure moratorium until the end of March. It protects homeowners with federal insured mortgages from facing foreclosure proceedings and tenants from facing foreclosure-related eviction.

Since the moratorium was first put into place, foreclosures ground to a halt. Last April, 66 new foreclosures started, compared to 10,445 started in February last year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The reason for delinquencies in FHA loans can almost entirely be tied to the national emergency  as of January it was the given reason for 83 percent of new serious delinquencies, according to HUD.

As of December, more than 10 percent of the 8 million single-family mortgages backed by the FHA were delinquent by more than three months  the measure of serious delinquencies.

The foreclosure moratoriums and forbearance options dont apply to loans with private banks  assistance is determined by each lender. To help those homeowners, Connecticut had established a homeowner assistance program but ended the intake in early December.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority is still making available the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program for people who fell behind on their mortgage payments due to a temporary financial hardship beyond their control. But the agency cant help everyone.

The scale of this crisis far exceeds what EMAP is able to do, so theres a question of what other assistance can come through, CFHA CEO Nandini Natarajan said.

More than 5 percent of mortgages nationally are in forbearance, down from a peak of 8.6 percent in early June, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The level of forbearance were seeing in the industry today, is unheard of. Its never been done before...so whats going to happen at the end of it is a big question, Natarajan said.

Though forbearance and delinquencies have improved since mid-2020, when forbearance plans begin to expire in March, there would still be approximately 1.5 million more serious delinquencies than at the start of the pandemic, according to Black Knight.

Despite these uncertainties, home prices and sales have increased during the pandemic, particularly in Fairfield County which saw an influx of New York residents fleeing to Connecticut last year.

Sales of single-family homes were up by nearly two-thirds from a year ago.

Demand has also pushed the cost of listings up. The price of the median home sold in Fairfield County was up 24 percent from the equivalent home sold in November 2019, according to William Pitt Sothebys Realty.

Housing and homeownership is considered a large component of wealth and while the ability to buy a home is a reflection of wealth already acquired, homeownership is also an important channel for upward mobility and building generational wealth.

This means the homeowner crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic could signal a serious impact on families of color and first-time home buyers in particular.

White Connecticut residents more often own their homes than rent, while the inverse is true for Black residents  homeownership among Black families is at 40 percent, while for white families its at 76 percent.

In concert, the typical white family in the U.S. has eight times the wealth of the typical Black family and five times the wealth of the typical Hispanic family, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances.

The wealth gap in this country can be attributed directly to homeownership, said Boggs, of the Open Communities Alliance.

Amid this crisis, Boggs expects to see Black and Hispanic homeowners once again bearing a disproportionate struggle.

Just like the burst in housing bubble not so long ago, Black and Latino families, who on average have lower incomes and less wealth, are being hit harder by this crisis and having additional cushions of wealth or added income are the kind of resources you need to get through tough economic times, Boggs said.

Just 10 percent of Hispanic families and 14 percent of Black families have enough savings to cover six months of expenses, compared to 36 percent of white families and 27 percent of other families, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- Hundreds of people have attended a rally in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, to demand that authorities take measures against widespread corruption in the Central Asian country.



The protesters gathered at midday on February 14 near the main Bishkek railway station, before marching towards the central Ala-Too Square. They were holding slogans that read "We demand the rule of law" and "We are for a bright future" among others.



Rally participants also condemned a recent ruling by a Bishkek court that ordered a mitigated punishment and no jail time for former customs official Raimbek Matraimov, who was placed on the U.S. Magnitsky sanctions list for his involvement in the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad.



Matraimov, the former deputy chief of Kyrgyzstan's Customs Service, was fined just over $3,000 after pleading guilty to corruption charges. The court said on February 11 that Matraimov had paid back around $24 million to the state in damages lost through corruption schemes that he oversaw.



In June 2019, an investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and Kloop implicate Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.

Also Read: Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia

The $700 million scheme involved a company controlled by Matraimov bribing officials to skirt customs fees and regulations, as well as engaging in money laundering, "allowing for maximum profits," the Treasury Department said.



The participants of the protest in Bishkek condemned the court ruling and chanted: "Arrest Raim" and "Raim must be held responsible."



The protest was initiated by the Bashtan Bashta movement, which has been organizing similar peaceful rallies in central Bishkek every Sunday since October 2020 when anti-government protests over official results of parliamentary elections toppled the government and led to President Sooronbai Jeenbekov's resignation.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has plunged Auckland into a draconian three-day lockdown after just three new coronavirus cases were recorded amongst the capital's population of 1.5 million.

Officials said the rest of the country will also be placed under stringent restrictions but will avoid another economy-wrecking shutdown after an Auckland mother, father and daughter tested positive for the virus.

Parts of Auckland were shut down on November 12 last year after a single case of Covid-19 was recorded. In that instance, the infected person was a female university student with no immediate links to foreign travel.

In Melbourne, Australia, health officials are refusing to rule out extending Victoria State's snap five-day lockdown as cases of the Kent mutant variant first detected in England around Christmas are recorded.

Victoria, which has recorded around 20,640 cases and 820 deaths, will close schools and ban private gatherings while masks will be required everywhere.

New Zealand has not started a vaccination programme - unlike in Britain, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has inoculated nearly 15 million people in a bid to bring the cycle of lockdowns to an end.

Ms Ardern announced that the jabs rollout will start on February 20 amid mounting pressure to start vaccination for the country's five million people after the country recorded just 26 deaths and 2,300 cases.

The New Zealand government has refused to lift restrictions until it achieves Zero Covid - with methods of suppression including border controls, tight domestic curbs and an aggressive track and trace system combined.

In Britain, however, government scientists have recommended lifting lockdown measures when 1,000 daily cases are recorded amid pressure from Tory backbenchers who fear that shutdowns cause massive economic and societal damage - and inflict more harm than the virus.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has plunged Auckland into a draconian three-day lockdown. Pictured: Nurses at a Covid-19 testing station in Freyberg Place in November

In Australia, health officials are refusing to rule out extending Victoria State's snap five-day lockdown as cases of the Kent mutant variant first detected in England are recorded. Pictured, Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport where a person tested positive for Covid

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has returned to Wellington for briefings after three members of a South Auckland family tested positive

New Zealand insists lockdown is 'worth doing' - despite inflicting record damage to economy The New Zealand government has stuck by its claims that locking down the country is 'worth' doing - despite inflicting severe economic damage. Its ministers have claimed that the fiscal and economic impact of the pandemic will be less bad than first feared as it claims its decision to impose one of the world's strictest lockdowns 'pays off'. Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced in December that the economy had accelerated out of the lockdown-induced recession to grow a record 14 per cent in the third quarter. New figures showed a resurgence in household spending drove the country's recovery. The easing of some of the world's toughest social-distancing restrictions prompted 11.1 per cent growth in service industries and 26 per cent growth in the goods producing sector. New Zealand's statistics agency also revised the decline in gross domestic product in the June quarter to 11 per cent, from previous estimates of a 12.2 per cent contraction. However, the damage wrought by a nationwide lockdown remained evident in the annual growth figure, which shows economic activity fell 2.2 per cent in the year to the end of September. Robertson attributed the record growth to the government's decision to 'go hard and early' during the Covid-19 pandemic and offer support through a comprehensive wage subsidy scheme covering 1.8 million workers. 'While New Zealand's economy contracted in 2020, it is expected to rebound strongly in 2021, in line with countries we compare ourselves to, like Australia and the United States, and outperforming the United Kingdom and Japan relative to these countries' 2019 starting point,' he said. Advertisement

So far, the UK has recorded nearly 117,000 Covid-related deaths, 13,308 new cases in the last 24 hours - and endured three crippling lockdowns which has seen entire sectors of the economy crushed by government action.

Cases of coronavirus are regularly being caught among travellers returning to the isolated Pacific island country, who are required by government mandate to spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival.

Auckland, which has a population of 1.5 million, will be moved to Level 3 restrictions from midnight on Sunday for three days, meaning residents are not allowed to move freely until midnight on Wednesday.

Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins announced that health officials were moving rapidly to test and isolate close contacts. 'There is a number of gaps in our knowledge around these cases,' he said.

Pressure has been mounting on New Zealand Prime Minister Ms Ardern to start vaccinations for the country's 5 million people to take advantage of its rare position of having virtually eliminated the virus domestically.

'Last year we indicated the vaccine would arrive in quarter two, and earlier this year we updated that to quarter one,' Ms Ardern told reporters. 'It's pleasing to be receiving doses this early in quarter one.'

Both New Zealand and neighbouring Australia have formally approved the vaccine jointly developed by US drugmaker Pfizer Inc and Germany's BioNTech.

The Australian government has said it expects to begin inoculations by the end of this month, without giving a specific date.

However, Ms Ardern said the vaccination programs would have no immediate impact on a stalled trans-Tasman travel 'bubble'.

Australia and New Zealand had hoped to allow bilateral travel by the end of March, but fresh coronavirus outbreaks in Australia have stalled those plans.

Ms Ardern said border restrictions could be eased if there was evidence that vaccines reduce transmission.

'That will be a significant step-change if we see that evidence emerge and I'm sure that will make a difference to travel in the world,' she said. 'But at this stage, it won't necessarily make a difference.'

Ms Ardern said New Zealand's approximate 12,000 border workers would be the first to be vaccinated, followed by their household contacts.

Healthcare workers and high-risk people like the elderly would be next, before vaccinations for the wider population start in the second half of the year.

'We have pre-purchased enough vaccines to cover all New Zealanders and to do so for free, and the Pacific as well,' she said.

New Zealand's medicines regulator is also in talks with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Janssen Biotech regarding approval for their Covid-19 vaccines.

It comes as Victoria's health authorities will not rule out extending the state's snap five-day Covid lockdown as new exposure sites are revealed and new details emerge about the Coburg dinner virus spread.

Sunday's two new local coronavirus cases - a toddler and an unrelated hotel quarantine worker - were linked to the Holiday Inn cluster, which has now reached 16 cases.

Both had also attended a private dinner on Sydney Road, Coburg, on February 6.

The city recorded three Covid cases. Pictured, a relatively deserted Parnell Rise, Auckland

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has plunged Auckland into a draconian three-day lockdown. Pictured: A person walks through the CBD on October 8 in Auckland

How New Zealand's swift and decisive Covid response was praised globally - while Britain suffers the worst toll in Europe Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a Labour Party event in Wellington, New Zealand New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been praised globally for her government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Her administration imposed drastic measures quickly after imitating measures adopted by the Chinese government in Wuhan last winter. A Lancet report noted that switching from mitigation to suppression, the New Zealand government set about eradicating Covid-19 through state action - involving a border crackdown, tough domestic curbs and quarantining. Between February and May last year, it introduced the following tiers: Alert Level 1: 'Travel restrictions are introduced. National case and contact management guidelines are implemented and communication campaigns are launched (eg, promotion of hand and respiratory hygiene, isolation and testing if symptomatic). Government COVID-19 income support and debt relief is initially established.'

Alert Level 2: 'Physical distancing is enforced, additional precautions are encouraged for higher-risk groups (eg, people aged >70 years) when leaving home, and specific gatherings (eg, weddings) are permitted if no more than 100 people.'

Alert Level 3: 'Population is asked to stay within so-called bubbles (comprising household close contacts) that can include additional support (eg, carers) and encouraged to work from home, businesses must not physically interact with public, public venues are closed, no gatherings of more than ten people are allowed, telehealth services are encouraged, and only essential inter-regional travel is permitted.'

Alert Level 4: 'Population is required to stay at home except for essential reasons (e.g., short periods of exercise), businesses are closed unless offering essential services (e.g., supermarkets), educational facilities and public venues are closed, and health-care services are reprioritised. A communication well-being campaign entitled Getting Through Together is launched.' Official figures show that New Zealand recorded a negligible number of daily cases and deaths while Britain recorded the worst toll in Europe These measures, combined with New Zealand's isolated geography and spread-out five-million population, allowed the Government to declare that it had suppressed Covid - achieving Zero Covid for periods of time. Official figures show that New Zealand recorded a negligible number of daily cases and deaths while Britain - a major global travel hub on the Western corner of Europe - recorded the worst toll across the Continent. By comparison, the British government has been accused of acting too slow during the spring outbreak last year. Government scientists insist the high numbers of cases and deaths are explained by the failure of rule-breakers to comply with tough domestic and travel restrictions. However, Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey recently sparked outrage after implying that Britain's 100,000-plus death toll could be mostly explained by the underlying health of the nation. In an incendiary interview with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, she suggested that Britain's ageing population and the level of obesity were some of the factors behind the high death numbers from the disease. By comparison, the British government has been accused of acting too slow during the spring outbreak last year. Government scientists insist that the high number of cases and deaths recorded across the UK is explained by a failure by rule-breakers to comply with restrictions including the 'stay at home' order But she became furious when Mr Morgan said she seemed to be blaming the problems on people being too fat and too old, asking her: 'Are you saying that the reason for us having the worst death rate in the world is because of the public? We're too old and we're too fat?' A clearly angry Ms Coffey shot back: 'I think that's a very insulting thing that you just said. I'm conscious that there are a variety of factors that would have sadly led to being ill during this time, sadly that translating into deaths. 'I'm very conscious that this is a very serious impact that our prime minister was in hospital, in intensive care himself last April. 'I am conscious that we want to have a wrap-around response from people.' Advertisement

The toddler's mother has been tested three times with different test results and is also potentially infectious.

Four new exposure sites were also revealed on Sunday evening after an infectious person caught a tram to Melbourne's popular Queen Victoria Market on Thursday, February 11.

The person caught the No.11 tram from Harbour Esplanade/Collins St at 7.55am to the William/Collins St stop at 8.10am, making it the first new exposure site.

They then caught the No. 58 Yarra Tram from the Bourke/William St stop at 8.10am to the Queen Victoria/Peel St stop just before 8.30am.

They went into the Queen Victoria Market fruit and vegetable section and the women's toilets in section 2, making it an exposure site from 8.25am to 10.10am.

The person then caught the No.58 Yarra tram back from the Queen Victoria Market at 9.40am to the Bourke/William St stop at 9.55am making it the fourth exposure site.

Anyone there at the same time as these exposures must immediately isolate for 14 days and get tested.

Disturbing new details emerged about the dinner party at Coburg on Sunday, with health authorities revealing 38 people had gathered for the event.

Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said a number of positive cases had been traced to the function.

He rejected claims that a woman aged in her 50s who is linked to the Coburg function had gone there instead of being in isolation while infectious.

Instead, she had been infectious before she had been identified with testing.

'The staff member was identified on Wednesday and tested positive on Wednesday this week, that is February 10,' Mr Weimar said.

'At that point, the social contact point of the Saturday was not identified in those early conversations.'

'There was a negative test result that she returned as part of her normal workplace testing on the seventh but that has since been reviewed and that test is now a week positive and we have had to take the timeline back to include the sixth.'

'The genomics is clear that this is all part of the same strain,' Mr Weimar said.

To encourage everyone at the function to step forward with contact tracing and testing, Mr Weimar said the owner of the venue would not be fined for a potential covid regulation breach.

'I'm not remotely interested in who did what at what time,' he said.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said contact tracers had reduced the number of primary close contacts from the Holiday Inn cluster down from 996 to 940.

Of nearly 1000 close contacts, 129 are direct family relations of those who tested positive from the Holiday Inn exposure.

'It is too early to say whether we have been successful, but the signs show Victorians are doing the right thing, supporting each other, and our test, trace and isolate system is staying ahead of this,' he told reporters on Sunday.

'But it is too early to say as yet whether this fantastic effort by all Victorians has got us there.'

'We will continue to monitor it on a day-by-day basis, really it is up to the shared effort of all Victorians.'

Mr Foley said the child and the quarantine worker revealed as positive on Sunday had been from separate households.

'Both have been in isolation since February 12 and both tested and returned a positive sample in isolation on February 13.'

The toddler has attended the Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Glenroy, but the childcare centre has not yet been added to the list of exposure sites.

Regarding the three different test outcomes for the child's mother, Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said the experts were working on it.

'Our epidemiologists and specialists are working with her and with our labs to be clear about the nature of what possible infection she may have, whether she is at the start of our infectious period or whether she is coming towards the end,' he said.

'Serology is being done, and we will work out over the next few hours exactly where this individual stands.'

Authorities have also identified four more exposure sights after the three-year-old child and quarantine worker visited several venues while infected.

One of the cases visited a Woolworths at Broadmeadows Central, in Melbourne's north, between 12.15pm and 12.30pm on February 2.

The person then visited Pascoe Vale Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre between 4pm and 7.30pm on February 10.

They also went to Elite Swimming in Pascoe Vale between 5pm and 6pm on February 8.

Another positive Covid-19 case visited Broadmeadows Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse on Pascoe Vale Road between 12.30pm and 12.45pm on February 9.

'If you have been to these sites you will need to isolate, to get tested and to stay isolated for 14 days,' Mr Foley said.

'That goes above and beyond the general circuit maker that we are currently in,' he said.

The health minister refused to comment further on the original Holiday Inn case after a man was accused of sparking the Covid-19 outbreak after using a nebuliser.

'Since I have been the minister for health I have made it crystal clear that I do not comment on individual cases and put people and families through trauma,' he said.

'And I will not be starting that today. This family needs to put all of its effort into getting well.'

The new cases come after Greek tennis player Michail Pervolarakis tested positive to Covid-19 after he flew from Melbourne to South Africa.

Pervolarakis had represented his home country at the ATP Cup before he left the city on February 9.

Tennis Australia says he tested negative to Covid-19 the day he left Melbourne.

'His own medical advice is that it was likely he contracted the virus in Doha or on the plane,' a spokesperson said.

Pervolarakis took to Instagram on Saturday to say he was 'completely asymptomatic'.

'I am completely asymptomatic at the moment and will have to quarantine in an isolation facility in Potchefstroom,' he said on his Instagram account.

'I am not a person that complains, but I feel that I need to express my disappointment with the conditions we are in.'

Victoria recorded one new case in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 22.

Mr Weimar added all 12 staff had tested negative at the Brunetti Cafe in Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport.

The cafe was listed as an exposure site after a Covid-19 positive person visited the venue on February 9.

An international traveller makes their way inside Novotel Melbourne
Sisters Selina and Louise McDermott who lost two brothers (Willie and George) and a sister (Marcella) in the fire. Photo: Gerry Mooney

THE sight of 48 names and faces lined up side by side on plaques at the site of the Stardust Valentines Day disco was a powerful image which marked the 40th anniversary of the fire.

Families of those who lost their lives on the night of February 13 and morning of February 14, 1981, gathered at the Artane location yesterday to stand on the very ground once enclosed by the dancehall.

Former Attorney General Seamus Woulfe last year granted permission for new inquests into the deaths, and those will be heard this year.

Read More

He said previous inquests in 1982 recorded how the deaths occurred but there was no reference to the surrounding circumstances, in particular the cause of the fire.

Still fighting for justice, and awaiting the beginning of the new inquests, relatives at the site observed a minute of silence and shed tears members of Dublin Fire Brigade paid their own tribute with lights and sirens from a fire tender.

Samantha Mangan, who lost her mother Helena in the fire, read a poem that had been found on a Valentine card found on the site in the clean-up after the blaze.

It had been written by Martina Keegan to her boyfriend David Morton, both of whom died in the fire.

In the poem, written in the form of a prayer, Martina asked the Lord to protect David.

You know Lord, I love him with all my heart. So keep us together, never to part, it read.

Selina and Louise McDermott attended to remember their three siblings, Willie (22), George (18), and Marcella (16), who perished in the fire.

Im here on behalf of my mother Brigid who just cannot come to this site. She will never set foot on it.

We do believe this year with the new inquest that we will get justice and the truth of what really happened 40 years ago today, said Louise.

Their father was a fireman in Tara Street station but was off duty on the night of the blaze.

He often felt that if he had been working that night he could have saved them and others. He said it for years, said Selina.

I was only 11 at the time. I was the youngest sibling.

I became an adult straight away because we had to look after our mother. We became her carer. I wasnt in school for about a year, she added.

At the Memorial Mass to mark the anniversary, Archbishop Dermot Farrell said a whole community was traumatised in the horror of that dreadful night.

The lives of so many have been blighted by the loss of those young people, who were so full of hope and promise.

That grievous loss has been compounded by their long quest for a full account of the tragedy that satisfies their need for truth, he said.

I stand in solidarity with you in your inexpressible grief and sadness, to pray both for the victims of this awful tragedy and for healing for the families who suffered such loss.

The loss of life is always tragic. But the loss of young and innocent life is beyond tragedy.

Who could fail to be moved by the suffering, the weight of hurts and memories, festering for forty years now, of the families who lost 48 loved ones in the Stardust disaster, and of the more than 200 who were injured?

So many families have endured enormous suffering, and today are re-living the horror of that night which is seared into the hearts and memories of a generation.
So it seems Lockdown 3 will not end on March 5 after all?

No, far from it. The Level 5 lockdown is to be extended by at least another six weeks. The Government has declined to give specific dates as the war against the virus continues, but the current restrictions are likely to continue until April 12 at the very least.

After Easter will we see a drop from Level 5 to Level 4 or Level 3?

Not quite. We will remain at Level 5 until April 12, according to the Irish Independent. Micheal Martin said on Thursday: "Certainly we are looking at a continuation of high levels of restrictions up to the Easter period. That remains to be determined by Government. There will be further discussions. We are revising our Living with Covid plan."

What about the 5km limit, surely they can drop that and increase it to 20km?

Possibly, according to the Taoiseach who said when asked that question: "That's an issue we will be looking at and examining." The Government hopes to "bring clarity to those issues" later this month.

So what will open before Easter?

Schools and construction are the priority, according to the Taoiseach, but both are dependent on numbers getting and remaining very low - somewhere in the region of 200 or fewer cases a day for a sustained period of time. Talks are continuing with teachers' unions on the subject of phased reopenings and it is still hoped that schools will begin reopening in late February and throughout the month of March.

Read More

The vaccine roll-out clearly plays a key part in any plan to reopen the country. How is that going?

Slowly but surely would be one way to describe it. The Government's plan is to see a "critical mass" of people vaccinated by September. But we are a long way off that at the moment.

How many vaccinations have been administered so far?

According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), the total number of doses administered up to last Tuesday was 248,284, consisting of 158,904 first doses and 89,380 second doses. Dr Colm Henry, the chief clinical officer for the HSE, indicated that 5pc of the population have got at least one dose of the vaccine so far and 1.7pc of the population have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19. So clearly there really is a huge amount of work to do between now and September.

What does that mean for our summer plans? Will we be able to go on holidays at home?

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said last week we could expect to see a 2021 summer "similar to last summer" with "hotels and restaurants open, that's kind of where I think we'll be". However, he added that "mass gatherings" like theatres and concerts are out.

It's not exactly inspiring news, is it? Longer lockdown, vaccinations moving at a seemingly slow pace, no clear plan for schools reopening and not a lot to look forward to in the immediate future.

That is true. But it is also true that, despite the doom and gloom, negotiations are ongoing between the Department of Education and the unions to get kids back to school in March. And the Government is also redrafting the Living with Covid plan, and the week after next we should have a clearer picture of how we exit the lockdown safely and in a way that doesn't land us in Lockdown 4 in a few months.

But the rate of roll-out of vaccines will be improving in the coming week?

Yes. Almost 80,000 doses of various vaccines will be administered next week, the highest so far. As well as that, an important milestone has been reached with vaccinations in the community, beginning this week with the first doses given to people aged 85 and over. Overall, about 40,000 second doses will be given this week. The HSE said the first widespread use of the AstraZeneca vaccine also begins this week.

So will the GPs be taking the lead for the community roll-out?

There are 108 large GP practices administering 12,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to those aged 85 and over this week. Towards the end of the week, 8,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine will be delivered to GPs.

Have GPs themselves been vaccinated?

A great many have been vaccinated. Yesterday, 1,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered to GPs at vaccination centres in Dublin, Galway, Sligo and Portlaoise. Today, 3,000 first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered at the same centres to GPs and their practice nurses who were not vaccinated in the first round.

What about the delivering of consignments of vaccines into Ireland?

The HSE expects to receive a further 212,000 doses of all three approved vaccines within the next two weeks. That's a big ramping up in scale as a total of 338,000 vaccines have already been delivered since the first vaccines arrived in Ireland after Christmas. A further 21,600 doses of AstraZeneca arrived in recent days. By the end of March, Ireland is set to receive at least 1.1 million vaccine doses into the country.

What about nursing homes - have we made progress there?

There is some good news for that beleaguered sector, which tragically bore the brunt of the nation's worst outbreaks. Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer of the HSE, said the vaccination programme for people aged 70 and over in nursing homes as well as other similar congregated settings is now "almost complete".

Handout photo issued by Julien Behal Photography of Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, speaking in Dublin at the unveiling of the Irish Governments blueprint for living with Covid-19.The Cabinet signed off on the medium-term plan for living with coronavirus, which includes different levels of restrictions, ranging from one to five.

The Minister for Health has said there is no fixed date for the return of schools.

Discussions are ongoing between the Department of Education and teachers unions about holding the Leaving Cert and bringing students back to classrooms.

The ASTI returned to the table this weekend after threatening to walk away in a move that spelled chaos for reopening plans.

Obviously we need to get the Leaving Cert students back as quickly as possible, but my understanding is that there are no fixed dates as of yet Stephen Donnelly

But Stephen Donnelly was unable to provide an answer when asked when schools would return.

He told RTEs This Week: We dont have that yet.

I know Minister (Norma) Foley is involved in intensive talks and confidential talks with the stakeholders.

Its great that the special schools have reopened on a phased basis, its great that were going to see the special classes in mainstream schools opening up again from Monday week, from February 22.

Obviously we need to get the Leaving Cert students back as quickly as possible, but my understanding is that there are no fixed dates as of yet.

The Minister also said he has been very taken aback by reports that some GPs are refusing to administer the coronavirus vaccine.

He said he was concerned about reports that some of those are also refusing to provide information to patients on GPs who will provide vaccinations.

He urged anyone who finds themselves in that situation to calls the HSE live line, which will direct them on where to get vaccinated.

He added: My view is GPS who dont want to vaccinate themselves, so be it.

Im very surprised by that.

Certainly the vast, vast majority of healthcare workers around the country have been, not only getting vaccinated, but very much demanding that they get vaccinated as quickly as possible.

I dont believe anyone in the country should be denied a vaccination by their GP, I dont think its acceptable behaviour at all.

Minister Donnelly was also unable to provide clarity on when lockdown restrictions will end.

The current set of restrictions are up for review on March 5, but the Government has played down the prospect of any widespread reopening.

The Cabinet is due to agree a revision to the Living with Covid roadmap in the week of February 22.

Asked how long Level Five restrictions will continue, Mr Donnelly replied: I think thats the six million dollar question.

I would love to have an accurate answer, as would Government, as would Nphet.

He said the uncertainty over the impact of vaccines on transmissibility of the virus, and the threat of new variants, made it very difficult for anyone, including our experts in our modelling teams, to say exactly how long its going to take.

Our vaccination figures continue to be updated on a daily basis (with a 48-72 hour delay for validation) but we have now administered over a quarter of a million doses. pic.twitter.com/WE6Xnn7270  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) February 13, 2021

He said the Covid numbers need to come down much more before society can reopen.

The results just in for Ireland at the moment, theyre mixed.

Steady progress is being made.

Were about mid table in Europe at the moment.

Thanks to everyone sticking with Level Five, weve got the biggest fall in Europe at the moment in our 14-day rate.

But he said there are concerns that the number of close contacts are increasing, positivity rates remain high and the percentage of new cases in Dublin are rising.

So its far too early, unfortunately, given all of that, to be able to give accurate predictions as to when we can exit Level Five, he said.

Sunday brought 17 additional deaths related to Covid-19, figures from the Department of Health show.

There were also another 788 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Of the deaths reported on Sunday, 15 occurred in February and one was in December.

One other death remains under investigation.

There are currently 899 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 160 are in intensive care units, down 11 on the previous day.
Hundreds of Russians are all set to hold candlelight gatherings in their residential courtyards, on February 14, in a symbol of their solidarity with detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Despite being warned of arrests and hefty fines by law enforcers, his supporters have chosen the day of love to support the man who has fearlessly stood against Putins corrupt administration. As per officials records, Russian authorities have detained over 7,000 people since the protests emerged late in January.

Earlier this month, close allies of the Kremlin critic declared a moratorium on street rallies till spring. However, they urged his supporters to show support to the 44-year old by gathering outside their homes for 15 minutes on the occasion of Valentines day, flashing their cellphone torches and arranging lit candles in the shape of a heart.

(President Vladimir) Putin is fear. Navalny is love. Thats why we will win, Lithuania based Leonid Volkov, one of Navalnys close allies, wrote on Twitter calling on people to gather.

Read: Navalny Defies Prosecution On Defamation Charge

Read: 'Stop Shaming Yourself': Navalny Mocks Judge And Prosecutors As He Returns To Court

Navalny returns to court

This comes as Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who reappeared in a court on Friday, February 12 for a trial on defamation charges, mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticised the judge. Navalny backed his lawyer's request to replace the judge, saying she needs to enrol herself in a school to improve her knowledge of the law. Navalny is accused of defaming the World War II veteran, who appeared in a video last year promoting a constitutional reform that extended Putin's term limit as President by two years.

Navalny was arrested by the Russian authorities soon after returning from Germany last month, where he had been since August 2020 for treatment. Navalny was flown to Berlin from Russia last year after he fell ill during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. Upon landing in Germany, doctors concluded Navalny had been poisoned using Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. Navalny was in a medically-induced coma for almost a month following which he was kept in the hospital for recovery treatment.

Read: In New Tactic, Navalny Supporters To Rally In Courtyards

Read:Russia Calls Alexei Navalny Allies 'traitors', Accuses Them Of Talking Sanctions

(Image source: AP)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
A man is due to face court on Monday for allegedly punching a police officer in the face and knocking him unconscious outside a house party in Sydneys south-west.

The partys host, Sharon Eteuati, described rushing to hold the bleeding sergeant when he was allegedly hit after intervening in a domestic dispute outside the house on Huntingdale Avenue in Lansvale just after 1am on Sunday.

I picked up his head and I tried to stop the bleeding. He was the priority at that moment, holding his head and telling him to stay with me ... I still couldnt even believe my hand was full of his blood, Ms Eteuati told Nine News.

Police say officers were called to the home after receiving a noise complaint, seeing a physical altercation take place between a man and a woman, both 23, shortly after arriving. The officers intervened and separated the pair.
These days, it can often feel like former President Donald Trump is off the grid, but he made himself known Saturday shortly after he was acquitted in a Senate impeachment trial for the second time in just over a year.

In a statement, Trump thanked his legal team and the lawmakers who voted not guilty, while blasting Democrats, whom he accused of getting a "free pass to denigrate the rule of law." The impeachment effort, Trump claimed, was "another phase" of what he considers "the greatest witch hunt" in American history.

Once he was done chiding his opponents, the former president turned his attention to his supporters, promising them "our historic, patriotic, and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," and that "I have much to share with you" in "the months ahead."

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More stories from theweek.com

Republicans are leaving the light on for Trump

7 scathingly funny cartoons about Republicans' impeachment cowardice

Trump comes out of hiding


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Trump Ready to Move On, Excited About 2022: Sen. Graham

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday said he spoke with former President Donald Trump and that the former commander-in-chief is ready to move on after he was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial.

The former president was grateful to his lawyers, he appreciated the help that all of us have provided, Graham told Fox News. Hes ready to move on and rebuild the Republican Party, hes excited about 2022 and Im going to go down to talk with him next week.

Graham, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Trump is mad at some folks in the Republican Party for going along with the impeachment effort. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted to acquit Trump but made a speech suggesting he should face criminal prosecution.

I think Sen. McConnells speech, he got a load off his chest, but unfortunately put a load on the back of Republicans, Graham said in the Sunday interview. That speech you will see in 2022 campaigns. I would imagine if youre a Republican running in Georgia, Arizona, New Hampshire where we have a chance to take back the Senate, they may be playing Sen. McConnells speech and asking you about it if youre a candidate.

Graham added, I think [McConnells] speech was an outlier regarding how Republicans feel about all this.

But the longtime Republican lawmaker from South Carolina suggested the former president bears responsibility of pushing narratives after the Nov. 3 election. However, in regard to the former presidents claims about the election, Graham said he believed they are protected under the First Amendment.

Last month, House impeachment managers impeached Trump for allegedly inciting violence on Jan. 6describing it as an insurrectionafter a riot broke out at the U.S. Capitol building, which was breached as members of Congress were certifying the Nov. 3 election.

Trumps lawyers argued that his comments were protected under the First Amendment, adding it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president.

On Saturday, Trump indicated he was thinking about his own political future without divulging details.

In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, he said in a statement, while praising his acquittal.

Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun.
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Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said that 78 candidates had submitted their nomination papers so far with Returning Officers (ROs) for contesting election on Senate vacant seats to be held on March 3

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2021 ) :Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said that 78 candidates had submitted their nomination papers so far with Returning Officers (ROs) for contesting election on Senate vacant seats to be held on March 3.

According to an official of ECP, 15 candidates have filed their nomination papers from Punjab, 20 from Sindh, 24 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 15 from Balochistan. As many as 16 nomination papers have been submitted for Women seats while five for Non-Muslim and 14 nomination papers have been submitted for Technocrats and Ulema seats.

He said that the commission has extended the date for filing nomination papers for senate election from February 13 to February 15 on written and verbal requests from various forums to facilitate the candidates.

He said that the ECP has appointed five Returning Officers for Islamabad and four provinces while the candidates can file their nomination papers on Saturday also with ROs.

He said that the polling will be held on March 3 on 48 seats, two in Islamabad, 11 each in Punjab and Sindh, and 12 each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, that will fall vacant on the expiration of the term of the members.

He said that the polling will be held from 0900 hours to 1700 hours simultaneously in Parliament House, Islamabad, and provincial assembly buildings in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

A public notice has already been issued by returning officers for inviting nomination papers. The nominated candidates will be announced on February 16, while the date for scrutiny of nomination papers will be February 17 to February 18.

The last dates for filing of appeals against acceptance or rejection of nominations will be February 20 while the dates for disposal of appeals by the Tribunals will be February 23.

The date of publication of revised list of candidates will be February 24 while the date for withdrawal of candidature will be February 25.

The commission called upon the members of provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces to elect members against seven general seats, two women seats and two seats for Technocrats including Ulema from each province and one seat for non-Muslims each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, which are going to become vacant on March 11.

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Democratic State Sen. Kerry Donovan is right. Things aren't looking good for Colorado. The last thing we need is a nut-job in Congress.
Even before the pandemic, Elsa Rodriguez Killion realized that Casa Corona, her restaurant in Fresno, Calif., was going to have to change with the times.

She spent money on digital marketing. She invested in technology that enabled online orders, for dishes like the restaurants signature chile verde. And there was something else she had to keep up with: Californias rising minimum wage.

The minimum rose to $14 an hour on Jan. 1, the fifth annual increase under a 2016 law. It is set to reach $15 for most employers by next year. With price increases, Ms. Rodriguez Killion was able to absorb some of the added payroll expense. But she also cut more than 20 percent of the 160 jobs at her restaurants two locations in the last five years, not including those lost because of the pandemic.

Every year we have had to make hard decisions to let labor go, said Ms. Rodriguez Killion, 47, who opened Casa Corona with her brother and sister more than 20 years ago. She worries that paring more of her work force is inevitable.
The upcoming first Arab Household Long-term Savings Conference in Bahrain will discuss the economics of long-term savings for households, its significance for their financial resilience and the right vehicles for household long-term savings and building up assets.



The event is organised by Fintech Robos, the Bahrain-based providers of savings and pensions technology.



Several reports by reputed consultancy groups almost unanimously point to the fact that at least one third of people in Mena do not save any money; two thirds of people do not save enough or regularly, and close to 80% of people say they dont feel confident about their financial future, said Ebrahim K Ebrahim, CEO of Fintech Robos.



Ebrahim said theres a direct relationship between household savings ratios and healthy economy, and between household savings ratios and future social security. If savings is key to a healthy economy, then it must be reasonably high and sustainable, if any region is to fulfil its potential for higher real income and greater standard of living, he pointed out.



Ebrahim elaborated that the main purpose of organising this first-of-its-kind conference in the region is to create a rich debate and information-sharing platform on the significance of long-term savings for household financial resilience. Its also to increase awareness on both the need-to-save, as well as, knowledge around savings solutions offered by the financial industry, and global innovation in this space.



Simply put, we aim to build better stakeholder awareness and place long-term savings and household financial resilience on the agenda for all those concerned, he said.



Top-notch speakers from leading regional banks, insurers, wealth managers, advisors, digital challengers, economic think-tanks and policy analysts will be participating in this conference, which will be livestreamed from Bahrain on May 25 and 26.



The conference is also designed to provide a holistic assessment of the landscape of household long-term savings products, characteristics of ideal savings vehicles, and solutions of incumbent institutions vs. solutions offered by the new wave of digital challengers. Insights on how the worlds best savings countries save for the long-term will also be highlighted.



The digital savings solutions are already changing peoples attitude towards savings and putting them in control of their money. Customers are appreciating the ease and convenience of being able to keep tabs on their money in real time. The big question is: how do these digital propositions generally compare to the incumbent big institutions in terms of safety and sustainability? And how long will it take Mena clients to make a paradigm shift towards these digital challengers?



Together with the annual Arab Pensions Conference, we hope the Arab Household Long-term Savings event by Fintech Robos will foster a lively debate and a growing industry forum on personal finance, pension savings and pension investments across the Mena region, said Ebrahim.  TradeArabia News Service
Joseph Diaz (pictured) fought to a majority draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov at the Fantasy Springs Casino in the California desert

Former champion Joseph Diaz fought to a majority draw with Shavkatdzhov Rakhimov in an IBF junior lightweight fight Saturday in the California desert.

American Diaz was stripped of his title Friday because he weighed more than three pounds over the 130-pound limit at the weigh-in, leaving Rakhimov with the only chance to claim the title which now sits vacant.

The two southpaws put on an entertaining slugfest with Diaz giving up some rounds in the middle before turning it on in the final round to salvage some pride.

One judge scored it 115-113 for Diaz while the other two had it 114-114 in the 12-round showdown inside the quarantine bubble at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio.

"It wasn't my best performance," said Diaz. "I didn't make weight and vacated my title. It was a mistake on my behalf."

Diaz, 28, went on to say that the Covid-19 restrictions during the final week of preparations left him struggling to train in his hotel room instead of inside a gym.

"I couldn't make weight like I used to. They don't have no gym here and I had to work out in my room," he said.

Diaz's record moves to 31-1-1 with 15 knockouts, while Rakhimov remains undefeated at 15-0-1 with 12 KOs.

Even though it was a draw, Tajikistan's Rakhimov came within a whisker of winning his first title in his American debut. The 26-year-old three-time national champion said he hopes this performance gets him more title fights on US soil.

"I did everything I was supposed to do. I think I won the fight," he said. "I made a few mistakes. But I am going to work hard."

Diaz landed the better punches in the early rounds but Rakhimov was the first to draw blood, hitting his opponent with a punch in the third round that resulted in blood trickling from the former champ's nose.

The pace picked up at the end of the fourth round, when both fighters exchanged head shots at the bell.

Rakhimov started to look more comfortable after that as more power punches were landed by both men in the fifth round.

Story continues

In the 11th Rakimov hit Diaz with two left uppercuts as counter to Diaz's right hand. Trainer Freddie Roach told Rakhimov in the corner between the 11th and 12th rounds that if he let his hands go in the final round he would win the fight.

But the more experienced Diaz had other plans, timing his punches perfectly in a show of force that impressed the judges enough for one of the three to give him the win on points.

"It was a close fight," said Diaz. "I had him fighting a whole different game plan. I thought I landed more punches and broke him down."

The draw ended Diaz's five fight winning streak and opened the door for a possible rematch between the two with the vacant title up for grabs.

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A State High Court in Benin City, Edo Sate, on Friday, sentenced a police constable, Joseph Omotosho, to death for conspiring with four other constables, said to be at large, to kill a car dealer in 2015.

The slain car dealer, Benson Obodeh, was suspected by the police to belong to a criminal gang.

Mr Omotosho, who was dismissed from the Nigerian police after the incident, served with the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit that was notorious for its brutality and other forms of human rights abuses.

The four other dismissed constables were also convicted but not sentenced because they were not present in the court.

They were identified as Adeleke Adedeji, Abena John, Oniyo Musa, and Henry Shobowole.

The four were said to have escaped while on trial from one of the Medium Security Correctional Centres in Benin City during the October, 2020 jailbreaks.

The judge, Ohimai Ovbiagele, found all the accused persons guilty on an eight-count charge, which included conspiracy to steal and murder.

From the court proceedings, the slain Mr Obodeh, 26, a Benin-based car dealer, was listed as a member of a criminal gang who allegedly stole a Peugeot car in Lagos.

He was said to have been arrested at his home in Benin City on May 21, 2015 and tortured to death the same day by the five police officers.

His corpse was dumped at the Specialist Hospital in Benin City, with a different name by one of the officers that killed him.

Mr Obodehs family wrote a petition to the inspector-general of police where they demanded an investigation, after searching for several weeks without finding him.

The police, it was learnt, tried at several times to frustrate the family from discovering details of the murder, but for the intervention of Solomon Arase, who was the inspector-general of police at the time.

After an orderly room trial by the police authorities, the five officers were found liable and dismissed from the service to face court trial.

Judgement

The judge, Mr Ovbiagele, said the testimonies against the accused were firm and almost unchallenged.

Mr Ovbiagele pointed out that the accused could not substantiate counter evidence against charges leveled against them.

The fifth defendant, Joseph Omotosho, is sentenced to death by hanging or with chemical infusion as an alternative on conspiracy to commit murder, he said.

Mr Omotosho was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for his role in the stealing of the deceased money from his bank accounts.

The #EndSARS protest, which rocked several Nigerian cities last year, was a reaction to decades of police brutality, as police officers in the country are rarely brought to justice for their crimes against citizens.

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The death sentence against the dismissed police constable may, therefore, offer a glimpse of hope to Nigerians who have been clamouring for reforms in the countrys criminal justice system.
A man has been charged with breaching coronavirus regulations after more than 30 people attended an illegal party on a house boat.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to several reports of a large number of people playing loud music on a boat on the River Lea between Tottenham Lock and Hackney, north-east London, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Jordy Nicholas Van Duijvenbode, 31, of no fixed address, was charged on Sunday with one count of holding a gathering of more than 30 people and one count of participating in a gathering of two or more people.

He has been released on bail to appear before Thames Magistrates' Court on March 2.

Jordy Nicholas Van Duijvenbode, 31, has been released on bail to appear before Thames Magistrates' Court on March 2

The Metropolitan Police raided the boat on the River Lea between Tottenham Lock and Hackney, north-east London, in the early hours of Saturday morning where they found more than 30 people having an illegal rave

On Saturday, officers in Hackney located the party boat off Hackney Marshes at 4.20am and found around 30 people on board.

One person was arrested and 26 fines were issued while music equipment was seized during the raid.

The Metropolitan Police's Marine Unit secured the boat and police said 26 people were reported for the consideration of fixed penalty notices of 800 for breaking the rules designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Chief Inspector Pete Shaw, in charge of Covid policing in east London, said at the time: 'It is incredibly disappointing that incidents of this nature continue when the vast majority of Londoners are doing the right thing and making huge sacrifices to stop the virus spreading.

'Each breach of the regulations not only presents a risk to the groups congregating but also to the officers who have to deal with it. To have an individual who has repeatedly ignored these regulations and who appears to have organised multiple events is dangerous and indicates a complete disregard for the safety of all involved.

'We need to be doing everything we can as a community to try and keep ourselves, our family and friends as safe as possible and to reduce the pressure on the NHS.'

The scenes came after 19 people were fined at a party in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and ten adults were slapped with fines after being found at a children's party in York.

Specialist officers raided the canal boat at 4.20am on Saturday and made one arrest

The Metropolitan Police's Marine Unit secured the boat and police said 26 people were reported for the consideration of fixed penalty notices

Officers in Hackney seized music equipment following the raid off Hackney Marshes

Also this month police were called to Ormskirk in Lancashire to break up a house party attended by 30 revellers.

A 20-year-old woman was given a 10,000 fixed penalty notice and nine others were fined 800.

Earlier today Britain recorded a further 10,972 Covid cases - down 31 per cent on last Sunday.

In a positive boost for Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' out of lockdown, today's daily case load is almost a third smaller than the 15,845 reported on this day last week.

Britain's daily death toll has also plunged - with 258 fatalities recorded today. The figure is 31 per cent lower than the 373 recorded last Sunday.
President Joe Biden on Sunday called on Congress to enact 'common sense' gun law reforms on the three-year anniversary of the massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.

'This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call,' Biden said in a statement marking the Valentine's Day shooting in 2018 that left 17 people dead and brought fresh attention to America's lax gun laws.

'We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer.'

Biden said he wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The confessed school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that killed 14 students and three adult staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

President Joe Biden on Sunday called on Congress to enact 'common sense' reforms to the nation's gun laws. The president is seen above in the Oval Office on Friday

Biden wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The image above shows an AR-15 rifle and ammunition

Biden said Congress must also eliminate 'immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets.'

Cruz was able to buy the assault rifle legally, despite having known mental health problems.

Even in a country that has grown inured to mass shootings and gun violence, the Florida shooting sparked outrage across the US and prompted fresh demands for firearms control.

But with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, legislation approved by the Democrats in the House of Representatives went nowhere.

Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said the House would try again.

Biden released a statement on the three-year anniversary of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed by a gunman armed with an AR-15 rifle

'We will enact these and other life-saving bills and deliver the progress that the Parkland community and the American people deserve and demand,' she said in a statement.

Despite polls finding most Americans in favor of some sort of gun law reforms, successive US administrations have been powerless to pass legislation.

'The time to act is now,' Biden said.

Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Some 85 servicemen have been quarantined (including self-isolation).

The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine rose by 46 as of the morning of February 14.

Read alsoEU can help Ukraine with coronavirus vaccines: Details"As of 10:00 Kyiv time on February 14, some 722 people in the Armed Forces of Ukraine had acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In total, 14,893 people have recovered and 43 have died during the pandemic," the press service of the Medical Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook on Sunday. "Forty six new COVID-19 cases were registered in the past 24 hours."

Of those newly-infected, eight have been hospitalized, while the rest are self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision. Currently, their state of health is satisfactory.

Some 85 servicemen are now isolated (including self-isolation).

COVID-19 in Ukraine: Latest developments

Ukraine said 3,094 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of February 14, 2021.

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,271,143.

Reporting by UNIAN
In 2012, a gang of men set upon and horrifically raped a female student on a bus in New Delhi. The crime made international news and provoked national protests that led to some changes in the laws. But Indian women with big dreams were on notice anyway. Seven years on, the Indian National Crime Records Bureau logged an average 88 rape charges a day.

Sonia Faleiro set out to examine Indias rape culture, but what she ended up revealing was something even more mundane and terrifying.

In May 2014, photographs of two teenage girls hanging from a tree in a mango orchard landed in Indian headlines and on social media. The girls deaths were quickly assumed to have had something to do with

Ms Faleiro, who was born in India and lives in London, drove more than six hours from the nearest airport to the village of Katra in Uttar Pradesh, an agricultural region of India that abuts Nepal, to find out what happened.

The story she weaves in exquisite language is as tragic and ugly as it is engrossing.

In life, the tiny girls hanging from the tree by their colourful scarves had been so inseparable that their families and tiny community elided their names and called them as one. Because of Indias rape laws, their names cant be published, so Ms Faleiro uses the pseudonyms Padma and Lalli. Padma Lalli, as she calls them, were cousins, alike as two grains of rice, who spent all day in the fields before coming home to sleep in the compound of their extended family.

Their grandmother is whispers and bones in a widows white sari.

The girls are hard workers. Every morning, as the sun climbs in the sky, they rise to a day of chores: Tending the family hearths, lighting dung cakes. They heat oil and knead dough and cook rotis, then trudge in noonday heat into the mint fields to feed family members. They come home and scrub dishes with soap made of wood ash. They go off with the goats and return to milk the buffalo. They pump water to fill buckets. They sweep the dusty courtyard over and over and over again.

Their mothers are also tireless labourers, caring for small children and the needs of men. The women sweated over fires and labored over small errands, Ms Faleiro writes. There was a button to thread, a broken slipper to twist into a knot, nits to comb out, wicker fans to wipe clean. The men were out, smoking beedis and talking among themselves. The women pick up the slack. At night, they sleep on dirt while the men lounge in hammocks.

The MacGuffin in this mystery is the iPhone that one of the girls  an orphan living with relatives  has received as a gift. They hover over its alluring light in stolen moments between chores, using it to make plans for after dark, when they sneak off, with the excuse of having to relieve themselves (there are no toilets, so everyone squats in the fields). There in the mango orchard, the older one starts having sex with a lower-caste boy from a town across the field. These assignations are arranged by cellphone  including a cellphone that unbeknown to either of them is surreptitiously recording everything, per the orders of the younger girls father.





THE GOOD GIRLS: An Ordinary Killing Author: Sonia Faleiro Publisher: Penguin Price: Rs 599; Pages: 352

This story is at heart a Southern Gothic  a Southern Hemisphere Gothic  a tale of stymied sexuality and buried secrets. It will surprise no one that honour matters among this impoverished caste; nor will it surprise that there were watchers.

They shouldnt be out in public with a mobile phone, one of the watchers, a government teacher and farmer, observes to one of the girls relatives. Who knows who theyre talking to?

Reputation was skin, Ms Faleiro writes of the community.

The events of the night the girls died are related by a cast of dubious witnesses, secretive family members and drunken and abusive police officers, all of whom Ms Faleiro interviews and brings to life on the page. One of the lying eyewitnesses, she writes, was coming apart like overripe fruit before dawn broke over the hanging tree.

When the girls are found, the villagers overrun the crime scene. Female relatives and their friends refuse to let the bodies be cut down. Someone  the girls uncle, it turned out  removes the cellphone from Padmas bra before the police can get to it. Lallis father later admits to destroying it. Hardly anyone wonders why their slippers are not strewn on the ground beneath the dangling bodies; instead they are side by side, a precise and delicate placement against the base of the tree, upright as stems of wheat.

The bodies stay up for a day and a night. The crowd surges and wanes. Journalists arrive with cameras. Politicians come and go, harvesting potential votes. Finally the bodies are cut down and subjected to a post-mortem unlike any ever covered in literature: Conducted by a former janitor in the ruins of a half-built government building, with a market-bought butcher knife for a scalpel, rinsed in a bucket of water hauled in from an outdoor spigot.

Back home with the girls extended family, misogyny is so deep that Lallis grieving mother is not invited to go to the Hindu burial ceremony  per custom, she doesnt even ask. She goes into a semi-catatonic state in the courtyard, only returning to herself a few years later, revived by a rumour the two girls have been reincarnated in a set of identical twins a few villages over.

The Good Girls is a puzzle with a surprise at the end. Its a riveting, terrible tale, one all too common, but Ms Faleiros gorgeous prose makes it bearable. She concludes, What I had come to learn was this  that while the Delhi bus rape had shown just how deadly public places were for women, the story of Padma and Lalli revealed something more terrible still  that an Indian womans first challenge was surviving her own home.

This feminist document looks straight at mens twisted obsession with controlling female sexuality. From Saudi Arabia to Washington, D.C., where brutal enforcement is veiled only by wealth and privilege, the story remains the same.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to host fellow G7 leaders for a virtual meeting on February 19 ahead of its presidency of a summit in June of the Group of Seven countries including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, Downing Street said on Sunday.

The virtual meeting, the first hosted by Johnson as part of the UK's G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020, will bring together the world leaders to discuss how leading democracies can work together to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world and prevent future pandemics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the in Cornwall in June after India was invited as a guest country by the UK, alongside South Korea and Australia.

The solutions to the challenges we face from the colossal mission to get vaccines to every single country, to the fight to reverse the damage done to our ecosystems and lead a sustainable recovery from coronavirus lie in the discussions we have with our friends and partners around the world, said Johnson.

Quantum leaps in science have given us the vaccines we need to end this pandemic for good. Now world governments have a responsibility to work together to put those vaccines to the best possible use. I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe, he said.

The G7 leaders' meeting on February 19 will be attended by the leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, and the Presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission.

Downing Street said Johnson plans to use the virtual meeting, which will also be US President Joe Biden's first major multilateral engagement, to call for leaders to work together on a joined-up global approach to pandemics that brings an end to the nationalist and divisive politics that marred the initial response to coronavirus.

He will argue that putting citizens first should not come at the expense of working on a unified response, and that the last 12 months of the pandemic have showed that no country can be safe until every country is safe from the pandemic.

The rollout of vaccines offers a fresh opportunity to demonstrate the value of cooperation, he is expected to highlight.

pandemic preparedness will be a major priority for the UK's G7 Presidency and the Prime Minister will work with fellow G7 leaders to implement his five-point plan to prevent future pandemics announced at the UN General Assembly last year, Downing Street said.

The five-point plan includes a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, developing global manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines, the design of a global pandemic early warning system, the agreement of global protocols for a future health emergency and the reduction of trade barriers.

There have already been positive steps to ensure equitable access to a coronavirus vaccine. Last month, the US announced it would join the COVAX initiative, becoming the final G7 country to do so.

COVAX will provide developing countries with 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine this year and the UK is providing 548 million pounds to the scheme.

Plans for the virtual meeting next week come as UK Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey held the first meeting of G7 Finance Ministers on Friday.

During February, the UK also holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which rotates between members every month.

The UK has said it will use its Presidency to galvanise action on coronavirus, climate change and conflict.

On February 23, the UK Prime Minister will chair a virtual meeting of the UNSC on the link between climate change and conflict, marking the first time a UK Prime Minister has chaired a Security Council session since 1992.

The session will also involve permanent UNSC members China, France, Russia and the US; non-permanent members Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam; and the UN Secretary General.

Downing Street has said that discussions at the meeting will inform crucial action ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit scheduled for Glasgow in November.

(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 attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, 2019. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.Days later India carried out an airstrike on JeM's Balakot terror training camp in Pakistan.India had also withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan following the terror attack. The international community had expressed its strong support to India in the wake of the terror attack.The memorial having names of all 40 jawans killed in the attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020 at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty).Remembering sacrifice of the bravehearts, netizens took to social media to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who laid their lives for the nation.#PulwamaAttack is currently trending on Twitter with nearly 25,000 tweets.International sand artist and Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to the fallen soldiers with sand art."The day when India lost 40 CRPF men. 2 years of Pulwama terror attack: We will never forget and Never forgive! #PulwamaAttack," wrote a Twitter user.Another Twitter user said that bravehearts were attacked from behind.

2 years ago this very day many lost their fathers, brothers, sons and friends. What we loose, this country lost it's 40 sons who were unaware of the attack ahead. They weren't martyred on war zone, they were attacked from behind. This is will a #BlackDayForIndia #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/Gdf9XDIDae -- Tushar Kant NaikAUM$ (@TusharKant_Naik) February 13, 2021
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A senior Tory today ridiculed 'hallucinogenic' plans for a 25-mile undersea tunnel connecting Britain with Northern Ireland - demanding ministers focus on fixing the Brexit rules instead.

There are claims the huge project could be declared feasible within weeks, with hopes it will help facilitate trade with the mainland amid rising tensions over the protocol sealed with the EU.

Experts believe the tunnel, being dubbed Boris Burrow', could cost up to 10billion to create - though that would be roughly half as much as it would cost to build a bridge.

It would be a similar length to the Channel tunnel, and run from Stranraer in Scotland, to Larne.

A review of links within the UK is currently being carried out by the chairman of Network Rail, Peter Hendy. He is already believed to have discussed the tunnel with the PM, and could release his report in the coming weeks.

But the Tory chair of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Simon Hoare lampooned the idea today. Echoing comments that the Channel Tunnel took 30 years to get built, and the issue of weapons that were sunk in the Irish Sea after the war, he tweeted: 'The trains could be pulled by an inexhaustible herd of Unicorns overseen by stern, officious dodos.

'A PushmePullYou could be the senior guard and Puff the Magic Dragon the inspector.

'Let's concentrate on making the Protocol work and put the hallucinogenics down.'

He added: 'Also another ''minor hurdle'' is the NI railway gauge is an ''all Ireland'' gauge which is different to that used in GB. I'm not Brunel but I think this might be a bit of a problem.'

The Tory chair of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Simon Hoare, lampooned the idea of a tunnel today

Plans for 25-mile tunnel connecting Stranraer, Scotland, and Larne, Northern Ireland, is expected to get the go ahead within a matter of weeks

The latest plan for the link between Britain and Northern Ireland have been modelled on the Channel tunnel, connecting the UK and France, which accommodates both trains, cars and HGVS, according to The Sunday Times.

Costs to carry out previous proposals by Alan Dunlop, the architect who first came up with the idea for a Scotland to Northern Ireland tunnel, were estimated at between 8billion and 10billion.

Tensions have been mounting since the Brexit transition period came to an end over the New Year and the EU subsequently introduced checks on cargo entering Northern Ireland by ferry, disrupting its trade with the UK.

While discussions for the proposed tunnel rumble on, Michael Gove is believed to be proposing a 'mutual enforcement' plan.

His plan would see the Northern Irish border restored and the same checks applied to both UK and EU trade.

But officials are said to have acknowledged an alteration to the Northern Ireland protocol is unlikely.

As part of Brexit negotiations, the UK and EU agreed to the Northern Ireland protocol which is designed to avoid the need for a border on the island of Ireland.

But this has led to disruption on goods crossing the Irish Sea, with new checks imposed on those moving from Britain to the province.

Since the arrangements came into force on January 1, supermarkets have reported empty shelves while concerns have been raised that Northern Ireland's place within the UK is being undermined.

Network Rail, Peter Hendy, has been looking into whether the 25-mile tunnel would be possible and has already met with the Prime Minster (pictured) to discuss his findings

Amid growing tensions, graffiti has been daubed on buildings and checks at ports have been suspended following threats against staff.

At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Mr Johnson said he would take the drastic step of suspending parts of the Brexit agreement unless the problems can be resolved in crisis talks with the EU.

The Government has demanded some checks are removed, while existing grace periods on goods such as chilled meats are extended until 2023.

It is expected the Network Rail chairman, Mr Hendy, will advise the Government to set up a feasibility study for the tunnel.

A link between Scotland and Northern Ireland was first proposed by Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership race in 2018 in the form of a bridge.

'What we need to do is build a bridge between our islands,' he declared, during an interview that was highly critical of Theresa May's leadership.

Michael Gove (pictured) is believed to be proposing a 'mutual enforcement' plan which would see the Northern Irish border restored and the same checks applied to both UK and EU trade

The tunnel which would run from Stranraer, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland, would be a similar length to the Channel tunnel

'Why don't we? Why don't we? There is so much more we can do, and what grieves me about the current approach to Brexit is that we are just in danger of not believing in ourselves, not believing in Britain.'

At the time the proposal was ridiculed by some but it appears the suggestion could become a reality.

Both he and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack are believed to be firm supporters of the plans which are said to be similar to the 23.5mile deep Channel tunnel.

Speaking the Telegraph's Chopper's Politics podcast, Mr Jack explained a tunnel was the preferred option because 'a bridge would be closed for probably 100 days a year with the weather in the Irish Sea'.

When first proposed there were also concerns about Beautfort's Dyke, a trench in the North Channel where tons of munitions were dumped after the Second World War, and whether it would be logistically plausible.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said: 'This kind of project would at least give people in Northern Ireland the belief that the Government was prepared to put in infrastructure and spend money to make sure that we are physically connected.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 17:15:09|Editor: huaxia

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TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Four Afghan soldiers and five militants were killed during a clash in the country's northern Takhar province Saturday night, an army source said Sunday.

"The clashes erupted when Taliban militants ambushed an Afghan National Army (ANA) convoy in Baharak district. The convoy troops under their active defense posture, repelled Taliban insurgents' attack, triggering a fighting lasting for hours," Abdul Raziq from army's 217 Pamir Corps told Xinhua.

There were also three soldiers and five militants wounded in the fighting, he said.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes in recent years.

Violence lingers in the war-torn country even as peace talks between the Afghan government delegation and Taliban representatives are being held in Doha, capital of Gulf state of Qatar.

The negotiations were launched at early September to find a peaceful solution to the prolonged Afghan conflict, but no tangible progress has been reported yet. Enditem
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
The European arm of drinks giant Coca Cola has likely locked in enough shareholder support to secure a $9.8 billion takeover of local bottler Coca-Cola Amatil after increasing its offer price by 75 cents.

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) announced on Monday it had issued a best and final offer to acquire the ASX-listed business for $13.50 a share, upping its price following months of pressure from analysts and shareholders.

Coca Cola Amatil announced on Monday morning that Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) had upped its offer by 75 cents per share to $13.50, declaring the proposal its best and final offer. Credit:Bloomberg

This new offer boosts the total value of CCEPs takeover bid to $9.8 billion and comes after the local business forecast a better-than-expected half-year result in January, with earnings for the 2020 calendar year set to come in at $550.7 million.

Amatil said it had received legal and financial advice about the improved fortunes of the Australian operations including the fundamental value of the business, the companys recent trading update, interest rates and shareholder feedback.
New Delhi: Motorola is one of the biggest names in the mobile phone industry. It has been quite a rollercoaster ride for the company. The company made its shift to the android operating system, was bought by Google and then the ownership went to Lenovo. The company who once reinvented the budget android smartphone category with its Moto G, went on to release unimpressive hardware in time. The company is planning to make a comeback this year with a number of new smartphones.

There are rumours that Motorola is developing a number of new smartphones and will release them later this year. Here is the list of smartphones Motorola is expected to launch in 2021:

- Motorola Ibiza (G40)

- Moto G10 and Moto G30

- Moto E7 Power

- Moto G Play (2021)

- Motorola Nio

- Moto G Stylus (2021)

- Motorola Athena

If we go by the rumours, Motorola Ibiza will be launched in February 2021 in India. The Motorola Ibiza will sport Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Soc with 90Hz screen. The phone is expected to get triple-camera set up with 48MP primary lens. The phone will get industry-standard 5000mAh battery and stock Android 11.

Moto G10 which has a codename Capri is expected to get Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor, quad-camera setup with 48 MP as the main lens and 8MP front camera placed in a drop notch. The phone is expected to get a 6.5-inch touchscreen panel with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, 4/64GB storage and 5000mAh battery.

Moto G30 is expected to get Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC with triple-camera with triple-camera setup and 64MP main camera sensor. Everything else remains more or less similar to Moto G10. Moto G10 is expected to be priced at EUR 149.9 (Rs. 13,100 approx) and Moto G30 will be priced at EUR 179.99 (Rs. 15,800)

Moto E7 Power will be an affordable budget offering with a big battery. The Moto E7 Power is expected to get HD+ display and will be powered by MediaTek Helio P22 SoC. The phone will get 2/32GB and 4/64GB storage options. The phone will get a physical fingerprint scanner at the back and a 5000mAh battery. The price of this phone is not known yet.

Moto G Play (2021) is expected to launch around April 2021. The phone is supposed to get HD+ display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 46- SoC, 3/32GB storage, dual rear cameras (13MP+2MP), 5MP front camera and 5000mAh battery.

Motorola Nio is rumoured to be the next flagship from the company, the phone is certified and benchmarked by WiFi Alliance and Geekbench respectively. The Motorola Nio will get Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 SoC, a 6.7-inch FHD+ screen with a 105Hz refresh rate. The phone is supposed to get a triple-camera setup with a 64MP main sensor. The front will get 16MP main camera and an 8MP secondary lens. The phone will get a 5000mAh battery.

Moto G Stylus is expected to come with a 6.8-inch display. The phone will get quad-camera setup with a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 2MP depth and 5MP Macro lens. The phone will have 4/128GB storage Android 10 and will sport Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC. As the name suggests, the phone will come with a stylus.

Moto Athena will get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 662 SoC coupled with Adreno 610 GPU and will sail on Android 10.

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The Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd on Sunday posted net profit growth of 15.65% to 2,934 crore for the quarter ended 31 December, 2020. The company has reported a net profit of 2,537 crore for the corresponding nine months in the previous year.

IRFC is a dedicated financing arm of the Indian Railways for mobilising funds from domestic as well as overseas markets.

The total revenue from operation grew by 10.76% on year-on-year basis for the same period to stand at 11,315.51 crore.

The company's board has also declared an interim dividend of 1,380 crore translating to Rs.1.05 per share for the financial year 2020-21, on a face value of 10 per equity share, IRFC said in a statement.

The annual disbursement for IRFC grew more than ten-fold to Indian Railways, from 11,000 crore in FY15 to Rs. 1.13 lakh crore mandated for the FY21, the company further stated.

"The Assets Under Management (AUM) is set to cross Rs. 3.75 trillion at the end of the current fiscal, registering a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 30 per cent over the last five years," IRFC said.

Commenting on the financial results, Amitabh Banerjee, Chairman and Managing Director, IRFC, said, The massive investment plan that Indian Railways has drawn for the growth, expansion and modernization of Indian Rail System in the current decade and the fact that a significant portion of the funding requirement is to be met through IRFC, there will be sustained growth in revenue and profitability in future. This can be substantiated by the results which we have witnessed for the 9M FY2021 results. We are also happy to announce a dividend of Rs. 1.05 per share to our shareholders."

Its papers command a premium of at least 20 to 30 bps in the domestic financial market and 50 to 60 bps in the overseas financial markets as compared to its peers.

"This can be attributed to the strong linkages with the government, highest possible credit rating from the domestic credit rating agencies and rating at par with sovereign from international credit rating agencies, strong financials with zero Non-Performing Assets and strong Capital Adequacy Ratio of more than 400%, which is unique to a finance company and its constant endeavor for optimum diversification of borrowing portfolio in terms of markets, instruments and investors."

Banerjee also added, The Company is in the process of drawing strategies for making selective forays into areas having forward and backward linkages with Railways with the backing of the Government of India, that will give further boost the growth in revenue and profitability of the Company."

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Any vaccine is better than no vaccine, all vaccines should be provided for free even if the government decides to launch a donation campaign to raise funds for a free-for-all project and we should get ready for the third wave even if we expect and hope it would be less aggressive and less fatal than the previous two."

These are three main points that Alaa Ghannam - a long time expert on health policies - had shared in an interview with Al-Ahram Online, where he also shared an assessment on the performance of the government along with the medical system in navigating through the pandemic throughout the year.

To start with we need to remember that the whole world is learning on the job; we dont know enough about the virus, its behaviour and its patterns or its side effects and consequently we dont know enough on how to best treat it or to avoid its possible complications. So with all [of this] taken into consideration, I think the [Egyptian] doctors have been trying very hard and at times under really unfavourable working conditions, said Ghannam.

It has been a very hard year with this novel virus and nobody knows for certain when the nightmare will come to an end.

For sure there will be a third wave  sometime around September this year. If we judge by the history of pandemics and the pattern on performance of viruses we hope that the third wave would be less aggressive and less fatal than the previous two, he said.

So far, Ghannam argued that the most ferocious and lethal was the second wave of COVID-19, which started in Egypt during around September, about eight weeks after the end of the first wave, sometime towards the end of July.

With the third wave, he said, we should be prepared to avoid some of the mistakes we made during navigating our way through the first and second waves when we really knew very little - just like the rest of the world - on this pandemic.

One thing that Ghannam is determined to underline is the need to act seriously on a serious process of vaccination.

Vaccinations are essential to reduce the cases in general and the tough cases and mortality caused by COVID-19 in particular, he said.

It is true that there have been some studies that indicated that maybe close to 40 million Egyptians have somehow caught the virus with either no symptoms or very mild symptoms. However, these same studies also propose that the number of Egyptians who were infected with COVID-19 are around seven millions only. So the argument of counting on an assumingly secured herd immunity rather than vaccination is not at all founded, Ghannam argued.

The price of herd immunity in terms of lives and also in terms of [the]economy is just too high to tolerate; we need to have a clear and serious vaccination plan and we need to start on with it promptly, he added.

Missing out on signing contracts with the pharmaceuticals that produce vaccines sometime before the beginning of the second wave - yes, before the vaccines were actually produced  was one of the worst mistakes of managing the pandemic during the past 12 months according to the analysis of Ghannam.

We all know that the vaccines for COVID-19 would have been passed for emergency use and we all knew that countries who would pay first would get the vaccine first, Ghannam said.

That being said, Ghannam hastens to add that the world has shown its most ferocious economic face in dealing with the vaccines for COVID-19.

Around ten countries or so of the richest world states have consumed close to two-thirds of the vaccines that have so far been produced; this is so unfair, Ghannam said.

He added that the world should have shown some solidarity in facing up to this pandemic by prioritising vaccines for medical teams, senior citizens and those with chronic illnesses world-wide instead of securing vaccines for segments of populations that are not technically in a rush to get and who are just getting it because they happen to be living in the countries who produce the vaccine or who have the money to buy it first.

Now as we see the second wave nearing its final phases we should be working to secure vaccines, especially for those who need it the most before we get into the third wave with hopes that it would be less aggressive and less fatal, he argued.

In Ghannam's assessment , the medical teams of Egypt could count for quarter million women and men  plus or minus. Citizens above the age of 60 are around 7 per cent of the population and those with chronic medical cases, especially those who suffer from the most dominant cases in Egypt of high blood pressure and diabetes are around 20 million people.

All in all I think we are talking about around 30 million people who should be on the priority list of vaccination. This means we are talking about 60 shots. I dont think it is beyond the financial means of the government to secure this amount in due time, he argued.

Ghannam is so unequivocal about the need to provide the vaccines for free for all those on the priority list and others. In times of pandemics, in line with the constitution of Egypt and the guidelines of both WHO and the World Bank, vaccines should be provided free of cost.

The government might decide to start a campaign to raise funds to help secure the vaccines but this does not mean that anyone should be paying EGP 100, EGP200 or any other amount as they get the vaccine, he stressed.

Ghannam is not willing to worry much about which vaccine will be made available. He argues that the debate about the Chinese versus the Russian vaccine or the European versus the American vaccines is just commercial talk.

It is typical that each producer will try to secure a bigger share of the market; we should not get obsessed with this debate. We should not lose focus of what we need, he argued.

Ghannam is not willing to immediately subscribe to the medical debate about the efficacy of particular vaccines in providing immunity against particular strains of COVID-19.

We dont have enough scientific evidence to support this argument; again, the world is still in a learning process, he said. Any vaccine is better than no vaccine and the faster we move with the vaccination plan the better off we will be  not just in terms of health but also in terms of economy, he argued.

Economy has been a concern right from the beginning and this is why the measures of curfew and partial lockdowns that were adopted in the first wave were not introduced with the second wave, Ghannam said.

Again, the world is worried about economy  not just Egypt. Obviously rich countries are better off but still, he argued.

Then again, if we want to avoid compromising public health to try and save economy  and I am not even sure that this would work because when public health declines the economy is adversely affected  we need to move more promptly with a serious and efficient vaccination plan, he argued.

A drop in the vaccination plan, he added, would be comparable to the drop in PCRs in the first wave and the drop in the quality of medical service in the second wave. When we could not do enough PCRs  and that was also in part an issue of availability  we failed to keep track of the real figures which might be ten times the announced figures or maybe even more, as officials have said, Ghannam argued.

Then he added, when we failed to provide adequate services at public isolation facilities at a time when the private facilities were much more expensive and not significantly better, if at all, we allowed a trend of preferred home isolation in the absence of adequate medical supervision, which meant that in some cases complications occurred unmonitored, this in turn led to more cases of deaths.

In short, Ghannam is convinced that the most important lesson learned from the first and second waves of COVID-19 is that we have to be ahead in terms of planning and in terms of acquiring the necessary tools to face up to this aggressive and treacherous virus.

For example, we now know that the mortalities among doctors and medical teams in general  which are really high in Egypt  have [appeared] more in hospitals that do not cater to COVID-19 patients. The reason is that neither the government nor private hospitals were strict enough with the precautionary measures at these hospitals, Ghannam added.

The bill of COVID-19 in Egypt - during the past year - goes way beyond the regrettable cases of mortality and those of infection,in view of the fact that nobody knows for sure the nature of possible complications of the infection on the short or long term, and beyond the economic slow-down.

There is the very significant cost that the health system has paid when it got so strained. It has been too much pressure, he said.

Luckily, Ghannam argued, Egypt has an established history in dealing with pandemics and in preventive medicine. Traditionally, preventive medicine is one of the strongest sides to the Egyptian medical system, he said.

Today, he argued that the medical system needs to get an emergency support scheme. He argued that the government has to be very mindful of the fact that many of the smart and young doctors who saw their colleagues die while fighting COVID-19, or who lost patients to the virus, at times due to lack of resources, would be quite inclined to reach out to any of the many openings that the Western world now has as other countries act to expand their medical services in the wake of the crisis the whole world lived with the pandemic.

We need to worry about having better-equipped hospitals and more accessible medical services for sure but we also need to worry about the human resources that we could be losing, he said.

Meanwhile, Ghannam acknowledged that one direct negative side effect of the pandemic on the health system, in addition to the potential increase in doctors migration, relates to the Comprehensive National Health Insurance System.

Himself a leading architect of the original blueprint of the NHIS, Ghannam regrets the inevitable delay that came with the pandemic in incorporating more citizens into the system.

According to the original plan, seven out of Egypts 29 governorates should have been covered by the NHIS by the end of this year. Ghannam thinks that this is highly unlikely, we will have to double our work to catch up but still I dont think we can meet the original deadline, he said.

In his opinion, if there was only one thing that everyone should learn from this devastating pandemic it should be the big difference in the chances of better surviving unexpected tough medical crisises when the health system is strong and readily accessible to as many people as possible.

Investment in public health is always worthwhile, the time is now to act upon this lesson and to act promptly to provide vaccines for free for all who need it urgently, Ghannam said.

Short link:


The AAP accused the Congress of booth-capturing in Samana, Rajpura, Dhuri, Abohar and Bhikhiwind, a charge the ruling party denied

On Sunday, voting for eight municipal corporations, and 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab was marred by violence purportedly between the workers of the ruling Congress and Opposition. Meanwhile, over 71.39 percent voting was recorded in the polls.

According to a spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission, the highest turnout of 82.99 percent was recorded in Mansa district while the lowest was in SAS Nagar at 60.08 percent.

According to officials, seven people were injured in Rupnagar after workers of the ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal clashed following a heated argument in ward number one in the city.

Skirmishes and scuffles were also reported from Batala, Rajpura, Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Samana, Rupnagar, Nabha, Nangal, Mohali and Ferozepur.

In Kapurthala's Sultanpur Lodhi, an Akali worker was injured in a clash with Congress supporters, PTI reported. The SAD workers reportedly alleged that Congress supporters tried to control the polling booth and that the party's members fired in the air.

The incident took place when the voting time was about to be over. Supporters of both parties also pelted stones at each other.

In Batala, a BJP leader sustained injuries on the head after a scuffle with some Congress workers, the PTI report added.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised the Congress-led government for the violence.

Failed on all fronts, Congress party leaders knew they would lose, so they resorted to rigging & booth capturing and even violence. What can we expect from a govt that unleased goondaism in the state? Shame on the State Election Commission for its absolute incompetency!  Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) February 14, 2021

Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that the Congress goons not only captured booths but also attacked Opposition candidates.

Additionally, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the ruling Congress of misusing the government machinery to win the polls.

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma even staged a sit-in in Pathankot on Sunday evening in protest against the alleged misuse of government machinery. The saffron party alleged that their polling agents were "forcibly removed" from some polling booths.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too accused the Congress workers of indulging in booth capturing in Samana, Rajpura, Dhuri, Abohar and Bhikhiwind, a charge denied by the ruling party.

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema claimed that an AAP volunteer was allegedly shot at in Patti by some Congress activists. However, police rejected the charge.

#Punjabmunicipalbodypolls2021: Long queue of voters at Government Senior Secondary School, Phabhat village in Mohali

Follow live updates here: https://t.co/TkmzUhDtXk pic.twitter.com/N7CW6T2Xbt  TOIChandigarh (@TOIChandigarh) February 14, 2021

A Congress candidate also reportedly sustained injuries on Saturday night.

Candidate Yadwinder Singh Yadu, who was contesting a seat in the Muktsar municipal council, was injured in a clash on the outskirts of Muktsar town on Saturday night, as per News18.

News18 reported that Sudhir Sharma, a supporter of Yadu, was also injured in the incident.

Congress leader and ex-Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar blamed members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the violence, the report added.

Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed in Batala after Congress and BJP workers clashed, News18 reported, adding that the situation was brought under control by the police. The Tribune reported that tight security arrangements are in place.

News18 also reported that SAD candidate Parveen Kumar Pinna, who is contesting the Moga municipal corporation election, was "assaulted by unidentified people" outside the Arya School polling booth in the area.

AAP's Cheema also demanded Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's resignation over the incidents of violence on Sunday.

The ensuing poll violence show that @capt_amarinder is a killer of democracy. I demand his immediate resignation. Instead of protecting the people of Punjab he is promoting his goons and suppressing the people's voices.@ArvindKejriwal@ZeePunjabHH@thetribunechd@htTweets  Adv Harpal Singh Cheema (@HarpalCheemaMLA) February 14, 2021

However, the Punjab Congress hit back at the Opposition parties and said they were making "baseless accusations".

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said, "They (Opposition) do not have any argument against the Congress Party, which is fighting elections purely on the development work done in the state."

While the SAD and the AAP accused the Congress of misusing the government machinery, the BJP had charged the ruling party of "unleashing hooliganism under the guise of the farmers' protest".

A total of 9,222 candidates were in the fray for 2,302 wards of the Abohar, Bathinda Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga municipal corporations, in addition to the municipal councils and nagar panchayats

EVM snags were also reported in a few places like Ludhiana and Mohali, reports said. Around 7,000 EVMs were deployed for voting, PTI reported.

Prominent among those who cast their votes till noon included Punjab minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Akali leader Majithia, AAP legislator Aman Arora, and Punjab BJP chief Punjab Ashwani Sharma.

The State Election Commission (SEC) had set up 4,102 polling stations. Of these, 1,708 were declared as sensitive and 861 as hyper sensitive.

Out of the total candidates, 2,832 contested as Independents, 2,037 are of the ruling Congress and 1,569 of the Akali Dal. The number of candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Aam Aadmi Party and the BSP are 1,003, 1,606 and 160 respectively.

Former allies, the SAD and the BJP fought the municipals elections separately. The SAD had walked out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to registers its opposition to the farm laws last year.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other party leaders campaigned for their party candidates.

As many as 19,000 police personnel were deputed to conduct free and fair elections, the SEC said. Voters, including elderly citizens, began lining up at the polling booths early on Sunday morning.

Voters were also screened through thermal scanners at polling booths in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were 20,49,777 male, 18,65,354 female and 149 transgender voters, totalling 39,15,280 registered voters in the state for the civic body elections, according to the SEC data.

The counting of votes will take place on 17 February.

With inputs from PTI

A week after the glacier burst in Uttarakhand triggered massive flash floods, officials recovered six more bodies from the Tapovan tunnel on Sunday, where rescue operations are still underway. In all, 51 bodies have been recovered so far. Of these, only 24 have been identified, the police said.

"Three bodies recovered while taking out muck by machines from the intake Adit tunnel at 04.45 and 05.30 AM at around 120 to 125 mtrs distance from start point," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey told News 18. The two employees at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Tapovan project have been identified as Amal Singh, resident Tehri and Anil from Dehradun.

At least 39 people are trapped in this tunnel and three more bodies now visible on the slope near the cleared muck area. Explaining the rescue operations, Ravender Singh, Information Officer of Uttarakhand government said that the bodies were found from the silt flushing tunnel which was drilled into on Friday night. "The bodies were found right near the mouth of the drilled part of the silt tunnel. They were immediately identified and handed over to family," he said.

ALSO READ | Nearly One-third of Uttarakhand Tehsils in Danger of Glacial Floods: Report

A three-pronged strategy is now being used by rescuers, while JCB machines have cleared slush upto 125 meters from the Intake Audit side, now smaller machines have been pressed into service as the tunnel narrows down beyond this point.

From the riverside machines have been at work to remove debris while the drilled portion is being used to look for survivors/remains in the slit tunnel. A hole of about 300 mm diameter was drilled into from where the bodies were recovered.

On Saturday, machines worked to divert water and slush flow from left bank to right bank of Dhauli Ganga river. "Machines are trying to divert the water flow to the centre or right bank of the river to make rescue efforts safer in view of any sudden water level rise in the river," ITBP statement stated. So far, a total of 40 dead bodies have been recovered so far while 164 are still missing.

ALSO READ | 'Had It Not Been For Her Warning': How Woman's Frantic Calls to Son Saved 25 Lives in U'khand Tragedy

The Mucking in intake Adit Tunnel has now reached 145m. Rescue authorities said that a 300mm diameter 12m deep bore hole was drilled in Intake Adit to puncture Silt Flushing Tunnel below Adit in the night yesterday. "The water level in the borehole is under observations for a further action plan," officials said. More than 325 Engineers, officers, geologists, scientists, and other Associates are engaged in rescue operations. Authorities said that arrangements have been made for Lodging and Boarding, Medical supports etc for kith and kins near the rescue site.

On Sunday, a glacier break in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district resulted in an avalanche and huge floods in the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers on Sunday morning, forcing the evacuation of thousands, and damaging both houses and the nearby Rishiganga and NTPC power projects.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister has also announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the family of those killed. Rawat also said teams from the police, the Army, and the ITBP, as well as from the national and state disaster response forces, were "doing their best to save the lives of the workers at sites affected by the disaster".
Torrens river bank, Adelaide city. (Source: Getty)

Australians looking to buy or invest in property this year should look to the South Australian capital, one property expert believes.

Adelaide, which Yahoo Finance reported on in late 2019 as the nations most underrated and consistent property market, continues to hold the title, according to hotspotting.com.au managing director Terry Ryder.

Adelaide is the nations most consistent market, even topping the steadiness of Canberra - and continues to be our most under-rated market, Ryder said in a recent report.

The sales activity of sixty-two Adelaidean suburbs has been rising every quarter over the last three years. Sales activity is a key metric that Ryder uses to assess a property markets popularity and attractiveness.

Once again, the data shows that this consistent performance is occurring right across the Adelaide metropolitan area. There are 10 municipalities with at least three suburbs with rising sales momentum, Ryder said.

Affordable locations are the market leaders, boosted by the strong activity of first-home buyers.

According to CoreLogics latest figures, Adelaides property prices saw an uptick of 0.9 per cent in the month of January 2021 alone, and in the 12 months to 31 January rose by 6.5 per cent.

The median house value in Adelaide is $473,170, making it Australias second-cheapest capital city property market after Darwin.

North Terrace view in Adelaide, Australia. (Source: Getty)

Top property hotspots in Adelaide

Adelaides most popular property hotspot is the Playford area in the northern suburbs, an attractive and affordable location for first-home buyers and investors on a budget.

Nine suburbs in this area have been dubbed a rising suburb by Ryder, and homes in this suburb often fall below $250,000, with some less than $200,000.

A soon-to-be-opened motorway will open up opportunities for business and trade, and the revitalisation of a former car plant will add 1,600 jobs to the area.

This is adding considerable impetus to this precinct, which has the states strongest population growth and some of the cheapest homes in capital city Australia, said Ryder.

Story continues

The real estate market in this northern region of Adelaide is further characterised by low vacancy rates and high rental yields which are the highest among the major cities.

Port Adelaide-Enfield, which is still considered affordable but is closer to Adelaides CBD, is also benefiting from several multi-billion dollar projects and defence contracts and a relocation of state government jobs.

Homes in this area typically fall between $400,000 and $500,000.

The Port Adelaide-Enfield LGA is one of the leading markets in the nation for suburbs with rising buyer demand and prices responded in 2020, said Ryder. Investors will be rewarded with strong demand from renters and vacancy rates below 1 per cent, he added.

The affluent area of Mitcham, 15km away from Adelaides CBD, also has strong appeal with quintessential middle-market Adelaide.

Homes here fall in the $500,000-700,000 range, and is in close proximity to the Flinders medical and education hub as well as the Tonsley innovation centre.

The areas economy will soon be bolstered by a new $1.5 billion Flinders Village, expected to begin this year, as well as new transport infrastructure currently under construction.

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Vast numbers of people all over Myanmar flouted orders against demonstrations Sunday to march again in protest against the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by ethnic minorities. Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and US embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washingtons actions sanctioning the military. For more updates, heres Mint Lite

Hong Kong plans money flow scrutiny

View Full Image Hong Kong plans money flow scrutiny

Hong Kong plans to expand scrutiny on capital flows and transactions by Chinese officials, according to a recent consultation paper on anti-money laundering. The financial services and the treasury bureau is proposing to implement enhanced due diligence on politically exposed persons" (PEPs) from anywhere outside Hong Kong instead of outside the Peoples Republic of China. Bloomberg has reported that the Asian financial hub is seeking to enhance compliance of anti-money laundering regulations ahead of a series of assessments in the next few years. The proposed amendments come as the ruling Chinese Communist Party adopts an increasingly tough stance on corruption among government cadres and corporate executives. Hong Kong financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses are required to conduct enhanced due diligence on foreign PEPs as well as their family members.

Kosovo begins early elections

View Full Image Kosovo begins early elections

Kosovo is holding an early parliamentary election to form a new government amid the coronavirus pandemic, an economic downturn and stalled negotiations with wartime foe Serbia. Some 1.8 million eligible voters on Sunday started to cast their ballots in 2,400 polling stations. Theyre electing 120 lawmakers among more than 1,000 candidates from 28 political groupings. Those infected by the coronavirus will be able to vote through mobile polling teams. Reducing unemployment and fighting organized crime and corruption remain the biggest challenges. Negotiations on normalizing ties with Serbia, which have stalled again last year after talks brokered by the US and the European Union, have not figured high on any partys agenda. The EU has sent an elections expert mission to Kosovo to monitor the vote. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Winning back trust post covid

View Full Image Winning back trust post covid

As the hospitality industry fights for survival after suffering huge losses due to covid-19 last year, hotels are incorporating a combination of cutting-edge technologies to improve customer confidence, and mitigate losses incurred during the pandemic. A study published in November by researchers at Stanford University and Northwestern University, US, stated that reopening of restaurants, gyms and hotels carries the highest risk of further spreading covid-19. Hotels are now incorporating a combination of cutting-edge technologies to improve customer confidence, and mitigate losses incurred during the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, Indias hospitality and tourism sector suffered three quarters of economic wipeout estimated to be up to 15 trillion.

Strong quake in Japans Fukushima

View Full Image Strong quake in Japans Fukushima

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake off Japans Fukushima injured dozens of people, authorities said Sunday, nearly 10 years after the eastern region was hit by a huge quake that sparked a tsunami and nuclear meltdown. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said no casualties had so far been reported after the late-night quake, which did not trigger a tsunami warning. The disaster agency said 74 injuries had been reported in the region and also around Tokyo. But local media counted at least 104 reported injuries, from broken bones to cuts from shattered glass. No abnormalities were reported at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which melted down in the wake of the March 2011 quake that triggered a towering tsunami and killed more than 18,000 people. Japans meteorological agency said Saturdays quake was considered an aftershock of the massive tremor nearly a decade ago.

A sanctuary for swifts

View Full Image A sanctuary for swifts (Photo: iStock)

Conservationists are hoping to turn Edinburgh into a sanctuary for swifts after a drastic decline in the birds population, reports BBC. Numbers fell by more than 50% in the UK between 1995 and 2016. One of the biggest challenges that the species faces is the loss of nesting sites in older buildings, which are often blocked off during renovation work or lost when buildings are demolished. The Edinburgh Swift City Project is asking people to make boxes in a bid to encourage pairs to nest and breed. Residents are also being urged to report any sightings of swift screaming partiesgroups of two or more swifts flying at low level while calling loudly, which means they are breeding nearby. Hubs are being created along a cycle route through the city to raise awareness, and a huge mural depicting the birds long migration path between Africa and Europe is also being planned.

Curated by Sohini Sen. Have something to share with us? Write to us at feedback@livemint or tweet to @shohinisen

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Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...

(Back, left to right) Trina Mariah King-Smith, Precious Johnson, James Gaskins (holding Wynter Gaskins) and Trina Johnson. (Front, left to right) family friend Yasmine Grist and Benjamin Johnson.

Many parents attend Beaufort County Community College, some of them brand new to parenthood. They must juggle schedules, learn new skills and make consequential decisions in their educational plan. Can they stay the course? Take a semester off? Should they change programs of study? For Precious Johnson, motherhood came early, as she was the first in her class at Beaufort County Early College High School to have a child. Becoming a parent meant some changes in her plan, but Johnson persevered, and she is now working on her Master of Business Administration online through NC Wesleyan College.Johnson graduated from Beaufort County Early College High School with her high school diploma in 2013 and finished an Associate in General Education from Beaufort County Community College. She remained at BCCC to earn an Associate in Medical Office Administration in 2015, deciding that going to work immediately was the best choice for a new mother. She did this all without taking any time off.she says. The constantly updated technology at BCCC and its integration into class assignments helped to keep up with new innovations in the workplace.She would also work as a planner assistant at Clarcor Air Filtration and finished up a Bachelor of Science in Psychology through North Carolina Wesleyan College. NC Wesleyan partners with Beaufort to provide in-person classes on BCCC's campus in Washington. Johnson attended classes with other students also attending NC Wesleyan. The partnership saved her time, as she would have otherwise had to commute to Rocky Mount, and, in addition, she enjoyed the small class sizes and group work.she says.she says of her psychology degree. This plan led her to the Master in Business Administration on which she is currently working.Along the way there was help. Her parents took time with her child while she returned to school.she says.She was very focused on completing her education, so she stayed to herself on campus, but she leaned on a few staff members for support. She worked closely with counselor Debra Baker and Michele Mayo, her instructor for medical office administration.she says. She would meet with Baker on a weekly basis and catch up on assignments in Mayo's office.she says,She also got help through the Coastal Pregnancy Center where she took parenting classes and found religious guidance.A higher education was never a guarantee for Johnson, making the choice to continue her education even more important.The family plan was that if Precious attended the early college high school, she would become the first in the family with a college degree. Along the way, completing college became a family endeavor  and friendly challenge  for the Johnson family. Her mother Trina completed a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Mount Olive. Her sister Lovely earned her Associate in Science and Associate in Arts from BCCC, and she is now a private first class in the United States Army. Her oldest brother Tyrone earned his Associate in Computer Networking from ITT Technical Institute.While her mother Trina may have earned her bachelor's degree just a few years before Precious, Precious will be the first in the family to earn a master's degree.After years of struggle and turmoil, Johnson has settled into a steadier life. She now has three children, Trina Mariah King-Smith, 10, Benjamin Aaron Johnson, 3, and Wynter Rose Gaskins, 1. Her fiance James Gaskins, who works as a shipping coordinator, has encourage her to step back from working to focus on her master's degree.Johnson plans to be a financial analyst, but she is also considering starting a non-profit to help other young parents. She knows that without the support she received through the college, she would never have been able to finish. Now Johnson would like to be the one to extend that support to young parents, and to help them defy expectations.

 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to Mario Draghi on his assuming office as prime minister of Italy.





Noting that Italy is an important cooperative partner of China in the European Union, Li said in his message that since last year, the two countries have been maintaining close high-level interactions, and the inter-governmental cooperation mechanism has been functioning effectively.





The two sides have been working together to overcome difficulties and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and the friendship between China and Italy has become more deeply rooted in the hearts of the peoples, Li said.





Li said he would like to work with Draghi to elevate the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to deliver more benefits to both countries and peoples.





China stands ready to support Italy's presidency of the Group of 20 (G20), and work with Italy to make positive contributions to promoting international anti-pandemic cooperation and global economic recovery, he said.




Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq  one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality in December last year

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed he and his family including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been placed under house arrest.

He also claimed that his staff members are not being allowed inside his residence.

However, Srinagar Police said the movement of protected persons was "discouraged" on Sunday due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama attack and that all concerned had been informed accordingly in advance.

"This is the 'naya/new J&K' after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) and me in our home, they've locked my sister and her kids in their home as well," Omar wrote on Twitter.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city.

This is the naya/new J&K after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. Its bad enough theyve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, theyve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well. pic.twitter.com/89vOgjD5WM  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021



Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.

"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren't being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry and bitter," he said in another tweet.

Responding to Omar's tweets, police said the movement of protected persons and VIPs was "discouraged" due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.

"Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today (sic)," the Srinagar Police said on its official Twitter handle.

However, Omar asked the police to explain under which law he had been detained. "You can advise me not to leave my house but you can't force me to stay in using security as an excuse," he said.

"Please share the written communication address to me and acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely this anniversary didn't come as a surprise to the administration," he said in another tweet.

Please share the written communication address to me & acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely this anniversary didnt come as a surprise to the administration. https://t.co/wfWwYPiTM4  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

Responding to a journalist's tweet with screenshots of documents shared by police,, Omar said the detained persons had not been marked on the document.

Please note that none of the people who have been detained in their homes today have been marked on this document. More over it still doesnt answer under what law police trucks are parked outside our gates preventing us from leaving. https://t.co/gfiSByydcU  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

The NC condemned the arbitrary detention of the party leaders and their family.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq  one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality in December last year.

Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/xFkcqTGQyV  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 13, 2021

With inputs from PTI
Correction appended

The Oregon Health Authority announced 474 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday along with 43 new deaths, raising the states coronavirus death toll to 2,137.

A majority of the deaths occurred in January, and more than half of them were among people 80 and older.

Oregonians 80 and older became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine Monday, after the state was criticized for prioritizing the vaccinations of teachers in an effort to reopen schools. Meanwhile, winter weather has forced the closure of the states mass vaccination sites at the Portland International Airport and Oregon Convention Center. Thousands of vaccine appointments must now be rescheduled.

Those 75 and older can start scheduling vaccine appointments at Portlands mass vaccination clinics Monday at 9 a.m. But its unclear when the first available appointment will be for this group  because of new rounds of appointments for those 80 and older and rescheduled appointments from snow cancellations.

Oregonians 70 and older will eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 22 and those 65 and older will be eligible March 1.

Friday was also the first day since November that Gov. Kate Brown allowed some metro-area businesses  including restaurants, bars and movie theaters  to reopen at a limited capacity indoors, a move triggered by falling COVID-19 case counts.

Gyms in the Portland area were also allowed to reopen for indoor workouts of up to 50 people starting Friday. Brown relaxed the restrictions on gyms a bit last month, allowing up to six clients inside, after indoor workouts were shut down across much of the state last November as coronavirus infections were soaring.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (1), Benton (19), Clackamas (25), Columbia (10), Coos (20), Crook (3), Curry (1), Deschutes (22), Douglas (25), Hood River (2), Jackson (33), Jefferson (5), Josephine (19), Klamath (3), Lake (4), Lane (52), Lincoln (1), Linn (13), Malheur (3), Marion (30), Morrow (4), Multnomah (74), Polk (16), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (15), Union (5), Wallowa (1), Wasco (1), Washington (51) and Yamhill (14).

Who died: The 2,095th death is a 79-year-old man Benton County man who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Jan. 4 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

The 2,096th death is a 61-year-old Benton County woman who tested positive Dec. 2 and died Jan. 14 at her residence.

The 2,097th death is a 93-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Jan. 3 and died Feb. 1 at her residence.

The 2,098th death is an 88-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Dec. 30 and died Jan. 4 at her residence.

The 2,099th death is a 31-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Dec. 30 and died Jan. 27. Location of death is being confirmed.

The 2,100th death is an 82-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 26 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

The 2,101st death is a 68-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 26 at Adventist Hospital.

The 2,102nd death is an 81-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 15 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

The 2,103rd death is an 82-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Jan. 22 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

The 2,104th death is an 83-year-old Clackamas County woman who tested positive Jan. 17 and died Jan. 26 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

The 2,105th death is a 70-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Jan. 24 and died Feb. 2 at Adventist Hospital.

The 2,106th death is a 69-year-old Crook County woman who tested positive Jan. 17 and died Feb. 11 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

The 2,107th death is an 86-year-old Crook County man who tested positive Dec. 28 and died Jan. 4 at St. Charles Bend Hospital. He had no underlying conditions.

The 2,108th death is a 79-year-old Deschutes County woman who tested positive Jan. 2 and died Jan. 7 at her residence.

The 2,109th death is a 77-year-old Deschutes County woman who tested positive Dec. 16 and died Jan. 4 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

The 2,110th death is an 83-year-old Deschutes County man who tested positive Feb. 2 and died Feb. 2. Location of death is being confirmed.

The 2,111st death is a 72-year-old Deschutes County woman who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 31 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

The 2,112nd death is a 91-year-old Hood River County woman who tested positive Feb. 4 and died Feb. 12 at her residence.

The 2,113rd death is a 101-year-old Hood River County woman who became symptomatic Jan. 20 after contact with a confirmed case and died Feb. 11 at her residence.

The 2,114th death is a 55-year-old Jefferson County man who tested positive Nov. 29 and died Jan. 16 at Oregon Health & Science University.

The 2,115th death is an 85-year-old Linn County man who tested positive Dec. 30 and died Jan. 18 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

The 2,116th death is a 70-year-old Malheur County man who tested positive Jan. 10 and died Jan. 21 at his residence.

The 2,117th death is an 83-year-old Marion County woman who tested positive Dec. 7 and died Feb. 5 at her residence.

The 2,118th death is a 67-year-old Marion County woman who tested positive Jan. 16 and died Jan. 19 at her residence.

The 2,119th death is an 84-year-old Marion County man who tested positive Oct. 26 and died Oct. 21 at his residence.

The 2,120th death is an 83-year-old Marion County woman who tested positive Dec. 30 and died Jan. 14 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

The 2,121st death is an 89-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Nov. 20 and died Jan. 11 at her residence.

The 2,122nd death is a 76-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 3 and died Jan. 21 at her residence.

The 2,123rd death is a 92-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Dec. 22 and died Jan. 9 at his residence.

The 2,124th death is an 87-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 14 and died Jan. 25 at his residence.

The 2,125th death is a 62-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 15 and died Feb. 1 at Oregon Health & Science University.

The 2,126th death is a 91-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 12 and died Jan. 13 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

The 2,127th death is a 57-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 25 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

The 2,128th death is a 68-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 11 at her residence.

The 2,129th death is a 73-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 18 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

The 2,130th death is a 98-year-old Umatilla County man who tested positive Jan. 27 and died Feb. 3 at his residence.

The 2,131st death is a 74-year-old Umatilla County man who tested positive Dec. 29 and died Feb. 3 at Good Shepherd Hospital.

The 2,132nd death is a 93-year-old Washington County woman who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Feb. 4 at her residence.

The 2,133rd death is an 87-year-old Wasco County man who tested positive Dec. 22 and died Jan. 4 at his residence.

The 2,134th death is an 84-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Jan. 17 and died Jan. 27 at his residence.

The 2,135th death is a 46-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 13 at his residence.

The 2,136th death is an 85-year-old Josephine County man who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 21 at his residence.

The 2,137th death is a 93-year-old Josephine County woman who tested positive Dec. 9 and died Jan. 13 at her residence.

Unless noted above, each person who died had underlying health conditions or state officials were working to determine if the person had underlying medical conditions.

The prevalence of infections: On Saturday, the state reported 417 new positive tests out of 14,482 tests performed, equaling a 2.9% positivity rate.

Whos in the hospital: The state reported 216 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were hospitalized Saturday, 14 more than Friday. Of those, 49 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, one more than Friday.

Vaccines administered: Oregon has administered 669,988 first and second doses out of 885,250 received, which is about 75.7% of its supply. Oregon reported 20,386 newly administered doses, which includes 11,783 on Friday and the remainder from previous days.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 150,034 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,137 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported over 3,398,185 lab reports from tests.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding

An earlier version of this report misstated the number of deaths reported Saturday and incorrectly asserted that the figure was the highest number of new deaths reported in one day since the start of the pandemic. The state reported 43 deaths Saturday. The highest number of new deaths reported in one day was 54 deaths on Jan. 12.
Memorial Day preparation starts

In advance of Memorial Day events and veterans graves preparation, officials have sent order forms for flags, markers and other materials to volunteers and veterans post commanders. They should be completed and returned by March 1 to the Lackawanna County Veterans Affairs Office, c/o Government Center, 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, 18503, so that they can be processed for timely distribution; 570-963-6778.

MEETINGS

POST 3474VFW Post 3474, Dunmore, Thursday, 7 p.m.; masks and distancing required.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Amid the military disengagement process at the LAC, former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A.K. Antony has accused the government of a "total surrender" to China and conceding strategic points to the Chinese.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi along with Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Antony alleged that "the Indian LAC was till Finger 8 and after withdrawing to Finger 3, Indian forces will lose patrolling rights till Finger 8 and also the post at Finger 4." He said Indian forces were at strategic location of Kailash ranges and withdrawing from there is not in Indian interest as the forces can monitor Chinese movements from there.

Antony said, "Galwan was not even disputed in 1962 and the government can't hide behind historical facts." The Congress has criticised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in Parliament where he informed about the disengagement being done.

Surjewala said "the country will not accept anything less than status quo ante of April 2020 and the government has undermined the bravery of our forces." The Congress questioned the government as to why the buffer zone has been created in Indian territory. The Congress also paid tributes to the martyrs of the Pulwama attack.

Surjewala asked whether the Prime Minister and Defence Minister will explain why the government is agreeing to withdraw the Indian armed forces from dominant positions in Kailash ranges where the Chinese are at a disadvantage, without any quid pro quo by China.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday informed Parliament that India and China have reached an agreement to disengage troops from north and south of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh region.

He said sustained talks with China have led to the agreement on the disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After the agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased and coordinated manner.

China will keep its troops to the east of Finger 8 in the north of Pangong lake. India will keep its troops at its permanent base near Finger 3, said Rajnath.

"China has built up a heavy force with arms and ammunition on their side at several spots near the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Our forces have also adequately and effectively done counter deployment," the Defence Minister had said.

Seniors cant participate in programs because of COVID and there is also the issue of taxes, Wells said. No one likes to have them raised, but when they are they are raised on us (trustees) as well. The money is only asked for when we need it in order to continue programs.


Sri Lankan Initiates Worlds First College-As-A-Service Platform; The London Institute of Business and Technology Taking Professional & Vocational Education to new heights View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankan entrepreneur Sesiri Pathirane, Co-founder of The London Institute of Business & Technology (LIBT), recently announced the launch of the worlds first ever College-As- A-Service platform successfully adopting principles of Software-As-A-Service or SAAS into higher education. LIBT will differ from conventional learning platforms because it will enable prospective students to enjoy a trial period prior to signing up or making a long-term commitment for a specific course of ones choosing.

By obtaining an All-Access Pass at only GBP 9, prospective students will be permitted access to all lectures, in real time, for a period of 30 days after which they could upgrade to either the Monthly Academic Pathway for GBP 220 or One-Time Academic Pathway for GBP 1,600; two latter options will entitle students to a Certificate or Diploma upon successful completion of a course, leading to Progression Pathways to complete Bachelors and Masters programmes. All programmes at LIBT have been designed to be relevant to the appetite of the fast-paced job market of today.

LIBT is unique in its approach to higher education having moved away from the traditional academia & strategies to be more explorative and pragmatic in its efforts to impart knowledge; the faculty at LIBT consists of respected veterans in relevant disciplines eager to groom and mentor vibrant, perceptive, creative & job-ready successors rather than mere graduates.

All LIBT Campuses across Asia have been designed seamlessly incorporating ample spaces for collaboration: A feature shared commonly with thriving start-up ecosystems in the world such as Silicon Valley, London & Singapore.

This product serves to revolutionize how education is seen and consumed. For many in tech, education is an intimidating experience often seen as optional  the objective therefore is to make education not only accessible but also relevant & palatable. Students are availed a taste or sample of it before making an investment or commitment which is very in line with the millennial preference & thinking, opined Pathirane. All three packages will grant students unrestricted access for 30 days to all courses & resources offered by LIBT.

Accredited by a host of global bodies including ATHE & QUALIFI, LIBT offers courses in a wide range of areas including Information Technology, E-Commerce, Cyber Security, Business Enterprise, Accounting & Finance and Law. College-As-A-Service is a manifestation of the Founder/CEO Pathiranes vision to universalize knowledge transcending socio-economic, geographic and other limitations.

LIBTs most recent campus was launched in January 2021 at The BETA Park in Bhutan while the Cambodia campus is due for commencement in March 2021. For further information & registration, visit: www.libt.co.uk.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday said that Indias Covid 19 recovery rate is amongst the highest in the world with a 97.3% record. Meanwhile, the case fatality rate today stands at 1.43%, one of the lowest in the world, an official release stated.

As per the ministry, since October 1, 2020, the nation has seen an unabated decline in the case fatality rate and today it stands below 1.5%, i.e. 1.43%, the lowest in the world. It has also been recording a steady decline in the number of daily new deaths with only 92 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

View Full Image since October 1, 2020, the nation has seen an unabated decline in the case fatality rate and today it stands below 1.5

The official release also stated that 6 states account for 78.3% of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (38). Kerala follows with 16 daily deaths. Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have 5 new deaths each.

Meanwhile, more than 1.06 crore people have recovered so far, with a recovery rate of 97.31%, which is the highest in the world. The difference between the recovered and active cases has grown to 1,04,74,164 today.

View Full Image More than 1.06 crore people have recovered so far, with a recovery rate of 97.31%, which is the highest in the world.

As on the 29th day of the vaccination drive, more than 82 lakh people, mostly healthcare and frontline workers, have been vaccinated till today. On Saturday, India started rolling out the second shot of coronavirus vaccine for the beneficiaries who were given jabs on 16 January when the drive began.

According to the doctors, the second round of Covid-19 vaccine booster dose is to be given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days.

All vaccines that are being administered require at least two doses for the immunity to kick in. The interval between the jabs varies between 12 to 28 days.

Experts have said that the first vaccine shot is designed to train your body to recognise the killer virus and ramp up the immune system, which is the body's defence system against the infection.

The second Covid-19 vaccine dose, which is called the booster shot, further boosts the immune system of your body. "Hence it is imperative to maintain COVID-19 appropriate behavior even after receiving the coronavirus vaccine," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said earlier.

However, experts have clarified that the second shot can be taken anytime between four to six weeks from the first dose.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Midwives ordered to replace words 'mother,' 'breastfeeding' with 'trans-friendly' terms Policy advises replacing 'father' with 'second biological parent'

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Transgender language is being instituted at two U.K. hospitals in the NHS healthcare system that now require midwives to cease using the words "breastfeeding," breastmilk and "father," and change how they refer to mothers all under the banner of inclusion.

The word "mother" is being replaced with the term "mother or birthing parent."

As part of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust's inclusive language policy to be more "trans-friendly," midwives are being told they must stop using gendered terms that denote the sex of the body and instead used "gender-inclusive" language, according to the UK Times.

Henceforth, under the new policy, the "maternity services department" will be known as "perinatal services." Instead of using the word "breastmilk," the phrases "human milk," "breast/chestmilk" or "milk from the feeding mother or parent."

Additional adjustments in the hospital language policy include using woman or person in place of "woman." Depending on the circumstances, the word "father" is to be replaced with parent, co-parent or second biological parent," The Telegraph reports.

The document further instructs staff that they are not to cease using the word woman entirely but to use the word "people" more often.

The document released this week states: "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 marginalized 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."

In a statement released on Twitter Monday, the Sussex maternity department said: We want everybody who uses our services to see themselves reflected in the language that we use. This means not only pregnant women, but also pregnant trans, non-binary and agender people. Our chosen approach to inclusive language is additive rather than neutral.

According to The Telegraph, "Brighton and Hove NHS Trust has long championed itself as a 'leader for LGBT inclusion' after receiving a number of accolades from the controversial charity Stonewall."

The phenomenon of this kind of language has been appearing in elite environments in recent months.

In a social media post promoting a panel discussion in December 2020, Harvard Medical School referred to women as birthing people to include individuals who identify as nonbinary or transgender.

Harvard Medical Schools Postgraduate and Continuing Education tweet proclaimed that Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth as it promoted a panel about Maternal Justice."

The tweet drew ire from many Twitter users who complained that it was misogynistic and dehumanizing.

National Review writer Madeleine Kearns noted that some feminists have long regarded this kind of language as Orwellian, noting that it ultimately yields the "erasure" of women.

"Words merely reflect or distort facts. A woman is still a woman if you call her something else, be it a 'non-binary person' or a 'trans man.' And a mother is still a mother if you call her a 'chestfeeder' or a 'birthing parent,'" she wrote.

"The hijacking of language is the same sinister strategy on which every totalitarian ideology is reliant. Nonsense terms such as 'misgendering,' 'cis-privilege,' 'cisgender,' 'dead naming,' etc., have only been around for ten years or so, and only in the mainstream for much less time, and yet have already been used with staggering effectiveness to confuse, intimidate, and deter people (including conservatives) from using biologically precise terminology in contexts where doing so matters greatly (e.g. in court or Congress).

"It is of course shameful that deceitful language should be deployed by the political class, or so unthinkingly by those who know better. But it is beyond disturbing that it should make its way into publicly funded medicine," Kearns concluded.
At first glance, Mike Fairclough's domestic set-up looks much like the cheerful chaos that will be familiar to many families.

His three-year-old twin daughters Luna and Star charge around, endlessly changing dressing-up costumes and asking a million questions a minute.

His sons Iggy, 16, and Tali, 22, wander around blaring loud music.

The difference is that, far from trying to rein in the disorder like many frazzled parents, Mike and wife Sundeep positively encourage a degree of spontaneity, rebellion and rule-breaking.

No matter how tired primary school headteacher Mike is when he comes home from work  no easy ride during the long months of the pandemic  he sometimes bundles the family into his campervan for an adventure at the beach.

They might spend the evening around a driftwood fire, plunge into the sea at midnight, or dash outside in thunderstorms, dancing and singing.

Mike Fairclough (above), dubbed the 'hunky head', said the death of his wife of 14 years Selina led him to believe we need to reclaim our childish sense of wonder

But then you wouldn't expect a sober approach to parenting from 48-year-old Mike.

He is, after all, the man who hit the headlines for his unorthodox take on education at West Rise, the East Sussex school where he has put rabbit-skinning, shooting and fire-making alongside mathematics and verbal reasoning on the curriculum.

That wasn't the only reason he caused a stir: Mike's dashing good looks, collar-grazing hair and distinctive dress sense  he favours unbuttoned shirts, waistcoats and, in winter, a bearskin coat  sent the nation's mums into meltdown when he was interviewed on TV. One asked if he was auditioning for Poldark.

It led to Mike being dubbed the 'Hunky Head', a label he's now happy to embrace.

'I was a bit coy about it at first, but now I love it,' he confesses, grinning. 'It's definitely a good thing to have to live up to as I get older. And let's face it, no one wants to see someone square lecturing us about how to live our lives.'

No danger of that with Mr Fairclough. As striking in the flesh as in photos, I can't help but clock the appreciative looks from female passers-by when we meet for socially-distanced coffee pre-lockdown.

We are meeting because Mike is on a mission. Not only does he want children to embrace activities usually reserved for grown-ups, he is encouraging grown-ups to be more, well, childlike.

He argues, in his new book Wild Thing, that children, with their inherent inquisitiveness and adventure, can teach us a lot about how to live.

Mike (pictured in 2016) previously caught attention for his teaching at West Rise, the East Sussex school, where he has put rabbit-skinning, shooting and fire-making on the curriculum

'It's hard work being a grown-up,' he says. 'Life is stressful and we get bogged down in it. A child never does that. A child's natural state of being is to smile and laugh. They are instinctively drawn to whatever makes them feel happy. But this playful outlook diminishes over time.'

It's an uplifting message but one, he reveals for the first time, with its roots in sorrow.

Nine years ago Selina, Mike's wife of 14 years, died of a brain tumour just six weeks after being diagnosed, leaving him a widower at 38 and a single father to their heartbroken boys, Tali, then 13, and six-year-old Iggy.

Broken and emotionally raw, it was observing his sons' simple joy in the world  and how it persisted despite their grief  that brought him through. Over time this realisation morphed into a philosophy that we all need to reclaim our childish sense of wonder.

'I saw the world through the eyes of a child again and it was really healing,' he says. Now he wants you to do the same.

With chapter headings from 'Breaking the Rules' to 'Finding Buried Treasure', in his book, Mike recalls the thrills of climbing to the top of a tree in a thunderstorm and trespassing on a private island as a child.

So is he suggesting we should all be hanging off branches as lightning strikes?

Not quite. The idea is that we can tap into our inner child in easier ways, say, by trying something new each day  it could be as mundane as exploring a road we've never been down before  or breaking small rules, just to enjoy the feeling of rebellion.

Selina died of a brain tumour leaving him a widower at 38 and a single father to their boys, Tali, then 13, and six-year-old Iggy (pictured with his twin daughters Luna and Star)

It's an approach that has drawn praise from figures such as children's writer Jacqueline Wilson and the Duchess of York, his nephew's godmother, who writes in the foreword she was 'captivated' from the first paragraph.

Mike is quite used to challenging social norms, given that from the moment he took over at West Rise 13 years ago, he introduced some rather unorthodox classes.

Alongside the usual timetable Mike encouraged carpentry skills, beekeeping, rabbit-skinning, pigeon-plucking and cooking on open fires, not to mention allowing a local branch of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation to teach target practice with air rifles and shotguns.

FIVE WAYS TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER CHILD IN LOCKDOWN 1 Get lost. While out for a walk, allow yourself to lose your bearings. When you are lost, hold your nerve. Embrace the feeling and find the magic within it. Your senses will be heightened and you will see the world with fresh eyes. 2 Break a rule. Think about the rules you adhere to in your life. Which would you love to break if you could? As long as its not doing any real harm, breaking a rule can feel exhilarating and fun. Hopping over a fence to explore a field or rebelling against your latest diet can be truly liberating. 3 Be an explorer. Whether looking for creatures under stones in the garden or visiting a park you have never been to. Undiscovered worlds await. 4 Be here now. Spend a short time (start with five minutes and build up) using all of your senses to experience the present moment. What can you see? What can you hear? What other sensations do you have? Forget about the past and the future. Just enjoy the moment. 5 Dance like no one is watching. The same goes for singing. Put your favourite track on and let yourself go. Advertisement

Perhaps aware of past censure, he's keen to point out his insistence on old-fashioned discipline.

'I always say that if you can't put your hand up in the classroom, I'm not going to give you a gun  if we are going to embrace risk and danger then we must have high expectations of everyone.

'We have zero tolerance of swearing and fighting. We are not just sitting round campfires like a bunch of hippies,' he laughs.

This approach has transformed the school. When he took over, Ofsted said it 'required improvement'. Under his headship it was named 'Primary School of the Year' by an education magazine.

Naturally, Mike wasn't going to let a pandemic stand in his way. West Rise remains open for vulnerable children and those with key worker parents during lockdown, while the school's character-building ethos is continued for those learning at home.

'I have two members of staff who are wellbeing co-ordinators, who help oversee activities linked to traits such as gratitude, resilience, kindness and perseverance,' Mike says.

'The children have to show how they are developing these traits. Examples from the last lockdown included children who had taken up rambling in the South Downs, walking for miles through the countryside, or taken up sea swimming with their parents.'

Yet he admits that juggling being in school every weekday  and many nights and weekends  plus overseeing a home learning programme is a challenge and has affected his home life.

'Sundeep is supportive, but it means extra work for her with the kids. Iggy gets very frustrated,' he says. 'We've all fallen out a few times  everyone in the family enjoys their own space.'

Fortunately, they could always get outside into the natural world, something that has always been key to happiness for Mike.

Raised one of six children by his actor father Gordon Fairclough  a respected stage performer who also appeared in BBC TV series Z Cars and Coronation Street  and teacher mother Marilyn in the Chilterns, he says his upbringing was 'strict but loving'. 'We spent a lot of time outside, exploring.'

At 18, he went to art school, where he met fellow student Selina. She was three years older and had a four-year-old son, but the attraction was instant.

But it was his sons' (pictured Tali) simple joy in the world despite their grief that brought him through and made him realise we all need to tap into our inner child

'I was only 18 and basically went from being in sixth form to living with Selina and her son,' he recalls. 'But it seemed completely natural. We felt like soulmates'.

The couple married when Mike was 23, and Tali came along the following year, by which time Mike had qualified as a teacher.

'Art doesn't always pay the bills,' he smiles. 'I needed a regular income and thought primary school teacher sounded OK  making hedgehogs out of egg boxes, that sort of thing.'

That wasn't quite the reality but by his mid-20s he was at a North London primary, subsequently moving schools twice, before, in April 2004, being appointed headteacher at West Rise in Eastbourne. Two months later Iggy was born.

As a new father and a newly appointed headteacher, life was hectic. So when, in September 2010, Selina complained of headaches, Mike admits he didn't initially pay too much attention.

'I remember feeling quite irritated,' he recalls. 'I was brought up with a dad who had lived through World War II and whose grandfather had been in the Battle of the Somme, so my approach was very much push through.'

That changed when, at the start of 2011, Mike watched his wife try to walk through a wall instead of the door.

'It was surreal, and I knew then something wasn't right. We went to hospital the next day,' he says. A brain scan showed a shadow on Selina's brain which, five days later, was confirmed as incurable cancer.

'The consultant told me Selina wouldn't make Christmas and there was nothing anybody could do,' Mike recalls. 'I remember refusing to believe it. It just didn't seem real.'

Mike (pictured with his son Iggy) said people should tap into their inner child by trying something new daily, such as going down a road they've never seen or breaking small rules

Desperate, he turned to alternative therapies  herbs, crystals, anything  but Selina deteriorated rapidly.

'She wasn't in pain and had actually accepted she was going to die. She wasn't frightened, but upset about not seeing her boys grow up,' says Mike. 'I just kept thinking that miracles happen.'

In this case they didn't. Selina died in February 2011, aged 41.

Mike was devastated: 'Every night after the boys had gone to sleep I would get quite angry at Selina for not pulling through. Of course, it wasn't rational.'

For weeks, he would wake at 1.35am, the time Selina had passed away, and walk round the house looking for her.

'I was definitely losing the plot. I managed to conceal it from the boys. It was a case of, 'We can do this, us against the world', but I was struggling.'

Then, just before Easter, a friend invited him to Goa, convinced it might help them in the aftermath of Selina's death.

'She was so insistent that somehow I got it together enough to scoop up the boys and get on a plane,' he says. 'From the moment we landed I felt lighter somehow. It was all so vivid  the colours, the smells.'

He and the boys explored remote jungles and swam in the Indian Ocean. 'We would eat fresh watermelon and mangoes, straight off the land, and drink milk from coconuts we had cut by hand.'

Mike became determined to make drastic changes in his life after he met his current partner Sundeep, an Anglo-Punjabi law teacher he'd been introduced to by mutual friends in India

As Tali and Iggy flourished, Mike felt himself reconnecting with life.

He recalls watching as his young sons plunged into an icy waterfall, shrieking with delight as their bodies hit the water.

'I saw the boys playing, totally absorbed in what they were doing. It took me back to my own childhood in the Chiltern Hills, the times when I had got lost, the feelings of excitement, the way in which my imagination would run wild. I had a powerful sense of deja vu.'

So he, too, leapt into the waterfall. 'I felt completely alive again,' he recalls.

'I couldn't just lose the grief, of course, but from that moment on, I committed to following my heart and living in the moment.

'Like all parents I could be guilty of saying to the kids we would do stuff tomorrow but, from then on, if they wanted to go for a walk in the woods I'd just do it, not put it off.'

He became determined to make drastic changes to his life, a decision reinforced by his flourishing relationship with Sundeep, an Anglo-Punjabi law teacher he'd been introduced to by mutual friends in India.

'We met in a treehouse of all places,' he recalls. 'There was an immediate connection, but I was much too raw to do anything. Then, two months later, we met at a party in Lewes and talked all night, although we did not become involved romantically for another year.'

Happily his boys accepted his new relationship. Today Tali, a games designer, remains close to both, while Iggy, 16, now calls Sundeep 'mum'.

Three years ago, Sundeep gave birth to twins Luna and Star.

'Sundeep is a force of nature,' Mike says. 'She is this intelligent woman who teaches everyone from undergraduates to high court judges, but who also has this incredible energy. She made me embrace a desire for more adventure, more play.'

Which is why most nights, come rain or shine, after he has finished at West Rise, the family pile into the six-berth camper van and drive the mile to the nearest beach to connect with nature.

Mike now shares his twin daughters Luna and Star (above) with his partner Sundeep, who he revealed his son Iggy, now 16, now affectionately calls 'mum'

'Sometimes, I don't want to go  I had a stressful day recently and the impulse was just to stay at home. But then we got there, started digging in the sand and found two baby crabs. The girls were so absorbed and I went from being very in my head to just being in the moment,' he says.

What about those of us who aren't lucky enough to live five minutes from the beach?

'You can embrace the wonder around you anywhere,' Mike insists. 'We do some very simple things with the girls that are generally considered a waste of time in adulthood  staring at the clouds, or crawling around on the ground looking at insects.'

It's a sentiment echoed by Sundeep. 'Children are so free-spirited and we can learn so much from that,' she says.

'In our case we just allow ourselves, wherever possible, to be pulled along with them  if you want to go down this path, or jump in the sea, or turn over this stone, then let's do it. Children connect you with what is real and what really matters.'

Mike adds: 'That same enthusiasm for life is at the heart of the emotional wellbeing of adults  if only we can recapture it.'

He smiles at me and I can't help feeling that the Hunky Head and his new philosophy will have an avid following.

Wild Thing by Mike Fairclough (Hay House Publishers, 10.99) is out now.

Investigators from the state fire marshals office along with Worcester police and fire authorities continue to search for the cause of a fire in Worcester on Friday night that claimed the lives of three residents.

A vigil to remember the victims will take place Sunday at 13 Jaques Ave. at 5 p.m.

Authorities dont believe the fire was suspicious. At this time the investigation looks to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire that killed three people; Edna Mae Williams and her son Gerald Jerry Prince. Woodrow Adams Sr. later succumbed to injuries he suffered after jumping from the third floor to escape the flames.

 VIGIL TONIGHT 5p 13 Jaques Ave Worcester, Ma 01610 WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH & CARRY OUT THE LEGACIES OF THE LOVED ONES... Posted by Woodrow Adams Jr. on Sunday, February 14, 2021

Drones flew over the charred three-deckers at 11 and 13 Jaques Ave. Sunday morning, a familiar sight at the scene since firefighters extinguished the flames late Friday night, Worcester Deputy Chief Martin Dyer said.

The drones are used to map out the exterior of the building Dyer said. The ongoing investigation is working to eliminate potential ignition sources.

It just takes time, Dyer said.

10 Fatal fire at 13 Jaques Ave. in Worcester

Firefighters responded to the blaze at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The heaviest fire was at 13 Jaques Ave.

Firefighters tried to search inside the buildings, but conditions deteriorated very quickly, authorities said

About an hour passed before firefighters could reenter 13 Jaques Ave. The two victims who died were found on the first floor.

Adams died Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital after jumping from the third-floor deck to escape the fire.

Its a big loss, Adams wife Lorraine said. We were looking forward to our son and his fiancee getting married, going on vacation. He was retired. I was not working, Im retired, and it didnt go as planned.

In total, 13 residents were displaced because of the fire. A GoFundMe page was launched to help the family rebuild. The Adams family said theyre incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support.

After about a day, the page had already raised more than $80,000.

Related Content:
The Athens Limestone Hospital COVID vaccine clinic is closing Monday and Tuesday due to the possibility of inclement winter weather.

The hospital is calling everyone with an appointment on those days to reschedule. Everyone set to receive the second dose of the vaccine be scheduled first in order to stay within the vaccination window. The hospitals asks to avoid calling the appointment line so their team can dedicate their time to rescheduling these appointments.
The Napa Police Officers Association (NPOA) would like to extend a wholehearted welcome to Retired Police Chief Sylvia Moir in her role as Interim Chief for the Napa Police Department.

The police department, as well as our community, has faced challenges that are completely unprecedented over the last several years. Policing, on a grand scale, has been put under a microscope and every aspect of who we are, and why we do what we do has been questioned.

Yet, the Napa Police Department leads the way in working with our community to proactively address these concerns with our citizens.

While we feel that now, more than ever, we need to stay closely connected to our own community and the folks that ultimately count on us to keep them safe. We believed that solid and dedicated leadership is of the utmost importance to continue to grow as a community-oriented-policing agency.

In the past 20 years, Napa PD has seen many changes in culture, staff, and leadership. The NPOA membership is aware of some of the challenges the department is facing over the next several years; staffing shortages, officer retention, budget cuts, aging facilities, and morale are some of the concerns.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 07:05:48|Editor: huaxia

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LA PAZ, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government announced on Saturday that the country is close to overcoming a second wave of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with cases decreasing in several departments after restrictive measures were put in place, including a ban on flights from Europe.

"We are in a sharp de-escalation process in several departments, and therefore we are on the verge of overcoming the second wave. If we maintain biosecurity measures, the second outbreak will pass without the application of any quarantine," said Bolivian Minister of Health Jeyson Auza.

According to the Ministry of Health, Bolivia has registered 235,098 cases of COVID-19, with 1,244 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, and a total of 11,107 deaths.

Bolivia reported the beginning of a second wave of COVID-19 infections on Jan. 9, and the government ordered a series of preventive health measures and the boosting of hospital capacity.

Auza also announced the extension of restrictions imposed on flights coming from Europe. Originally, the ban had been set to conclude on Feb. 15, but it has been extended to March 15.

The extension of the ban is meant to prevent passengers who may be carrying the new variant of COVID-19 first detected in the United Kingdom from entering the country. Enditem


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MANISTEE COUNTY  Despite the frigid temperatures in Manistee this weekend, warmth still abounds this time of year.

In the spirit of Valentines Day, the News Advocate reached out to local couples for their secrets to a long, happy marriage.

Lifelong Kaleva residents, Jan and Ray Bradley have devoted the past 50 years to one another. Over the years their family grew to include children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Ronald and Patricia Cook are currently wintering in sunny Rio Rancho, New Mexico and enjoyed a quiet Feb. 14 at home. The pair were married on Jan. 28, 1961 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Manistee.

News Advocate columnist Roxanne Rowley celebrated her golden anniversary with husband Dick last year.

We asked these couples to share their secrets to a long marriage and their advice for young couples who are just starting out.

Some responses were edited for length.

MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE: How did you first meet?

JAN BRADLEY: (Ray) was working on an electrical line and he came to Kaleva, Michigan, and thats how I met him and things started working and thats how after years were still here.

PATRICIA COOK: After I graduated from St. Joseph High School in Manistee I went to beauty school in Traverse City, Michigan and I met Ron in Traverse City. We met at a roller skating rink.

ROXANNE ROWLEY: We met at my high school locker. I was trying to reach a book on the top shelf, without much success. This tall, lanky guy came by and got the book down for me. He is still reaching the top shelf for me over 50 years later.

MNA: Is there a particular romantic moment that stands out for you?

BRADLEY: When we traveled to the West Coast, and we went through the redwood forests was probably one of the most remarkable things that both of us could say. It was amazing to see the beauty out there.

PATRICIA COOK: We used to go to Johnnys Bandstand in Custer, I think because that was the thing then in 1959-60. I dont even know if its still there. One of our first dates also was, we went to see Ben Hur and we still watch it on occasion.

ROWLEY: We love to go to live concerts. Our musical tastes are quite varied. We have enjoyed concerts at Interlochen Arts Academy, jazz on First Street beach, and the Sopchoppy Opry to name a few. Some of our best dates have been dinner and a concert, or dinner and a movie.

MNA: What are some things you enjoy doing together?

BRADLEY: Right now in our old age its sitting in our recliners watching TV but we like NASCAR and we did travel a lot in prior years. Weve been from the East Coast to the West Coast.

RON COOK: When we were younger we went camping together  That was always fun. Since I retired we traveled too; weve been to Australia, New Zealand, been to Europe a couple times  been to Hawaii several times.

ROWLEY: We enjoy travel very much, although with the pandemic we have been homebound awhile. We have had some nice adventures all over the world, as well as in Michigan and the rest of the US. I dont think we will ever run out of interesting and enjoyable places for a vacation. As soon as we can travel safely, we still have lots of places to visit.

MNA: What is something that has strengthened your marriage over the years?

BRADLEY: (laughing) Listening to my husband and making sure that he does everything I tell him. I dont know, you just give a little, take a little. You have to just be patient with each other.

PATRICIA COOK: I think our faith  our faith in God and our faith in each other, and family and friends too. Weve had wonderful friends through the years.

ROWLEY: There has been tragedy and sad events in our lives these five plus decades  the sudden death of one of my siblings at age 20, my encounter with breast cancer over twenty years ago, dealing with the serious health issues that eventually claimed the lives of our parents. Everyone has challenging events to deal with, and we have been fortunate to have each other for strength and support to see one another through. The good times are easy and fun, but the tragedies in life and how we deal with them are what make us and our relationship strong.

MNA: What advice would you give to couples just starting out?

BRADLEY: (laughing) Make sure your husband is always right.

PATRICIA COOK: Try to be more spiritual than material.

RON COOK: ...and the woman is always right.

ROWLEY: Giving advice is kind of hard. I think it is important to know when to hold your tongue and when to speak up. Enjoy and appreciate your partner. It is funny, but after being together for so long we sometimes read each others thoughts. And that makes us laugh. As Ann Landers said, Love is friendship that has caught fire.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 23:23:22|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Sunday 2,224 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 643,852.

The ministry also reported 15 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 13,179. It said that 1,079 cases recovered during the day, bringing the total recoveries to 607,059.

A total of 6,231,015 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February 2020, with 38,939 done during the day, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi told the official Iraqiya channel that teams from the ministry would be deployed in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces to monitor the implementation of health-protective measures and to impose fines on violators.

"The health ministry personnel will team up with the security forces to impose fines under the latest decisions of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety," al-Tamimi said.

For her part, Ruba Falah, head of the ministry's media office, said in a press release that the ministry's employees have begun conducting tests to detect the new strains of the coronavirus.

Falah confirmed that the ministry dedicated the Central Laboratory of Public Health and the laboratory of the Medical City in Baghdad to detect the new strains of the virus.

On Saturday, the higher committee, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to impose a partial curfew for four days and a full curfew for three days during the period from Feb. 18 until March 8.

During the period, the partial curfew will start from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. While the full curfew will be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The committee also stated that the governmental institutions will work with 50 percent of its employees, except for the Ministry of Health.

The decisions included preventing gatherings such as collective prayers in mosques, wedding and funeral ceremonies, as well as imposing a fine of 25,000 Iraqi Dinar, about 17 U.S. dollars, against individuals who do not abide by wearing masks inside cars and buses.

Iraq has taken a series of measures to curb the pandemic since the first coronavirus case appeared in the country.

China has been helping Iraq in its fight against the pandemic. On Feb. 4, the Chinese Embassy in Iraq said the Chinese government donated 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Iraq.

Earlier, the Iraqi Health Ministry said the Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs had approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm and Britain's AstraZeneca vaccines to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

From March 7 to April 26 in 2020, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help fight the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
More than 15 million people across the UK have been given their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the government.

Boris Johnson described the achievement as an extraordinary feat that had taken a truly national effort.

The prime minister also claimed that England had hit its target of offering a vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups. The Welsh government said it met this target on Friday.

Mr Johnson had promised that a dose of the vaccine would be offered by 15 February to everyone over the age of 70 and everyone who was clinically extremely vulnerable.

While the government is expected to announce on Monday that its pledge has been met, concerns have been raised that some housebound elderly people have not even been contacted. The figures also do not mean that everyone in the priority groups has actually received a vaccine.

The NHS vaccine programme has been the fastest in Europe, with an average of about 435,000 people a day getting a jab over the past week across the UK.

In a video statement issued on Sunday, Mr Johnson said: It has been a truly national, UK-wide effort. We have done it together.

And in England, I can tell you we have now offered jabs to everyone in the first four priority groups  the people most likely to be severely ill from coronavirus  hitting the first target we set ourselves.

But he added that no one is resting on their laurels.

Weve still got a long way to go to. And there will undoubtedly be bumps in the road. But after all we've achieved, I know we can go forward with great confidence.

The minister for Covid-19 vaccine deployment, Nadhim Zahawi, wrote on Twitter: 15 million! Amazing team. We will not rest till we offer the vaccine to the whole of phase 1, the 1 to 9 categories of the most vulnerable and all over-50s by [the] end [of] April and then all adults.

Ministers now want to vaccinate all nine priority groups  all those over 50, and everyone in a clinically vulnerable group  before the beginning of May.

After that, vaccinations for the rest of the population will go ahead.

A strategy of prioritising first doses of the vaccine, with a longer period before a follow-up dose, appears to be paying off, with mounting evidence that the approach offers strong protection.

But the numbers of cases are still high and the government hinted on Sunday that it could be months before significant changes are made to lockdown measures.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images

In a statement, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said: Im so proud of the team  weve hit this fantastic milestone in our battle against Covid-19. In less than 10 weeks weve jabbed over 15 million people across the UK.

Thats one in every four adults now starting to receive protection from this dreadful disease.

This accomplishment is thanks to the incredible efforts of frontline NHS workers, vaccine volunteers, the armed forces and all those working in local and central government. The vaccine rollout shows what our country can achieve working together.

There is so much more to do and I urge anyone eligible to step forward and take up their appointment. The vaccine is our route to freedom  we will beat this virus jab by jab.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said the government needed to lock in the gains of vaccination.

Our NHS staff, armed forces and volunteers deserve huge congratulations on the ongoing successful rollout of the vaccination programme. They are true heroes and make the whole country proud, he said.

Its now crucial that, as we move towards second jabs for the most vulnerable and the first jabs for the next groups, ministers lock in the gains of vaccination. This means putting in place measures to further reduce the spread of Covid, including decent financial self-isolation support, updated mask wearing guidance and help for workplaces to be Covid-secure.

We have already seen the virus mutate. Its urgent more is done to reduce its spread while vaccination continues at pace.
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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
Senate Democrats and Republicans cut a last-minute deal to avoid calling witnesses, agreeing to enter into the record a statement about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthys phone call with Donald Trump while the Capitol was under attack on Jan. 6.
MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2021) A public rehearsal of a concert on Saturday evening near Minsk was suddenly interrupted by police arrival, with officers detaining 67 people, unregistered Belarusian human rights center Viasna said.

The concert was scheduled to take place later that night. Musicians and spectators gathered for a public rehearsal at the Ogonyok countryside retreat, located in the village of Sokol some 17 miles east from Minsk.

"As reported by Viasna rights defenders, a total of 67 people were detained at the concert," the center said on Sunday.

According to the news release, the police let go all minors, as well as four adults.

The exact number of people continuing to be in custody remains unclear, but the rights group specified the Names of at least 18 of them, including several musicians.

Bands that were expected to perform at the concert included Panska Moc, Ok-Band, Lear, and RSP (abbreviated from a Belarusian phrase roughly translating as "A lad's broken heart").

Police have not yet commented on the matter.

Busting small concerts has become a frequent occurrence in Belarus recently. Mass opposition protests, which began last August, gradually diminished in size and moved from city centers to small yards of residential areas. Sometimes, Belarusian musicians join these gatherings and perform for free as a sign of solidarity.

Mass protests began in Belarus after the presidential election on August 9, which, according to the official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, securing himself a sixth consecutive term in office. The opposition refused to recognize the results, claiming electoral fraud.


jerri-Lynn here. Yves linked yesterday to a Wall Street Journal story about this aspect of the opioids settlement.

By Kenny Stancil, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams

The tax code is so rigged for the rich that even when they kill people they get a tax break.

Four pharmaceutical corporations that agreed to pay a combined $26 billion to settle lawsuits resulting from a deadly opioid crisis they helped create reportedly plan to recoup a portion of those costs by deducting roughly $4.6 billion of the payouts from their taxessparking intense condemnation.

Big Pharma is attempting to make the public cover some of the fines related to lawsuits filed by dozens of state and local governments highlighting the culpability of opioid manufacturers and distributors in the deaths of an estimated 70,000 people per year.

As Public Citizen president Robert Weissman put it in a statement released Friday, The drug companies are settling with taxpayers (local government entities) and then demanding that taxpayers pay part of the cost (via a federal tax subsidy).

The Washington Post, which analyzed regulatory filings, reported Friday that as details of the blockbuster settlement were still being worked out, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and the big three drug distributorsMcKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Healthall updated their financial projections to include large tax benefits stemming from the expected deal.

Settle and deny guilt for fueling a deadly opioid epidemic? Theres a billion-dollar tax write off for that, drug companies claim. Great sleuthing by @dmac1 & @kevinschaul https://t.co/ACCGOfwAFz  Aaron C. Davis (@byaaroncdavis) February 12, 2021

Weissman called it beyond outrageous for the drug makers and distributors to take a tax deduction for their settlement of city and county claims relating to the drug companies alleged role in creating and worsening the opioid addiction epidemic.

Making this scheme even more infuriating, he added, is that the opioid manufacturer and distributor companies are preparing to claim billions in tax subsidies via a Covid-19 relief provision.

According to the Post, U.S. tax laws generally restrict companies from deducting the cost of legal settlements from their taxes, with one major exception: Damages paid to victims as restitution for the misdeeds can usually be deducted.

The newspaper noted that Congress has placed stricter limits on such deductions in recent years, and some tax experts say the Internal Revenue Service could challenge the companies attempts to deduct opioid settlement costs.

But the ploy might work, as The Week noted, thanks to the CARES Act, which opened up billions of dollars in tax breaks to companies regardless of pandemic suffering.

The Post provided an example of how one of the companies may exploit the loophole: Dublin, Ohio-based drug distributor Cardinal Health said earlier this month it planned to collect a $974 million cash refund because it claimed its opioid-related legal costs as a net operating loss carrybacka tax provision Congress included in last years coronavirus bailout package as a way of helping companies struggling during the pandemic.

Four drug companies that fueled the opioid epidemic paid $26 billion in legal settlements. Yet they are getting $4.6 billion of it back through tax write-offs. The tax code is so rigged for the rich that even when they kill people they get a tax break.https://t.co/KwMQdubrxF  Dan Price (@DanPriceSeattle) February 12, 2021

Whether the payments will be deductible may hinge on specific word choices in the final terms of the settlement, the newspaper reported. Though recent changes to the tax code have attempted to close loopholes that permit companies to deduct taxes when they have committed wrongdoing, many companies now push to make sure their settlements include a restitution payment for victimsthe magic word that often qualifies them for deductions.

Greg McNeil, whose son became addicted to opioids and died from an overdose said $26 billion is only a small fraction of the epidemics financial toll and argue[d] the proposal doesnt include what many family members of opioid victims want the most: an admission of guilt, the Post added.

Not only do all four firms disavow any wrongdoing or legal responsibility, the Post noted, but there is now a chance that Big Pharma could make the public foot part of the bill for its corporate malpracticein the midst of the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

While tens of millions of Americans are experiencing extreme economic hardship and dealing with intermittent and often inadequate governmental support for unemployment, food, housing, and small business continuity, Weissman said, Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource-Bergen are laughing all the way to bank.
(Natural News) Last week, Tucker Carlson made a spectacular revelation about the coordinated backlash against Trump supporters for the January 6 Capitol riot: Bank of America was investigating and doxing its own customers to the feds, encouraging the government to investigate them even if there was no direct evidence of them doing anything wrong.

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

Tucker Carlson reveals that Bank of America was flagging the purchasing history of its customers and sending it to the federal government in order to find out if they were involved in the Capitol riot. The feds later interrogated a customer who was cleared of wrongdoing. pic.twitter.com/QtwNv8EaWQ  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 5, 2021

So far, Carlsons revelations seem to have attracted only a little interest from the rest of the conservative world. This must change. Carlson hasnt exposed a minor misstep by a major corporation. He has revealed a major, coordinated attack on Americans constitutional rights.

According to Carlson, at the governments request but without any warrant at all, Bank of America spent the days after the Capitol riot sifting through the personal accounts of its 60 million customers. The bank was looking for customers whose records fit a particular profile: Individuals who traveled to Washington D.C., purchased accommodations and airline tickets, and who bought weapons or shopped at weapons-related retailers.

According to Carlson, of the 211 people whose names were turned over to the feds, only one was even interviewed as a person of interest, and that person was cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

It is impossible to overstate how abusive this is. Shopping at a weapons-related retailer isnt a crime. Its a constitutionally protected right. Bank of America and the FBI worked together to launch a fishing expedition against ordinary Americans for exercising that right.

But this isnt just malicious behavior by Bank of America. It is very likely illegal.

12 U.S. Code ?3403 holds that:

No financial institution, or officer, employees, or agent of a financial institution, may provide to any Government authority access to or copies of, or the information contained in, the financial records of any customer except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. [Legal Information Institute]

The provisions of federal law that allow financial records to be turned over to the government are limited. They have to be. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution explicitly protects the persons, houses, papers, and effects of Americans from all unreasonable searches and seizures. If a financial institution believes a customer is breaking the law, they are allowed to notify the federal government that they possess such information. But even then, financial information cannot be turned over. The institution can only inform the federal government of the persons name, and the crime it believes it has evidence of. Bank of America could not possibly have such evidence about its customers, because all the activity it was reporting to the federal government was perfectly legal.

Otherwise, for the government to get private financial information, it must present a written request, a subpoena, or a warrant. A warrant requires specific probable cause of a crime. Subpoenas and written requests both require notifying the account owner, in case they wish to contest having the information handed over. A handful of other exceptions to federal law exist. For instance, the director of the FBI can demand financial information from banks specifically to stop cases of international (but not domestic) terrorism.

Needless to say, none of that has happened here. Bank of America was simply contacted by the FBI, given a long list of legal activities occurring in two states plus the District of Columbia, and replied by handing over the personal information of hundreds of customers.

There are other reasons to believe the federal governments behavior is illegal as well. The governments sweeping list of demands for Bank of America wasnt meant to detect criminal activity. It was meant to identify people simply for attending the rally on Capitol Hill. Most of those people broke no laws whatsoever. Instead, they simply traveled to Washington to show support for President Trump and his efforts to remain in office. The FBI retaliated against this political speech by launching a far-ranging fishing expedition against them, an expedition it knew would rope in many people suspected of no crime at all. This is a direct attack on the First Amendment, in violation of existing Supreme Court precedent.

The relevant Supreme Court case for this incident is 1958s NAACP v. Alabama. In response to the Montgomery bus boycott and other civil rights activities in the state, Alabama attorney general John Patterson had begun harassing the NAACP in an effort to make it cease its activities there. Among other things, Patterson demanded the NAACP hand over the names and addresses of its members, along with other information like its bank statements.

In its unanimous decision, the Court wrote:

In the domain of these indispensable liberties, whether of speech, press, or association, the decisions of this Court recognize that abridgment of such rights, even though unintended, may inevitably follow from varied forms of governmental action.  Petitioner has made an uncontroverted showing that, on past occasions, revelation of the identity of its rank-and-file members has exposed these members to economic reprisal, loss of employment, threat of physical coercion, and other manifestations of public hostility. Under these circumstances, we think it apparent that compelled disclosure of petitioners Alabama membership is likely to affect adversely the ability of petitioner and its members to pursue their collective effort to foster beliefs which they admittedly have the right to advocate. [Justia]

In short, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama, by demanding the identities of people who were organizing for controversial political purposes, was inherently mounting an attack on their constitutional rights. Demands for information must be linked with explicit, alleged criminal behavior, or else wholly detached from the exercise of constitutional rights. Once the government has decided certain legal behaviors are problematic, it is violating the rights of citizens.

There is a more recent example of this kind of abusive behavior being attempted. In 2019, Los Angeles passed a law requiring all contractors with the city to disclose any business ties with the National Rifle Association, in order to pressure companies to break their ties with the organization, or else be denied contracts with the city. Federal judge Stephen Wilson struck down the law, ruling that forcing companies to disclose their business arrangements was an egregious assault on the First Amendment.

While the federal governments inquiry into Bank of America has slightly different circumstances, the implications for the First Amendment are identical. The government, in collusion with Bank of America, is exposing ordinary Americans to a fishing expedition, sweeping up hundreds of Americans for legal behavior and singling them out for investigation. They are using the exercise of the First Amendment as a justification to target political enemies.

Banks certainly havent struggled with resisting federal inquiries in the past. In fact, for other, better-connected types of criminals, they have been eager to do it even at great cost. Mere weeks ago, Capital One Bank was fined nearly $400 million for systematically protecting money launderers using its check cashing services:

FinCEN said Capital Ones actions caused millions of dollars in suspicious transactions to go unreported in a timely and accurate manner, including proceeds connected to organized crime, tax evasion, fraud, and other financial crimes laundered through the bank into the U.S. financial system. Capital Ones egregious failures allowed known criminals to use and abuse our nations financial system unchecked, FinCENs director, Kenneth Blanco, said in a statement. FinCEN said Capital One was aware of the money-laundering risks associated with the check-cashing group, in part because of warnings by regulators and criminal charges against some customers. FinCEN said the bank acknowledged failing to file suspicious-activity reports even when it had knowledge of criminal charges against customers, including a convicted associate of the Genovese organized-crime family. [WSJ]

Whats different this time? Its not hard to deduce. For Americas financial and corporate elite, the basic constitutional freedoms of conservatives and nationalists are more repugnant than the exploitative behaviors of actual criminals.

This is a gross abuse of power, and both capital and the federal government are complicit. Against such a combination, there is only one possible check: Political organization. Yet for the past week, Republicans have done virtually nothing in response to Carlsons revelations. They havent demanded new legislation, to more explicitly protect Americans from a prying Department of Justice. They havent explored how new state laws could potentially keep banks in line. They havent even organized a lawsuit over Bank of America and the FBIs behavior.

As long as the Republican Party fails to stand up for its own supporters when they are targeted, they will continue to lose. Their defeats will continue until the Party fixes itself, or until it is destroyed and replaced by something better.

Read more at: Revolver.news
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A book focusing on the hilarious side of the UN By Roderic Grigson View(s): View(s):

MELBOURNE  The United Nations is an institution mired in politics focusing primarily on military conflicts, civil wars, economic sanctions, peacekeeping, plus sustainable economic development. But there is also a lighter side to it, which is brilliantly laid out in a new book released last week on Amazon and titled No Comment and Dont Quote Me on That, with a subtitle: From the Sublime to the Hilarious: Over 40 Years of Reporting from the United Nations.

It takes years to write a good book, and in this insightful memoir, Thalif Deen, a former UN Bureau Chief and Regional Director at Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency, gives us a riveting memoir filled with observations that come from 40-years of stalking the halls and corridors of the glasshouse by the East River.

Told through a series of news stories, interviews, anecdotes, and personal recollections, No Comment is held together by flashes of surprising humour and an overarching third world focus and point of view.

It comes as no surprise that some of his stories were picked up at the Delegates Lounge, a well-known watering hole for UN delegates from around the world who attend UN conferences.

One such incident he describes took place when he was doing a wrap-up of a two-week-long international conference in Rio de Janeiro. Deen approached Dr Gamani Corea, a former Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and a member of the Sri Lanka delegation to the Rio meeting, for a final comment.

We negotiated, Dr Corea said with a tinge of sarcasm, the size of the zero, as he held out his fingers to indicate the zero, describing the response of Western nations who refused to make any concrete commitments to fund a plan for the protection of the global environment.

In his first year as a student at Columbia University, Deen was terrified of the hazards of crime-ridden subway travel in New York and scared of the impending winter weather. When he complained about the weather on his first-ever winter in New York, a wise-cracking American classmate advised him: The best remedy is to curl up in bed with a good book  or with someone who has read one.

Though its scenes are scattered, they are individually memorable, evoking amazement and laughter in the same breath. Deen has always been a raconteur, often entertaining guests at various functions and parties with stories from his vast array of yarns, and this comes through his narrative in abundance.

Deen surprises the reader with an unaffected insider view of international reporting, recounting his stories with freshness and colour. A longstanding columnist for the Sunday Times, UN correspondent for Asiaweek, Hong Kong and Janes Defence Weekly, London, his firsthand experiences add importance to his common-sense take on global diplomacy.

The books title is taken from an encounter Deen had with a diplomat at the UN building. As a general rule, most ambassadors and diplomats do not tell UN correspondents either to go to hell or heaven  but avoid all comments on politically sensitive issues with the standard non-excuse: Sorry, we have to get clearance from our capital.

But often that clearance from their respective foreign ministries never came. Still, it was hard to beat a response from a tight-lipped Asian diplomat who told him: No comment  and as an after-thought, added: And Dont Quote Me on That.

It is a gift that he has now written his long overdue memoir. Blessed with a robust sense of humour, Deen gives us the real scoop on headline stories with both wit and intelligence, a perspective that comes from mining his dog-eared reporters notebooks, of which he assures me, there are over a hundred.

It is also the story of how Deen did it. A former information officer at the UN Secretariat in New York in the mid-1970s, Deen has covered virtually every major UN conference on population, human rights, the environment, sustainable development, food security, humanitarian aid, arms control and nuclear disarmament in the past 40-years.

Working at the UN during the most dramatic events of our time  from the pursuit of war and peace in the Middle East to the humanitarian disasters in Africa and Asia, this book provides an insiders view on what went on behind the glass curtain during a period of extraordinary turbulence.

Deen, a Fulbright scholar with a masters degree (MSc) in Journalism from Columbia University in New York, was born and educated in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). A student of Zahira College, Colombo, he graduated with an Economics degree from the University of Ceylon at Peradeniya. He became the first student from Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to gain admission to the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia.

At Peradeniya in the 1960s, it was the prevalent trend among most undergrads to fancy themselves either as Trotskyites, Communists or Socialists. When asked about his own political leanings, Deen told one of his professors he was a die-hard Marxist. But I followed Groucho, not Karl, he declared.

Speaking at a corporate dinner during his student says, he said he had arrived in New York on a Fulbright scholarship with a degree of trepidation because his colleagues at Lake House, the newspaper office where he worked cautioned him that Fulbright grants were given only to half-bright students. Mercifully, it wasnt so.

Studying for his masters in the early seventies in New York City, known then as the murder capital, was not easy. But having been brought up in the unforgiving northern suburbs of Colombo, he successfully navigated the asphalt jungle that was the Big Apple and has lived to tell the tale.

When he was in Iraq during the 1990 Gulf War, he was armed with a military flak jacket with a cautious warning inscribed on the back: Press. Dont Shoot. Perhaps it helped. Now, he says, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, he occasionally wears it in the mean streets of New York, a city where he has have lived for over 45 years, and where a bank robber can get mugged as he flees to a get-a-way car.

He completed his studies before embarking on his remarkable career reporting from the United Nations, first as a UN Information officer, a UN correspondent for Janes Defence Weekly and finally as a UN correspondent and bureau chief at IPS.

Possessed with the curiosity, nimbleness of mind and openness to change, Deen stands out among veteran correspondents for the range of his experience and his gift as a storyteller. An eyewitness to history being made at the highest levels, with this unique perspective, Deen brings to life scenes from the past and present.

A story he recounts often is after a band of mercenaries tried to oust the Maldives government, he asked a Maldivian diplomat about the strength of his countrys standing army. Standing army?, the diplomat asked with mock surprise, We dont even have a sitting army.

Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, a sharply-witty former Foreign Secretary and a one-time Permanent Representative to the UN, once paid him an ultimate compliment, when he said in an email message: Permanent representatives are never permanent. Sri Lankas only Permanent Representative at the UN is the IPS UN Bureau Chief Thalif Deen. He said Deen had survived about 20 Sri Lankan Permanent Representatives (PRUNs)  some of them transiting through New York. He is a splendid companion as I can personally attest to after working with him in New York in the 70s and 80s. One thing I most admire about him is that he has always remained true to himself, his principles, career, and origins. He is someone with genuine bona fides as a journalist and an unassailable commitment to the professions enduring values.

No Comment is a dizzying text, part memoir, part discourse on international reporting reality from a third-world perspective.

The book is available on Amazon.

The link follows:

https://www.rodericgrigson.com/no-comment-by-thalif-deen/
Lockdown is the weapon of choice of Governments around the world to reduce the spread of Covid-19, but lets be clear  the effects on the nations health and economy are severe.

Jobs and livelihoods lost. A huge bill for future generations to pay. It means postponing the treatment of other conditions like heart disease and cancer; and a deterioration of mental health.

The reality, however, is that lockdown will stay until the vaccination programme reaches a large enough number of the population to give us some form of herd immunity.

It is fortunate that Britain is in a good place relative to the rest of the world, says former Prime Minister Tony Blair (pictured)

The new variants of Covid-19, with greater transmission rates but not lower deadliness, combined with the alarming recognition that more variants could be on the way, have left us a horrible choice: mass vaccination or mass lockdown.

Globally, there is a vast scrambling to get vaccine. It is fortunate that Britain, with a well-executed plan to source vaccines, including our own Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, is in a good place relative to the rest of the world.

Even so, each week that passes before we can re-emerge to some form of normal is a hammer blow.

What happens, though, when a majority of our population is vaccinated but other countries lag behind? How does the world return to at least some of the physical interaction we used to take for granted?

This is not just about holidays. Its also about business travel and freight.

Its about improving levels of confidence in going back to the workplace. Travelling on public transport. Joining events with large crowds. Most of all, seeing loved ones, especially those who may be among the most vulnerable to Covid-19.

With my team at the Institute for Global Change, I have looked at this from every angle and come to this conclusion: there is no prospect of a return to anything like normal without enabling people to show their Covid status, whether that means they have been vaccinated or recently tested.

And the good news is that technology allows us to make this work effectively and with privacy.

More than 120 countries, including our own, already demand that international travellers show proof of a full negative test result before entry. Once vaccinations become widespread, this demand will naturally move to vaccination.

Call it a passport, a certificate or proof of status  we will want to know.

We cant stay in lockdown for ever. But we know from experience that as we come out of lockdown, the disease will start to spread again unless we keep some form of controls on who can come into our country and unless we take reasonable precautions to stamp on any outbreak should it recur.

This is not about discrimination, or hostility towards those not vaccinated or tested. It is a completely understandable desire to know whether those we mix with might be carrying the disease.

Have they had an internationally recognised test (based on PCR swabs, which look for traces of Covids genetic material, or other equally valid tests as they are developed) to demonstrate that they are free form the virus?

Have they been vaccinated and, if so, is that with one or two jabs?

It is increasingly obvious that other countries feel the same. There is already a host of initiatives starting around the world with this aim in mind.

My Institute for Global Change is involved in many of them, including the CommonPass initiative from the World Economic Forum. Individual countries such as Greece, which is conscious of the huge impact of Covid on its tourist industry, are calling for global agreement on the issue. The African Union has started its own preparations.

The airline and tourism industries are among those most anxious for such a passport. Tourism accounts for roughly ten per cent of the world economy. It employs millions the world over, including in Britain.

And that means a wide range of businesses are clinging on, effectively on government life-support  provided, that is, theyre lucky enough to be in countries where the government can just about afford to subsidise them.

But without clear light at the end of the tunnel, without confidence in the future, these businesses are going to collapse. Some already have.

Once it is plain that we need to know the status of someone in order to feel safe mixing with them, then certain other things must flow.

We need a system of verification that is simple, for example a QR code shown on a mobile. Or a valid paper certificate  one that minimises the possibility of fraud. We need something which is easily checked against an agreed set of standards.

It is not as if proof of vaccination is completely new. Many countries already require travellers to show such proof for yellow fever and other diseases.

What would be crazy is for the world to try operating with different standards, different means of verification, a patchwork, an unco-ordinated stack of competing systems. That would lead to chaos.

Governments will have to lead this. We cannot leave it up to GPs to issue paper certificates when they already have quite enough on their plate.

The sensible thing would be for the UK  which for 2021 has the lead in the G7 group of developed nations  to agree and help impose a common set of standards and rules in consultation with other countries and groups of nations. That would be in the interests of everyone.

But we should start work on it now so were ready to go by June when the G7 is held in Cornwall.

There is still so much we dont know about Covid, and so much we will get to know thanks to our experience of mass vaccination. It seems likely, though, that those who are vaccinated are not merely less at risk from the disease but also transmit it less.

Early results from the AstraZeneca vaccine show a 67 per cent reduction in transmission after vaccination while data from Israel show only 0.04 per cent of those who had been vaccinated were then infected, none of them seriously.

We should also learn from our experience with testing. Early on, I became convinced that we should do mass testing, using rapid tests which could be done at scale even if they were admittedly less accurate than the gold standard PCR test.

When over half of those who get Covid suffer no symptoms but can still spread the virus, it always seemed odd to test only those with symptoms.

When Slovakia tested its whole population, using rapid tests, it discovered twice the number of cases as the previous official figures indicated.

The University of Illinois used mass testing on its campus to stay open through the pandemic.

In Liverpool, rapid tests picked up 70 per cent of those with high viral loads (those who were heavily infected and might well have been passing it on) but who were nonetheless showing no symptoms.

Now  and with much better mass tests available  workplaces are being encouraged to use tests to reopen.

The point is this: people want to know that those with whom they come into contact are relatively safe  that they are less likely to give them the disease.

This will be the case not just with travel, but with our daily lives, too  with everything from going to work to visiting elderly relatives.

We have the technology which allows us to do this securely and effectively. The need is obvious. The world is moving in this direction.

We should plan for an agreed passport now. The arguments against it really dont add up.

lTony Blair is the founder and executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Panaji, Feb 14 (UNI) Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Sunday paid tributes to the security personnel who were killed in a terrorist attack at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

In a tweet, he said,'Tributes to the bravehearts who sacrificed their precious lives for Mother India on this day at Pulwama in Kashmir. #PulwamaAttack.'

Forty personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in the attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad on this day in 2019.

UNI AKM 1356
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Kochi: Ahead of the Assembly polls in Kerala, the opposition UDF on Saturday got a shot in its arm with a faction in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a constituent in the ruling LDF, announcing its decision to part ways with the CPI(M)-led alliance and join the Congress-led Front. Mani C Kappan MLA, who is heading the faction, said he would attend the 'Aiswarya Kerala' Yatra led by senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala when it reaches his constituency Pala in Kottayam district on Sunday.

Kappan, who won the Pala seat as an LDF candidate in the bypoll held in 2019, claimed support of seven district presidents and nine state office bearers of the NCP.

He revolted against the state LDF leadership following the reported move by the CPI(M) to hand over Pala Assembly seat to Kerala Congress (M)-led by Jose K Mani which recently joined the ruling front after severing its decades old alliance with the UDF.

Talking to reporters here, Kappan expressed hope that the UDF will take his faction in its fold.

Kerala Transport Minister A K Saseendran, who heads the NCP rival faction, condemned the move by Kappan to join the UDF, alleging that he did injustice to the people of Pala who elected him in the bypoll.

However, the NCP national leadership has not reacted to the development.

Welcoming Kappan to the UDF fold, Chennithala said in Idukki that Kappan's decision to work with UDF will help boost the morale of its workers in the Assembly polls.

The Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly said Kappan will be fielded as UDF candidate from Pala in the Assembly polls.

Claiming that the LDF's base was shaking day by day, he said more and more leaders and followers will leave the ruling front and join the UDF in the coming days.

Seeking to downplay the development, CPI (M) state secretary A Vijayaraghavan said "The LDF gives more importance to NCP than to Kappan," he said.

Kappan had defeated Kerala Congress leader Jose Tom, who contested as UDF candidate in the 2019 bypoll necessitated due to the demise of veteran Kerala Congress leader and former minister K M Mani.

K M Mani had represented the Pala seat in the Assembly for over 50 years.

Kappan had held discussions with the national leaders of the NCP in New Delhi this week about the "injustice" being meted out to him by the LDF over the Pala seat.
Venezuela received its first shipment of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V on Saturday.

The batch of 100,000 doses of the vaccine arrived at the Maiquetia International Airport, north of Caracas.

"This is going to have an impact on national life and our health system, both public and private," said Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

President Nicolas Maduro said last week health workers will be the first to receive the jab.

He also has repeatedly said that the country would be ready to start a massive vaccination campaign as of April.

The country of 30 million residents has taken part in the Sputnik V vaccine trials since October and signed a contract with Russia in December for 10 million doses.

The Venezuelan government has not provided financial details of the agreement.

Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico and Nicaragua have also have deals with Russia to get the vaccine.

Venezuela has reported 132,259 COVID-19 cases and 1,267 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(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)

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

IF YOU WONT GIVE ME A VACCINE, AT LEAST GIVE ME INFORMATION!

That was the plea from Albuquerque resident B. Lee, who is trying to gauge the progress of the states centralized vaccination program, particularly as it pertains to seniors like him.

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But the state Department of Healths vaccine dashboard website, while continuing to make improvements, doesnt provide a complete picture.

Last week, the DOH did revise its method of reporting vaccinations by county after learning its contractor had used a code that showed the number of doses per 100 residents by where they were vaccinated  rather than where they lived.

The new DOH method of reporting doses according to the county where the person resides altered the rankings of doses per 100 residents in several counties.

For instance, Santa Fe County dropped from fifth-highest in the state of doses per 100 residents, to 19th.

Sandoval Countys rate improved, moving from 30th-highest among 33 New Mexico counties to 20th.

Bernalillo County, the states most populous, dropped from 11th-highest before the change to 18th.

But it still isnt clear from the DOH website how many people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in each county or their age group because only cumulative totals are given.

And vaccinations are a two-dose regimen, so the number of doses administered could be higher than the number of individuals who have received them.

The Journal was unsuccessful in obtaining a breakdown from the DOH.

And Lee, who has filed a public records request to try to get more information, hasnt had any luck.

Lee has suggested the state regularly publish the number of unvaccinated people in each category and subcategory.

Countless other New Mexicans face this situation, and even more want to know if they can plan a trip to see their children or grandchildren this spring or summer, Lee told the Journal. If the state would regularly publish the number of unvaccinated people in each category and subcategory, it would give us hope and help us plan for the future.
Classic car firms have revealed the toll Brexit has taken in the short time since the transition period closed on 31 December and Britain fully left the EU.

Experts have highlighted increased red tape, additional costs and lack of supporting literature to ease confusion around new rules that have come into force as part of the UK's divorce from the EU.

These range from cars needing a 'passport', to big VAT tax bills on imported modern classics and added headaches for those exporting collectible vehicles to Europe.

Manufacturers, logistical firms, auction houses and collectible motor dealers have all commented on the problems and hurdles they've faced in the last month alone.

Brexit impact on classic and collectible car industry: Manufacturers, transporters, auction houses and dealers have spoken out on problems and hurdles they've faced in the last month

The report into the affect of Brexit on the classic car market has been collated by insurer Hagerty.

It has spoken to various industry insiders to better understand their experience adapting to new rules and the issues they've already encountered.

Cars need their own 'passport' to enter the country

Every vehicle movement from the UK now requires an ATA (Access/Temporary Access) Carnet, which is the equivalent to a passport but for goods rather than individuals.

The ATA Carnet is a bond that guarantees that your items won't disappear after they enter the country.

While it costs just a few hundred pounds, a returnable bond payment of 40 per cent of vehicle value also has to be presented.

Therefore, if the value of a car is 10,000, the bond is 4,000; for a 1million vehicle it is 400,000.

All vehicles imported into the UK now need an ATA Carnet - a bond that guarantees that your items won't disappear after they enter the country

Peter Bonham Christie, founder of Straight Eight Logistics, one of the UK's top historic vehicle transport firms, said the introduction of ATA Carnets was an unforeseen factor ahead of Brexit.

He told Hagerty: 'We could plan for a no-deal, as we knew what that would look like,' adding that he had 'only found out what was in the treaty a week before we had to put it into practice.

He added that around 90 per cent of his time since Brexit has been spent working with the customs agency.

Additional paperwork for exports

Newly introduced costs and paperwork are also affecting British exporters, Julian Majzub of classic-specialist manufacturer Blockley Tyres told Hagerty.

'The paperwork, aggravation, increase in costs, real delays and inconvenience to customers will impact us.

'Obviously, we'll make the best of it, but I've now got quite a heavy monkey to carry on my back that my competitors don't.'

An ATA Carnet costs just a few hundred pounds. However, a returnable bond payment of 40% of the vehicle's value also has to be presented. Therefore, for a 1million car, it is 400,000

VAT on used cars from Europe for modern classics

Dealers serving the enthusiast market have not been greatly affected by Brexit so far, one business said.

It's a quiet time of the year for classic sales, and British buyers tend to favour right-hand drive cars from the home market.

However, for those selling more expensive cars, things are different.

'Our business is very international,' said leading collector car dealer Max Girado

'The new rules are quite draconian, and everyone is getting used to them. With time we will all adapt, but from a business perspective, Brexit has not helped us in any way.'

Dealers of more modern collectible cars have their own specific issue - the addition of a 20 percent value-added tax (VAT) to the import of used cars from Europe that are less than 30 years-old.

'This is a real problem,' said Edward Lovett, leading dealer, and founder of Collecting Cars.

'A buyer searching for a rarer modern performance model might typically have looked in Europe. Now that comes with a hefty additional cost.'

Auction houses have said they have yet to see much impact when arranging events, though the beginning of the year is a quiet time for classic motor sales

What's been the impact on classic car auctions?

UK-based auction houses have historically held sales all over Europe and also welcomed EU-consigned cars to British auctions.

However, new rules now mean that cars - as well as rostrums, speakers, and other paraphernalia required to host sales events - will have to be temporarily imported, with all the extra paperwork that entails.

Hagerty asked Mark Perkins, founder and managing director of Historics auction house, about the impact Brexit has had on preparations for its Monaco sale scheduled for 23 April.

'Significant collector car consignments have already been sourced from UK vendors, together with serious consignment interest received at our UK and European offices by non-UK domiciled vendors,' he said.

'Three months before the sale, it's too early to comment meaningfully on bidder registration but that again will give us some useful insights into UK/International buying patterns.'

Many in the industry claim the rules still aren't clear and it is 'impossible to find answers in official literature'

Many in the industry claim the rules still aren't clear.

Whether UK historic vehicles are still exempt from EU low-emission zone regulations, whether spares can be boxed together under one carnet, and what happens to them if they're used rather than new; the answers are 'impossible to find in official literature and will only be discovered later, as the rules are tested,' Hagerty said.

However, the pandemic could be unexpectedly acting in the industry's favour as lockdown has given breathing space to many as they investigate how it all works.

'How much of the downturn we have yet to feel is Covid and how much is Brexit?' asks Julian Majzub.

'The British Government say everything is down to Covid, but when the country comes off furlough in June, we'll see the state of things and where unemployment really is.'

John Mayhead, head of UK valuations, said summer 2021 looks set to be a 'watershed for the UK historic vehicle community'.

He explains: 'What effect this may have on the average enthusiast is yet to be seen, but most seem determined to work around the problems and get back to normal as soon as possible.

'The UK has always been a mainstay of the classic car industry and it seems our industry is determined to succeed; whatever barriers are put in front of them.'
The danger produced by this dismal outcome is not so much that Trump will run again in 2024. Chances are good that by then, he will be indicted and convicted for at least one felony, whether for tax evasion, campaign finance violations, solicitation of election fraud or other crimes. He would have trouble running for president from a correctional institution. Likewise if he decides to flee to a country that has no extradition treaty with the U.S.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A day after former President Donald Trump won his second Senate impeachment trial, bipartisan support appeared to be growing for an independent Sept. 11-style commission into the deadly insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol.

Investigations into the riot were already planned, with Senate hearings scheduled later this month in the Senate Rules Committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has asked retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore to lead an immediate review of the Capitols security process.

Lawmakers from both parties, speaking on Sunday's news shows, signaled that even more inquiries were likely. The Senate verdict Saturday, with its 57-43 majority falling 10 votes short of the two-thirds needed to convict Trump, hardly put to rest the debate about the former presidents culpability for the Jan. 6 assault.

"There should be a complete investigation about what happened," said Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump. "What was known, who knew it and when they knew, all that, because that builds the basis so this never happens again."

Cassidy said he was "attempting to hold President Trump accountable," and added that as Americans hear all the facts, "more folks will move to where I was." He was censured by his states party after the vote.

An independent commission along the lines of the one that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks would probably require legislation to create. That would elevate the investigation a step higher, offering a definitive government-backed accounting of events. Pelosi has expressed support for such a commission while stressing that the members who sit on it would be key. Still, such a panel would pose risks of sharpening partisan divisions or overshadowing President Joe Biden's legislative agenda.

Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., with impeachment managers Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., right, speaks to members of the media during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, after the U.S. Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump, ending the impeachment trial. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

"Theres still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear and a 9/11 commission is a way to make sure that we secure the Capitol going forward," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a Biden ally. "And that we lay bare the record of just how responsible and how abjectly violating of his constitutional oath President Trump really was."

House prosecutors who argued for Trump's conviction of inciting the riot said Sunday they had proved their case. They also railed against the Senates Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, and others who they said were "trying to have it both ways" in finding the former president not guilty but criticizing him at the same time.

A close Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., voted for acquittal but acknowledged that Trump had some culpability for the siege at the Capitol that killed five people, including a police officer, and disrupted lawmakers certification of Bidens White House victory. Graham said he looked forward to campaigning with Trump in the 2022 election, when Republicans hope to regain the congressional majority.

"His behavior after the election was over the top," Graham said. "We need a 9/11 commission to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again."

The Senate acquitted Trump of a charge of "incitement of insurrection" after House prosecutors laid out a case that he was an "inciter in chief" who unleashed a mob by stoking a monthslong campaign of spreading debunked conspiracy theories and false violent rhetoric that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Trumps lawyers countered that Trumps words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment was nothing but a "witch hunt" designed to prevent him from serving in office again.

The conviction tally was the most bipartisan in American history but left Trump to declare victory and signal a political revival while a bitterly divided GOP bickered over its direction and his place in the party.

The Republicans who joined Cassidy in voting to convict were Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

"Its frustrating, but the founders knew what they were doing and so we live with the system that we have," Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett, a House prosecutor who represents the Virgin Islands, said of the verdict, describing it as "heartbreaking." She added: "But, listen, we didnt need more witnesses. We needed more senators with spines."

McConnell told Republican senators shortly before the vote that he would vote to acquit Trump. In a blistering speech after the vote, the Kentucky Republican said the president was "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day" but that the Senate's hands were tied to do anything about it because Trump was out of office. The Senate, in an earlier vote, had deemed the trial constitutional.

"It was powerful to hear the 57 guilties and then it was puzzling to hear and see Mitch McConnell stand and say `not guilty and then, minutes later, stand again and say he was guilty of everything," said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa. "History will remember that statement of speaking out of two sides of his mouth," she said.

Dean also backed the idea of an impartial investigative commission "not guided by politics but filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their conviction."

The lead House impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., called the trial a "dramatic success in historical terms" by winning unprecedented support from GOP senators. He said the verdict didn't match the reality of the strength of evidence.

"We successfully prosecuted him and convicted him in the court of public opinion and the court of history," he said. Pointing to McConnell and other Republican senators critical of Trump but voting to acquit, Raskin said, "Theyre trying to have it both ways."

Raskin and Plaskett defended the House teams last-minute reversal not to call a witness, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash. They acknowledged they were aware they might lose some GOP votes for conviction if they extended the trial much longer.

Beutler's statement late Friday that Trump rebuffed a plea from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to call off the rioters was ultimately entered into the trial record.

"I think what we did was, we got what we wanted, which was her statement, which was what she said, and had it put into the record," Plaskett said.

Cassidy and Dean spoke on ABC's "This Week," Graham appeared on "Fox News Sunday," Raskin was on NBC's "Meet the Press," and Plaskett appeared on CNN's "State of the Union."

___

Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe, Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick and Alan Fram contributed to this report.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., walks on Capitol Hill after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Trump was accused of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the acquittal gives him a historic second victory in the court of impeachment. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., speaks during closing arguments in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., rides an escalator on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, as he heads to the second day of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., puts on a face mask on the fifth day of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at the Capitol in Washington. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP)
SAO PAULO -- Beyond disappointing revelers, the cancellation of Brazils annual Carnival celebrations amid a resurgence of COVID-19 also means that street vendors living on the margins will miss out on what for many is the biggest payday of the year.

Claudia Maximo Torres and her wife Daylane normally sell some 10,000 cans of beer to partygoers at Carnival time in Sao Paulo, where parties can stretch over several weeks, earning them a profit of more than 7,000 reais ($1,300).

For Carnival, the numbers are extravagant, said 38-year-old Torres. Literally, we now have to throw all that out the window.

The couple are among tens of thousands who work as street vendors, known as ambulantes in Portuguese for their wheeled coolers that allow them to circulate in the crowds, who will miss out on the annual boon.

A woman unpacks box coolers donated by Brazilian brewing company to store and transport coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines in Sao Paulo, Brazil February 12, 2021. Photo: Reuters

The ambulantes work with us every year and they are suffering a lot, said Jean Jereissati, chief executive of Brazilian beverage maker Ambev SA.

Ambev, which normally rolls out massive promotional campaigns at Carnival in cooperation with the vendors, is instead launching an aid program to help the sellers.

The company estimates some 20,000 people will use the program that will give out 255 reais worth of assistance to individual vendors in the form of food baskets and coupons.

While that aid of less than $50 may seem small, Torres compared it to the emergency payments from the government last year which at their peak came to just over $100 a month.

Torres said that while she had long ago ruled out a normal Carnival this year, she is pinning her hopes on one thing: The vaccine.

Next year I hope to God that Carnival can happen again, she said.

($1 = 5.3698 reais)
Fifteen Turkish sailors arrived in Istanbul early Sunday after being abducted by pirates off the coast of Nigeria, Daily Sabah reports.

The sailors were escorted by security forces early Saturday to the Turkish Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.

Turkish Ambassador Melih Ulueren and other officials welcomed the seamen who were kidnapped after their Liberian-flagged ship was hijacked by pirates.

The crew was rescued Friday and brought back to Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight.
Astrocytes -- star-shaped cells in the brain that are actively involved in brain function -- may play an important role in stuttering, a study led by a University of California, Riverside, expert on stuttering has found.

Our study suggests that treatment with the medication risperidone leads to increased activity of the striatum in persons who stutter. The mechanism of risperidone's action in stuttering, in part, appears to involve increased metabolism -- or activity -- of astrocytes in the striatum." Dr. Gerald A. Maguire, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, UCR School of Medicine

Findings from the study, published today in Frontiers in Neuroscience, were borne from a collaboration between Maguire and Shahriar SheikhBahaei, an independent research scholar at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The striatum is a key component of the basal ganglia, a group of nuclei best known for facilitating voluntary movement. Present in the forebrain, the striatum contains neuronal activity related to cognition, reward, and coordinated movements.

Stuttering, a childhood onset fluency disorder that leads to speech impairment, is associated with high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Risperidone works by blocking the receptors in the brain that dopamine acts on, thus preventing excessive dopamine activity. Risperidone is available by prescription under a physician's order almost anywhere in the world. In existence for nearly 30 years, it is generally prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Maguire and SheikhBahaei have now found evidence that astrocytes in the striatum may be crucially involved in how risperidone is able to reduce stuttering.

"We do not know the exact mechanism for how risperidone activates astrocytes in the striatum," said coauthor SheikhBahaei, an expert on astrocytes, and a person who stutters. "What we know is that it activates astrocytes. The astrocytes then release a signaling molecule that affects neurons in the striatum by blocking their dopamine receptors. In our future work, we would like to find this signaling molecule and better understand the exact role astrocytes play in stuttering, which, in turn, could help us design drugs that target astrocytes."

Maguire and his team conducted a randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial with 10 adult subjects to observe risperidone's effects on brain metabolism. At the start of the study and after six weeks of taking risperidone (0.5-2.0 mg/day) or a placebo pill, the 10 participants were assigned to a solo reading aloud task. The participants then each underwent a positron emission tomography, or PET, scan. It turned out that five subjects got risperidone while the other five got a placebo. Those in the risperidone treatment group were found to show higher glucose uptake-- that is, higher metabolism -- in specific regions of the brain according to scans taken after active treatment.

"Naturally, and abnormally, glucose uptake is low in stuttering -- a feature common to many neurodevelopmental conditions," said Maguire, who also is a person who stutters. "But risperidone seems to compensate for the deficit by increasing the metabolism, specifically, in the left striatum. More research is needed to understand this better.

Neuroimaging techniques we used to visualize changes in the brains of those who stutter can provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disorder and guide the development of future interventions."

Next, Maguire and SheikhBahaei will aim to further understand what causes stuttering, what the different types of stuttering are, what may be their etiologies; and develop targeted personalized treatments for those who stutter.

"The general goal of our research collaboration is to combine basic research in my lab with Dr. Maguire's clinical studies," SheikhBahaei said. "My lab is generating new animal models to study stuttering which will help us understand what causes different types of stuttering. Researchers have proposed other components are involved in stuttering's etiology. Our data, which suggests astrocytes in the striatum may be playing an important role in the development of stuttering, helps unify some of the findings the scientific literature has seen recently on astrocytes and could help connect the dots."

Personally speaking

The UCR School of Medicine has signed a research collaborative agreement with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to work together on research related to stuttering.

"I have been active in the stuttering community for decades," Maguire said. "This is a community that needs support, opportunities, and role models. Dr. SheikhBahaei and I encourage people who stutter to be more engaged in the scientific community. We both stutter and that has not stopped us from achieving our professional and personal goals. Young people who stutter and are thinking about careers in science and medicine should not let this speech disorder hold them back."

For SheikhBahaei, working with Maguire is an ideal collaboration to "bring bench to the bedside."

"We are working to reveal circuits in the brain that control the complex behavior of speaking," he said. "These circuits will shed more light on the mechanism involved in stuttering. Speaking may be the most complex human behavior. Consider that more than 100 muscles in the body must act in synchrony for us to speak."
To Jeanell

and Derrick Morgan The kind

shopkeepers who

keep all kinds

of families in their

thoughts. From

Susan Wexler Cohen

Before I had ever met Jeanell, she sent us a cheer package filled with superhero items for my then-infant son, Elliot. It was about eight years ago, and she heard that Elliot had a rare medical condition through a friend of our family who went into the store she runs with her husband Derrick, which sells lots of cute quirky clothes and kitschy stuff.

Then, on her own, Jeanell sent this package for Elliot, including shirts and little toys, with a kind note. And to get something from a stranger in that very weird time, that very weird place we were in in our lives  my 10-month-old was having brain surgery, and we were in the I.C.U. with him for several weeks  it was just one of those moments that felt so good, like there were people outside of our little bubble who were thinking of us. And that sort of gives you a little boost, it gives you a little strength. And it always stuck with me.

I got to meet Jeannell a couple years later. I live in New York, but I have family that lives near Doylestown, Pa., where her store is located. My husband and I were driving through and I thought: Oh, were in Doylestown. I want to stop by the store even though theyll probably have no idea who I am.

We went in, and we had our son with us. I was like, Hi, I dont know if you remember me, but you sent this package to my son, and it just really meant a lot to us. And she was just over the moon! She grabbed Elliot and said: The superhero! This is amazing. Thank you so much for coming in! It was just one of those moments that was really lovely, and sort of tied it together.

Its always nice to have people rooting for you. Even if you dont know them or they arent close by. Jeannell and Derrick made us feel like our team was bigger than only the people right around us and were a reminder that there continue to be good people in the world.

Jeanell and Derrick Morgan own Monkeys Uncle in Doylestown, Pa. Susan Wexler Cohen lives in Manhattan.
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The historic second impeachment trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate ended with his acquittal in a 57-43 vote on Saturday, a final tally that is 10 short of the two-thirds majority required for a conviction.

This time, seven fellow Republicans voted to convict Mr Trump of the single charge of incitement of insurrection, in what was at odds with the first impeachment trial last year when only one Republican senator, Mitt Romney of Utah, found Mr Trump guilty.

Republicans Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowksi of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mr Romney all voted to convict Trump.

Although Republican Leader Mitch McConnell condemned Mr Trumps behaviour, he voted not guilty, because former presidents were not eligible for impeachment trials like other private citizens.

The Senate trial followed impeachment of the former president by the House of Representatives for allegedly inciting the deadly January 6 riot at the Capitol Hill.

Reacting to his acquittal, Mr Trump described the trial as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country.

No president has ever gone through anything like it, he said in a statement.

And it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago.

Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun.

In the months ahead I have much to share with you and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, he said.

Reacting to the acquittal Saturday night, President Joe Biden said that the substance of the charge is not in dispute, and noted the bipartisan nature of the vote.

While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute. Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and practically and morally responsible for provoking the violence unleashed on the Capitol, CNN quoted Mr Biden to have said.

The acquittal means Mr Trump is still eligible to run for president again in 2024, if he so chooses.

But observers believe that the riots at the U.S. legislative headquarters may continue to be associated with the Trump brand, especially among independent voters and some Republican
Photo courtesy of GHBA

Land Tejas Communities, a long-time supporter of the Greater Houston Builders Association, has donated a prime lot in Lago Mar for a Benefit home to be built by Chesmar homes. Chesmar has begun construction on its Hillcrest plan, that when sold will benefit two local charities.

Lago Mar is the ideal backdrop for this seventh Benefit home that Chesmar is constructing. Lago Mar is a 2,033-acre Land Tejas master-planned community that features a 3,000square-foot clubhouse complete with an expansive workout room, a catering kitchen, business center, restroom facilities and a uniquely equipped playground for the kids. The community has recently opened its famed 12-acre Crystal Lagoon, a unique staycation destination. The lagoon features white sandy beaches, azure colored water and a beach boardwalk that is designed for casual dining.
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Marlton, NJ, Feb. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading business IT support and cybersecurity specialist Xact IT Solutions has received the CompTIA Security Trustmark+ from CompTIA, a non-profit association for the global information technology industry.

The Marlton-based IT firm becomes one of only 31 companies in the world to achieve this level of cybersecurity certification.

As a trusted Managed IT Security Services Provider, serving the business world in Philadelphia, Xact IT acts as a partner to deliver on promises of outstanding IT support and solutions for the long-term.

CompTIA Security Trustmark+ validates that Xact IT Solutions uses the security processes identified by the IT industry as generally accepted best practices, and has been evaluated by an independent third-party assessor as meeting the criteria established by the CompTIA Security Trustmark+.

Based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, the CompTIA Security Trustmark+ is a comprehensive review of any IT business's security posture, applicable across multiple industries and compliance regulations.

"The CompTIA Security Trustmark+ signifies that Xact IT Solutions adheres to our industry's highest standards for security practices and business processes in critical components of identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery as related to data security," said Nancy Hammervik, senior vice president, industry relations, CompTIA.

"Earning the Security Trustmark+ demonstrates a true commitment to address the challenges of security compliance facing our industry today."

"We are thrilled and delighted to achieve the CompTIA Security Trustmark as it is widely recognized globally as a trademark of quality," commented Bryan Hornung, of Xact IT Solutions, which has been providing exceptional IT services and support for over 15 years.

To earn the CompTIA Security Trustmark+, Xact IT Solutions successfully passed an independent assessment of their security policies, capabilities, practices, and processes against industry best practices in various areas.

These include security technologies, including firewalls, anti-Virus/malware/spyware and intrusion detection; vulnerability assessment detection, data encryption and technical employee knowledge/expertise. Security clearances and background checks, physical and hardware security and permissions, passwords and other security requirements are also covered.

For businesses looking for peace of mind, and to achieve the same level of cybersecurity protection that others enjoy through Xact IT Solutions, then view their services for more information at: https://www.xitx.com/our-it-services/cybersecurity-services/.

For more on the CompTIA Security Trustmark, visit http://www.comptia.org/trustmarks/security-trustmark-plus.

Bryan Hornung

Email: bryan.hornung@xitx.com

Phone: (856) 282-4100





This news has been published for the above source. Xact IT Solutions [ID=14317]

Disclaimer: The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy. Any purchase made from this story is made at your own risk. Consult an expert advisor/health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase made from this link is subject to the final terms and conditions of the website's selling. The content publisher and its distribution partners do not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the company this news is about.





EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic leaving EU House, London. Mr Sefcovic travelled to London to meet Michael Gove for an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Committee between the UK and EU (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The European Commission vice-president says he has not discussed UK proposals that would restore the border on the island of Ireland.

A report in the Sunday Telegraph said Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove is now considering an alternate mutual enforcement plan to the Northern Ireland protocol on Brexit.

It would remove the border from the Irish Sea and restore the land border in Ireland, and would require the UK and EU to apply checks at the same level as each other.

Expand Close EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic leaving EU House, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic leaving EU House, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But speaking on Sunday, Maros Sefcovic said his discussions with Mr Gove this week had focused on the implementation of the protocol.

He told RTEs The Week In Politics: What we discussed with Michael Gove was very much focused on the implementation of the protocol.

For us what was a priority is the prosperity of the island of Ireland, unconditional support for peace and, of course, avoiding the hard border.

These are the three key parameters which been the primary objective for signing up and negotiating the protocol.

We are looking into the old possibilities, how to make sure that this would work.

Mr Sefcovic said the use of trusted trader schemes, simplifying export health certificates and extending the grace period for traders were measures being considered to smooth the implementation of the protocol.

There is the unique possibility for Northern Ireland to develop new jobs, new growth and to have a very special place in both in single market and the internal UK market Maros Sefcovic, European Commission Vice President

He said there were many benefits for Northern Ireland which need to be explored.

He said: I believe that we found a very unique solution where Northern Ireland is part of the single market, and at the same time off course it is the part of the internet UK market.

So I think there is the unique possibility for Northern Ireland to develop new jobs, new growth and to have really, a very, very special place in both in single market and also in the internal UK market.

Mr Sefcovic apologised for the EUs recent attempt to trigger Article 16 of the protocol to prevent the flow of vaccines into Northern Ireland.

The move has led to Unionist calls for Westminster to now invoke the clause, which would create a border on the island of Ireland.

He said: The bottom line is that mistakes were made in the process leading up to the decision, and we all deeply regret it.

But in the end, and it was not more than three hours.

They got it right and I really would like to reassure all of you, and also the people of Northern Ireland, that we would always do our utmost to protect peace on the island, just as we did throughout the whole Brexit process.

He said the EU and the UK have a joint responsibility to implement the protocol.

He added: I think the same goes for Michael Gove, that he is also fully aware of his responsibilities and the needs to come up with the solutions which can be supported.

Earlier on Sunday, the DUP leader in Westminster, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson claimed the most natural solution was to put the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Expand Close DUPs Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the most natural place to put a border is between the UK and the Republic (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp DUPs Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the most natural place to put a border is between the UK and the Republic (Brian Lawless/PA)

He told Newstalks On The Record with Gavan Reilly: The most natural place in the world to put checks is on the border between two sovereign states.

You go around the world and you look at what customs arrangements apply, Im sorry, but its a nonsense to suggest that the natural place to put them is not on the border between two sovereign states.

That is the case everywhere across the world, where there are customs checks they occur on the border.

Sir Jeffrey said his favoured approach was the use of technological solutions to avoid the return of a hard border.

Such an approach was frequently mooted during four years of Brexit talks, but no such solutions were found.

Meanwhile, a collection of loyalists in North Down and Ards has written to all local MPs and MLAs warning that no form of Irish sea border will ever be tolerated.

It calls for all necessary steps to be taken to resist the imposition of an economic United Ireland, and calls for Article 16 to be triggered and for the Northern Ireland protocol to be removed entirely.

A call by the DUP to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol is to be debated at Westminster later this month.

More than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for the emergency move by the party within 24 hours.

The UK and EU have reiterated their full commitment to the new arrangements governing Great Britain-to-Northern Ireland trade post-Brexit.

Mr Gove and Mr Sefcovic held talks on Thursday night aimed at finding resolution to issues with the protocols first six weeks of operation.

A joint statement issued at the conclusion said Mr Gove and Mr Sefcovic had a frank but constructive discussion in which they agreed to spare no effort in implementing solutions.

The two politicians agreed to convene the joint committee tasked with implementation of the protocol no later than February 24 to provide the necessary political steer.
Miners in Wonthaggi mines no.20 shaft before the explosion. Credit:Carl Kitchen The victims of the disaster were all Englishmen except William Ridley, and all were oversmen, deputies or special tradesmen, who were not involved in the strike that has kept the mine idle for the past week. Practically all hope for their safety was shattered during the afternoon when the general manager (Mr J McLeish) and a small party obtained entrance to the drive in which the explosion had taken place and found it badly fouled by carbon monoxide. The shock of the disaster paralysed all business activities in the town of Wonthaggi, and many of the shops and offices closed as soon as the tragic news became known. Tonight a meeting of the municipal council and the picture show were cancelled and there is a silent pilgrimage from the township to the mine. TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

CAGE BLOWN INTO AIR Miners Rush to Pit Head Loading For the past week the employees of the State Coal Mine at Wonthaggi had been on strike, and this morning the mine manager (Mr A Gidney) and Mr H Rilan, a deputy, accompanied by 13 deputies, who were not affected by the strike went down to No. 20 shaft to make certain repairs. The party reached the bottom of the 700 feet shaft. Shortly before 10 am Gidney and Rilan returned to the surface to arrange for the oiling of a cage rope. A few minutes later they heard a terrific explosion, and a cloud of coal dust and gas roared up from the mouth of the shaft.

So fierce was the concussion that it was felt a mile away, and all the shutters fell at the Dalyston post office switchboard two miles and a half away. At the same time the three-ton cage, which was stationary ten feet below the surface, was blown up against the poppet head, about 50 feet above the ground, and the roof of the adjoining house was blown off. Prompt Rescue Efforts The alarm was given immediately and the miners, who were about to hold a meeting in the town hall, made all speed to the mine to volunteer for rescue work. In the forefront of all operations was the general manager (Mr John McLeish), who was awarded the Royal Humane Societys medal for his gallant rescue work in a previous mine disaster. Under his direction ambulance and rescue parties were organised, and then Mr McLeish, accompanied by Mr T Johnston (underground manager) and Messrs. Ron Spier and Ted Fairless, went below to try to ascertain the extent of the disaster.

Loading In addition to safety lamps they took eight canaries, which are highly susceptible to the deadly carbon monoxide and would display early symptoms of the presence of fumes. Mr McLeishs party reached the bottom of the shaft, only to discover that the cage skids had been blown out and the mouth of the drive blocked with debris. Three bells sounded in the engine room, and almost as one voice came the murmur of hold her from the crowd assembled around the pit mouth. Then the cage reappeared, and Mr McLeish consulted with his technical staff. The empty cage was then dropped to the bottom with a view of flattening the debris and forcing an opening into the drive, and Messrs. Johnston, W. Moore and Fairless made another descent at 11.25 am. A few minutes later Moore returned to the surface, and after he had reported to Mr McLeish, it was decided to cut the bottom out of the cage, so that the rescuers might crawl through and climb down a ladder into the drive. This was done, and the rescuers entered the actual scene of the tragedy. Foul Air Kills Canaries

Volunteers were plentiful, for the men who had been on strike were crowding round the pit mouth to offer their services, and the managements embarrassment was not to find men but to hold back the crowds of men who clamored to go to the aid of their comrades. Loading From the time the drive was first entered, Mr McLeish was rarely out of the mine and as evening approached his face showed only too clearly the physical and mental stress he was suffering. Accompanied by a rescue party, Mr McLeish descended and entered the drive, but they had walked only about 40 yards when their canaries died, and this, with the presence of dozens of dead rats and mice, told the worst. Crowd Hear Gloomy News
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Tennessee will see expanding access to COVID-19 vaccination with the launch of a new federal retail pharmacy program. The first phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination will launch in Tennessee February 12, with select pharmacies offering vaccinations in accordance with the states COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. These vaccinations will be provided at no cost to patients and will be available by appointment only.

We continue to advocate for Tennesseans by maximizing every dose of COVID-19 vaccine made available for people in our state. We are eager to collaborate with our federal partners to expand access to this vital resource for Tennesseans in the communities where they live and work, said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP.

In addition to the almost 400 vaccination sites currently offered by county health departments, hospitals, federally-qualified and faith-based health centers and community pharmacies, Tennesseans eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination per Tennessees COVID-19 Vaccination Plan will have access to vaccinations at additional pharmacies across the state through this new program. The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a public-private partnership with national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies.

As of Feb. 11, TDH has been notified of 121 Walmart pharmacy locations across Tennessee that will offer COVID-19 vaccination through this program. These pharmacies will follow the vaccination plan phasing of the counties in which they are located. For details on participating locations and to schedule an appointment online, visit www.walmart.com/covidvaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked with states to select initial pharmacy partners based on several factors including their ability to reach some of the populations most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19. A total of one million total doses of Moderna vaccine are being provided for the first week of the program nationwide, and additional doses will be allocated to the program weekly, based on the available supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine allocations provided for this program are in addition to the weekly allocation going to states and may initially be limited in quantity. More information is available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/retail-pharmacy-program/index.html.

Tennesseans can learn what phase of the states COVID-19 Vaccination Plan theyre in at https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/eligibility/.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.



Connect with TDH on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @TNDeptofHealth!
The mother of Libby Squires killer says her sons crimes have torn her heart apart.

Polish butcher Pawel Relowicz was last week found guilty and jailed for life for raping and murdering the 21-year-old student before dumping her body in a river on February 1, 2019.

And now his mother, Marzena Relowicz, has revealed her own inner torture at her sons shocking crime.

Speaking to the Sun Online, the 53-year-old said: A beautiful girl was killed. Its heartbreaking.

The mother of Libby Squires' killer Pawel Relowicz says she wept for the 21-year-old's parents

Marzena Relowicz says her son's crimes have 'torn her heart apart' as she spoke out

I think of her parents and what they are going through. Its unimaginable. It tore my heart apart.

She had previously told The Telegraph the charges he faced were a 'shock not only to our family, but also for our friends and neighbours.'

Neighbours of Relowiczs wife Jagoda claim she fled their home in Hull for Poland with their two children shortly after her husbands arrest.

A friend claimed she became scared of everyone during her marriage to the murderer.

A jury at Sheffield Crown Court found him guilty on both counts following a three-week trial and 27 hours of deliberations last week.

Speaking afterwards Libbys heartbroken mother Lisa said in a statement she longs to die to be with her daughter again.

Sexual deviant Pawel Relowicz was jailed last week for life and will serve at least 27 years behind bars for the rape and murder of the 21-year-old student

She said on the steps of the court: There are no words that can explain the torture of living without my Libby. She was a sister, a granddaughter, niece and cousin.

'I have not only lost my daughter but the opportunity to be a grandmother to her children.'In any times of trouble she wanted me, her mum. Knowing I was not there when she needed me will haunt me for the rest of my life.

'I now live in two worlds where I live as a mother, wife, friend and employee but there is also a world that will run parallel and is a dark and lonely world.

In this world, I long to die so I can be with my girl. I wake up with disappointment that I will live another day.

Speaking outside Sheffield Crown Court, Libby's mother Lisa said she longs to die to be with Libby again

Libby Squire went missing after a night out in Hull and her body was found six weeks later

'This is a world where I silently scream in pain and pray that one day we will be reunited in a dream, a world where we constantly look for signs in every rainbow.

'A world I didn't want to be in. Imagine wanting to live to be here with your children but one where you long to die so I can be with my child.'

During the trial, the court heard Relowicz 'targeted' Libby after seeing her 'drunk' and 'vulnerable' in the streets of Hull, East Yorks., on January 31, 2019.

He then took her in his car to a remote playing field and raped her before dumping her 'dead or dying' into a river.

Relowicz admitted having sex with University of Hull undergraduate Libby but claimed it was consensual.

Libby's body was recovered from the Humber Estuary on March 20, following the largest search in Humberside Police's history.

In the 18 months prior to Libby's disappearance, it was heard, Relowicz committed a series of sexually-motivated crimes in the student area of Hull.

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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2021) The US Justice Department is continuing efforts to seek the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, spokesperson Nicole Navas told Sputnik.

"I can confirm we are continuing our efforts to seek the extradition of Julian Assange," Navas said on Friday when asked if the Justice Department appealed a British judge's ruling against extraditing Assange.

In January, UK district judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled not to extradite Assange to the United States, citing health reasons and the risk of suicide in the US prison system, but did not release him from the Belmarsh high-security prison where he remains in detention.

Assange was initially convicted by the Obama administration for conspiring to hack classified information on a government computer. In 2019, charges were expanded to include espionage, punishable by a total of 175 years in prison. Assange is believed to be responsible for the largest leak of classified information in history on WikiLeaks in 2010 that shed light on war crimes committed by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chip and Joanna Gaines have become media moguls thanks to the success of Fixer Upper. The TV stars found a hit renovating homes around their Waco, Texas town. When the couple announced they were ending their show, fans were treated to news that it was because they were launching their own network. Magnolia Network is the name of the channel curated by Chip and Joanna that will soon take over our lives.

Magnolia Network Logo | Discovery Networks

Chip & Joanna Gaines coming back to TV

Its been almost 2 years since the last Fixer Upper episode aired on HGTV and fans are getting anxious to see Chip and Joanna. The Magnolia Network was originally supposed to launch on October 4, 2020, taking over the DIY Network. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic pushing back production, Discovery delayed the launch to restructure their plan.

At the beginning of 2021, Discovery launched a new streaming platform called Discovery+ where content from all of their channels would love. Fans of the Gaines family have been able to get a sneak peek at the shows the couple would have on their network.

Furthermore, starting July 15, Magnolia Network will expand its content offerings as well as a standalone app. Over 150 hours of unscripted programming will be available for viewers to indulge.

The complete first seasons of shows will be made available on that date as well. Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines will be featured and they will join new series like Growing Floret, The Lost Kitchen, Homegrown, Family Dinner, and Restoration Road with Clint Harp. Fans will be happy to know that the complete library of Fixer Upper will also be available.

Chip and Joanna Gaines | Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

RELATED: Today: How Joanna Gaines Talked to Her Kids About the Coronavirus Pandemic

Chip & Joanna Gaines talk about the new network

Magnolia Network will finally take over the DIY Network starting in January 2022. Viewers that dont have access to the streaming service, will be able to see the new content on TV through their cable service provider.

From the beginning, our aim for Magnolia Network has been to tell good stories. Stories that bring us together, that inspire and encourage us all to try something new. Stories that are told in ways that feel authentic, Chip and Joanna said in a statement posted on Deadline.

Chip and Joanna are excited to getting the widest audience to watch their content. The couple acknowledged their commitment to delivering programming that will satisfy their viewers.

Our plan has evolved along the way, but our original vision for this network has remained the same. And it is our ongoing desire to create a space, whether in a streaming environment or on linear television, where people who watch a show on our network leave feeling like it was time well spent, the couple continued.

Chip and Joanna Gaines | Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic

RELATED: The Sweet Letter Chip and Joanna Gaines Sent to Fans During This Unprecedented Time

To that end, prior to next years linear launch, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with discovery+ as we launch Magnolia, a fully immersive digital brand experience.

Chip and Joanna continue to touch lives with their shows on TV. They also have a successful line at Target with kitchen tools and home decorations that help replicate what they do for their Fixer Upper clients.
The beauty of Yen Tu is the grandeur and tranquility of the mountains and forests mingled with the serenity and ancientness of the system of pagodas, towers and Zen realms.

Dong Pagoda on Yen Tu mountain

Yen Tu has become a Buddhist centre of Vietnam since King Tran Nhan Tong gave up the throne, put on a monk's robes and established a typical Buddhist sect of Vietnam, namely Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.

He built hundreds of large and small works on Yen Tu Mountain as places for practicing and preaching Buddhism.

Existing cultural and historical vestiges in Yen Tu are hundreds of stupas; dozens of pagoda foundations under the Tran and Le dynasties beneath restored pagodas; thousands of ancient objects such as statues, bells, steles, tiles, bricks, porcelain and crockery... with unique and creative motifs, patterns and architecture.

The Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect gathers full of the spirit of Buddhism, but still contains the unique features of Vietnam.

Therefore, Yen Tu is also considered the Buddhist capital of Vietnam. From Yen Tu, Truc Lam teachings have spread throughout the northeastern region, with hundreds of large and small pagodas built, including famous ones such as Quynh Lam, Con Son, Thanh Mai, etc.

Until the Le and Nguyen dynasties, Yen Tu was still the center of Vietnamese Buddhism. Restored and repaired by the kings of the dynasties, the Yen Tu relic site is the crystallization and convergence of the national culture with architecture, decorative patterns and carved items bearing the hallmarks of the dynasties.

There are hundreds of temples and tombs of Zen masters, natural statues, Buddha steles and especially the Bao Sai cave where Tran Nhan Tong, the founder of the Zen Buddhist sect, sat and meditated on January 1, 1308. The system of pagodas and stupas in Yen Tu is located on the east side of the mountain.

In the two great wars of national defence in the 20th century, Yen Tu was a revolutionary base where soldiers trained and guarded the skies of Vietnam.

Excluding Bi Thuong pagoda at the foot of the Do (Red) slope, Cam Thuc pagoda in Uong Bi and Lan pagoda in Nam Mau village, the road to Yen Tu starts from Gia Oan, Hoa Yen and Cong Troi pagodas, and then Pho Da and Bao Sai pagodas and finishes at Dong pagoda located at the highest point of Yen Tu mountain range.

Some of the main Buddhist sites and architectures in Yen Tu are Bi Thuong pagoda, Cam Thuc pagoda, Lan pagoda, Giai Oan pagoda, Hoa Yen pagoda, Bao Sai pagoda and Dong pagoda.

The special historical-cultural values have made Yen Tu a sacred place in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.

In order to affirm the special value of the relic site, the Prime Minister decided to rank the Yen Tu historic relic and landscape site as a special national relic site (Decision No. 1419/QD-TTg dated September 27, 2012).

For many years, the spiritual tourism complex in Yen Tu mountain area has been continuously preserved, embellished and built to meet the increasing demands of Buddhists, domestic and foreign tourists on pilgrimage to the land of the Buddha in every early spring.

Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50 kilometres from Ha Long city. The area has awe-inspiring scenery, surrounded by ancient pagodas and hermitages.

Statue of Tran Nhan Tong at Yen Tu relic site

Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third King of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400), ascended to the throne when he was just 21. He was famed for defeating Mongol invaders twice during his 15-year reign.

The king abdicated when he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain practicing and propagating Buddhism. He founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called Thien Tong or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. The 20,000ha site is considered the capital of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Yen Tu became a major Buddhist Centre and King Tran Nhan Tong became its first leader under the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. He ordered the construction of hundreds of religious buildings on Yen Tu mountains for teaching and following a religious life.

The Yen Tu Spring Festival takes place in Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year./.VNA
Whats new: Alabamas winter storm has officially begun, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.

The weather service on Sunday night had received multiple reports of car wrecks in northwest Alabama, where freezing rain has fallen:

We are getting reports of multiple car wrecks across Northwest Alabama. We cannot stress this enough: the freezing rain event has BEGUN for northwest AL, so please stay put and stay safe! Ice will not melt until temps get above freezing on WEDNESDAY. https://t.co/DiIhV2gURJ  NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) February 15, 2021

Forecasters urged those in areas affected by freezing rain to stay put and wait out the storm.

More of the state is expected to deal with a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow overnight and into Monday, and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 28 counties.

A winter storm warning continues for all of north Alabama and part of central Alabama.

A winter storm watch is also in effect for the Birmingham metro area, and a winter weather advisory for part of southwest Alabama.

More of Alabama now faces the prospect of freezing rain and sleet overnight.

Here are potential ice accumulations:

Here's the latest thinking on potential ice accumulations across Alabama.

Here are the potential snow and sleet accumulations. The weather service has said this could primarily be sleet:

Alabama could also get some snow in the mix. Here are potential accumulations of snow and sleet.

Precipitation could last on and off through Monday night.

Travel is expected to come to a standstill or be extremely dangerous in areas that get a lot of ice, and power outages and downed tree limbs remain a possibility.

Some areas in north Alabama face the prospect of long-duration power outages if the forecast verifies.

The weather service is very concerned about forecast low temperatures on Monday night into Tuesday morning, which may fall into the teens in areas where power outages are possible.

Here are the forecast lows for Monday night-Tuesday morning:

Lows on Monday night into Tuesday morning could fall into the teens in parts of Alabama that could also be dealing with power outages.

Heres what to expect region by region:

NORTH ALABAMA

Attn: Cullman, Morgan, Madison, Limestone, Lincoln, and Moore Counties: An area of freezing rain and sleet is developing and moving farther east than previously anticipated, and the HSV metro area may start to see ice accumulation in the next hour or two #StayPutStaySafe #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/cnJBbTDyO1  NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) February 15, 2021

Winter storm warning: Cullman, Madison, Morgan, Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, DeKalb and Jackson counties from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Heavy mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 3 inches and ice accumulations of up to three-tenths of an inch will be possible.

Freezing rain has been moving through northwest Alabama as of late Sunday. Roads were icy and dangerous in northwest Alabama as of 10 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.

Northwest Alabama has reported freezing rain and multiple car wrecks, and more freezing rain will be possible over night.

A significant winter storm will impact the Tennessee Valley region starting this evening/tonight and lasting until early Tuesday morning, the weather service said in its forecast discussion earlier today.

Several rounds of mixed precipitation are expected: first as freezing rain and then mixing with sleet and snow periodically throughout Monday and Monday night. This has the making of a hazardous and potentially dangerous winter event for the Tennessee Valley.

The winter headaches wont start at the same time for the entire region. The weather service said north-central Alabama may not see freezing rain until late tonight or early Monday.

Northeast Alabama could be affected by early Monday morning.

Forecasters said they had high confidence of snow, sleet and ice accumulations and added there was particular concern about significant icing issues across north-central Alabama.

If the forecast verifies, the weather service said, power outages would be more likely. And those outages could take a while to restore, especially in rural areas.

The precipitation may come in several forms. Freezing rain is first and could transition to a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow during the day on Monday. Light snow will be possible Monday night.

Freezing rain is expected to affect much of north Alabama by Monday morning, the weather service said.

Travel is expected to be hazardous by the Monday morning commute, forecasters said.

Travel could be affected well into Tuesday and potentially through Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

Bottom line: With temperatures not forecast to rise above freezing in most areas on Tuesday, persons could be stuck where they are for as much as 24-48 hours, the weather service said.

Freezing rain could mix with snow and sleet on Monday into Monday night, and snow accumulations are likely, the weather service said.

Tree and power line damage will be possible.

The weather service said the ice could add up to three-tenths of an inch. There could also be 1 to 3 inches of sleet and snow.

And if thats not all: Another storm system will bring the possibility of rain and snow to north Alabama on Wednesday night.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

 (02/14/21 5:43 am) Winter Storm Warning for our western and northwest counties from 6 pm tonight through all of Monday. Prepare now for expected power outages. Driving will be dangerous and not advised due to significant icing expected. pic.twitter.com/Mn5fOCMo9l  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) February 14, 2021

Winter storm warning: Lamar, Marion, Winston, Fayette, Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties until midnight Tuesday.

Winter storm warning: Hale and Marengo counties from 6 a.m. Monday until midnight Tuesday.

Winter storm watch: Bibb, Blount, Jefferson, Perry, and Shelby counties from 9 a.m. Monday until midnight Tuesday:

 A Winter Storm Watch for Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb and Perry Counties from Monday 9 am to midnight. Prepare now for possible power outages. Driving may be hazardous during this time. Check for updates and possible additional warnings. pic.twitter.com/mhnPHbDFgJ  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) February 14, 2021

Confidence continues to increase that a winter storm will cause significant impacts especially over west Alabama through Monday night, the National Weather Service in Birmingham said Sunday.

The weather service said light freezing rain had moved into west Alabama as of 10 p.m. and it was time to stay off the roads:

940 pm 2/14/2021 update:

We've gotten several reports of slick conditions in parts of Marion, Winston, Lamar, and Fayette Counties. While this initial batch of precipitation will soon move out of the area, more is on the way. Please don't venture out. #alwx pic.twitter.com/27GZlJjkxy  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) February 15, 2021

A glaze to up to a tenth of an inch will be possible tonight and could cause slippery spots on roads and surfaces, especially bridges and overpasses.

A wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet will be possible across more of the region on Monday, but generally west of Interstate 65. Some areas could see more sleet, some freezing rain and some snow.

Western parts of the area are still expected to see the most ice, which could make travel especially dangerous and knock out power.

 ... preparations do need to be made for a significant ice storm like we have not seen in quite a while, as I do expect a corridor of quarter to locally half-inch ice accumulations somewhere across west Alabama with quite a bit of tree damage and power outages, the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion.

Even if the precipitation falls as primarily sleet, which is possible, it will still make travel especially dangerous on Monday.

As for the Birmingham area, the weather service urged people to keep a close eye on conditions. Folks in the watch area should stay tuned to the latest forecasts for possible warnings or advisories as temperature differences of only a few degrees across a sharp gradient will make a big difference, the weather service said.

Forecasters left open the possibility that an advisory may be needed to the east of the current watch as well.

Then on top of that is the cold. Temperatures on Monday night could fall as low as 15 degrees, and wind chills could be in the single digits.

As you plan for possible power outages, also be aware that very cold air is forecast to push further into central Alabama after the wintery precipitation moves out. The coldest night will be Monday night, with lows in the teens and 20s. #alwx pic.twitter.com/JV8hxfwjFA  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) February 14, 2021

SOUTH ALABAMA

3 pm Sunday Forecast Update: The greatest potential for ice & poor travel conditions on Monday will be northwest of a line from Butler, AL - Waynesboro, MS - New Augusta, MS. There still is uncertainty regarding the freezing line location. Stay tuned to the latest forecast. pic.twitter.com/hckyxL37wu  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) February 14, 2021

Winter weather advisory: Choctaw, Clarke and Washington counties from 3 a.m. Monday until 3 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said freezing rain will be possible overnight in the advisory area as temperatures fall to freezing.

Forecasters said freezing rain is expected and occasional ice pellets possible.

The ice could add up to a tenth of an inch.

Roads could become slick in the advisory area, especially on bridges and overpasses.

The weather service is also concerned about the possibility of black ice on roads by Monday night.

But thats not all that southwest Alabama may face. The weather service is also warning that there could be a few stronger storms in the mix near the coast on Monday afternoon:
There are mounting fears of redundancy at Aer Lingus as the Government prepares to introduce mandatory quarantine and the airline seeks volunteers for unpaid leave and career breaks.

With just over 50 cabin crew opting for voluntary severance, Aer Lingus has warned it is continuing to work on "cabin crew resource surpluses".

Other parts of the airline also face serious overstaffing with the ongoing collapse in traffic, and there is concern that the 150m loan extended by the Irish Strategic Infrastructure Fund, revealed by the Sunday Independent last week, will not be enough to stave off job losses.

Cabin crew of all grades in Dublin, Cork and Shannon - but not Belfast - have been offered month-long blocks of unpaid leave or extended career breaks up to summer 2022 and up to summer 2023, both starting next month. They can also opt for four months unpaid leave every year between now and 2024.

Annual leave has become a hot topic after the airline sought to take back annual leave allocations after staff had used them. Trade unions have claimed the leave was only taken because staff were forced to take time off due to the pandemic. That dispute is heading to the Workplace Relations Commission and trade unions are awaiting a date for a hearing, it is understood.

"Aer Lingus continues to review its resourcing requirements on an ongoing basis," said an Aer Lingus spokeswoman in response to queries. "Aer Lingus welcomes the 3 year debt facility that was concluded with ISIF in Q4 2020, and will seek to position the airline such that it can play a key role in enabling Ireland's economic recovery by providing people and businesses with critical connectivity to, through and beyond Ireland."

The airline has previously voiced its opposition to plans for mandatory quarantine arrangements and there is serious concern that moves by the Government to make that concrete next week will hasten a long feared round of compulsory redundancies and other big cutbacks that staff have dreaded since the beginning of the pandemic.

Many staff have been on reduced wages for close to a year, and the airline has told staff this will continue "despite the low level of activity".

But there are fears that the alternative to the reduced pay arrangements, much of which has been covered by the Government's Covid wage-subsidy schemes, will be compulsory redundancies.

The company has previously indicated to trade union officials when redundancy concerns were raised that they were keeping staff employed so as to be ready for a likely uptick in traffic when the summer schedule begins, according to sources.

But trade union officials have privately admitted to some of their members that this stance could have changed given recent developments.

The airline continued throughout last week to experience heavy loads on its largest A330 aircraft on the main connection to London for a flight that arrives in Dublin from Dubai.

Last week the Sunday Independent reported that a steady flow of England-bound travellers were using the so-called "Dublin dodge" to avoid restrictions travelling to the UK from the UAE and other places. Other London flights, as well as nearly every other route, have continued to carry small loads, with transatlantic flights often carrying fewer than 20 passengers, it is understood.
In yet another shocking statement, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb reportedly said that ruling party president Amit Shah has plans to form BJP government in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Deb said that Shah, during a casual discussion with state party members, told them that after winning majority of the states in India, he has plans to establish BJP government in the neighbouring nations, according to EastMojo.

Read: 'Mamata card' matters in West Bengal, not Modi's 'Ram card': TMC

We were talking in the state guest house when Ajay Jamwal (North-East Zonal Secretary of BJP) said that BJP has formed its government in several states of India, in reply Shah said, Now Sri Lanka and Nepal is left. We have to expand the party in Sri Lanka, Nepal and win there to form a government, the report quoted Deb as saying.

The Tripura CM further said that under the leadership of Shah, BJP has become the "largest party in the world".

Meanwhile, taking note of the latest claims made by Deb on Shah planning to form BJP government in Sri Lanka and Nepal, CPIM and Congress has demanded clarification from the Centre, the report added.


Unless you are one of the biggest contractors in this space, defence is a tough business to crack. But Imaging, a night-vision startup backed by top investors such as Artiman and Qualcomm Ventures, is clinching defence deals despite all odds. The Bengaluru-based firm has won a large deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to indigenise new missile seekers for the multi-million dollar anti-tank guided missile programme that BDL is building for the Indian Army. For Tonbo, it is an opportunity to tap over $500 million in the next few years. We signed up with BDL to supply the EO-IR (electro-optical-infrared) seeker and command launcher unit (CLU) that controls and launches the missile and engages with the target before launch, said Ankit Kumar, co-founder at Imaging. We along with BDL are integrating the CLU and seeker with their missile and BDL will supply the end system to the Army. As this is a make-II programme in which players willing to invest upfront and indigenously design and develop the missile, are only qualified to participate. has to show 60 per cent Indian content and prove the design is indigenous. So any foreign solution also has to first prove the indigenisation and acquire all design and IPR (intellectual property rights) within India. BDL is the prime front runner qualifying all the requirements and has necessary capabilities to check all the tick marks in the EOI (expression of interest). What differentiates Tonbo is that before the launch of the missile, the target is acquired by the CLU. The target picture is handed over to the missile seeker and once fired the missile with Tonbo's eyes and brain (seeker) homes onto the target with cm level precision. This is called fire and forget missile launch. Unlike older generation missile systems which are wire-guided and missile-control is with the gunner even after its fired and the missile is manually manoeuvred towards the target. In fire and forget, once the missile is fired the gunner has no control over it and its seeker manoeuvres it towards the target. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi hands over 'Made-In-India' Arjun battle tank to Army We are the eyes and the brain of the missile, said Kumar. Our thermal and visual imaging sensors allow the missile to locate and identify the target and our advanced AI-based algorithms track the target, even if it's on the move. Tonbo Imaging: Promahon Command Launcher Unit These AI algorithms run real-time on the video processor on board the missile and enables the missile to be launched in the fire-and-forget mode. The missile is guided by Tonbo's EO-IR seeker, throughout its flight path. The video processor is a very advanced processing platform with a dedicated AI engine and capability to do the real-time number crunching to always keep the target locked on to the target. Tonbo was founded by Arvind Lakshmikumar, an alumnus of BITS Pilani and Carnegie Mellon University, along with Ankit Kumar, Sudeep George and Cecilia D'Souza. It has been actively supplying its products and solutions to customers in India and Internationally. The firms sales pipeline is over $2.5 billion with a near term execution visibility of $300 million. The company has raised a total funding of over $30 million from venture capital investors including Edelweiss and Walden Riverwood Ventures. It is in discussions with a few global investors for more funding for its expansion plans.

Tonbo has done thermal imaging-based upgrades for CRV (cavalry reconnaissance vehicles) in Jordan, advanced electro-optical targeting system for Philippines army. It has also provided thermal sights to Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta and panoramic night vision binoculars for special forces in Israel and night vision binoculars for special forces in France. Besides these international programmes, Tonbo is also supplying its thermal imaging scopes to the Indian special forces.

In 2019, China and India were, respectively, the second-and third-largest military spenders in the world. Chinas military expenditure reached $261 billion in 2019, a 5.1 per cent increase compared with 2018, while Indias grew by 6.8 per cent to $71.1 billion, according to SIPRI. Indias tensions and rivalry with both Pakistan and China are among the major drivers for its increased military spending, says Siemon T. Wezeman, SIPRI senior researcher.

Total global military expenditure rose to $1917 billion in 2019, according to SIPRI. The total for 2019 represents an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2018 and the largest annual growth in spending since 2010. The five largest spenders in 2019, which accounted for 62 per cent of expenditure, were the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Tonbo is eyeing the autonomous surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting market. It builds the eyes and brain for systems to enable autonomy. This market is worth over $50 billion. Over 60 per cent of Tonbos revenue comes from its international customers in defence, intelligent transportation and industrial applications. We are expanding on our non-military markets, said Kumar of Tonbo. Specifically, we are seeing traction in autonomous logistics, industrial robotics and autonomous construction systems.

$500 mn, the opportunity for Tonbo to indigenize new missile seekers for Indias missile programme. 60%, the total Indian content that Tonbo has to include and prove the design is indigenous. $2.5 bn, the firms sales pipeline with a near term execution visibility of $300 mn. $50 bn, the autonomous surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting market, that Tonbo is eyeing. $71.1 bn, Indias military expenditure in 2019, which grew by 6.8%. $261 bn, Chinas military expenditure in 2019, which grew by 5.1%.
A health worker waits for members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 on a balcony at Wuhan Hilton Optics Valley hotel in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, 2021. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Wuhan Residents Commemorate COVID-19 Victims During New Year Holiday

During the Lunar New Year holiday, the Chinese regime claimed that there were no new domestic CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus infections in the country. However, full lockdowns were still in place in Hebei, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces.

This is a political zero. The virus outbreak in China is still very serious, Wuhan resident surnamed Wu told the Chinese-language Epoch Times in a Saturday phone interview. The figures that the [Chinese] government released is fakeThey know clearly about the outbreak, but wont tell people.

Meanwhile, an insider from Changchun city in Jilin Province said there was recently a cluster outbreak at a local hospital.

Wuhans Flowers

On the first few days of the Lunar New Year, which began on Feb. 12, fresh flowers were sold out in Wuhan, the city where the virus first broke out. Many florists told state-run media on Feb. 14 that they hadnt rested for the past 50 hours, in order to continue preparing bouquet orders.

Wuhan residents told The Epoch Times that the city has a local custom that in the first three days of the Lunar New Year, people buy marigold or chrysanthemum bouquets to memorialize family members who have died in the past year.

All flowers were sold out, reflecting that the virus death toll is huge and much higher than the official announced numbers, said Wuhan resident Zhang Hai in an interview. There are families I know that lost their loved ones exactly on Lunar New Year day last year.

The outbreak was at its most severe in winter 2020. Wuhan hospitals were overwhelmed with patients who had severe symptoms. Authorities also ordered the construction of 14 emergency makeshift hospitals to treat 12,000 COVID-19 patients.

The Epoch Times also obtained internal data that showed authorities underreported infections. The city claims that 50,333 people in Wuhan were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 3,869 have died.

An aerial view of the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

From Feb. 12 to Feb. 14, the hottest topic among Wuhan people on Chinese social media platforms was flowers. Videos shared on Weibo and WeChat showed florists making bouquets and long queues waiting at local flower shops.

The price of a single chrysanthemum is 150 yuan ($23) now, one Wuhan resident complained in a video he shared on Weibo on Friday. The regular price of a single chrysanthemum in Wuhan is usually less than 20 yuan ($3).

Before, all streets were full of marigolds and chrysanthemums to sell. But this year, its hard to buy them, a Wuhan resident who wished to remain anonymous told the Chinese-language Epoch Times in a Saturday interview. He believed that the citys virus death toll must be much greater than what the government has announced.

Interviewees told The Epoch Times that they couldnt buy flowers because most florists were sold out.

A Wuhan Family

Zhong bought some white-colored chrysanthemum for her son Peng Yi (pseudonym), who passed away due to COVID-19 on Feb. 19, 2020.

Zhong said in an interview that last year, because local authorities said the disease was not contagious, his family decided to have a big meal at a restaurant on the evening of Jan. 20, 2020. At that time, almost all restaurants in Wuhan were full of diners because the regime told us the [COVID-19] pneumonia wouldnt transmit among humans, he said.

Wuhan resident Zhong presents white chrysanthemum flowers to remember her son, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020, in Wuhan, China on Feb. 12, 2021. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

Then, the city entered a full lockdown three days later. Peng, Zhongs son, started to experience symptoms on Jan. 24, 2020, and was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Jan. 29.

The hospital was full of patients, and we couldnt find any hospital that could treat my son, Zhong recalled.

Zhong and all her family members tried their best to find a hospital with available space. Finally, Peng was admitted into the Wuhan Peoples Hospital, Optics Valley branch, on Feb. 6, 2020. But Peng told the family that the hospital was in a chaotic state and he didnt receive any food or treatment for over 24 hours.

Zhong believed that his son would not have contracted COVID-19 had authorities been more transparent about the outbreak at the time. My son died in the hospital without any relatives beside him, Zhong cried.

During the initial outbreak, the Wuhan government also didnt allow family members to visit COVID-19 patients, nor see the bodies of those who died. Authorities distributed cremated ashes on a large scale in late March 2020. Zhong suspects authorities hastily cremated the bodies and did not properly sort the cremated remains.

Jilin

The underreporting continues today.

The government of Changchun city in Jilin Province, northeastern China, announced in February that the First Hospital of Jilin University had taken over the Changchun Infectious Disease Hospital, a hospital designated to treat COVID-19 patients since Jan. 25.

Authorities didnt give any explanation for the takeover. An insider who is involved in the takeover told The Epoch Times that the hospital had a cluster outbreak.

A doctor who treated COVID-19 patients was infected and diagnosed on Jan. 23. He did ride-hailing to commute every day before he was diagnosed. Then, all medical staff in the hospital as well as the ride-hailing drivers were quarantined as close contacts of the doctor, the insider said.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information. But Changchun announced that all patients at the infectious disease hospital were removed, quarantined, and treated at other facilities before it was taken over.

A source surnamed Yang has relatives who live in Tonghua city, also in Jilin. Her relative told her that they were still quarantined at home even though the city claimed there have been no new virus cases in recent days.

On Jan. 30, the government announced two new infections in Tonghua. My relative told me that over 200 residents were diagnosed positive that day, Yang said.

The Epoch Times could not verify this information, but Tonghua residents said in recent interviews that they were still required to remain at home.

Residents in Shijiazhuang and Xingtai cities in Hebei Province, Daxing district in Beijing, and Harbin city in Heilongjiang Province also complained that they were still locked down at home though authorities claimed no infections.
NEW MILFORD  Residents Rachel Kelly and Debbie Abel are busy moms. They both have grown or growing children in school, and their days are filled with the many responsibilities of a 21st century parent.

Recently, the two friends started A Little Help from My Friends, a volunteer group based on Facebook that encourages people to help others by donating food and clothing.

Abel and Kelly held a coat drive in January, and still are distributing some of the nearly 500 coats collected, along with scarves, gloves, mittens and hats, to those who need them. So far theyve distributed to New Milford Social Services, The Gathering Place in Torrington and several other smaller agencies.

We started collaborating on different projects in 2012, and we usually do about two a year, Abel said. We never put a name to it, we just did it.

The women held a food drive last fall, something theyve held for the past eight years, and donated the collected items to New Milford Social Services. In December, they decided to help foster children.

My neighbor adopted her child and has been working with (the Department of Children and Families) for a long time, and we decided to get involved, Abel said. Because of COVID-19 we knew it was going to be difficult, but it wasnt. In a very short amount of time, we were inundated with brand-new toys. So many people wanted to help.

They donated the toys to DCF as well as the Association of Religious Communities in Danbury, which gave the toys to needy children.

When that was done, we looked at each other and said, Oh, my gosh, its time for us to do more, Abel said. So we decided to create A Little Help From My Friends. The timing was right.

Their goal is to hold a project every month, while following their mission: to help others through kindness, goodwill and compassion.

The idea is to foster positive changes, providing opportunities for people who wouldnt normally get involved, or dont feel comfortable doing it, Kelly said. Thats what wed like to see. We want to open it up and let more people get involved.

Theyve already seen the impact of helping others in their volunteers. When we did the coat drive, we had students helping us, and at one point in the day we had a lull, Abel said. I was talking to the kids, and I realized that they dont necessarily see there are people in their own community that have a tougher time. I had a nice dialogue with them.

Thats something we want to change  to show that there are people who are struggling and people need to be aware of that, she said. Once youre aware, your eyes are opened.

This month, Kelly and Abel partnered with JoJos Deli in New Milford for a Souper Bowl canned food drive. It will continue until the end of the month.

JoJos reached out and asked if they could host it, and the response was terrific, Kelly said. They were so excited to do it. They put it on their social media, and a few of their vendors saw what they were doing and donated more food.

The canned food drive is continuing at The Po Cafe on Kirby Road in Washington, Conn., Kelly said. Their neighborhood ambassadors have collection boxes for canned goods on their front porch. We also did a pop-your-trunk food drive in New Milford this past weekend, Kelly said.

A Little Help is a gift, Abel said, to empower people to help others.

It helps people to understand that they dont need to do things on a big scale to make a difference, Kelly said. We literally launched our community group in January, and in that short amount of time, weve gotten so much support from our friends, neighbors, and social services.

In March, A Little Help is collecting personal care items to benefit the Womens Center of Greater Danbury. We have a local salon, Joes, thats already come on board to be a donation center, Abel said.

Abel has lived in New Milford for nearly 20 years with her husband, Matthew, a pediatrician, and their two children, Joshua, a senior at New Milford High School, and Camryn, a seventh-grader at Rumsey Hall.

Kelly is a 14-year resident. She and her husband, Joe, vice president of trade development at Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits of New York, have four children: Blaze, 27, an anesthesiologist; Max, 23, who attends the masters degree program at the University of Georgia; Shane, 18; and Rose, 16. The teens attend New Milford High School.

Both women have involved their families in A Little Helps work; 12-year-old Camryn designed the globe and butterfly logo for their Facebook page.

Aside from Rachels two older boys, both families were there for the coat distribution, Abel said. Our kids are our technical support. ... Wed be lost without them.

Working beside our kids distributing the coats was such a wonderful experience, Kelly said. It was such a great day for all of us.

To get involved with A Little Help From My Friends, find them on Instagram @Alittlehelpfrommyfriendsct, on Facebook at A-Little-Help-From-My-Friends or email alittlehelpct@gmail.com.
Josh Hall, 27, of suburban Denver, Colorado has been missing since February 3 after he was last seen hiking in Boulder County, according to authorities

The dog of a missing Colorado hiker who was last seen on February 3 has been 'miraculously' found after surviving the wilderness for eight days before he was located on a highway 13 miles from where the pair started a hike.

Authorities in Boulder County are still searching for Josh Hall, 27, of Arvada, a suburb of Denver.

Hall went missing after he and his dog, Happy, were last seen on the evening of February 3 near Hessie Trailhead, a popular hiking point that leads to the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Happy was found on Thursday near the Peak to Peak Highway in Boulder County, about 13 miles from the Hessie Trailhead.

The pup has been reunited with family and is getting some much needed food and love, according to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office.

Authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for anything associated with Josh including clothing items or a leash.

Nick Vukson, Hall's stepfather, said Happy lost between 10-to-15 pounds, though there were no signs of frostbite.

'How can a domestic dog be up in the Rocky Mountains in some extremely severe conditions and emerge with no frostbite whatsoever,' Vukson told KMGH-TV.

'We don't know if maybe he had found some shelter and perhaps Josh was with him. We're not sure.'

Hall's mother, Laura Vukson, said Happy's discovery has given her renewed hope that her son is alive.

Happy, Hall's dog, was found alive on a highway on Thursday some 13 miles from where he and Hall began a hike on the morning of February 3

Hall is seen left with his dog in November 2016. Happy (seen right) was reunited with his family and 'is getting some much needed food and love, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said

Hall went missing after he and his dog, Happy, were last seen on the evening of February 3 near Hessie Trailhead, a popular hiking point that leads to the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Happy was found on Thursday near the Peak to Peak Highway in Boulder County, about 13 miles from the Hessie Trailhead

The BCSO put out a statement indicating that the search for Hall has been hampered by hazardous weather conditions including 'thigh to chest deep snow, white out visibility, avalanche hazards, and winds gusting between 30-40 miles per hour'

'Based on the information I was given, I did not think that there was any chance that they could have survived,' she said.

'And the fact that Happy is here absolutely gives me renewed hope.'

But, she added: 'I'm terrified that that means that Happy stayed with Josh until he succumbed to the cold.'

According to investigators, it is believed that Hall was attempting to hike to Devils Thumb Lake.

The Devils Thumb Lake trail near Nederland that starts at the Hessie Trailhead is a 12.1-mile long hike that is considered difficult given that anyone who reaches the lake would have to climb an elevation of almost 2,500ft.

According to Halls mother, Hall and Happy started hiking the Devils Thumb Lake Trail sometime between 10:30am and 10:45am on February 3.

Halls mother said that Happy's discovery was 'miraculous.'

She wrote on her Facebook page that her son had planned to hike for a few hours before returning home to Arvada to take a 5pm online class.

That meant he would have had to have completed the hike by 4pm at the latest.

Hall went missing after he and his dog, Happy, were last seen on the evening of February 3 near Hessie Trailhead, a popular hiking point that leads to the Indian Peaks Wilderness

Authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for anything associated with Josh including clothing items or a leash

Laura Vukson writes that her sons cell phone pinged at 12:03pm, putting him in the vicinity of Devils Thumb Lake Trail.

The nearby Eldora Ski Resort had reported a massive snowstorm with white-out conditions and multiple inches of snow in a matter of minutes rolled through the area between 12:30 and 1:15pm.

'We believe that he was, unfortunately, at the furthest point when the really crazy snowstorm came in,' Laura Vukson told KMGH-TV.

Halls mother said her son, who is an experienced hiker with a pace between 3 and 3.5mph, is believed to have been at Devils Thumb Lake or further east at the continental divide when the weather arrived.

She said Hall was likely located some six miles from the trailhead.

When Hall did not return home that night, the authorities were alerted and a team of some 70 searchers braved winter storm conditions to look for him and Happy.

The search team spent four days looking for the pair but were unable to locate them, according to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office.

The ground search was eventually suspended due to hazardous weather conditions, including 'thigh to chest deep snow' and wind gusts of up to 40mph.

Halls mother said her son, who is an experienced hiker with a pace between 3 and 3.5mph, is believed to have been at Devils Thumb Lake or further east at the continental divide when the weather arrived.

At the time of his disappearance, Hall, who is 6ft4in and weighs 200lbs, was wearing either a soft shell gray-brown jacket or a dark hard shell jacket, according to his mother

Vukson said that the search was called off due to high avalanche conditions.

At the time of his disappearance, Hall, who is 6ft4in and weighs 200lbs, was wearing either a soft shell gray-brown jacket or a dark hard shell jacket, according to his mother.

Hall also had a gray-black backpack and a long black leash.

Vukson writes that Happy was without a leash when he was found and that Hall allowed him to hike with no leash.

Anyone with information helpful to the search for Hall is asked to contact Boulder County dispatch at 303-441-4444.
Photograph: US Senate TV/Reuters

The Republicans twin losses in the Georgia Senate runoffs have bound Mitch McConnell to Donald Trump for as long as the Kentuckian remains in office. The ex-president owns the Republican party. The Senate minority leader? Hes a rent-collector in a bankers shirt.

Related: Republican rebels who voted to convict feel Trumpists' fury

To McConnells disgust, so evident in his excoriation of Trump on the Senate floor on Saturday, moments after voting to acquit, he must labour in Trumps shadow. Nationally, Kentuckys senior senator is even more disliked than Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgias conspiracy-mongering congresswoman.

Even among Republicans, McConnell is relatively unpopular, and unlike Liz Cheney of Wyoming he is unwilling to risk their wrath. McConnell suffers his own precarity.

The fact is, GOP senators who bucked Trump on impeachment offer cautionary tales for those who dare to cross him. By Saturday night, at least three had received home-state smackdowns.

The Louisiana GOP censured Bill Cassidy while the chairs of the North Carolina and Pennsylvania parties upbraided their renegade senators. Richard Burr shocked Tar Heel Republicans while Pat Toomey disappointed those in the Keystone state. Both had already announced they will not seek re-election.

But not all those who are leaving the Senate followed suit. Rob Portman of Ohio and Richard Shelby of Alabama fell into line. One more time.

Trump risked turning Pence into a corpse and ultimately went unpunished. That hangmans noose was built to be used

What was once the proud party of Lincoln and Reagan is now a Trump family rag  something to be used and abused by the 45th president like his bankrupt companies, namesake university and hapless vice-president, Mike Pence.

If the impeachment trial established anything, it is that Trump risked turning Pence into a corpse and ultimately went unpunished. That hangmans noose was built to be used.

Yet even the former vice-president has remained mum and his brother, Greg Pence, a congressman from Indiana, voted against impeachment. Talk about taking one for the team.

Story continues

In the end, devotion to a former reality show host literally trumped life itself. The mob belongs to Trump  as the Capitol police can attest. So much for the GOPs embrace of law and order. When it mattered most, it counted least.

Like Moloch, Trump has elevated human sacrifice and personal devotion into the ultimate test. His indifference to Covids ravages was a harbinger of what came next, his raucous and at times violent rallies mere warm-up acts.

When Trump mused about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and getting away with it, he wasnt joking. He was simply stating a fact.

His acquittal ensures that he and his family will be a force to be reckoned with over the next four years. Faced with a possible primary challenge from Ivanka Trump, the Florida senator Marco Rubio months ago lavished praise on a Trump caravan that swarmed a Biden bus in Texas. He was ahead of the curve.

Among the presidential wannabes, only Ben Sasse has grown a spine. His chances of winning are close to nil

Since then, Nikki Haley, Trumps first United Nations ambassador and a one-time South Carolina governor, has twisted herself into a pretzel to craft a message that will keep her former boss disarmed while convincing donors to empty their wallets. Good luck with that.

Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley are in a competition all their own as to who makes a better doormat. Among the 2024 presidential wannabes, only Ben Sasse has grown a spine. His chances of winning the brass ring are close to nil.

A church-going Presbyterian, Sasse got it wrong when he announced that politics isnt about the weird worship of one dude. The Senates vote says otherwise.

Still, McConnells post-trial denunciation of Trump had some value. On top of labeling Trump practically and morally responsible for the events of 6 January, he provided an invitation and roadmap for law enforcement and the justice department.

Related: Convicted or not, Trump is history  it's Biden who's changing America | Robert Reich

President Trump is still liable for everything he did while hes in office, McConnell said. He didnt get away with anything yet.

Already, prosecutors have homed in on Trumps strong-arm efforts to overturn Georgias elections. Manhattans district attorney, Cyrus Vance, is locked in a death duel before the supreme court over Trumps tax returns.

Talk about synchronicity. Just hours before Saturdays vote, reports emerged of Vance having expanded his investigation into Trump and four of his properties over loans extended by subsidiaries of Ladder Capital, a finance operation that also lent to Jared Kushner.

Politically, Trump will likely hit the road for a vengeance tour aimed at those who opposed him. McConnell may yet emerge as another punching bag. And if Trump does, dont expect anyone to have McConnells back. It is Trumps party now. Everyone else is expendable.

(@FahadShabbir)

The White House has concerns about whether China duly communicated raw data on the coronavirus to the World Health Organization, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Saturday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th February, 2021) The White House has concerns about whether China duly communicated raw data on the coronavirus to the World Health Organization, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Saturday.

"We have deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them," he said in a statement.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that WHO investigators were denied access to personalized data on more than a hundred early cases of COVID-19, which emerged in Wuhan in December 2019.

Peter Ben Embarek, the head of WHO's fact-finding mission to China, presented the early findings after returning from Wuhan this week.

He said it did not seem plausible that the virus had escaped a lab.

Sullivan stressed that the credibility of the UN health agency's report was a "paramount priority."

"It is imperative that this report be independent, with expert findings free from intervention or alternation by the Chinese government," he added.

Then-President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the health organization last year, after accusing it of being "China-centric." Sullivan said that reengaging the WHO meant holding it to the highest standards.
London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to host fellow G7 leaders for a virtual meeting on February 19 ahead of its presidency of a summit in June of the Group of Seven countries including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, Downing Street said on Sunday.

The virtual meeting, the first hosted by Johnson as part of the UKs G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020, will bring together the world leaders to discuss how leading democracies can work together to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world and prevent future pandemics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the G7 Summit in Cornwall in June after India was invited as a guest country by the UK, alongside South Korea and Australia.

The solutions to the challenges we face  from the colossal mission to get vaccines to every single country, to the fight to reverse the damage done to our ecosystems and lead a sustainable recovery from coronavirus  lie in the discussions we have with our friends and partners around the world," said Johnson.

Quantum leaps in science have given us the vaccines we need to end this pandemic for good. Now world governments have a responsibility to work together to put those vaccines to the best possible use. I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe," he said.

The G7 leaders meeting on February 19 will be attended by the leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, and the Presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission.

Downing Street said Johnson plans to use the virtual meeting, which will also be US President Joe Bidens first major multilateral engagement, to call for leaders to work together on a joined-up global approach" to pandemics that brings an end to the nationalist and divisive politics that marred the initial response to coronavirus.

He will argue that putting citizens first should not come at the expense of working on a unified response, and that the last 12 months of the pandemic have showed that no country can be safe until every country is safe from the pandemic.

The rollout of vaccines offers a fresh opportunity to demonstrate the value of international cooperation, he is expected to highlight.

International pandemic preparedness will be a major priority for the UKs G7 Presidency and the Prime Minister will work with fellow G7 leaders to implement his five-point plan to prevent future pandemics announced at the UN General Assembly last year," Downing Street said.

The five-point plan includes a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, developing global manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines, the design of a global pandemic early warning system, the agreement of global protocols for a future health emergency and the reduction of trade barriers.

There have already been positive steps to ensure equitable access to a coronavirus vaccine. Last month, the US announced it would join the COVAX initiative, becoming the final G7 country to do so.

COVAX will provide developing countries with 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine this year and the UK is providing 548 million pounds to the scheme.

Plans for the virtual meeting next week come as UK Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey held the first meeting of G7 Finance Ministers on Friday.

During February, the UK also holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which rotates between members every month.

The UK has said it will use its Presidency to galvanise international action on coronavirus, climate change and conflict.

On February 23, the UK Prime Minister will chair a virtual meeting of the UNSC on the link between climate change and conflict, marking the first time a UK Prime Minister has chaired a Security Council session since 1992.

The session will also involve permanent UNSC members China, France, Russia and the US; non-permanent members Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam; and the UN Secretary General.

Downing Street has said that discussions at the meeting will inform crucial action ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit scheduled for Glasgow in November. PTI AK RUP RUP

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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Letters to the Editor View(s):

ECT agreement: Making a bad situation worse

It is quite apparent that the Government has made a bad situation worse by their unilateral decision to let go of the tripartite agreement on the East Container Terminal (ECT) with India and Japan. India has already expressed their displeasure in no uncertain terms.

That said, the desperate solution offered by the Cabinet in view of the widespread agitation seems to defy all logic, as now the proposed ECT joint venture on a 51:49 share basis in favour of the SLPA is made null and void and in lieu the Government is presently offering the West Container Terminal (WCT) on more lucrative and better terms of ownership to the stakeholders than before! It is on a 11:89 share split with the SLPA becoming the minor shareholder.

The main difference is that the ECT is well into profitable operation with firm laid out plans for further expansion, while the WCT is on a build operate and own basis. It remains to be seen how the present Government would wriggle out of this thorny issue.

As often the case, the so-called patriotic and nationalist set of pro-Government politicians who vociferously denounced the ECT pact as detrimental to the country, are quite surprisingly and shamelessly defending the more damaging compromise that is offered on WCT by the Government.

They now take refuge in the Vistas of Prosperity in which they claim that the WCT is already listed for a public/private partnership for its development and to top it all 6.9 million have voted for its implementation and as the ECT is not in the agenda, their protests are justified, so they say! Our politicians patriotism is like no other, indeed!

Be that as it may, it is high time that the Government politicians fulfil the promises documented in their much-hyped manifesto, rather making it a scapegoat for their survival and political rhetoric instead, as and when necessary.

In this stormy terminal issue, knowing the strong-arm tactics of India and having experienced many, among other things, the infamous food drop and the forced Indo-Sri Lanka peace accord, one wonders whether they would jeopardize the Covishield vaccine programme that is already on with the blessings and kind courtesy of both the WHO and India so far. If the expected supply chain with the same brand is delayed or diverted elsewhere by India, all front-line health personnel and others who are lined up for their second jab, in a few weeks time would be waiting in vain and others  numbering few millions-eagerly awaiting the first shot will be a disappointed lot, as well. If that happens, our options are limited as the vaccine race is at full speed all over the world at present.

The Government should be mindful of this fact too.

M.R. Pathirage Kolonnawa

Maybe its high time for another way

I switched on the News at Noon and heard the President proclaim, I do it my way, look at the Avenue of Na trees I planted despite protests.

At this crucial point the power went! These words were sufficient to give me plenty of food for thought.

An avenue of massive trees, striking in appearance planted to commemorate Independence in 1948 was uprooted and replaced by the admittedly picturesque Na tree. The reason being that the previous trees were imported. I hope the same fate does not befall those magnificent Mara trees adorning Bauddhaloka Mawatha, imported from Brazil by the British!

Even President Premadasa who first proclaimed that the Na tree was our national tree, did not go this far. The tree could have been used to beautify one of the numerous roads adjacent to Independence Square.

Another my way exercise is the problem solver at massive gatherings in rural areas. No thought is given to the risk involved during these COVID times. Chronic problems are presented, (where instant fixes are impossible) and the response I fear is instinctive, emotional, rather than a rationally conceived approach based on Government policy.

Maybe, Mr. President, its time My way took another path!

P. Amerasinghe Colombo

Is our COVID testing and isolating procedure forcing exposure on healthy people?

How is it not a criminal offence to expose perfectly healthy people to the virus?

Both the RAT and PCR tests yield false positives. These false positives (healthy people) get dumped together, first on a bus or ambulance for hours then at a holding centre together with other true positives in close proximity. So the process is forcibly exposing a certain percentage of perfectly healthy people to the virus. And then we wonder why the positive detections are increasing. And then we wonder why more people are not volunteering for testing.

False positive rates can be between 5% and 40% depending on the test, the kit, and various factors. Granted there is no better way of screening available, so we make the best of what we have. However, dont we have to know its limitations and set in place procedures that accommodate these limitations?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Allow asymptomatic test positives to self- isolate at home. (Potential false positives. Innocent until proven guilty)

2. Allow them to pay for a repeat test. (Probability of two consecutive false positives on the same test subject is much smaller than a single)

3. Use the savings from not holding healthy people unnecessarily (and exposing them to the virus) for fine tuning the screening process so that true positives are identified.

Gayathree Jayasinghe Bio statistician Colombo
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Raising the Barre in keeping fit By Anoushka Jayasuriya View(s): View(s):

Four years ago the term Barre may have been met with blank stares or a raised eyebrow in fitness circles. Now, thanks to the founder of the boutique fitness studio, Barressential, Narendra Nare Bandaranayake, the novel workout method has grown rapidly in popularity.

Nare was first drawn to Barre, a technique inspired by elements of Ballet, Yoga and Pilates during her time navigating the banking world in London. Even while working a 15-hour day job, Nare made time to attend a regular Barre class. She explained that out of the many challenging and diverse workouts available, she found Barre the most effective for her as it focused on strength, stability, was low impact, complementary to other types of workouts and, perhaps most enticing, perfect for people who love working out and even those who dont.

Nare returned to Sri Lanka in 2016, still enamoured with her experience with Barre and Pilates in London and with a keen interest in starting a business of her own. Having a personal need for the kind of Barre and Pilates experience she received abroad, and failing to find anything like it in Sri Lanka, she decided to pursue a certification as a Barre and Pilates Instructor.

From instructing clients at her own home, Barressential has soared to new heights after opening its studio door to clients on Thimbirigasyaya Road. On her vision for the studio, Nare says, The concept is of a high end premium offering that makes you really want to exercise. It fits into that lifestyle of something luxurious and it makes you want to come back often because its something that you enjoy, its something to look forward to and thats what exercise should be about.

The studio provides classes in Barre, Mat Pilates and its most unique offering, Reformer Pilates. The first of its kind in the country and the only establishment offering Reformer Pilates for fitness in group settings, Barressentials Reformer Pilates is performed with the use of a reformer machine, an apparatus with a flat platform that rolls back and forth on wheels. Its used under the direction of an instructor with springs and straps for resistance to achieve proper stabilization and strength in an organized way and is also an ideal way to enhance flexibility.

All three forms of exercise are precise, gentle yet hard hitting and never boring, says Nare, adding that clients can see benefits emerge within as little as four classes if they remain determined and attend classes regularly. Anyone looking for an encouraging word to go with their workouts will enjoy the Barressential teams style of instruction which creates an environment where clients are uplifted through positive reinforcement. Nare says that in addition to the many physical benefits from taking part in Barre and Pilates, clients can also walk away from a class feeling mentally invigorated, having accomplished a thorough workout.

Nares appreciation of Barre and Pilates has only continued to grow since making the transition from client to instructor, recognising the amount of effort it takes to run one of those classes is immense. She adds,The knowledge of anatomy, the knowledge of how things should be done and the level of energy that is required, the level of extrovertism that is required to be an instructor  I really appreciate that in my own instructors as well. Shes supported by a team of four other instructors. Like herself, some of her current team members have made the same transition from client to instructor.

When advertising for instructors Nare often found some of Barressentials clients were interested in taking up the responsibility and representing the studio. She remarks on the commitment and dedication displayed by her teamsome of them who work as part time instructors while still balancing the responsibilities of their fulltime occupations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has flipped the fitness industry on its head and the studio closed just prior to the Government imposed lockdown in March last year but after just four days they shifted back into gear and pivoted to delivering regular online classes to clients. We cannot afford to be a point of contagion, explains Nare. In an environment where clients would share gym equipment and be in close proximity with one another, what little was known about the virus at the time was enough for her to decide that closing the studio would be the most responsible action. Despite this despondent time, the Barressential team were able to build trust in the community by addressing concerns directly, keeping clients informed and delivering classes online through Instagram Live and Zoom.

With online sessions your skillset completely changes, you cant touch the client and you cant make proper eye contact  little things you rely on to teach disappear, she says. Changing mindsets became another task for the studio during lockdown. Some resistance was felt when it came to trusting instructors to deliver the same level of guidance over virtual methods but facing this additional challenge without hesitation, Nare was happy to share that virtual sessions became and still are in high demand with several existing and new clients tuning in regularly from home to follow Barressentials classes.

Those looking to get the Barressential experience in person can feel reassured knowing the team is taking every precaution necessary to keep all occupants safe. Using her background in Science as a graduate of Kings College London with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Nare is always on the lookout for ways to mitigate risks.

While gyms are allowed to operate at 50% capacity, Barressential has made the decision to operate at 30% capacity to maximize the safety of staff and clients. The studios sessions, so popular that back to back sessions were required, have also been spaced out to a morning session and an evening session. Where a back to back session can be scheduled, the team follows a strict 30 minute wait period to ventilate the rooms completely and disinfect equipment thoroughly. Those visiting the studio are also subjected to required health checks.

Its a very hard place for small businesses to be in because youre compelled to protect your employees and your clients. You shouldnt haphazardly open and allow people to come in and do business just because they may want to, Nare points out.

For more information, see www.barressential.com or follow the studio on instagram @barressential.
Even by the savage standards of the Taliban, it was a sickening attempt to murder a teenager just for wanting an education.

Now Malala Yousafzai says she is grateful she cannot recall anything about the moment a gunman shot her in the head on a school bus in her native Pakistan.

The 23-year-old, who won a Nobel Prize after she refused to be silenced by the attack, had to rely on a friend to tell her what happened that day in 2012, when she was just 15.

Malala Yousafzai says she is grateful she cannot recall anything about the moment a gunman shot her in the head on a school bus in her native Pakistan

The friend told her: You were just staring at [the gunman] and you squeezed my hand so tightly that I could feel the pain for days. Suddenly bullets were fired, and you fell in my lap.

Speaking on todays Desert Island Discs, Malala says: I am grateful that I dont remember the incident. I remember sitting in the school bus talking to my friends, just talking to the bus driver and he was doing some, like, magic tricks with a pebble.

Then [he] started driving and I dont remember anything. Then I woke up in hospital in Birmingham. She had been airlifted to the UK for specialist treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she came out of a coma eight days after the shooting.

Malala became an international icon for continuing to campaign for womens educational rights, despite the attack.

But she admits that studying at Oxford University, from where she graduated last year with a degree in politics, philosophy and economics, gave her a fresh perspective on life.

She tells presenter Lauren Laverne: I wasnt having much fun before university. But when I went to university and when I connected to people of my age, friends of my age, that is when I realised that, OK, I am actually not that old and I can still have those experiences of youth that I deserve and that everybody else is having. When you are with your friends, you are just having one of your best times ever.

Childhood has sort of come back in me and I am really happy for that.

Malala, who chose lip balm as her desert island luxury, also reveals that she is a fan of West End musicals and vintage sitcoms Blackadder, Only Fools And Horses and Yes Minister.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview for Mail Online, her father Ziauddin said: In our community, when a girl reaches 23 she is usually married by now and has little say in the matter.

Im the kind of father who believes in their childrens education and freedom. She has the right to choose her own partner or nobody at all, its up to her.

Desert Island Discs is on BBC Radio 4 today at 11am and will be repeated on Friday at 9am.
President Joe Biden pauses to speak with reporters as he walks to Marine One for departure from the White House, on Feb. 12, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Biden Calls on Congress to Restrict Gun Ownership

President Joe Biden on Feb. 14 urged Congress to strengthen existing laws concerning gun ownership on the third anniversary of the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

The Parkland students and so many other young people across the country who have experienced gun violence are carrying forward the history of the American journey. It is a history written by young people in each generation who challenged prevailing dogma to demand a simple truth: we can do better. And we will, Biden said in a statement.

This Administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call. We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer. Today, I am calling on Congress to enact commonsense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets.

In the afternoon of Feb. 14, 2018, a man identified by authorities as Nikolas Cruz, now 22, walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle. The shooting left 17 dead, including 14 students. Cruz, who is currently awaiting trial, could face the death penalty.

Rifle barrels on a shelf waiting to be assembled at Davidson Defense in Orem, Utah, on Feb. 4, 2021. (George Frey/AFP via Getty Images)

After the shooting, a number of Parkland students and parents began agitating for stricter gun control laws, arguing that Cruz shouldnt have been able to obtain a gun. But others pointed to failures by law enforcement, including safety officer Scot Peterson, who has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges for not entering the school building to confront Cruz, and urged restraint on new measures.

Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he supports stronger gun control; last week, administration officials met with gun control advocates, including Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, and John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters later that the administration is ready to move on the ambitious plan Biden laid out during the campaign.

Biden said on his campaign website that he will defeat the National Rifle Association (NRA). Among his proposed actions is repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects gun manufacturers from some lawsuits, banning so-called assault weapons, as Congress did for 10 years in 1994, and forcing people to either give up certain guns and magazines or register them with the federal government.

The NRAs lobbying arm has fired back at Biden, saying he wants to ban Americas most popular class of centerfire rifles, as well on the factory-spec magazines for most of the defensive pistols sold in the U.S.

Just as when Joe Biden unsuccessfully pursued gun control as Barack Obamas vice-president, your NRA is fully prepared to oppose whatever plans he may have to defeat Americas largest and oldest civil rights organization and the fundamental liberties it protects, it stated in a recent blog post.

Gun-control advocacy groups are pushing both executive orders and legislative packages they believe will help lead to fewer deaths by gunfire.

While Democrats control both chambers of Congress in addition to the White House, they require some Republican support in the Senate to pass new legislation.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) on Feb. 14 also mourned the shooting anniversary.

As we honor the anniversary of this tragedy, we must also find the strength as a nation to prevent such tragedies from ever being repeated. With President Biden in the White House, we finally have the opportunity to make real strides to end gun violence. No survivor should endure another year of inaction. The fear of mass gun violence for Americans doing the most normal of activities, as well as gun violence in too many neighborhoods across the country, must be brought to an end with congressional action, Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

Deutch added, On this day, I recommit to ensure that the names of the 17 victims are never forgotten in the halls of Congress and to honor their memory with action that will make our communities safer from gun violence.

The India Today Group has yet again emerged victorious at the 20th edition of Indian Television Academy (ITA) Awards by sweeping both popular news channels - Hindi for Aaj Tak and English for India Today TV - etching the undisputed leadership position of the Group in television news journalism. Aroon Purie, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group, who has been instrumental in changing the face of journalism in India, was conferred with the 'Hall of Fame' award. He received the Padma Bhushan - amongst India's highest civilian honours - by the President of India in 2001.

In an exemplary show of consistency, Aaj Tak, India' s most watched and trusted Hindi news channel in India, has been awarded the popular Hindi news channel award, 19 times in the last 20 editions of ITA Awards.

Meanwhile, India Today TV, the nation's leading English news channel, has bagged this honour for the 4th consecutive time at ITA awards. The driving force behind its success is the Gold Standard of Journalism powered by a superior ground coverage - stories from the heart of the action.

The Group's crowning achievement at the award ceremony came with Mr. Aroon Purie, Chairman and Editor in Chief, being honoured with the 'Hall of Fame' Award. Under Mr. Purie's leadership, the India Today Group has created an enviable legacy of trust, credibility, leadership and admiration since the group's inception over four decades ago. The launch of the India Today magazine in 1975 started the Group's journey into a multi brand, multi-platform media group, with brands that command undisputed leadership across categories and reach out to more than 500 million viewers, readers, listeners, visitors and subscribers.

Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Aroon Purie, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group said, "I thank the ITA for this honour of putting me in the Hall of Fame. To tell you the truth, I've never aspired for fame. I've always preferred to stay in the background."

"I've done my job as a journalist the best way I could. Fortunately I love news and I love journalism. I am no Amitabh Bachchan or Sachin Tendulkar or Roger Federer - persons with great individual talent," he said while addressing the twentieth edition of the Indian Television Academy Awards.

"In my line of work, I've always believed that the institution is bigger than any individual. So this honour goes to all of you, the talented people I've worked with. They've all had a commitment to journalism, which is without fear or favor, and for the relentless pursuit of the truth. I believe journalism done well is a noble profession which makes a difference to the society we live in ...It is a force for the good," he added.

Speaking at the event, Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson, India Today Group said, "As the depth of echo chambers increases, the need for a shared platform where both sides can be heard is essential. A place where people can agree to disagree is the need of the hour. India Today and Aaj Tak are those listening rooms, that middle ground for the two sides to continue a meaningful dialogue. What else is a society if not a vibrant conversation in progress? The ITA Awards for most popular Hindi and English news channels decided by over one core votes is a real honour."

Commenting on the achievement of Mr. Aroon Purie, Anu Ranjan, President at The Indian Television Academy said, "His journey over years has been fabulous and just been rising year-on-year. So he was most natural choice for ITA Hall of Fame award."
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from implementing draconian and unlawful provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 which allow the Federal Government to arbitrarily merge a new association with an already registered association; to suspend and remove trustees of any association; and to take over funds belonging to any association, and transfer such funds to another association on the pretext that the account is dormant.

Joined in the suit as defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/172/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking: an order stopping President Buhari, Mr Malami and the CAC from implementing the unconstitutional provisions of CAMA 2020 which allow the Federal Government to arbitrarily and unilaterally cancel or revoke the certificate of registration of any association on flimsy grounds. These provisions may be used as a pretext for rights violations.

The suit followed SERAPs letter to President Buhari in August 2020 requesting him to revoke his assent to CAMA 2020 and return it to the National Assembly for repeal of the repressive provisions, particularly sections 839, 842, 843, 844 and 850 contained in Part F of the Act, and any other similar provisions.

SERAP is arguing that: The right to freely associate with others works both ways. The others you want to associate with must be prepared to associate with you. None can be imposed on the other. The right to freedom of association also connotes the right of the others to freely associate with or dissociate from whosoever.

SERAP is also arguing that: The Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights guarantee to everyone the right to freedom of association, to belong to any association of their choice. By allowing the Defendants to arbitrarily merge two or more private associations, religious associations, charities, NGOs or professional bodies, CAMA 2020 blatantly violates this fundamental human right.

According to SERAP: Section 842(2)(a)(b)(5)(6) of CAMA 2020 violates the right of these associations and other Nigerians to property including the right to operate their bank accounts and use their funds the way they choose to subject to already existing banking regulations and practices.

SERAP is also seeking an order of injunction restraining the Corporate Affairs Commission or persons acting on its instructions from further implementing, applying and enforcing the offensive and unlawful provisions of sections 831; 839; 842; and 850 of CAMA 2020 and any regulations made pursuant to these provisions pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: The power under section 831[i][ii] to merge associations without their consent is manifestly unwarranted and serves no purpose, and yet most likely to be abused to violate the rights of individuals to associate with other people of like minds, particularly given the growing restriction on civic space and crushing of peaceful protests in the country.

The Defendants do not have the constitutional and legal power to suspend or remove a trustee of any registered association on a mere belief or suspicion the association is engaged in fraud, and without due process of law, and fair hearing.

There is no provision in Section 839(7) of CAMA 2020 to the effect that a person or trustee affected can make representations and defend themselves as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution and international standards. This provision does not provide for any administrative or quasi-judicial review or appeal process, which means the decision by the Corporate Affairs Commission is final.

The power to arbitrarily and unilaterally suspend and remove trustees of any legally registered association, and to appoint an interim manager or managers to run the affairs of any such association on the basis of undefined public interest is unlawful, and contrary to the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties to which the country is a state party. The exercise of this arbitrary power is subject only to the approval of the supervisory Minister, a political appointee.

Section 842(2)(a)(b) of CAMA 2020 which allows the taking over and transfer of funds belonging to a registered association such as private associations, religious associations, charities, NGOs or professional bodies registered under Part F, to another association is in clear violation of Section 44(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, as it does not provide for payment of compensation and the opportunity for the determination of the interests of the association before a court of law.

In Nigeria, everyone has a right to their property, and this right cannot be arbitrarily taken away. A recognized and acceptable canon of interpretation is that statutes such as CAMA 2020 which purport to deprive citizens of their proprietary interest and acquired rights, are always interpreted strictly.

Section 850(3) of CAMA 2020 which provides for notice of hearing of the petition to be given to association is of no consequence, as the subject matter of the suit for dissolution would have been dealt with by the act of the Corporate Affairs Commission alone without recourse to due process of law.

SERAP is seeking the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that Section 831(i)(ii) of CAMA 2020 which empowers the 3rd Defendant to treat an association as forming part of an already registered association and treating two or more associations as one is null, void and of no effect under Section 1(1)(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, for being inconsistent with Section 40 of the Constitution, Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights

2. A DECLARATION that Section 839(1) and (7) of CAMA 2020 which empowers the 3rd Defendant to suspend and/or remove trustees of a legally registered trusties is null, void and of no effect under Section 1(1)(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, for being inconsistent with Sections 36(1)(2) and 40 of the Constitution, Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights

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3. A DECLARATION that Section 842(2)(a)(b), and (5)(6); 850(1)(d) and (2)(e) of CAMA 2020 is null, void and of no effect under Section 1(1)(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, for being inconsistent with Sections 36(1)(2); 40 and 44(1) of the Constitution, Articles 22 and 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Articles 7 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights

4. AN ORDER OF COURT declaring Sections 831(i)(ii); 839(1)(7); 842(2)(a)(b), (5) and (6) and 850(1)(d)(2)(e) of CAMA 2020 as null, void and of no effect under Section 1(1)(3) of the Constitution, for being inconsistent with Sections 36(1)(2); 40 and 44(1) of the Constitution

5. AN ORDER OF COURT setting aside portions of Company Regulations and other directives and regulations made by the Defendants [particularly the 3rd Defendant] pursuant to, and specifically relating to Sections 831(i)(ii); 839(1) & (7); 842(2)(a)(b), (5)(6) and 850(1)(d)(2)(e) of CAMA 2020

6. AND any other ancillary or consequential orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this case.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director
TRUMBULL  The life of Nero Hawley reads so much like a movie script it seems hard to believe Hollywood hasnt filmed it.

Born into slavery and given away as a wedding gift at age 17, he served with distinction in George Washingtons Continental Army before becoming a prominent businessman and landowner, all while spending two decades emancipating five other members of his family.

For a Black man at that time to be in business and own property was a really big deal, said Lois Levine, president emeritus of the Trumbull Historical Society. He owned property all over town, was active in his church. If he had been white, he would have been first selectman.

Hawley was born in the Tashua area, then part of Stratford, in 1742 and was one of about 25 slaves in the area. From birth, he was the property of Peter Burr Mallet, according to From Valley Forge to Freedom: A Story of A Black Patriot, a biography of Hawley written by E. Merrill Beach and published in 1975.

Beach was the first president of the Trumbull Historical Society and wrote several books about town history in addition to donating the land that would later become Beach Memorial Park.

Neros story has so many interlocking parts with modern day Trumbull, said history teacher Meredith Ramsey. It is fascinating that he was continually able to reinvent himself.

Ramsey, a Trumbull native and a society board member, teaches history in Wilton. She also has spent the past few years researching Nero Hawleys life and developing a program designed to bring his story to Trumbull school children.

The African American voice is sadly lacking in history, she said. Many people played a huge role in this countrys founding, and they just dont get the recognition they deserve.

Not much is known about Hawleys early life. In 1758, Mallets daughter Phebe married Daniel Hawley and the couple received Nero as a wedding gift from Mallet, along with a house and barn and 20 acres of land from Daniels parents.

The house still stands along what is today Daniels Farm Road, according to Hawley Family geneologist Pam Hawley Marlin.

It really opens peoples eyes to learn that there was slavery and a slave trade in Connecticut at that time, Ramsey said.

Mallet, one of Tashuas earliest settlers, was known to have owned numerous slaves and traded them during the French and Indian War, according to Beach. Two years after giving Nero to his daughter and son-in-law, Mallet died of smallpox at age 48. In his will, he ordered his slaves, possibly including Neros mother and other family members, sold.

During the next 19 years, Nero Hawley worked in Daniels saw mill and clay pit, gaining expertise that he later put to use for his own benefit and his familys.

He married Peg, who was a slave of the Rev. James Beebe, in 1761. Though he remained the property of Daniel Hawley, Nero lived on Beebes farm and worked in his mill. He and Peg had four children over the next 16 years.

The turning point in Nero Hawleys life came on April 20, 1777, when he made the 25-mile trip to Danbury and enlisted in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Army in Daniel Hawleys place. By signing up for the duration of the war, Nero was entitled to a bonus, and he earned a salary of $6.67 per month, about $164 today, according to Beach.

During his time in the army, he was present at some of the most important events of the war, Ramsey said. His regiment engaged the British at the Battle of Monmouth, he was with the army during the winter at Valley Forge. His unit was at West Point during Benedict Arnolds betrayal.

Interestingly, during the Revolutionary War, Black soldiers served in fully integrated units, according to the U.S. Army.

Emancipated in 1782 after his war service, Nero Hawley, then 41 years old, returned to Daniel Hawleys farm as a hired hand but by 1785 had purchased five acres of land including a clay pit along modern day White Plains Road with money he had saved, combined with his army pension. Nero Hawley also purchased a small house, described as a cabin-like structure near Daniel Hawleys house, from Beebe.

The clay pit and kiln, used to bake bricks, were located near the current Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Ramsey said. Some of the bricks, uncovered during the construction of the Route 25 connector in 1974, are on display at the historical societys museum. Many still bear scorches from being heated and cured in the kiln.

When the workers uncovered them, they brought them to Mr. Beach, and he knew right away based on where they were found, that they had to be from Nero Hawley, Levine said. These were actually loaned to the Smithsonian, which put them on display for a while before returning them.

The income generated by the brick-making business, along with several properties around town, allowed Nero to buy Peg and two of his children out of slavery. His two youngest children were probably freed around 1801 by Beebes widow. Beebe himself had died in 1785. A census of Trumbull in 1800 listed four slaves and 31 free Blacks, out of a total population of 1,291, according to Beach.

Following the emancipation of his family, records of Hawleys life become more scarce, but he did purchase a wooded plot near current day Hedgehog Lane for use in timbering. He later sold that land to Joseph Plumb, a fellow Revolutionary War veteran.

The final land transaction of Nero Hawleys life came in 1807, when he and a small group of other men bought a lot next to Daniel Hawleys property to be used as a burial ground, according to Marlin. The land eventually became Riverside Cemetery, and when Nero Hawley died in 1817, at age 75, he was buried there. Peg Hawley, who died in 1833, is also buried there.

Ramsey said it was important to keep the Nero Hawley legacy alive, especially to Trumbull students.

He really had an incredible life and he impacted so many aspects of the town, she said. To come from slavery and see how he and his family made a life for themselves right here where they are now. This story needs to be told.
In this handout provided by Congress.gov webcast, lead impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-M.D.) speaks on the third day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 11, 2021. (Congress.gov via Getty Images)

House Impeachment Manager: Second Impeachment a Dramatic Success in Historical Terms

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), one of the House impeachment managers, described the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump as a dramatic success.

Raskin said on Sunday that the second impeachment was the  largest impeachment conviction vote in U.S. history, coming after seven Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to convict Trump in a 43-57 vote. During Trumps first impeachment, only one Republican senatorSen. Mitt Romney of Utahconvicted the then-commander-in-chief.

It was by far the most bipartisan majority thats ever assembled in the Senate to convict a president, which has traditionally been a kind of partisan thing in American history, Raskin said in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press. We got seven Republicans, and if you look at the ten Republicans in the House who joined us, it was by far the most bipartisan decision and a complete repudiation of the presidents conduct. Now, unfortunately, it didnt reach the two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Raskin, meanwhile, responded to a comment about not securing a conviction. The Senate requires 67 votes to convict a president.

[W]e have no regrets at all. We left it totally out there on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and every senator knew exactly what happened, he claimed.

Trump left office on Jan. 20, so impeachment could not be used to remove him from power. But Democrats said they hoped to secure a conviction to hold him responsible for the siege and set the stage for a vote to bar him from serving in public office again.

This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country, Trump said in a statement after his acquittal.

Other than Romney, Republican Sens. Richard Burr (N.C.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).

The House approved the single article of impeachment against Trump on Jan. 13, with 10 Republicans joining the chambers Democratic majority. That vote came a week after the Capitol was breached, interrupted the Joint Session of Congress, and clashed with an overwhelmed police force, according to law enforcement officials.

The defense lawyers accused Democrats not only of trying to silence Trump as a political opponent they feared facing in the future but of attempting to criminalize political speech with which they disagreed. The words Trump used, they argued, were no different than those regularly employed by Democrats.

Democrats frequently invoked Trumps Jan. 6. comment to supporters to fight like hell, although they omitted the portion of his speech where he said protesters should peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Peter Fitzsimons has hit back after ABC political journalist and former friend Stan Grant mocked parties held by the writer and his wife Lisa Wilkinson.

Grant last week took aim at Wilkinson and FitzSimons' annual harbourside party, invites to which are highly sought after by some celebrities.

'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 in a chapter in The Australian's serialised murder mystery 'Oh Matilda: Who Bloody Killed Her?'

'Even a couple of liberals (small l of course) and a former managing director of the ABC for good measure.

Grant last week took aim at Wilkinson and FitzSimons' annual harbourside party, invites to which are highly sought after by some celebrities

The Project's Lisa Wilkinson and her husband Peter FitzSimons (pictured together) have hosted an Australia Day barbecue on their North Shore property, which was satirised by fellow media personality Stan Grant in the serialised murder mystery 'Oh Matilda : Who Bloody Killed Her?'

Grant (pictured) poked fun at FitzSimon's biography of Captain Cook, suggesting it was at odds with his love of Indigenous culture

'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.'

FitzSimons fired off his rebuttal in a piece for the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, calling Grant's comments 'rather odd'.

'Stan has been a semi-regular attendee [of the couple's parties], only to write a mocking piece about it in The Australian a fortnight ago,' he wrote.

Grant wrote that the hosts 'adored 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.'

FitzSimons hit back and denied owning any Indigenous artwork.

'For the record, and contrary to what Stan wrote, I don't have a framed Redfern speech on my wall, nor a photo of me hugging Cathy Freeman, nor Indigenous paintings,' he wrote.

'We don't even have the party on Australia Day any more, having moved it to an Independence Day gathering the day before, for obvious reasons.'

FitzSimons, who has been married to The Project panelist Lisa Wilkinson for 30 years, said his friendships have 'never been confined by political allegiances' in response to Stan's 'lefty love-in' remark.

He finished his piece by saying anyone wondering why they weren't asked to attend the most recent party should 'fear not' because 'a couple of vacancies have just opened up' - a reference to Grant no longer being invited.

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.

FitzSimons, who has been married to The Project panelist Lisa Wilkinson for 30 years, said his friendships have 'never been confined by political allegiances' in response to Stan's 'lefty love-in' remark

At the time Grant called FitzSimons' depiction of Cook's character 'ludicrous' and FitzSimons defended his biography by pointing out it was exhaustively researched.

After Grant's recent story was published, the pair apparently clashed over text message and are not speaking, The Age 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'.
Faith Reeves still remembers the magical moment 18 years ago when her doting husband first cradled their newborn daughter in his arms.

After already welcoming two sons, the long-awaited birth of their first girl, Hope, was marked by celebration for the growing Queensland family.

But the once-beautiful memory is now a sickening reminder of the years of horrific sexual abuse that would befall Hope at the hands of her father Richard James Smith.

In Faith's mind, that loving first embrace will now forever be contrasted with the nauseating sight when she stumbled upon him 15 years later groping their baby girl's breast.

'He is sick, more than sick,' Faith, 43, told Daily Mail Australia. 'No kid should have a monster in their cupboard, but unfortunately mine did.'

Faith Reeves thought she had the perfect family. But her husband was harboring a dark secret. Behind closed doors, he had been subjecting their daughter, Hope, to years of heinous sexual abuse. Pictured: Hope (far left), Faith (left), Cameron (back), Dylan (centre), Richard (front)

Life seemed perfect for the Smiths. There were the occasional fights and typical stresses, but the couple-of-23-years were happily raising their four children, who all have autism, in the pastoral Lockyer Valley, just west of Brisbane.

In 2018, the parents-of-four were running a busy household, home-schooling Hope, 14, and Abbigail, seven, and meeting the needs of Dylan, 18, and Cameron, 16.

They were also caring for Faith's ill mother Dawn, 76, who had recently moved in after being diagnosed with congenital heart failure.

But on August 29, their ideal family would be shattered within seconds by a devastating discovery.

After the kids spent a few hours keeping busy on their iPads, the family decided to come together to watch a DVD, with Richard offering to fetch the PlayStation from a bedroom with Hope.

When the pair failed to emerge after several minutes, Faith went down the hall and sprung open the door to find Richard standing behind Hope, rubbing her chest.

Caught off-guard, Richard jumped back, releasing his teen-aged daughter as she remained frozen in fear.

Richard Smith cradling his newborn daughter Hope in a Lockyer Valley hospital in February, 2003

'What the hell is going on?' Faith demanded, shocked and confused.

After her questions were met with silence, Faith walked into another room and sat down, trying to piece together what she had just witnessed.

Moments later, Hope came to her mother with a dark secret that had been haunting her for years.

'She said: "He was touching my boobies. I can't make him stop,' Faith said.

'My heart sank, because I realised it wasn't the first time.'

'I turned to her and said "well I can".

'That's the second our family broke apart.'

Choking back an avalanche of mixed emotions, Faith jumped into mother-mode, ushering the kids, her mother, and the dog down the other end of the house for safety, while she confronted Richard, expecting him to explode into a fit of rage.

When she charged back to Hope's bedroom, her husband started shouting and throwing projectiles at her, still refusing to explain his actions, before curling himself up in a mattress protector, aware his reign of terror was coming to an end.

Hope pictured aged eight, around the time the abuse began, with the family's dog, called Beagle

As Faith called the police, Richard began to panic, rushing to his phone and laptop to seemingly erase files - which would never be recovered.

After officers arrived, Faith, Dawn, and the kids were escorted to the police station where Hope would spend hours giving detectives a harrowing account of the horrific sexual abuse she had suffered since she was eight.

Meanwhile, left alone in the house with detectives yet to make an arrest, Richard was preparing to flee.

'At the police station he sent me a text saying "Goodbye Faith, I love you",' the mother-of-four said.

'Officers went back to the house to do a welfare check and he was packing his things to go on the run.

'They caught him just in time.'

The incestuous father was taken into custody and charged with three offences, including rape and maintaining a relationship with a child, which later swelled to a total of 32 as the investigation progressed.

As the broken Smiths returned home to spend their first night as a family of six, Faith's mind raked over the disturbing details she'd just learnt about Hope's torment.

'She was raped three or five times a week,' Faith said.

'I'm devastated. I wasn't able to stop him from touching her. I was there and didn't know. Hope was suffering day-in day-out.'

Faith and Richard (pictured together in their youth) were together for 23 years before she discovered him groping Hope in her bedroom on August 29, 2018

Richard pleaded guilty to 20 charges, including rape and incest. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year

In one instance, Richard had instructed Hope to go to her room to complete her online learning, after having insisted the girls be pulled from school to be taught at home.

While Hope was studying on her bed with her laptop, her father came into the room and started performing sex acts on her as she did her school work.

'This was a man I was with for 23 years, who held a security job and should have known better,' Faith said.

'He is disgusting.'

The next morning, the family learnt Richard would not be coming home as his charges were so serious he had been remanded in custody.

His charges were shaved down to 20 after he agreed to plead guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison at Toowoomba District Court on August 4 last year.

Hope, described by the judge as an 'amazing and strong young woman', delivered a powerful victim impact statement that brought the entire courtroom to tears.

'Because I didn't think I had the courage to ask for help, I became numb to everything,' she said.

'I guess I just learned to hide behind a mask. I had really bad self-esteem, I hated myself, and I developed depression where I could not eat or feel happy.'

Although Faith was completely blindsided by Hope's abuse, in retrospect, she realises the family were unhappy under the control of Richard for years. Pictured: The kids cuddling when Abbigail was born

Hope (pictured in recent times with Abbigail) said the abuse had left her self-esteem in tatters, but since her father's arrest she has never felt better

'When he was arrested, I thought it was a dream. I was so scared I was going to wake up and nothing had changed.

'Now I feel I can express how I feel, I don't have low self-esteem, and can say I actually love myself, which I couldn't do a long time ago.'

The 707 days Richard spent in remand was shaved off his prison term, meaning he could spend just eight years behind bars, with the possibility of parole after only six. The prospect that he could one day walk free leaves Faith terrified.

Despite being completely blindsided, Faith realises in retrospect there were signs of her husband's deviant behaviour.

'Mum said once he was caught, she would always wonder why it would always take Richard such a long time to wake up Hope in the morning. It makes me sick,' Faith said.

'The day I caught him was the one day I was wearing bed socks without grips on the bottom. The grips click on the tiles and he would have heard me coming and stopped.

Hope said it 'felt like a dream' when she woke up the day after his arrest and learnt he was not coming home

Faith said all of the kids are doing much better without their father, and Abbigail (pictured) can now read better than her

'These kids have autism and they dont communicate right sometimes. He used it to his advantage. Hope was too frightened to come forward.'

After the shocking revelation, Faith immediately applied for divorce, which was granted 18 months later by a judge after Richard refused to sign the papers.

Now, Faith realises what she thought was the 'perfect marriage' was actually a relationship plagued by domestic violence and a domineering patriarch who used control to isolate the family.

'He managed all of our finances and would get physical, shove me, and yell at me in public. If he wanted sex, he got it. I couldn't talk to the neighbours without getting in trouble,' she said.

'He had a god complex and would remind us that he was 'god' and had to follow his orders. He would use security holds on the boys. Everyone had to have Find My iPhone so he could track us.

'He had me in a corner too scared to leave, fearing if we did he would track us down. But I can see clearly now. I was stupid for not leaving years ago.'

Although Richard was in custody, the family's troubles were far from over.

Just days after he was arrested they were handed an eviction notice after Cameron yelled at a child from an adjacent day care centre who was climbing a shared fence, fearing the infant would fall.

Seizing the opportunity for a fresh start, they decided to relocate to Roma - but soon found themselves facing potential homelessness after struggling to find a house.

Just weeks after the family broke apart, Faith, her mother, and the kids were kicked out of their home. Facing homelessness, the mother-of-four was able to secure a property with the help of Instarent. Pictured left to right, Instarent director George Kuburlis (left), sales director Aron Akca (centre), and chief executive AJ Chand

Desperate to put a roof over her kids, Faith sent an email to Instarent, a company that streamlines landlord-tenant interaction, who were immediately able to secure a property for the family.

'We saw the email, at first we thought this can't be true, within moments I said out loud "we need to call her",' Instarent sales director Aron Akca said.

Aron said Instarent chief executive AJ Chand immediately picked up his phone and dialed her number.

'By the time he finished the phone call, more than half of our office was in tears,' Aron said.

'It was that moment where we knew we had to help her. We couldn't believe what we read, how could one person draw such a bad hand of cards in life and have the drive to keep pushing forward. We felt sad, but inspired to help Faith and her family.'

Faith said the staff at Instarent 'saved' them during the most trying time in their life.

'We were going to have to sleep in the car. They were so understanding. I don't know what we would have done without their help. It was refreshing to have someone actually care,' Faith said.

Faith, Dawn, and the kids, who plan to soon take their mother's surname, have since moved back to the Lockyer Valley after holding a family vote. They do not talk about Richard.

And although father's day is still tough, Hope, now 18, and her siblings Abbigail, nine, Dylan, 22, and Cameron, 20, have started to heal.

Despite their horrific ordeal, the family have bounced back and are now closer than ever before. Pictured: Cameron, 20, left, Abbigail, nine, second from the left, Dawn, 79, front, Hope, 18, centre, Dylan, 22, second from the right, Faith, far right

'The kids have all gotten so much better without him,' Faith said.

'Dylan is making phone calls, and Abi is back at school and can read better than me.'

'Hope can still close her eyes and see what happened, so she tries to keep her mind focused on other things. I hold them close and treat them how they should be treated.'

For Faith, building a life back where it all began has given her the chance to grieve the abrupt breakdown of her marriage.

'On that day, we were a family of seven, but all of a sudden it ended. There wasn't time for me to mourn him as my husband, there wasn't time to get angry, because I was just numb,' she said.

'My kids deserved the chance to have a good dad and they dont have that. It is sad when we see other families that were normal. What happened to us? Why could he not do the right thing?'

'But I am grateful for this journey. It has brought us closer. We all roll together, we are a very tight family.'

'And now we are stronger than ever before.'

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The United States should hold itself to the highest standards and support the World Health Organization (WHO)'s work with real actions, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United States on Saturday.





"China welcomes the return of the U.S. to the World Health Organization. The WHO is an authoritative multilateral international organization in the field of health, not a funfair where one can come and go at will," said the spokesperson in remarks over a statement issued by some senior U.S. official claiming that the U.S. re-engaging the WHO means holding it to the highest standards and questioning some ongoing work of the WHO.





What the United States has done in recent years has "severely undermined" multilateral institutions, including the WHO, and "gravely damaged" international cooperation on fighting COVID-19, the spokesperson noted.





The United States, "acting as if none of this had ever happened, is pointing fingers at other countries who have been faithfully supporting the WHO and at the WHO itself," the spokesperson said, adding "With such a track record, how can it win the confidence of the whole world?"





It is hoped that the United States will "hold itself to the highest standards, take a serious, earnest, transparent and responsible attitude, shoulder its rightful responsibility, support the WHO's work with real actions and make due contribution to the international cooperation on COVID-19. The whole world will be looking," the spokesperson said.




SARS-CoV-2 genome is three times larger than influenza genome. Both consist of NRA molecules that mutate when replicate. It is essential to know its mutant spectrum, in other words, its "fingerprints", to achieve an appropriate treatment that reduces its infectivity -the capacity of pathogens to invade organisms and cause infections-, since its composition of variants could determine how infection would develop in each patient.

Researchers of the University of Malaga (UMA) will be able to examine the depth of these spectra by genetic ultrasequencing techniques thanks to the innovative system they have designed: "QuasiFlow", a tool that enables the analysis of variants present in each patient individually.

We are interested in reaching a deep understanding of the genetic variability of the virus to find out the best way to attack, its weak spot." Professor Ana Grande, Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics and Physiology, UMA

Professor Ana Grande will lead a study next year, funded by the Government of Andalusia, to step up research into new rapid implementation therapies for COVID-19.

New antiviral therapy

Particularly, this researcher of the UMA will coordinate a multidisciplinary team of scientists that will test a new combination antiviral therapy, which combines the so-called lethal mutagenesis strategy and inhibitors of the ExoN proofreading and MTase activities of coronavirus, in order to prevent the virus from evading the innate immune response.

"The idea is to increase the mutation capacity of the virus to turn it against the virus, alter its mutant spectrum so that it loses its infectivity", says Ana Grande, who asserts that she has already achieved this on other RNA viruses, such as the lymphocytic choriomeningitis arenavirus or the hepatitis C virus, by applying nucleoside or base analogues, similar to the basic pieces which genomes are made up of.

The expert clarifies that, this time, they will combine it with peptides -molecules comprised of a few amino acids-, specifically designed against its "Achilles heel", the enzyme that corrects the errors that can wipe it out, to make lethal mutagenesis more effective and obtain better results.

The scientist of the UMA, who has been studying this type of therapies on animal and plant viruses since 1999, assures that SARS-CoV-2 is not an exception, and that it has already been proven that it is sensitive to these mutagenesis therapies.

Phases of research

This way, in the first phase, which is already under way, researchers will apply the UMA software "QuasiFlow" to analyze the mutant spectrum of samples from Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital of Malaga. They will analyze viral samples obtained from patients with different clinical cases, from asymptomatic to severe cases, including reinfected patients, in order to find clear differences in their spectra.

This first phase is conducted by the researchers and bioinformatics scientists of the UMA Gonzalo Claros, Enrique Viguera, Pedro Seoane, Luis Diaz, Josefa Gomez y Diego Lozano, as well as the specialists of Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital of Malaga Jesus Santos and Isabel Viciana.

After ultrasequencing and analyzing the mutant spectra, Ugo Bastolla, researcher of the Centre for Molecular Biology "Severo Ochoa" (CBM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), will carry out the modeling phase to identify the best analogue to perform the mutagenesis. Ana Maria Fernandez and Gregorio Fernandez, experts in protein structures of Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, will be in charge of designing the peptides.

"These scientists will design a tailored therapy based on the previous sequencing of the virus", clarifies the researcher of the UMA, who adds that this realization is essential to achieve new treatments to combat COVID-19, that different strategies should be studied because "we cannot risk everything on one throw" with this virus.

The trial on host cells to test the effectiveness of the combination of these two therapies constitutes the final phase of the study. Researchers will have one year to conduct the trial and EUR 94,800 from the COVID-19 Fund of the Government of Andalusia, to be charged to the ERDF fund.
~ Says language of control increasing ~

Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel has said the World Banks audacity to interfere incorporate personnel matters at the Princess Juliana International Airport is a clear result of weak leadership by the current government and that State Secretary Raymond Knops is getting more comfortable in using the language of control towards the government and people of St. Maarten.

MP Emmanuel pointed out that Knops uses every opportunity to remind the government of St. Maarten of the conditions for the release of funding. He said despite the broad language of cooperation used in the country packages and COHO legislation, the State Secretary always returns to the language of control when he feels he doesnt get his way or things are not progressing how he wants. He threatens funding or reminds you of the conditions. And this has to be laid at the feet of this government who supports these agreements, Emmanuel said.

The MP stressed that the governments casual approach to everything, including what is happening at PJIA, has left the door wide open for entities such as the World Bank to walk through and interfere where they should not. The World Bank and others are taking advantage of a void created by this government and its failure to respond timely and address adequately the issues facing this country. You cannot classify it any other way, the MP said.

The World Bank is now doing damage control after being taken to task about the fact that they have no authority or say over personnel matters at PJIA. Today the government finds it necessary to comment on the letter after it had been leaked. This is weak leadership that hopes issues will just up and disappear, he added.

In the meantime, the MP continued, State Secretary Knops seems to be in quite a rush to impose supervision over St. Maarten through reforms and getting more and more confident in telling St. Maarten exactly what he thinks. Emmanuel pointed to Knops statements that he is not happy with the way St. Maarten manages its airport and stating that the Justice Ministry lacks decisive leadership.

These are his words. First of all, the fact that he can say that the airport is not managed well is very ironic considering it is his CEO in place and his CEO failing dramatically. You cannot stay thousands of miles away in The Hague and try to micromanage the airport through a CEO who believes his position is guaranteed because of the Dutch, a Dutch appointed CFO, and complicit Supervisory Board of PJIAE, MP Emmanuel said.

Our airport was once managed by us. By people, we were proud of. People like Eugene Holiday, Regina Labega, and Michel Hyman. Not people who look down their noses at us. Airport employees were always so proud of that institution. Today what do they have? Intolerant behavior from a CEO who obviously does not respect them, no money, no indication of when they will be getting their money, and consultants who are getting paid millions per year. The airport is being fleeced. So if Mr. Knops doesnt like the way the airport is being managed, he and the World Bank need to step back and let us do the job.

The MP added that the State Secretary and BZK complain about illegal persons on St. Maarten and the burden they have on the system, but received the border control duties they demanded in 2017 and to date cant report on what they achieved with this control. Then they announce proudly in the Dutch media that they are feeding the people of St. Maarten else we would starve come April. This was followed by an announcement by St. Maartens Minister of Finance that about 80% of the people in the food program are unregistered.

The Dutch constantly downplay their failures and elevate perceived failures of St. Maarten. But again this comes back to the local government of St. Maarten who has let Knops, the World Bank, the CFT, and others simply make comments without offering a rebuttal in defense of St. Maarten. Silence is acceptance, the MP said.
It was probably no accident that on the same day of the impeachment trial, when an ugly strain of white nationalism was played back on video to the U.S. Senate, Mark Cuban confirmed on Feb. 9 that his NBA Dallas Mavericks no longer opened games with the national anthem.

A day later, the NBA quickly reversed Cuban and said all league teams will play the anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy.

So, for the moment, the issue is moot.

But Cubans aborted plan is part of a growing effort to chisel away at our national identity and address our growing discomfort with overt signs of patriotism.

Our national cohesion is unraveling

The anthem at sporting events once made us feel part of something large  a people united by our perseverance through two world wars and the Great Depression. Older Americans remember things began to fray during the Vietnam War, when a rapidly growing younger generation decided it would no longer die fighting communism in Southeast Asia.

The anti-war movement merged with other causes to demand equal rights for women, Black people and migrant farm workers. And our modern world was born.

For years after, our sense of nationhood ebbed and flowed, reaching its highest pitch during 9/11 and sliding downward thereafter.

In the past five years, national cohesion has eroded with ever deepening political divisions. An older generation that knew the unifying spirit of World War II has begun to mourn.

As I watch those elderly Americans, I think back on the film No Country For Old Men, in which the past has turned quickly toward the future in West Texas. The modern world is unfamiliar and disturbing to men like Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, played by Tommy Lee Jones.

Don't let Jan. 6 go cold: Before we forget the Capitol attack, make domestic terrorism the top priority it should be

He visits his cousin, Ellis, a retired lawman who lives in a ramshackle home. From his wheelchair, Ellis says to the sheriff, Loretta tells me youre quittin. How come youre doin that?

Story continues

Oh, I dont know, says Ed Tom. I feel overmatched.

Ellis looks at him hard and says, You cant stop whats coming. It aint all waitin on you. Thats vanity.

Cuban was influenced by Kaepernick

Mark Cuban is the new world coming fast. He would pull the plug on the national anthem because five years ago, Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during the anthem at San Francisco 49ers games.

Kaepernick was stepping back from the American family after San Francisco police fired 21 rounds into the body of Mario Woods, a Black man suspected in a knife attack. To Kaepernick, it was the kind of overkill that throughout history has too often claimed Black men.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban

I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color, Kaepernick said.

What few have understood about Kaepernick is that he embodies a movement turning increasingly away from the traditional civil rights of Martin Luther King Jr. and toward the politics of Kings more radical contemporaries. Kaepernick essentially carries the banner of Black nationalism and Black separatism, whose gears grinded to a halt not long after Kings nonviolent resistance led to policy triumphs in Washington, D.C.

The former NFL quarterback finds his inspiration in the words of Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, Malcolm X  the militant dead-enders of the civil rights era.

Their aim is to dismantle institutions

Malcolm X, once a racist and Black supremacist, wanted to take up arms to end white bigotry. He spent much of his time damning and demoralizing mainstream civil rights leaders such as King, Ralph Abernathy and Hosea Williams. He called them chumps and sell-outs and called their March on Washington The Farce on Washington. Malcolm X was later assassinated by other Black radicals in the Nation of Islam after he had renounced the philosophy of Black racism and denounced Elijah Muhammad.

Huey Newton was part of a Black Panther movement that went to war with the American law enforcement that had brutalized Black men. To white Americans who condemned them, those Black militants would remind that in an earlier time, white Minutemen had gunned down their own oppressors  British redcoats.

Trump mob mentality: Leader with an armed following and a Capitol target

Today, Kaepernick is advancing the message with a program for Black children loosely based on the 10-point program of the Black Panthers.

This modern civil rights movement is more hard-edged, more pugnacious than King's  more Malcolm than Martin. Leaders of Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements are determined to dismantle the organizing ideals of the United States, including free-market capitalism. Their greater aim is to redistribute wealth and decision-making authority from what they view as the white power structure.

Racial lines are blurring

For old-timers, even people of color who once followed King, this is disquieting.

You cant stop whats coming.

But whats coming isnt clear.

Indeed, demographers have been missing an important development in our shifting racial-ethnic profile that forecasts nonwhites will outnumber whites by 2050, sociologist Richard Alba told The Wall Street Journal recently.

The majority minority narrative is wrong, said Alba, a professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Alba, who voted for President Joe Biden and describes himself as a liberal with centrist leanings, told The Journal, The surge in mixing across ethno-racial lines is one of the most important and unheralded developments of our time.

Reported the newspaper:

Today, more than 10% of U.S.-born babies have one parent who is nonwhite or Hispanic and one who is white and not Hispanic. That proportion is larger than the number of babies born to two Asian parents and not far behind the number of babies born to two black parents.

Were entering a new era of mixed backgrounds, Alba said. The phenomenon echoes the postwar era when white ethnic groups began to see their incomes rise, began to intermarry and gained greater acceptance in the American community, he said.

This shift is expressed in startling ways

Todays demographic shift expresses itself in startling ways. The Republican Party, despite its full dive into Donald Trumps white identity politics, improved (its) standing significantly among Hispanic voters and made smaller strides among other groups, such as Asian-Americans, blacks and Muslims, The Journal reported.

Cancel culture: Your barista, beauty blogger and fantasy author don't vote the same way you do. So what?

In California this past election, Asian Americans and other minority groups led the fight to overwhelmingly defeat Proposition 16 that would have reinstated affirmative action  government and university favoritism based on race, sex, color and ethnicity.

In Cupertino, California, Asian American parents are opposing efforts in public schools to teach critical race theory, which includes forcing a class of third-graders to deconstruct their racial identities, then rank themselves according to their 'power and privilege', according to the City Journal magazine. In those lessons, Asian American parents hear echoes of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. (It divides society between) the oppressor and the oppressed, and since these identities are inborn characteristics people cannot change, the only way to change it is via violent revolution.

Learning from our Tongan relative

In my own extended family, which 25 years ago was all white and today incudes African Americans, Latinos and Pacific Islanders, we recently had our first discussion about racial profiling that involved one of our own. My nieces husband was singled out by skin color by a security guard at a Big Box store. Hes a darkly complected young Tongan, a person of highest character. All of us in the family were incensed. Those of us who are white learned something valuable.

Before you draw broader conclusions about that, understand that this young Tongan man is also the most conservative member of our family. He grew up sleeping on dirt floors. He had few material things as a child and is deeply grateful to live in this country. He gets annoyed with leftist radicals and minority activists who can only see the nations defects.

Hes also a big sports fan. His first love is the NFL's Green Bay Packers. I asked him whether he heard what Mark Cuban had done with the national anthem. He had. He was miffed: I think Ill have to stop watching basketball for a while.

I told him the NBA had reversed Cuban, and his mood warmed: Oh, maybe I will watch basketball.

Phil Boas is editorial page editor of The Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Follow him on Twitter: @boas_phil

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mark Cuban can't ditch national anthem, but the reckoning isn't over
The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, has presented another piece of evidenceon Facebookabout the state policy of Armenophobia and the deep roots of hostility towards Armenians on ethnic grounds in Azerbaijan.

"Official messages of the president of Azerbaijan about Armenia and Armenians:

1) We will continue to expel these (he means Armenians) liars. They see that we were teaching them a lesson they will never forget.

2) They have neither conscience nor morality.

3) They dont even have the brain..

4) For 30 years, it (he means Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] and in particular Fizuli [Varanda]) was in the hands of wild beasts, in the hands of predators, in the hands of jackals.

5) The remains of the city of Fuzuli are a manifestation of Armenian fascism and a witness to Armenian fascism

6) It was as if a wild tribe had taken over the city.

7) We must and we do wage a more active struggle with Armenia. We have isolated it from all international and regional projects.

The same words are used also by the Azerbaijani military in videos of the killing, torture, and inhuman treatment of the servicemen and civilians of the Armenian side..

The details are reflected in the 2020 joint special report of the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh, which refers to organized hate speech and animosity towards ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan as root causes of ethnically-based torture and inhuman treatment by Azerbaijani armed forces during the [recent Artsakh] war, Tatoyan wrote.

While the brunt of the winter storm heading towards central Pennsylvania is expected to miss the Harrisburg area, we could still be in for a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

It likely wont amount to much accumulation here, National Weather Service at State College meteorologist David Martin said, but it could be enough to make travel difficult on untreated roads.

And once the storm arrives Monday, its expected to stick around until Tuesday afternoon.

There could be periods when its not doing anything, then other times when its hitting hard, Martin said. The good news is the highs are pushing towards freezing or a degree or two above.

That should make travel a little better than the overnight freezing rain and sleet we saw late Saturday and early Sunday.

But dont put away your shovels. More snow is on the way towards the end of the week.

Sunday will be cloudy with a high of 37 and a low around 28.

Monday will see a 60 percent chance of snow, freezing rain and sleet before 7 a.m., turning into sleet and freezing rain. That will transition into rain or freezing rain at night. Expect a high of 33 and a low of 32.

Tuesday will start off with an 80 percent chance of snow, freezing rain and sleet before 10 a.m., then rain until 1 p.m. when the storm moves out of the area. Expect a high on Tuesday of 37 and a low of 17.

The storm is expected to bring less than an inch of snow and about a tenth of an inch of ice.

Wednesday should be mostly sunny with a high of 31 and a low of 23.

More snow is in the forecast for Thursday, but its expected to turn to rain after 3 p.m. According to the Weather Channel, we may see 3 to 5 inches of snow and ice Thursday, followed by a half inch of rain. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Expect a high of 40 and a low of 35.

Friday will be mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain and a high of 45 and a low of 24.

And Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 35.

Visit PennLive.com/weather for your latest weather updates.
Netzines across social media platforms on Sunday, February 14, remembered the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the nation two years ago in the Pulwama terror attack. The day marks two years of the deadly attack when terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed his explosive-laden car into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 Indian soldiers. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The deadly attack pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war, following which India carried out an airstrike on JeM's Balakot terror training camp in Pakistan. It also withdrew the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan following the terror attack.

The CRPF remembered the martyrs of Pulwama attack on Sunday and wrote, "Did not Forgive, will not Forget: Salute to our brothers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation in #PulwamaAttack . Indebted, we stand with the families of our valiant Bravehearts".





   ,     

        "



Did not Forgive, will not Forget: Salute to our brothers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation in #PulwamaAttack . Indebted, we stand with the families of our valiant Bravehearts. pic.twitter.com/pNAAvuCJUU  CRPF (@crpfindia) February 14, 2021

Further, netizens also paid tribute to all 40 soldier who lost their lives in 2019 Pulwama attack.

Tributes to the brave soldiers who died in the #PulwamaAttack and a tribute to their families. #BlackDay#BlackDayofIndiapic.twitter.com/lTMTVbynaC     (@jamilhussan_a) February 14, 2021

Remembering the brave heroes & their families.The supreme sacrifice of the 40 CRPF bravehearts who lost their lives on #PulwamaAttack two years back cant be forgotten.

Blessings and soulful tributes to the valor and sacrifice of the brave Soldiers.#14FebPulwamaBraveheartspic.twitter.com/IpxTTmzL9Y  Deepak Kumar Mahto (@Deepak18331) February 14, 2021

Saluting the real heroes of India who lost their lives in Pulwama attack #PulwamaAttack#PulwamaTerrorAttackpic.twitter.com/ARcQ3tgSit  Deeksha Singh Gaur  (@Blossom_077) February 14, 2021

Black day today 

Shat shat naman to our brave soldiers who laid their life to protect us! Will always be grateful to them & their families #PulwamaAttackpic.twitter.com/3mTNNhS16Z  Ishita Joshi (@IshitaJoshi) February 14, 2021

Those who never returned back to home.

Tribute to our warriors who sacrificed their lives in #PulwamaAttack.



We shall forever be indebted to your valour 



Jai Hind   SHEHNAAZ OFFICIAL FC (@ShehnaazShineFC) February 14, 2021

Remember And Never Forget

Honour of the service and sacrifice of the CRPF Bravehearts who lost their lives in the dastardly terror attack at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

Salute and Respect To Our Bravehearts



Jai Hind #PulwamaAttack@crpfindiapic.twitter.com/TKcsDcJkWS  Warrior Girl (@warriorgirl061) February 14, 2021

Last year, a memorial of all 40 martyrs was inaugurated on February 14 at the CRPF training centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty).

Today as well, the CRPF has organised a wreath-laying ceremony at its Lethpora camp in Pulwama to pay tribute to 40 jawans on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.

Lethpora: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) pays floral tributes to the 40 jawans on the second anniversary of 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/QiFW1PrEYT  ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2021

Since the Pulwama attack, the CRPF has decided to completely overhaul its SOP (standard operating procedure) for moving convoys on the highways. Instead of moving in large convoys, the CRPF convoy moves in smaller contingents with a maximum of 40 vehicles. Also, post the attack, the majority of vehicles used for convoy movements have been upgraded to withstand bullet and low-intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosions.

The government has also allowed all personnel to take a flight to Srinagar from either Jammu or Delhi. It has also increased the frequency of air courier service for central paramilitary forces by adding flights from Delhi to Srinagar via Jammu and back.

Also read: Rebooting Economy 67: Set the record straight before setting up a Bad Bank

Also read: No respite! Petrol, diesel prices hiked for 6th day in a row, continue to soar in Delhi, Mumbai
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
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Now that the Democrats have now tried twice and failed to convict President Trump of impeachment it is time for the nation to take a step back and assess this atrocity and figure out how it can be prevented from ever happening again. And we have a suggestion.

The states should immediately launch a process to amend the U. S. Constitution, and in North Carolina the State Legislature should do the same for the N. C. Constitution, to provide for recall of U. S. Representatives and Senators. This is particularly true for the U. S. Senate.

Senators serve six year terms. Representatives serve two-year terms. Thus, a Representative can be removed in the next election by the people. But six years is too long for the nation to wait to correct a tragedy such as we witnessed with Richard Burr voting to convict President Trump. That is not fidelity to the people who elected him, especially since he is a registered Republican. The Legislature should, by a super majority be empowered to submit a recall to the people for a vote within 90 days of its passage in the State Legislature. The decision of whether to recall should rest exclusively with the People. If recalled no official should be allowed any perks of the office, including their pension.

It is past time for We The People to take back our government from entrenched politicians who, once elected, usually do not fear the they will be held accountable for how they represent those who elected them.

If you study the tenure of U. S. Senators since the 17th Amendment was added to the U. S. Constitution in 1913, you will find that seldom does a sitting U. S. Senator who chooses to run for re-election every get defeated. One can debate the reasons for this but the fact remains: Elections do not hold U. S. Senators accountable for their behavior or their performance. Absent that threat, they pretty much vote how they want, regardless of the sentiments of the people back home.

There is a compelling need for more direct democracy in our system of government. In fact, we think all public officials should be subject to recall and moreover we believe the constitutions should be amended to guarantee the initiative and referendum.

Initiative is the process whereby the People can, via obtaining enough names on a petition have the matter submitted to the people for a vote. Referendum is similar except it is designed to repeal a legislative action. We need all three: Recall, initiative and referendum.

Moreover, we believe we also need term limits, but that is an issue for another day.

These sanctimonious politicians have yelled long and hard about the radicals who stormed the Capitol on January 6. The reasons were actually as numerous as those in Washington that day, but we think many of them traveled there simply because they are disgusted with the way government and those who run it operate. They, like us, are simply fed up. And this impeachment nonsense is not going to help change that feeling. In fact, we fear it will grow and fester until something is done to restore Americans faith in their government. It is not sufficient now, on either the Left or the Right.

The fact that a large percentage of Americans do not believe the 2020 elections were honest and legitimate exacerbates this alienation of We The People. If we dont believe our vote matters what else is there to do?

It is past time that our august salons in Washington and Raleigh wake up and address the credibility issues we have mention above. If they dont we fear we are headed for serious trouble in the not too distant future. And we fear it will be much worse than on January 6.





poll#131
Gigi Hadid showed some love to her boyfriend Zayn Malik and their newborn daughter Khai as she celebrated Valentine's Day on social media.

The runway model, 25, posted a tender black-and-white throwback from Zayn's recent 28th birthday bash, as the duo stood amongst a pile of balloons.

'I love you Valentine && love the Valentine we get to share forever,' Gigi captioned the smiling snap.

Three's company: Gigi Hadid showed some love to her boyfriend Zayn Malik and their newborn daughter Khai as she celebrated Valentine's Day on social media on Sunday

Gigi looked as smitten as can be as Zayn held her tenderly and rested his forehead against her own.

The model recently revealed in an interview with Vogue that she welcomed her first child at her family ranch in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on September 20 with Zayn, her mother, Yolanda; her sister, Bella; and a local midwife and her assistant by her side.

Admitting that she looked 'crazy' during labour, Gigi described her experience by stating, 'I was an animal woman'.

Revealing that she had no idea she had even given birth amid the wild experience and exhaustion, she explained that she looked up to see new dad Zayn cradling their newborn after catching their daughter.

Oh baby! Hadid shares five-month-old daughter Khai with her long-time boyfriend Malik

Although she made it through, Gigi confessed that there were times in her labour where she had second thoughts about having a natural birth.

'There definitely was a point where I was like, I wonder what it would be like with an epidural, how it would be different', she mused.

'My midwife looked at me and was like, "You're doing it. No one can help you. You're past the point of the epidural anyway, so you'd be pushing exactly the same way in a hospital bed."'

Long-term love: The couple have been dating on-off since 2015 (pictured 2016)

Gigi added that she could see 'terror' in the eyes of her family members, but could also see that they remained tremendously proud of her efforts.

'I know my mom and Zayn and Bella were proud of me, but at certain points I saw each of them in terror,' Gigi recalled. 'Afterward, Z and I looked at each other and were like, "We can have some time before we do that again"'.

The model also revealed their child had been given numerous gifts, including one from her good friend Taylor Swift.

Swift used one of her own dresses to sew together a teddy bear for the newborn child.

'It's misshapen, and she called it Ugly Bear,' the model told the fashion magazine. 'She had one when she was little.'
Bombay HC to pronounce verdict in case against Sushant Singh Rajput's sisters today

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Bombay High Court will deliver the verdict in a case registered against Sushant Singh Rajput's sisters for allegedly putting the actor on medication without physical consultation on Monday.

The Bandra police lodged the FIR against the duo on September 7, based on a complaint filed by Rajputs girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty, who is currently in jail in connection with a drugs case related to the actor's death.

In her complaint, Chakraborty accused Rajput's sisters and Dr Tarun Kumar of the Delhi-based Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital of forging a prescription of medicines supposedly for anxiety that were prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

As per the complaint, the medicines were for Rajput.

'CBI should tell if Sushant Singh Rajput's death was murder or suicide'

The 34-year-old actor was found hanging at his residence in suburban Bandra on June 14 this year.

In the petition, Rajput's sisters claimed the FIR was filed based just on media reports and that the complaint was fraught with material irregularities and discrepancies.

They also said there was an inordinate delay of 90 days in lodging the complaint the medicines were prescribed on June 8, the day Rajput asked Chakraborty to leave his house, and the complaint was lodged on September 7.

The petition by way of interim relief has sought a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to whom the FIR against petitioners has been handed over by police, from taking any coercive steps against them.

The CBI is already probing a complaint lodged by Rajputs father K K Singh, who accused Rhea Chakraborty and her family of abetting his sons suicide.

"A bare perusal of the complaint and the FIR shows it does not make out any cognisable offence. The drugs that have sought to be allegedly given by Dr Tarun Kumar are not banned drugs, the petition said.

There is no evidence to show the medicine prescribed was administered to Rajput or anyone else, it said.

"There is nothing in the FIR to suggest that the petitioners had used the prescription to buy the alleged drugs from any third party or induced it to Rajput, the plea said.

"The present FIR has been lodged on a very vague complaint based on alleged conjectures and surmises with ulterior motive to frame the petitioners (Priyanka and Meetu)," it said.

The plea alleged that Rhea Chakraborty was tarnishing Rajput's image by suggesting he was suffering from mental illnesses and was a drug addict.
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The Central government has finally revealed that it will bring a new bill on cryptocurrencies (The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021) in the ongoing Budget session in the Parliament. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) has suggested a ban on private cryptocurrencies in India, like Bitcoin, in India. Additionally, the same committee has pitched for the introduction of an official digital currency that will be appropriately regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

"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 the state, will be prohibited in India," FM Sitharaman said in Rajya Sabha on February 9.

Recently, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur in the Parliament also informed that the government would bring a bill on cryptocurrencies as the existing laws are inadequate to deal with the issues concerning cryptocurrencies.

It must be noted that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had banned banks from processing transactions relating to cryptocurrency in 2018. However, the Supreme Court, vide judgment dated March 4, 2020, lifted the ban. Since then, cryptocurrency has been operating in the country.

Now, the RBI has also clarified that it is working on a digital version of the rupee, and results were expected soon. A summary of the bill stated that it sought to "create a facilitative framework for the creation of the digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India".

How India's new bill on cryptocurrencies will impact Bitcoin investors?

Analysts have speculated that the new cryptocurrency bill might impact some existing investors who are already investing in private digital currencies like bitcoin in the country. This is because if the Centre goes by the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) then private cryptocurrencies will be banned in the country which will understandably cause a loss to the existing crypto investors of the country. However, it is still not clear if the new legislation will include Bitcoin or Ethereum under the list of banned private cryptocurrencies.

Speculation is also rife that the proposed cryptocurrency bill may allow holders of such currencies to exit the asset class before its anticipated ban but may put a heavy penalty on its conversion to a legal asset.

Since the detailed provisions of the bill are not yet known, so there's a lot of ambiguity whether those holding Bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies should sell them or not. As per the official estimates, around seventy lakh Indians hold cryptocurrencies worth more than $1 billion.

Also read: Inter-ministerial group recommends ban on Bitcoin, private cryptocurrency in India: FM

Also read: Cryptocurrency bill: Individuals, corporates to be fined for using digital money


Uttarakhand Glacier Burst Death Toll Touches 50 as More Bodies Pulled Out, Hope for Survivors Dim

A week after the glacier burst in Uttarakhand triggered massive flash floods, officials recovered five more bodies from the Tapovan tunnel on Sunday, where rescue operations are still underway. "Three bodies recovered while taking out muck by machines from the intake Adit tunnel at 04.45 and 05.30 AM at around 120 to 125 mtrs distance from start point," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey told News 18. The two employees at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Tapovan project have been identified as Amal Singh, resident Tehri and Anil from Dehradun. Read More

PM Modi Hands Over 'Made-In-India' Arjun Battle Tank To Army In Chennai, Praises Tamil Nadu Farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over to the Army the homemade Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) in Chennai. At a function, he also accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment. Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs were also involved in the project. Read More

Dushyant's Resignation in My Pocket, Says Father Ajay Chautala Amid Centre's Tussle With Farmers

As the standoff between the protesting farmer unions and the central government over farm laws continues, Ajay Chautala, father of JJP founder and Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, has said that he has his sons resignation letter in his pocket and can give it immediately if it helps resolve the matter. Read More

What is the Cryptocurrency Bill & What Happens to Those Holding Bitcoins in India?

Minister of state for finance Anurag Singh Thakur had said on the floor of Parliament that a cryptocurrency bill is being finalised and would be sent to Union Cabinet soon. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on the governments plan to issue guidelines on cryptocurrency trading, said a high-level committee, which was formed to study issues related to virtual currencies, recommended that all private cryptocurrencies, except any virtual currencies issued by state, will be prohibited in the country. Read More

Petrol, Diesel Prices Continue to Surge in Metro Cities For 6th Day Straight; Check Fuel Rates Here

Petrol and diesel prices touched all-time highs across the four metros on Sunday, February 14, after oil marketing companies increased the rates by almost 29-32 paise. As per reports, in Delhi, the price of petrol was increased by 29 paise from 88.44 per litre to 88.73 and diesel was hiked by 32 paise from 78.74 per litre to 79.06 per litre, as per the Indian Oil Corporation, the country's largest fuel retailer. Read More

White House Cites 'Deep Concerns' About WHO Covid Report, Demands Early Data from China

The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it has "deep concerns" about the way the findings of the World Health Organization's COVID-19 report were communicated. Read More

Virat Kohli's Old Tweet Goes Viral After Getting Dismissed for a Rare Duck Against England

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, along with the world, was left bamboozled after he was dismissed for a rare duck on his 150th innings against England in the second Test in Chennai on Saturday. Facing returning spinner Moeen Ali, Kohli received a snorter of a ball, pitching and turning to find batsman's off-stump. The turn was so vicious that the Indian skipper had no clue how in the world did he get out. Broadcasters showed how Kohli took some moments to realise that he was clean bowled. Read More
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Life without glasses possible after youre 50?

Yes, this state-of-the-art breakthrough technology makes it possible.

Health

By Advertorial

Sunday 14 February 2021, 11:00AM

If you are over 50 years of age, and caught needing your reading and long-distance glasses all the time, hating your glasses and unable to read your smartphone, cant work properly, cant leave your home without them, you must be frustrated with the continuous switch between your multiple eyeglasses.

Your eyeglasses might be limiting you to be a less active individual or unable to enjoy a free active life without glasses. A solution is now here for you; your dream can come true that one day you can truly see again with your own bare eyes. This breakthrough technology can make your dream come true.

The reason we need glasses or bifocals, while getting older, is that our natural lens inside of the eye becomes degenerated and loses its flexibility. The process starts as you become 40, and it will get worse over time.

This explains why your visual range will be more limited, and your reading glasses gradually become stronger with time.

Laser vision correction (LASIK) will not fix this degeneration, due to the fact that the technology cant give you back your visual range nor can it be fixed for both far and reading vision.

The only solution which gives you the best chance to permanently fix the problem and enhance your visual range to the maximum, will allow you to see both near and far with your own bare eyes, is achieved by one-time multi-focal lens replacement surgery.

BrightView Surgery: Its a clear world ahead without glasses  for a lifetime.

BrightView surgery refocuses your vision and restores your visual range by replacing the degraded natural lens with the breakthrough technology Trifocal Artificial Lens Implants. There are three key factors that contribute to this highly successful procedure.

Lens implant

The Trifocal Artificial Lens Implant has been designed to maximize your vision in three zones: Near, Far and In-between. Thats why the technology will allow you to truly enjoy your HD vision with your own eyes.

The implant is made from crystal-clear, non-degradable material and is made to last. The visual result from this procedure is very stable and lasts a lifetime.

Procedure

The procedure itself takes only 30 minutes for each eye, and both eyes will be done on two consecutive days.

Its a micro surgery done through a very tiny 2.75mm painless incision without the need for sutures.

Recovery is very fast; you can achieve over 90% of your normal vision the day after the operation.

Surgeon

To ensure a remarkable result, the surgeon requires a steady hand, the latest technology to assist in accuracy and a specialist with a wide range of long-term experience.

Brightview Surgery is done by Dr Captain Wiriyaluppa, He has specialized in eye surgery for more than 10 years, performed over 2,000 successful multifocal lens implant surgeries with patients from Europe, the UK, the USA, and other countries.

Dr Captain is recognised as among the top 5 Trifocal Lens Replacement surgeons in Thailand, assuring our patients with more precise surgery, and the highest success rate during and after the surgery.

If you come for a consultation with Dr Captain, you will feel that you and your eyes are taken care of by an experienced specialist.

BrightView Surgery can also eliminate cataract eye degeneration. By having the lens replacement you will never have this eye condition for the rest of your life.

If you wish to find out the possibilities to achieve your new world without glasses, please contact us at the BrightView Center at Bangkok Hospital, Phuket!

Contact the BrightView Center at Tel: + 66 7625 4425. Email: BPK.Intermarketing@bgh.co.th Website : www.brightviewcenter.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of several projects in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Sunday, February 14. Ahead of his one-day visit to the states, PM Modi said many development works would be launched that would add rapidity to fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

"Tomorrow, February 14th, will be in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Kochi (Kerala). Numerous development works would be launched that would add speed to fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The projects will boost 'Ease of Living' for our citizens," the prime minister tweeted.

Tomorrow, 14th February, will be in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Kochi (Kerala). Numerous development works would be launched that would add speed to fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The projects will boost Ease of Living for our citizens. https://t.co/NZUT66cjrt  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2021

The projects scheduled to be inaugurated by PM Modi comprise the launch of a Chennai Metro project and a petrochemical complex in Kerala, and will add crucial impetus to the growth trajectory of these states and help speed up the pace for them to realise their full development potential, a PMO (Prime Minister's Office) statement read.

Also Read: PM Modi wants to hand-over agri business to his 'two friends': Rahul Gandhi

PM Modi's schedule

In Kerala, PM Modi will dedicate to the nation Bharat Petroleum's Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at Kochi Refinery and Inland Waterways Authority's Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, at Willingdon Island on Sunday.

He will also inaugurate Cochin Port Trust's International Cruise Terminal and Cochin Shipyard's Vigyana Sagar, campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute, an official press release said.

Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Cochin Port Trust's South Coal Berth.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh L Mandaviya will attend the event, the release said.

The Prime Minister will arrive at BPCL Kochi Refinery at 3.30 PM and address the gathering.

At a press conference on Saturday, Oil minister Pradhan said an investment of over Rs 6,000 crore had been made in the state through these projects which are being either dedicated/inaugurated or initiated.

The dedication of Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at BPCL Kochi Refinery marks the first major endeavour in India, either in public or private sector, to produce Niche Petrochemicals which are predominantly being imported to the country, he said.

Also Read: PM Modi's farewell speech for Azad 'artfully crafted performance': Shashi Tharoor

Minister of State for Shipping Mandaviya said the Sagarika International Cruise Terminal at Cochin Port will open up new vistas of business development in travel, tourism and allied areas.

Reconstruction of the South Coal Berth will ensure quick and efficient handling of cargo meant for Fertilizers And Chemicals of Travancore (FACT) which is showing outstanding performance in recent years, he said.

The Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) vessels between Bolgatty and Willingdon Island will help container carrying vehicles to circumvent the Kochi city roads, thereby ensuring seamless traffic and fuel savings.

The Marine Engineering Training Institute will groom 114 Mechanical/Naval/Architect Engineers every year in a sector which is on a high growth trajectory, the minister said.


Sunday's coronavirus updates: Woman in 30s, man in 40s among four Champaign County residents to lose lives to COVID-19; Vermilion reports 42 new cases, Douglas 14
Desperate couples are turning to Facebook to find sperm donors after the Covid-19 pandemic left fertility clinic stocks depleted and delayed IVF treatment.

One British donor claims he's received dozens requests in the past year - and while he donates his samples for free, he says other men are charging fees of up to 200, which is illegal.

Others request to donate their sperm 'naturally' - via sexual intercourse.

International shortages of sperm donations due to lockdowns across the world is fuelling the online black market, which the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) warns is unregulated and carries significant risks such as sexually transmitted infections or genetically inherited disorders, reports The Sunday Times.

HFEA said a fifth of NHS fertility services have had to stop collecting samples from donors due to the pandemic, and private clinics are recording a fall in the number of donors.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the UK has warned desperate couples against using sperm donors sourced on social media as it's not regulated (stock picture)

Some sperm donors are asking for a fee - which is illegal - for their samples and others request to donate their sperm 'naturally', meaning by having sex

Donors have reported a surge in requests since the start of the pandemic, with some revealing they've donated as much as 10 samples since March 2020.

Bradley White, 36, a father-of-six from Northampton, said he received up to 40 requests for his sperm in the last 12 months and has given his samples for free and provided STI checks, but claimed other men were charging hundreds of pounds for their samples.

'The cost at donor banks is astronomical and with the pandemic a lot of it has stopped,' he said, explaining couples and women were turning to Facebook to find other ways.

White admitted travelling to Ipswich to donate two samples to a couple who put him up in a Premier Inn, and said he provided them with a recent STI check for their 'peace of mind.'

'It seems really shady or dodgy but what comes of it can be great,' White said, adding that he was inspired to donate after hearing of a friend's fertility troubles.

Pictured: several sperm donation groups that can be found on social media. Some request artificial insemination, while other say they are open to 'natural only'

He said couples never asked for ID, but some wanted to know his height and see pictures of his children.

Another donor who operates under the pseudonym Abdul said he registered with a London fertility clinic but decided to do it on social media because there was a lot of 'red tape' surrounding official donation proceedings.

Oxford Fertility, a private clinic, said its number of available donors had fallen by 66 per cent since last March.

Its medical director, Tim Child, said the clinic is still treating patients using sperm donations, but there has been a slowdown in recruitment.

Several charities have warned against these groups, with some saying donors could try to coerce women to have sex with them

These delays have caused several same-sex couples or couples who are struggling to conceive to be placed on growing waiting lists, thus driving the surge on social media.

Several groups have popped up online, including Get Pregnant For Free, Sperm Donor UK or matching website Co-parent Match.

Some of the men are looking to donate 'naturally', meaning by having sex, in a belief that natural insemination is more effective than insemination via syringe - a claim which is not scientifically proven.

Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive science at the Institute for Womens Health, University College London, compared the sperm groups to dating sites and said they could have benefits for people who want to get to know their donors, rather than go through an anonymous process like in a sperm bank.

However, she worries women using these site are putting themselves in a dangerous situation whereby men could try to coerce them into having sex upon meeting.

Bodies also warned that sperm donation via Facebook is not regulated, meaning there are no routine STIs checks or checks for genetically inherited disorders, and that the donors could be pursued for child maintenance

'They have got to the place where they were going to exchange the sperm and the guy has turned around and said, "I havent done it yet. I think it would be better for you if we had sex",' she said as an example.

WHAT ARE THE UK'S SPERM DONATION RULES? Sperm donation is commonplace in the UK and used to help people start families when they can't have children of their own naturally  if, for example, a male partner is infertile, if both parents are women, or if the mother is single. Clinics in the UK are not allowed to pay men to donate sperm, except up to 35 to cover expenses such as travel. More may be offered if accommodation is necessary. A law change in 2005 means men can no longer donate anonymously and must agree for any children born from their sperm to be able to find out who they are after they turn 18. However, a donor father will never be required to parent the child or pay child support. Sperm donors are usually aged between 18 and 41, although older donors may be allowed in some cases. A donor will visit a fertility clinic once a week for between three and six months to make a complete donation  at each visit the donor will ejaculate into a cup and their sperm be frozen. Donated sperm cannot be used to create any more than 10 families per donor, and the donor is allowed to withdraw his consent at any time until the sperm has been used. Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Advertisement

Because the groups are not regulated by the HFEA, there is also no way of knowing whether the donor has been checked for STIs or genetically inherited disorders which could be passed onto a child.

There is also a risk that donors could still be seen as the child's father in the eyes of the law and be pursued for child maintenance - something which the official channels guard against.

Matt Tomlinson, service director for Nottingham Sperm Bank, said the service had managed to keep active during the pandemic because they were a small structure, but admitted it has not been without its challenges.

'Covid has been a kick in the teeth. We quarantine samples to make sure theyre free from viruses and STIs, so you dont get to use them until six months after they have been donated,' he said, warning there's likely to be a knock-on effect later this year.

Yadava Jeve  a trustee of the Seed (Sperm, Egg and Embryo Donation) Trust and fertility consultant at Birmingham hospitals, said she has had patients who were ready to be inseminated wait since last March to get a donor.

Meanwhile, Gwenda Burns, chief executive of The Fertility Network, a charity offering support to sperm donors and patients, said the delays were causing 'emotional distress,' and that the charity has seen a 300 per cent surge in request for support after people were told they would have to wait two years to be inseminated.

Burns called for the Facebook groups to be banned, arguing they are taking advantage of people in distressing situations that really wanted a family but saw no other options than to revert to social media.

She added that delays in fertility treatment for women of a certain age could have disastrous effects on their ability to birth a child.

Since 2005, children conceived through sperm donation can contact their biological fathers if they wish to do so from age 18. A donor is only allowed to donate 10 times.

Donors cannot legally be paid, bar expenses, which usually amounts to 35.

Imported sperm from overseas can cost from 600 per 0.5ml for completely anonymous donations, and can reach 1,300 for families to know more about the donor.

More than 7,000 samples are imported from overseas each year and Brexit has created small delays in delivery.
Read what is in the news today:

-- Vietnam reported no new case of COVID-19 on Sunday morning. The national tally stood at 2,195 patients, with 1,531 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.

-- By 8:00 pm on Saturday, Ho Chi Minh City had cordoned off a total of 21 locations that showed up in the travel history of COVID-19 cases in the city, the municipal Center for Disease Control stated.

-- Police officers in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang said that they had broken up two illegal cockfight gambling rings after catching over 100 gamblers and confiscating VND600 milion (US$26,069) in cash.

-- Officials of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province said on Sunday morning that all people in direct contact with recently announced local COVID-19 cases had tested negative for the virus.

-- As of Saturday, eight staff members of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, all of whom are ground service staffers and baggage handlers under Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS).

-- As of Sunday morning, the Hai Duong Center for Disease Control said that 430 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in 10 out of 12 cities in the province.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
As we emerge from the depths of the 2020 downturn, experts increasingly support expectations of a continued recovery for oil and gas, and market fundamentals indicate an improving balance of supply and demand. However, while the thousands of men and women in the oil and gas industry optimistically look forward to better market conditions, a dramatic shift in politics out of D.C. is presenting very real concerns for our nations energy producers. New orders by the president signed at the end of January will undoubtedly hinder the industrys recovery and lead to the further elimination of good-paying jobs, reduced tax revenues and will impact the many other benefits associated with domestic oil and gas development.

As outlined in TIPROs 2021 State of Energy Report through one of the most challenging periods in our industrys history, Texas oil and natural gas producers continued to show resilience this past year and offered meaningful contributions that supported all aspects of the state economy. Beyond the more than 347,500 direct jobs supported by oil and gas in Texas, the total Gross Regional Product for the industry in 2020 topped $278 billion, or 15 percent of the state economy. Its also reassuring that Texas production largely held steady last year, despite difficult economic headwinds, though modest declines were reported.

One of the recent executive actions targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry was President Bidens order to revoke the permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. As outlined in TIPROs new publication, U.S. employment in the Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction industry alone supported 141,000 direct jobs last year. When factoring in the direct, indirect and induced multipliers for that sector, the number of jobs increased to 638,000. While only a portion of these positions are tied to the Keystone XL pipeline, this illustrates the potential ripple effect that these decisions can have on American jobs and businesses that are tied to the oil and natural gas industry.

As energy policy debates continue, its important to remember that 84 percent of global energy demand is currently met by hydrocarbons. There is also no conceivable path forward to completely displace oil and natural gas with todays technology, nor are there a comparable number of employment opportunities in renewable industries in the United States that could absorb even a fraction of the individuals employed in oil and gas. The promise of new opportunities for all impacted oil and natural gas workers are exaggerated talking points used to sell a narrative to the American people. Impeding one industry to prop up another will result in significant economic consequences, while making our country more reliant on foreign sources of energy that do not adhere to the same environmental standards as the U.S.

The U.S. is a global leader in clean air and water, while continuing to maintain our position as the worlds largest producer of oil and natural gas. This industry has made its commitment to reducing emissions and minimizing its environmental footprint well-known and has achieved measurable success through voluntary actions, collaboration, innovation and billions of dollars invested in greenhouse gas-mitigating technologies throughout the oil and gas value chain. An out-of-sight, out-of-mind strategy is not an effective solution to protecting the environment. It would be far better to work together to improve operational practices, innovation and responsibly develop our countrys resources than to push for a 100 percent renewable transition that is unlikely to ever take place.

At such a pivotal time for the U.S. oil and natural gas industry, we face a future that holds both great promise and uncertainty with a new administration that can affect the lives of so many with a stroke a pen, prompting changes that create very real hardships for many American families. Experts from every energy sector deserve to be involved in decision-making that will shape our energy future. The Biden Administration should show real leadership by working with the U.S. oil and gas industry on common goals, including energy security, job creation and protecting the environment.

Lets harness the progress thats been made, maintain high-quality jobs in the oil and gas industry and push forward together.

--

TIPRO is a trade association representing the interests of nearly 3,000 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As the largest statewide association in Texas that represents both independent producers and royalty owners, members include small businesses, the largest, publicly-traded independent producers, and mineral owners, estates, and trusts.
CMC takes up issue of company charging parking fees failing to pay CMC Rs. 12m View(s):

Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake has promised to inquire into allegations that one of the companies charging parking fees has failed to pay the CMC Rs 12 million.

The issue was raised at the CMC meeting on Friday.

SLPP member Sharmila Gonawala charged that the company which had been collecting money for the past two and half years from a metered system had not paid the CMC.

She said company had violated the contract agreement by not paying money to the CMC.

The ticketing machines managed by the company have also broken down; therefore

no tickets are issued only fines

of Rs 1000 are issued on vehicle owners, she claimed.

She said the company was imposing a large number of fines a day and earning Rs. 1.5 million daily by issuing fines alone.

She called on the Council to

take a decision to stop

the meter company from collecting money.

The United National Partys councillor, Roy Bogahawatta also urged the Mayor to look into the allegation.
As you might imagine, Ive had many harrowing nights working on hospital wards, but I was recently reminded of one particularly upsetting moment.

A couple of years ago, I was involved in removing a baby from her mother due to serious welfare concerns.

This is something I have done many times and, even though I knew that there was absolutely no doubt it was in the babys best interests, it was a horrific experience.

The sound of the drug-addicted mother wailing as her baby was forcibly taken from her was indescribable  I will never forget it.

The mother continued to scream for hours, and I recall one midwife sitting in the office with her hands over her ears crying.

Dr Max Pemberton fears a baby could become an object for sale and a woman's body a workplace, if so-called pre-conception agreements are introduced in Britain (file image)

This memory came back to me when I read in The Economist that Britain is now considering introducing so-called pre-conception agreements for surrogacy arrangements.

These proposals will make a babys intended parents its legal parents at the moment of birth.

In recent years, there have been incredible strides made in the field of fertility treatment, with the development of myriad techniques to help couples struggling to conceive.

But advances in science and technology have also meant that fertility has become a right; a family is now something that can be expected.

Tens of thousands of couples use one form of IVF or another every year. Its now commonplace  something that would have seemed fantastical when the first test-tube baby was born in 1978.

Yet the dramatic rise of assisted conception has brought with it its own set of complex ethical dilemmas  many of which, I fear, we have never properly examined, and which our laws are simply not equipped to deal with.

Many of these dilemmas have no easy answer, and the laws surrounding them vary widely from country to country.

For example, its illegal to select embryos based on sex in the UK, but not in the U.S., so couples who want a male or female child can choose to undergo IVF in America. No laws are broken, but is this ethical?

The most thorny issues relate to the competing rights of the individuals involved, including the children conceived.

Who gets frozen embryos after a divorce, for example? Or what happens when one of the partners dies and can therefore no longer consent to embryos being used?

Dr Max (pictured) said an unintended consequence of advances in fertility medicine is that children are being seen more and more as a lifestyle accessory

As IVF techniques have improved, the possibility of using surrogates has also increased. And this has started to bring with it even more complex issues.

In many American states paid surrogacy is allowed and, as such, it is seen by some as a career. It pays handsomely and many women have a strong sense of vocation.

But theres also the risk of exploitation, and of someone deciding to become a surrogate due to financial pressures.

The rise of women turning into wombs to rent makes me uncomfortable.

While in the UK regulations are far stricter  couples are only allowed to pay a surrogate expenses, for example  the ethical issue of what to do if the surrogate changes her mind remains. There have been cases of the biological mother refusing to give up the baby she has carried for nine months to the woman she had promised it to.

But there is something about pre-conception agreements I find incredibly chilling.

Margaret and Derek Firth, both 91, had been sweethearts since 14. They died with Covid recently, three days apart, suggesting the mind has more power over the body than we think. Studies have shown people of faith are less likely to die around their religious holidays, too. As impossible as it sounds, some people just hold on

It seems to me that the baby would almost become an object for sale, and the womans body would be like a workplace.

It all feels very Handmaids Tale. The person giving birth is just a vessel  an incubator, if you will.

Surely Im not alone in finding this repellent? The psychological effects could be huge.

The unintended consequence of advances in fertility medicine is that children are being seen more and more as a lifestyle accessory  an object which can be paid for. It seems extraordinarily bleak.

I have an image of a mother lying in a hospital bed, having just given birth, looking into the babys eyes and realising she is making a dreadful mistake.

Her body housed and nurtured this baby, turning it into a living, breathing person from just a few cells. She changes her mind. She wants to be a mother, but what then? The police arrive and wrench the child from her arms? Would this ever really be acceptable? I certainly dont think so.

Over the past few decades, women have fought so hard for equal rights, not least reproductive rights.

It is extraordinary that this could result in a situation where those with money, but no children, could contractually insist that a poorer woman give up the child she carried inside her. For all the progress we have made, this would be a shocking backward step.

Now WFH is Whinge From Home

At last, someone talking sense. KPMG boss, Bill Michael, told employees at the top City firm they are in a very lucky sector. He was speaking to 1,500 highly-paid consultants who have been working from home since the start of the pandemic. They now face cuts to their bonuses, and he told them to stop whingeing and take control of their lives. Spot on!

Jeremy Hunt (pictured) revealed he regrets not expanding the number of doctors and nurses while in office

Yet his comments sparked an outcry among the workers, and he was forced to apologise and later resigned. But why? Its true! These people are paid eye-watering sums of money, and have been in the privileged position of being able to work from home while others put their lives on the line for a fraction of what they earn.

To me, the fact that the KPMG staff cant see how lucky they are, and dare to get angry at someone telling them to stop complaining, is emblematic of the spoilt, entitled elite. It just emphasises how the pandemic has shone a light on the class divisions in this country. Perhaps those who feel so hard done by should come and spend a few days working with a cleaner on a Covid ward.

All credit to former health secretary Jeremy Hunt. In an interview with The BMJ, he said he regrets not acting earlier to expand numbers of doctors and nurses while in office from 2012 to 2018. Weve really been on the back foot from the start on test and trace, and in some ways it dates back to the period when I was health secretary, he added. How refreshing  a politician admitting he made mistakes. I wish more would follow his lead.

Dr Max prescribes...

The happiest man on earth

Dr Max said The happiest man on earth (pictured) helps to put our woes into perspective

This book is just extraordinary, and it really helps to put our woes into perspective.

After surviving seven years in Nazi concentration camps, as well as a death march, Eddie Jaku made a vow to smile every day.

Despite the horrors that Eddie witnessed, this powerful memoir, published as he turned 100, is astonishingly uplifting.
India salutes Pulwama martyrs on two years of the terror attack where 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. They were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them.

Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the dastardly terror attack. And today, two years later, Indians remember the bravehearts. #PulwamaAttack is currently trending on Twitter with nearly 25,000 tweets.

File

Indians pay tribute

International sand artist and Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to the fallen soldiers with sand art. "The day when India lost 40 CRPF men. 2 years of Pulwama terror attack: We will never forget and Never forgive! #PulwamaAttack," wrote a Twitter user. Another Twitter user said that it was the day entire country cried.

           "

Never Forget,Never Forgive. Salute to our bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the Nation. Jai Hind#PulwamaTerrorAttack #Pulwama pic.twitter.com/slDzaCmzp5  M.S.Bhatia,IPS (@MSBhatiaIPS) February 13, 2021





2 years ago this very day many lost their fathers, brothers, sons and friends. What we loose, this country lost it's 40 sons who were unaware of the attack ahead. They weren't martyred on war zone, they were attacked from behind. This is will a #BlackDayForIndia #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/Gdf9XDIDae -- Tushar Kant NaikAUM$ (@TusharKant_Naik) February 13, 2021

#PulwamaAttack#PulwamaTerrorAttack #BlackDay !!

14 February 2019

Never Forget ,Never Forgive

The Moment When Whole India Cried !! pic.twitter.com/IAOVx398gS -- Ayush Vaishnav (@AyushVa21516182) February 13, 2021

14th February 2019

"Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack . They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom. #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/nsGRL5KE7k -- MAHIMA (@ItsMaahiRajput) February 13, 2021

Today most of the People will be celebrating Valentines Day with their better halves.



But ever thought about the families of the 40 CRPF Jawans who sacrificed their lives for INDIA.



Someone lost a son, a father, a husband and a Brother.



BLACK DAY FOR SURE#PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/yx4TJyH39Z -- Underrated (Offline) (@DSavageGuy) February 13, 2021

About this day

The attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, 2019. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

AFP/ File

Days later India carried out an airstrike on JeM's Balakot terror training camp in Pakistan. India had also withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan following the terror attack. The international community had expressed its strong support to India in the wake of the terror attack. The memorial having names of all 40 jawans killed in the attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020 at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama.

AFP

The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty). Remembering sacrifice of the bravehearts, netizens took to social media to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who laid their lives for the nation.
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

No alliance with Bodoland People's Front for Assam polls: Himanta Biswa Sarma

India

oi-Deepika S

Guwahati, Feb 14: Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday made it clear that the ruling BJP will not have any alliance with its existing ally Bodoland People's Front (BPF) in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.

In the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), the BJP has already formed an alliance with the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and is currently holding talks with another outfit Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) regarding seat sharing arrangements, Sarma said.

"We have been telling it many times that our alliance with BPF was for five years only and both sides were committed to it. They are still in our government and it is healthy politics," the BJP leader said.

Congress will never implement CAA if voted to power in Assam: Rahul

In the BTR, the BJP will have a seat sharing agreement with the UPPL and Lok Sabha MP Naba Sarania-led GSP, Sarma, who is also Convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the NDA version in the north-east, said.

Formed in 2005, BPF is a state political party in Assam with its headquarters in Kokrajhar.

"We have already started negotiations with Sarania and it is moving in the positive direction. We will announce our candidates within 48 hours of announcing poll dates," he added.

BPF's relation with BJP went sour during the latest elections of the 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council, where the saffron party dumped its state ally BPF and formed the council government in alliance with UPPL and GSP.

The BJP is currently the single largest party in the 126-member Assam house with 60 MLAs, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BPF now have 13 and 11 lawmakers respectively. The ruling coalition also has the support of an Independent MLA.

The new regional party Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), which has formed an alliance with another fresh political outfit Raijor Dal, has recently said that it is talking to the BPF and "it is moving in the positive direction".

The elections to the Assam Assembly are likely in March- April. The 2016 elections gave a fractured mandate and no party got an absolute majority in the current assembly.

The opposition Congress has 19 MLAs at present, while the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has 14 members in the house in Assam.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 22:25 [IST]
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A student of Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, Disha is among the notable climate activists in India.

The arrest of climate change activist Disha Ravi, in connection with the "toolkit" case being investigated by the Delhi Police, drew condemnation from opposition leaders and academics on February 14.

The action taken by the Delhi Police, which reports to the Union Home Ministry, was labelled as "atrocious" by activists who were appalled by Disha's arrest. A group of academics, in a joint statement, referred to the police action as the Centre's "diversionary tactic".

CPI(ML) leader Kavitha Krishnan tagged the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Twitter, as she demanded the immediate release of the 21-year-old Disha.

"Immediately release Disha Ravi. Youth and environmental activists are the pride of their home countries and the entire globe. They're fighting for our futures," she tweeted.

Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at the government over her arrest. "Completely atrocious. This is unwarranted harassment and intimidation. I express my full solidarity with Disha Ravi," the Congress veteran said.

Also read: Who is Disha Ravi? All you need to know about the climate activist arrested in 'toolkit' case



Activists in jail while accused terrorists are on bail. Wondering how our authorities would commemorate this case on the anniversary of Pulwama Attacks? You have the answer in this pair of headlines. pic.twitter.com/lkft38pNBj

 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 14, 2021

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also marked his angst on social media, stating that "activists are in jail while accused terrorists are on bail".

A group of 79 noted activists and academia members, based in several parts of the country, issued a joint statement calling for her release.

"The current actions of the Indian Government, instead, amount to gagging democracy itself," the statement read, adding that the current actions of the central government are aimed at "diverting" the country's focus from the "real issues like the ever-rising cost of fuel and essential items".

The arrest of Disha is also part of the government's measures to "delegitimise the ongoing farmers' protest and the nationwide solidarity it has generated", it further added.

Support for the embattled climate activist also emerged from abroad, with UK MP Claudia Webbe calling for global condemnation of her arrest.

"A climate activist from India she campaigns for clean air, clean water and a liveable planet. She is now facing state sanctioned violence for peacefully supporting farmers. Silence is not an option we must all condemn this act of suppression," she said.

"India has arrested Disha Ravi, a 21-year-old climate activist, for her role in sharing (and possibly editing) a toolkit that explains how people abroad can express solidarity with Indian farmer protestors. Let that sink in," Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director of think tank Asia Program said.

Disha sent was to a five-day remand by a Delhi court on February 14, a day after she was arrested from her Bengaluru-based residence. The police has claimed that she was one of the editors of the "toolkit" - a Google document which the government is viewing as a plan of action to stoke "economic, cultural, social and regional tensions" in India.
McConnell: Trump Responsible for Jan. 6 Attack

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - In his speech from the Senate floor, Sen. Mitch McConnell called former president Donald Trump morally responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.But earlier Saturday in his vote on Trump's impeachment, McConnell said not guilty because he said a former president could not face trial in the Senate.Washington's most powerful Republican and the Senate's minority leader used his strongest language to date to excoriate Trump minutes after the Senate acquitted the former president, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to find him guilty. Seven Republicans voted to convict.The Senates longest-serving GOP leader said Trumps actions surrounding the attack on Congress were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty. He noted that though Trump is now out of office, he remains subject to the countrys criminal and civil laws.He didnt get away with anything yet, said McConnell, who turns 79 next Saturday and has led the Senate GOP since 2007."It was powerful to hear the 57 guilties and then it was puzzling to hear and see Mitch McConnell stand and say not guilty and then minutes later stand again and say he was guilty of everything," one of the House prosecutors, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said Sunday on ABC's This Week. History will remember that statement of speaking out of two sides of his mouth.A guilty vote by McConnell would have marked a more direct effort to wrest the party away from Trump. That could have prompted 2022 primary challenges against GOP incumbents, potentially complicating Republican efforts to win back the Senate majority in 2022.Time is going to take care of that some way or another, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked about the party's course. But remember, in order to be a leader you got to have followers. So were gonna find out.After Saturday's vote, Democrats launched their own attacks against McConnell and the GOP. Speaking to reporters, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., mocked the cowardly group of Republicans in the Senate she said were afraid to respect the institution in which they served.She also said McConnell had created a self-fulfilling prophecy, forcing the Senate trial to begin after Trump left the White House by keeping the chamber out of session. Republicans say Pelosi could have triggered the proceedings earlier by delivering official impeachment documents sooner.McConnell had signaled last month that he was open to finding Trump guilty. He informed GOP senators how he would vote in a private email early Saturday, saying, While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primarily of removal and we therefore lack jurisdiction.He expanded on his rationale on the Senate floor after Saturday's roll call, making clear his enmity toward Trump's actions.There is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the event of that day," he said.


Eric Trump and Lara Trump attend the State of the Union address in Washington, DC, on Jan. 30, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Lara Trump Biggest Winner After Impeachment Trial: Lindsey Graham

Former President Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, can now be seen as a contender for the 2022 Senate race after Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) voted to convict the former president in the Senate impeachment trial.

Certainly I would be behind her because she represents the future of the Republican party, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said of Lara Trump, who is the wife of Eric Trump.

Burr, who previously chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee, is slated to retire in 2022.

The biggest winner I think of this whole impeachment trial is Lara Trump, the South Carolina senator said on Fox News Sunday. My dear friend Richard Burr, who I like and have been friends with for a long time, just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs.

And at the end of the day Ive been involved in politics for over 25 years, Graham added. The president is a handful and what happened [at the Capitol] on 6 January was terrible for the country. But hes not singularly to blame. Democrats have sat on the sidelines and watched the country being burned down for a year and a half and not said a damn word, and most Republicans are tired of the hypocrisy.

Burr, in explaining his vote, said the Democrat House managers evidence [was] compelling that Trump allegedly incited violence during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Burrs vote was later condemned by the North Carolina Republican Party. The other North Carolina senator, Thom Tillis, a Republican, voted to acquit Trump.

North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to uphold the Constitution and his vote today to convict in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing, the party chairman said in a statement.

Lara Trump, a former personal trainer, has not made any public comments on whether shed run for office. A report in November claimed, citing anonymous sources, that she would be considering the Senate seat.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Trumps team for comment.

In the vote, seven of the 50 Senate Republicans joined the chambers unified Democrats in favoring conviction. The House last month impeached Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6. Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Saturday.
Editor: As usual, Republican state representatives and senators express concern about the size of Gov. Tom Wolfs proposed budget.

I have one simple way to cut the budget. Reduce the size of our state Legislature. Our Legislature is the nations second-largest, only behind California, and is the most expensive in the whole country. We probably will lose a congressional seat resulting from the census, due to population changes.

But members of our state assembly will continue to add to their slush fund, which The Times-Tribune has reported on.

Representatives and senators dont want citizens to pay closer attention so they dont want a tax increase. No one will notice the biggest bloat in the budget is our representatives.

ELIZABETH DONAHUE

SCRANTON

Editor: Theres a third partner in the White House along with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Its called science.

Remember science? Scientific discoveries created or enhanced everything we eat or wear and every form of communication and transportation we use  along with every medicine we take.

The coronavirus pandemic and climate change are exactly the kinds of challenges that require all that science and scientists can give us.

We ignore science at our own peril, as has been shown over the last four years. Accepting real science could have prevented thousands of pandemic deaths, perhaps some of them unfortunately your friends or family. By ignoring well-established science about climate change, we lost four years in that fight exactly when we didnt have four years to lose.

Already Biden and Harris have used sound science to make decisions that will help to make life-and-death differences in our future. They accept that science says distancing, mask-wearing and ramping up production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine are the best ways to halt the spread of the coronavirus. All Cabinet offices now unite in following science to fight planet-altering climate change.

After four years of science darkness, three cheers go out to Biden, Harris and the return of science. Together, they bring light and represent hope for the future.

JANE CHILDS

STATE COLLEGE

Editor: In an address last week to world governments Pope Francis called for a Copernican revolution in the post-COVID-19 world.

It would generate a shift to a more economically just world where we value people and the planet over profits. It would create an existence that brings life, not death, and is inclusive, not exclusive, human and not dehumanizing and one that cares for the environment and does not despoil it.

Just like astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century, Pope Francis calls for a complete change of expected norms. The hardened dominant orthodoxy would be overturned and a more egalitarian model would be erected.

Instead of battling the Ptolemaic model of the heavens, which described the cosmos with the Earth at the center of the universe, Francis has a much harder job: Convincing modern-day masters of the universe that greed, profit and the extraordinary concentration of wealth in the hands of a few are at the center and we revolve around it.

I commend the pope for taking up this challenging task. Heavy lifting must be done. My only worry is that camel passing through the eye of the needle social gospel rhetoric might not be enough to bring real change. Or worse, it may be too late.

JEFFREY PETRUCCI

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP.

Editor: Deluded defenders of former President Trump claim that his exhortation for his supporters  If you dont fight like hell youre not going to have a country anymore  had nothing to do with inciting their savage siege on our Capitol shortly after those words tumbled off his toxic tongue on Jan. 6.

I suppose we should believe that Trump meant for them to fight like hell by registering to vote and politically organizing, as many in the manic MAGA mob reportedly had not even bothered to do so in the November election. Nevertheless, thousands of them assembled near the Capitol, poised for the unlawful attack order from their leader.

How stupid do apologists and enablers think people are? As they continue to try to equate the storming of the Capitol and attempted overthrow of our government to last summers riots that were sparked by George Floyd being slowly murdered by police for nine minutes, apparently they think we are as stupid as they are.

VINCE MORABITO

SCRANTON
It is decided.

The former Prez proves victorious and there wasn't really much of a doubt about the outcome.

Despite drama throughout the week, the conclusion isn't a surprise and we can only hope this helps the nation MOVE FORWARD from its obsession about the trolling of a TV game show host who had two or three good ideas amid a litany of unproductive, divisive and unprofessional drama.

Yes, the Senators from Missouri & Kansas voted to acquit but that's only a surprise to the willfully naive. Meanwhile, it's uncertain if any of this is REALLY news.

Read more . . .
Fishermen of Kappal Adiya helpless as backhoes destroy mangroves By Padma Kumari Gamage Allege Grama Niladhari involved in clearing up operation View(s): View(s):

The mangroves on the banks of the Odaya river in Kappal Adiya in Kalpitiya are now at the mercy of a development project.

Residents of the Kappal Adiya fishing village in the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat area allege that the Administrative Grama Niladhari of the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat has used backhoes to clear the mangroves.

Everybody loves mangroves, because during the monsoon season we catch prawns from this stream as the prawns lay their eggs between the roots of the mangroves, a fisherman from the area said.

Villagers were afraid to protest over the clearing of mangroves as there was political involvement he said adding that a senior police officer and the Grama Niladhari had threatened the fishermen who were curious about their visits to the place.

In response to a query Kalpitiya OIC Chief Inspector A.R.M. Mawshan said that the land was a freehold property belonging to the Grama Niladhari and the Grama Niladhari had given permission to the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary to start the development project by clearing the mangroves.

Attempts to contact Kalpitiya Acting Divisional Secretary Dilrukshi Fernando proved futile.

Meanwhile Puttalam Divisional Secretary Chandrasiri Bandara said he could not comment without examining the condition of the land. However, he added that mangroves could not be cut down even on freehold land.
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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349

GIVE ME THE NUMBERS

Figures published on Friday show 248,284 doses given, including 89,380 people in nursing homes and frontline health workers who are now fully vaccinated.

This includes 245,915 Pfizer/BioNTech doses, 1,893 Moderna and 476 Oxford/ AstraZeneca. And 1,610 doses were given to people outside the priority groups.

WHO IS GETTING WHICH VACCINE?

All over-70s, staff in residential care settings and frontline healthcare workers who already started their vaccines receive an mRNA vaccine from PfizerBioNTech or Moderna.

From Monday, 22,000 healthcare workers will get the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and this will be used for most under-70s.

The European Medicines Agency approved all three for all ages, but last week Irish authorities decided the evidence so far around protection for older people favours mRNA vaccines.

AGE MATTERS

Vaccination for over-85s starts on Monday across 84 GP practices in 20 counties. Twelve thousand are expected to be vaccinated by weeks end from a group of 72,000.

This will increase to 42,000 weekly, and move next to people aged 80-84 and down the ages to cover 490,000 over-70s in a 12-week span by mid-May.

The good news for younger people now is the priority sequencing list is being re-assessed. But there is no confirmation yet of how this could be re-set or who will benefit first.

WHO WILL GIVE ME MY JAB AND WHERE?

For most over-70s, it will be a family doctor. In some cases, doctors from smaller practices will buddy-up with a bigger practice, or send patients to a vaccination clinic like the one being built at the Munster Technological University.

Almost everyone else will attend a GP, a pharmacist, or a mass vaccination centre.

Centres at Cork City Hall and elsewhere will be staffed by a mix of HSE vaccinators, healthcare workers and medical volunteers.

Arrangements will be made for people who cannot leave home. The HSE indicated this week it could have help from the Defence Forces or the National Ambulance Service for this.

About 6,000 people, including 270 retired GPs, have taken vaccinator training so far.

WHAT IF MY GP IS NOT DOING VACCINES?

It emerged this week at least one GP has conscientious objections and will not give these vaccines.

A survey by GP Buddy in December found up to 5% of GPs would not get the vaccine based on evidence then available.

The HSE helpline 1850 24 1850 should in theory help anyone in this situation as doctors have been asked to alert them to this choice.

They will also refer anyone who does not have a GP to their closest centre.

SHOULD I BOOK A VACCINE?

GPs will phone all over-70s.

The HSE online portal for everyone else is still under development. It is hoped the delays encountered by GPs  some are still waiting  when booking their own shots will be ironed out before the public uses it.

WHO'S LEADING THIS ROLL-OUT?

The roll-out is more like a spider's web than a ladder.

The High-Level Taskforce on Covid-19 Vaccination drew up an implementation plan, led by Professor Brian MacCraith.

The HSE connects that plan to reality, led by a Covid-19 Immunisation Working Group under Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry.

The vaccine supply chain is managed by the HSE National Immunisation Office and the National Cold Chain Service.

The HSE is now working with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Medical Organisation around older patients vaccinations.

Up next is the Irish Pharmacy Union, whose members will give vaccinations, but are still waiting on their own shots.

WHERE'S THE SCIENCE?

Advice on age-groups comes from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Karina Butler, based on European Medicines Agency approvals.

Vaccine safety is assessed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, again working with the European Medicines Agency.

Training information for healthcare workers and information for the public comes mainly from the HSEs National Immunisation Office.

WHY DOES THE PLAN KEEP CHANGING?

Vaccine supply is a huge obstacle. Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca cut supplies, before boosting them again but not yet to the agreed-upon amounts.

This week, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said vaccine science is ahead of industrial capacity.

One of the current bottlenecks is linked to just two synthetic molecules. If we had just 250 grammes more of these molecules, companies say they could produce one million more doses of vaccine, she said.

All the same, it can be hard to take when we hear 301,279 doses were given in Northern Ireland under a separate UK deal.

And we did have our expectations raised and then dashed by political over-promising.

In mid-January, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said 700,000 people would be vaccinated by the end of March.

But only days earlier during a press briefing, Prof Brian MacCraith had refused to speculate on dates or figures, saying the situation was too uncertain.
Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee on Saturday extended her support to the farmers protesting against the three contentious agri laws on the borders of Delhi.

Visiting the farmers on the Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, Bhattacharjee said: "There is so much truth in your reason that it speaks for itself. I am with truth and will always stand by it."

The 84-year-old, who is also the chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum, exhorted farmers to remain peaceful in their protest and urged the government to take care" of the farming community.

We have not come here as part of any political programme. We have come here today for the farmers, who have fed all of us our whole life," Bhattacharjee said.

We are because of you all. In the benefit of farmers lies the benefit of the country and all of us," she was quoted as telling the protesters.

She recalled that the first fight for independence from the British rule in 1857 had also started from Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh.

Bhattacharjee said she has come to the protest site to pray for the farmers, according to a statement issued by BKU's media in-charge Dharmendra Malik.

I want, whatever happens, farmers should be benefitted by it. Nobody is unaware of the hard work that the farmers do and it is not to be said again that in the benefit of farmers lies the benefit of our country, and all of us," she said.

She was joined by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi chairman Ramchandra Rahi, All-India Sarv Seva Sangha managing trustee Ashok Saran, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi director Sanjay Singha and National Gandhi Museum director A Annamalai.

Thousands of farmers are camping at Delhi's border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November last year in protest against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre in September.

The farmers claim that the new laws and lack of a law on MSP would hurt their livelihoods while the government has maintained that the legislations are pro-farmer. The impasse continues even after 11 rounds of formal talks between the government and farmers.

With inputs from agencies.









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Legal education should aim at promoting 'Justice' rather than just resolve disputes & improve relationship. The study of law in order to be meaningful has to be context of social realities.

In the era of specialization it is fruitful to concentrate on a career right after twelfth and the five-year course provides ample time to build a sound background in the subject and develop professionalism. The period of five year is sufficient for a law school to equip their students with professional-skills as per the market (social) demands.

The five-year law course was introduced in 1984 to attract brilliant students into the stream of legal studies. Bar Council of India, with the support of Govt. of Karnataka, started the National Law School Of India University, at Bangalore in 1987 as center of excellence. The idea of Bar Council of India was to make the study of law as prestigious and attractive as technological and management studies in the IITs & IIMs, which are India's premier institutes.

Originally Bar Council of India thought of having one National Law University for the whole country as a model, later the idea got greater acceptance among educationists & administrators to have at least one such National Law University in every state.

The admission process to these law schools/universities is almost same and based on a national level entrance test comprising of the following subjects:

(a) General Knowledge, (b) General English, (c) Legal Aptitude, (d) Reasoning, and (e) Essay (f) Elementary science

1. Significant legal events and developments

2. Current events of national and international importance

3. General Science

4. History of India

5. Geography

6. Indian Polity and Economy. Most Questions will be of multiple-choice answers. A few may be of subjective type and short notes on legal terms. (See with the admission notification)

THE NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITIES:

(a) National Law School Of India University: Established under the National Law School of India Act (Karnataka Act 22 of 1986) on Aug., 29,1987. The first academic session commenced from 1988. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact address. -National Law School Of India University

P.O. Bag 7201, Nagarbhavi

Bangalore - 560 072

India.

(b) National Academy of Legal studies and Research, Andhra Pradesh Act 34 of 1998. The first academic session commenced from 1998. It offers B.A., B.L. (Hons.) course.

Contact address. - Deputy Registrar

NALSAR University of Law

3-4-761, Barkatpura, Hyderabad - 500 027 A.P., India.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(c) W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences. Established under the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Act, 1999 (Act IX of 1999) by West Bengal Legislature in July 1999. The first academic session commenced from 1999. It offers B.A./B.Sc., LL.B (Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Salt Lake City, Kolkata, W.B.

(d) National Law Institute University, established under the Act No. 41 of 1997 of the Madhya Pradesh Legislature. The first academic session commenced from 1998. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact address: Professional Examination Board, Chayan Bhawan, Main Road No.-1, Chinar Park (East); Bhopal.

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(e) National Law University, established under the Act 22 of Rajasthan in Nov. 1999. The first academic session commenced from 2001. It offers B.A./B.Sc./B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) courses. It also offers B.Sc. (Hons), Environmental Science/ Bio-Technology/ Information Technology &Computer Application), LL.B. (Hons.)

Contact Add. - The Registrar

(f) National Law University

NH-65, Nagour Road,

Mandore, Jodhpur - 342304 (Raj.) - India

Phone No. - 0291-2572530

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(g) Hidayatullah National Law University, established under the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chhattisgarh Act 2003. The first academic session commenced from 2003. It offers B.A./B.Sc., LL.B. (Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Civil Line, Next to Raj Bhavan, Raipur (C.G.) 492 001

Phone No. 0771-5080114, 5080117, Fax - 771-5080118

Mobile: 98261 58910

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(h) National Institute For Advanced Legal Studies, established by Bar Council of Kerala & Bar Council of Kerala Trust in 2002. It is presently affiliated to Cochin University Of Science & Technology. It is aimed to be transformed into a National Law University/ Deemed University very soon. The first academic session commenced from 2002. It offers B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Contact Address - National Institute For Advanced Legal Studies,

Kaloor, Kochi - 682 017, Kerala

Tel: 0484 - 2337363

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(i) Tamilnadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, established in October 1997 pursuant to the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University Act 1996. It is not a residential university like other law schools/universities. But since 2002,The School of Excellence In Law was established so as to develop it as a Premiere institution in the country for teaching law. The first academic session of the school commenced from 2002. It offers B.A.,B.L. (Hons.) course.

Contact address - The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University

"Poompozhil" 5, Greenways Road,

Chennai-600 028.

Telephone: (044) 494 1212/494 1919

Fax: (044) 495 7414

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

(j) Gujarat National Law University, established under Gujarat National Law University Act 2003, on 12 Mar. 2003. The first academic session commences from 2004. It offers B.A./B.Sc./B.Com., LL.B.(Hons.) courses.

Contact address - Gujarat National Law University

Old NIFT Building,

E-4 GIDC, Electronic Zone,

Gandhinagar - 382 028,

Gujarat, India

Besides these national level law universities/schools, there are various other universities offering five year integrated law course. Some of them are as follows:

Govt.Law College, (University of Bombay), Mumbai.

ILS Law College, ( Univ.of Pune), Pune.

Symbiosis Society's Law College, (SIEC-DU/ Univ.of Pune), Pune.

ICFAI Law College, ( ICFAI University), throughout India.

Amity Law School, (GGS Indraprastha Univ.), Delhi.

Army Institute of Law, (Punjabi University), Patiala.

Bishop Cotton Women's Christian Law College, (Univ. of B'lore),Banglore.

Dayanand Law College, (Shivaji University), Solapur, M.S.

Faculty of Law , (Goa University), Goa.

School of Law & Legal Studies, (G.G.S. Indraprastha University), Delhi-6.

IAMR College, (C.C.S University, Meerut), Gaziabad., U.P.

J.S.S Law College, (Mysore University), Mysore

University College of Law, ( Karnatak University), Dharwad

B.V.Bellad Law College, (Karnataka University), Belgaum.

Faculty of Law, (Aligarh Muslim University), Aligarh, U.P.

Faculty of Law, (Jamia Millia Islamia), Delhi-25.

National College of Law, ( Kovempu University), Simoga, KAR.

National Law College, (M.D.University,Rohtak), Sec-42 Gurgaon, HR.

Faculty of Law, (Mohan Lal Sukhadia University), Udaipur,Raj.

Faculty of Law, (Rani Durgawati Vishwavidhyalaya), Jabalpur, M.P.

University of Calcutta, Senate House, Kolkata- 73.

University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, W.B.

University Law College/ Madhusudan Law College, (Utkal University), Bhubaneswar-4.

Many affiliated college to above mentioned universities offer five year integrated law course. For details check with the respective universities.

So, the school leavers should not frustrate/confuse and opt for a career in law. The future is very bright in law. It is a very challenging and respectable job.

Justin Trudeau has also promised security for Indian diplomatic missions and personnel in his country against alleged Khalistani and separatist elements in Canada. Previously in two instances, Trudeau had reiterated his support to the farmers and their right to protest.

Taking a U-turn on his initial stance on Farm Protests, Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has now commended India for holding talks with the farmers holding demonstrations against 3 farm laws passed by the Indian government. Last year, Justin Trudeau had raised concerns over the same Farm Protests, which India had called unacceptable interference.

Justin Trudeau has also promised security for Indian diplomatic missions and personnel in his country against alleged Khalistani and separatist elements in Canada. Previously in two instances, Trudeau had iterated his support to the farmers and their right to protest.

Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry on Friday stated that PM Trudeau commended efforts of India to choose the path of dialogue as befitting in democracy. Srivastava added that Trudeau also acknowledged the responsibility of his government in providing protection to Indian personnel and premises in Canada.

Also read: India China border talks: Defence parliamentary panel to visit Galwan valley to review situation

Also read: China-Pak Vaccine CanSinoBIO: Inferior Chinese vaccine approved for emergency use in Pakistan

This week, Trudeau had dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a supply of Coronavirus Vaccines produced by the Serum Institute. Trudeau also said that Indias tremendous pharmaceutical capacity and PM Modis leadership would be key to the world overcoming the pandemic.

Also read: China setting up debt trap for Myanmar: Heres how it views Myanmar as an opportunity
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) - The Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City is one of the first private hospitals to get a hand on COVID-19 vaccines under the World Health Organizations COVAX facility.

I was told by the LGU (local government unit) that they are getting the vaccine for us, said CSMC chief medical officer Dr. Zenaida Javier-Uy in an interview with CNN Philippines.

San Juan City mayor Francis Zamora also confirmed that the private hospital will get Pfizer vaccines.

Ang national government ay maglalaan sa San Juan pati sa Metro Manila LGUs (local government units) ng Pfizer, he said. Ang unang batch na darating na Pfizer na darating sa San Juan, ito po ay para sa kategoryang ito, for the healthcare workers, for medical frontliners wherein kasama po ang Cardinal Santos diyan.

[Translation: The national government will allocate Pfizer vaccines for San Juan and for other Metro Manila LGUs. The first batch of Pfizer vaccines that will arrive in San Juan are meant for healthcare workers, medical frontliners, wherein the Cardinal Santos is included.]

The country is expecting within this week the arrival of 117,000 doses of vaccines produced by Pfizer under the COVAX facility.

Javier-Uy said that the hospital had already acquired ultra-low temperature freezer for the Pfizer vaccines, which require 70-degree Celsius freezing temperature.

She added that 3,600 doses of vaccines will be allocated to the hospitals 1,800 healthcare workers and other employees in contact with patients.

The CSMC was also the first hospital that handled the first case of local transmission of COVID-19 in March last year.

The initial batch of vaccines is expected to cover healthcare workers in referral hospitals such as the Philippine General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu.

Aside from the Pfizer vaccines, 5.5 million up to 9.2 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca are expected to arrive within the first quarter of the year.

But the Department of Interior and Local Government said there is no definite date yet when the Pfizer vaccines will arrive in the country.

Although you committed delivery, you cannot commit a specific date, said Usec. Epimaco Densing in an interview with CNN Philippines. The words came from them it will arrive next week. Although they did not mention any specific date. So you can only mention na expected na darating sa linggong ito (So you can only mention that they are expected to arrive this week).

Meanwhile, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. said that it has not yet received any word from the government on how many vaccine doses will private hospitals get.

But the organization said that local government units are already coordinating with some private hospitals in preparation for the arrival of vaccines.

Last week, nag-umpisa na po ang coordination ng mga local government units po sa mga different private hospitals at different healthcare facilities, especially dito sa provinces, said PHAPI president Dr. Jose De Grano in an interview with CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend.

[Translation: Last week, the local government units already started coordinating with different private hospitals and different healthcare facilities, especially in the provinces.]

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Lois Calderon and Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report

The seven Republican senators who voted to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection are already feeling the heat back home.

Several state Republican parties moved quickly to discipline or criticize home-state senators for breaking with the 43 other Senate Republicans who voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial.

The Louisiana GOP immediately censured Sen. Bill Cassidy, while state party officials in North Carolina and Pennsylvania issued sharp statements expressing disappointment over the votes cast Saturday by Sens. Richard Burr and Pat Toomey.

The moves are the latest in a series of censures and disciplinary actions doled out to lawmakers deemed to be critical of the former president in the wake of the Capitol riot. Trump, acquitted Saturday of inciting the insurrection, still has broad support among Republican voters and state and local parties have lashed out at elected officials who have been critical of his actions.

In Wyoming, the state party voted to censure Rep. Liz Cheney for her House vote to impeach Trump. The Arizona Republican Party recently censured Republican Gov. Doug Ducey after he opted not to back Trump's bid to subvert the election results. The Arizona party also censured Cindy McCain, GOP Sen. John McCain's widow, and former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake after they backed Joe Biden for president.

Sen. Ben Sasse, one of the seven Senate votes against Trump, is also facing potential censure from the Nebraska GOP central committee for his harsh criticism of the presidents efforts to overturn the election results.

Sasse, who was also censured by the committee in 2016 for being insufficiently supportive of Trump, responded last week by releasing a direct-to-camera video denouncing a brand of politics marked by the weird worship of one dude.

Yet it was Cassidy who received the harshest rebuke Saturday.

Four days earlier, the state party described itself as profoundly disappointed when Cassidy joined five other Republicans to vote that the Senate trial was constitutional. Cassidy defended that vote, arguing Trump's defense team did a "terrible job."

Story continues

The Louisiana GOP's executive committee said Saturday in a statement that it voted unanimously to censure Cassidy for his vote to convict.

"We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump," the party added in a tweet. "Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him."

Cassidy defended his vote in a two-sentence statement.

"Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty, the senator wrote.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., listens during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.

The chair of the North Carolina Republican Party called Burr's vote to convict Trump "shocking and disappointing." Burr, who is not running for reelection in 2022, was the only one of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump who voted earlier in the week that the trial was unconstitutional.

"North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to uphold the Constitution and his vote today to convict in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing," Michael Whatley wrote in a one-sentence statement.

Burr said he still thinks the trial was unconstitutional, but since the Senate voted the trial was constitutional, he respected that vote as "established precedent."

"As I said on January 6th, the President bears responsibility for these tragic events," Burr said in a statement Saturday explaining his decision. "The President promoted unfounded conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the integrity of a free and fair election because he did not like the results. As Congress met to certify the election results, the President directed his supporters to go to the Capitol to disrupt the lawful proceedings required by the Constitution. When the crowd became violent, the President used his office to first inflame the situation instead of immediately calling for an end to the assault."

Lawrence Tabas, Pennsylvania GOP chair, was also critical of Toomey's vote.

I share the disappointment of many of our grassroots leaders and volunteers over Senator Toomeys vote today," Tabas wrote in a statement. Tabas called the trial an "unconstitutional theft of time and energy that did absolutely nothing to unify or help the American people.

Toomey, who is not running for reelection in 2022, explained his decision in a lengthy Twitter thread, saying that he voted for Trump for president in November because of his administration's "many accomplishments" but that Trump betrayed the Constitution and his oath of office.

"A lawless attempt to retain power by a president was one of the founders greatest fears motivating the inclusion of the impeachment authorities in the U.S. Constitution," Toomey wrote. "Unfortunately, his behavior after the election betrayed the confidence millions of us placed in him."
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The reaction was as sweeping as it was swift. In a moment of time, TV and movie star Gina Carano was fired by Disney from her role on TheMandalorian and dropped by her talent agency. What did she to do deserve such harsh treatment? In a social media post, she compared societal hatred in America today because of ones political views with societal hatred of the Jews in Nazi Germany before the Nazis implemented their maniacal extermination plan. For that, she was cancelled.

This is what Carano posted (before deleting the tweets on Wednesday): Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers buy by their neighbors even by children.

She continued: Because history is edited, most people today dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?

So, Carano was not comparing the slaughter of 6 million Jews, among then 1.5 million children and babies, to the treatment of Americans who hold to politically unpopular views. Instead, she was comparing the attacks on Jews, simply because they were Jews, with attacks on Americans today, simply because of their dissenting political views.

Was her point exaggerated? To an extent, it certainly was.

Are Christian conservatives (and others who are not PC) being beaten in the streets the way Jews were in Nazi Germany? Absolutely, categorically not.

But was there merit to her overall point? Yes, there was.

She was saying, Learn a lesson from history! It is dangerous and potentially deadly to demonize and marginalize a sector of society, branding them pariahs that are not fit to live, simply based on their ideology or belief or religion or ethnicity.

What is so outrageous about making this point?

At most, she could have been lectured about being more careful in her comparisons, lest the unspeakable magnitude of the Holocaust be minimized. And she could have apologized for any misunderstanding and stood by the overall point she was making.

But to be fired and dropped in a matter of hours reflects something terribly wrong with our culture  and it was the very thing against which she was warning.

The fact is that the more you demonize one particular part of the population, the more you open the door for violent acts to be committed against them.

Thats one reason I have tracked the marginalization and demonization of Christian conservatives for more than 15 years.

We are commonly likened to ISIS (and before that, to the Taliban and Al Qaeda). We are branded Nazis and members of the KKK. We are told that the blood of gay teens is on our hands. Placards and signs call for us to be thrown to the lions.

Should not attention be called to this? Is this not a potentially dangerous trend?

As a Jewish follower of Jesus who has written about the horrors of the Holocaust, I am not suggesting that Christians (or, more broadly, political conservatives) are about to be shipped off in cattle cars to death camps. Not at all.

But I am saying that I understand the point Carano was making, and under no circumstances did it merit her firing.

Why, then, was the action against her so swift? Why was the outcry so great?

Its obviously because Carano herself is a political conservative and, perish the thought, a strong supporter of Donald Trump. Rid the earth of such a one!

In a previous post, she had challenged the wisdom of the COVID mask mandate. These days, that is a line that cannot be crossed.

She had referred to some  I repeat, some  BLM activists as cowards and thugs, but clearly qualifying those of whom she spoke. That, too, crossed a forbidden line.

And she had refused to list her preferred gender pronouns on her social media accounts, because of which she was slammed in the ugliest terms. You do not cross the trans-line these days without serious consequences.

In response, she posted, I dont think trans people would like all of you trying to force a woman to put something in her bio through harassment & name calling EVERYDAY for MONTHS. Such as Racist Transphobe B**** Weirdo  I hope you die I hope you lose your career your fat, youre ugly.

It would appear, then, that Caranos firing was the result of her refusing to be PC for many months now. And once the public outcry rose over the Holocaust-related tweets, she was out.

In an attempt to justify their actions, Lucasfilms stated that her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.

But where did she actually do that? To what posts were they referring? And how did her most recent tweets cross that line? Simply stated, they did not.

Ironically, there was no outcry in 2018 when Pedro Pascal, who plays the lead role in The Mandalorian, tweeted an image of Jews behind barbed wires in Germany, 1944, over an image of children in cages in America. The caption read: #ThisisAmerica.

For many reasons, this was a much more unfair comparison than the one Carano was making, yet Pascal was neither censored nor fired. Worse still was the fact that the picture Pascal used of the caged children was apparently shot in 2010. And it was not even a picture from America. Instead, it was the photograph of children in a Palestinian soup kitchen.

But no matter. Caranos firing has little to do with concern about the legacy of the Holocaust or the past suffering of the Jewish people.

Instead, it has everything to do with poking the bear of political correctness, and her firing illustrated the very point she was making.

It reminds me of the picture I once saw depicting angry Islamic extremists. They were shouting, How dare you call us terrorists! We will kill you!

In Caranos case, it was more like this: How dare you accuse us of marginalizing and cancelling and demonizing people. For that, you are marginalized and cancelled and demonized!

Enough said.

In December 2016, more than two years after the collapse of his efforts to broker a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians, then-Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the conflict with Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg at the Brookings Institutions prestigious Saban Forum. Kerry concurred with the foreign policy establishments long-held view that Israels only route to peace with Arab states -- notwithstanding the Jewish states separate agreements with Egypt and Jordan -- was through a deal that brought a Palestinian state into existence. There will be no separate peace between Israel and the Arab world, Kerry declared. I want to make that very clear to all of you.

Kerry acknowledged that his unequivocal judgment was not universal: Ive heard several prominent politicians in Israel sometimes saying, well, the Arab world is in a different place now, we just have to reach out to them, and we can work some things with the Arab world and well deal with the Palestinians. Kerry then dismissed the Israeli view out of hand. No, no, no, and no. I can tell you that [was] reaffirmed even in the last week as I have talked to leaders of the Arab community. There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace. Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.

In August 2020, Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, assisted by the Trump administration, proved John Kerry and the foreign policy establishment wrong. The Abraham Accords -- which Sudan joined last month, and which Israel and Morocco supplemented with a separate agreement two months ago -- charted a new course after two decades of failed efforts by American diplomats to secure a conflict-ending settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. Moreover, in contrast to the cold peace that has prevailed between Israel and Egypt since 1979 and the cold peace that has held between Israel and Jordan since 1994, Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain have enthusiastically embraced their normalization of relations.

The Abraham Accords are rooted in shared interests. Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain are determined to counter the Islamic Republic of Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons, its export of Islamic extremism throughout the Middle East, and its quest for regional hegemony. At the same time, the two Arab Gulf states and Israel see extraordinary opportunities to develop commercial ties and launch educational and cultural exchanges.

To build on this achievement by promoting stability and freedom throughout the region, the Biden administration must overcome the grip of conventional wisdom. The initial signs are not encouraging.

On the very August day that the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement announcing the normalization of relations, several Brookings experts opined that the diplomatic accomplishment harmed or overlooked the Palestinians. One Brookings fellow maintained, The losers, as often, are the Palestinians. Another asserted that Palestinians would be the big losers. A third contended that the agreement was a cynical deal that demonstrated that Arab authoritarian regimes cant be bothered to pretend they care about Palestinian rights. A month later, Atlantic editor Goldberg agreed that the Palestinians were the big losers.

Despite the discouraging experience of four successive U.S. administrations -- two Democratic, two Republican -- knowledgeable progressive figures held fast to the dream of a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians lurking just around the corner if only the United States could summon the will and ingenuity. Veteran diplomats and longtime observers seemed unable to imagine the benefits that full and warm diplomatic relations between Israel and additional Arab states could bring to the Palestinians, starting with the variety of gains from free-flowing commerce between Israel and Gulf Arab states.

But not all.

In a September Washington Post piece, David Makovsky, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joined with Daniel Shapiro, who served as President Obamas ambassador to Israel, to find in the Abraham Accords an opportunity to challenge the conventional wisdom. History and common sense, they wrote, both show that Arab states that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel play a more active role in supporting Palestinian aspirations than those who do not.

In a recently released Washington Institute monograph, Building Bridges for Peace: U.S. Policy Toward Arab States, Palestinians, and Israel, Makovsky goes further, exploring concrete ways the Abraham Accords can set the stage for improving the lives of Palestinians. However, a sober evaluation of the constraints on diplomacy, he cautions, is essential. The Biden administration, facing enormous tasks  at home and around the world, will have limited resources to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he acknowledges. And in late March, Israel faces its fourth election in two years Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority continues to operate the worlds most fervently indulged kleptocracy while in Gaza Hamas maintains an Islamist theocracy dedicated to Israels destruction. Given the destabilizing challenges all around, Makovsky discerns little near-term prospect for a final-status deal.

But he does propose a constructive path forward. Last summers breakthrough, he contends, provides a chance to shrink the conflict. This echoes Israeli author Micah Goodmans analysis. In April 2019 -- well before the Abraham Accords had been contemplated -- in an Atlantic piece and again in an update last month in the magazine in light of the Abraham Accords, Goodman made the case for setting aside the dream of a near-term comprehensive peace in favor of focusing on incremental steps that simultaneously promote Palestinian freedom and prosperity while preserving Israeli security.

A senior adviser in 2013-2014 to Martin Indyk, then-Secretary Kerrys special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Makovsky is determined to keep the old dream alive. The establishment of a Palestinian states that lives in peace with Israel should remain, in his view, the organizing principle of American diplomacy in the conflict even as he recognizes that realization of the dream must be reconceived as a long-term undertaking. The hopeful shift in regional dynamics, he writes, presents opportunities for Washington both to widen the arc of Arab-Israeli peace and to use that progress to reinvigorate Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Instead of the all-or-nothing approach characteristic of his former State Department boss and of the foreign policy establishment in general, Makovsky urges the Biden administration to adopt a strategy of gradualism. Such a strategy would steer clear of the core issues. It would foster positive trends in Arab-Israel state-to-state cooperation. And it would minimize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict  while preserving the two-state framework endorsed by the last four U.S. administrations -- Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump.The main elements of Makovskys gradualism include recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and reaffirmation of negotiation by the parties as the means to determine the citys final borders; assistance to the Palestinian Authority to reform its domestic governance and diplomacy, and to develop the West Banks economy; regular talks between the parties to achieve interim understandings; and consultation on Hamas-controlled Gaza.

These are reasonable steps to shrink the conflict. To carry them out and to realize gradualisms full promise, however, Makovskys approach must address three issues that his monograph overlooks.

First, the Biden administration must be persuaded that the Abraham Accords have transformed the dynamics of Middle East politics. Largely staffed with former Democratic Party officials who cling to the old catechism, the new administration has yet to emancipate itself from the disproven conventional wisdom that the only policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict worth pursuing is one of near-term comprehensive peace.

Second, the private sector must be encouraged to invest in the West Bank. Instead of spearheading government-led development projects, the United States should help create conditions favorable to private investment in the territories many Israelis call by their biblical names, Judea and Samaria. Rather than government officials and national bureaucracies, it should be entrepreneurs, financiers, and philanthropists -- from the Gulf states, Israel, the United States, and, of no small importance, the areas under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction -- who should be given room to identify and pursue profitable and useful ventures that create opportunities and improve the Palestinians condition.

Third, Israels broader security perspective must be taken into account in fashioning reasonable concessions and compromises. Makovsky mentions the grave threat posed by Iran. One must add that Hezbollah has positioned more than 120,000 rockets and missiles -- all of which are meant for Israel -- in Lebanese civilian areas and structures while constantly increasing and upgrading its armaments through a supply chain originating in Tehran and passing through Syria. Hezbollahs massive and increasingly sophisticated aerial arsenal gives it the capacity to strike most of the Jewish states population and accurately hit vital military installations. In the Gaza Strip, Hamass supply of rockets and missiles is less formidable but of concern, particularly in the event of war with Iran.

To complete the break from the failed past -- and improve the long-term prospects for peace for all parties -- it will be necessary to implement genuinely incremental measures that, without prejudging the most difficult issues, improve Palestinian lives while preserving Israeli security.
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Nigerian fighter, Kamaru Usman, has successfully defended his UFC welterweight title following a third-round blowout of his Brazilian opponent, Gilbert Burns, early Sunday morning.

Burns, a friend and ex-team-mate of Usman, could not go beyond the third round despite showing early signs he was going to push the Nigerian Nightmare all the way in the main event of UFC 258.

Burns was able to rock Kamaru Usman with a right hand in the opening seconds of the first round but could not sustain the tempo to secure a finish.

Then in round two, Usman rebound by rocking Durinho with a big right hand of his own. The Nigerian Nightmare carried that momentum into round three where he dropped Burns with a jab and then finished him with ground and pound.

The 31-year-old Nigerian has held the title since March 2019 and this is the third defence of the belt as he now improved his UFC record to 18 wins with just the one loss.

I dictate what happens in a fight, Usman told BBC Sport Africa before this latest win. Based on how prepared my opponents are, that dictates how the fight goes but rest assured that one thing is for sure  at the end of the fight, my hand will be raised.

Apart from keeping his title, this latest win recorded by the Nigerian Nightmare has seen Usman break the record for most consecutive wins at 170lbs in the promotion (13).

In his two earlier title defences, Usman also had a fifth-round TKO victory over rival Colby Covington in December 2019 while he got a decision win against Jorge Masvidal last summer.
As coronavirus outbreaks rage at several Oregon prisons, inmates at a minimum-security facility in Salem are pushing for changes after they say administrators sent dozens of inmates who had just tested positive for COVID-19 back into the general population.

Inmates at the Santiam Correctional Institution said theyre increasingly concerned about the way administrators are handling the pandemic and believe the Oregon Department of Corrections has knowingly placed inmates in danger.

According to six inmates at the Salem prison, administrators began sending COVID-positive inmates back into their dormitories Jan. 21  a day after the prison offered mass testing that revealed an outbreak of about 50 cases. The inmates said some of those who tested positive were sent back to their dorms for more than 24 hours before being transferred to a quarantine unit.

Instead of cells, the men housed in the minimum-security prison sleep in large rooms lined with bunk beds. There are four dorms, each with about 100 units.

Inmates said theyve repeatedly tried to push for testing of those who feel sick, as well as better sanitation protocols throughout the prison. But they reported their calls often fall on deaf ears.

Department of Corrections Spokeswoman Jennifer Black said that 50 Santiam inmates tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 20. The departments chief medical officer requested testing for all Santiam inmates who wanted them, and the department began working on transportation plans for inmates who tested positive.

Black said the inmates, who were all asymptomatic, were told to keep their masks on while they waited to be moved and were taken to the quarantine unit at the nearby Oregon State Penitentiary the next day.

If an adult in custody had been symptomatic, he would not have been held in general population and would have been transported to the COVID-19 Recovery Unit at Coffee Creek (Correctional Facility) as soon as possible, Black said in an email.

She said that while Santiam has offered mass testing only once so far, they offer tests to all inmates who request them. She said 114 Santiam inmates have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic and that 86 of them have recovered, including the 50 who tested positive on Jan. 20.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 42 inmates have died of coronavirus across all of Oregons prisons.

But some inmates say theyve felt that prison staff are indifferent to the safety of inmates.

There was a lieutenant in here who said, I hope it runs through here so we can all get it over with, Waquas Bhatti, an inmate, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. And theyre kind of reckless with the mask wearing, too.

Juan Chavez, a lawyer with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, said the Santiam inmates reports are consistent with those across most Oregon prisons.

A facility like Santiam, which is entirely dorm housing  thats the worst conditions you can ask for to prevent the spread of COVID, he said. I dont think there was any question that if it got in, it was going to spread in the way that it does.

Chavez was one of the attorneys who argued to have all inmates across Oregon prisons prioritized for coronavirus vaccinations. A judge ruled in favor of the inmates last week.

Evan Coral, a volunteer with the prison rights advocacy group Lane County Mutual Aid, conducted interviews with several Santiam inmates in an effort to shed light on conditions in the prison. He provided audio recordings of the interviews to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

James Russell Hunt, a Santiam inmate, told Coral he tested negative before he arrived at the prison last month. Within 14 hours of arriving, he said, he was exposed to at least three people who had tested positive.

I went to lunch, and a guy sat one foot away from me. I came back from lunch, and the guy in the bunk next to me, the bunk above me and the bunk kitty-corner from me all rolled up their stuff and got shipped out with COVID-positive results, he said.

Another Santiam inmate, Bryan MacDonald, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that guards have reprimanded or stopped inmates whove tried to take their own safety precautions.

One inmate found his bunkmate to be positive, so he put a chair a few feet away and sat down, MacDonald said. The officers made him go back. They forced him within a four-foot distance of two people who were COVID-19 positive.

MacDonald and other inmates are alarmed the Department of Corrections is still continuing to transfer inmates between prisons.

(Oregon State Penitentiary) shut down a dorm with 500 people, MacDonald said. The DOC is moving people on a very rapid scale.

Hunt said the day he arrived at Santiam, the Department of Corrections cleared 60 beds as inmates were transported. He said there were new inmates in all those beds the next day.

Black, the department spokeswoman, said all bunks are disinfected before new inmates are brought in.

Dave Donat, a Santiam inmate, also took umbrage with social distancing protocols in the prisons dining hall.

Were sitting 100 deep with four trays to a table, Donat told The Oregonian/OregonLive. This is their version of social distancing.

Black said the agency cant maintain social distancing in the dining hall but food is served to inmates from each unit separately. Workers disinfect tables and chairs between servings, and have slowed down the calls to the dining hall to allow inmates more space in line.

OTHER PANDEMIC EFFECTS

Santiam inmates said theyve been struggling with other effects of the pandemic. Many refuse to take COVID-19 tests because they dont want to be sent to isolation.

Its already been pretty hard in here with COVID  were not able to use the phone much, we dont get our regular canteen and hygiene like we normally would, Bhatti said. Theres a lot of setbacks to testing positive, so a lot of people just wont test.

MacDonald also said inmates have not been able to attend previously-offered religious services since the pandemic began  and have been stopped from gathering for modified versions of those events.

Were already huddled right up next to each other, bunk to bunk, Bhatti said. Why cant we get together and pray?

MacDonald said inmates are growing increasingly afraid for their own safety.

I understand were inmates and that comes with a level of mistrust, he said. But I wish people would see that the DOC is not keeping us safe at all.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
A $1.5 billion property fund is waiting to pounce on distressed buildings as the COVID-19 crunch further disrupts Melbournes commercial property market, emptying office towers.

The seismic shift in workplace attitudes caused by the pandemic is prompting big corporations, which cannot break long-term leases signed before the pandemic, to flood subleasing markets with excess unwanted office floors because staff are working from home.

The Little Bourke Street building that once housed Paddy Pallin outdoor store and B-grade office space could be among those ripe for conversion. Credit:Simon Schluter

Between June and December last year the amount of available sublease space in the CBD soared 186 per cent to 182,416 square metres, a figure three times the normal annual average, commercial real estate agency CBRE estimated.

And a long list of corporate tenants were considering shedding office space including Australian Super, Medibank, AGL, Origin, KPMG, NBN, CUB and Deloitte, two people from prominent commercial property firms, who asked not to be identified because it would jeopardise commercial deals, told The Age. Thats just the tip of the iceberg, said one.
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Grand Welcome for PM Modi in Chennai on 14th February 2021. (Photo: R Parthibhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Grand Welcome for PM Modi in Chennai on 14th February 2021. (Photo: R Parthibhan/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Kochi, Feb 14 : Amid tight security Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kochi on Sunday to launch new projects of central public sector organisations.

The police and the SPG had taken over the entire place after reports surfaced that the Congress workers might stage a protest.

He was received at the airport of the Southern Naval Command by state PWD Minister G.Sudhakaran and others.

From the airport he took a helicopter to the Rajagiri educational group's ground and reached the inauguration venue by road. Enroute, he was greeted by a large number of BJP workers.

Modi will inaugurate around five different projects from the same venue of the Cochin Refinery, on account of security.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan also will share the stage with Modi.

The programme includes dedicating BPCL's Rs 6,000-crore Propylene Derivatives Petrochemicals Project to the nation, launch of Sagarika, the Rs 25 crore Cochin Port's international cruise terminal, laying the foundation stone for Cochin Port's reconstruction of the south coal berth and a new knowledge centre of Cochin Shipyard Ltd Vigyana Sagar among others.

After that Modi will attend the core committee meeting of 13 party leaders of the state BJP unit, as the Assembly polls are around the corner, where he is expected to give a pep talk to the leaders. He will return to Delhi around 6 p.m.

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/14/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report includes spoilers that reveal if Hazel and Tarik are still together or if the couple split up.]

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So are Tarik and Hazel still together now or did the couple split?

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

couple Tarik Myers and Hazel Cagalitan been shown looking for a girlfriend for Hazel on Season 8, so did Tarik and Hazel follow through with everything they wanted and get married? Are they still together or have they split, and what are the latest spoilers on their relationship?Tarik was a 43-year-old realtor and single father from Virginia Beach, VA, when he first saw Hazel, a single mother from Quezon City, Philippines who is now 28-years-old, on an Asian dating website.After three months of dating virtually and over the phone, Tarik traveled over 9,000 miles and 36 hours to meet Hazel in-person in the Philippines on : Before the 90 Days' second season.Tarik took a lot of heat from family and friends, especially his brother Dean, for pursuing a relationship with a woman overseas. Tarik's loved ones worried he was being scammed and Hazel was just after a Green Card, especially because she lived in the poorest of conditions.Although Hazel was a little shy and reserved, Tarik still decided to pop the question before he traveled back to the United States.Tarik and Hazel were still engaged six months after : Before the 90 Days' second-season finale aired on TLC in October 2018.Tarik later returned to the Philippines several more times to visit Hazel, and in the meantime, he was waiting for Hazel's K-1 visa to be approved.Hazel even agreed to sign a prenuptial agreement for Tarik to prove that she was with him for love."She is beautiful on the inside and outside. She's like an Asian version of Angelina Jolie and I love her," Tarik said in a confessional on 's eighth season.At the time 's eighth season filmed, Tarik and Hazel had been together for two years and Hazel finally got approved for a K-1 visa.Hazel was going to meet Tarik's seven-year-old daughter Auri for the first time. Tarik apparently has majority custody of Auri, who stays with her father five out of seven days a week and lives with her mother on the weekends.Tarik shared how Auri has high-functioning autism and everything in his life revolves around her. Tarik hoped Hazel would love Auri and that they'd get along wonderfully.Hazel also has an eight-year-old son Harrey, and Hazel was having a tough time leaving him behind. Tarik and Hazel therefore planned to bring Harrey to the United States "eventually" in order to give the boy more opportunities in life.Tarik admitted he was "surprised" when he learned Hazel is bisexual, and he told her that Virginia Beach is "full of smoking hot women."Hazel apparently wanted to have a girlfriend on the side, and Tarik therefore wondered how that was going to work and whether Hazel was really in their relationship for him or just permanent residency in the United States."We're not even married yet -- and what you're thinking about is the girlfriend we need to find?" Tarik explained in a confessional."We've had some trust and jealousy issues in the past, so it does make me nervous. But she wants to go full steam ahead on this thing, so I hope we're really ready for it."Tarik revealed he had questioned Hazel's character one time but ended up being wrong.Tarik had been engaged for almost a year when he and Hazel had a big misunderstanding. Tarik recalled how they thought Hazel was pregnant at the time and so Hazel took one positive pregnancy, followed by two negative tests about a week later."So I'm thinking that she terminated the pregnancy, so I flipped out. I thought, 'I can't be with nobody who is going to do sh-t like this,'" Tarik explained."A woman can do whatever she wants with her body, but I think my feelings went all over the place because it's a trust thing. I thought she did it without talking to me, and I was like, 'This is over.'"Three weeks after their breakup, Tarik apparently started talking to a new woman named Minty from Thailand. Tarik said he had been "falling in like" -- not love -- with the girl, but he wanted to clean things up with Hazel before pursuing a new relationship.Hazel insisted to Tarik that a doctor had told her that she was never pregnant and her menstrual cycle had just been late. Hazel therefore forgave Tarik, who then came clean about his interactions with Minty.Hazel was upset at first but then suggested she wanted to talk to the "beautiful" Minty, and the talking resulted in a two-day love affair."But Day 3, Hazel just put an end to it. Hazel felt like Minty was more into me than she was into Hazel," Tarik shared."Hazel could see I was just fascinated by Minty. It was refreshing to me to be able to speak in Thai and talk about all the stuff I experienced in Thailand, but there was this jealousy that came over Hazel immediately and it ended right there. Hazel told me to never contact Minty ever again."However, Tarik confessed he had texted Minty again a couple of weeks back. Tarik said he just wanted to check on Minty and make sure she was okay amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he insisted that he was going to tell Hazel but was a little afraid to do so.Tarik then picked Hazel up at the airport with flowers, and it had been four or five months since they last saw each other. He wore a powder blue suit for their reunion, and it was an emotional moment for Tarik.Hazel said she really missed her son and hated saying goodbye, but the pair planned to have Hazel's son join them in America someday for a better life."This is the turning point in my life. It's like everything before her and then everything after her," Tarik said.On the drive to Tarik's home, Hazel was shocked by all of the big houses in America and how clean everything looked. Tarik's home was huge compared to Hazel's place in the Philippines considering Hazel lived in poverty, and Hazel said she felt overwhelmed.One day after Hazel's arrival, Tarik was ready to pick a venue for their wedding, but Hazel wanted their pace to slow down since she had a lot to adjust to.Hazel said her parents wanted her to get married in their church and religion is important to her, but Tarik tried to talk her into marrying at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E., a cultural and spiritual center that apparently means a lot to him.The center was named after a famous psychic, but Hazel thought the place was weird and said she didn't want to get married there. Hazel, however, told her fiance that she'd think about it and they could compromise and make a decision together about their future.During Hazel's second day in America, she was shown unpacking her belongings and feeling a little bit overwhelmed.Tarik told Hazel that his daughter Auri always slept with him because she was scared of being alone in her room. Auri had been sleeping with him for seven years, and he said Hazel would have to be okay with that because the arrangement wasn't going to change.Hazel, however, worried Auri's constant presence would ruin their romance and intimacy, and she knew they'd need privacy as a couple.Knowing how close Tarik and Auri were, Hazel feared she wouldn't fit into their relationship.But when Hazel and Auri first met, Hazel picked Auri up and hugged her, and it was an incredibly sweet moment. Tarik said he couldn't have asked for more, and Auri even put her head on Hazel's shoulders.Tarik and Hazel hoped to bring Hazel's son over to the United States in about a year or so. She was used to seeing her son once a week given the boy lives with his father and stepmother.With 85 days left to wed, Hazel told Tarik during a lunch out that she liked the United States but really missed the Philippines.Tarik wasn't sure when they'd be able to travel to the Philippines again considering COVID-19 was becoming a real issue, and he was also nervous to bring up the fact he had reached out to Minty when he wasn't supposed to.Hazel gushed to Tarik about the sexy women in Virginia Beach, and Hazel said she'd like to have a girl join their relationship so she could have a girlfriend and husband.Hazel apparently kept the fact she's bisexual a secret from her religious parents so they wouldn't disapprove of her lifestyle or dislike her.Hazel then told the cameras she had found something on Tarik's phone that worried her -- a message to her ex, Minty, from Thailand. Hazel said when Tarik and Minty would talk to each other in Thai, she felt left out and jealous."I was worried if he likes her too much, so we broke up with Minty," Hazel admitted.Hazel the told Tarik that she had discovered a message to Minty on his phone, and Tarik replied, "I mean, I was going to tell you. It's just this virus thing happened... It hit right in the city where she is, so I just wanted to text her and go, 'Yo, are you good?!'"Hazel asked why Tarik hadn't been honest with her right away, and he acknowledged that she was right.Tarik said he didn't have a problem with Hazel looking through his phone but it was concerning that she maybe didn't trust him fully and felt the need to check his messages to begin with.Hazel felt the virus was just an excuse to get in touch with Minty, but Tarik promised he wouldn't contact their ex again."It worries me if I can trust him," Hazel lamented.Production then shut down for two weeks due to coronavirus, and Tarik and Hazel tried to make the best out of quarantining together.Hazel said she was no longer angry at Tarik for texting their ex Minty because he promised he wouldn't do it again. Hazel therefore determined they were ready to find her a girlfriend, and so Tarik made Hazel a dating profile on a website.Tarik and Hazel looked through women's profiles together, and Tarik just hoped Hazel still considered marrying him the No. 1 priority.Tarik said he wanted Hazel to feel like herself and live the life she wanted to."I want a sister, a best friend and a lover," Hazel shared.Hazel told the cameras that she wanted to find a sexy, brown American woman to date, but Tarik wanted to set some rules first so no jealousy would ensue. Tarik just asked Hazel to hide her relationship with a woman from his daughter Auri, which Hazel understood."I really hope we can find a perfect girl that we both agree on. Having a girlfriend is always what I wanted, but my relationship with Tarik is more important. So I just hope it feels different from the last time with Minty," Hazel explained.The couple then looked at women together and Tarik joked, "Come to mama and come to papa!"Tarik and Hazel are still a couple and their relationship appears to be thriving.Tarik posted a video of Hazel driving a lawn mower in mid-February and captioned it, "Hazel doesn't just sit around searching profiles all day. She also nearly crashes the riding mower into the fence lol. Maybe I'm a bad driving instructor."He added the hashtags "Tarzel," "girlpower" and "ilovevirginiabeach."On January 31, Tarik shared a video of Hazel and himself driving in the car, and about a week earlier, he posted a photo of Hazel in glasses and added a funny caption with it."Me : I clearly text Minty to see if she was ok bc there was a big Covid outbreak in her city. Hazel : I put my glasses on to clearly see if this was BS. #Tarzel #90dayfiance #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days #rayban #allnatural," Tarik wrote.On January 16, Tarik posted a photo of Hazel standing in the sunlight with her eyes closed, and he captioned the image, "You are an original. You are misunderstood. You are ridiculed and hated on by many close to you. But you are still perfect."He continued, "I am an original. Misunderstood. Ridiculed and hated on by many close to me. We soak up the sun different. #Tarzel #90dayfiance #90dayfiancebaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days #nomakeup #nofilterneeded."A few days earlier, Tarik uploaded a photo of Hazel and his daughter flashing peace signs, showing they're still together as a family.Tarik also apparently rang in the New Year of 2021 with Hazel by his side.Tarik posted several photos of Hazel standing in front of a sunset, including two pictures of Hazel standing out of the sunroof of a car."Ok. So the house may have been a LITTLE messy," Tarik captioned the slideshow, referring to Hazel's first impression of his home in America."I'll make it up to you with a beautiful sunset. 2020 GO THE F AWAY ALREADY! BYE FELICIA! Everyone have a SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2021 #Tarzel #90dayfiance ##90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #beforethe90days."On December 18, Tarik posted two selfies with Hazel in which she looked stunning in a burgundy dress and matching lip. In one of the pictures, she was kissing Tarik on the cheek."Hawt Sauws. Hella Hawt Sauws. #Tarzel Watch #90dayfiance Sunday at 8pm EST on @tlc #90daybaresall #90dayfiancepillowtalk #90dayfiancebeforethe90days," Tarik wrote alongside the images.One day earlier, Hazel posted a similar photo and captioned it, "Haters don't hate hate, haters hate LOVE.' #Tarzel #90dayfiance."Tarik reposted Hazel's quote on his own page saying he agreed with her, and then Hazel commented with multiple kiss-blowing emoticons.Tarik also posted a video of Hazel on October 25, 2020.In the video, Hazel told her fans, "I'm here to send good tidings and well wishes to your family and friends... I'm here for y'all! Have a good one!"Tarik captioned the Instagram post, "My beautiful Hazel is on Cameo now. Book her for all occasions. She is Hazel Cagalitan on Cameo. Thanks. #beforethe90days #90dayfiance."On August 28, 2020, Tarik posted a selfie of the couple, revealing they had watched Black Panther three times in one week together because Hazel loved it so much. He said it was "the first move we ever watched together."Tarik posted a photo of Hazel and her father on June 21 and gushed about how he raised 14 children in poor conditions."I thought I knew the difficulties of fatherhood until I met this man. He raised 14 children in conditions most of us only see on TV. Never once shirked his responsibility. The definition of a real man. Salamat Pa. Happy Father's Day," Tarik wrote.Tarik also wished Hazel a happy Mother's Day in May."When life dealt you crap, you turned it into fertilizer. I was proud of you before the cameras rolled. And I'll be proud of you... Well anyway. I'm your defense mechanism against anyone. And I mean anyone. Happy Mother's Day Zellybean," Tarik wrote alongside a photo of Hazel and her son.Back in October 2019, Tarik gushed about Hazel on Instagram."I had so many rules that you became the exception to. So many standards that you exceeded. Also, I'm forever grateful to you for pulling those knives out of my back that a smiling faced Judas shoved in. You are goals. #TarZel #90dayfiance #90dayfiancepillowtalk," he wrote.And in August, 2019, Tarik called his girl "an implausible, irreplaceable gift from God."In Summer 2019, Hazel gushed about Tarik and wrote, "Sometimes I still pinch myself to make sure Im not dreaming. Sometimes I still cant believe that youre real and that ur mine.""I never thought that some1 as amazing as u would fall in love with someone as silly as me," she continued."But Im so glad that u did because my life has been nothing but wonderful. Thank u 4 coming into my life and for letting me show u how much u mean to me. #TarZel #ILoveYouHoney."Tarik and Hazel's posts about one another date all the way back to Fall 2018.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!

If Donald Trumps team of Philadelphia lawyers thought theyd get a reputational bump from defending a former president on the biggest stage of their careers, it hasnt turned out that way.

They won his acquittal Saturday at his second impeachment trial. But the backlash could end up following them for years.

Members of the team described the five-day trial as a trying experience, from infighting between attorneys and second-guessing by Republican advisers in Washington, to derision hurled their way online and at their homes and offices.

 READ MORE: Senate acquits Trump in his second impeachment trial, a coda to a tumultuous presidency

Michael van der Veen hired 24-hour private security for his family after vandals smashed windows and spray-painted TRAITOR on the driveway of his suburban Philadelphia home Friday night. He told reporters Saturday he received more than 100 death threats.

And they acknowledged being caught off guard by the level of rancor from Trumps critics and supporters alike  even given the countrys fiercely divided politics and how other lawyers in his orbit have fared.

Ive been representing controversial clients for 30 years, and Ive never experienced this type of vitriol, said William J. Brennan, another local member of the team whose past clients include priests accused of sexual abuse and judges facing corruption charges. We had no political agenda here. We are not partisan warriors. We are criminal defense lawyers who represented a client.

Bruce L. Castor Jr., the former Montgomery County commissioner and district attorney, entered the week as the nominal leader of Trumps team  a high-profile job that had some back home wondering if it could bolster a future run for statewide office.

Instead, his rocky, rambling opening performance Tuesday drew his clients ire and turned him into an internet punchline.

Conservative TV hosts, like Fox News Laura Ingraham, called him terrible. Sean Hannity responded: Youre way too charitable.

Everything from his verbose delivery to his pin-striped suit became targets for social media mockery. Some used his performance to question the aptness of the term Philadelphia lawyer  a phrase inspired by Colonial-era attorney Andrew Hamilton that has long characterized an exceptionally shrewd attorney.

Van der Veen  the head of Castors law firm, who took over the defense presentation Friday after Castor was sidelined  fared little better.

 READ MORE: Pat Toomey cites Trumps betrayal of the Constitution in breaking with GOP on impeachment

He delivered a more combative, incendiary performance, attacking Democrats for hypocrisy and what he described as constitutional cancel culture. His style was reportedly more to his clients liking. But his testy, hectoring demeanor at the lectern turned him into a target, too.

On Saturday, a small group of protesters gathered outside his Center City law firm. They left VAN DER VEEN = LIAR scrawled in chalk on the street.

On Facebook, the firms page turned into a toxic stew of invective.

Michael van der Veen is ranting on my television screen  the new shame of Philadelphia, one commenter wrote, as another added: This entire firm should be shut down and every single one of you should lose your license.

Even firms the attorneys left long ago werent spared. One of Castors old employers said his office was inundated with emails and phone calls for days from people around the country looking to roast Castor for either defending Trump in the first place  or for delivering a defense that Trump supporters deemed subpar.

The employer, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of further backlash, said he had to assure some clients that Castor is long gone to persuade them not to withdraw their business.

The overwhelming reaction might explain van der Veens puzzling comment on the Senate floor Friday night, when he bemoaned to a room full of lawmakers  who had been forced to flee for their lives from an angry mob on Jan. 6  that the trial had been the most miserable experience Ive had here down in Washington, D.C.

Or the ire with which he responded Saturday to debate over whether to call witnesses, demanding that if Democrats were going to depose key figures, he wanted to question at least 100 people  including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris  at his office in Philly-delphia.

That suggestion  along with his singular pronunciation of the city from which he hails  drew bipartisan guffaws.

I dont know why youre laughing, van der Veen shouted at senators. This is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it.

The belief that this case  which is as much a political proceeding as a legal one  should play out like a bigger version of the criminal and civil trials theyve handled in Philadelphia courtrooms for years may explain their apparent unpreparedness for the magnitude of the reaction.

None of them came to Trumps trial with significant political experience in Washington or a deep background in constitutional scholarship. Castor and van der Veens firm is primarily focused on personal injury and criminal defense cases.

In the courts where those cases are tried, clients come and go. Trial lawyers endorse positions often abandoned as soon as the final banging of the gavel.

Van der Veen, for instance, sued Trump on behalf of a client last year and argued he was seeking to suppress Democratic votes, before taking on the former presidents impeachment case.

We would have put the same effort into this trial whether the clients name was Donald Trump or Donald Duck, said Brennan. This was about constitutionally guaranteed representation for a defendant who has a right to counsel and nothing more.

But impeachment is not like any other trial. Trump was not just any other client. And this was not just any other case.

The question now facing his attorneys is will the rest of the world allow them to forget it?

Van der Veen appeared ready to push those thoughts off to the future as he basked in his victory Saturday while boarding a subway cart in the basement of the Capitol with the rest of the team.

He fist-bumped a colleague with a wide smile and quipped: Were going to Disney World!

Staff writers Julie Shaw and Jonathan Tamari and photojournalist Tyger Williams contributed to this article.
Rejects Human Rights Chiefs Report but says in a 30-page response that will constructively engage with the UN system

Charges that many of the contents are speculative, presumptive and unsubstantiated opinions

UK to lead tough resolution on Sri Lanka based on Human Rights High Commissioners Report

PMs announcement in Parliament  Technical Committee to make final decision on burial of COVID-19 Muslim victims Battle lines are drawn at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Human Rights High Commissioner Michele Bachelets damning report, on the one hand, and a resolution possibly reflecting the hallmarks, on the other, are heaping international conjecture and action on Sri Lanka.

This grim reality emerged in Colombo this week. Colombo-based envoys of countries that are members of the core group met Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena last Monday. The group consists of countries that lent their names to the original resolution spearheaded by the United States. They are Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The last two countries do not have representations in Colombo. When the US withdrew from the Human Rights Council, the UK donned the mantle of leading this core group. Those taking part were UK High Commissioner Sarah Hulton, Canadian High Commissioner David Mckinnon and German Ambassador Holger Seubert.

At the conference at the Foreign Ministry, the three envoys made clear their support for the latest report of the Human Rights High Commissioner. This could translate to having most aspects of this report being reflected in the resolution now taking shape. Julian Braithwaite, the UKs Permanent Representative in Geneva, informed the UNHRC this week that they would be leading resolutions for Sri Lanka, South Sudan and Syria. A statement outlined that The core group on Sri Lanka comprising Canada, Germany, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom will present a further resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The resolution will be informed by the recent Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The core group representatives in Colombo, as revealed in these columns earlier, have been continuing to pitch for a consensual resolution with the agreement of Sri Lanka on its contents. Towards this end, they have, on a couple or more occasions, had shared elements for the envisaged resolution.

Expectedly the new resolutions draft text is being developed by the core group, with the report of the Human Rights High Commissioner being a main resource base. It would give way to strong prescriptions particularly in the area of accountability which the western countries have all along been bent on acting on Sri Lanka.

Its genesis may be founded on the fact that the Sri Lankan leadership at that time rejected the overtures of some western countries before the end of the separatist war, for a ceasefire to be instituted and the Tiger guerrilla groups leadership to be accorded an exit to those countries. The then President, having explained that his troops had advanced extremely far suffering extensive loss of lives and limbs, stated that the internationally requested withdrawal was untenable at that juncture. Undoubtedly, if the western countries machinations were acceded to, the security and wellbeing of the Sri Lankan nation would have continued to be under threat of the guerrilla group.

The Government is learnt to have indicated that the acceptance of a consensual resolution depends on the reflective language of the content. Furthermore, a request has been made for the resolution to include a timeline for its closure. Hence, the Government would need to await the text to strategise and outline the way ahead. There was no invitation to the US Embassy in Colombo for the US envoy to participate at the core group discussions. Officials had pointed out that the US is not a UNHRC member.

However, the importance of the US at the Human Rights Council grew this week after the Joe Biden administration announced that it would re-join the council. The US mood is reflected by the different tweets last Tuesday from Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken. The first said, 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 @POTUS Biden we are reengaging and ready to lead.

We recognize the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, including the 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, said a statement from the State Department.

Blinkens second tweet said, When it works well, the @ UN Human Rights Council shines the spotlight on countries with the worst human rights record and can serve as a beacon for those fighting against injustice and tyranny. Thats why the U.S. is back at the table. In his third tweet, also the same day, he said, When we work closely with our allies and friends, we are able to call countries with the worst human rights record to account in the @UN Human Rights Council. U.S. leadership matters.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena explained to the envoys the reasons for Sri Lankas withdrawal from the co-sponsorship of the UNHRC resolution 30/1 the first to be moved. The Government, he said, has appointed a Commission of Inquiry chaired by a Supreme Court judge to examine further reports on the subject in a bid to determine if indeed human rights violations had occurred. A review of the Prevention of Terrorism Act is under way, he noted and there are also a number of other measures that are being evaluated for implementation.

Participating in the discussion were State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, Mahinda Samarasinghe MP and Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage. A team which had earlier met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to work out a response for the Human Rights High Commissioners Report met him again, last Wednesday. Besides Foreign Minister Gunawardena, the team comprises Minister Sarath Weerasekera, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Udaya Gammanpila and Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Conspicuous by his absence was Minister Wimal Weerawansa, now at the centre of a controversy after proposing that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be made the leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. (SLPP).

The meeting discussed the strategy to be followed in the light of the new resolution to be presented to the Human Rights Council. Where core group countries are not represented in Sri Lanka it is expected that Sri Lankan envoys from the nearest capital will undertake lobbying visits. It was noted at the discussion that there were difficulties encountered by Sri Lankas UN Ambassador to the in Geneva, C.A. Chandraprema. The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the reasons adduced for his inability to meet diplomats in that capital. Such a reason does not seem convincing enough considering that bilateral and multilateral consultations and discussions have been conducted virtually, with the advent of the pandemic. Friendly countries are also being sounded out on the prospect of a resolution in favour of Sri Lanka.

UNHRC sessions and burial issue

Taking some initiative in this regard is Pakistan whose Prime Minister Imran Khan is due in Colombo on February 22. Islamabad, which had been consulting Muslim countries which are members of the Human Rights Council had encountered a serious issue  the Sri Lanka governments policy of cremating Muslims who die of Covid 19. That saw Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announcing in Parliament that the Government would now allow burials for COVID-19 victims. Islamic countries that are HRC members from the Asian region include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Libya, and Pakistan.

Premier Khan tweeted on Thursday, We welcome Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksas assurance given in Sri Lanka Parliament today allowing Muslims to bury those who died from COVID-19. The carefully chosen words refer to an assurance, perhaps bearing a hint of Pakistans role. This could be cited when lobbying for Sri Lanka.

That, according to a high-ranking government source, takes the sting away from an address to Parliament by Premier Khan due in nine days. He was to express his predominantly Muslim countrys displeasure over the ban on burials and urge the Government to review its policy, according to the source. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is also the Leader of the House, told a party leaders meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that the Pakistan Prime Minister had made a request to address Parliament and this has been approved by the Government. It was agreed the event should take place on February 24. In March 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to Sri Lanka, also addressed Parliament. Premier Khan is expected to meet leaders of the business community and also likely sign a maritime agreement which could encompass at least two other countries.

Despite Premier Rajapaksas announcement, there have been no steps taken until yesterday to rescind the Gazette notification that requires the cremation of COVID-19 victims. The issue was raised in Parliament on Thursday by Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention, replied that the matter would have to be determined by the official technical committee tasked by the Government. The question that begs answer is why an official committee should go into a statement made by the Prime Minister. Such a move is highly unusual and unprecedented. One would have thought such approval had already been obtained from a committee or the statement overrides what the committee has said.

When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met three envoys of the core group  the UK, Canada, and Germany  on Thursday afternoon for a one-on-three meeting, the issue of burials was raised. He noted that the political decision over the matter had already been made. However, it awaits a decision by a technical committee, he pointed out. He reiterated the Governments position earlier enunciated by Foreign Minister Gunawardena, who was conspicuous by his absence. Sections in the Foreign Ministry themselves opine that a meeting with the President should have come only as a last resort. They believe that it compromises the ministers position and that the matter should have been handled at the official and Foreign Ministry level.

The Premiers announcement on the lifting of the ban on the burials of Muslims succumbing to Covid-19 came in the wake of strong protests from Islamic countries over the issue and also in view of the upcoming Human Rights Council sessions. Saudi Arabia did not accept a Sri Lankan envoy from Colombo mainly due to this reason. According to a Foreign Ministry source, it is also in view of the upcoming Human Rights Council sessions. The announced move, if implemented, would be a heavy political blow to the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Nidahas Sandanaya (SLPNS). It is no secret that mandatory cremations alienated the Muslim community pushing them to form alliances with Tamil political parties and groups. On the other hand, the reversal of the decision to only cremate would now alienate the hard-line polity including some medical professionals and sections of the clergy who insisted that the ban on burials should not be lifted.

They claimed that burials would pollute the waterbed and quoted some experts as saying there was evidence. Now the Government is acknowledging that burials could be carried out according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. It was only last week government officials learnt that China, which also has a Muslim minority, was now allowing burials. If this change of mind becomes a reality, would not this dramatic turnaround be a lesson that the Government could have avoided a lot of damage if burials were indeed allowed earlier, without having to give into external pressure, where Sri Lanka could have lost the much-needed friendship of the Islamic countries?

Ahead of the announcement in Parliament, Premier Rajapaksa met a group of nearly 20 members of the Buddhist clergy on Wednesday at Temple Trees to tell them that he was making the announcement. The event was also attended by ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, G.L. Peiris and Wimal Weerawansa. A day earlier, he also met alliance leaders to discuss issues before the UNHRC, including the Governments rule of mandatory cremation. Yet, there are serious concerns over whether the Gazette notification allowing burials will see the light of day.

Tamil-Muslim march

The extent to which Tamil and Muslim groups have come together in adversity over this issue is demonstrated by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sponsored march from the south eastern coastal town of Pottuvil to Polykandy in the north. As they proceeded along the Muslim towns of Kalmunai and Kattankudi, Muslim hoteliers and others stopped the march and vied with each other to serve participants with free refreshments.

The march also saw Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera ordering the withdrawal of a Police Special Task Force detachment assigned for the personal security of TNA frontliner Abraham Sumanthiran. He said the parliamentarian had defied a court order not to have the procession. It was the Government that granted him the security after intelligence reports of an assassination threat by members of a Tiger guerrilla rump. For those who face such threats, withdrawal of personal security is a question that is highly debatable. In this case it was on the grounds that he took part in a march. The Government would become answerable for any possible harm that comes in Sumanthirans way. However controversial this TNA politician is, it is essential that personal security is based on threat assessments and not arbitrarily withdrawn at the whims of politicians. After all, he is an elected representative of the people and a lawyer. He could well fight the defiance of a court order in courts. On the other hand, the Government too could initiate action against him in courts for violating a court order.

Governments response

to OHCHR report

The issue of allowing burials of Muslims who die of Covid-19 would now be a one less for the Human Rights Council. Yet, an extremely salutary feature in the Governments 30-page response rejecting the Human Rights High Commissioners Report has declared that it would constructively engage the UN system. Therefore, there is a clear distinction that despite withdrawal from co-sponsorship resolution 30/1 and its subsequent ones, and the rejection of the contents of the Human Rights High Commissioners report, the government wishes to maintain a constructive dialogue with the UN system as a whole.

The essence of the Governments response that the call for asset freezes, travel bans and the reference to the International Criminal Court and the exercise of universal jurisdiction by individual states, without a semblance of evidence in support, particularly in relation to a country like Sri Lanka which has consistently been compliant and engaged with the United Nations and its mechanisms, points to a distinct and eminent (sic  should read as imminent) danger which the international community as a whole need to take note of.

The Government has noted that the report of the Human Rights High Commissioner constitutes speculative, presumptive and unsubstantiated opinions and/or assertions on action (including administrative decisions) taken by the democratically elected President and Government of Sri Lanka since November 2019, to execute the mandate received from the people, which do not fall within the scope of resolution 30/1. Only two and half pages of the 17 pages of the report are dedicated to assess the implementation of resolution 30/1.

Therefore, the GoSL, in the response stated that it, maintains that the High Commissioners draft report is inconsistent and/or goes beyond the mandate granted by Resolution 40/1. This has implications for the autonomy of decision making by sovereign states, in matters within their purview.

The Government has outlined that the above is in contravention of the rules governing the conduct of the Council as stipulated in General Assembly resolution (60/251) and HRC resolutions 5/1 and 5/2. It might be well to recall the observations of the Secretary General of the UN in his Report A/59/2005, the rationale which could be used as a benchmark so as to ensure that the Council must conduct itself against the loss of credibility and professionalism.

The GoSL has observed that the reference made that the High Commissioner is deeply concerned by the trends emerging over the past year is unacceptable particularly in view of the fact that the public health emergency that has prevailed since March 2020 upon the declaration by the WHO of the Covid-19 as a pandemic and the worldwide lockdowns that ensued has not enabled the High Commissioner to make such an assessment in an independent and objective manner.

As such, having acknowledged the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the reference made that the past year has fundamentally changed the environment for advancing reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, eroded democratic checks and balances and civic space, and reprise a dangerous exclusionary and majoritarian discourse is misconceived and as such reflect an unsubstantiated and arbitrary assessment based on surmise, conjectural and assumptions and is clearly in contravention of the principles upon which the work of the Council shall be guided by inter alia namely the principle of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and co-operation.

The Governments response, thereafter, goes on to challenge specific paragraphs in the Human Rights High Commissioners report. The first is related to the period of reporting (February 2020 and February 2021) which largely overlapped with the Covid-19 pandemic. Pointing out a factual error, the Government has refuted the OHCHR of a newly elected government by February 2020 to have been in August 2020.

It was the then Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, under the previous yahapalana government who co-sponsored the US-backed resolution (30/1). It is relevant to note that former President Maithripala Sirisena also declared he was unaware of the co-sponsorship. The response points out that co-sponsorship had not been obtained through a due procedure including Parliament/and or Cabinet approval. This resolution, it notes contained commitments that are constitutionally undeliverable and the co-sponsorship as well as the resolution itself had no public endorsement.

The Government has called upon the OHCHR to delete all references to the reports which they considered and rejected, together with the related footnotes in the report. It has pointed out that the conflict that took place in Sri Lanka was between the government forces and a ruthless terrorist outfit which committed heinous atrocities against not only the armed forces and the Sinhala and Muslim populations, but also against the very community of which it claimed to be the sole representative.

Refuting the allegations that have been reproduced (in paragraph 7-16 of the report), the Government has said they were from the highly contentious reports of the Panel of Experts (POE) on Accountability and the OISL (OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka) Report which have been rejected by Sri Lanka. It is pertinent to note that the Chairman of the POE, Marzuki Darusman (a former Indonesian Attorney General) and Yasmin Sooka, (South African human rights lawyer), a member took part in a webinar on Quest for Justice, Rule of Law and Democratic Rights in Sri Lanka last Friday. Others included Stephen Rapp, Charles Petrie, and Pablo de Grieff. It was organised mainly by the London based Global Tamil Forum (GTF). Taking part from Sri Lanka were M.A. Sumanthiran (TNA), A.M. Faiiz (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) and Bhavani Fonseka, Centre for Policy Alternatives. Most speakers called for a tough resolution.

The POE Report, the Government has said, was the culmination of a private consultation that the latter (read the then UN Secretary General) sought for his own advice and is not the product or request of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly or any other UN body. Since it has not received the endorsement of the intergovernmental process, it has neither credence nor legitimacy within the intergovernmental fora. Moreover, it has pointed out that the POE report was seriously flawed, that the Human Rights Council at the time had rejected to issue it with a formal number as a UN document.

The Government has also rejected allegations that there has been militarisation of government functions by the appointment of key government officials. The response has noted that it, is a domestic matter of a sovereign country, as per the Constitution and the comments made by the OHCHR are clearly outside the mandate of the Council. These appointments are based on subject matter expertise and professional qualifications, with a view to effective implementation of government policies.

On the specific concerns raised in respect of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the Government has pointed out that the amendment concerned was enacted in full compliance with the procedure set out in the Constitution with regard to enacting legislation, which contains a number of in-built safeguards relating to transparency and judicial review aimed at preventing the passage of bills that are in contravention of the Constitution including its fundamental chapter.

The Government has categorically rejected what it calls unsubstantiated opinions expressed in the Report with regard to use of ethno-nationalistic and majoritarian rhetoric and symbols by the President and other senior Government figures and public policies that appear to exclusively reflect the perceived interests of the Sinhala Buddhist Majority, with minimal consideration for minority communities.

Refuting allegations that there is an alleged pattern of intensified surveillance and harassment of CSOs, human rights defenders and victims, the Government has called upon 40 organisations that have complained to OHCHR to submit their complaints to the different national mechanisms. The Government has said that it has rejected the Report predicting repeated patterns of human rights violations and potential conflict in the future, and requests that these presumptive and speculative opinions be deleted from the report.

The Government response contains its conclusions and recommendations. They include:

 The GoSL repudiates the conclusions and recommendations that had been erroneously arrived at in the High Commissioners Report as they are based on incorrect and/or unsubstantiated and extraneous sources/material and contravenes the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, as stipulated in the GA (General Assembly) resolution 60/251 that created the HRC.

= The GoSL rejects the High Commissioners proposal to advance accountability options at the international level including, in particular, her proposal to take steps towards referring Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court. Sri Lanka regrets that OHCHR has submitted itself to the preconceived, politicised, and prejudicial agenda which certain elements have relentlessly pursued to trigger such disproportionate and unwarranted measures against Sri Lanka, and caution that any option at the international level tantamount to an unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign State in contravention of the UN Charter.

= The GoSL reminds that calling for targeted sanctions and travel ban against individuals, in the absence of credible findings by a competent court/body on violations committed then, itself constitutes nothing less than a political agenda against a sovereign nation, aimed at destabilising and a violation of their right and contravention of the principles of natural justice.

= Similarly, the GoSL condemns the recommendations in the Report to the UN to keep Sri Lankas peace keeping operations under review. As already maintained by Sri Lanka, such measures constitute unreasonable and discriminate punitive action against the armed forces of a sovereign state which has engaged in UN peace keeping for six decades in a professional manner, and several members of which have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving under the UN flag. We urge the UN to refrain from such violation of the principle of the UN Charter on non-interference and sovereignty of states.

The Government has concluded by saying that we look forward to continuing our engagement with the OHCHR, UN Human Rights mechanisms and procedures, and to continue to work in close co-operation with the international community through capacity building and technical assistance in mutually agreed areas, in keeping with domestic priorities and policies.

It appears that the Government has three options of a consensual or non-consensual or floating a resolution in favour of Sri Lanka. It needs to be weighed up, especially against the backdrop of the damning and far-reaching Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to a diplomatic source, the resolution will contain 90 to 95 % of elements drawn from the Report. This demonstrates that the position of the response furnished by Sri Lanka is being ignored to a great extent. Does not the procedure of a consensual resolution entail its tacit acceptance, that too by being directly involved in the drafting process?

In fact, by this, it is only a shade less intrusive than co-sponsorship of 30/1 as was done in 2015. Is it prudent to go down the road of supporting a consensual resolution? Of course, the proponents of the resolution would fervently work towards a consensual text, as they would be able to sell it to other members of the Council on the basis that Sri Lanka is on board. The Sri Lankan decision makers on the strategy to be adopted should also give serious thought as to the reason for the proponent to be relentlessly pursuing a consensual text. Is it a way of saving face by the proponents following Sri Lankas withdrawal of co-sponsorship as announced in 2020? In this manner, is Sri Lanka ready to accept the dictates of the Human Rights High Commissioner which could form the text of the resolution? Sri Lanka having expressed grave concerns on the report will end up legitimizing the report if it traverses the consensual path.

A non-consensual option would serve Sri Lanka better, as some opposition to the dictates of the resolution would get established, and thereby reduce its sting. It would further demonstrate some support for Sri Lanka against the misplaced agendas and machinations of the resolutions proponents. Seeking a favourable resolution for Sri Lanka has no place, as its adoption needs to be ensured. Decision makers must also be mindful that there is no resolution which is favourable or otherwise.

Whichever category it may be, a resolution could be built upon in the future to suit the misplaced agendas of the proponents. Hence, a favourable text could be used for negation. Further, basically Sri Lanka should not have a direct approach to the process of negotiations. This appears to be an impossibility at this point. There is also the option of a Chairs statement which would be pointed in content, which should be considered by the core group, if they have an appetite to be constructive with Sri Lanka.

These developments are a formidable challenge for the Foreign Affairs Ministry which is already saddled with a sagging diplomatic machinery and a failing communications strategy in reaching out to the public. The Government hopes for a closure of the UNHRC issue but given the timelines by the proponents could become conditional.
SKM condemns arrest of Disha in toolkit case, demands her immediate release

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers'' unions, on Sunday condemned the arrest of 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi by the Delhi Police during their probe into toolkit document case and demanded her immediate release.

It also condemned Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal''s comment on death of farmers protesting the three contentious farm laws and warned that people would teach him a lesson for such "arrogance".

"The government has shamelessly admitted in Parliament that it has no data of the farmers who sacrificed their lives in the ongoing movement," said the statement issued by SKM leader Darshan Pal.

"The SKM is maintaining a blog site where such data is readily available if the government cares. It is the same callousness which resulted in the loss of lives so far."

Condemning Ravi''s arrest, the SKM said she "stood in support of the farmers".

"We demand her immediate unconditional release," SKM said in the statement.

Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter extends support to protesting farmers

Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police on Saturday for allegedly sharing with Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg the "toolkit" related to the farmer''s protest against the Centre''s three agri laws.

The police claimed Ravi was an editor of the "toolkit Google doc" and a "key conspirator" in the document''s formulation and dissemination. She and others "collaborated with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State", police alleged.

At a mahapanchayat held at Indri in Karnal district of Haryana, SKM leaders warned that the BJP''s days are "numbered as more and more farmers are getting awakened".

"Farmers'' resolve to fight unitedly, cutting across states and religions, is getting stronger with each mahapanchayat despite the government''s divisive efforts. Rural India and agriculture is the main agenda for us," they said.

Candle marches being organised in villages and towns across the nation between 7 and 8 pm on Sunday, in support of the farmers'' demand for scrapping the agri laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

More farmers are expected to join the protest sites in the coming days and make the movement formidably strong, the SKM said.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and UP are protesting against farm laws at Delhi''s border points for more than 80 days. The stalemate continues despite 11 rounds of talks between the farmer leaders and the government.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 21:14 [IST]
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Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer debuted her romance with personal trainer Adam Cooper late last year.

And the 26-year-old woman appeared as in love as ever she left a Double Bay gym session in Sydney on Valentine's Day.

Francesca, who is the niece of James Packer, was glowing as she strolled to her Aston Martin after working up a sweat.

That's love! Heiress Francesca Packer, 26, (pictured) left a Valentine's Day gym session in Sydney on Sunday wearing heart-print leggings

Francesca happily texted and spoke on her phone following the intense workout.

She was kitted out in colourful activewear leggings and a long-sleeve white crop top.

The socialite stood out in a pair of graphic-print blue tights which, featured white and red love hearts for Valentine's Day. She also wore pristine runners.

Is that Adam? Francesca happily texted as she strolled and spoke on her phone following the session at the gym in Sydney's Double Bay

On phone! Francesca happily texted as she strolled and spoke on her phone following the session at the gym in Sydney

Glam: Francesca paired the crop with graphic blue workout tights, which featured white and red love hearts

Francesca carried a black tote along with a small white Balenciaga handbag with one slung over each shoulder. She wore black designer sunglasses.

She went without makeup for the training session and appeared to let out her brunette tresses past her shoulders after ending her workout.

The socialite confirmed she and Adam were a couple in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in December.

Carry all: The beauty carried a black tote along with a small white handbag with one slung over each shoulder and a pair of black designer sunglasses

Fresh-faced: She went makeup free and wore her brunette tresses out past her shoulders

It's love: 'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told the paper in December of her new love interest

'Adam is a really great guy. We've been dating for a while,' she told the paper.

Adam is the Head of Training at Performance Vive Active, which has studios in Double Bay and Brookvale.

He is also a Pilates reformer trainer and personal trainer, as well as a member of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

High life: Francesca lives in Darlinghurst - she laid out $16million for the five-bedroom, five-bathroom Horizon apartment. The apartment occupies a whole floor of the building

Francesca lives in Darlinghurst - she laid out $16million for the five-bedroom, five-bathroom Horizon apartment.

The apartment occupies a whole floor of the Harry Seidler-designed complex.

Her home have 360 degree views of the harbour, Cote D'Azure marble, French oak herringbone parquetry, bespoke lighting and a wine room.

Love life: Over the years the heiress has had relationships with Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland

Over the years the heiress has had relationships with Van Hoorn guitarist Joshua Mullane and Melbourne property developer Kelli Holland.

Francesca reportedly recently split from Sam Zacharia, the personal trainer son of celebrity plastic surgeon Michael Zacharia.

She told Private Sydney: 'We're just good friends, in fact he is a very old friend of mine. I promise you there is nothing to announce.'

Family connection: Francesca is the granddaughter of the late Kerry Packer and daughter of Gretel Packer and her ex-husband, English financier Nick Barham

After the alleged split, the brunette is said to have spent a whopping $9,000 on a cavoodle puppy (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross poodle), according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Francesca is the granddaughter of the late Kerry Packer and daughter of Gretel Packer and her ex-husband, English financier Nick Barham.

She was born in Sydney but spent the first five years of her life in Surrey, England.
Japan on Sunday formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the US and many other countries.

Japan's health ministry said it had approved the vaccine co-developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc. The announcement comes after a government panel on Friday confirmed that final results of clinical testing done in Japan showed that the vaccine had an efficacy similar to what overseas tests showed.

Many countries began vaccinating their citizens late last year, and Pfizer's vaccine has been used elsewhere since December.

Under the current plan, about 20,000 front-line medical workers at hospitals in Japan will get their first shots beginning around Wednesday. About 3.7 million other medical workers will be next, followed by elderly people, who are expected to get their shots in April. By June, it's expected that all others will be eligible.

Vaccines are considered key to holding the delayed Tokyo Olympics this summer. Japan is expected to receive 144 million doses from Pfizer, 120 million from AstraZeneca and about 50 million from Moderna before the end of this year, enough to cover its population.

Vaccines being developed by Japan are still in the early stages, so the country must rely on imports. AstraZeneca applied for approval in Japan only recently, while Moderna hasn't applied yet. Japan's reliance on the imports, many of them subject to EU export controls, is also causing concerns about supplies.

Also read: India drags feet on COVID vaccination
The Supreme Council of Universities announced that it will be meeting next Saturday to discuss government plans to extend the current mid-term leave till the end of the semester and reconvene at the beginning of the second semester to develop a timetable for examinations.

The meeting, which takes place every month, will be held in the presence of Mohamed Latif, secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, and a number of university presidents at Helwan University.

Additionally, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, head of the Supreme Committee for the Management of the Coronavirus Crisis, announced on Saturday, in the presence of a number of ministers and officials, the following decisions:

1) The mid-year vacation will be extended by one-week, provided that the second semester is resumed on Saturday, 27 February 2021.

2) Examinations that were postponed during the first semester will recommence at the beginning of the second semester as per the schedule announced by the colleges and institutes.

3) Examinations at universities and institutes will be carried out in strict compliance with examination rules, regulations, and policies, while taking into account all precautionary measures.

More information revolving around the timetable and academic curriculum will be determined in the next session, according to the Supreme Council of Universities.

Earlier in December, the Egyptian cabinet postponed first-term exams at schools and universities to instead be held in-person after the end of the mid-year break and ordered remaining classes to take place only through an online system starting January.

The decisions come as part of the government's strategy to offset the repercussions of the spread of the coronavirus in the interest of the health and safety of all members of the educational process, including students, faculty members, and teachers, Decembers statement noted.

Egypt's health ministry reported 600 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total infection tally to 173,202 since the outbreak began domestically in mid-February of 2020.

Though Egypt entered the second wave of the coronavirus in early December, the country witnessed a decline in the daily infection rate in January before fluctuating up and down since last week.

Egypts Minister of Health, Hala Zayed, stated last Thursday that the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt is expected to increase by April but the curve would decline in May.

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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.
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Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the state opened its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine portal to people with underlying conditions and comorbidities on Sunday morning, the site wasnt working for many people who wanted an appointment.

According to several people who attempted to make an appointment this morning on the states Am I Eligible website, when the questionnaire asks if you have co-morbidities, if you answer yes it asks you to answer another question you cant view.

i would love to schedule an vaccine appointment (for which i am eligible today!) but alas....i love having to answer fields that are vague/empty pic.twitter.com/qMpwV0fhPM  Izzie Ramirez (@IzzieRamirez) February 14, 2021

Of the issue, the state said they are investigating to see if its an internal problem. In the meantime, the state recommends people clear their cache or try a different browser.

Some people reported that even though they were able to get passed the questionnaire, certain testing sites came up with no appointments available.

Some people reported that even though they were able to get passed the questionnaire, certain testing sites came up with no appointments available.

On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions could begin scheduling their appointments to receive the coronavirus vaccine through the states Am I Eligible website starting Sunday, Feb. 14, at 8 a.m. There are 13 state vaccine sites, with only one New York City site at the Javits Center in Manhattan.

Appointments are supposed to be released on a rolling basis over the coming weeks, and the state continues to urge patience as demand for the vaccine continues to outpace supply.

To prove eligibility, New Yorkers must provide either a doctors letter, medical information evidencing comorbidity or a signed certification.

Eligible comorbidities include:

Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)

Chronic kidney disease

Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and 9/11-related pulmonary diseases

Intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down Syndrome

Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies or hypertension (high blood pressure)

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines or other causes

Severe Obesity (body mass index of 40 kg/m2) and obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher but less than 40 kg/m2)

Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia

Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus

Cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain

Neurologic conditions, including but not limited to Alzheimers disease or dementia

Liver disease

With approximately seven million New Yorkers now eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, the federal government has agreed to increase the states supply by 20% in the coming weeks to handle the influx of newly eligible residents.

We have the infrastructure in place to get shots in arms as quickly as possible - we just need the supply to do it - and with a new leader in Washington were finally beginning to get more supply, allowing us to open vaccination appointments up to New Yorkers with comorbidities starting next week, Cuomo said.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Reporter Joseph Ostapiuk contributed to this report.

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin believes Sinn Fein must apologise for the Provisional IRA's role in the Troubles. (Julien Behal/PA)

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has called on Sinn Fein to apologise for the Provisional IRAs history of violence during the Troubles.

The Fianna Fail leader said in order for Mary Lou McDonalds party to become more acceptable partners, its members must change their narrative around what they call the conflict in inverted commas.

What went on was unadulterated murder and mayhem [and] and appalling abuse of young people through punishment beatings and shootings," Mr Martin told The Sunday Times.

It comes after the Taoiseach was involved in an exchange in the Dail with Sinn Fein TD Mairead Farrell, whose aunt, also Mairead, was one of three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988.

Ms Farrell stated in the Dail earlier this month that the Irish government was not doing enough to implement that Stormont House legacy mechanisms.

However, Mr Martin responded by stating that maybe its time for Sinn Fein to help assist in Troubles legacy cases, such as the Kingsmills massacre.

The Irish premier also told The Sunday Times that the UK government needs to step up over its obligations to hold an inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Mr Finucane, 39, who represented republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles, was shot dead in his family home in north Belfast in February 1989 by the UDA in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis previously said he was not taking a public inquiry off the table, but said further examinations of the case by police and a police watchdog should conclude first.

The Irish government fulfilled its obligations [under the Weston Park agreement], the British government hasn't fulfilled all its obligations in respect of the murder of Pat Finucane, said Mr Martin.

I think the British government needs to step up on that front as well, and I will work with [them] in relation to that.

He added that the IRA and the British army shared a common interest in not wanting the truth to come out about certain Troubles murders.

I think there's a vested interest among British security interests and Provisional IRA intelligence interests never to have the truth come out, said Mr Martin.

"I think the Provos would just as well not want it to come out, so they procrastinate on an awful lot of issues and so [does] British intelligence.

"It's very clear the Provisional IRA was heavily infiltrated in the end.

"There are various inquiries still under way that we've never quite got to the bottom of in terms of the level of that penetration, and what it resulted in, in terms of people being killed and murdered, and the work of senior people within the Provisional IRA who turned out to be informers and who caused the deaths of others."

A UK Government spokesperson said: "All families affected by the Troubles deserve the opportunity to find out the circumstances of their loved ones deaths. The UK Government is committed to working with the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland parties and civic society, including victims groups, on the legacy of the Troubles."
Chandigarh, Feb 14 : Punjab's opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday condemned booth capturing, violence and attacks on its workers, allegedly by Congress activists, in the elections to the urban local bodies, including eight high-stake municipal corporations.

In a statement here, Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said democracy was "assassinated by the Congress" as Chief Minister Amarinder Singh failed to deliver the promises.

Cheema said that the AAP had earlier expressed apprehension of violence and booth capturing and demanded deployment of paramilitary forces.

"Our demand was not taken seriously. The AAP volunteers were attacked by Congress goons at many places," he added.

He said a party volunteer was shot at in Patti town in Tarn Taran district and a volunteer was illegally detained by the police.

"The Congress has deprived the people of their right to vote with the help of government machinery. The Congress-backed officers who are working as Congress workers today would be dealt with on the formation of the AAP government in 2022," Cheema added.
Cutting to footage of Day-as-Castor making his case, he misrepresented himself multiple times, first saying he was the prosecutor, then the bailiff, then a bridesmaid before calling time on himself. Davidson-as-Van Der Veen came on screen next, saying he didnt want to be there, that this is the worst thing thats been in the senate chamber in the history of a couple of weeks and that he was going to call his own witnesses, after which he proceeded to mispronounce a number of women of colors names, including Kamala Harris, but whether it was on purpose or out of ignorance he noted, Youll never know.
As the historic winter storm makes its way into Houston, area shelters and cruelty task force agencies will be on the lookout for animals left out in the freezing temperatures.

Houston pet owners could face criminal charges for leaving their animals out in the cold. According to Texas law, it is illegal for owners to leave a dog outside in extreme weather conditions, including temperatures below 32 degrees. Houston is expected to see below-freezing temperatures, with some areas possibly receiving up to 2 inches of snow. from Sunday to Monday.

Now Playing: Video: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

The Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce said it will have a "zero-tolerance" approach for owners who leave their animals outside during the cold snap. The agency will be working with Harris County Constable Precinct 5, Houston Police Department, BARC, Houston Humane Society and Harris County Public Health to check on animals left outside, officials said in a Facebook post. The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will also be investigating any reports of animals left outside, according to a release.

Do not disregard or abandon your pet, especially during this freeze, as it could have dire consequences, said Adam Reynolds, chief animal cruelty Investigator for the Houston SPCA said. Not only is it cruel, but it's against state law.

Houston residents who spot unattended animals may report it to the taskforce by calling 832-927-PAWS or the Houston SPCA at 713-869-7722.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A major winter storm is heading for Houston. Here's how you can prepare for the freeze.

Animal rescues are already underway. Harris County Constable Precinct 4 deputies on Friday rescued a dog found in distress after being left outside in a crate in the cold rainy weather, police said in a Facebook post. The dog was released to a family member and the owner is being charged with animal cruelty.

The cold snap also threatens the lives of area wildlife animals. The Houston SPCA Wildlife Center of Texas is asking residents to keep watch for wildlife that may appear in their yards during the freeze. The center recommends the following ways to help wild animals:

Pour warm water into birdbaths to melt frozen water.

Put out extra birdseed or suet in your yard.

Make a shelter for small mammals, like opossums, by cutting a hole in a cardboard box or plastic drink cooler and filling it with straw or soft blankets.

Carefully place cold and wet baby animals in a box with soft rags and a warm (not hot) water bottle, rice sock, or low heating pad until it is safe to get them to the Houston SPCAs Wildlife Center of Texas. Do not feed or give water to any injured or orphaned wildlife.

The center can be reached at 713-861-9453.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
EMMETT, Idaho  The two dozen demonstrators pressed against the emergency room doors, screaming to be let in.

Show us the law! they chanted.

Let Grandma out! one shouted.

They had descended on Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, the evening of Jan. 29 to protest the quarantine of Gayle Meyer, a 74-year-old patient who had refused to take a test for the coronavirus.

Police in riot gear guarded entrances as the activists  who authorities said were armed  insisted that Meyer was being held against her will, a claim the hospital denied.

Meyers 49-year-old daughter, Satin, an anti-mask activist licensed as her caregiver, had summoned the demonstrators, foot soldiers in a rapidly expanding network called Peoples Rights. With the tap of a thumb on a smartphone, members can call a militia like theyd call an Uber and stage a protest within minutes.

Behind the organization is a familiar name: Ammon Bundy.

He is best known as the leader of the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon  a deadly 41-day standoff between federal agents and militants who rejected the federal governments authority over public lands across the West.

Now Bundy has seized on the backlash against coronavirus restrictions as an opportunity to start a new movement.

Since last March, when he launched Peoples Rights  which he describes as neighborhood watch on steroids  the organization has attracted tens of thousands of members and sponsored more than 50 demonstrations across the country, dispatching gun-toting activists to the homes of politicians, health agency managers and even a police officer who had arrested a protester.

Experts who track extremists say that the network has significant overlap with white supremacist groups and other far-right organizations and that it has whipped up paranoia and rage, risking lives of hospital workers, health officers, politicians and others in the crosshairs.

We have the potential for multiple Malheurs in multiple states, in that at any moment they could bring hardened far-right activists, often heavily armed, into any one event, said Devin Burghart, executive director of the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights.

In October, the Seattle-based organization and the Montana Human Rights Network published an investigation that found that Bundy had rapidly expanded Peoples Rights by fusing his core of far-right paramilitary supporters with a mass base of new activists radicalized in protest of coronavirus restrictions.

Group leaders envision a form of neighborhood nationalism, in which the righteous stand against the wicked, the report said.

Investigators found that the network had 20,000 members in 16 states. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times late last month near his home in Idaho, Bundy claimed it had grown to almost 50,000 people in 35 states.

Last fall, Facebook removed an undisclosed number of Peoples Rights pages from its platform after deeming the network a militarized social movement.

Bundy said his sole cause was defending the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution  even for LGBTQ people and Black Lives Matter activists whose views he may oppose.

He said he never supported President Donald Trump and didnt vote in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, he was in prison awaiting trial, and this past November he didnt see a point. Contending that the COVID-19 death toll is massively exaggerated, he said that Trump should have worked harder to keep churches and businesses open.

Nonetheless, he encouraged his followers to go to Washington for the now-infamous Jan. 6 rally to distribute leaflets and display Peoples Rights banners to recruit more members. He said he condemned the siege on the Capitol.

Bundy, 45, is carrying on a family tradition.

The fourth of 14 children in a Mormon family, he grew up on a Nevada ranch. His 74-year-old father, Cliven, became a hero to extreme libertarians in the West when he stopped paying grazing fees in 1993, claiming that his family had ancestral rights to run its cattle on public land and that the governments ownership claims violated the Constitution.

Ammon Bundy left the ranch as a young man, first for Minnesota for two years of Mormon mission service and then to Southern Utah University. Later he moved to Phoenix, where he ran a truck repair business for 14 years.

In 2014, he stood with militias that rallied behind his fathers cause when FBI agents arrived at the Nevada ranch with a court order to confiscate the familys cattle. The government backed down to avoid bloodshed, raising the familys stature in far-right circles.

The next year, Bundy, his wife and their six children moved to Emmett, Idaho, a farming town turned bedroom community outside Boise.

But he said that God soon called him to support Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steven  Oregon ranchers sentenced to prison for setting fires on federal lands. In January 2016, Bundy led an armed group that seized the headquarters of the Malheur refuge, demanding that the government relinquish ownership and free the Hammonds.

Bundy was arrested during a traffic stop outside the refuge and eventually tried on weapons and conspiracy charges. A militant who fled the stop was shot and killed.

In a startling verdict in October of 2016, Bundy and other defendants were acquitted by jurors who found that federal prosecutors had failed to make their case.

The familys aura of invincibility only grew when a judge declared a mistrial in a criminal conspiracy case against Bundy, his brother Ryan and their father for the 2014 Nevada ranch standoff, saying government lawyers had suppressed evidence.

The cattle outside Bunkerville, Nevada, continue to graze on public land despite more than $1 million in unpaid fees.

Bundy kept a low profile back in Idaho, where he managed rental properties and restored vintage vehicles with his children. But the pandemic  and resistance to the government telling people what to do  set the stage for his return to activism.

In March, he gathered several dozen supporters in a warehouse he owns in Emmett.

In its first public act, the group defied Republican Gov. Brad Littles stay-at-home directive and held an Easter service for about 60 people.

The same month, police arrested Sara Brady, an anti-vaccine activist, for allegedly trespassing during an anti-lockdown protest at a Boise-area playground closed due to coronavirus restrictions.

Bundy publicized the address of the officer who arrested her and led about 40 people to protest outside his home, a tactic that the governor called disgusting.

But Peoples Rights continued to expand, establishing hundreds of chapters that Bundy organized with the aim of being able to dispatch 10 protesters to a scene in 10 minutes, 100 in 100 minutes and 1,000 in 1,000 minutes. He instructed each chapter to launch teams to train in secret for paramilitary operations to defend members from criminals or government agents.

In July, he led demonstrators to a public building in Caldwell, Idaho, where they tried to barge into a meeting of officials who were discussing whether to impose a local mask mandate.

This is not your building, Bundy shouted as he shoved a man guarding the doorway, video of the protest shows.

The meeting was canceled, though the health board eventually decided to recommend wearing masks in public.

The next month, Bundy and some supporters forced their way past state troopers into an Idaho Statehouse gallery that had been closed because of the pandemic. Police arrested Bundy twice in two days, finally wheeling him out of the building in an office chair. Charged with trespassing and obstructing officers, he was banned from the Capitol for a year.

In November, Peoples Rights members carrying Tiki torches gathered in front of Boise Mayor Lauren McLeans house to protest coronavirus health restrictions. Many of the roughly 30 demonstrators were not wearing masks, and several shouted opposition to a city call for residents to report businesses violating pandemic regulations.

Snitches get stitches, one woman yelled.

The next month, the Boise-area health board shut down its own meeting after a county commissioner tearfully interrupted the proceedings to say she had to rush home because Peoples Rights demonstrators were harassing her family.

My 12-year-old son is home alone right now, and protesters are banging outside the door, Diana Lachiondo announced.

In the interview last month, held at a restaurant in Emmett, where masks are optional and few people wear them, Bundy defended his groups methods, saying the government and society are deteriorating  that courts are unjust, legislatures trample rights and families allow the state to educate and influence their children.

People will need more and more to be able to find security, he said.

He said protests could achieve results much faster than lawsuits, citing a demonstration his group staged last June at a hospital in Olympia, Washington.

Hospital officials werent allowing a couple to be with their newborn after the mother tested positive for the coronavirus.

Within an hour and a half, we had a couple of hundred people there and a couple of thousand people coming, Bundy said. Once the hospital started to see there was literally a presence of people, they retracted their position, blamed it on the health department and released the baby.

Angela Maki, a Providence St. Peter Hospital spokeswoman, disputed the accuracy of Bundys account but said that patient confidentiality prevented her from discussing the case.

Asked whether hospital staff members were given a chance to explain their reasoning for isolating the baby, Bundy said no.

You dont get to take somebodys baby and think you have a side of justice, he said. It was black and white.

Last month at the hospital protest in Vancouver, Washington, Kelli Stewart, the Peoples Rights coordinator for the area, narrated a livestream video on Bundys YouTube account that ultimately attracted more than 70,000 views.

The video shows a protester trying to pry open locked double doors, and a deputy spraying chemical irritant in his face. The protesters cheered when the hospital released Meyer, whose tearful daughter wheeled her out and helped her into a van.

Freedom! a man yelled.

Stewart, a longtime Bundy compatriot, berated law enforcement for siding with the hospital instead of the protesters. She said that right-wing activists who joined back the blue rallies last summer and waved American flags with blue lines had been duped.

Were starting to learn that youre actually the standing army our founders warned us against, she said. Theyre just dangerous tyrants. Were having a blue-line flag-burning party tonight.


Welsh Ambulance Service to receive 84 new operational vehicles

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Feb 14th, 2021

The Welsh Ambulance Service (WAST) will receive 84 new operational vehicles as part of Welsh Government 10.9M investment.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething has also announced a further 1.6m in funding to the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) to expand the service into a 24/7 operation and establish the Critical Care Transfer Service.

This is additional money following the 1.7m already given to the service. This service will support the national transfer of critically ill adults across Wales.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides consultant and critical care practitioner-delivered pre-hospital critical care across Wales. It was launched at the end of April 2015 and is a partnership between Wales Air Ambulance Charity, Welsh Government and NHS Wales.





The funding will be used to fund three specialist critical care ambulances and will see investment in equipment to support the expansion of the EMRTS service

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said: The Welsh Ambulance Service has experienced a huge surge in demand on its services due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding announced today will allow the service to upgrade its existing fleet, allowing the service to deliver the best care for people in Wales.

Im also pleased to announce further funding which will establish a new Critical Care Transfer Service and see the expansion of EMRTS to a 24/7 operation, in partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

Chris Turley, the Welsh Ambulance Services Executive Director of Finance, said: Our ambulances and response cars in Wales are some of the most modern and well equipped in the UK and this funding will allow us to continue to replace our vehicles as they reach the end of their working life

Modern ambulances are essential in order that we can continue to provide the best treatment and patient experience possible.

Theyre also important for staff who spend the majority of their working day out and about in the community.

Its never been more important than ever to have a fleet which keeps the wheels turning on our ambulance service, and were grateful to Welsh Government for its continued support.

Professor David Lockey, EMRTS National Director, added: The funding has allowed us to extend our critical care provision into a 24/7 service. This, along with our partnership with the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, has helped us improve equality of access to rapid emergency-department standard care across the country.

In addition, the funding for three specialist critical care ambulances will give us the capacity to support colleagues across NHS Wales with the transfer of critically ill patients between hospitals by road.

We are very grateful for the ongoing support from Welsh Government, which has allowed our service to grow and make a significant contribution to critical care in Wales.
A study has now been presented that boosts the evidence for using AI solutions in skin cancer diagnostics. With an algorithm they devised themselves, scientists at the University of Gothenburg show the capacity of technology to perform at the same level as dermatologists in assessing the severity of skin melanoma.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and its results are the work of a research group at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

The study was conducted at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg. Its purpose was, through machine learning (ML), to train an algorithm to determine whether skin melanoma is invasive and there is a risk of it spreading (metastatizing), or whether it remains at a growth stage in which it is confined to the epidermis, with no risk of metastasis.

The algorithm was trained and validated on 937 dermatoscopic images of melanoma, and subsequently tested on 200 cases. All the cases included were diagnosed by a dermatopathologist.

The majority of melanomas are found by patients rather than doctors. This suggests that, in most cases, diagnosis is relatively easy. Before surgery, however, it is often much more difficult to determine the stage the melanoma has reached.

To make the classifications more accurate, dermatologists use dermatoscopes -- instruments that combine a type of magnifying glass with bright illumination. In recent years, interest in using ML for skin tumor classifications has increased, and several publications have shown that ML algorithms can perform on par with, or even better than, experienced dermatologists.

The current study is now giving a further boost to research in this field. When the same classification task was performed by the algorithm on the one hand and seven independent dermatologists on the other, the result was a draw.

"None of the dermatologists significantly outperformed the ML algorithm," states Sam Polesie, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg and specialist doctor at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, who is the corresponding author of the study.

In a developed form, the algorithm could serve as support in the task of assessing the severity of skin melanoma before surgery. The classification affects how extensive an operation needs to be, and is therefore important for both the patient and the surgeon.
Following mass rallies that saw thousands of detentions, supporters of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny have been using light from cell phones, flashlights, and candles as a new form of protest.

The February 14 protest action, called by Navalny's team under the motto "Love is stronger than fear," began in Russia's Far East, including in the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk.



Photos shared on social media showed small groups of people standing outdoors and holding flashlights or standing by candles arranged in the shape of a heart to mark the Valentine's Day protest.



In the Russian capital, more than 20 people could be seen at Moscow State University forming a heart while holding flashlights.



It was not possible to determine how many people participated in the nationwide action, during which no detentions were reported.



Navalny's team had called on people across Russia to switch on their mobile-phone flashlights for 15 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. local time and shine the light into the sky from their homes or the courtyards of their apartment buildings, or to arrange candles in the shape of a heart.

In the afternoon in Moscow, about 200 women took part in a so-called Chain Of Solidary And Love along Old Arbat Street in support of Russian women prosecuted for political reasons. A similar protest attracted about 70 people in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city.



Images shared on social media showed women holding a white ribbon, as well as red roses, balloons, and heart signs with the names of female political prisoners written on them. Demonstrators also sang, "Love is stronger than fear."



The organizers said on their Facebook page that the rallies were dedicated to the women who were "beaten and tortured by police during peaceful protests," as well as "to everyone who spends their days in courts, police buses, and special detention centers."

The protests were also dedicated to Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, lawyer Lyubov Sobol, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, municipal deputy Lucy Shtein, Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh, and Alliance of Doctors head Anastasia Vasilyeva. They all face criminal charges for calling on supporters to rally for Navalny's release last month.



Navalnaya flew to Germany on February 10. Although no explanation was given for her departure, Navalnaya had recently been detained for taking part in unsanctioned rallies in support of her husband.

In the Urals city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, police detained nine people after an approved rally against political repression that was organized by the opposition parties Yabloko and PARNAS, as well as the Left Front movement, according to the independent monitoring group OVD-Info.



Six of the activists were later released while the other three were charged with violating the law on rallies. They are accused of using a slogan that was not on the stated agenda of the demonstration.



More than 500 people participated in the rally, which was authorized for only 200 people.



The candlelit protest across Russia was designed to make it difficult for the police to take action. The Kremlin had signaled its contempt for the event.

Russia's federal media regulator ordered media outlets on February 12 , including RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, to delete all reports about the planned protest. RFE/RL did not comply.



The official order from Roskomnadzor said Russian authorities would consider any reporting about the flashlight protest to be a call for people to take part in an unsanctioned public demonstration and mass disorder.



Navalny's team in Tomsk said they were also warned by the city prosecutor's office on February 12 that they could be held liable for staging an unsanctioned protest action.

Leonid Volkov, director of Navalny's network of teams across Russia, has announced a moratorium on street protests in response to police crackdowns against mass demonstrations that have led to tens of thousands of arrests across Russia.



Volkov called the protest using light a nonviolent way for Russians to show the extent of outrage over Navalny's treatment without subjecting themselves to arrests and police abuse.

Navalny, 44, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had been treated for a nerve-agent poisoning he says was ordered by Putin. The Kremlin denies it had any role in the attack.



Navalny's detention sparked outrage across the country and much of the West, with tens of thousands of Russians taking part in street rallies on January 23 and 31.



Police cracked down harshly on the demonstrations, putting many of Navalny's political allies behind bars and detaining thousands more -- sometimes violently -- as they gathered on the streets. The crackdown led Volkov to call for a pause in the street demonstrations until the spring.

A Russian court on February 2 ruled that Navalny was guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The judge ruled that he violated parole conditions while recovering from the near-fatal poisoning in Germany.



The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said Navalny must serve another two years and eight months behind bars.



Law enforcement officers on February 13 conducted another search of one of Navalny's offices, activists said.

The search in Chelyabinsk took place while nobody was present in the office, the activists said on Twitter.



"We came to the headquarters and found this," the activists tweeted together with several pictures of the ransacked office. "The premises were raided while we were working remotely," the activists said.

With reporting by Dozhd TV, The Moscow Times, Reuters, dpa, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service
Video screenshot from the U.S. Senate Democrats Twitter account shows the Senate voting in former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 13, 2021.

Seven Republican senators joined all the Democrats to vote "guilty," failing to reach two-thirds majority required for Trump conviction on the article of impeachment for inciting insurrection leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate voted on Saturday and acquitted former President Donald Trump, concluding his second impeachment trial which is the shortest one in the U.S. history.

Seven Republican senators joined all the Democrats to vote "guilty," failing to reach two-thirds majority required for Trump conviction on the article of impeachment for inciting insurrection leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The 57-43 vote in the currently evenly split Senate yielded the most bipartisan margin in favor of impeachment conviction in the U.S. history.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer lamented Trump's acquittal, calling the Senate vote "un-American" and insulting to people who love the country.

"The former President inspired, directed, and propelled a mob to violently prevent the peaceful transfer of power, subvert the will of the people, and illegally keep that President in power," said Schumer moments after the upper chamber voted to acquit Trump.

Trump declared victory after surviving the impeachment trial for a second time, saying that his political movement has "only just begun."

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," the former president said in a statement.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (C) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Pool via Xinhua)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump but sharply criticized the former president on Saturday for inciting the Capitol riot.

In a speech on the Senate floor shortly after the vote, McConnell said the rioters had been "fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth. Because he was angry he'd lost an election. Former President Trump's actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty."

"There's no question - none - that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their President," the top Senate republican added.

Trump was impeached on Jan. 13 by the Democrat-led House on one article of inciting insurrection leading to the Capitol riot which interrupted Congress' electoral vote count of Biden's victory. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the riot.

Trump is the first ever U.S. president to have been impeached and tried twice.
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The Gujarat government will soon come up with a law against forcible inter-faith conversions  or the so-called "love jihad"  amid similar steps being taken by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh recently.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said this at an event in Vadodara, according to a report in The Times of India.

Our BJP government will love jihad Act in the Assembly so that such activities are not tolerated in future, the chief minister was quoted as saying.

If the law is enacted, Gujarat will become the third state (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), all ruled by the BJP, to introduce such a law to prevent alleged forced conversions, dubbed by right-wing groups as love jihad.

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh was the first state to bring a legislation over the issue. Karnataka, another state governed by the BJP, too has said it will introduce a similar law and officials have been directed to gather information regarding an ordinance promulgated in Uttar Pradesh in this regard, according to state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The BJP-led Haryana has also said it will introduce a similar law.

The Allahabad High Court has observed during a hearing that conversion "just for the purpose of marriage is unacceptable".
Donald Trump has privately shared concerns that he could be criminally prosecuted over his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a new report.

'He's worried about it,' one adviser close to Trump told CNN, saying that Trump had remained mostly silent since leaving the White House due to fears of potential criminal liability.

After the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump of incitement to insurrection on Saturday, even several top Republicans who voted to acquit suggested that criminal charges could be warranted.

'The ultimate accountability is through our criminal justice system where political passions are checked,' said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who voted not guilty.

'No president is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution, and that includes former president Trump,' Tillis added.

Donald Trump has privately shared concerns that he could be criminally prosecuted over his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a new report

'The ultimate accountability is through our criminal justice system where political passions are checked,' said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who voted not guilty

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who also voted to acquit, unloaded on Trump in a harsh diatribe following the trial, saying the former president was 'practically and morally responsible' for the events of January 6.

He also noted that though Trump is now out of office, he remains subject to the country's criminal and civil laws.

'Impeachment was never meant to be the final forum for American justice.  We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former Presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one,' said McConnell.

'He didn't get away with anything yet,' said McConnell, who turns 79 next Saturday and has led the Senate GOP since 2007.

Federal investigators are looking at all aspects of the Capitol attack, and have already arrested more than 200 rioters on a range of charges.

When acting US Attorney Michael Sherwin was asked directly in January if Trump's role was under investigation, he responded: 'We're looking at all actors here and anyone that had a role and, if the evidence fits the elements of the crime, they're going to be charged.'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who also voted to acquit, unloaded on Trump in a harsh diatribe following the impeachment trial

Separate from the Capitol attack, Trump faces legal threats on a number of fronts after losing the many protections afforded by the presidency.

In Georgia, prosecutors are investigating whether Trump tried to illegally influence election results when he asked a state official to "find" one more vote than he needed to win.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating Trump after a January 2 telephone call he made pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the state's election results based on unfounded voter fraud claims.

The investigation is the second known state criminal probe of Trump, whose tax and business affairs are under investigation in New York.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr's probe into the Trump Organization for potential tax, bank and insurance fraud is believed to be in an advanced stage.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision is expected soon on whether Vance can obtain eight years of Trump's tax records and other financial information from accounting firm Mazars.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr's probe into the Trump Organization for potential tax, bank and insurance fraud is believed to be in an advanced stage

The tax returns are views as the keystone to the case. People close to the case have told Reuters that they expect the court to act as soon as this month.

The Trump Organization has denied in court filings that the company falsified property values, and Trump has rejected the probe as a 'fishing expedition' and a 'continuation of the witch hunt.'

In a statement on Saturday soon after his Senate acquittal, Trump hinted at the prospect of a political comeback.

'Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun,' Trump said. 'In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people.'

'We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future,' he added.
EMMETT, Idaho  The two dozen demonstrators pressed against the emergency room doors, screaming to be let in.

Show us the law! they chanted.

Let Grandma out! one shouted.

They had descended on Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, the evening of Jan. 29 to protest the quarantine of Gayle Meyer, a 74-year-old patient who had refused to take a test for the coronavirus.

Police in riot gear guarded entrances as the activists  who authorities said were armed  insisted that Meyer was being held against her will, a claim the hospital denied.

Meyers 49-year-old daughter, Satin, an anti-mask activist licensed as her caregiver, had summoned the demonstrators, foot soldiers in a rapidly expanding network called Peoples Rights. With the tap of a thumb on a smartphone, members can call a militia like theyd call an Uber and stage a protest within minutes.

Behind the organization is a familiar name: Ammon Bundy.

He is best known as the leader of the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon  a deadly 41-day standoff between federal agents and militants who rejected the federal governments authority over public lands across the West.

Now Bundy has seized on the backlash against coronavirus restrictions as an opportunity to start a new movement.

Since last March, when he launched Peoples Rights  which he describes as neighborhood watch on steroids  the organization has attracted tens of thousands of members and sponsored more than 50 demonstrations across the country, dispatching gun-toting activists to the homes of politicians, health agency managers and even a police officer who had arrested a protester.

Experts who track extremists say that the network has significant overlap with white supremacist groups and other far-right organizations and that it has whipped up paranoia and rage, risking lives of hospital workers, health officers, politicians and others in the crosshairs.

We have the potential for multiple Malheurs in multiple states, in that at any moment they could bring hardened far-right activists, often heavily armed, into any one event, said Devin Burghart, executive director of the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights.

In October, the Seattle-based organization and the Montana Human Rights Network published an investigation that found that Bundy had rapidly expanded Peoples Rights by fusing his core of far-right paramilitary supporters with a mass base of new activists radicalized in protest of coronavirus restrictions.

Group leaders envision a form of neighborhood nationalism, in which the righteous stand against the wicked, the report said.

Investigators found that the network had 20,000 members in 16 states. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times late last month near his home in Idaho, Bundy claimed it had grown to almost 50,000 people in 35 states.

Last fall, Facebook removed an undisclosed number of Peoples Rights pages from its platform after deeming the network a militarized social movement.

Bundy said his sole cause was defending the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution  even for LGBTQ people and Black Lives Matter activists whose views he may oppose.

He said he never supported President Donald Trump and didnt vote in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, he was in prison awaiting trial, and this past November he didnt see a point. Contending that the COVID-19 death toll is massively exaggerated, he said that Trump should have worked harder to keep churches and businesses open.

Nonetheless, he encouraged his followers to go to Washington for the now-infamous Jan. 6 rally to distribute leaflets and display Peoples Rights banners to recruit more members. He said he condemned the siege on the Capitol.

Bundy, 45, is carrying on a family tradition.

The fourth of 14 children in a Mormon family, he grew up on a Nevada ranch. His 74-year-old father, Cliven, became a hero to extreme libertarians in the West when he stopped paying grazing fees in 1993, claiming that his family had ancestral rights to run its cattle on public land and that the governments ownership claims violated the Constitution.

Ammon Bundy left the ranch as a young man, first for Minnesota for two years of Mormon mission service and then to Southern Utah University. Later he moved to Phoenix, where he ran a truck repair business for 14 years.

In 2014, he stood with militias that rallied behind his fathers cause when FBI agents arrived at the Nevada ranch with a court order to confiscate the familys cattle. The government backed down to avoid bloodshed, raising the familys stature in far-right circles.

The next year, Bundy, his wife and their six children moved to Emmett, Idaho, a farming town turned bedroom community outside Boise.

But he said that God soon called him to support Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steven  Oregon ranchers sentenced to prison for setting fires on federal lands. In January 2016, Bundy led an armed group that seized the headquarters of the Malheur refuge, demanding that the government relinquish ownership and free the Hammonds.

2016 FILE PHOTO: Sheriff Dave Ward meets with Ammon Bundy on the side of the road at the intersection of a state highway and the road leading into the back entrance to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016. Beth Nakamura/Staff LC-

Bundy was arrested during a traffic stop outside the refuge and eventually tried on weapons and conspiracy charges. A militant who fled the stop was shot and killed.

In a startling verdict in October of 2016, Bundy and other defendants were acquitted by jurors who found that federal prosecutors had failed to make their case.

The familys aura of invincibility only grew when a judge declared a mistrial in a criminal conspiracy case against Bundy, his brother Ryan and their father for the 2014 Nevada ranch standoff, saying government lawyers had suppressed evidence.

The cattle outside Bunkerville, Nevada, continue to graze on public land despite more than $1 million in unpaid fees.

Bundy kept a low profile back in Idaho, where he managed rental properties and restored vintage vehicles with his children. But the pandemic  and resistance to the government telling people what to do  set the stage for his return to activism.

In March, he gathered several dozen supporters in a warehouse he owns in Emmett.

In its first public act, the group defied Republican Gov. Brad Littles stay-at-home directive and held an Easter service for about 60 people.

The same month, police arrested Sara Brady, an anti-vaccine activist, for allegedly trespassing during an anti-lockdown protest at a Boise-area playground closed due to coronavirus restrictions.

Bundy publicized the address of the officer who arrested her and led about 40 people to protest outside his home, a tactic that the governor called disgusting.

But Peoples Rights continued to expand, establishing hundreds of chapters that Bundy organized with the aim of being able to dispatch 10 protesters to a scene in 10 minutes, 100 in 100 minutes and 1,000 in 1,000 minutes. He instructed each chapter to launch teams to train in secret for paramilitary operations to defend members from criminals or government agents.

In July, he led demonstrators to a public building in Caldwell, Idaho, where they tried to barge into a meeting of officials who were discussing whether to impose a local mask mandate.

This is not your building, Bundy shouted as he shoved a man guarding the doorway, video of the protest shows.

The meeting was canceled, though the health board eventually decided to recommend wearing masks in public.

The next month, Bundy and some supporters forced their way past state troopers into an Idaho Statehouse gallery that had been closed because of the pandemic. Police arrested Bundy twice in two days, finally wheeling him out of the building in an office chair. Charged with trespassing and obstructing officers, he was banned from the Capitol for a year.

In November, Peoples Rights members carrying Tiki torches gathered in front of Boise Mayor Lauren McLeans house to protest coronavirus health restrictions. Many of the roughly 30 demonstrators were not wearing masks, and several shouted opposition to a city call for residents to report businesses violating pandemic regulations.

Snitches get stitches, one woman yelled.

The next month, the Boise-area health board shut down its own meeting after a county commissioner tearfully interrupted the proceedings to say she had to rush home because Peoples Rights demonstrators were harassing her family.

My 12-year-old son is home alone right now, and protesters are banging outside the door, Diana Lachiondo announced.

In the interview last month, held at a restaurant in Emmett, where masks are optional and few people wear them, Bundy defended his groups methods, saying the government and society are deteriorating  that courts are unjust, legislatures trample rights and families allow the state to educate and influence their children.

People will need more and more to be able to find security, he said.

He said protests could achieve results much faster than lawsuits, citing a demonstration his group staged last June at a hospital in Olympia, Washington.

Hospital officials werent allowing a couple to be with their newborn after the mother tested positive for the coronavirus.

Within an hour and a half, we had a couple of hundred people there and a couple of thousand people coming, Bundy said. Once the hospital started to see there was literally a presence of people, they retracted their position, blamed it on the health department and released the baby.

Angela Maki, a Providence St. Peter Hospital spokeswoman, disputed the accuracy of Bundys account but said that patient confidentiality prevented her from discussing the case.

Asked whether hospital staff members were given a chance to explain their reasoning for isolating the baby, Bundy said no.

You dont get to take somebodys baby and think you have a side of justice, he said. It was black and white.

Last month at the hospital protest in Vancouver, Washington, Kelli Stewart, the Peoples Rights coordinator for the area, narrated a livestream video on Bundys YouTube account that ultimately attracted more than 70,000 views.

The video shows a protester trying to pry open locked double doors, and a deputy spraying chemical irritant in his face. The protesters cheered when the hospital released Meyer, whose tearful daughter wheeled her out and helped her into a van.

Freedom! a man yelled.

Stewart, a longtime Bundy compatriot, berated law enforcement for siding with the hospital instead of the protesters. She said that right-wing activists who joined back the blue rallies last summer and waved American flags with blue lines had been duped.

Were starting to learn that youre actually the standing army our founders warned us against, she said. Theyre just dangerous tyrants. Were having a blue-line flag-burning party tonight.

--Richard Read/LA Times/Tribune News Service
Tax Day is just under two months away, and I want to make sure you know all the resources available to help you file your taxes for free this year.
As this Sunday most of the world is celebrating love, Alfa decided its time to reminisce about its better times. It will not do it by showing some concept inspired by the past, or by releasing some collection of car-related products, but by publishing an e-book.Now, this entire exercise is really supposed to be a love letter to car design. First off, it is titled Passione, which is the Italian word for passion, and it was released just in time for Valentines Day.Then, the e-book (which you can download at this link ) is 100 pages long and has been created with the help of the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo in Turin, Italy. It is meant to look into the brands unparalleled history and significance in global automotive design, but most importantly it includes design sketches from the Italian designers  you can see some of them in the attached gallery.That allows for a closer look at how cars look like long before they are released into the world, and is a rare occurrence when a carmaker makes public so much of the work that usually goes on behind closed doors.Were treated with views of the Tonale concept, the 8C Competizione, SZ concept, or the Giulia GT, among others. Unlike what we get to see in press release photos, there are even comparisons between these designs.For you auto historians out there, there are also facts about how the brand came to be, where it got its inspiration from, but sadly, not much on where it is heading.
WASHINGTON  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist and former finance minister, is poised to become the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization, when the members of the global trade body meet on Monday to consider her candidacy for director general.

The appointment would remove a key obstacle to the functioning of the World Trade Organization, which has been leaderless during a time of growing protectionism and global economic upheaval brought about by the pandemic. But even with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala at the helm and the renewed support of the Biden administration, the World Trade Organization, which was founded in 1995 to ensure that trade flows as smoothly and freely as possible, will face steep challenges surrounding its effectiveness as the worlds trade arbiter.

Trade negotiations, including an effort to restrain harmful subsidies given to the fishing industry, have dragged on without resolution. A key part of the organization for settling trade disputes, called the appellate body, remains crippled after the Trump administration blocked appointments of new personnel. And there are deep divisions over whether rich and poor countries should receive different treatment under global trade rules.

There is also growing consensus that the World Trade Organization has failed to police some of Chinas worst economic offenses, which many in the United States consider the worlds biggest trade challenge today. And there is deep uncertainty about whether the group can be overhauled to address those shortcomings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. (Image: Twitter/@BJP4India)

The Centre is dedicated to the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14. He added that his government had 'consistently' flagged the issue of their rights with the leaders in the island nation.

PM Modi was in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on February 14 where he launched various projects in railways and defence sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi recalled the various welfare initiatives taken by the Centre in the housing and health sectors aimed at benefiting the Tamils in Sri Lanka, and said he was the first Indian prime minister to visit Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. He visited Jaffna in 2015.

India has constructed 50,000 houses for displaced Tamils in northeastern Sri Lanka and another 4,000 in the plantation areas while "we hope to open soon" the Jaffna Culture Centre, the prime minister said.

Also read | PM launches several crores worth projects in Chennai, hands over indigenous Arjun tank to Army

"The issue of Tamil rights has also been taken up consistently with Sri Lankan leaders. We are always committed to ensuring that they (Tamils) live with equity, equality, justice, peace and dignity," Modi said.

The Sri Lankan Tamils issue has always had an emotional connect in Tamil Nadu and has often dominated the political space there.

PM Modi also pointed to India's efforts in railway projects for Jaffna and Mannar, air connectivity from Chennai to Jaffna and the initiatives in the health sector.

The PM also paid tribute to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were martyred in the dastardly Pulawama terror attack. No Indian can forget the Pulwama attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire our countrymen, he said.

Also read | Pulwama Terror Attack: PM Modi, HM Amit Shah and others pay tributes to martyrs

On the day, PM Modi handed over the State-of-the-Art Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army. Talking about the tank, he said that these Made in Tamil Nadu tanks will be used on the northern border to keep our nation safe. This showcases our Bharat Ekta Darshan. This will make India Aatmanirbhar in the defence sector.

PM Modi also flagged off Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of Rs 3770 crore. This 9.05 km long extension will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.

He also flagged off the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. Built at a cost of Rs 293.40 crore, the 22.1 km stretch passes through Chennai and Thiruvallur districts and will facilitate traffic around Chennai port.

Talking about the fishermen, he said India is proud of its fishermen community. "Budget 2021 has provisions to ensure modern fishing harbours for our fishermen. Modern fishing harbours will begin in five centres including Chennai," said PM Modi.

PM Modi also laid foundation stones for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System that will be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,640 crore, and the Discovery Campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, on the day. The Campus will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase.

(With inputs from PTI)

(Newser)  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a stinging indictment of former President Trump from the Senate floor on Saturday, but not until minutes after the impeachment trial ended in acquittal. Trump was charged with inciting an insurrection in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on Jan. 6. "Former President Trump's actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty," McConnell said, CNN reports. "Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day." The Republican's attack was more forceful than many of the floor speeches calling for conviction, the New York Times points out. In what appeared an internal compromise, he basically argued that Trump is guilty, but that the Senate can't do anything about it because he's out of office. "A mob was assaulting a Capitol in his name," McConnell said. "These criminals were carrying his banners, hanging his flags and screaming their loyalty to him." He pointed out that Trump remains subject to actions in criminal and civil court, per the AP. He didn't get away with anything yet," McConnell said.

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At a press conference after the trial, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacked the 43 of 50 GOP senators who voted to acquit Trump. "What we saw in that Senate today was a cowardly group of Republicans who apparently have no options, because they were afraid to defend their job, respect the institution in which they serve," she said, per the Washington Post. The Democrat said she was unimpressed with the minority leader's speech after the vote, saying it was McConnell who ensured the trial wouldn't begin until Trump had left the White House. Democrats defended the House managers' back-and-forth on whether to call witnesses. "We could have had 5,000 witnesses, and Mitch McConnell would be giving the same speech," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead manager. As the trial ended, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized the other party. "Just look at what Republicans have been forced to defend," he said, per the AP. "Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive. (Read more impeachment trial stories.)

A grim new forecast confirms what experts have been warning amid declining Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations: when it comes to the pandemic, the United States is not yet out of the woods.

Another 130,000 Americans are projected to die of the virus over the next three and a half months, according to the latest model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

And while Covid-19 numbers may be trending in the right direction now, there are four key factors that will determine how the next few months unfold, the institute said in a briefing accompanying its model.

The first two will likely help the pandemic numbers continue a downward trajectory: increasing vaccinations and declining seasonality -- the pattern of lower transmission that's likely in the US during the spring and summer months.

'Two factors, however, can slow or even reverse the declines that have begun,' the IHME team said.

One of those factors is the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom and experts warned could become the dominant strain in the US by spring. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Sunday shows more than 1,173 cases of the variant have so far been detected across 39 states.

Another key factor, according to the IHME team, is 'increased behaviors that favor Covid-19 transmission.'

'Transmission has been contained over the winter through mask wearing, decreased mobility, and avoidance of high-risk settings such as indoor dining,' the team said. 'As daily case counts decline and vaccination increases, behaviors are likely to change towards increased risk of transmission.'

That's why experts say now is not the time for the US to let down its guard, even as a growing list of governors loosen Covid-19 restrictions.

CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said Sunday that declining numbers were good news. 'But I'm also very worried about these variants, because we have seen in other countries what happens when there is explosive spread of these more contagious variants,' Wen said on CNN's 'Inside Politics.'

'I think it's really critical for us to ramp up vaccinations as much as we can, and in the meantime, do our best to continue with masking, physical distancing -- these other measures that we know to be really important in controlling the spread of infection.'

In addition to the B.1.1.7 variant, the CDC said Sunday 17 cases of the B.1.351 Covid strain initially seen in South Africa have been found across seven states and in Washington, DC. There are also two cases of the P.1 strain first linked to Brazil -- one in Minnesota and one in Oklahoma -- it said.

The agency said the data did not represent the total number of such cases circulating in the US but just those that have been found by analyzing positive samples.

Debate continues over school reopenings

Nearly a year on, the debate over how to safely return students to the classroom persists, even after the CDC released long-awaited guidance last Friday outlining five key strategies, including universal mask wearing.

On CNN's 'State of the Union' on Sunday, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky emphasized the need for masks and other mitigation measures to safely reopen school. She said 'mask breaching' was the main reason behind the spread of coronavirus in schools, though transmission in schools is mostly associated with spread in the surrounding community.

The CDC guidance includes a color-coded chart to describe the levels of transmission, from blue to red, with the latter representing high transmission. About 99% of the US population under the age of 18 -- 73 million minors -- live in a so-called 'red' zone, according to a CNN analysis of federal data.

Walensky acknowledged 'many' counties remain in a red zone. Schools in red zones should pursue a hybrid model if they're an elementary school, she said, while middle and high schools either continue virtual learning or a hybrid model if they're able to adhere to strict physical distancing.

Meantime, Dr. Wen said she found the CDC's guidance both 'good and problematic.'

She liked that the guidelines specifically defined levels of transmission for certain mitigation measures to go into place. But she took issue with other aspects, including the fact vaccinations are not listed as a 'key' strategy for reopening schools. She didn't understand why the subject was up for debate.

'If we want students to be in school for in-person learning, the least that we can do is to protect the health and well-being of our teachers,' Wen said, 'especially as in so may parts of the country, teachers are already being made to go back to school in poorly-ventilated, cramped areas with many students who may not always be masking and practicing physical distancing.'

Walensky noted Sunday the guidance from the CDC's vaccine advisory committee puts teachers in the Phase 1B category for vaccinations.

'I'm a strong advocate of teachers receiving their vaccinations,' she said, 'but we don't believe it's a prerequisite for schools to reopen.'

'One step closer to winning the war'

Despite lingering concerns, officials are hopeful the continued ramping up of vaccinations is beginning to shift the pandemic's course in a positive direction.

So far, just over 38 million people have received their first dose of the two-dose vaccines available to the US market, according to CDC data released Sunday, and about 14 million people have been fully vaccinated. In all, nearly 53 million doses have been administered -- about 72% of all doses that have been distributed.

The IHME expects 145 million adults to be vaccinated by June 1, it said in a statement, which would prevent 114,000 deaths.

'Our vaccine supply is going up, the positivity rate is going down and we're getting one step closer to winning the war against COVID each day,' New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Saturday, referring to New York's vaccinations.

By Sunday, the state had administered 89% of the first dose vaccines it had received from the federal government and 83% of first and second doses, the governor's office said.

In California, officials announced millions of people will be added to the vaccination priority list, including residents 'at high risk with developmental and other disabilities' and residents with serious underlying health conditions. The plan, which will begin in mid-March, broadens the ages of eligible individuals from 65 and older to ages 16 through 64 who are in those categories.

Still, the state continues to face a 'scarcity of vaccine,' according to California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. The supply shortage has forced several Los Angeles mass vaccination centers to temporarily close.

A new challenge over the weekend

Some parts of the US this weekend are facing another challenge that's slowing down vaccinations: winter weather.

Federal officials expect Covid-19 vaccine shipments to Texas will be delayed this week because of a powerful winter storm, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd said.

'Our vaccines that are set to arrive on Sunday, Monday will probably not arrive until Wednesday, Thursday,' Kidd said Saturday, 'so we will see delays in vaccine coming into the state.'

Some local outdoor vaccination facilities also shut down ahead of the storm, Kidd added, though indoor vaccination administration will continue 'as long as it is still safe to drive there.'

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency Sunday ahead of anticipated winter weather. The state of emergency will include 28 counties, according to a press release from Ivey's office.

'If weather permits and roadways remain safe, Alabamians who have plans to receive their Covid-19 vaccine should still do so,' the press release said.

In Portland, Oregon, where rain and snow have caused widespread power outages, the mass Covid-19 vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center is closed Sunday due to weather, according to a tweet from Kaiser Permanente NW. Those who had appointments will be contacted to reschedule.

Washington state's Department of Health said it was also expecting a delayed delivery of vaccine doses due to the weather, in addition to announcing it would prioritize the administration of second doses this week, limiting the available number of appointments for first doses.

Vaccine providers in the state had requested about 170,000 doses this week, but the state was only allocated about 92,000, the department said in a news release. The difference was likely because last month some providers had used vaccines doses as initial doses when they were intended to be second doses.

That unfortunately means a portion of this week's available first doses will instead need to be used to complete the two-dose regimen for those individuals.
It's not just Hunter Biden who's proving an embarrassment to the Joe Biden White House.

Kamala Harris has at least one relative just as brimming with cupidity and eager to strike it rich.

Latest from Joe is this, as reported by the New York Post:

Vice President Kamala Harris social-media-influencer niece has long used her aunts fame to boost her own personal brand  but now that Harris has entered the White House, aides have become increasingly concerned about the ethical implications of the promotional pattern, according to a report. Some things cant be undone, a White House official, speaking about niece Meena Harris, 36, on the condition of anonymity, told The Los Angeles Times. That being said: Behavior needs to change, the official said of the niece Harris, whose ventures have reportedly become a sensitive issue in the newly formed Biden-Harris White House.

She jumped right in to make money off her auntie Kamala's election by creating knock-off t-shirts and advertising her connections, fast as Frank Biden.

According to The Moguldom Nation, an African-American-led publication:

Her 3-year-old lifestyle brand, Phenomenal Woman, has just inked new deals and has debuted products that seem to be tied to her Aunt Kamala being elected vice president. The Biden-Harris transition team warned Meena that she cant profit off her famous aunts image after she unveiled a collaboration between her company and Beats By Dre, Axios reported.

Harris's niece Meena, 36, is the daughter of her close sister Maya, and something of a gadfly, always looking to strike it rich. That covers a wide field, from selling t-shirts, writing wokester children's books, wallowing in adoring fashion shoots, working in some at least nominal boss positions for Uber, Facebook and Slack, sinecure-ing on some San Francisco city women's commission, serving as an 'advisor' for Kamala Harris (payment unknown), hanging out with celebs, posting "lifestyle" vanity posts on Instagram, and glomming onto a big mishmash of left-wing causes, whichever are most in the news.

Oh, and for kicks, she's vowed to keep annoying the government of India, where she's unpopular. Politico wrote a piece five days ago headlined: "The @meena problem goes global."

She's a bright, or at least, connected, person, having gone to Stanford where her grandpa taught, and then Harvard Law, according to her Wikipedia page. She's held top positions at top Silicon Valley baronies, most seemingly connected to relatives, which kind of tells you that Silicon Valley might not be all about brains. And like Chelsea Clinton, who also got some fancy positions, presumably because she's such an accomplished renaissance woman, Meena's nevertheless collected remarkably few merit awards.

She's married to Nikolas Ajagu, whose LinkedIn page says he's at present the Global Head of Advertising Technology Partnerships at Facebook, which sounds like maybe the guy who decides who gets de-monetized, and who doesn't. He's held earlier positions about monetization, so there's a lot of stuff he knows. News reports say he left the position to be a house-husband, but he hasn't updated his LinkedIn, making one wonder if maybe like Hunter, he's 'unwinding' his Facebook job. Not surprisingly, his wife Meena has 800,000 followers on Instagram. Ajagu himself reportedly knows enough to stay off Facebook.

So now Joe's told her to cool it, and quit advertising her connections to Kamala in the quest for big celebrity-style lifestyle-and-wokedom bucks. (Shouldn't someone supposedly so bright and accomplished be able to come up with a business idea that doesn't need to monetize a relative?)

That may mean he's feeling some kind of heat, and it would have to be from the public. After all, Biden originally declared: My son, my family will not be involved in any business, any enterprise that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, he said in 2020, yet much of his family simply ignored it, suggesting nobody's afraid of Joe.

The call though, bears watching. Meena's t-shirt sales are certainly fodder for stories about leftist greed, which is one thing for sure. But perhaps more troubling, her attacks on the government of India pretty well tie Old Joe's hands, and as Politico noted, he's trying to do some things with India for the sake of the United States, but Meena seems to be in the way, alienating India, (which certainly pleases rival China) and getting first dibs on what U.S. foreign policy will be.

It all shows a lot of over-reach among Democrats, that something like this could be such a brittle matter to Joe. After all, for years he's been tolerating this kind of grift from relatives, as Peter Schweizer's books have described. He's over-reached in hugely phenomenal ways -- from the "election" that got him curiously into office without coattails, to his extremist executive orders, throwing thousands of Americans out of work, to his militarizing of the Capitol just like a fourth-world dictatorship.

And now he's trying to tell his money-obsessed relatives, inclucing Meena, to stop. It's not just pathetic, it's a sign he may be getting nervous and in political trouble.

Image: Screen shot from shareable video by New York Public Library, via YouTube
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday it was "absolutely right" for New Zealand's most populous city to lock down, after genome sequencing linked a COVID-19 outbreak in an Auckland family to a more virulent strain.

Why it matters: It's the first time the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the U.K. has been found in NZ. Auckland locked down late Sunday for three days over the three community cases amid concern it might be a more contagious strain.

Restrictions weren't imposed for the rest of New Zealand, but social distancing and other precautions will be reintroduced  just as the country's events season heats up.

There had been no restrictions in NZ since last October.

Driving the news: The mother and her daughter tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday and the father on Sunday, per the Ministry of Health.

Scientists have yet to determine the origins of the community cases. But the mother works at the city's airport, where newly returned New Zealand travelers pass through on their way to managed hotel quarantine.

Ardern said during a Sunday news conference that a three-day "should give us enough time to gather further information, undertake large scale testing and establish if there has been wider community transmission."

For the record: Auckland entered level 3 restrictions under NZ's four-tier alert level system, with people urged to stay in their household "bubbles." Gatherings of up to 10 are permitted in exceptional circumstances, such as funerals.

Public venues must close and only essential services like pharmacies and grocery stores can open for in-person contact, with distancing measures in place.

The big picture: This is Auckland's third lockdown. Level 3 restrictions were imposed in August, before being moved down to level 2 by the month's end. All domestic restrictions were removed in October.

There's been one nationwide lockdown, under level 4, for six weeks from late March 2020.

The New Zealand government opted not to impose any restrictions despite having cases in the community last month and last November.

By the numbers: There are currently 47 active COVID-19 cases, with 44 in managed hotel isolation.

A total of 1,974 cases have been confirmed since the pandemic reached New Zealand last March.

Of note: Ardern announced Monday that the first batch of coronavirus vaccines had arrived in New Zealand. Border staff are expected to become the first to receive doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine this Saturday.

The border has been shut to non-citizens since last March.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

On Jan. 6, thousands of people stormed the U.S. Capitol building, some of them from Massachusetts. Now residents and organizations from New England are working to help the FBI identify people through photos.

We need to just recognize that even in blue Massachusetts, there are people who hold these views, and there is a growing propensity for violence, said Robert Trestan, executive director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Boston office. And thats what we saw in January.

The Anti-Defamation League in Boston has a team that has been working to identify well known people or organizations from New England that were at the Capitol through photographs.

Anyone who went to the Capitol and participated cannot now pretend it didnt happen and hide their identity, Trestan said.

The FBI has been asking for help to identify those that were at the Capitol in January.

The #FBI is still seeking information to help identify individuals who actively instigated violence on January 6 in Washington, D.C., the FBI tweeted Jan. 10.

Since then they have continued to ask for information and tweeting out specific photos of individuals.

The #FBI continues to search for individuals involved in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you know the whereabouts of the person in these photos, visit https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. When leaving a tip, reference photo 122. pic.twitter.com/TtVcNTIvDV  FBI (@FBI) February 11, 2021

From Massachusetts, there are been five arrests and charges made against individuals at the Capitol, including Brian McCreary, David Lester Ross, Suzanne Ianni, Mark Sahady and Anne Lorenz.

ADLs Center on Extremism looked for symbols on clothing or hats that identified people belonging to extremist groups.

The ADL has a database that provides an overview of many of the symbols most frequently used by a variety of white supremacist groups and movements, as well as some other types of hate groups, the website states.

The National Socialist Club, which is a small neo Nazi group that was formed in Worcester in 2019, was at the U.S. Capitol, Trestan said. They know that because of the symbols they found in photos.

The reason we know that they were there is because we can see in the photographs people affiliated with them had had markings on their clothing, he said.

Similarly, in a photo of people on a bus heading from Massachusetts to D.C., theres another clothing symbol ADL has noted, which was tweeted by Super Happy Fun America, known for organizing a straight pride parade in downtown Boston in August 2019.

If you look at the photograph theres a person in the middle, Trestan said. The person is wearing a Proud Boys T-shirt.

Also pictured is Super Happy Fun America leader Sahady and Ianni, who were both arrested and charged.

Bus 1 of 11 coming to Washington DC. See you there! pic.twitter.com/66ktWpwZKL  SuperHappyFunAmerica (@SuperHappyFunA) January 6, 2021

ADLs Center on Extremism has been using this method to identify extremists in the past. But doing it for the Capitol insurrection was actually more difficult than usual, Trestan said.

In Charlottesville, it was actually much easier to just look at photographs and match them up to known extremists who are open and public about their racism and their anti-Semitism, he said. With the Capitol it is a little more challenging, because many people who may not previously have been public with extremist views were caught up in it and actually went into the Capitol and committed crimes.

For example, he said, the leaders of the Proud Boys are pretty open about it but hundreds of people went into the building and committed crimes. Not all of those people had previously been publicly associated with the National Socialist Club or the Proud Boys.

Like the photo tweeted by Super Happy Fun America, the man wearing the Proud Boys shirt is not a known extremist and is currently unidentified.

Local residents have also been helping the FBI identify people.

Aine McDonald identified their coworker, McCreary, from one of the photos. McDonald reported it to the FBI, and posted it to Twitter.

I was like, Oh my god. That is Brian. Like that is his face, those are his glasses, McDonald said. I even recognized his shoes. That was him. I knew that was him 100%.

The tweet has since received more than 20,000 retweets, more than 82,000 likes and more than 3,000 replies.

McCreary was arrested earlier this month.

This man, with the glasses and mask, is Brian McCreary, my coworker from Dominos Pizza. #CapitolRiot pic.twitter.com/5n7bRTdh92  a normal college student  (@ppkidiot) January 10, 2021

The FBI told MassLive it has received more than 200,000 digital media tips from the public  and they continue to ask for more. Those with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

We cannot do our job without the help of the American people, said assistant director in charge Steven M. DAntuono last month. Since our call for tips, videos, and pictures, we have received more than 100,000 pieces of digital media  which is absolutely fantastic  and are scouring every one for investigative and intelligence leads.

Identifying these people is important, Trestan said.

First, its about protecting democracy, he said.

Holding people accountable is part of a healthy democracy, Trestan said. And it will also prevent a reoccurrence because one of the lessons here is to make sure that something like this does not happen again.

But it goes beyond that.

Many of these groups have a propensity to violence, Trestan said. Its important for all of us to know what is their level of activity? What is their presence in our community? And if youre supporting these groups or affiliated with them, its contributing to potential violence.

Five people were killed and 140 police officers were injured on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.

Theres nothing wrong with a public protest. Theres nothing wrong with exercising your agreement or disagreement with any law or political position in this country. That is perfectly fine, he said. But the danger is when people cross the line and it goes into criminal behavior, it goes into violence.

US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling has said that Massachusetts residents who took part in storming the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. will be prosecuted.

The Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly. What it does not protect is a violent assault on government institutions. Americans on the right and left must re-learn the difference, Lelling said. Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts.

In response to the attack, the ADL has announced its PROTECT Plan, a comprehensive, bipartisan plan to mitigate the threat of domestic terrorism while protecting civil liberties.

The plan would prioritize the domestic terrorism threat, resources would appropriately respond to the threat, those who are the most dangerous to our communities would be limited in their political power, law enforcement would have the tools needed to address extremist movements, and social media companies would be more accountable for dangerous content, according to the website.

Although the PROTECT plan is new, Trestan said, the ADL has been warning about a threat like this long before.

Hate crimes have been increasing. Across the U.S., 2019 was the deadliest year on record, according to The FBIs annual Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report. In Massachusetts, reported hate crimes increased by 10% in 2019.

In 2020, ADLs H.E.A.T. map tracked 338 extremist and antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts.

What happened on Jan. 6 was probably one of the most predictable terrorist events in U.S. history, Trestan said.

A number of pro-Trump rallies are happening in D.C. today. These events, which are protesting the results of a democratic election, have attracted a wide range of extremists, including noted white supremacists & conspiracy theorists. Our experts with more: https://t.co/6Cu8MuNUfu  ADL (@ADL) January 6, 2021

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 19:20:33|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 abducted Turkish citizens were killed by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq during Turkey's recent cross-border operation, the country's defense minister said on Sunday.

"While our activities in Operation Claw-Eagle 2 area were continuing, the bodies of 13 detained citizens were found in a search of a cave taken under control following intense clashes," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said while visiting a military point near the Iraqi border.

"In the first inspection, it was determined that 12 of our innocent and unarmed citizens were shot in the head and martyred while another was shot in the shoulder and martyred," he said.

The incident comes during Turkey's recent Claw-Eagle 2 anti-terror operation in northern Iraq.

"According to initial information given by two terrorists captured alive, our citizens were martyred at the start of the operation by the terrorist responsible for the cave," the minister stated.

At least 48 PKK members were killed in the operation and their ammunition stores and shelters were destroyed, the minister said.

He noted that three Turkish soldiers were killed and three others were wounded in the operation, he said.

Turkey launched the cross-border Operation Claw-Eagle 2 in the neighboring country on Feb. 10.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. Enditem
A 25-mile undersea tunnel connecting Britain with Northern Ireland could get the go ahead within weeks amid hopes the project, dubbed 'Boris' Burrow', could ease post-Brexit tensions.

It is hoped the tunnel will help facilitate trade between Northern Ireland and the UK following a series of stumbling blocks as a result of Brexit.

Experts believe the tunnel could cost up to 10billion to create, though this will be roughly half as much as it would cost to build a bridge.

The tunnel, which would be a similar length to the Channel tunnel, would run from Stranraer, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland, The Telegraph reports.

Studies are currently being undertaken by the chairman of Network Rail, Peter Hendy, to find out if the 25-mile tunnel would be possible.

He has already met the Prime Minster to discuss his findings and his report is expected to be released within a matter of weeks.

Plans for 25-mile tunnel connecting Stranraer, Scotland, and Larne, Northern Ireland, is expected to get the go ahead within a matter of weeks

It is believed to have been modelled on the Channel tunnel, connecting the UK and France, which accommodates both trains, cars and HGVS, The Times reports.

Costs to carry out previous proposals by Alan Dunlop, the architect who first came up with the idea for a Scotland to Northern Ireland tunnel, were estimated at between 8billion and 10billion.

Tensions have been mounting since the Brexit transition period came to an end over the New Year and the EU subsequently introduced checks on cargo entering Northern Ireland by ferry, disrupting its trade with the UK.

While discussions for the proposed tunnel rumble on, Michael Gove is believed to be proposing a 'mutual enforcement' plan.

His plan would see the Northern Irish border restored and the same checks applied to both UK and EU trade.

But officials are said to have acknowledged an alteration to the Northern Ireland protocol is unlikely.

As part of Brexit negotiations, the UK and EU agreed to the Northern Ireland protocol which is designed to avoid the need for a border on the island of Ireland.

But this has led to disruption on goods crossing the Irish Sea, with new checks imposed on those moving from Britain to the province.

Since the arrangements came into force on January 1, supermarkets have reported empty shelves while concerns have been raised that Northern Irelands place within the UK is being undermined.

Network Rail, Peter Hendy, has been looking into whether the 25-mile tunnel would be possible and has already met with the Prime Minster (pictured) to discuss his findings

Amid growing tensions, graffiti has been daubed on buildings and checks at ports have been suspended following threats against staff.

At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Mr Johnson said he would take the drastic step of suspending parts of the Brexit agreement unless the problems can be resolved in crisis talks with the EU.

The Government has demanded some checks are removed, while existing grace periods on goods such as chilled meats are extended until 2023.

It is expected the Network Rail chairman, Mr Hendy, will advise the Government to set up a feasibility study for the tunnel.

A link between Scotland and Northern Ireland was first proposed by Boris Johnson during the Tory leadership race in 2018 in the form of a bridge.

What we need to do is build a bridge between our islands, he declared, during an interview that was highly critical of Theresa Mays leadership.

Michael Gove (pictured) is believed to be proposing a 'mutual enforcement' plan which would see the Northern Irish border restored and the same checks applied to both UK and EU trade

The tunnel which would run from Stranraer, Scotland, to Larne, Northern Ireland, would be a similar length to the Channel tunnel

Why dont we? Why dont we? There is so much more we can do, and what grieves me about the current approach to Brexit is that we are just in danger of not believing in ourselves, not believing in Britain.

At the time the proposal was ridiculed by some but it appears the suggestion could become a reality.

Both he and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack are believed to be firm supporters of the plans which are said to be similar to the 23.5mile deep Channel tunnel.

Speaking the Telegraph's Chopper's Politics podcast, Mr Jack explained a tunnel was the preferred option because 'a bridge would be closed for probably 100 days a year with the weather in the Irish Sea'.

When first proposed there were also concerns about Beautfort's Dyke, a trench in the North Channel where tons of munitions were dumped after the Second World War, and whether it would be logistically plausible.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said: 'This kind of project would at least give people in Northern Ireland the belief that the Government was prepared to put in infrastructure and spend money to make sure that we are physically connected.'
Leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor samples one of the newly-distilled mashbills he discovered (Boann Distillery/PA)

A collection of long-lost Irish whiskey recipes unearthed by a historian have been brought back to life for the first time in almost a century.

The first casks have been produced, some made using ingredients  or mashbills  which date back to the 1800s.

The recipes were unearthed and brought back to life by leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor, who wrote a thesis on the lost distilling process.

Expand Close Leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor, who discovered a collection of vintage whiskey mashbills, or recipes, now back in production for the first time in almost a century. (Boann Distillery/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor, who discovered a collection of vintage whiskey mashbills, or recipes, now back in production for the first time in almost a century. (Boann Distillery/PA)

Were talking to ghosts by distilling these mashbills again, said the Dubliner, 32, who plans an industry-wide sensory analysis of the reborn spirits.

Co Meaths Boann Distillery, on the outskirts of Drogheda, took on the mammoth task of bringing the vintage mashbills back into circulation through its pot stills.

Only 144 casks are being made available to the public.

It reintroduces the art of creating whiskey using malted barley, oats, wheat and rye, leading to a tug-of-war between flavours depending on the varying grain percentages used.

The spirit is transferred into 200-250 litre bourbon, rum, NEOC (French red wine barrels) and sherry casks, and matured for a minimum of five years in specialist warehousing.

The bulk of these mashbills havent been tasted in over 70 years and the earliest ones Ive found come from the early 1800s Fionnan O'Connor

Mr OConnor said: The mashbills chosen are creating a map, a language about how all these things might have worked.

What was the reason for creating a mashbill? What was going through their heads when they were putting them together?

Theres a lot of things you can do to whiskey to influence the taste. The bulk of these mashbills havent been tasted in over 70 years and the earliest ones Ive found come from the early 1800s.

It would be a shame if all that history and those flavours were lost. This project has been about making up for lost time.

Many people know the story of Irish distillings rise and collapse, but the story of the lost tastes and aromas, the knowledge that most of those whiskeys were different to ours, comes as news to most people.

He first discovered the mashbills in archives in the Republic and Northern Ireland, and credits Boanns courage in bringing them back into production.

Expand Close Michael Walsh, Head Distiller, Boann Distillery, with Fionnan OConnor, whose thesis on lost Irish Whiskey mashbills led to the vintage recipes being brought back into production. (Boann Distillery/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Michael Walsh, Head Distiller, Boann Distillery, with Fionnan OConnor, whose thesis on lost Irish Whiskey mashbills led to the vintage recipes being brought back into production. (Boann Distillery/PA)

The programme will culminate in the coming months with a gathering of 30 leading figures in the Irish distilling industry for a sensory analysis tasting of the mashbills and their ranking over a number of different criteria.

It will include experts from Ireland and Scotland and is in association with Heriot-Watt Universitys brewing and distilling programme.

Boann managing director Pat Cooney said his family, which employs 15 staff operating three huge copper pot stills, want to be seen as one of the most progressive distilleries in Ireland.

Every mashbill tastes different, depending on whether theres more barley, less malt, more wheat, less rye, he said.

The family is also in the process of building a visitor centre, an online shop and launching Silks Irish Gin, named in honour of the local Bellewstown Races, running since 1726.

Boann is producing samples of each different mashbill, with an arrangement that customers can book their cask by paying a deposit and choosing their cask after tasting the various mashbills.

Inquiries can be made at caskoffer@boanndistillery.ie.
Gustavo Ortiz Argentina

Gustavo spent his childhood in Realico, a small town lost in the Argentine Pampas. Besides the artistic activities experienced in his neighbourhood, an encounter with art would amaze and influence him; during a school trip to Buenos Aires, he attended a retrospective of the surrealist artist Joan Miro.

At 17, he moved to General Pico for his studies. At the time he hesitated between art and veterinarian studies, but quickly his instinct led him to choose an artistic path. He completed classical training for 5 years at the university and acquired a solid foundation in art history and philosophy and experimented with different techniques.

At 21 he moved to Chili and opened a studio in Santiago de Chile. For seven years he expressed his desire to create on his canvases and began to make a living from his work.

Gustavo interweaves his South American origins and his intellectual attraction for Europe to create a unique universe; a harmony between indigenous and colonial art.

His style can be distinguished by the strength of the colours, the crisp edges and the use of collage as the main technique. He paints reduced landscapes, peopled with disproportionate characters or objects. Gustavo is inspired by the myths and legends of native Latin America. His paintings reveal elements of Primitive Art punctuated by an unexpected surrealism. The colourful and imaginary atmosphere of Joan Miro inspires his works.

The rich creative period in Santiago gave him the notoriety and experience necessary to launch in Europe. In 2007 he crossed the Atlantic and decided with his English girlfriend to settle in London, where he continued his artistic adventure and multiplied his exhibitions.

Gustavo wishes to express ""an air of childish wonder and discreet humour"" and create a surprising universe, a tale of wonder"".
The Circle Cliffs, originally part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, were removed from monument protection by former President Trump. The cliffs are especially rich in fossils, including one of the largest Triassic-age petrified forests, the most complete skeleton of the stem-crocodilian Poposaurus and unique swim trackways of sauropods. (Stephen Trimble)

Theres a painful axiom in the conservation community: To protect land, you have to win the same battle over and over again.

The fight for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments has resumed. It never really ended.

When President Trump eviscerated these Utah preserves in December 2017, Grand Staircase had been a national monument for more than 20 years. Bears Ears was new, established by President Obama in 2016, and acclaimed as a historic gesture of healing and respect toward the five Native American nations that had proposed the preserve and would share in its management. Trumps directive reduced the size of Bears Ears by 85%, Grand Staircase by half.

Joe Biden campaigned on the pledge to fully restore both monuments. He has already initiated the process, asking the Department of the Interior to review the boundaries and make recommendations.

And so here we are, once again called to speak on behalf of building cultural and environmental resilience in red rock country, to support and renew what were historic acts of conservation.

In a joint statement, Utahs Republican congressional delegation, governor and legislative leaders predictably decried Bidens plan for the monuments. They grumble that land management actions have often been done to us rather than with us in the two-thirds of our backyard that belongs to the federal government. The officials ask federal authorities to collaborate, to work with state and local elected leaders toward a consensus product.

That sounds reasonable, but the history of interactions with these officials belies their claim of good-faith collaboration. Their states-rights pro-extraction values preclude the deliberative give-and-take they now self-righteously request.

They are tragically consistent with their political forebears.

When Utah Gov. George Clyde pondered the slickrock spires in the then-proposed Canyonlands National Park in 1961, he rejected protection, saying, We are a mining state. We might need this as building stone.

Story continues

When President Lyndon Johnson expanded Capitol Reef National Monument sixfold in 1969, the tiny neighboring town of Boulder, Utah, briefly changed its name to Johnsons Folly.

When President Clinton proclaimed Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996 without public hearings, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch called his action the mother of all land grabs.

And so President Obama took note. In 2016, he gave Utah citizens and state political and tribal leaders the chance to work out a just compromise for protecting public lands on the Colorado Plateau. Obama refrained from executive action until the last weeks of his administration, patiently waiting for success at the negotiating table. But when Utah officials continued to push for rampant fossil fuel extraction instead of conservation in the states southeast corner, the tribes walked away in protest.

Finally, Obama used the Antiquities Act to designate Bears Ears National Monument. Although monument status expanded protection only on federal land, leaving private land untouched, Utah officials nonetheless raised the familiar cry, declaring another land grab. (Grand Staircases monument designation likewise affected only federal lands.)

And here we go again.

Because Chris Stewart is my congressman, and Grand Staircase lies within his district, Ill focus on this monument and this representative.

In a debate last fall, Stewart proclaimed, The presumption of many is that the people in Utah are just too stupid or too ill-willed to manage their lands. His much-criticized bill to create an Escalante Canyons National Park from fragments of the diminished Trump monument would grant local county commissioners management of federal lands.

But these lands have never been Utahs to manage. Indigenous homelands first, then claimed by Spain and Mexico in turn, Utahs public lands have been under the shared ownership of all Americans since 1847.

Stewart and his allies in the state simply do not believe in this fundamental fact. Instead, they consider Utah the rightful owner of U.S. public lands. These officials do not make fair partners in negotiating the future of the Colorado Plateau.

Biden has no real choice but to move on without them. When he does, hell find that the reasoning in the Clinton proclamation leading to Grand Staircases original size and shape remains sound.

Scientists drew the 1996 Grand Staircase boundaries carefully. They embraced a sufficient range of habitats, soils and biodiversity to allow for robust research on plant speciation and plant-community dynamics. The monuments corridors for wildlife migration and dispersal create crucial connections to surrounding protected lands. The monuments expansive size helps secure the long-term ecological health of the entire region.

The Clinton proclamation acknowledged exemplary opportunities for paleontological discovery. A generation of research has verified the monuments promise, transforming our understanding of the Age of Dinosaurs.

And now we have additional imperatives to fully protect this landscape at scale.

The Colorado Plateau will experience hotter temperatures, more severe droughts and increased variability in precipitation through the 21st century. Grand Staircases size and biodiversity  it is the most species-rich protected area in Utah  may shield some plants and animals from the worst effects of climate change.

As extinction threatens ecosystems across the globe, arks such as Grand Staircase-Escalante may become the refuges from which species can spread to recolonize surrounding areas whose flora and fauna falter. By interlocking with other designated federal lands, from Bryce Canyon National Park to Bears Ears, a fully protected Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will mitigate global warming, provide a carbon sink, protect watersheds, springs and seeps, and prevent wholesale extinctions.

Grand Staircases representative in Congress, Stewart, barely acknowledges climate change as real  he certainly does not acknowledge it as the existential threat it truly poses to humanity. He manages just a 3% lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters.

To advance conservation and address climate change, Biden has vowed to rely on science. Utahs Republican elected leaders, with their commitment to extractive industries and their mistrust of big government, have other agendas. The president should not hesitate to restore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante by proclamation.

And, to put an end to an endless ping-pong of executive orders and court actions, Congress should then pass legislation confirming Bidens actions for both monuments. Only by making Bears Ears and Grand Staircase impervious to any future president who might wish to reduce their size can we safeguard their future.

Stephen Trimble is a Utah writer and conservation advocate. His latest book is The Capitol Reef Reader.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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.
LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday he shared concerns about the level of access given to a World Health Organization COVID-19 fact-finding mission to China, echoing criticism from the United States.

The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying it had "deep concerns" about the way the findings of the WHO's COVID-19 report were communicated.

Asked about the U.S. reaction, Raab told the BBC: "We do share concerns that they get full cooperation and they get the answers they need, and so we'll be pushing for it to have full access, get all the data it needs to be able to answer the questions that I think most people want to hear answered around the outbreak."

In a separate BBC interview, a member of the WHO's delegation to China said that, while Chinese authorities had not given them all raw data, they had seen a lot of information and discussed analysis of the first cases.

"It would be unusual for them to hand over the raw data, but we looked at a great deal of information in detail in discussion with the Chinese counterparts," said John Watson, an epidemiologist who travelled to China as part of the WHO team.

On Saturday, Dominic Dwyer, an Australian infectious diseases expert, who is also a member of the team, said China had refused access to all the data requested.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Gareth Jones and Barbara Lewis)
48 people died and more than 200 were injured in the Stardust fire 40 years ago

The Stardust nightclub fire has "cast a long and deep shadow" as the 40th anniversary is commemorated, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has said.

"I come here this morning to stand in solidarity with you in your inexpressible grief and sadness, to pray both for the victims of this awful tragedy and for healing for the families who suffered such loss, he told the memorial mass.

"I come here this morning to stand in solidarity with you in your inexpressible grief and sadness, to pray both for the victims of this awful tragedy and for healing for the families who suffered such loss, he said.

"The loss of life is always tragic. But the loss of young and innocent life is beyond tragedy.

Read More

Some 48 people were tragically killed and 200 injured in the fire that occurred on Valentines night in 1981 in the Stardust nightclub, Artane.

The Archbishop quoted Ms Gorman, an American 22-year-old who performed at US President Joe Bidens inaugeration.

This young womans poem of hope, born out of the shock and dismay of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6th captured the imagination of the world, the Archbishop said.

"In her poem, The Hill We Climb, she proclaims, When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

In a real way this young woman captures what so many affected by the Stardust tragedy have been looking for these last 40 years: the events of that night 40 years ago have cast a long and deep shadow.

"To continue with Gorman, this is a loss we carry, a sea we must wade.

Archbishop Farrell said so many families are still re-living the horror of that night which is seared into the hearts and memories of a generation.

He added: A whole community was traumatised in the horror of that dreadful night. The lives of so many have been blighted by the loss of those young people, who were so full of hope and promise.

"That grievous loss has been compounded by their long quest for a full account of the tragedy that satisfies their need for truth.

Read More




ALTON  Minor flooding is expected this spring along the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers, according to the National Weather Service.

Most local streams are expected to have a near normal flood risk this spring, according to the NWS. Its forecast included theMississippi River from above Canton, Missouri, to above Cape Girardeau, Missouri; the Missouri River above Jefferson City, Missouri to its confluence with the Mississippi River; the Illinois River downstream from its confluence with the LaMoine River to its confluence with the Mississippi River; and for tributary rivers in eastern Missouri and west central and southwest Illinois.

The NWS reported no current flooding anywhere within the St. Louis Service Area, so probabilities within this outlook are not skewed by any ongoing flooding.

The Mississippi and Missouri rivers are experiencing near normal streamflow for this time of year, the NWS reported. Flows along the Illinois River have experienced well below normal streamflow through most of the winter. This is providing a low to average starting point for these rivers to accept future runoff.

Soils have dried out considerably across the Midwest, the NWS said, leaving local areas with near to below normal soil moisture. Drier soils are the rule from Minnesota and the Dakotas through western Kansas, which will provide the upper Mississippi River and middle Missouri River basins with additional storage to deter flooding.

The NWS also reported snowpack and snow water equivalent in this snowpack are well below average from northern Wisconsin, most of Minnesota, and the Dakotas. However, the snow water equivalent is well above average from southern Nebraska through much of Iowa, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. That could lead to the likelihood of minor flooding for the Illinois, Missouri, and Mississippi rivers.

Given the below normal snowpack in other portions of these basins, the likelihood of significant (moderate or greater) flooding is not as great, the NWS reported. For local basins, the chances for minor flooding at most locations throughout the St. Louis service area are near or above average.

Most local forecastpoints have flood probabilities close to normal, the NWS reported.

Looking ahead to March through May, temperatures are expected to warm back into the above normal realm throughout the St. Louis service area, but precipitation is expected to have a slightly better than average chance to be above average throughout the St. Louis service area.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 11:22:25|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States should hold itself to the highest standards and support the World Health Organization (WHO)'s work with real actions, said a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United States on Saturday.

"China welcomes the return of the U.S. to the World Health Organization. The WHO is an authoritative multilateral international organization in the field of health, not a funfair where one can come and go at will," said the spokesperson in remarks over a statement issued by some senior U.S. official claiming that the U.S. re-engaging the WHO means holding it to the highest standards and questioning some ongoing work of the WHO.

What the United States has done in recent years has "severely undermined" multilateral institutions, including the WHO, and "gravely damaged" international cooperation on fighting COVID-19, the spokesperson noted.

The United States, "acting as if none of this had ever happened, is pointing fingers at other countries who have been faithfully supporting the WHO and at the WHO itself," the spokesperson said, adding "With such a track record, how can it win the confidence of the whole world?"

It is hoped that the United States will "hold itself to the highest standards, take a serious, earnest, transparent and responsible attitude, shoulder its rightful responsibility, support the WHO's work with real actions and make due contribution to the international cooperation on COVID-19. The whole world will be looking," the spokesperson said. Enditem
SLT Group garners 25% PAT in 2020 despite COVID challenges View(s):

The Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) Group ended the 2020 financial year on a high note with a significant 25 per cent YoY growth in profit after tax to Rs. 7.9 billion despite many challenges faced arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Group revenue climbed to Rs. 91.1 billion for the year with a 6 per cent YoY growth, strongly underpinned by higher broadband revenue propelled by the accelerated fibre expansion programme and growth in mobile broadband services. Revenue for PEOTV and carrier services also advanced during the year, the group said in a media release on the years performance which included the merging of its subsidiary Mobitel into one SLT-Mobitel entity.

Group revenue for Q4 2020 rose by 4 per cent per cent QoQ to Rs. 24 billion recording the highest quarterly revenue achieved for FY 2020. The operating profit for the quarter increased by 27 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year reaching Rs. 1.9 billion, however a decline of 33 per cent compared to 3Q 2020. Group profit after tax for the quarter was reported at Rs. 1.1 billion, a drop of 48 per cent QoQ, mainly due to the higher operating costs and adverse impact from fluctuation in foreign currencies.

Mobitel reported a strong profitable growth due to simultaneous growth in revenue and reduction in operational expenditure. Mobitel revenue for FY 2020 stood at Rs. 43.2 billion, up by per cent compared to FY 2019. Mobitel recorded its highest ever profit after tax of Rs. 4.9 billion in FY 2020, an increase by 54 per cent YoY.

The group paid a total of Rs. 17.1 billion as direct and indirect taxes including levies to the Government in FY 2020.

SLT Group Chairman, Rohan Fernando said: Our financial results for 2020 have yet again demonstrated that SLT Groups resilience and success in providing essential telecommunication services to the country and community, notwithstanding unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful to all our frontliners and staff for providing uninterrupted services to the country during challenging times.

SLT Group Chief Executive Officer, Lalith Seneviratne noted: We commenced 2021 with brand unification of SLT-Mobitel which is another milestone in the SLT Groups legacy. The joined forces of SLT and Mobitel allow us to unify our capabilities and enhance our market brand presence and trust in the market place. In mid-2021, SLT-Mobitel aims to launch a pre-commercial 5G service using 3.5 GHz. Further, we have established a research and development centre to accelerate innovations in the group and maintain our edge in the market.
The has acquitted a defiant Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in just over a year, after the Democrats failed once again to muster enough votes to convict the former president on a charge of inciting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. The Senate voted 57-43 on Saturday to convict Trump on a single impeachment count  incitement of insurrection. But that majority of all 50 Democrats in the upper chamber of the US Congress, joined by seven Republicans, fell 10 votes short of the 67 needed for a conviction, two-thirds of the 100-member Senate. The Senate acquitted the 74-year-old Republican leader of inciting insurrection at the US Capitol last month after he urged hundreds of his supporters to confront lawmakers as they were certifying that he had lost the November 3 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden. He was accused of inciting riots in the Capitol which left five people, including a police officer, dead. Trump is the first president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives twice, and the first to be tried for impeachment after leaving office. He was first acquitted by the Senate on February 5, 2020 on charges of abuse of power and on obstruction of Congress. The Democrats had charged Trump in December 2019 with pressuring Ukraine to smear Biden, his rival in the November election. On Saturday, seven Republican senators  Bill Cassidy, Richard Burr, Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey  voted in favour of impeaching Trump. If he had been convicted, the Senate could have voted to bar Trump, who has not yet conceded defeat to Biden, from running for office ever again. Trump thanked his team of lawyers and others for their tireless work "upholding justice and defending the truth". He also said that the Democrats' attempt to end his political career had also failed, telling his supporters, our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. "In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people. There has never been anything like it!" said Trump, who received 74 million votes in the election, higher than that of any president before him. In his first reaction to the development, President Biden said that the Senate's acquittal of his predecessor was a reminder that democracy was "fragile" and every American had a duty to defend the truth. This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended.

That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism have no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies, Biden said in a statement. While the final vote did not lead to the conviction of Trump, the substance of the charge is not in dispute, he said. "Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and practically and morally responsible for provoking the violence unleashed on the Capitol, Biden said. The Democratic Party criticised the Republican senators for acquitting Trump, saying their vote to clear him will live as a vote of infamy in the history of the US Senate". January 6th will live as a day of infamy in the history of the United States of America. The failure to convict Donald Trump will live as a vote of infamy in the history of the US Senate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Senate Republicans who voted not to convict Trump chose to abandon the Constitution, the country and the American people, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. What we saw in that Senate today was a cowardly group of Republicans who apparently have no options because they were afraid to defend their job, respect the institution in which they serve, she said. After the vote, Senator Mitch McConnell said Trump had been "responsible" for the assault on the Capitol and called it a "disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty". However, he voted against his conviction, saying it was unconstitutional now that Trump was no longer president. But he warned Trump could still be held liable in court. The Washington Post said that the result of the vote underscored Trump's continued grip on most Republicans despite the party losing control of both the White House and Congress during his tumultuous tenure. The verdict brought an abrupt end to the fourth presidential impeachment trial in American history, and the only one in which the accused had left office before being tried, it said. The trial ended after just five days, partly because Republicans and Democrats alike had little appetite for a prolonged proceeding, and partly because Trump's allies had made clear before it even began they were not prepared to hold him responsible, The New York Times noted.

No President has gone through anything like this, says Trump Welcoming his acquittal in the US Senate, Trump released a statement saying his political movement "has only just begun." The former US president also denounced his second impeachment trial as "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country." "No president has ever gone through anything like it," he said. Bloomberg
Krysten Ritter is getting ready to play an evil witch in her next movie.

But the Don't Trust the B**** In Apartment 23 star is more accurately a doting mom, as she enjoys downtime with her family.

She kept it casual Saturday in a black 'pizza over everything' sweatshirt and some skintight jeans ripped at the knee, with son Bruce and partner Adam Granduciel in Los Angeles.

Pizza over everything: Krysten Ritter kept it casual Saturday in a black 'pizza over everything' sweatshirt and some skintight jeans ripped at the knee, with son Bruce and partner Adam Granduciel in Los Angeles

The 39-year-old finished the look with some tortoise sunglasses on her head and a pair of bright multi-colored trainers.

She took precautions against COVID-19 in a lilac face mask, printed with a smile and a tongue sticking out.

Ritter pushed her one-year-old baby boy in a stroller, as she walked with Granduciel, 41, to a toy store.

She opened up about motherhood to HollywoodLife back in September: 'I had no idea that I would get to be a kid again myself.

Cool kicks: The 39-year-old finished the look with some tortoise sunglasses on her head and a pair of bright multi-colored trainers

Family outing: Ritter pushed her one-year-old baby boy in a stroller, as she walked with Granduciel, 41, to a toy store

'Getting to see the world through his eyes and find joy in playing with toys and things like dancing to Baby Shark, getting dressed up for Halloween is the best! I am so grateful for this gift.'

The Veronica Mars actress also talked about getting back to work amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: 'I'm just trying to be present and do my best and not waste time worrying about balance.

'I definitely try and get as much done during that nap time as possible and then I just focus on soaking up the baby every day.'

She's since been cast in the Netflix family movie Nightbooks, based on the 2018 horror/fantasy children's book by JA White.

Inner child: She opened up about motherhood to HollywoodLife back in September: 'I had no idea that I would get to be a kid again myself' (pictured in May, 2019)

Work/life balance: The Veronica Mars actress also talked about getting back to work amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: 'I'm just trying to be present and do my best and not waste time worrying about balance'

Leading lady: She's since been cast in the Netflix family movie Nightbooks, based on the 2018 horror/fantasy children's book by JA White (pictured in October, 2019)

Ritter plays an evil young witch who imprisons children in her contemporary New York City apartment, forcing them to tell a new scary story every night to stay alive.

She's also rumored to be returning to the Marvel role of Jessica Jones in the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk, starring Tatiana Maslany in the titular role.

The former model played the troubled super strong heroine in the self-titled Netflix series, which ran for three seasons from 2015 to 2019, as well as the spinoff The Defenders.

Ritter didn't seem up for returning to the role, when she told TVLine in 2019: 'Do I think I'll play her again? I don't think so. I feel like I've played her, you know? I feel really good about it. I feel good about closing the door.'
Photo: Screenshot from US President Joe Biden's twitter account

Many leaders worldwide sent Lunar New Year greetings to people around the world celebrating the Chinese New Year, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with Chinese analysts saying this is a positive signal for greater unity and friendship.

This is the first time for Biden to share a Chinese Lunar New Year greeting as the US president. Biden and his wife First Lady Jill Biden wished Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year. They said on Friday via video that "racism, harassment, hate crimes" against this group of people is "simply wrong" and called for greater unity in the country.

On Wednesday, before the Lunar New Year's Eve, he sent the greetings to all Chinese people and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call with Xi.

Chinese analysts said that by criticizing racism, Biden has made a firm determination to end the destructive legacy of the previous administration led by Donald Trump, which played up racism and blamed Chinese for the pandemic by calling the novel coronavirus "China virus." That harmed not only Chinese people but also Asians from other countries.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Biden's greetings show that US elites want the country return to a more rational political posture, and the US would also agree that in order to overcome so many shared challenges, there is no reason for the US to wield hatred and racism against other countries, including China.

However, according to the readout released by the White House, the US has stressed divergence more than cooperation, especially on domestic affairs and issues of core interest to China including Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan, with Chinese experts saying that there are still challenges for the recovery of China-US ties, and the key is how to manage the fraught subjects.

French President Macron sent his greetings in four languages on his tweeter - French, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. He said, "To all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, I send my best wishes for health, success and happiness!"

Asian countries' leaders like Japan, South Korea and the Philippines also delivered the greetings. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wished that both countries will enjoy better ties this year. "I would like to greet President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people a Happy Lunar New Year celebration," he said. "May this new year find us all working together to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our governments and people," he noted, according to the Manila Times on Saturday.

Although some Western countries' ties with China have been harmed by anti-China sentiment or Sinophobia due to the pandemic and other issues, national leaders displayed a friendly attitude toward Chinese and Asian immigrants in their countries by marking the Lunar New Year.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday has sent his "best wishes to everyone celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend," and said during the Year of the Ox, "we have many shared challenges with the Chinese people, from defeating COVID-19, to tackling climate change and supporting a worldwide economic recovery."

These leaders' remarks have proved that anti-China sentiment which has become increasingly common among some conservative and extreme political forces in the past are not welcomed, and the Trump administration had created huge uncertainty to the world and created friction which has been unhelpful to the international cooperation, so now the world leaders sent messages to vow for unity and certainty, Li said.

Some leaders also demonstrated their knowledge on Chinese culture. UN Secretary-General Guterres said in his greetings that "the Ox symbolizes energy, strength and courage. These qualities are the world needs now."

Chinese people worldwide have exerted huge influence for the Chinese culture, and the Lunar New Year is also becoming a global festival that get celebrated worldwide rather than a specific cultural symbol in Asia, said analysts.

An ever growing group of countries have realized that in dealing with shared challenges like the pandemic, climate change and economic recovery, China will play greater role and they have no choice but to cooperate with China, and China also shows great sincerity and effort to prove it is a responsible major power, said Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University. Zhang noted that "more and more people worldwide will realize China's contribution amid this difficult time, and China's role as a responsible international actor will become increasingly important."
Boris Johnson tries his hand at one of the tests as he visits the French biotechnology laboratory Valneva in Livingston, Scotland, on Jan. 28, 2021. (Wattie Cheung-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Boris Johnson Hails Significant Milestone as 15 Million Vaccinated in UK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his country reached a significant milestone on Sunday as 15 million people across the UK had received the first dose of a CCP virus vaccine.

Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdoms national vaccination programme, he said in a video message posted on Twitter.

Today we have reached a significant milestone in the United Kingdoms national vaccination programme. This country has achieved an extraordinary feat  administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country. pic.twitter.com/wPKCXPT8Td  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 14, 2021

He said the government has hit its target of offering vaccines to everyone in England in the four priority groups, including frontline medical staff, care home residents and workers, people over 70 years old, and people deemed clinically extremely vulnerable.

Weve still got a long way to go, and there will undoubtedly be bumps in the road, he said. But after all weve achieved, I know we can go forward with great confidence.

Britains Health Secretary Matt Hancock also hailed the fantastic news, stressing in particular the high take-up rate.

Matt Hancock, the UKs Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, visits the NHS vaccine centre that has been set up at Epsom Racecourse in Epsom, England, on Jan. 11, 2021. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Over nine in 10 of all over-70s in the whole country have now been vaccinatedmuch higher take-up than we could possibly have hoped for.

He said this is really good news because he sees vaccination as the way out for all of us out of this pandemic to be able to get our lives back to something near normal.

There is still an awful long way to go, but were making really good progress, said Hancock.

This comes one day after a group of backbench Conservative members of Parliament wrote to Johnson demanding that he lift all CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus restrictions by the end of April. The CCP virus causes the disease COVID-19.

The COVID Recovery Group (CRG), a group of Tory MPs who are skeptical about lockdown measures, said on Saturday that they welcomed the tremendous pace of the vaccination rollout and that the restrictions will no longer be justified once the high-risk groups have been protected by COVID-19 vaccines.

Johnson said on Saturday he was optimistic he could announce the easing of some lockdown measures soon, but also said we have to be cautious.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Australia is expected to receive its first 80,000 doses of the Covid Pfizer vaccine by the end of next week, according to Greg Hunt.

The Health Minister said the doses would arrive under tight security from Belgium.

The vaccines will then undergo their final stage of testing from the Therapeutic Good Administration to ensure they are safe before being rolled out to vulnerable residents later this month.

'Ive spoken to the country head of Pfizer and have confirmed that the vaccines are on track for arrival by the end of the week,' Mr Hunt told The Australian.

'Commencement of vaccinations  subject to arrival, quality and temperature controls  will take place in the last week of February.'

Australia is expected to receive its first 80,000 doses of the Covid Pfizer vaccine by next week. Pictured: Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks past vials of AstraZeneca vaccine during a visit to the CSL serum lab to inspect Covid-19 Immunoglobulin being produced in Parkville, Melbourne on Friday

Australia has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 10 million people.

The vaccines must be kept at minus-70 degrees Celsius to preserve the mRNA responsible for inducing coronavirus immunity.

Distribution firms with specialist experience in cold-logistics have been contracted to handle the doses, which will arrive in batches of 5000 per shipping container.

The dry-ice filled boxes have been fitted with thermal sensors which will send messages to a central control tower if they drop below the required temperature.

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents.

Mr Hunt said the Morrison Government will not decide on an official date for the first round of jabs until the doses are in the country.

Other Australians over the age of 16 will be then be ranked by health risk to determine when they get the vaccination, with those more vulnerable prioritised.

The government expects the AstraZeneca vaccine to get approval soon so it will be available in early March.

Health Department boss Brendan Murphy has said it's unlikely people will get to pick if they get the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, as it depends on their profile and category of risk.

Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) said the doses would arrive from Belgium before undergoing their final staging of testing from the Therapeutic Good Administration

Pictured: Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton speaks to media about the Covid-19 vaccine at a DHL facility in Sydney on Sunday

The government wants the vaccine rollout to be complete by the end of October.

Hospitals will be able to store the vaccines in special low-temperature freezers, while aged care facilities will be able to keep them cool in their boxes for 15 days by regularly replacing the dry ice.

Mr Hunt said it is critical that communications around the vaccine program are also targeted for culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

'The government recognises that people from multicultural communities are a significant part of the health, aged care, child care and disability workforce and will be among the first people in Australia to receive vaccinations,' Mr Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.

But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned that Australia is languishing in rolling out the program, which is creating uncertainty in communities and the economy more broadly.

He said some 90 countries have their vaccinations program under way.

'After the prime minister said we were at the front of the queue 160 million people have been vaccinated around the world, while zero Australians have been vaccinated,' Dr Chalmers told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.

Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is gearing up to lead a re-think of Australia's hotel quarantine program in light of the UK strain of coronavirus which now has his contact tracers in a frenzy.

Australia has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 10 million people

Pictured: Packaging and fridges used to store Covid-19 vaccine at a DHL facility in Sydney, on Sunday February 14

On Saturday Mr Andrews said he had asked his health experts to do a risk assessment of the 'fast-moving' disease, which would form his position in a national discussion about hotel quarantine and when the vaccine is rolled out.

The Morrison government remains in continuing discussions with the Northern Territory to expand the Howard Springs quarantine facility, having already expanded its capacity to 850.

'It's been obvious for sometime, certainly some months, that there has needed to be an expansion of federal facilities like this one,' Dr Chalmers said.

'It hasn't come soon enough to prevent those 40,000 Australians overseas, despite the prime minister's promise to get people home by Christmas.'

Victoria paused all international passenger flights from Saturday as part of its five-day statewide lockdown as health authorities attempt to ring-fence an outbreak of the infectious UK variant of the virus.

The state recorded two new local cases and a third in hotel quarantine on Saturday.

Victoria's health department listed four new exposure sites on Sunday morning. They are two Pascoe Vale swimming pools, and a Woolworths and bakery in Broadmeadows.

The state has 14 cases linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak.

Hospitals will be able to store the vaccines in special low-temperature freezers (one pictured at DHL facility in Sydney)

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents

In South Australia, the government has responded to its own cluster following a quarantine leak in late 2020 by opening a new facility for overseas travellers and locals who test positive for the virus.

Ahead of a tour of the 72-bed medi-hotel at Tom's Court Hotel in Adelaide, South Australian Health Minister Stephen Wade said it was the only COVID-positive facility in Australia.

'It delivers what we believe is the best model in Australia for the management of COVID-positive people,' Mr Wade said on Sunday.

Work has been performed at the hotel to improve ventilation to minimise the risk of airborne transmission, and there is additional CCTV to reduce floor movement.

It will be staffed by SA Health and SA Police staff and will open on Monday.

NSW and Queensland on Sunday reported no new local cases. It was the 28th consecutive day in NSW without local cases - the longest stretch since the pandemic began.

Victorian visitors to NSW are obliged to follow their home state's "stay at home" orders. This does not apply to residents of NSW border communities unless they have visited Greater Melbourne.

NSW has strongly advised residents to avoid non-essential travel to Victoria.

Tasmania, Northern Territory, Queensland, WA and SA have closed their borders to Victorian travellers.
Former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn looks on before addressing a large crowd of journalists on his reasons for dodging trial in Japan, where he is accused of financial misconduct, at the Lebanese Press Syndicate in Beirut on Jan. 8, 2020. (Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images)

Supreme Court Wont Halt Extradition of US Father, Son Over Ghosn Escape

The Supreme Court refused Feb. 13 to halt extradition proceedings against two Americans wanted by Japan for allegedly engineering the escape of former Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn from that country.

Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, was on bail awaiting trial for income tax fraud and misappropriation of Nissan funds when he fled Japan in late December 2019 in a hidden box on a private jet, claiming he wouldnt enjoy a fair trial and that he experienced harsh treatment in detention. Ghosn is now believed to be in Lebanon where hes a citizen. Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan.

In the case at hand, U.S. military veteran Michael L. Taylor and his son, Peter M. Taylor, stand accused of helping to spirit Ghosn out of Japan. They are currently being held at a Massachusetts prison after being arrested in May 2020.

On Sept. 4, 2020, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell ruled in the case that the U.S. Department of State could move forward with the surrender of the Taylors on the charge of harboring or enabling the escape of a criminal, in violation of Article 103 of the Japanese Penal Code, according to the provisions of the Treaty between the United States and Japan.

The Taylors filed a series of appeals. On Feb. 11, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stay the extradition, finding that the Taylors were not likely to succeed on the merits of their appeal of the extradition order.

The Taylors had argued in their Supreme Court brief filed the same day that their extradition would be unlawful because (1) if extradited to Japan, they are likely to be subjected to treatment qualifying as prohibited torture under the United Nations Convention Against Torture  and (2) there is not probable cause to believe that the petitioners committed the offense for which extradition is sought.

The issues raised by the parties merit full and careful consideration, and the stakes are enormous for them. The very least the U.S. courts owe the petitioners is a full chance to litigate these issues, including exercising their appellate rights, before they are consigned to the fate that awaits them at the hands of the Japanese government, they said in the brief.

Michael Taylor told WBZ on Feb. 11, Its our suspicion that we will probably be shipped over there in a matter of days. There is no surprise here what is going to happen. They are clearly going to torture us.

But on Feb. 13, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer denied an emergency application for a stay by the two men in the case known as Taylor v. McDermott, court file number 20A14.

Breyer didnt explain why he declined to grant the stay.

A 2019 report by the State Department stated that the government of Japan enforced laws prohibiting human rights abuses and prosecuted officials who committed them, and that there were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.

Japanese law prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and there were no reports that government officials employed them.

Prison conditions generally met international standards, although some prisons lacked adequate medical care, sufficient heating in the winter or cooling in the summer, and some facilities were overcrowded, the report stated.
Calls Rahul doomsday man of India

New Delhi: Finance Minister Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday came back strongly on the critics and Opposition who have been accusing the Narendra Modi government of `crony capitalism, ignoring the poor and mishandling the farmers' protest.

Responding to the points made by Opposition MPs during the discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister singled out the Congress party and its leader Mr Rahul Gandhi who has been regularly hitting out at the government. Mrs Sitharaman said Mr Gandhi is probably becoming "Doomsday Man for India".

Mr Gandhi has repeatedly attacked the Centre on multiple issues, including the farmers' protests and the China standoff, and while participating during a discussion on the Union Budget on Thursday, he accused the government crony capitalism saying its policies are meant to benefit the rich.

Responding to the allegations, the FM said, In spite of what we are doing for the poor and the steps taken for helping the poor and needy of this country...a false narrative is createdWho are our cronies? Our cronies are the common 'janta' (people) of this country. We don't do work for any cronies, we work for the common citizen who believes in the Prime Minister. Where are the cronies? They are hiding probably in the shadow of that party which has been rejected by the people The shadows, who were invited to even develop a port. No open tenders, no global tenders. These tendencies of the Congress makes it clear their belief in a democratic system is finished. He (Rahul Gandhi) is probably becoming a Doomsday Man for India," she added.

Her remarks irked the Congress party and sources said its members have moved a privilege motion against the FM.

Responding to Mr Gandhi's Hum do, Hamhare do" comment Mrs Sitharaman brought the reference of Mr Robert Vadra terming him as "damaad".

"It would have been nice if he (Mr Gandhi) who talked about "Hum do Hamhare do" also talked about damaads returning land.. but didn't say anything about this," she said while referring to investigations into land deals involving Mr Vadra.

Defending the government on the contentious farm laws, the FM said nothing has been done so far that would adversely affect the farmers. She accused the Congress for misguiding the farmers and changing its previously held position on the issue.

"I wanted to know from the Congress why it took a U-turn on the farm laws but no reply came," she said, adding that Mr Gandhi had failed to explain why the Congress ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh did not waive farm loans as promised in their manifestos.

"Have APMCs been closed after the introduction of the Farmers Act? He (Mr Gandhi) was speaking like they had been. They (the new laws) are also helping improve the condition of APMCs. He (Mr Gandhi) is insulting everyone... whether President, Prime Minister or Speaker... constantly lying and insulting the country," Ms Sitharaman said.

Ms Sitharaman also defended the Centre over schemes like the PM Street Vendors' Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme - which offers collateral-free loans to street vendors.

"The PM SVANidhi Yojana, for those who constantly accuse us of dealing with cronies, doesn't go to cronies. Damaads get land in states which are governed by some parties - Rajasthan, Haryana once upon a time," she said.

The FM said that the government, undeterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been pursuing reforms for achieving sustained long-term growth in a bid to make India one of the top economies of the world in the coming decades.

Hitting at the economic models adopted by the Congress regime in the past, the Finance Minister said India used to follow a model based on proximity with some country or other. "We (Congress) were socialist at one particular point of time, communist at another point of time, licence quota, crony capitalism another point of time, and finally even opening of Indian economy, it was us," she quipped.

However, she said, BJP since Jan Sangh days believed in Indian entrepreneurial skills, Indian managerial skills and Indian trade skills. Unless business creates wealth, the government has nothing to distribute to the poor and migrant labour, she said, adding, wealth creators, honest taxpayers are, therefore, respected in the country.
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NEW DELHI : As many as 1,32,729 (27.37 per cent) of the 4,78,600 prison inmates in the country are illiterate" while 5,677 hold a technical degree or diploma, according to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data.

The prison statistics presented by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy recently in Parliament were based on a compilation of data by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) updated till December 31, 2019.

The data on education of prison inmates showed that the maximum number of 1,98,872 (or 41.55 per cent) prisoners are educated below class 10 level.

It showed that 1,32,729 (27.37 per cent) prison inmates were illiterate, while 1,03,036 (or 21.52 per cent) studied beyond class 10 but below graduate level.

According to the data, 30,201 (6.31 per cent) prison inmates were graduates, while 8,085 (1.68 per cent) were post graduates and as many as 5,677 (1.18 per cent) held a technical degree or diploma, etc.

Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, houses the maximum number of prisoners at 1,01,297.

Uttar Pradesh also houses the maximum number of prison inmates who are illiterate (31,927), educated up till class 10 (36,390), beyond class 10 but below graduation (21,269), graduates (8,151), post graduates (2,635) and techies (925), it showed.

West Bengal had not furnished prison statistics for 2018 and 2019 because of which its figures from 2017 were used in the data, while Maharashtra's category-wise break up was 'not available', the data mentioned.

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At least 19 fleeing Boko Haram militants were killed in an encounter with the Nigerian military in the northeastern state of Borno, according to security sources on Wednesday.



Five gun trucks belonging to the Boko Haram group were also destroyed during the gunfight in Rann, a town in the Kala Balge local government area of Borno, on Tuesday, said sources who preferred to be anonymous.



One military source said the Boko Haram militants driving eight gun trucks had earlier attempted to attack a military base in the town of Rann, in what appears to be an ambush operation.



The attack was foiled by troops, who immediately staged a tactical withdrawal from their base, the source said, adding the military launched a massive aerial and ground counter-attack against the terrorists, who fled the scene.







Source: GNA









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Disengagement in areas of eastern Ladakh is surrender to China: Antony

India

pti-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 14: Senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony on Sunday alleged that disengagement in both the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake areas and the creation of a buffer zone was a "surrender" of India's rights.

Addressing a press conference, he also said that at a time when India was facing multiple challenges at the border and was facing a two-front war-like situation, the increase in defence budget this year is meagre and insignificant and was a "betrayal" of the country.

The government had on Friday emphatically stated that India has not "conceded" any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh.

Antony said he was sad that the Narendra Modi government was not giving proper priority to national security at a time when China was getting belligerent and Pakistan continued to promote terrorism. He said disengagement was good as it reduced tension but it should not be done at the cost of national security.

"Both disengagements in Galwan and Pangong Tso are a surrender," he alleged, adding that it amounted to surrendering of areas traditionally controlled by India.

"We are surrendering our rights," he alleged, noting that Galwan Valley as Indian territory was never a disputed land even in 1962. "Disengagement and buffer zone means surrender of our land at the moment," he alleged, while warning that the government is not understanding the importance of this disengagement and creation of the buffer zone. He warned that China can play mischief anytime by helping Pakistan in Siachen.

"We want to know from this government when there will be status quo ante as on mid-April 2020 in the entire India-China border," he said, asking what was the government's plan in this regard. He also said that the government must take the country and the people into confidence on restoration of status quo ante at the borders.

He said the government always consulted leaders of all political parties before taking such a decision and must keep national security in mind. Antony alleged that the government did not increased the defence budget to "appease" China and to give a message that it did not want to confront them.

"To appease China, the government sent a message by not increasing this defence budget that we do not want to confront you. To appease China, we have agreed to disengagement on China's terms," he alleged.

When the whole country is facing serious challenges from both China and Pakistan, the senior Congress leader said the armed forces are demanding support and substantial increase in the defence budget. "But compared to last year's revised defence budget, this budget has made a meagre and insufficient increase of only 1.48 per cent.

"It is a betrayal of the country. The government has let down our armed forces. The government is not paying proper attention of national security," he further charged.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A little over a month ago, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was voting to affirm Joe Biden's election as the 46th president. On Saturday, the Senate is set to meet in a rare weekend session for closing arguments in Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

And the evenly-divided Senate is poised to vote on whether the former president will be held accountable for inciting the Jan. 6 siege.

It seems unlikely that the 100-member Senate will be able to mount the two-thirds vote needed to convict Trump.

Acquittal could heavily influence not only Trump's political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Kushinagar : , Feb 14 (IANS) People in Vikrampur village in Kushinagar have not stopped celebrating even though the 'celebrity family' is 1,700 km away in Mumbai.

The 'celebrity' is Manya Singh, who was adjudged VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 runner-up two days ago.

Manya belongs to Vikrampur village and did her schooling here before the family moved to Mumbai.

Her father Om Prakash Singh is an auto-rickshaw driver and mother, a fashion designer "She has brought glory to the village. People were talking about Vikrampur and the people here cannot stop talking about her achievement," said Gopal Pandey, a 79-year-old farmer.

Pandey is not too clear about the 'achievement' of Manya Singh and said, "I do not know what is runner-up and what it means. But she certainly must have done something good because everyone is talking about her." Anil Singh, the manager of the Lohia Inter College where Manya was a student, said: "She completed class 10 from here. She was a diligent girl and very good in studies. The entire school is celebrating and her achievement is inspiring the youth that success only needs hard work and anybody can be successful even in adverse conditions." Manya's father, Om Prakash, went to Mumbai where he worked as an auto-rickshaw driver. The family faced challenges of financial constraint and in 2014 they shifted to Mumbai.

Her uncle Arvind Singh, who still lives in Vikrampur, distributed sweets and lit lamps on his niece's success and has had a steady stream of visitors since Manya ranked as a runner up in the contest.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13)  The Department of Agriculture has launched 29-billion twin program that aims to revive the local industry adversely affected by the African Swine Fever.

In a statement, the department said its Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion, or INSPIRE, and Bantay ASF sa Barangay, also dubbed BABay ASF, will focus on hog repopulation and encouraging raisers to go back to business, while also continuing efforts to control the spread of the hog virus.

DA said INSPIRE will have an initial funding of 600 million to speed up repopulation efforts to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability of pork and pork products. The program has three components: calibrated repopulation and swine livelihood enterprise, establishment of breeder multiplier farms; and intensive and modernized production, it noted.

For BABay ASF, a local government unit-led program to curb the spread of ASF, will have an initial allocation of 1.5 billion. To encourage backyard and semi-commercial raisers in virus-free areas, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council will offer a 500-million loan program, without interest, payable in three to five years.

The Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines will also be allocated 15 billion and 12 billion each for commercial operators.

Meanwhile, raisers will also be compensated 10,000 for each pig culled due to ASF. A transport assistance of 800 million as also set aside for growers and traders who deliver and sell their supply to Metro Manila public markets.

The DA reported that as of Feb. 12, a total of 3,748 live hogs were already shipped from different regions of the country to the capital region to stabilize supply and price. Biggest contributors were Western Visayas (36%) and Central Luzon (35%).

Some regions were not able to transport hogs due to insufficiency of their supply and moratoriums imposed in the local level, it noted.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar told CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend that overall, the country has enough food supply and the potential 400,000 MT shortfall in pork supply this year will be addressed through importation. There are also fewer ASF outbreaks being observed in the past months compared to its first year, he added.

To date, more than 400,000 hogs were already culled to control the spread of the hog disease. Total hog population as of Jan. 1 was 9.72 million head, a 24% decline from the year before.

Dar also noted that an upcoming National Food Security Summit will also serve as a way to recalibrate food production strategies and programs towards the new normal.
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in their first telephone conversation, Feb. 12, after Chung took office, Feb. 9. The two reaffirmed the bilateral alliance and saw eye to eye on the need for accelerated defense cost-sharing talks and combined military exercises in the spring, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yonhap



Allies expected to strike deal on defense cost-sharing soon



By Yi Whan-woo



South Korea and the United States are stepping closer to getting their security alliance back on track, with accelerated defense cost-sharing talks and combined military exercises in the spring planned to resume in March.



Their moves follow new U.S. President Joe Biden's goal of restoring the bilateral alliance, which former U.S. President Donald Trump deemed too costly and going against his policy of prioritizing U.S. interests.



CNN reported on Feb. 11 citing sources that the two allies are "narrowing in on a new cost-sharing agreement" for maintaining the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). It said Seoul and Washington "could be just weeks away" from striking a deal.



Speaking on condition of anonymity, a diplomatic source said on Feb. 12 the two sides are "working closely to reach a mutually acceptable agreement at an early date."



Another source speculated a deal can be made "within this month, and if not, within March at the latest."



Also on Feb. 12, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saw eye to eye on the need for joint efforts to "promptly strike the deal."



A possible deal would conclude negotiations over the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) that began in September 2019 but were strained with the allies remaining miles apart on how much of the costs South Korea should bear to maintain 28,500 USFK personnel here.



Washington had demanded that Seoul pay up to 400 percent more, while the latter suggested around a 13 percent increase as its best possible offer.



The U.S. also asked to make the SMA, which had been a multi-year agreement prior to the Trump administration, into a one-year deal in an attempt to hike South Korea's sharing of the costs.



After seven rounds of the 11th SMA talks as of December 2020, the two sides began the eighth round of negotiations on Feb. 5.



According to CNN, the deal is likely to be a multi-year agreement with around a 13 percent increase for South Korea's contribution as suggested by its negotiators in the seventh round of talks.



"It will be a reasonable deal that reflects joint efforts to move forward in tandem with the Biden administration's foreign policy, said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.



A possible 13 percent increase is still far more than South Korea's initial suggestion of a 4 percent hike in the early stages of the 11th SMA talks. This leaves room for dispute, especially considering the 13 percent increase will be highest in SMA history. The previous record was 8.2 percent during the Trump administration.



"I nevertheless think the deal will be mutually beneficial for both South Korea and the U.S. considering the diplomatic tussle over the SMA and concerns over the alliance," Shin said.



Regarding the annual joint military exercise in spring, multiple military sources said a computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX) is scheduled to begin in the second week of March.



"It will last for nine days," a source said, adding discussions are underway over exact dates, the scale of the drills and other details taking the pandemic into account.



In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis forced the two allies to cancel their spring exercises while downsizing summer drills.



Trump has been skeptical about the routine combined exercises. He had called them "war games" and demanded that they come to an end.




How history should be taught in American schools is a subject forcefully argued by many different American groups.

One example of the ongoing dispute was an effort by the administration of former President Donald Trump. It sought to influence the way American history, including slavery and race, are discussed in public schools and universities.

In November of 2020, Trump ordered the Department of Education to establish a group called the 1776 Commission. Its stated job was to better enable rising generations to understand the history and principles of the founding of the United States in 1776.

However, critics said the group told a one-sided story about the men who helped establish the United States  known as the Founding Fathers. They argued the commission told schools to reduce the importance of slavery when telling the story of the early days of the country. The commission released its report on January 18. The Trump administration hoped it would provide guidance about history teaching in the country.

But, critics said it insulted many ideas of education. David Blight is a Civil War historian at Yale University. He called the document produced by Trumps commission a piece of right-wing propaganda.

The 1619 Project

Observers noted that the report seemed to be an answer to The 1619 Project. It is a series of stories published in 2019 in the New York Times newspaper. The stories are about the influence of slavery on the British colonies that would become the United States.

The New York Times collection was released during the 400th anniversary of the year historians believe slaves were first brought to the area that would become the United States.

The stories talked about how African slaves provided free labor in some colonies. The writers argued that slaves made the agricultural economy one of the most productive in the world. They said that slavery began hundreds of years of racism and poor conditions from which Black people have yet to fully recover.

The 1619 Project won the Pulitzer Prize and resulted in a podcast. The New York Times said it looks at how slavery started nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional.

President Joe Biden cancelled the 1776 Commission with an executive order on the first day of his presidency, January 20. However, state leaders who supported the commission still want to influence how public school teachers and public universities discuss the effects of slavery and racism.



What should teachers teach?

In the state of Georgia a lawmaker asked the leader of the states university system to investigate how teachers talk about white privilege. White privilege is a term used to describe the advantages that come just from being white in American society.

The term appeared a lot in the summer of 2020 after protests over racial equity took place following the death of George Floyd. He was a Black man who died while being restrained by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Lawmakers in Georgia asked the state university system to survey its professors on the issue of white privilege. English professor Matthew Boedy teaches at the University of North Georgia. He saw the survey. He said it is designed to intimidate professors and called it an attack on higher education.

The debate is not only in Georgia. States including Arkansas and Iowa are dealing with the same issues. Representative from Arkansas Mark Lowery called slavery a dark stain on U.S. history. But said, the New York Times series reduced the importance of Founding Fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who were slave owners.

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a reporter for the New York Times and creator of the project. She said the New York Times series is not supposed to replace what schools traditionally teach. It is supposed to ask people to think about what came from slavery.

Some high school teachers are using the educational plans that go with the New York Times project to provide their students with a new understanding of slavery. Jonathan Rogers is an English teacher in Iowa. He said The 1619 Project is valuable. It helped his students think about different sources or alternative storytelling, he said.

One proposal in Oklahoma calls for teachers to lose their jobs if they teach divisive issues. In South Dakota, the governor proposed adding almost $1 million to the states budget to make sure schools teach that the U.S. is the most unique nation in the history of the world.

Tate Reeves is governor of Mississippi. He proposed $3 million to fight against what he called revisionist history, or the changing of traditional historic accounts. He said teachers around the U.S. have placed attention on what he called Americas shortcomings over the exceptional achievements of this country.

Arkansass governor Asa Hutchinson said what is taught in schools is something that should be dealt with by parents, not by the state.

Im Caty Weaver. And Im Dan Friedell.

Andrew DeMillo of The Associated Press wrote this story. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - How Should the History of Race and Slavery Be Taught in America? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

principle n. a moral rule or belief that helps people know what is right and wrong, and that influences their actions

founding n. the time when something is established or created for the future

exceptional adj. unusually good : much better than average

advantages  n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others

survey- v. to ask (many people) a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something

intimidate- v. to make (someone) afraid

stain n. something that causes people to have less respect for someone

alternative adj. not usual or traditional

unique adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

achievement n. something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work







South Korea and the United States are preparing to hold their annual springtime combined military exercise next month, sources said Sunday.







The planned exercise has drawn keen attention amid concern that North Korea could use the exercise as a pretext for provocations in the early months of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Pyongyang has long denounced such drills as a rehearsal for invasion.







Despite complaints from the North, the computer-simulated command post training will likely kick off in mid-March, according to the sources.







Consultations are under way between Seoul and Washington to decide the details, including its size and schedule.







"Discussions have continued at the working-level and we will have a meeting to finalize the decision," an official said.







The two allies usually stage major combined exercises twice a year, along with smaller-scale drills throughout the year.







But they "indefinitely" postponed the springtime program in 2020 in the face of the new coronavirus pandemic, and the summertime exercise was held in a scaled-back manner in August.







Talks are also under way about the Full Operational Capability (FOC) test, which is meant to check if Seoul is on course to meet the conditions to retake the wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from the U.S.







The test was supposed to be held in 2020, but the two sides were not able to do so due to the COVID-19 situation.







No exact timeframe has been set for the envisioned transition, though the current Moon Jae-in administration has hoped to retake it within Moon's term that ends in May 2022. (Yonhap)


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Mistrust between India-China at all time high: US official

On India-China border row, Army Chief says legacy issues to be resolved through mutual consent

Disengagement process at Pangong Tso to be complete by Friday

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 14: The disengagement at Pangong Tso by the armies of India and China will be completed by Friday. The disengagement is taking place as per schedule, sources have told OneIndia.

There is rapid movement of Chinese heavy vehicles beyond Finger 8, satellite images have shown.

While armoured elements like battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers are being withdrawn from friction points in the south bank of Pangong Tso, troops are being pulled back from the north bank areas, sources said.

The sources said withdrawal of armoured elements from the south bank of Pangong Tso is almost complete and temporary structures erected by both sides will be demolished in the next few days.

"The disengagement process will take time as both sides are together carrying out verification of the withdrawal of troops and military hardware," said a source.

Full statement by Rajnath Singh on Indo-China border row

The disengagement of troops and armoured elements is limited to the friction points where the two sides were on an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, sources said.

After a nine-month standoff, the two militaries reached the agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordinated and verifiable" manner.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a detailed statement in Parliament on the disengagement pact.

According to the agreement, China has to pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

Similar action will take place on the south bank of the lake as well, Singh said in Parliament.

Last year, the Chinese military built several bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and had blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering strong reaction from the Indian Army.

In the nine rounds of military talks, India was specifically insisting on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake.

The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

The sources said following completion of the disengagement process, the two sides will hold talks on the de-escalation process.

They said field commanders of both the armies have been holding talks on a daily basis in the last few days to coordinate the disengagement process.

The defence minister said the implementation of the pact started on Wednesday and it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake area so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

On Friday, the defence ministry said other outstanding "problems" including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks between military commanders of the two countries.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 8:50 [IST]
South Carolina disability advocates say their needs have been left unaddressed in the state's vaccination plan, despite their repeated calls for attention.

Everyone who lives in a long-term care facility already qualifies to receive a vaccine in South Carolina. That includes people with serious disabilities who are residents of nursing homes and state-run institutions.

It does not account for everyone else. In fact, South Carolina's vaccination guidelines make no mention of disabilities at all.

Kimberly Tissot, executive director of the advocacy group Able South Carolina, said during a recent statewide vaccine meeting disability issues have been left out of vaccination plans.

"I feel like disability is not being represented or even being considered, really, because of the idea of what people think our lives are like," Tissot said. "We're all around you. We're not just in nursing homes or institutions."

She noted the state's vaccine sign-up website is not accessible to the blind, which could be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act violation.

The outcry comes even as the waiting list for vaccines gets longer. The state's hospitals have had to pause or cancel appointments because shipments of the vaccine have slowed.

Meanwhile, state senators voted Feb. 9 to bump teachers up into the first phase of vaccination priority. The bill has yet to become law but would add 150,000 people to the list and bring the population in the very first phase to 1.4 million  about 30 percent of the state's population.

Pawleys Island resident Ken Leach argues the population of people with Down Syndrome is "a drop in the bucket" by comparison. One in 700 babies are born with the disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has highlighted a handful of conditions that make people at especially high risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death. Down Syndrome is among them. People with the disorder are four times more likely to be hospitalized and 10 times more likely to die from COVID-19, a large study done in the United Kingdom found.

Leach and his wife, terrified of that reality, have tried and failed to schedule a vaccine appointment for their 41-year-old son Corey. Leach said they also tried to access doses because they are caregivers to Corey but found their son would have to be a minor in order for them to qualify.

Leach said moving people like Corey up in the priority list would work to prevent hospitalizations and deaths, which burden the state's hospitals.

Corey has a job at a local Food Lion. But he hasn't been able to report to work because of the risks the virus poses to him.

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He wakes up every day asking when he can return to work, his father said.

"This seems to be heartless," Leach said.

Down Syndrome is the only developmental disability on the CDC's high risk list. MaryBeth Musumeci, a disabilities expert at the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, said most diagnoses simply haven't been studied for COVID-19 risks.

Evaluating eligibility for a vaccine based on someone's diagnosis could be leading to some of the most vulnerable people falling through cracks, she said. "Another way is looking at it by functional need, and trying to treat people who are similarly situated the same way," she said.

For example: Can the person wear a mask? Is a health care worker visiting them at home?

Musumeci added most state vaccine plans are like South Carolina's and do not account for people with disabilities.

Dr. Linda Bell, chief epidemiologist at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said her agency and its partners are faced with difficult decisions about who should be prioritized.

She said "disabilities" is a broad umbrella. Including everyone under the umbrella could lead to healthy people getting the vaccine ahead of those with other known risks, Bell said.

Deborah McPherson, a disability advocate and mother to a 36-year-old woman with Down Syndrome, pointed out thousands of people in South Carolina in need of serious care live at home by making use of Medicaid waivers.

Those waivers allow people to get the care they need in place and avoid institutionalization. But they have the same level of medical needs as someone living in a facility, McPherson said.

She said it would be a simple task to add them to the vaccine line-up.

"These same individuals have workers coming into their homes," she said. "Many of these workers are exposing the individual and their family to COVID."

McPherson's daughter has needed round-the-clock attention since she acquired a rare autoimmune condition at 17.

But with 1.9 million South Carolinians ahead of her in the vaccine line, and only 585,000 having received a dose as of Feb. 12, there is no telling how long she will wait.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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CBS had breathed new life into yet another vintage show. After rebooting the likes of MacGyver, Hawaii 5-0, and Magnum P.I., the network is revisiting 80s crime drama The Equalizer. Queen Latifah stars in the updated series as Robyn McCall, a disillusioned ex-CIA operative turned vigilante NYC crime fighter.

The Equalizer premiered Feb. 7 after the Super Bowl, pulling in more than 20 million viewers in its post-game debut. The shows first outing saw McCall help to rescue a young woman whod been framed for a murder. Im the one you call when you cant call 911, she explained in the episode.

A new episode of The Equalizer airs Feb. 14

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall in The Equalizer Episode 2, Glory| Barbara Nitke/CBS 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

RELATED: The Equalizer: Will the Queen Latifah CBS Show Crossover With the Denzel Washington Films?

At the end of The Equalizers premiere, McCall posted an anonymous ad online: Got a problem? Odds against you? I can help.

In episode 2, Glory, McCalls ad generates a response. She connects with a mother whose son has been kidnapped by a human trafficker (Thomas Beaudoin). The trafficker threatens to execute the boy unless his mother steals confidential information for her employer, an FBI agent. Also, after realizing her 15-year-old daughter Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes) is keeping something from her, McCall enlists the help of Aunt Vi (Lorraine Toussaint) to help uncover the secret.

The Equalizer Episode 2 airs Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

How to stream The Equalizer

Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante and Charlie Semine as Frank Sadler in The Equalizer Episode 2, Glory | Barbara Nitke/CBS 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

If you missed the first episode of The Equalizer, its currently available to watch through Feb. 21 on free streaming service Pluto TV. You can also watch the shows premiere for free on the CBS YouTube channel and Amazon Prime Video through Feb. 21. (The first episode of The Silence of the Lambs sequel Clarice will also be available to watch on Pluto TV, the CBS YouTube channel, and Prime Video for two weeks after its Feb. 11 premiere.)

New episodes of The Equalizer will be available to watch live and on-demand on both CBS All Access and CBS.com. You can also watch it on any live TV streaming service that includes CBS, such as YouTubeTV, Hulu Plus Live TV, and FuboTV in many markets.

The Equalizer is not available to stream on Hulu.

How to watch the original version of The Equalizer with Edward Woodward

The Equalizer | CBS via Getty Images

RELATED: The Equalizer: Who Was the Original Equalizer?

Want to catch up on the original version of The Equalizer, which starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a retired intelligence agent committed to making sure innocent people got justice? All four seasons of the show, which aired from 1985 to 1989, are streaming at NBC.com.

The 2014 movie The Equalizer, which starred Denzel Washington as a reimagined version of the Robert McCall character, is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, iTunes, and other platforms. The 2018 sequel The Equalizer 2 is also available to rent on various platforms.

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State police incidents reported

State police at Hazleton reported the following:

 A 2005 Honda Pilot owned by Jose Gutierrez, 34, Hazle Twp., was keyed on an unknown date and time. Troopers were called to 151 Front St., Hazle Twp., on Feb. 7 at 11:27 p.m. for the report of criminal mischief.

 Loss prevention workers at Walmart in Hazleton Twp. told troopers a 31-year-old Hazleton woman underrang $250.55 worth of food on Feb. 7 at 11:36 a.m. Her name wasnt released and the investigation continues.

 Luis A. Paulu Minyety, 43, Mahanoy City, was traveling south on Maplewood Drive in Hazle Twp., near Forest Road, in a Honda Accord on Feb. 5 around 7:30 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and crossed the double yellow line, hitting a Kenworth Northwest driven by Richi Ventura, 41, Wilkes-Barre. Paulu Minyety was taken by Lehigh Valley EMS to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton for possible injury and his vehicle was towed. Ventura reported no injury.

 The driver of a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt traveled onto Route 940 from Scotch Hill Road, Foster Twp., on Feb. 6 as the driver of a 2002 Honda CRV was traveling west on Route 940. The Chevrolet driver hit the Honda and fled the scene west on Route 940 towards Hazleton. The driver of the Honda also fled the scene in an unknown direction and by unknown means, leaving the vehicle behind on Route 940. The Chevy was later found at Route 940 and Hazle Twp. Boulevard, unoccupied. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Troopers were called to the crash at 1:13 a.m.

 An unidentified vehicle northbound on Route 309 (South Mountain Boulevard), Dorrance Twp., was in the wrong lane, approaching oncoming traffic when the driver nearly hit a Toyota Tundra driven by Jacob G. Malishchak, 40, Mountain Top, head on around 7 a.m. Feb. 5. Malischak swerved to avoid impact but was hit in the rear by a Subaru Forester driven by Frank A. Molinaro, 22, Hazle Twp. No injuries were reported. The crash happened near Ashburn Road.

 Tresean L. Jackson Brown, 29, Franklin, Indiana, was traveling too fast for conditions on Interstate 80 east on Feb. 9 at 11:53 a.m. when he lost control of the International Harvester he was driving and it jackknifed near mile marker 264 in Butler Twp. Jackson Brown wasnt injured. The truck and trailer sustained disabling damage and were towed.

 John Wilson, 46, Queens, New York, was traveling north on a snow-covered Interstate 81 at mile marker 155.5, Dorrance Twp., on Jan. 31 at 6:28 p.m. when he lost control of the Audi he was driving at about 45 miles per hour. He drove off the left side, hitting a guard rail, before traveling north, spinning about 180 degrees and stopping in the median. Wilson didnt report injuries but his vehicle was towed. Dorrance and Wright Twp. firefighters assisted, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

 A 19-year-old Hazleton man was found with illegal drugs and paraphernalia when troopers stopped a vehicle for code violations on Jan. 26 at 11:39 p.m. at Centre and Walnut streets in Freeland. Troopers said they smelled marijuana in the vehicle and charges are forthcoming.

 A 17-year-old Hazleton girl stole various clothing and household items from Walmart in Hazle Twp. and faces charges. Troopers were called to the store for the theft on Feb. 11 at 6:44 p.m.

HAZLE TWP.

Man charged after allegedly speeding during snowfall

A Hazleton man faces charges after city police say they saw him speeding during a snowfall on Feb. 5.

Angel Rodriguez, 35, faces fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence and two summary violations. His bail was set at $7,500 Feb. 5 by Magisterial District Judge James Dixon, Hazle Twp.

Police said they were on patrol in the area of South Cedar and East Buttonwood streets around 1:30 a.m. when they saw a speeding Infiniti traveling east on Buttonwood. An officer attempted to stop the driver but he took off south on South Poplar Street after stopping for a stop sign at Buttonwood and Poplar streets, arrest papers state.

The driver, Rodriguez, pulled over about three blocks later, in front of 404 S. Poplar St., and got out of the car, arrest papers state. Police detained him but Rodriguez, who appeared to have been drinking, refused field sobriety and blood testing and continually asked for his attorney, court papers state.

Police: Man used knife, threw a vacuum during fightA man allegedly brandished a knife and hit a person in the head with a vacuum he lobbed into the air during an argument between roommates on Jan. 23.

Jose M. Morales Cruz, 24, Hazleton, was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment by Hazleton police. His bail was set at $20,000 Jan. 22 by Magisterial District Judge Daniel ODonnell, Butler Twp.

Police said they were called to an altercation at Rear 599 Carson St. just after 7 p.m. and spoke to a man who said he was arguing with another roommate when Morales Cruz got irate, grabbed a kitchen knife and lunged at him but missed. Morales Cruz threatened the roommate and threw a vacuum at him but it hit the other roommate instead. That man was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton for treatment, police wrote. Part of the altercation was captured on a cellphone video.
A wintery mix of snow, ice and sleet is expected across Massachusetts on Monday into Tuesday, with significant heavy snow totals falling in the northwestern part of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter storm watch is in effect from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon for the northern Berkshires which could receive 6 inches of snow and ice accumulation of about 1/10 of an inch.

The National Weather Service anticipates slippery road conditions, which will impact the morning and evening commutes.

[510 am] A winter storm late Mon into Tue will bring minor snow accums to N MA along with appreciable ice accums for the interior. Snow, sleet, freezing rain will change to freezing rain Mon night with rain near the coast. The heaviest precip will be late Mon night into Tue AM. pic.twitter.com/donr0LwCda  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 14, 2021

Areas southeast of the Berkshires are expected to receive far less snow, with about 1 to 2 inches falling in northern Franklin and Worcester counties. As much as 4 inches could fall in southern Berkshire County.

The rest of the state will receive less than an inch, including Springfield, Worcester and Boston. Southern Bristol County and Barnstable County arent expected to see snow or ice.

However, significant ice accumulation is expected in Central Massachusetts. The National Weather Service anticipates up to a half inch of ice across Worcester County and into Northern Middlesex County and as far west as Springfield.


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A collection of long-lost Irish whiskey recipes unearthed by a historian have been brought back to life for the first time in almost a century.

The first casks have been produced, some made using ingredients  or mashbills  which date back to the 1800s.

The recipes were unearthed and brought back to life by leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor, who wrote a thesis on the lost distilling process.

Leading whiskey historian Fionnan OConnor, who discovered a collection of vintage whiskey recipes (Boann Distillery/PA)

Were talking to ghosts by distilling these mashbills again, said the Dubliner, 32, who plans an industry-wide sensory analysis of the reborn spirits.

Co Meaths Boann Distillery, on the outskirts of Drogheda, took on the mammoth task of bringing the vintage mashbills back into circulation through its pot stills.

Only 144 casks are being made available to the public.

It reintroduces the art of creating whiskey using malted barley, oats, wheat and rye, leading to a tug-of-war between flavours depending on the varying grain percentages used.

The spirit is transferred into 200-250 litre bourbon, rum, NEOC (French red wine barrels) and sherry casks, and matured for a minimum of five years in specialist warehousing.





Mr OConnor said: The mashbills chosen are creating a map, a language about how all these things might have worked.

What was the reason for creating a mashbill? What was going through their heads when they were putting them together?

Theres a lot of things you can do to whiskey to influence the taste. The bulk of these mashbills havent been tasted in over 70 years and the earliest ones Ive found come from the early 1800s.

It would be a shame if all that history and those flavours were lost. This project has been about making up for lost time.

Many people know the story of Irish distillings rise and collapse, but the story of the lost tastes and aromas, the knowledge that most of those whiskeys were different to ours, comes as news to most people.

He first discovered the mashbills in archives in the Republic and Northern Ireland, and credits Boanns courage in bringing them back into production.

Michael Walsh, head distiller at the Boann Distillery, with Fionnan OConnor (Boann Distillery/PA)

The programme will culminate in the coming months with a gathering of 30 leading figures in the Irish distilling industry for a sensory analysis tasting of the mashbills and their ranking over a number of different criteria.

It will include experts from Ireland and Scotland and is in association with Heriot-Watt Universitys brewing and distilling programme.

Boann managing director Pat Cooney said his family, which employs 15 staff operating three huge copper pot stills, want to be seen as one of the most progressive distilleries in Ireland.

Every mashbill tastes different, depending on whether theres more barley, less malt, more wheat, less rye, he said.

The family is also in the process of building a visitor centre, an online shop and launching Silks Irish Gin, named in honour of the local Bellewstown Races, running since 1726.

Boann is producing samples of each different mashbill, with an arrangement that customers can book their cask by paying a deposit and choosing their cask after tasting the various mashbills.

Inquiries can be made at caskoffer@boanndistillery.ie.
Private sector intrusion: Veddah chief petitions court to protect forests and Adhi Vasi rights By Tharuka Dissanaike View(s): View(s):

Veddah chief takes the Mahaweli to Court: Last week, this headline struggled desperately for attention in a sea of controversy over forests, protected areas, protected trees and bulldozers backed by politicians.

For years, the Veddahs or Adhi Vasis (ancient dwellers) have fought, with little success, the relentless tide of development that swallowed up whole their traditional rights and access to forests. In that sense, the Veddahs have been marginalised by both the development process and the conservation efforts in the country.

Hemmed in between vast agricultural expansion and fenced-off national parks, herded in to villages and concrete settlements, many old tribes died a natural death and were culturally assimilated or weaned off from forest-dependent lives.

Taking a stand against the last of their original clans losing traditional rights to a vast forested landscape in confluence of the Eastern and Uva Provinces, is Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, Chief of Sri Lankas only true indigenous population.

He is taking on the full behemoth of institutional, bureaucratic and political powers that hold the right to his tribes future in their hands. He names, as respondents, the Minister for Wildlife and Forest Conservation, the Central Environmental Authority, the Mahaweli Development Authority, the Forest Department and the Wildlife Department.

He requests the Court of Appeal to ensure the planned development under the Rambaken Oya scheme of the Mahaweli Authority conforms to the laws and safeguards ensured under the countrys constitutional and legal frameworks. He appeals to the Court to ensure that the respondents carry out their responsibilities and obligations under respective acts and ordinances.

Pollebdedda is a remote village, where time has stood still partly due to its remoteness from anywhere important; but mostly because it borders the war-affected Eastern Province. For many years, even the main road that led from Bibile to Chenkaladi in the eastern coast was not passable. In this forgotten wilderness, the last of the original Veddahs  in Polbedda and Rathugala  continued their traditional way of life, gathering food, fruit, medicine and bees honey from the jungle and trading these for other consumables.

Although they are not duty bound by law, the Veddahs have acted as custodians of these lands for centuries, navigating the rolling savannah and high forests without a compass or google maps  hunting, fishing and gathering as they have done for millennia.

However, of late there has been renewed interest in developing the vast land resources in this hinterland. With the completion of the Rambaken Oya reservoir in 2013, a new zone was added to the Mahaweli Development Project, and it annexed vast areas of land, sections of which had been managed by the Forest Department for many decades.

The Rambaken Oya reservoir provides irrigation and drinking water to the parched downstream of Maha Oya, Padiyathalawa and some areas of the Batticaloa District. The Rs. 4 billion project was financed by the government and constructed using local engineering expertise. The reservoirs 124 square kilometre catchment area includes some traditional Veddah territory  Bingoda, Pollebedda and Rathugala.

In their joint petition, Wannila Aththo and the Centre for Environmental Justice claim that the catchment forests of the Rambaken Oya are now being divested to the private sector for commercial agriculture, mainly to grow maize and corn for animal feed as part of the governments new policy on saving import expenditure.

The Galwalayaya State Forest which is extensively used by the Pollebedda tribe is one such catchment forest being parcelled out for development. One private company, which has received around 500 acres, has begun stripping the land with bulldozers. It has been named as a respondent in the case.

The company has erected an electric fence around the property to keep elephants and other marauding wildlife at bay. The fear is that this is just the beginning of a large-scale parcelling-out programme that will further degrade the catchment of the reservoir and pollute the very waters meant for drinking in downstream villages.

In their argument, Wannila Aththo and the Centre for Environmental Justice call on the state agencies to abide by the law and take action as stipulated under the National Environmental Act of 1980, the Forest Ordinance of 1907 and the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of 1938 to prevent wanton clearing and illegal fencing of afforested lands in this catchment area.

In a number of previous cases, Sri Lankan courts have upheld the public interest principle that the state and its agencies are custodians of the natural resources in the country on behalf of future generations. In the petition, Wannila Aththos plea is that the protection of the forest for future generation, and the rights of his people to continue their way of life be recognised as their fundamental rights protected by the laws of the country.

The Veddahs plight is not unlike many other nations indigenous tribes, whose right to land and resources are trammelled by agencies working for both conservation and development. In the initial Mahaweli Development programme, entire Veddah settlements were cleared without so much as a blink. Villages like Dalukana in System B and Henanigala in System C were overrun by irrigated agriculture and settlements. The remaining tribes were assimilated into villages. Veddah population is down to less than 0.05% of the population (around 10,000 people).

The Chiefs own clan has now dwindled to a mere tourist attraction for most part. Their constant battle to be recognised for their hunter-gatherer ways and their right to access forests  now fenced off as Maduru Oya National Park  have been on-going for the past 30 years, without much resolution.

The uneasy mistrust between conservation agencies (Forest and Wildlife Departments) and the Veddah community and the reluctance to recognise their right to the forests stem from a few quoted incidents of misdemeanor.

Veddah identity cards issued by the Wildlife Department permitting them traditional hunting and gathering of honey and herbs within the Park were later withdrawn due to alleged misuse and use of firearms instead of bow and arrow. However, for Veddahs, the forest is part of their DNA, imbued into their physical and mental wellbeing  and preserving their culture and traditional knowledge is incalculably important to us as a country; considering they are the oldest inhabitants of this island.

The older Veddah people lament that their children and grandchildren have grown up in brick-and-cement houses and away from the jungle  with their traditional knowledge and practices and food patterns disrupted by enforced modernisation.

Pollebedda and Rathugala clans still retain many traditions and characteristics of the original Veddahs, lost forever in other areas.

Internationally, the rights of indigenous people are strongly considered in development projects. Multilateral and responsible bilateral donors now shy away from projects that could lead to loss of traditional hunting/fishing/gathering lands of such remaining tribes. As such, in this case, the Veddah Chiefs plea cannot fall on deaf ears  whatever the nuances of the law and limits of agency mandate that may be argued in court.

The Veddah community have a right to their way of life, and this way of life can actually be an asset to conservation. Short-term development aspirations of this generation cannot take away the rights and lifestyle of a people who have been using these lands for millennia.

They are this lands original dwellers  Adhi Vasis. But they have never considered nature (land or forest; stream or rock) a thing to own and fence away. Therein is the point of contention. Are we mature enough as a society to recognise the Veddah peoples inalienable right to these forests and their way of life? Are our conservation agencies willing to consider that Veddahs could be guardians of the jungles and not a threat? If development is imperative, can we come up conservation-oriented models that support the Veddah lifestyle?

Remember, we will be judged by future generations on the decision we make today  on our forests, on our land and the remaining Adhi Vasis.
Posted Sunday, February 14, 2021 9:15 am

In the months leading up to the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments, Washington state health officials agonized over which residents should be vaccinated before others. They surveyed 18,000 people and convened focus groups, debating race, age and essential occupations.

But unlike some other states, the state Department of Health (DOH) neglected to plan for basic logistics that would have allowed for quick vaccination of those most vulnerable to the disease.

They didn't enlist the National Guard. They didn't centralize vaccine appointments. Key scheduling and reporting software arrived late. Providers were given vials but no strategy to process patients.

Then, despite a constrained federal supply, the state opened up vaccines to everyone 65 and older. Chaos ensued. Some wealthy hospital donors and those able to navigate a labyrinth of websites have secured shots. Trust in the system frayed.

After two months and more than a million doses administered, the state has struggled to vaccinate some of the people at highest risk for disease, including home care workers, Hispanic residents and homeless people eligible for vaccine.

"It was a much heavier lift than I think we anticipated, and we should have had more resources there from the beginning," said Michele Roberts, the DOH acting assistant secretary in charge of the vaccine rollout. "We should have been paying more attention to those logistical details."

A Seattle Times review of the state's vaccination plans, internal emails and other reports, along with vaccine provider interviews, reveals missteps that confounded one of the largest and most difficult government undertaking in generations.

Washington has increased its pace and now exceeds the national average for the percentage of doses that have been administered. While the DOH is still ironing out distribution and data, it has begun reaching underserved communities with a recently deployed National Guard team and targeted shipments.

How quickly the state can immunize the most susceptible now depends on rebuilding trust.

National Guard sidelined

It was the picture of efficiency.

Throughout Wednesday morning, the seniors living at Lakewood Meadows arrived at the makeshift vaccination clinic operated by the National Guard at a steady clip, some leaning on canes or walkers. The Pierce County apartment complex serves a diverse group and includes low-income residents.

A uniformed Guard member greeted and directed them to one of four stations, where another Guard member reviewed paperwork, discussed any concerns and then asked residents to roll up their sleeves.

Within minutes, the newly-immunized seniors joined their neighbors with goody bags filled with snacks and water. Dozens passed through the clinic each hour.

The mobile vaccine clinic, which has been operated jointly by the DOH and the National Guard since Jan. 27, is one step the state is taking toward a more centralized approach. It has also opened four mass-vaccination sites with the Guard's support. Washington is playing catch-up with other states, though, that started centralizing from the beginning.

By late November at least 22 other states had enlisted their emergency management agencies  the state equivalent of FEMA  to help with logistics or other aspects of vaccination efforts, according to an informal survey conducted by the National Emergency Management Association obtained by The Seattle Times through a public records request.

West Virginia, among the states leading the nation for its pace of vaccinations, placed the National Guard at the center of its vaccine effort. The Guard there hosts the state command center, coordinates distribution from five hubs, repackages vials into refrigerated containers, and assembles kits with extra syringes.

But in Washington, health officials went their own way.

The DOH "has been running all things vaccine without input or support from us," Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department's Emergency Management Division, wrote in an internal email Dec. 4  just 10 days before the first doses arrived.

As they developed a vaccine plan in the fall, DOH leaders expected the state's hospital systems and its existing network of vaccine providers  doctors offices, pharmacies and the like  could handle COVID-19 vaccinations, so it didn't originally plan to enlist the state Military Department.

"We were thinking that was the best way to go, but it was a time when our health care sector was already very taxed with COVID disease," said Roberts. Her team overestimated the industry's capacity, she said.

Imelda Delgado, 88, saw that firsthand. One of the seniors at the Lakewood mobile clinic, she had previously tried calling her pharmacy and her doctor, inquiring about the vaccine, but had no luck. They'd promised to call back, but she never heard anything.

When she learned Guard members would be coming to her, she was ecstatic. "I said, I'm going for it!" Delgado said. "It's so hard to get it."

"Bureaucratic nightmare"

Jill Piasecki, the administrator of a Gig Harbor plastic surgery center, has spent hours emailing and calling the Department of Health for help navigating its vaccine reporting systems. Piasecki on Thursday finally got login credentials for one of the four separate data systems vaccine providers are required to use.

Despite following all the steps, she's learned the state has temporarily stopped giving first doses to many providers, while prioritizing second doses.

"I have a list of 900 people who I would love to give doses to tomorrow," she said. "The bureaucratic nightmare that's been created is forcing us to shut down."

Washington planned to offer vaccine providers a seamless online tool to register patients, schedule their vaccines, and  importantly  report the data back to the state, according to the state's 72-page vaccine plan. The portal would be centralized, so any resident across the state could find an available appointment. But because of development delays, the website, PrepMod, wasn't ready until Jan. 15. Instead, many providers had to develop their own system.

Microsoft, in partnership with the state, is now working to consolidate all the disparate scheduling tools into a statewide website that will simplify the search for an appointment.

On the back-end, many providers' tech systems don't automatically connect to the state's immunization registry, so they have been hand-entering data, resulting in it often being incomplete and late. After the state threatened to cut off vaccine shipments for tardy data entry, reporting improved.

The data stumbles clouded state officials' view of where the vaccine was actually being administered, and led to more than a month of guesswork. When available data showed only a third of doses had been used a month into the rollout, the public wondered who was getting the shots, and why it appeared they were sitting on shelves.

"Quite frankly, the biggest challenge is the information system," Kevin Brooks, chief operating officer for Swedish Health Services, said in late January, after starting a vaccination clinic with Seattle University. "It's registering patients, tracking doses, scheduling second doses, syncing with the state information system."

At first, hospitals thought they would be vaccinating their own staff and medical workers, Brooks said, but he was stunned when the state told them to keep going with the general public as well. The infrastructure for taking millions of public appointments simply didn't exist.

People flooded vaccine provider websites after the state opened eligibility to all residents 65 and older, among others, on Jan. 18. More than 2 million people qualified under the guidelines at that point, but the state had received just 700,000 doses. Phase Finder, the state's online eligibility tool, crashed.

Complicating things, some local health departments limited access to older age groups, hoping to stem the demand. In King County, for instance, the health department allowed access to its mass-vaccination sites only for those 75 and up, even as the state had lowered the age to 65.

"If you have expectations that were raised higher than they should have been, if you have a flow of information that is incomplete and changing, and if you have policies that are changing from one jurisdiction to another, then you have people that are going to be discontented and suspicious," said William Galston, a senior fellow at the left-leaning Brookings Institution. "The results were a mad scramble and a resultant loss of trust."

That piled onto generations of government mistrust among some groups, Galston said, and vaccine hesitancy runs high. He pointed to African Americans, who have been historically underserved by public and private health care systems.

Amid the disarray, some people got special access. The tech-savvy and those with connections to large health systems  which still had the bulk of doses  scored appointments.

At least three Puget Sound-area hospitals gave early access to foundation board members or donors who'd contributed upward of $10,000. The Seattle Times revealed the privileged access, sparking outrage. Calls for reform reached the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

Equity lagging

By the beginning of February, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), one of the largest homeless shelter and supportive housing providers in Seattle, had only been able to vaccinate two clients.

DESC's nursing director, Alix Van Hollebeke, said she had applied for 400 doses, but had only received 100, most of which went to vaccinating front-line workers. The organization's weekly orders since have all been denied, she said, as the state directed doses to mass-vaccination sites.

In another high-risk group  home care workers  only a third have been vaccinated, estimated Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer of SEIU 775, a union representing 45,000 Washington home care workers.

"There's a huge gap between those who want to and are willing to get vaccinated and those who are able," Glickman said of these workers, who often care for the sick and elderly and have been eligible for vaccines from the start.

Many don't speak English or have limited access to the internet, and "there's not, as far as we can tell, good systems in place for limited English speakers to actually access vaccines and communicate with vaccine providers and schedule appointments," Glickman said.

The state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) didn't contact these workers about vaccinations until the week of Jan. 11, offering letters to prove eligibility. Letters in languages other than English were made available Jan. 15.

Bea Rector, director of home and community services for DSHS, said the agency was waiting for supply to increase, for hospitals to move beyond vaccinating their own workers, and for the health department to launch technology to help workers find and schedule doses.

"We did not feel it was the right thing to communicate they were eligible until we could also tell them where to find the vaccine," Rector said. "If the technologies had been available earlier we certainly would have communicated earlier."

Less than a week later, the state announced it was expanding access to anyone 65 and older, adding more than a million more people trying to schedule appointments. Many home care workers were squeezed out.

Reaching racial and ethnic groups disproportionally at risk for the disease, a focus of the DOH, has also faltered. Last week the department released its first data on race and ethnicity of vaccine recipients, and it highlighted inequities. About 5% of people who have received at least one dose were Hispanic, while about 13% of the state population is Hispanic. Black and multiracial groups were also underrepresented, the report found.

Some local health departments have positioned themselves to fill equity gaps, but supply remains hard to come by. In early February, the state was routing just 19% of doses to county health departments, community health centers, federally qualified health centers and private practitioners.

DOH officials, taking stock of the rollout so far, have pledged to do more to reach underserved residents. The state is now setting aside 20% of its mass-vaccination slots for those making appointments by phone. It's also using a data tool to prioritize allocation in communities particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and contracting with dozens of community groups for vaccine outreach efforts.

But the crushing demand over the past month, since the state opened the vaccine to all older residents, has left officials grappling with their original goals for equity.

"Was some of that at the cost of who has access to the vaccine?" said Roberts, the DOH assistant secretary. "That is a tension where we are all trying to figure out  what the right balance is."
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.
A former care worker who went on the run after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his 10-year-old neighbour has been jailed for three years.

The Central Criminal Court heard that on St Patricks Day 2000 the victim came to the man's house, who was her next-door neighbour, looking to borrow Sellotape to wrap some gifts.

The victim told gardai that the defendant, who was 30-years-old at the time, went upstairs to look for Sellotape whilst she was playing with his baby on the couch in the sitting room. When he came downstairs, he told her that he did not have Sellotape and pushed her off the couch.

In her complaint to gardai she said the man then took off his trousers, got on top of her and put his penis inside her vagina for five minutes.

In 2002 the man pleaded guilty to sexual assault but he failed to appear for his sentence hearing that year. He was located in the UK in 2019 and was extradited back to Ireland last year.

The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, admitted sexually assaulting the young girl at his home in west Dublin on March 17, 2000.

After the attack the man asked the girl not to tell anyone about what had happened. However, the young girl returned to her house and told her sister and cousin, who alerted her aunt.

Detective Garda Conor Byrne told Kate Egan BL, prosecuting, that the accused went with his wife to the victim's house later that same day and asked for forgiveness for "the mistake" but denied the allegation.

When he was later arrested by gardai he admitted touching the victim in a sexual way but said he had not penetrated her. Det Gda Byrne agreed with Justin McQuade BL, defending, that there was no evidence consistent with penetration but it could not be ruled out.

Passing sentence on Wednesday, Mr Justice Michael White said that whilst this was a "once-off incident", it was "much more serious than touching" as the defendant had removed the child's clothing and ejaculated on her.

Mr McQuade said his client had previously trained as a care worker. He noted that his guilty plea in 2002 was "diluted by his behaviour" of absconding to the UK.

Sentencing the defendant, Mr Justice White said the defendant had visited the child's parents and asked for forgiveness but this was "tempered" by the "diminishing and blatant lack of respect" for the victim, because he had evaded justice for so long.

The judge said the main mitigating factors were his guilty plea, his admissions and the limited remorse he had shown. He backdated a three-year prison sentence to April 19, 2019.
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The Indian Army will begin, in 2022, accepting women as candidates for flight school to become helicopter pilots. The reason is a familiar one, there are not enough qualified men willing to take these jobs. The Indian Navy already has women pilots for their twin-engine fixed-wing transports. The Indian Air Force has 121 female pilots. Ten are fighter pilots while the rest operate helicopters and fixed-wing transports. The army has women in their air service, but only in ground support jobs. Many other nations have already gone this way, including Afghanistan and the United States, where women have proved capable of handling helicopters, including during combat situations. The Americans have women flying all types of aircraft, including carrier fighters.

In addition to piloting transport helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, a growing number of nations are allowing women to be combat pilots and women are qualifying, but not in the numbers needed to make up for the overall shortage of these specialists. The problem here is that other factors are limiting the number of qualified women willing to be combat pilots. In more affluent nations the birth rates have declined to below replacement rate, meaning the population is shrinking. The most obvious example of that in Asia is Japan, the first Asian nation to modernize and achieve a Western level of affluence. It followed that in 2018 Japan had its first female fighter pilot (for F-15s) and is striving to increase the number of women in the military from 6.4 percent to 9 percent by 2030. The Japanese government also provided all manner of incentives for women to marry and have children. The growing population shortage has made it more difficult to get anyone to join the military and, with the growing threat from China, Japan is trying to expand its armed forces and finding there are not enough Japanese for that, as well as much else in the country.

There is a similar situation in Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Even China is now suffering from low birth rates among the several hundred million well educated and highly skilled people in its new (and growing) middle class. China is now facing, for the first time in its history, a declining population caused by low birth rates rather than war or pandemic disease.

All women fighter pilots face another unique obstacle; the need for upper body muscle mass. Fighter pilots have long been seen as chick magnets because they were in good physical shape. That physical fitness was not a preference for fighter pilots but an essential job requirement. While the flight controls have been powered for decades, there was no technology to deal with the g (for gravity) force. When maneuvering a jet fighter in combat you will often have to take turns at high speed and at that point you increase the gravitational force (you feel much heavier) and you need lots of muscle power so you can keep operating the flight controls and avoid blacking out. That is pretty much guaranteed if you hit 9 (nine times the normal gravitational force) Gs. Female, as well as male, fighter pilots have to spend a lot of time in the gym doing their weight training. Men have a natural advantage as they normally have more and larger upper body muscles than females. This requirement can also run into cultural obstacles as gyms for women have been a thing in the West for thousands of years but are a relatively new concept in many other cultures.

Communist China noted this unique aspect of combat flying early on and when they began recruiting female pilots in the 1950s for air transport units. When many more helicopter pilots were needed after the 1950s, there were few problems recruiting and training women for the job. While most male military fliers aspired to be fighter pilots, women saw transport pilot jobs as a more sensible goal, especially when commercial aviation eventually turned to female pilots to solve pilot shortages.

Meanwhile it has become something of a status symbol for nations to have female fighter pilots. In 2018 India joined the growing number of nations that allow women to take those jobs when three female fighter pilots completed their training. At the time the Indian Air Force had 1,600 women in uniform and about a hundred were pilots. Like many other nations India has had women flying helicopters and transports since the 1990s. Over 40 nations have women in the military and most allow female pilots for non-combat aircraft. But a growing number are allowing women to fly jet fighters. Even Moslem nations are doing this. The UAE (United Arab Emirates) has had women flying F-16s since 2007 and in September 2014, as Arab warplanes joined in the air attacks on ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in Iraq, it was revealed that one of the Arab pilots was a woman, a UAE F-16 squadron commander. This sort of thing is becoming more common in Moslem countries, and has long been customary in non-Moslem nations.

Because of that, in 2013 it was no surprise when Pakistan revealed that it had a female fighter pilot, flying a Chinese F7 (MiG 21 clone) jet. She was one of 316 women in the air force, which is more than three times what there were in 2008. But she is the only fighter pilot, one of the few in the Moslem world. Only about .7 percent of Pakistani military personnel are female, compared to 10-15 percent in most Western nations. The differences say a lot about the much greater effectiveness of Western armed forces.

Many countries have cultural problems with women in the military, and particularly with female pilots. But there is a growing demand for female military pilots mainly because there are not enough qualified men. India and Pakistan, which graduated its first female pilots in 2009, are both having a hard time keeping male pilots in uniform. Too many of the men depart for more lucrative, and less stressful, careers as commercial pilots. But in these two countries women may not be the solution. Currently, only about half of women officers stay in past their initial five-year contract. Indian women, even military pilots, are under tremendous social and family pressure to marry. Those that do may still be pilots but married women are urged by family and ancient traditions to quickly have children. The Indian Air Force provides its female officers with ten months leave for this, six months during pregnancy and four months after delivery. The air force does this because pilots are very expensive to train. Fuel costs the same everywhere, as do spare parts. What India may save in lower salaries is not enough. A good pilot costs over half a million dollars for training expenses and takes over five years to fully complete the process. India is betting a lot of money and time on keeping their female pilots flying. Many women are willing to take up the challenge. But they have already heard from their peers in Western air forces that motherhood and piloting can be a very exhausting combination.

Islamic nations have higher illiteracy rates overall and even higher rates for women. Because of that these nations have a severe shortage of technically trained people. Those women that do get an education in Islamic cultures tend to be very bright and able. There long been a need and a solution was close at hand. But because of those religious restrictions, and the generally very macho attitudes in Islamic nations, there will never be as many women in uniform as there could be. This means that Islamic armed forces will continue to come up short when it comes to maintaining and using military technology. The future of military operations is more technology, so you can see where this is leading. No wonder Islamic radicals want to go back to the past. Unfortunately, the non-Moslem world is not inclined to join them. Taking a knife to a gun fight doesn't work and many Moslem military leaders are taking note.

American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 have had a tremendous impact on Moslem attitudes towards women in the military. Moslems seeing so many American women serving in the military and being competitive at it had a big impact. Some 300,000 American military women served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 700 were killed or wounded in action. Moslem women and men were impressed with these infidel (non-Moslem) women who were real soldiers. They wore the uniform, the body armor, carried weapons, and could fight. Despite resistance from many men, there is more pressure in Moslem countries to let women serve in the local military.

One technical specialty that even Moslem nations turn to the women for is pilots. Noting the success of female military pilots in the United States since the 1980s, an increasing number of other countries are moving in that direction as well. The reason is simple, many of the women who go through flight training turn out to have better flying skills than the average male pilot.

American use of female military pilots goes back a long way. During World War II (1939-45) the United States used women pilots to ferry military aircraft around, including bringing them to the airfields where combat missions were flown from. These female pilots were considered civilian contractors but some male pilots could not help but notice that many of these women were very good pilots.

In Russia the need for good pilots led to hundreds of women being put to work flying bombers and fighters in combat during World War II. But in Russia, as elsewhere, the women were removed from airplanes when the war was over. It took another three decades before the women regained in peacetime the jobs they had in wartime. Now over 40 nations, most in the West, employ women as military combat and non-combat pilots. But while the number of nations with female military pilots increases the actual number of pilots is not growing as fast.

Worldwide women are increasingly part of the military. In many nations over ten percent of military personnel are female. In the U.S. military its now 15 percent and that is where it is headed for many other nations. In the early 20th century it was under one percent (and most of those were nurses and other medical personnel. More women are in uniform now because there aren't enough qualified men, especially for many of the technical jobs armed forces now have to deal with. Being a fighter pilot is one of the most demanding, physically and mentally, military jobs ever. Nations with lots of jet fighters and aircraft in general have to use what flying talent they have or greatly reduce their capability for success in the air.
When Josias husband began beating her, the U.S. government stood ready to help, even though she was in the country illegally.

If she would assist the police investigation, she could get whats called a U visa, which provides undocumented victims of serious crimes with work authorization, protection from deportation, and a path to citizenship. Congress idea in establishing the program in 2000 was to get criminals off the streets, that having a safer society outweighs the enforcement of certain immigration violations.

Josia was granted a visa after about eight months.

That was in 2011. But if it happened today, she would be in for a long and risky wait.

The visa program has been crushed under a backlog thats grown to more than 160,000 cases, the wait time increasing to nearly five years as the federal government fails to keep up, putting thousands of immigrants who stepped forward to help in danger of being deported.

One year was hard, said Josia, 39, who came to Hanover, York County, from Angola and spoke on the condition her surname be withheld. I cant imagine five years.

Now a Pennsylvania attorney has gathered more than a dozen colleagues and begun to sue  case by case, person by person  to force the government to do its job and rule on pending visa applications.

This has been getting worse and worse and worse, said David Freedman, an attorney at Barley Snyder, which has offices around Pennsylvania. They should get what the government said they were going to get.

A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Options for cutting the backlog are limited  lagging resources have been previously cited as an explanation for delays  but the agency is always aiming to reduce the wait time, the spokesperson said.

Its estimated that at least 1,000 U-visa cases are pending from Pennsylvania, with potentially hundreds in Philadelphia. None of those migrants can legally work, and all are vulnerable to removal.

So far 17 attorneys  six from Barley Snyder  are filing for immigrants whose petitions have languished for at least three years. The lawsuits say the government violated the Administrative Procedure Act, a law that allows federal courts to fix a federal government agencys failure to act.

The action comes at a moment when the new Biden administration is pushing to reverse harsh Trump-era restrictions and create a more welcoming America. Advocates say that even when not directly imposing tough immigration rules or limits, the Trump administration used neglect and indifference to clog the system and put people at risk. President Joe Biden has pledged to cut processing delays and, in this case, triple the current annual cap on U visas to 30,000 from the 10,000 originally set by Congress.

The award  or non-award  of U visas has been the crux of some of Philadelphias biggest immigration cases.

In 2017, undocumented Mexican immigrant Javier Flores Garcia, who was stabbed in a 2004 assault, ended nearly a year in sanctuary inside a Center City church when his visa petition won preliminary approval.

In December, Carmela Apolonio Hernandez and her four children began their fourth year in sanctuary, currently inside the Germantown Mennonite Church, after her application was denied. She filed as a victim of a 2017 attempted extortion in New Jersey, and an appeal is pending, according to Philadelphia immigration lawyer David Bennion.

Congress created the U-visa program to strengthen the ability of police agencies to investigate and prosecute violent crimes like domestic abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking, while protecting victims who suffered serious mental or physical abuse.

The law offset migrants fear of coming forward with a big incentive: Once placed on an official waiting list, they got protection from deportation and permission to legally work in the United States. The visa included a path to lawful permanent residence, also known as a green card, and then to full citizenship.

Now delays are so onerous that attorneys at the York-based Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center are asking clients if they might have a different route toward legal status.

Its taking years to get on the wait list, said Whitney Phelps, managing attorney for community programs.

PIRC has filed lawsuits for at least 20 people who applied more than three years ago but still havent received a response.

Even applying for a U visa has become chancy, Phelps said. In the past, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services simply approved or rejected an application. Now, when it denies, it also may issue a notice to appear in court, the first step in deportation proceedings.

The wait leaves people vulnerable and living in fear, said PIRC attorney Rosa Perez-Lupian. First they escape this abusive relationship, then their fear is ICE, this other powerful thing thats controlling their lives.

Congress recognized that undocumented immigrants are uniquely vulnerable, that even after being assaulted they may hesitate to dial 911 or go to a hospital emergency room for fear of being reported and deported.

Bidens plan to raise the cap to 30,000 is a promising start, said Amy Cheung, senior legal counsel at Connecticut-based ASISTA, which trains lawyers to help migrants who have been victims of violence, but given the immense backlog, there is still more work to be done.

The U-visa process isnt easy. Migrants, no matter how physically or mentally traumatized, must help police at every step. The applications require that the police or prosecutor sign an accompanying certification, called a Supplement B. No U visa will be granted without it.

Most people get approved for the visa, about 84% in 2014, the last year for which complete data are available, according to a 2020 USCIS report. And the program has worked as intended. An Arts and Social Sciences Journal study found that issuing U visas enhanced the justice systems ability to detect and prosecute crimes, and made communities safer.

But cases piled up as the number of applications far exceeded the annual 10,000-visa cap. In 2013 USCIS instituted a regulatory waiting list for those it determined were eligible. While on the wait list, families would be granted deferred action and work authorization.

But fewer and fewer were being added.

In 2018, as the backlog surged toward 152,000, USCIS placed only 7,421 people on the waiting list. That was two-thirds fewer than in 2014. Applicants now are waiting 58 months  nearly five years  to be put on the list, according to USCIS statistics.

Were saying put them on the waiting list or decide their cases, Freedman said, adding that immigrants have put their lives on the line in order to help law enforcement and prosecutors put dangerous criminals in prison. Were not trying to exploit any loophole. Were just asking the government to apply the regulation it wrote for itself.

Josia, her husband, and their three children came legally to the United States in 2008 to spend time with close friends, American missionaries they came to know in Africa.

Josia discovered she was pregnant. Her husband, she said, decided they were staying in the country after their travel visa expired. He controlled their passports.

When her husband began hitting her, Josia said, she saw no escape in a land where she didnt even speak the language.

I was insulated, I was abused, physically, mentally, sexually, she said. It was very dark.  You dont know theres a way out.

She found the courage to leave her husband and go to Safe Home, which assists domestic-violence victims in Hanover. Safe Home connected her to PIRC, which worked on her U visa.

A nurse in her native Angola, shes now working as a certified nursing assistant and lab technician, and intending to become a registered nurse.

Next year shell formally seek U.S. citizenship.
The Army is holding a month-long exercise in the Thar Desert in Sindh province to prepare for conflict in an extreme desert environment, the military said in a statement.

The exercise, codenamed Jidar-ul-Hadeed', began on January 28 and is scheduled to conclude on February 28, it said in a statement last night.

The four-week long defensive manoeuvre exercise is aimed at validating the concept of defence in deserts, the statement said.

Troops of Karachi Corps are practicing tactical drills and procedures as part of the exercise.

The Army said that the exercises are being conducted in extreme desert conditions, 74 kilometers ahead of Chhor in Sindh under conventional operations.

The Army has a Desert Warfare School at Chhor, which is 165 km from Hyderabad, Sindh. The school was established in 1987 to promote desert warfare.

The Thar Desert is an arid region of over 200,000 sq kms, which forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and

On Friday, a week-long multinational naval exercise hosted by started in the Arabian Sea.

With the participation of some 45 countries in Aman-2021 from February 11-16, including the US, Russia, China, and Turkey, the drill a biannual affair since 2007 began with a flag-raising ceremony, media reports 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.)

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said there was nothing wrong for a president or governor to appoint opposition members into his or he...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said there was nothing wrong for a president or governor to appoint opposition members into his or her cabinet.

On Saturday in Yenagoa, Jonathan said after elections, there ought to be unity among political parties.

NAN reports that he spoke at a Thanksgiving Service organised by the Bayelsa state government to mark Governor Douye Diris one year in office.

The former leader urged politicians to promote peace and love for the stability and growth of the country.

Jonathan noted that politics should not be seen as a war but a process of choosing leaders.

He advised politicians to always join forces with whoever emerges the winner at the poll.

The ECOWAS envoy commended Diri for extending an olive branch to other political platforms in the state.

Immediately you win an election, you automatically become the governor of everyone irrespective of party affiliation, he said.

Jonathan, who did not mention President Muhammadu Buhari, added: There is nothing wrong for a governor or president to pick someone from another political party and make him or her Minister or Commissioner.
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On behalf of our communitys children, their academic future and life opportunities, and our states economic well-being, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce urges local and state leaders to take the following actions concerning public education and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To the APS Board and administration:

We urge you to open our schools right away to in-person instruction.

We tip our hats to the teachers, administrators, parents/grandparents and kids who have made the best of a difficult situation over the past year. The adaptation across society  including by employers  to virtual classrooms has been admirable. Our collective experience, however, tells us that remote learning simply isnt working. Its not an adequate substitute for in-person instruction, and studies here and elsewhere point to substantial learning loss  especially in elementary school, and among students from low-income families. We cannot let this pandemic take the future from our kids.

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Academically, its in our kids best interest to be in the classroom, with their teacher. From the standpoint of their social and emotional development, again, being in the classroom is best. It may be some time before we fully appreciate the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on the academic, social and emotional development of our children, but many of us have seen firsthand how theyre suffering. Many children also face hunger or under-nourishment and live in unsafe environments. Schools are a safe place and provide meals that some children cannot get any other way.

What about their health? That, too, is pretty well settled. Cities and states across the nation are sending kids back to school. Dr. Anthony Fauci  well respected by reasonable people  says data simply doesnt show widespread transmission of the coronavirus in schools. A just-released CDC study of schools in Wood County, Wisconsin, reinforces this position; with proper mitigation practices, transmission within schools is very limited. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recently said, There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated (beforehand). And, state health officials and the governor have given the go-ahead in New Mexico.

So, if the risk of transmission among children  and between children and adults  is low, and if the impact of the virus on children is relatively minimal, then what are we waiting for in Albuquerque? We dont pretend this is a simple decision, but a single special interest group shouldnt be able to block whats in the best interest of kids and leaders of our schools and district have had many months to prepare. Furthermore, delaying reopening is likely to lead to more families walking away from public schools; the more parents who opt for homeschooling or to send their children to private schools, the less funding there will be for all public schools. Its time for kids to be back in the classroom.

To the New Mexico Legislature:

We urge you to mandate extended learning time for New Mexico students, in order to combat learning loss and the achievement gaps produced by the pandemic.

Catching kids up in our public schools is a difficult task under normal circumstances; it will be even more challenging and imperative now. Adding instructional time to the current, and future, school years is necessary to ensure the academic loss of the past year doesnt stick with students forever. We must also maintain regular assessments of student progress because knowing exactly where each student, and each sub-group of students, stands is key to an informed, data-driven academic recovery.

Lengthening the school year can reduce the negative effects of the summer slide, when students lose knowledge from the previous school year, and it should be done with fidelity to best practices. Some districts want to do things like add 15 minutes to the school day, and over the course of the school year, call that extended learning time. That wont cut it. While a measure of flexibility should be extended, requiring meaningful additional in-person instruction is a must.

Our children can overcome the past years academic setback, but, its up to us to ensure they do, and its in the classroom where the gains will happen.

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Chennai, Feb 14 : Fans of Southern star Nidhhi Agerwal erected an idol of the actress to worship her on Valentines Day, in the Chennai suburb of Kattupakkam.

The actress says she was pleasantly "shocked" to know the news of the event that had the group of fans also performing 'arati' and a cake-cutting ceremony before her idol.

Nidhhi tells IANS: "I was extremely shocked and I never saw this coming. I think this is the best Valentine's Day gift I have got and I have only and only so much love for my fans." The actress, who will soon be seen as the leading lady in Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan's untitled next, feels that the gesture encourages her to give better films to her fans.

Image Source: IANS News

"It feels overwhelming," she says, adding: "I just want to thank them and tell my fans that I will give good films and content and this encourages me more to do better work and give them good movies," says the actress, who made her debut in the 2017 Bollywood film "Munna Michael" opposite Tiger Shroff, before finding success in the South.

Image Source: IANS News

Latest updates on Valentine's Day 2021

-- Syndicated from IANS
Voice samples, motion patterns, and finger movements as the screen is touched  all easily monitored with the possibility to help diagnose Parkinson's disease. This is the hope of a Malmo University researcher, who is developing a mobile phone app.

The new research project will develop technology that makes it possible to collect such important data without the patient having to seek help from healthcare professionals.

An advantage is that the technology makes it possible to collect the data daily. The idea is that it should be able to replace parts of the examinations that are usually done in hospitals." Dario Salvi, Researcher, Internet of Things and People (IoTaP)

'Parkapp' recently received a two million kronor grant from the Mats Paulsson Foundation to develop a digital tool for continuous health measurements with remote diagnostics.

"We want to create a system where there are a number of simple tests that the patients do themselves through the mobile phone. In parallel, a continuous measurement of movements takes place on a smart watch. Collected data is sent to a server and can then be analyzed by a doctor," says Salvi.

Together, this should provide a picture that is comparable to conventional surveys used in healthcare. The collection of data is done through an expansion of the app Mobistudy, which was created in the UK and is being developed by Salvi and IoTap. The tests are based on well-proven methods for diagnosing the disease, such as measurements of the patient's speech, tremors and movement patterns.

"We let patients do a short voice test on their mobile phones. Parkinson's affects speech, and voice tests have shown to provide a lot of information about who has the disease and to what extent," says Salvi.

Another test should measure the speed at which the person taps the mobile phone's screen and the presence of any tremor. Others are about using smart watches to document the length and frequency of the patient's steps, and to follow the patient's sleep.

IoTap develops the app and performs the analysis of patients' movements. The voice and sleep analysis take place at the University of Edinburgh with patients being recruited by Karolinska Institute.

The technology and user-friendliness will first be tested in a small study with about ten participants. After that, they will continue with 30 patients who will use the app for three months.

"If the project gives good results, we may be able to develop a new app especially for Parkinson's, but it requires more funding," says Salvi.
PARIS: The French Health Ministry has asked regional health agencies and hospitals to go into "crisis organisation" from Feb. 18 to prepare for a possible surge in coronavirus cases due to highly contagious variants, Le Journal Du Dimanche reported on Sunday.

The move, which would echo measures taken in March and November 2020 when France went into national lockdowns, involves increasing the number of hospital beds available, delaying non- urgent surgery and mobilising all medical staff resources.

"This crisis organisation must be implemented in each region, regardless of the level of hospital stress and must be operational from Thursday Feb. 18," health authority DGS said in a memo cited by the newspaper.

The DGS was not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

France reported 21,231 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, slightly up from 20,701 on Friday, taking the total cumulative number in France to 3,448,617, the sixth-highest in the world.

In contrast with some of its neighbours who are struggling to control more contagious variants, France has resisted resorting to a new lockdown, hoping a national curfew in place since Dec 15, first at 8 p.m. then at 6 p.m., will contain the pandemic.

Some scientists, however, believe President Emmanuel Macron took a gamble in deciding against a new lockdown despite the threat of highly contagious variants.

At the same time, France trails behind several other European countries, such as Britain, in rolling out vaccinations.

Health Minister Olivier Veran, who noted the variant first detected in Britain accounted for 25% of confirmed new infections in France, said on Thursday the government would decide in the coming weeks whether tougher restrictions were necessary at a national level.

Arnaud Fontanet, a member of the scientific council that advises the government on COVID-19 policy, told Europe 1 radio on Saturday he feared the variant first detected in Britain could account for the majority of the cases in March.

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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MEXICO CITY - One scandal featured the president's wife and a $7 million mansion built by a top government contractor. Another involved the misuse of federal AIDS funds to buy Cartier pens and women's underwear. Then there was the "Master Fraud," in which $400 million flowed between 11 government agencies, eight universities and dozens of phony companies - with half disappearing.

Each of the cases was exposed thanks to Mexico's freedom of information system, often ranked among the world's most effective. Created in 2002, it has allowed journalists and researchers to wrest documents from a government long known for opacity.

The system has been "one of the most important democratic advances in Mexico" since the end of one-party rule in 2000, said Roberto Rock, a journalist who lobbied for its creation.

Now, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wants to rein in the National Institute for Access to Information, or INAI, the independent body that runs the system. He says it's expensive and has failed to end corruption.

The effort has revealed a deepening split in Mexico over the very nature of its democracy. To a generation of reformers, the freedom of information system represented a milestone in Mexico's transformation from an authoritarian state. The institute was one of multiple independent agencies formed to organize elections, investigate human rights abuses and otherwise serve as checks on the powerful presidency. They became "the protective layers of our democracy," wrote Enrique Campos Suarez, a columnist for El Economista newspaper.

Lopez Obrador, a populist with leftist roots, maintains that the transition to democracy has largely been a sham - benefiting a self-serving elite while neglecting the poor.

"All these administrative structures were created to simulate a fight against corruption, to simulate transparency, to simulate that there wouldn't be impunity," he told reporters. "It was all a farce."

The transparency law resembles the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. But Mexico's system typically moves faster, with authorities generally required to respond to requests within 30 days. And it is administered by an institute that can overrule the government when it denies information.

It's been a game-changer in a country where authorities long withheld basic information such as homicide figures, earthquake casualties and the central bank's reserves. Suddenly citizens could find out the number of government employees, their salaries - even the guest list for a Mexican president's birthday party.

The institute "advanced the idea that information didn't belong to bureaucrats, but to the public," said Rossana Fuentes-Berain, another figure in the civil society campaign to create the system. Since it got off the ground, the number of information requests has exploded, from about 50,000 to more than 230,000 a year.

Reporters have used the transparency system to uncover some of Mexico's biggest scandals of the past two decades. In 2014, journalist Carmen Aristegui and her colleagues dug up documents showing that President Enrique Pena Nieto and his wife were using a marble-floored, $7 million mansion built by a contractor close to the government. The president's approval ratings tumbled. (He said his wife, a telenovela star, was buying the property in installments. But he apologized for the appearance of a conflict of interest.)

Three years later, journalists exposed the "Master Fraud" swindle, in which government money sloshed through universities and into fake companies, only to disappear. A former cabinet minister, Rosario Robles, is now in jail on corruption charges. (She says she's innocent.)

In addition to helping expose corruption, the freedom of information system has allowed researchers to plumb the depths of Mexico's human rights crisis.

In 2014, reporter Alejandra Guillen became "obsessed" with the mass graves being unearthed in her home state of Jalisco. Many of the unmarked sites were filled with the remains of people who had disappeared during the drug war.

Guillen peppered local and national government offices with nearly 200 requests for information on such pits. Working with the investigative site Quinto Elemento Lab, she documented nearly 2,000 clandestine graves - more than the federal government's total. Without Mexico's freedom of information system, she said, "we couldn't have done much of the investigation."

Lopez Obrador, a folksy 67-year-old, argues that Mexico no longer needs a transparency institute. He holds a 7 a.m. news conference nearly every weekday, a talk fest that often lasts two hours.

"If we have permanent communication, and guarantee the right to information, things work out," he told reporters last month. "Therefore, I'd say, we don't need this apparatus that costs so much." The hundreds of millions of dollars budgeted for the INAI and other independent agencies, he said, would be better spent on education, health or social programs.

Lopez Obrador and his supporters have long argued that the institute provides the illusion of transparency to a political system dominated by unscrupulous officials and their wealthy allies in private business. "Notwithstanding its admirable institutional design of transparency, Mexico remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world," the academic Irma Erendira Sandoval Ballesteros wrote in the 2018 book "Troubling Transparency."

She's now Lopez Obrador's minister of public administration. The president has proposed moving the freedom of information system into her ministry.

Critics maintain that the attacks on the INAI and the other independent agencies show the authoritarian tendencies of a president who frequently berates the press and the opposition, and rules unquestioned over his own political party, which controls the National Congress.

But columnist Jorge Zepeda Patterson said Lopez Obrador's goal isn't so much accumulating power as it is fortifying a presidency weakened in recent years by decentralization.

"He's trying to give the Mexican government more capacity to intervene in reality, to modify the well-entrenched practices that favor the privileged," he said. "Right or wrong, that's his logic."

The freedom of information system might have been hurt by the very hopes it generated for profound change. While Mexico developed a democratic voting system and a freer press, it still hasn't reformed a justice system rooted in the authoritarian era. The police and courts remain corrupt and ineffective. Only a tiny percentage of crimes result in jail sentences.

"There is more transparency, but we don't have a functional mechanism to prompt investigation and criminal prosecution and punishment of the corrupt," said the political analyst Luis Carlos Ugalde. Journalists expose graft, he said, but in many cases "nothing happens" to the perpetrators. That can lead to a sense that the system isn't producing results.

Ironically, the independent institutions Lopez Obrador criticizes helped propel him to the presidency. One of them, the National Electoral Institute, established in 1990, cleaned up the system of rampant fraud that had kept opposition candidates from winning office. Meanwhile, journalists using freedom of information requests made citizens more aware of corruption. Lopez Obrador rode a wave of disgust with graft to an overwhelming victory in 2018.

Critics note that Lopez Obrador's government has not always distinguished itself in transparency. In 2019, his first full year in office, there were 46 percent more appeals to the INAI by citizens who had been denied information by bureaucrats than in the previous year.

Lopez Obrador has proposed a leaner, faster freedom of information system in which he says the government would respond to requests within 72 hours. Whether he can succeed in dismantling the current structure is unclear.

The freedom of information system was enshrined in the constitution in 2013 as an autonomous body. To amend the constitution, Lopez Obrador would have to battle the opposition - not only in the National Congress, but in every state legislature.

Rock said the president had the political conviction to push for the change. "But he also has the political savvy to realize it could wind up as a disaster for him and his party," he said.

President Joe Biden says America is back. It is good to see America back, re-embracing multilateralism It has given its backing to the candidacy of Nigerias Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTOpaving the way for the first African and woman as head of the institution. It is a historic win for Nigeria and Africa as well as a reassuring return of a more embracing form of multilateralism on the world stage.

When on June 4, 2020, President Buhari announced the withdrawal of the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General and Nigerias Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the position of Director-General for the organisation, replacing him with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, quite a few feathers were ruffled, at home and abroad. At home, some could not find justification for taking out a man with such depth of experience on international trade and the WTO in particular, having been with the organisation since 2005, when he was appointed Nigerias Ambassador to the WTO, serving as chair of the WTOs General Council in 2011, among other notable positions.

From abroad came stiffer opposition to this replacement. For some reason, Egypt strongly felt it amounted to pulling the rug under its feet and that Nigeria was only sneaking behind to re-open the shop when the window for nomination, as mutually agreed on within the African Union (AU), had closed. Indeed, Egypt was right to the extent that the process set in motion by the AU for coming up with an African Candidate had lapsed before Nigeria pulled out what appeared to be a joker from her pack. Having taken the position at its summit in Niamey in July 2019 that the AU should do everything to ensure that the next Director General of the WTO is African, it was agreed that interested countries should present their candidates to the African Union by the end of November 2019.

The African Union, at its Executive Councils 36th Ordinary Session held in February, had endorsed the candidates from Benin, Egypt and Nigeria as the short list for the African candidates to the post of Director General of WTO and REQUESTS the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System to consider the matter and report to the Executive Councils 37th Ordinary session with a view to agreeing on a single African candidate. The candidates were: Dr. Agah (Nigeria), Eloi Laourou (Benin) and Abdel Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt). But then, on account of COVID-19, the AU Summit that had been scheduled to hold in Chad in July, at which a final decision would have been ratified, had to be cancelled.

Also, whereas the selection process for the next DG of WTO had been expected to start in December 2020, as a result of the sudden decision in May 2020 by the Brazilian career diplomat, Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo to step down on August 31, 2020, a year before the expiry of his mandate as WTO Director-General, the General Council had to immediately launch the selection process for a new Director-General for the WTO in June, thus kick-starting a frenzy towards the emergence of a new DG, which by convention had to come through consensus among the 164 member-states.

How that development led to the decision by Nigeria to have a change of candidates, with Okonjo-Iweala, who years back had been linked to the same WTO, coming into the picture, is unknown. The point, however, remains that Nigeria had not before then and could not have even made a formal presentation of the Agah candidacy to the WTO. Rather, what was done was a participation in the process set up by the AU, which, as earlier explained, had not reached conclusion. But understandably, Egypt, perhaps seeing itself as the favourite, buoyed by the rich resume of its candidate, a trade lawyer, with extensive experience in international trade and the WTO, having worked in different capacities within the WTO, especially within the Secretariat since joining the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in 1990, was quite miffed at the hand played by Nigeria.

But her request to the Ministerial Committees on Candidatures to officially inform the African Group in Geneva that candidature of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been withdrawn and disqualified, and that Mr. Abdulhameed Mamdouh of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mr. Eloi Laourou of the Republic of Benin are currently the only two endorsed African candidates was quite an over-reach. She cited a legal opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), purportedly given during the Ambassadorial level Ministerial Committee on Candidatures meeting, which she said was held on June 4, regarding Nigerias nomination of a new candidate to the post of WTO-DG, in which the OLC clearly highlighted that  from a legal point of view  such a nomination is not in conformity with the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1090(XXXVI), since the councils decision has specifically endorsed the three names of candidates as submitted by the Ministerial Committees report after thoroughly examining the qualifications and professional experience of each of the three above mentioned candidates.

I made the case at the time for a strategic alliance involving some key countries to enable Nigeria sail through at the AfDB and WTO. For Nigeria to tread with caution over these two irons in the fire at the same time. She has to be cautious with her approach, ensuring not to operate with a zero-sum mindset, but incorporating a give-and-take strategy

But even if that was the opinion of the Counsel, apart from it just being another advice with no binding effect, the position canvassed and the premise upon which it stands clearly have no evidential basis in the document that Egypt makes reference to. Nothing in the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1090 (XXXVI) cited by Egypt makes mention of candidates by their names or infers that the endorsement decision was only on the basis of the qualifications and experience of these candidates. Rather, the Council simply endorsed the candidates from Benin, Egypt and Nigeria as the short list for the African candidates to the post of Director General of WTO. Also, the matter had only been referred to the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System to consider the matter and report to the Executive Councils 37th Ordinary session with a view to agreeing on a single African candidate, which, as widely reported, had not yet taken place. Indeed, Egypt had pushed the envelope further than it could have legitimately done, as the AU process was quite distinct from that of the WTO. As witnessed in the case of Kenya, non-participation in the process set up by the AU or not abiding by the procedure could not legitimately stop a country from directly participating in the process set up by the WTO. In as much as it would have been the best for Africa to line up behind a single candidate, emerging through the process set up by the AU, it is doubtful if the reading by Egypt or a legal opinion purportedly offered at an Ambassadorial level meeting, if it had been allowed to prevail, would have best served the interest of Africa in what eventually turned out to be a demanding process in which unusual factors bubbled to the top in the campaign. Yet, even though the process as set out by the AU did not quite deliver as expected, it still speaks to the possibilities that can come through the deft deployment of consensus as a tool of decision-making in international relations, as the WTO best exemplifies.

For Nigeria, the timing of the row with Egypt over the selection of a new Director-General for the WTO could not have been more inauspicious. At the time, Nigeria was in a titanic battle over the re-election of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), instigated at the instance of the United States of America, over which the support of Egypt, with 5.649 per cent shareholding in AfDB, the second largest after Nigeria, among African countries, was critical. Apart from that, Egypt is highly influential across the North of Africa. So, Nigeria had to tactfully navigate the diplomatic waters.

I made the case at the time for a strategic alliance involving some key countries to enable Nigeria sail through at the AfDB and WTO. For Nigeria to tread with caution over these two irons in the fire at the same time. She has to be cautious with her approach, ensuring not to operate with a zero-sum mindset, but incorporating a give-and-take strategy, with gains assured for other parties in the process. The extent to which that played out, we might not know, even if the withdrawal of the candidacy by Benin Republic and endorsement of Nigerias Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is left to interpretation. Obviously, Nigeria recognised and appreciated the intersection and successfully managed the process.

But only few would have known that the fight by Egypt and the indirect face-off between the U.S. and Nigeria at the AfDB was only to foreshadow what would eventually play out at the WTO, with respect to the candidacy of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for the position of the Director General. At the close of nomination, eight candidates had been nominated by their respective governments, following which a special General Council meeting held for three days in July, during which the candidates met with WTO members to make presentations and respond to questions from members.

At the end of the first round, there were five candidates left in the race, which was pruned to two after the second round. On October 28, 2020, the three facilitators of the selection process  Ambassador Walker, Dacio Castillo and Harald Aspelund announced at the Heads of Delegation meeting that, based on their consultations with all delegations, the candidate best poised to attain consensus and become the 7th Director-General was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria.

While many had thought that the consultation process had finally yielded a consensus, the United States of America injected another round of uncertainty into the process, rejecting the consensus choice of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian candidate, as the new DG of the WTO. The U.S. Trade Representatives office released a statement officially backing South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, the only other remaining candidate, arguing that at a very difficult time, the WTO must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field, playing to the orchestrated criticism of the Nigerian candidate of having limited experience with respect to multilateral trade.

That Nigeria succeeded in securing a second term for Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina at the AfDB and is now on the verge of having Dr. Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as the new Director General of the WTO, with the General Council set to take a final decision at a special meeting scheduled to hold on February 15, is a huge and unprecedented diplomatic win for the country.

Soon, it had become obvious that the consultation process was not leading anywhere, with the American elections around the corner. On November 6, 2020, Ambassador Walker announced that the General Council meeting which had been scheduled for November 9, 2020 had to be postponed during which time he would continue undertaking consultations with delegations. That temporarily aborted the process that would have culminated in the formal announcement of Nigerias Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as the new DG of the WTO.

That would not be the first time America, under President Donald Trump, would stand in the way of multilateral consensus. That would not be the first time America would take a stand, seeking to block a Nigerian candidate for a top international position. At the AfDB, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina had, by consensus, received the backing of the shareholders for a second term as the President of the institution, only waiting for a formal affirmation at the Annual General Meeting. Then came allegations of wrongdoing from anonymous whistleblowers. However, following investigation by the Ethics Committee, he was cleared of the allegations. But the U.S., being the second largest shareholder in AfDB, after Nigeria, would not have it. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin questioned the integrity of the committee, insisting on an external, independent probe into the allegations. At its meeting of June 4, 2020, the AfDB Board of Governors reached a compromise decision for an independent review of the Ethics Committee report, which had exonerated Dr. Adesina on all grounds by a committee made up by members, who deemed him a neutral, high-caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity. This was AfDB bending backwards to please the U.S., yet at the end of the day, Dr. Adesina was exonerated by the high-level panel.

Africa was essentially off the radar for Donald Trump in his four years in the White House. His presence loomed large in the continent for his loud absence. He could not muster a single visit to the continent for the whole term. Whereas, like his predecessors, there was some signature project around which an African policy was anchored, his Prosper Africa was more pronounced for the absence of the signature of the person supposedly behind it. Safe to say, there was effectively no place for Africa on the table and that was quite understandable. On occasions that Nigeria featured in Trumps frame of reference, she was either qualified with words from his repertoire of the ribald or forcefully inserted into a discriminatory immigration policy, which restricted entry into the United States for a category of Nigerian immigrants, a decision the current President of the U.S., Joseph Biden referred to, at the time, as a disgrace. Whereas Trump was unable to give fillip to his African policy, his administration, by some coincidence, at critical points, found a way to undermine African leadership in African Development Bank; the World Health Organisation under the Ethiopian, Dr Tedros Adhanom; and not surprisingly, the Okonjo-Iweala candidacy for the Director-General of the WTO.

That Nigeria succeeded in securing a second term for Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina at the AfDB and is now on the verge of having Dr. Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as the new Director General of the WTO, with the General Council set to take a final decision at a special meeting scheduled to hold on February 15, is a huge and unprecedented diplomatic win for the country. It is to the credit of President Buhari and his foreign policy team under the leadership of Geoffrey Onyeama. It was heart-warming to see Dr. Adesina flown home, even when borders around the world were on lockdown, to be assured of support for a renewal of his tenure. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala came calling in October, to thank President Buhari and his team, following up by asking the President to make one final push within the week to beat the Koreans and bring this to Nigeria by sending a few letters and placing telephone calls to some world leaders, and also thank others for their support. It is gratifying to see the final push pay off.

President Joe Biden says America is back. It is good to see America back, re-embracing multilateralism. The country is back in the World Health Organisation. It has made a return to the Paris Climate Accord. It has given its backing to the candidacy of Nigerias Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTO, affirming the consensus arrived at by other members of the organisation, paving the way for the first African and woman as head of the institution. It is a historic win for Nigeria and Africa as well as a reassuring return of a more embracing form of multilateralism on the world stage.

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Simbo Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise. Twitter: @simboolorunfemi
The Berkshire music academy connects well-known musicians with local students. The pandemic has lead to expanded online programming.

Music Academy Opens Online Courses With Expanded Programming

ADAMS, Mass.  COVID-19 won't mute the Berkshires Academy for Advanced Musical Studies as the music school recently announced expanded virtual offerings.

Executive Director Richard Boulger has not missed a beat throughout the novel coronavirus lockdown and was happy to say "eBAAMs" enrollment is open

"We are committed to offering free access to eBAAMS ... we can work with children from anywhere," Boulger said. "I am thrilled to be back in the Berkshires after living in New York for 20-plus years and am very proud to bring with me a world-class music faculty to help Berkshire County kids."

The music academy was announced in 2019 and Boulger, a North Adams native and professional jazz trumpet player, planned to bring world-class musicians to the county to teach in the academy.

Donald Sommer, a local business owner, had his own part to play and redeveloped the former St. Mark's Episcopal Church to create the Olga C. Sommer Center for Music & Art. The renovation was largely completed in 2020, and Sommer planned to lease the building to BAAMS to house the music academy.

This was obviously delayed by the pandemic with the playing of wind instruments considered one of the riskier activities in terms of the transmission of COVID-19.

BAAMS found creative solutions. It held the summer jazz camp outdoors and continued to refine eBAAMS -- its online academy.

Also in the summer of 2020, Sommer announced that he purchased the former First Baptist Church right down the street from St. Mark's on Commercial Street. At the time, he saw the acquisition as a possible expansion of the Sommer Center.

Boulger said the prospect of expanding BAAMS is an exciting idea, but the future of the building is still unknown at this point in time.

"I believe the former First Baptist Church has huge potential," he said. "Until a feasibility study has been performed and reviewed, it's next to impossible for me to guess how much work must be done for the Baptist church to become a useable space."

That being said, Boulger said he was excited to begin in-person learning at the former St. Mark's, the only church in which BAAMS has a lease agreement, when public health data allows.

"The key for BAAMS will be to ensure we have a building that provides multiple teaching studios, a recording studio, broadcast capabilities, and a world-class performance space for our students, faculty and special guest performances," Boulger said. "In the meantime, we are extremely excited by the success of our after-school online programming through eBAAMS, which offers free online access to young music students ages from anywhere in Berkshire County."

eBAAMS offers live-streamed music lessons for ages 12-18 as well as a library of original play-along tracks and musical exercises.

"I'm very excited to be working with BAAMS both as a saxophone, woodwinds and improvisation instructor as well as serving as BAAMS' co-musical director," Alex Foster, saxophonist for the Saturday Night Live Band.

Boulger said BAAMS gives students access to lessons in improvisation, saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass, guitar, and drums. He said staff teaches his own HTF Learning System.

"I have created HTF after a lifetime of private study and working closely with master musicians," Boulger said. "It is based on the idea that one's musical instrument is actually an amplifier for what one is hearing, thinking and feeling. Once our students know how to convey what they hear, think, and feel musically, suddenly you've got a whole new, positive outlet for kids to express themselves."

Boulger said there will be additions to eBAAMS. Programming will expand to recording technology and a "virtual coffee house" studio and stage where students can upload and share their own inspired performances with faculty and fellow students.

The academy is also in the beginning stages of launching online music learning for adult students.

"We are currently developing BAAMS' Premier which will offer online music learning to adults," he said. "We realize there is a demand for what we offer among many adult aspiring, amateur, or professional musicians."

Boulger said folks can continue to support BAAMS through donations. Donations are exclusively for programming expenses.

"We are grateful to all of the individuals who have supported us with donations as well as volunteer labor and expertise from key members of our support team," Boulger said.

Washington: Oxford University has started testing its coronavirus vaccine in children as young as six in a move that expands coronavirus vaccine trials to the youngest age group yet.

The Oxford trial will include 300 child volunteers ages 6 to 17, with 240 of them receiving the vaccine co-developed with drugmaker AstraZeneca; the remaining participants will receive a control meningitis vaccine that has been proven safe in children but is expected to mimic similar side effects of a COVID-19 shot, the university said in a statement.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be the first to be tested on children younger than 12. Credit:AP

Before the Oxford/AstraZeneca trial, testing had not included children younger than 12. Three other companies  Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen  have announced plans to start trials for younger children this spring.

Only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been authorised in the United States thus far. Johnson & Johnson has a single-shot vaccine that could be authorised in March. US regulators are still waiting for more trial data before approving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is already in use in the European Union.
has reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 3,810.93 crore in the third quarter of the current financial year on account of higher and accelerated provisioning.

It had reported a net profit of Rs 60 crore in the year ago period. During the quarter ended September, it had reported a net profit of Rs 4.72 crore.

The higher provisioning comes on the back of a special audit recently conducted by the Reserve Bank of India into the company and its subsidiary, Srei Equipment Finance.

Consolidated total income during the quarter ended December fell sharply to Rs 484.35 crore from Rs 1,418.20 crore in the year ago period; consolidated assets under management (AUM) stood at Rs 41,298 crore compared to Rs 45,157 crore at the end of December 2019. The board met on Saturday to take on record the for the quarter.

Commenting on the results, Hemant Kanoria, chairman Srei, said that the current financial year has been one of the most challenging years in the companys history of more than three decades.

The Covid-19 induced stress on our asset quality coupled with the credit squeeze in the NBFC sector have created an unprecedented situation, which none of us had anticipated. As a matter of prudence and taking into consideration the current operating environment, we have decided to increase our provisions significantly, he added.





Kanoria also said that the company had recently moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to make payment to all creditors in an orderly fashion.

Srei recently decided to freeze interest payment and redemption of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and was granted relief with a moratorium order by the tribunal.

Kanoria said, We hope that with the support from creditors, rating agencies, regulators and other agencies of the government, the company can meet its repayment commitments and continue to serve the nation in the infrastructure space.

The focus during this quarter and in the next few ones, he said, will be to get the recoveries from clients so that the creditors can be paid as per the scheme.

The company has had a track record of being punctual on its interest and principal payments for the last thirty-one years. This is the first time in the history that such a situation has arisen due to the pandemic. We remain confident that the measures taken will help us emerge out of the current conundrum and we will continue to create value for all our stakeholders in the long-run, Kanoria further said.
A strong 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's east coast late Saturday, rattling the region hit by the powerful 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown just weeks before the disaster's 10th anniversary.

The quake produced powerful shaking along parts of Japan's eastern coast, and was felt strongly in Tokyo, but triggered no tsunami alert.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters that no major casualties were reported, according to Kyodo news agency, which reported that more than 50 people had been injured, but he gave no further details.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage, though local news broadcast images of a landslide on a highway.

Japan's meteorological agency said the quake hit at 11:08 pm (1408 GMT) at a depth of 60 kilometres (37 miles) in the Pacific off Fukushima -- near the epicentre of the 2011 killer quake which triggered a towering tsunami and killed more than 18,000 people.

The agency initially reported the strength of the quake as 7.1, but later revised the figure upwards. It said the quake was considered an aftershock of the massive 2011 temblor.

Aftershocks continued to rattle the region in the hours afterward and officials cautioned local residents to be vigilant. A handful of people were reported to have sought shelter at evacuation centres.

"We are working quickly to collect information but we still have no details to announce. There were some unconfirmed reports about landslides but we are still checking," Mikihiro Meguro, an official from the Fukushima prefectural government, told AFP.

Around 950,000 homes lost power throughout the affected region, but no abnormalities were reported at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which melted down in the wake of the 2011 tsunami.

Suga, who was called to his office over the earthquake, told journalists his cabinet will meet at 9:00 am Sunday for a briefing, Kyodo said.

Broadcaster NHK added that the government would set up a special liaison office to coordinate with affected regions.

- 'All messed up' -

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato addressed reporters after midnight and said evaluations were under way.

"As far as damage, casualties and structural damage are being assessed," he said, adding that sections of the bullet train had been suspended due to power outages.

"Surveys are being done at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant," he said.

"We have received reports that Onagawa nuclear plant and Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant are not showing any abnormality," he added.

Images posted online showed broken glass at a shop and items spilled off the shelves at a supermarket.

Tomoko Kobayashi who works at a traditional inn in Fukushima's Minamisoma city told Kyodo that "the initial jolt felt more powerful than the one I experienced in the Great East Japan Earthquake" of 2011.

Renowned author Yu Miri, who also lives in Minamisoma, tweeted a photo of her home, showing books, potted plants and other belongings strewn across the floor.

"My house in Odaka, Minamisoma city is all messed up," she wrote.

"I hear the ground rumbling. And another quake," she tweeted about an aftershock.

Aerial footage broadcast by NHK showed a landslide onto a highway in Fukushima region, severing the road. It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt.

The US Geological Survey registered the quake at a revised magnitude of 7.1 with a depth of 51 kilometers.

Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

The country is regularly hit by quakes, and has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong tremors.

In September 2018, a powerful 6.6-magnitude quake rocked Hokkaido, triggering landslides, collapsing houses and killing more than 40.

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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When Judith Sanchez learned she and her family members could soon be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, she asked them if theyd be interested in signing up.

Not yet, they said, and neither is she.

Usually thats the response that I get: that they want to wait a little bit more, said Sanchez, 38, of Passaic City, and is originally from the Dominican Republic. I think most people like myself worry about the side effects and that we dont know enough.

As New Jersey struggles to roll out the coronavirus vaccine, Latinx and Hispanic residents who are disproportionately affected by the virus have doubts about taking it, many saying theres not enough information about its effects and a sore lack of outreach to their communities.

Since March, there have been 656,904 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New Jersey and 20,083 confirmed fatalities from the virus, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard as of Thursday. More than 1.19 million doses of the vaccination had been administered in the state.

But the reality for communities of color during the pandemic has been dire, with national and state statistics showing that Black and Hispanic people in the United States and New Jersey have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus.

In New Jersey, Hispanic people account for nearly 26% of the states coronavirus cases, despite making up 18% of the states total population, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard. And 19%, or more than 3,700, of the states more than 20,000 deaths from the virus have been Hispanic people, according to state data.

The states most diverse communities have been barraged by COVID-19, with a NJ Advance Media analysis showing that towns with the greatest increase of deaths in 2020 often included those with the highest Hispanic populations.

And as of February 11, of the 1,190,446 vaccination doses administered in the state, only 5% were to Hispanic or Latinx people, according to state COVID-19 data.

As these communities endure the onslaught of the pandemic, national and state studies also show that there is a widespread skepticism of the COVID-19 vaccine among Hispanic and Latinx people, caused by a lack of outreach geared toward them and information available on the long-term side effects.

Fact sheet about the COVID-19 vaccine in Spanish.Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to a national poll on healthy aging conducted by the University of Michigan, 86% of Latinx people said they would not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

The skepticism comes from an absence of outreach to Latinx and Hispanic communities, in New Jersey and across the country, said Debora LaTorre, president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.

Youre introducing a vaccine thats never been done before, said LaTorre, who is Mexican American. Some of them would be skeptical. Especially some of our older generation, which is the prime population being affected by COVID. Education is one of the biggest challenges we as nurses face.

Much of the skepticism comes from cultural traditions in Latinx and Hispanic communities to turn to holistic medicine, said LaTorre. Many others, including young Latinx and Hispanic residents, are worried about potential side effects of the vaccine and whether any resulting illness will take them out of the work force, she said.

Its the whole fear of I have to provide for my family, said LaTorre. And at this time I cant afford to get sick.

According to a survey published in October by Unidos US, 76% said they were concerned that the vaccine would make them sick or have bad side effects. And 79% said they were concerned that there wasnt enough information about the long-term effects.

The fears are spurred by the fact that information exists, but has yet to reach worried Hispanic and Latinx residents, said Gina Miranda-Diaz, a New Jersey State Licensed Health Officer and past president of the the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.

They are fearful and they are not very knowledgeable about the science, she said. What I hear most often is people saying Its too fast. It seems like it was too rushed. How do they know that this is working?

The key to allaying those fears is to dispel misinformation and health myths, including that the vaccine contains active COVID-19 and that the vaccine was formulated and tested in just a few short months, said Miranda-Diaz.

While most of the nurses in the association do their best to educate Latinx and Hispanic patients on the vaccine, there is also a desperate need for more widespread educational resources for the community, said LaTorre.

But the lack of education and answers on a months-old vaccine for those who speak Spanish has not been put in place, said Sanchez, whose hometown of Passaic City saw a 212% increase in deaths last year.

I think we dont have enough info out as to what this vaccine is, said Sanchez, who does not currently plan to make an appointment. We often hear in the news about the vaccinations, but we dont hear enough about what it does. At least not on Latinx news channels. Ive only heard about it a little bit in the English speaking channels, not Univision or Telemundo.

Doubts about the vaccine are present even in those who plan to get it. Some, like Karina Silvotti, who is from Uruguay and lives in Elizabeth, have questions about the vaccines effects, but still plan to get vaccinated to protect themselves.

Its not getting rid of all risk, but its a way of protecting yourself, Silvotti said in Spanish. There are so many people that dont want it because they dont know about it. They hear it has side effects or that its not good.

Much like LaTorre, Miranda-Diaz emphasized education as the crucial weapon in the fight to get more Hispanic and Latinx residents vaccinated. As a veteran nurse practitioner, Miranda-Diaz has fielded questions about the uncertainties of how the COVID-19 vaccine works on the body and potential effects.

Listen to the scientists, said Miranda-Diaz. Avoid social media and the disinformation. If you get information, get clarity. Find out the truth. Find out if this is real or if its fake. Get your information from reliable sources. And Facebook and Instagram are not reliable sources.

Along with getting vaccinated themselves, members of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in New Jersey try to connect with people in their own towns to educate and inform them about the potential effects of the vaccine and where and how to get registered.

The association was working with the Department of Health to provide educational resources for Hispanic and Latinx residents in their own towns, said LaTorre. Targeting residents in their own communities helps many Hispanic and Latinx people who often tell nurses they dont have time to seek resources or that say providing for their family is their priority, not vaccination.

The Department of Health is also hosting a virtual public conversation with Latinx medical professionals, including Miranda-Diaz on Monday. A version of the panel in Spanish is also being planned, LaTorre and Miranda-Diaz both confirmed.

The push to get Latinx and Hispanic residents vaccinated has become personal for Hispanic nurses and medical professionals, who have seen countless friends and family die from the coronavirus, said LaTorre.

Were seeing our communities dying because of the virus, she said. And thats something we dont want to continue. We want to advocate for the vaccine and make sure that our communities are educated so they can make a good, sound decision and hopefully get this vaccine so they can be protected.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.




Haiti - Politic : La Francophonie wants to get more involved in the Haitian crisis





Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of La Francophonie, convened a select Advisory Committee on the political and institutional situation in Haiti, in accordance with the texts of La Francophonie on crisis and conflict prevention, in particular the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Declaration from Bamako.



Alongside the Secretary General, this Committee brought together the Representative of the President of Haiti to the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), those of member states and governments as well as states observers of La Francophonie in the region of the Caribbean and Latin America, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) and representatives of the Operators of La Francophonie.



This "ad hoc" Committee on Haiti aimed to reiterate the solidarity of La Francophonie with Haiti (Member State) and to discuss the political and institutional difficulties encountered.



While this year 2021 in Haiti is announced a referendum on a project for a new Constitution and elections https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32719-haiti-flash-complete-calendar-of-all-electoral-operations-2020-2022-official.html , the participants called for an open and constructive dialogue to be initiated between the different parties in order to calm the situation and allow the holding of consensual and inclusive elections.



Delegations supported Louise Mushikiwabo's proposal to very quickly dispatch a high-level information and contacts mission to Haiti. This mission will be responsible for initiating in-depth consultations with all stakeholders, including to determine with them the modalities of support for La Francophonie in response to the current crisis. The OIF is also available to technically support, in conjunction with international partners, the preparation of the elections, as it has regularly done over the past decades in Haiti.



Following this meeting, Claude Joseph declared "We welcome the support of the OIF to offer technical support to our elections during this crucial year for Haiti. The success of democracy in Haiti can act as a beacon of hope for global democracy. We welcome the support of our international partners."



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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

For almost an entire semester, Lwandile Dlamini logged into classes at United World College-USA (UWC) well into the late afternoon and from a desk halfway around the world.

From her home in Durban, South Africa, Dlamini faced a tremendous physical and time gap compared to her classmates, most of whom were on the UWC campus in Montezuma, just outside Las Vegas, New Mexico.

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I was struggling to study as a distance learner, she said.

Dlamini is one of UWCs more than 200 students hailing from dozens of different nations across the globe. The boarding school, which students attend for two years, is renowned both for its diversity and its rigorous curriculum, as well as an emphasis on community service.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic  a global phenomenon that has killed more than two million over the past year  put a kink in the schools operations, where students live closely together in congregant settings. Students were sent home in March 2020 following health orders issued by the state government.

UWC President Victoria Mora said the school aimed to maintain in-person classes for the next year and avoid having to cancel classes a second time. With 200 teenagers living together in one building, she knew it would be a challenge.

The school soon realized that, if students were to remain in a bubble with one another, the only possible outside source of infection would be via staff members, a much smaller group for the school to manage.

The most likely introduction of the virus would be through this staff, Mora said. We formed protocols based on that very simple, but crucial, insight.

As a result, UWC students have not been allowed to leave campus since August, except for outdoor field trips. Students who arrived in August were required to quarantine for two weeks, remaining in their rooms while the school brought them their meals.

This did not include all students, however.

Many international students, such as Dlamini, found it incredibly difficult to travel to the United States for the next school year, with various nations implementing travel restrictions.

Dlamini said she struggled to get the visa necessary to study in the U.S. and that working with the South Africa Department of Home Affairs became nearly impossible.

I had to constantly email them over and over again to give me lenience to travel, she said. I had to ask for a personal favor.

Eventually, she got the requirement to travel to the U.S., but not until after weeks of difficult distance learning.

Another student, Tianyu Chen of China, said he had to travel to Cambodia to get a visa to travel after former President Donald Trump placed a travel ban on those entering the country from China. Chen quarantined in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh before travelling to the U.S.

He said he really enjoys the UWC community and that he plans on attending college in the U.S. after graduation. However, there are certain aspects he misses compared to his time there last year.

I would say the biggest difference is we no longer have Walmart runs, Chen said, adding it gave him and other students opportunities to interact with local residents.

But some students still havent had the chance even to see their campus in person.

Melissa Bachet has been attending all her classes online since the start of the school year.

From the Cayman Islands, a small island nation in the Caribbean, Bachet has also found it especially hard to navigate the difficulties of obtaining a student visa. The nearest embassy is in Jamaica, requiring her to quarantine and also that one of her parents accompany her.

As a result, she has been attending classes online, often the only one in her class doing so.

When I applied, this is not what I imagined, she told the Journal in a virtual meeting. It is difficult, especially when my classmates are on campus doing things I should be doing.

Students currently on campus have had to make sacrifices, too. They said restrictions are very tight and that many of the activities typically offered by the school are no longer feasible, among them community service projects in and around Las Vegas.

Sophia Cowan, a student from Portland, Oregon, said many of her classmates have felt an impact on their personal health, especially on the couple of occasions theyve had to quarantine.

In addition, the International Baccalaureate exam, the final test students take at the school, wont happen this year, which has caused stress among students.

UWC Communications Coordinator Gwen Albers said students spend two years study for the test, the results of which determine how much in scholarships they receive for college.

Its like the last test that determines your graduating score from the school, Chen said before it was learned the test would be canceled. If we dont have that, the teacher will give us predicted grades, which is not going to be good.

However, students said the restrictions have been worth it so far, because it helps ensure their classes can remain open for the time being.

Mora said the campus has had no communal spread thus far, thanks to the restrictions.

Its really been a labor of love and international cooperation to allow this to happen, she said.

Despite the pandemic, Mora said so many students are eager to attend this year, not only because of UWCs community, but also for the educational opportunities. Students come from myriad socio-economic backgrounds and the quality of education sometimes exceeds what is available in their home country.

(The students) really pride themselves on thinking about education as a force for good in the world, she said. What better laboratory for exploring what that might mean than during a global pandemic?
New Delhi:

Indian airline Jet Airways, in a move to reduce salary expenses, has cut the salaries of a section of pilots. The airline has also told these pilots to take 10 days off every month and they will be paid only 70 per cent of their salaries.

In a letter, the management has asked first officers (junior pilots) to take a pay cut of 30 per cent. We will take up this matter in our next meeting with the management, news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.

According to the reports, the mandate is only for pilots who joined in last one year and for others any cut in salary or working days would be voluntary.

The Economic Times quoted a Jet spokesman confirming the review of network, fleet and crew utilisation as a result of certain developments in the market, including that of the Gulf region, as well as our continued efforts to enhance internal efficiencies.

The move will impact around 1500-2000 employees of Jet Airways. A Jet Airways junior pilot or co-pilot with an experience of one year reportedly earns over Rs 2 lakh per month.

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JERSEY CITY  On Sunday, Michael Mikhail was picking through options of roses at a convenience store tucked within a strip of restaurants and eateries in Downtown. He eventually walked away with the perfect one for his girlfriend, who hell be sharing a Valentines Day dinner-out with.

Mikhail, of Jersey City, was one of many locals who planned on having a special date for the love holiday. Mikhail told The Jersey Journal that everyones just trying to make the most out of the circumstances.

We try to find any moment of normalcy and celebrate the little things, Mikhail said.

Mikhail, a medical student, said last year he wasnt able to take his girlfriend out to dinner, but this year he will. The two plan to eat at Luna, a restaurant on Grove Street, but the special date will be on Monday, when its less crowded, he said.

Gov. Phil Murphy allowed indoor dining to increase from 25% to 35% capacity with a maximum of 150 people on Feb. 5. Sitting at bars indoors is still prohibited.

Further down the strip on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza lies The Ashford, Porta and Skinners Loft  all restaurants where couples walked in and out of Sunday afternoon.

Two friends, Bryant Hernandez and Ashley Munoz, stood outside Porta just before 12 p.m. They said eating out on the holiday helps everything feel a bit more normal.

I usually go out (for Valentines Day), but I had to put more thought and consideration, Hernandez said.

Hernandez added that he knew he and Munoz are safe to go out to eat.

CBS reported in 2020 that bookings for upscale dinner reservations in the U.S. surge 228% on Valentines Day, according to OpenTable, an online restaurant-reservation service company.

But restaurants arent the only way to celebrate the holiday.

Sabrina Greenn, of Jersey City, and her boyfriend walk on Newark Plaza in Jersey City on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Walking down the snow-covered street was Sabrina Green, her boyfriend and dog. Green said they planned to spend the day at the Museum of Modern Art, located in New York City. They had to reserve tickets for the visit.

Green said theyve hardly gone out all year, so being out on Sunday was refreshing, she said.

But for one Jersey City couple, they said they were spending some quality time together at home.

Pen Wang, of Jersey City, walks with his boyfriend in Newark Plaza in Jersey City, on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Pen Wang and his boyfriend were going on a walk Sunday afternoon along the pedestrian plaza.

Wang told The Jersey Journal that resuming special dates is a plus for whoever wants that, but for him and his boyfriend, they preferred to be safe at home. He said theyll be staying home and having some chocolate candy for the day.
The 23-year-old activist was arrested for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company in Haryana's Sonipat district on 12 January, the police had said earlier

Chandigarh: Taking suo motu notice of the matter pertaining to jailed labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur, the Punjab and Haryana High court has issued a notice of motion to the Haryana government, seeking its reply by 24 February.

Kaur, lodged at Karnal jail in Haryana, is facing three cases that include charges of attempt to murder and extortion.

The 23-year-old activist is a member of the Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan and is a resident of Giadarh village in Punjab's Muktsar district. Along with others, she was arrested for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company in Haryana's Sonipat district on 12 January, the Haryana police had earlier said.

While taking up matter through video conference on Friday, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi observed, "Complaints dated 06.02.2021 and 08.02.2021 have been received through e-mail regarding illegal confinement of Nodeep Kaur, Dalit Labour Activist by the Haryana Police."

Haryana's Additional Advocate General Ranvir Singh Arya accepted the notice of motion. The next date of the case has been fixed for 24 February.

Notably, Punjab minister Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday had urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to intervene and ensure Kaur's release.

Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Chaudhary had appealed to the NCW that the Punjab government, through the State Women's Commission, would lend legal assistance to Kaur.

The Punjab State Women Commission on Thursday had sought a status report from the Sonipat Senior Police Superintendent by 15 February in Kaur's matter.
Making sure a mask fits snugly and use of two masks is likely to significantly reduce a person's exposure to the coronavirus, according to studies by U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers.

In lab tests, they found wearing a cloth mask over a three-ply medical procedure mask, and knotting the ear loops of the medical mask so that it fits snugly and then tucking the excess material close to the face, helped reduce exposure to potentially infected aerosols by more than 90%.

In one experiment, an un-knotted medical procedure mask alone blocked 42.0% of particles from a simulated cough, and the cloth mask alone blocked 44.3%.

The double mask combination blocked 92.5% of the cough particles, they reported in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In an #AskReuters Twitter Chat , Dr. Charles Holmes, director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University, recommended wearing the most effective mask on the inside. For example, he said, wear a surgical mask over a KN95 mask, or a cloth mask over a surgical mask.

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman, Mrs Ophelia Mensah, has donated quantities of relief items to victims who were hit by a rainstorm in the Abeadze Kyeakor community.



The items included 200 packets of roofing sheets, 200 bags of rice, 200 pieces of cloth and toiletries for over 150 victims devastated by the rainstorm.



The rainstorm destroyed properties and rendered over 150 people homeless at Abeadze, a farming community in the Mfantseman municipality.



Presentation



Presenting the items, Mrs Mensah said she was informed about the tragedy in the community and quickly mobilised resources in collaboration with the assembly to help the affected persons.



That, she noted, was a testimony of her unflinching commitment to work assiduously to bring more development and relief to her constituents.





She advised persons living in life threatening structures to do the needful and collaborate with designated state agencies to save their lives and property.



The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kenneth Kelly Esuman, who accompanied the MP, asked the beneficiaries to put the items to good use.



He urged them to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.



Beneficiaries



Some beneficiaries who received the items on behalf of the victims thanked the MP for the support and expressed the hope that the items would help alleviate their plight.



While expressing appreciation to the MP for the gesture, Mr Moses Amoah, a victim, called for more support from benevolent organisations and philanthropists to improve on their situation.



We are still appealing to institutions and individuals to support us with more relief. The MP and the assembly have done their best but we still need more relief items, Mr Asamoah said.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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Extraordinary new details have emerged about how police think a missing mother-of-three could have died.

Detectives believe Natarn Auld may have been killed after getting into an industrial bin moments before it was taken away by a rubbish truck.

Ms Auld, 38, who has not been seen since she vanished from her home in Capalaba in Brisbane's south at 3am on December 14, 2020, was reportedly known to rummage through charity bins, the Courier Mail reported.

Her bank account and phone have not been touched and she has not posted to social media since she was last sighted after telling a friend she was going to buy cigarette papers.

Natarn Auld (pictured) has not been seen since she left her home in Brisbane's south in the early hours of December 14, 2020

Police have spent the past two months painstakingly investigating Ms Auld's disappearance, including tracking her mobile phone and trawling through hours of CCTV footage.

Detectives have now managed to track her phone from Capalaba to the Northgate area, about 25kms away, at the same time a garbage truck was collecting rubbish in the morning.

Ms Auld's last confirmed sighting was at 3.30am on December 14 on Redland Bay Rd at Capalaba, where she was captured on CCTV walking alone.

Investigators found her phone remained at the location for the next 40 minutes, before tracking to Brisbane's north.

Despite an extensive investigation, Ms Auld has not been seen on any other CCTV footage afterwards with police believing there is nothing to suggest she had been separated from her phone.

Detectives are reportedly examining whether Ms Auld may have fallen alseep in the rubbish bin.

Ms Auld (pictured) has not been sighted after she told a friend she was going to buy cigarette papers

Police in December released CCTV footage taken at a BP service station at Capalaba at the night before her disappearance

Police in December last year released CCTV footage taken at a BP service station at Capalaba at 11.50pm the night before she went missing, showing Ms Auld checking out at the counter buying a coffee and food.

Detectives and SES volunteers later launched a search of bushland in an industrial area at Nudgee, west of the Gateway Motorway, as police divers scoured the Nudgee Creek - but the search was called off hours later after no sign of Ms Auld.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

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Robyn Burek

Burek is the program manager for Portland Street Response, a new first responder program embedded within Portland Fire & Rescue. She lives in Portland.

On Jan. 11, I stood in front of the newly-formed Portland Street Response team for the first time and asked them if they were ready to make history. Just as Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland Police made history nearly a century and a half ago when they first began serving their community, the Portland Street Response team is ready to do the same.

Except this time, there is a different conversation shaping the formation of this new institution of first responders. Its a conversation centered on inequitable outcomes with regards to racial and social justice, and the result has been the collective outcry from Portlanders for an alternative first responder system.

In 2019, a report by the Portland City Auditor confirmed findings by The Oregonian/Oregonlive that 52% of arrests by Portland Police in 2017, were that of homeless individuals. The statistic was especially startling considering that the homeless population totals just 3% of the citys population and these arrests were primarily related to low-level crimes and misdemeanors. Id be remiss if I didnt also address the fact that homelessness disproportionately impacts the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities who made up 38.1% of the homeless population in 2019 according to Transition Projects. The intersectionality between race and poverty exists, and both have been criminalized for centuries.

Systemically, there are long-term consequences that come with the criminal justice system regardless of the level of offense: an arrest record creates a barrier to gaining employment and housing and thus creates a perpetual, punitive cycle that restricts both the individual and the community at-large from thriving. As our community demands racial justice, its clear that a new first responder system that sends help instead of handcuffs is needed and desired.

While Portland Street Response will not solve homelessness, it does seek to slow the progression of this punitive cycle by ushering individuals towards more appropriate systems of care. We will do so by working to safely de-escalate and address acute mental health, substance use/intoxication, or welfare check calls while out on the street. And if requested or necessary, our two community health workers can connect individuals to more appropriate systems of care that meet basic needs, provide treatment or shelter.

What can you expect from Portland Street Response? You can expect a diverse and multi-disciplinary team, well-versed in complex trauma. The first team is composed of a firefighter paramedic, a licensed clinical social worker and two community health workers who have personal experience with mental health, homelessness, immigration, combat veteran status and generational poverty. Two of the four team members are multilingual and together they speak Spanish, French, Swahili and two African dialects.

Our paramedic and licensed clinical social worker will co-respond to calls solely in the Lents neighborhood during its first pilot year and will be dispatched to calls in which there is no medical emergency, fire, or report of a crime being committed. The Southeast Portland neighborhood extends from roughly SE 72nd to SE 111th and from Clatsop up to parts of Powell and Division. We chose Lents for the pilot because its not saturated with existing resources and services; additionally, the volume of calls in Lents is outpacing the growth of calls across the rest of the city.

You can request Portland Street Response in Lents by calling 911 or the non-emergency line (503-823-3333). For the first six months, its hours will be Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I know the road to get here has been long and many of us are feeling a sense of urgency to get this necessary service up and running. I want you to know that weve been thoughtful throughout this process to ensure that those who will be beneficiaries of our services are listened to as we design this program. Ive appreciated your patience while we took the time to roll this out right: well see you on the street beginning Tuesday.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- As a child, Celeste Kanpurwalas father played Russian roulette with a pistol in front of her mother.

Then in 2014, the day after her 31st birthday, he killed himself with a shotgun.

Despite those experiences, the now-37-year-old Ann Arbor mom never thought about herself as a victim of gun violence until she got more involved in gun safety advocacy. She now wants everyone to realize how pervasive gun violence is.

On Feb. 2, Kanpurwala introduced the Moms Demand Action Gun Violence Survivors Week proclamation during an Ypsilanti City Council meeting in hopes that it will raise awareness and honor the lives stolen by gun violence.

Kanpurwala stated that like herself, many other people arent aware that they are gun violence survivors. During the meeting, even Ypsilanti City Mayor Lois Richardson said that she did not realize it until she read the proclamation.

I had never thought of myself as a gun violence survivor, but in reading your proclamation, it just hit me that I am, said Richardson. And I think that as you said, so many people do realize that when they start hearing, and not necessarily having acknowledged that before or recognized it as such.

Gun safety

Kanpurwala got interested in gun safety advocacy after becoming a mother. She now pushes for regulations she feels will keep her community and the nation safer.

In 2012, she found out that she was pregnant with her eldest son two days prior to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. What started off as an exciting new life journey, quickly fell into what she called a total depression, causing her to question how can I bring a child into this world we live in where first graders are murdered in their classrooms?

As a mother of two boys who would eventually be attending public school, Kanpurwala was afraid for the safety of her children, she said. With constant headlines revolving around mass shootings, Kanpurwala was sick and tired of the ongoing violence and was pushed by her husband to do something about it.

At the end of 2015, she joined Everytown for Gun Safety, which led her to her first Moms Demand Action meeting in Feb. of 2016. It was at that meeting, talking about her experiences, that she began to see herself as a survivor of gun violence with the help of Kristen Moore, the Ann Arbor ambassador for the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action.

At first I was in denial. I thought, How could I be a survivor of gun violence? I thought a survivor of gun violence was somebody who had survived a shooting or had been held at gunpoint, but little did I know that 58 percent of Americans are considered gun violence survivors in some way shape or form, said Kanpurwala. Because basically a gun violence survivor is anybody who has been threatened or shot with a gun. . . or has had somebody stolen from gun violence, or known somebody who has been shot or part of a shooting as well.

Stoneman Douglas shooting

Kanpurwala became an Everytown Survivor Fellow in 2018, right after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, when 17 people were killed and 17 others injured on Valentines Day, Feb. 14. She was on vacation with her family at Disney World at the time of the tragedy. Her mother told her what happened. She remembers researching the incident that day, not being able to sleep as she read the devastating story.

I remember the day after Valentines Day while we were at Disney World, I was calling senators across the U.S. and demanding that they do something about gun violence, Kanpurwala said.

Now, Kanpurwala serves as a senior Everytown fellow and is the Moms Demand Action Local group leader for Washtenaw County. As group leader, she is in charge of coordinating with other leaders in her local group and planning their monthly meetings, which are now virtual as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, she helped orchestrate and spoke at the March For Our Lives event at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, where more than 4,000 people attended.

March For Our Lives in Ann Arbor draws more than 4,000 people

I think that the more people that you have fighting for something, the more likely that fight is going to be won, Kanpurwala said. Not only do we have survivors who are all gathering together, we have people who are just fed up with whats happening with the inaction thats taking place with our legislatures. We feel that we need to push them and if the legislators arent going to vote for gun safety, if they arent going to vote for anti-gun violence, then we will vote them out.

The law couldve helped save my dad

Currently, Moms Demand Action has three initiatives that theyd like to spread across the country. This includes, asking the Biden Administration to initiate background checks on all gun purchases, enforcing a red flag law and putting in place the Violence Against Women Act, something that U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, joined in introducing the bipartisan reauthorization of the act back in 2019.

It brings a personal level to me. Things like a red flag law couldve helped save my dad, by temporarily removing a firearm from someone who is a danger to himself and others, said Kanpurwala. That kind of gives me some amplification to speak to legislators in ways they can help to prevent these types of tragedies.

Kanpurwala stresses she is anti-gun violence, not anti-gun.

Coronavirus brings troubled times for youth, increase in gun violence, other crimes

We believe in the Second Amendment, and we believe that the existence of guns and gun safety do not need to be mutually exclusive, Kanpurwala said.

In 2019, she created her mantra Be bold, be brave. Because if you dont do something, who will? With that, she developed her own blog to help share her story in hopes that it will inspire others to speak up and help destigmatize mental health, suicide and women who have been domestically abused.

I wanna destigmatize so many different things. Trauma, alcoholism, all the things that Ive experienced in my life, Kanpurwala said. I want to show people that you can work through your issues, you can get through it and its ok to talk about.

Read more from the Ann Arbor News:

Michigans Dr. Khaldun picked for national COVID-19 task force

Michigan Democratic Party calls on Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign

U.S. Capitol insurrection was a hoax, Michigan Senate leader says in video
Residents of Yerevan can return to their apartments following a strong quake that hit Armenia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement, News.am reports.

The activity of aftershocks has weakened. Analysis of the existing data shows that the probability of a powerful earthquake is low.

The strong earthquake hit Armenia - particularly Yerevan - on Saturday.

According to Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, no heavy losses have been reported, while only one house has been damaged and one person has been slightly injured in Yerevan.
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Hindsight/Insight offers virtual visitors a taste of the University of New Mexico Art Museum with works ranging from Bruce Conners Funk Art to the sublime modernism of Georgia OKeeffe.

Online and ongoing at artmuseum.unm.edu, the self-guided virtual exhibition includes more than 50 works. The show emphasizes international art movements of the 1960s and 70s, including Pop, Minimalism, Conceptual Art and California Funk. That section features artwork by Robert Arneson, Joan Brown, Bruce Conner, Bridget Riley, Robert Ryman and De Wain Valentine.

In a nod to New Mexico, it also includes modernist works by Rebecca Salsbury James, Raymond Jonson, Georgia OKeeffe, Agnes Pelton, Florence Miller Pierce and Horace Towner Pierce. The exhibition also includes video commentary from the museum staff.

Valentines 72-by-72 inch Circle Blue Rose Flow resin sculpture (1970) is the first piece to greet visitors. Both heavy and fragile, it normally lives in its own custom crate, draped in quilts to protect the edges.

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Its got these beautiful subtle shifts of color, curator Mary Statzer said.

For Valentine, a smooth surface was the whole point of the work and he did not want it to look old

The artist was part of the Los Angeles-based Finish Fetish art group. Including Judy Chicago, it featured a collection of minimalist artists who used highly finished polished surfaces.

Transcendentalist Painting Group founder Jonsons Variations on a Rhythm  T, 1933, inspired a musical composition by University of New Mexico graduate Lauren Coons. An icon allows visitors to hear the piece. Incubated in Taos in 1938, the TPG formed to explore a heightened vision of the American landscape, employing free-wheeling surrealist imagery to depict a transfigured, spiritually alive America.

British artist Bridget Rileys Hidden Squares, 1961, showcases the dizzying work of one of the founders of Op Art. Although her black and white circles and squares appear as crisp geometric perfection, the emulsion on board includes some imperfections, Statzer said.

When you get up on it, you can see pencil lines where she gridded it out. Theres knots in the wood that she painted out.

The piece was a gift from Clovis postman Vernon Nikkel, who bought works from then-emerging artists, Statzer added.

Funk Art painter Bruce Conner swept the streets of San Francisco for found objects to embed in his assemblages. Bay Area artists formed the movement as a reaction against the nonobjectivity of Abstract Expressionism.

It was an irreverent group who didnt follow the rules, Statzer said. It was a counterculture movement inspired by the Beats of the late 50s-60s.

Scratches, brush hairs and even costume jewelry emerge from foothills of paint in Conners Untitled, circa 1957-1961.

As for the New Mexico modernists, Pelton was a visionary symbolist who depicted the spiritual reality she experienced in moments of meditative stillness. Now on view in her first retrospective at New Yorks Whitney Museum of American Art, Pelton first came to visit Mabel Dodge Luhans Taos home in 1919. The UNM exhibition features Peltons The Voice from 1930.

We are lucky enough to have three or four (of her paintings) in our collection, Statzer said. They came from the Raymond Jonson Collection.

OKeeffes White Flowers, 1926, came from her estate.

The UNM Art Museum exhibited her work in the 1960s, Statzer said. It was the first major exhibition of her work in New Mexico.

The virtual show will stream indefinitely, Statzer explained.

There are gems in every section of this show, she said. Were hoping to open fully in the fall, COVID permitting.

Online

Hindsight/Insight is online for a virtual tour at artmuseum.unm.edu
Berlin, Feb 13, 2021 (SPS) - The German channel "Deutsche Welle" highlighted the systematic and illegal plundering of fish by the Moroccan occupation through the occupied port of Dakhla, the far south of Western Sahara.

The famous German channel revealed that Morocco "produces 65 percent of its fish wealth in the occupied port of Dakhla, which is one of the most famous octopus fishing ports in Africa and the world,".

The European channel indicated, "During the summer of 2020 only, more than 4 thousand tons of octopus and 1500 tons of fish (Lasarka) were caught in the occupied city of Dakhla."

It has also mentioned in its report, the legal battle waged by the Frente POLISARIO against the illegal Moroccan plunder of Western Sahara resources, as it filed lawsuits before European courts. SPS

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Royal Fernwood Porcelain manufactures heat insulator for Rakon New Zealand View(s):

Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd, a large-scale manufacturer of high quality white and decorated porcelain tableware, recently manufactured a very delicate and important engineering component  a heater insulator for Rakon Ltd, New Zealand, a global high technology organisation that is in the forefront of enabling connectivity and communications by designing and manufacturing world-leading frequency control solutions.

The heater insulator which was manufactured by Royal Fernwood to precision is said to be used in the temperature chamber, which is capable of handling varying temperatures from -60C (minus 60 degree Celsius) to 120C (120 degree Celsius) and heating is done with three phase electricity. The heater insulator is used for holding heater coils in place that can withstand high heat applications.

With the launch of this heater insulator, Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd transforms its product offering from a mere tableware company to a porcelain base manufacturer of all items. This results in the companys ability to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and expand its product offering to produce any product to precision from porcelain raw materials, the company said in a media release.

As an entity that constantly is looking for fresh opportunities and innovative methods to launch new products, it is with great pleasure that we launch this product in the market, stated Yoshan Fernando  Director/Chief Executive Officer, Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd. Royal Fernwood Porcelain has always been an organisation that has earned respect and credibility amongst customers for being flexible, agile, launching of new products within short lead times and simply achieving milestones that has never been achieved before. Manufacturing and launching of the heat insulator was a great challenge which was translated into an opportunity and achieved successfully. Royal Fernwood will continue its quest for innovation, expanding boundaries and creating products that have never been tried before. With the launch of the heat insulator, we have elevated the brand to the next tier, one which is beyond mere porcelain tableware but are relevant to customers and businesses, Mr Fernando said.

Rakon is a global high technology company and a world leader in its field. The company designs and manufactures advanced frequency control and timing solutions. Its three core markets are Telecommunications, Global Positioning and Space and Defence.

We were trying to source a supplier for heater insulator after our existing partner discontinued the product lines, noted Sarath Dhamgagolla, Project Engineer, Equipment Development Group, Rakon Ltd, New Zealand, adding: We are indeed grateful to Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd, for accepting the challenge, transforming it into an opportunity, manufacturing this essential component at the highest quality and delivering same within the given deadlines. We will no doubt use your expertise for future product developments with similar aspects and look forward to a continuous working partnership.
Hundreds of people have flown to Australia soon after leaving managed isolation, but the Government has no way of knowing if people are abusing the system.

As pressure mounts on New Zealands MIQ facilities, with many people struggling to secure spots, figures obtained by Stuff raised questions about whether some people are using the countrys squeezed facilities as a transit lounge.

The revelation has prompted Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins to ask officials to review what is happening.

Hipkins said he didnt want to restrict peoples ability to travel, but has asked officials to consider the overall process and explore whether the system can be modified so those who leave MIQ quickly for Australia could pay a premium.

If people are staying less than 90 days they are sent an invoice for their MIQ stay.

But with no tracking of their movements, there is no way to know if people have in fact left before 90 days, when they indicated they wouldnt.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced a returnee with Covid-19 who was in an Auckland hospital had died.

The returnee, who had travelled from Zambia, was transferred to North Shore Hospital from a MIQ facility for treatment of a non-Covid related illness on February 5.

While in hospital, the person returned a positive Covid-19 result and died on Friday evening.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfied said the person had spoken to their family every day via zoom or phone.

Global toll

More than 108 million people have been infected by Covid-19 worldwide and more than 2.3 million of them have died as a result, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The United States continues to record the most infections and fatalities - 27.5m cases and 481,379 deaths.

India and Brazil have also recorded high concentrations of cases and deaths - India has reported 10.8m cases and 155,550 deaths, while Brazil has 9.7m cases and 237,489 deaths.

Seven European nations and remote tropical islands are allowing entry for travellers vaccinated for Covid-19, despite health experts urging caution.

The destinations include the Seychelles, Georgia, Estonia, Romania, Iceland, Cyprus and Poland.

What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

New Zealand is at Covid-19 alert level 1.

Masks are mandatory for: people travelling on public transport services in and out of the Auckland region; the drivers of small passenger service vehicles in Auckland, such as taxis and app-based ride services; and people travelling on passenger flights throughout New Zealand.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.

Stuff
Huntsville Hospital's Community Vaccination Clinic in John Hunt Park will be closed Monday due to the threat of wintry weather. All appointments scheduled for Monday will be moved to Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the same time.

The Crestwood Vaccine Clinic also will be closed Monday.

Due to inclement weather, Helen Keller Hospital will be rescheduling the second dose vaccinations that were scheduled for Monday. If you have an appointment for Monday for your second dose, you will receive a call either Sunday or Monday to reschedule your appointment for Wednesday, weather permitting.

Health departments in Colbert, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison Marshall and Morgan counties announced they will close Monday, too.

All departments say they plan to honor the appointments scheduled Monday over the next two weeks.

Decatur Morgan Hospital also will close its vaccine clinic Monday.

According to the Morgan County Health Department, vaccine efficacy is good for 42 days after the first dose. This means rescheduled appointments will not affect the vaccine efficacy in those patients if the new appointment is within two weeks from Monday.

Due to the threat of inclement weather, there has been a scheduling update for this weeks vaccination clinics at both Marshall Medical Center locations.

If you have been scheduled for a vaccination appointment scheduled for this Tuesday (16th) your appointment has been changed to Thursday (18th) at the same time.

If you have an appointment Wednesday (17th) your appointment will now be on Friday (19th) at the same appointment time.

If you have questions or need to cancel your appointment please call 256-571-8000 and be ready to provide your name, appointment time and location.

Were monitoring conditions and alerting you with the most accurate information via the WAAY 31 StormTracker Early Warning Radar Network. In addition to watching WAAY 31 News each morning, afternoon and night, you can access all three of our radars HERE.

You also can download our WAAY 31 Weather App to stay informed. More info HERE

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.
Donald Trump Jr celebrated his fathers acquittal following his impeachment for inciting an insurrection to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election by sharing a photograph of the former presidents face superimposed on Sylvester Stallones body from Rocky III with the words back to back impeachment champ.

When the establishment hates you and wants to prevent you from ever running again you know youre doing something right, Donald Jr said on Twitter following his fathers second impeachment trial.

Eric Trump simply posted 2-0.

Acquitted forever, said adviser Jason Miller.

Donald Trump  who has not ruled out running for office in 2024  promptly declared victory and announced the re-emergence of his nationalist Make America Great Again movement in the wake of the bipartisan majority vote to convict him, falling short of a necessary two-thirds majority vote to find him guilty.

Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun, he said in a statement. In the months ahead I have much to share with you and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people.

In a video, Donald Jr called the proceedings another sham impeachment down the drain and based on bull****.

He also suggested Republicans should do the same thing to Democrats.

In their final arguments, House impeachment managers warned that acquitting the former president would embolden him and his supporters to commit further violence or disrupt democratic processes, with a failure to hold accountable a destabilising force in American politics.

Moments after voting to acquit him, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell  the partys leader in the upper chamber of Congress  issued a blistering assessment of the former president, and signalled that the GOP is prepared to move forward without him. Seven Republicans ultimately joined Democrats in voting to convict Mr Trump, representing the largest bipartisan impeachment vote in US history.

He pinned responsibility for the assault on then-president Trumps disgraceful dereliction of duty and explicitly said that there is no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.

The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, he said. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole.

While his trial has concluded, Mr Trump may face potential legal consequences for his efforts to overturn election results in Georgia, and congressional committees are underway to investigate the attack, including potential witness testimony.

A federal inquiry into the insurrection and pending cases for dozens of his supporters are underway.
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SALEM, Ore.-- Oregon Health Authority gave updates on the current vaccination timeline for eligible residents across the state. As of Saturday, 70 percent of those eligible (phase 1A, educators and elderly over 80 years old) have been administered their first dose of the vaccine.

OHA director Pat Allen said some allocations were redirected this week.

"This week we shifted some of our allocations from educators to certain counties that reported ongoing demand for the remaining people in phase 1A," Allen said.

Three weeks ago, OHA anticipated vaccinating around 59 percent of all educators across Oregon. However, their current status for this group is at 50 percent. Despite the adjustments made, Allen said the state is still on track.

"17 counties across Oregon have requested 100 doses or less to vaccinate the remaining educators, early learning employees and childcare workers,"Allen said.

The federal retail pharmacy program is also in effect this week. This is in collaboration with the federal government, states and retail pharmacies to expand vaccination opportunities.

27 out of 36 counties in Oregon will have participating locations. The participating retailers include Albertsons, Safeway, Costco and Health Mart.

Albertsons/Safeway director of pharmacy operations Stephen Certo said their websites are offering an online tool to schedule appointments. It can be found HERE.

Those without internet access can call their local Albertsons, Safeway, Costco or Health Mart pharmacies to schedule an appointment.

Seniors over the age of 75 will become eligible for the vaccine starting Monday, February 15th.

Currently, Oregon ranks 17th in the nation for total population vaccination.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 20:32:10|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Russia will hold a joint naval exercise in the north Indian Ocean in near future, a senior Iranian military official announced on Sunday.

"Holding this exercise demonstrates the naval power of the (Iranian) armed forces," Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Deputy Iranian Army Coordinator, was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

"Iran's navy is at a high level in terms of equipment, manpower, technique and tactics, commandment and control, communication, and access to new equipment," he said.

"This joint exercise is aimed at establishing security in the north Indian Ocean," he added. Enditem

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Scientists have created a new map that aims to identify the best sources of water on Mars.

Water is considered a critical resource to support future exploration activities on Mars. Scientists believe the Red Planet contains large amounts of water. But searching from Earth for the best supplies is not easy.

The American space agency NASA has worked for years to identify the best spots for such water. Most of the water on Mars exists as ice because of extremely cold temperatures.

A new study describes and provides detailed mapping for the most likely areas to contain water ice. The study appeared recently in Nature Astronomy. It is part of a project called Subsurface Water Ice Mapping, or SWIM.

NASA says the SWIM project combines 20 years of data collected by several of the agencys Mars explorers. Researchers at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, are leading the research, with support from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

Gareth Morgan is a scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and helped lead the research. He said in a statement, The goal of SWIM is to provide maps of potential buried ice deposits to support the selection of human landing sites.

He added that Mars ice is a critical resource that could be used for many things, including providing drinking water for humans, growing plants for food, and producing methane fuel and breathable air. But the most important is to provide fuel for the return trip home to Earth, Morgan said.

Researchers have already experimented with methods that could use water ice on Mars to produce fuel, as well as oxygen.

Richard Davis leads NASAs efforts to find resources on Mars in preparation for sending humans to the Red Planet. He said the identification of water sources on Mars could also help in the search for life, which would likely be found near the water. The next frontier for Mars is for human explorers to get below the surface and look for signs of microbial life, Davis said.

NASA says most scientists and engineers believe the most reachable subsurface ice exists below polar areas of Mars in the northern hemisphere. The new map centered on these areas -- south of the polar area but north of the equator -- because they hold more favorable conditions for humans. Spacecraft landings would also be easier there.

The map identifies two specific areas on Mars where subsurface ice could likely be found. The first sits among plains in an area known as Arcadia Planitia. Scientists believe the area was formed by ancient volcanic flows. The other contains glacier-filled lowlands in an area called Deuteronilus Mensae.

The study identified the areas using five different methods that examined datasets from past Mars explorers. They included NASAs Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Global Surveyor.

The process was not designed to measure water ice directly, Gareth Morgan explained. Instead, it was meant to predict the probability of ice supplies based on observed conditions. He said things such as high levels of hydrogen and high radar-wave speeds can suggest that ice is present. Scientists can also look at the rate at which temperatures change on a surface.

NASA says it plans to use the new research to prepare for discussions with top experts to examine possible human landing areas on Mars.

NASA also recently announced it had signed an agreement with international partners to develop a future robotic Mars mapping mission to search for water-ice. The partnership includes the space agencies of Italy, Canada and Japan.

Additional mapping efforts in the 2020s could help make human missions to Mars possible as early as the 2030s, NASA said. For now, NASA officials plan to keep searching for the best place on Mars to send astronauts so they will have enough local water-ice resources to support their activities.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English, based on reports from NASA, Nature Astronomy and the Planetary Science Institute. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - New Map of Mars Water Ice Can Help Identify Best Landing Spots Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

potential  adj. possible

deposit  n. a layer of a substance that has developed from a natural or chemical process

frontier  n. the limits of what is known or what has been done before in an area of knowledge or activity

subsurface  n. the area below Earth's surface

polar  adj. relating to the north or south pole regions

plain  n. a large area of flat land

glacier  n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land

mission  n. the flight of a spacecraft to perform a certain task or job
New Delhi:

Congress veteran Shankarsinh Vaghela, said to be unhappy with the Congress party, said that he will speak in detail about all the issues that he is facing at 2 PM on Friday. Vaghela has expressed his unhappiness about the proceedings in the party.

On the reports of Congress core committee warning him of action regarding his comments, Vaghela said that let them do it and he will take his own action.

Vaghela said that the Congress has right to stop party workers from joining his gathering on the eve of his birthday. He said it is up to them, they can join and if they dont come then there is no issues.

Vaghela will make an important announcement and share his feelings with his supporters during a mega gathering on his birthday on Friday in Gandhinagar.

Congress veteran had earlier slammed the state Congress over lack of homework for the assembly polls.

On Tuesday, Vaghela had announced that he would hold a mega gathering of his supporters on his 77th birthday (July 21) to share his feelings and give a message.

The gathering, which is scheduled to be held near Gandhinagar Town Hall, is being seen as his attempt to display his political might ahead of the assembly polls.

However, Vaghela has maintained that it was not a show of strength against the Congress leadership.

As the sudden move by him shook the state Congress, several leaders, including former state party president Siddharth Patel and AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil, met him and urged him not to announce his retirement at the event on Friday.

Speculations are also rife that Vaghela has made his mind to part with Congress, if not retirement.

When asked about Vaghelas next possible move, be it retirement or opening a new front by quitting Congress, his son and Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Vaghela said, Wait and watch.

Mahendrasinh, however, asserted that his father, fondly known as Bapu, will not announce retirement.

I know him not just as his son, but also as a Congress worker. Therefore, I can say that Bapu will never announce retirement. He will never leave active politics, Mahendrasinh told.

When asked if his father has made up his mind to quit Congress, Mahendrasinh said, You need to wait till tomorrow.

Vaghela had earlier said that all the 57 Congress MLAs along with two of NCP and one from JD(U) have been invited for the event in Gandhinagar on Friday.

This is not a show of strength. I just wanted to respect the feelings of my supporters, especially those from my constituency Kapadvanj, he had said.

With PTI inputs

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By Kim Bo-eun





Major conglomerates here are in a race to hire qualified professionals for future-growth businesses such as semiconductors, batteries and electronic auto components, as they compete for a bigger slice of their respective markets to secure a dominant position.



Samsung Electronics' device solution division, SK hynix, EV battery maker Samsung SDI and LG Electronics' vehicle component division are currently hiring experienced professionals in these sectors.



Samsung's drive is backed by a pledge its imprisoned leader Lee Jae-yong made earlier for Korea's No. 1 conglomerate to faithfully carry out investments and create jobs. This is part of Samsung's vision to solidify its position as the market leader of memory chips and strengthen its non-memory chip business to become a leader in that sector by 2030.



The remarks also come at a time when competitors are stepping up their game ahead of a forecasted semiconductor super cycle driven by high demand for 5G communication chips, mobile application processors and image sensors. Taiwanese foundry chip maker TSMC has vowed to invest up to $28 billion into advanced processor technologies. SK hynix made a deal last year to acquire Intel's memory chip business for $9 billion.



Market tracker IC Insights forecasts DRAM and NAND flash memory semiconductors to be the two fastest growing chips this year. These are the main products manufactured by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.



SK hynix is recruiting experienced professionals for a wide range of businesses including DRAM and image sensors.



Hiring experienced individuals is also a task for Samsung SDI, as it seeks to accelerate the growth of its EV battery business this year.



Based on the expanding market for EV batteries following strengthened environmental regulations in Europe, the U.S. and China, Samsung SDI is gearing up to achieve record profits this year. It expects its EV battery business to break even in the first quarter.



The new Gen. 5 battery, which will start being supplied in the second half of the year, is set to play a key role in driving the company's earnings in the automotive battery division.



Meanwhile, LG Electronics is speeding up the growth of its auto parts business. This comes after the company unveiled a plan in December to set up an electric car components joint venture with Canadian auto parts company Magna International. LG is also working with Qualcomm to develop 5G automotive platforms.



LG has focused on home appliances and petrochemicals. Auto parts are set to be among LG's future growth businesses, in addition to artificial intelligence and robots.



LG's component-specialized unit LG Innotek is also hiring professionals for its auto parts R&D division.


General Secretary will address a farmers' rally in Chandpur in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, party sources said on Sunday.

As farmers have been protesting on the Delhi borders since November 26 last year to demand the repeal of the three new central farm laws, the has begun to hold block-level meetings to highlight their plight.

state unit President Ajay Kumar Lallu said: "All party leaders have been tasked with highlighting the farmers' demands. We will stand by the protesting farmers till the farm laws are now withdrawn."h

The Congress leader has earlier addressed farmers in Saharanpur district last Wednesday. "When the Congress comes to power again, we will immediately repeal these farm laws. We will also ensure MSPs for all farmers," she had said while addressing a 'Kisan Panchayat' in Chilkhana.

had earlier visited the family of young farmer Navreet Singh who died on January 26 during the tractor rally in Delhi.

--IANS

miz/tsb

(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.)
LONDON - The U.K. announced Sunday that it had reached its goal of giving at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot to the most vulnerable people in the country, increasing pressure on ministers to clarify when they will ease a lockdown imposed in early January.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, visits a PPE manufacturing facility during a visit to the north east of England, in Seaton Delaval, England, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, Pool)

LONDON - The U.K. announced Sunday that it had reached its goal of giving at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot to the most vulnerable people in the country, increasing pressure on ministers to clarify when they will ease a lockdown imposed in early January.

More than 15 million people, or 22% of the U.K. population, have received their first shot. The figure includes most people in the governments top four priority groups, including everyone over 75, frontline healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents. Over 537,000 of them have also received their second dose.

15,000,000! Amazing team,'' Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, said in a tweet that featured a red heart and three syringes. We will not rest till we offer the vaccine to the whole of phase1 the 1-9 categories of the most vulnerable & all over 50s by end April and then all adults.''

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to unveil his roadmap for easing restrictions on Feb. 22 amid signs that infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths have fallen sharply since Englands third national lockdown began on Jan. 4.

This country has achieved an extraordinary feat  administering a total of 15 million jabs into the arms of some of the most vulnerable people in the country,'' Johnson said in a tweet.

Johnson said in England, everyone in the four top priority groups had been offered the vaccine. He plans to release further details on the vaccination effort on Monday.

Jockeying has already begun between those who want the measures lifted as soon as possible and those who fear moving too fast will lead to a resurgence of the virus.

Britain got a head start on its vaccination effort in December, when it became the first country to authorize widespread use of a COVID-19 shot. It ranks behind only Israel, 73%, the Seychelles, 53%, and the United Arab Emirates, 51% in the percentage of people who have received one dose, according to Oxford University. The U.S. is fifth at 15%.

At the same time, coronavirus lockdown rules that have closed schools, restaurants and nonessential shops in the U.K. are starting to pay off. The number of new infections, hospital admissions and deaths recorded over the past seven days have all dropped by more than 20% from the previous week.

When Johnson announced the lockdown, he said the government would review the measures in mid-February based on their success in controlling the pandemic and progress in the vaccination effort. Johnsons first priority is to reopen schools, and he has promised to give schools two weeks notice to give teachers time to prepare.

Britain has reported over 117,000 virus-related deaths, the highest pandemic toll in Europe.

Mark Harper, a lawmaker from the ruling Conservative Party, has warned the government against moving the goalposts for deciding when to ease the lockdown.

Johnson should start by reopening schools, then gradually lift other restrictions as more people are vaccinated, said Harper, who leads a group of about 70 lawmakers who have lobbied the government to consider the negative economic and social impacts of the restrictions along with the health benefits.

Once you have protected people from serious illness and from death, I dont think these draconian restrictions of not being able to meet your family, not see your friends, not see your children, not see your parents, not visit people in care homes, I dont think they are justifiable anymore,'' Harper told Times Radio.

After meeting the target for reaching the most vulnerable, U.K. authorities will progressively expand the vaccination drive to the next five priority groups until everyone over 50 and vulnerable younger people with health conditions that put them at higher risk from the virus have been offered the vaccine.

Public health officials say the top nine priority groups account for 99% of the deaths caused by COVID-19 so far.

While the vaccines currently authorized for use in the U.K. require two doses to ensure full protection against COVID-19, British authorities say one dose provides a significant level of protection.

Because of this, they have made it their priority to give the first dose to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. To do this, Britain is planning to give second doses after three months, instead of one month as recommended by the manufacturers.

Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust health think-tank , said the number of COVID-19 infections in Britain is still too high to think about lifting the restrictions.

Weve made enormous progress  but the transmission is incredibly high still and weve got to get it lower, he said.

There are other dangers on the horizon. U.K. government scientific advisers say the COVID-19 variant now predominant in the country may be up to 70% more deadly than previous variants, underscoring concerns about how mutations may change the characteristics of the disease.

The findings from the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, published Friday on the governments website, builds on preliminary research released Jan. 21. The group, known as NERVTAG, includes experts from universities and public agencies across the U.K.

The new report is based on analysis of a dozen studies that found the so-called Kent variant, named after the county where it was first identified, is likely 30% to 70% more deadly than other variants. The studies compared hospitalization and death rates among people infected with the variant and those infected with other variants.

The results of the analysis are worrisome, said Dr. David Strain, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School and the clinical lead for COVID at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

The higher transmissibility means that people who were previously at low risk of catching COVID (particularly younger fitter females) are now catching it and ending up in hospital,'' Strain said. This is highlighted by the latest figures for hospitalization that now suggest almost 50:50 male to female ratio compared to this being predominantly in men during the first wave.''

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Reconnecting to the Goodness of the Universe: Pythagoreans Celebrate Sunrise

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

When I lived in New York, there were nights when I would go to my buildings roof to look out into the heavens. In the city, the tall buildings and their lights would obscure the night sky and dim the brilliance of its stars.

Amid the citys hustle and bustle, it often felt like we were missing a connection to what was more profound and more essential. It was like we had explained away the universes vastness and mysteriousness.

Of course, this wasnt always the case. Ancients, such as the Greek thinker Pythagoras, placed great importance on the connection that we human beings have with the universe at large.

Pythagoreanism

Many of us know of Pythagoras through the Pythagorean theorem we learned during our primary and secondary education. Various interpretations of the life and principles of Pythagoras constitute Pythagoreanism.

But who was Pythagoras, and why was he so influential?

We believe that Pythagoras lived approximately 2,600 years ago. The Greek did not write anything himself, and what we know about him comes from secondary sources written over 100 years after his death. Because of this, there is very little about him of which we can be certain.

Yet we know that Pythagoras was actually famous for his understanding of the souls immortality, life after death, religious rituals, supernormal abilities, and strict self-discipline. The god Apollo has been associated with him.

For Pythagoreans, moral principles and numerical relationships structured and ordered the universe. Those who investigated the universes moral principles and numerical relationships could access its harmony.

The planets harmoniously moved, and their movement produced sounds according to mathematical ratios. These harmonized sounds were heavenly music, and the harmony of music became a way for the soul to be purified and unify with the heavens.

Pythagoreans also saw the planets as divine instruments of justice, and the sun and moon were seen as where blessed souls would go upon death. Thus, we can assume that Pythagoreans believed that the universe rewarded good and punished evil in relation to how well a person could harmonize with the universes moral principles and understand how its mathematically ordered.

Pythagoreans Celebrate the Sunrise

Pythagoreans Celebrate the Sunrise is a painting by the Russian-born history and genre painter Fyodor Bronnikov (18271902). As the title suggests, the painting depicts a group of Pythagoreans celebrating the sunrise.

In the painting, the Pythagoreans wear light-colored, classical robes. Six of them play musical instruments, and four kneel in reverence to the sunrise. The man who is the focal point stands in front of the others with his arms outstretched as if to welcome the sun.

In the background to the right are four figurestwo women and two childrenwho watch the celebration. In the far background is a temple, presumably the Delphic Temple of Apollo. Apollo was the god of music, harmony, and light.

The main figures situate themselves on an elevated ledge that overlooks Delphi. The sun isnt visible, but its light shines from the left of the composition. The moon is at the top far right of the composition.

Reconnecting With the Moral Mysteries of the Universe

So what wisdom might we extract from this painting for our contemporary lives?

First, to me, the leading figure who welcomes the sun with his arms outstretched represents the deep connection that we can have with the universe, a connection perhaps lost to us.

The figure stands with the bottom quarter of his body set against the earth, while the upper part is against the sky. The positioning of this figure might suggest that he is the mediator betweenthat is, he harmonizesheavenly and earthly things.

Why does the figure welcome the sun? Welcoming anything suggests hospitality and gratitude. Toward what is the figure being hospitable and grateful? In other words, what might the sun represent? For the Pythagoreans, the sun was a heaven to which good people went. Thus, the sun houses all that is good concerning the human heart and mind. But the sun also provides light, warmth, and growth here on earth by giving of itself and asking nothing in return.

Is the goodness that the sun represents a goodness through which the heart and mind give without seeking reward? Is the figure showing hospitality and gratitude toward this type of goodness? Is it this type of goodness that connects us to the greater mysteries of the universe?

Second, I see significance in the figures who play musical instruments. The Pythagoreans believed that music, if it harmonized with the sounds of heaven, could purify our spirits. Like the figure who welcomes the sun, the musicians too are situated between heaven and earth.

Though its unclear if the first Pythagoreans spoke about the arts other than music, generally music was a blanket term for the arts in ancient Greece. According to Monroe Beardsley, author of Aesthetics: From Classical Greece to the Present, Music (mousike)  can mean music, or fine arts in general, or even something like general culture.

Is it the case, then, that the kinds of art that purify human beings and celebrate the heavens are like the sun in that they house all that is good concerning the human heart and mind, and they give of themselves their light, warmth, and growth here on earth without seeking reward?

What would the arts look like today if they embodied such heavenly qualities? What would civilization look like if we reinvigorated an interest in the mystery of goodness itself and the mysteries of the greater universe in relation to ourselves?

The traditional arts often contain spiritual representations and symbols, the meanings of which can be lost to our modern minds. In our series Reaching Within: What Traditional Art Offers the Heart, we interpret visual arts in ways that may be morally insightful for us today. We do not assume to provide absolute answers to questions generations have wrestled with, but hope that our questions will inspire a reflective journey toward becoming more authentic, compassionate, and courageous human beings.

Eric Bess is a practicing representational artist and is a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA).


Sanaa, Feb 14 : More than 80 people were killed due to continued intense armed confrontations between pro-government Yemeni forces and the Houthi militia over the past 24 hours in the country's northeastern oil-rich province of Marib, according to local sources.

An official of Marib's local authority told Xinhua news agency that on Saturday "scores of the Houthi rebels continued in launching a series of armed attacks on the government-controlled sites in Marib's northwestern parts", reports Xinhua news agency.

Units of the pro-government armed forces were engaged in intense armed confrontations with the Houthi attackers and attempted to repulse their offensive against the oil-rich province, the source said.

He explained that the Iran-backed Houthi militia mobilized hundreds of its fighters from other northern provinces in preparation for launching an all-out offensive to seize Marib.

Warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched a number of airstrikes against the Houthi-controlled sites in Marib to support the government forces on-ground, according to the official.

An officer of the pro-government forces told Xinhua that "the Houthis are desperately trying to make progress towards Marib but their attacks were aborted by the government soldiers".

The pro-government forces received reinforcements from the neighbouring Shabwa province and largely participated in repelling the Houthi attacks on Marib, he said anonymously.

Nearly 50 members of the Houthi rebel group and 30 pro-government soldiers were killed during the ongoing armed confrontations over the past 24 hours near Marib, according to local medical sources.

Escalation of fighting between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels has displaced nearly 400 families in Marib.

The Iran-allied Houthi rebels stepped up their military operations and launched an large offensive to seize the oil-rich province of Marib controlled by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.

The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
Australia has suspended its quarantine-free travel arrangement with New Zealand following the detection of COVID-19 in a couple and their daughter in Auckland at the weekend.

After initially saying there would be no change to the travel bubble, Australias Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly convened an urgent meeting late on Sunday with the chief health officers from NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

It was decided at this meeting today that all flights originating in New Zealand will be classified as Red Zone flights for an initial period of 72 hours from 12.01am on 15 February, a statement from the Department of Health reads.

Australias Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, has announced a 72-hour suspension of the New Zealand travel bubble. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

As a result of this, all people arriving on such flights originating within this three-day period will need to go into 14 days of supervised hotel quarantine.
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On the EU's frozen frontier with Belarus, Latvian border guards are fighting a growing flow of contraband cigarettes reportedly benefitting organised crime and a close ally of authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

More than 200 trucks a day cross into European Union member Latvia at the Paternieki border point, some of them stuffed with smuggled cigarettes hidden among other cargo.

"We confiscated 21 million illegal cigarettes from Belarus last year in this border sector alone, which is double the amount for 2019," Taivo Hanzens, deputy head of customs at Paternieki, told AFP at the crossing.

"And the contraband is still on the rise," he added.

Hanzens said that border guards often find cigarettes hidden among bricks and roof tiles, or foodstuffs like pasta, as he showed off piles of seized cigarettes.

To deal with the problem, the checkpoint is expanding and hiring more border guards, customs officers and veterinary officials to double its inspection capacity.

- State involvement? -

Despite the close screening and inspections, cigarettes are priced so low in Belarus and taxed so high in the European Union that contraband remains lucrative, even with millions of them being confiscated every month.

EU border guards seized a total of 370 million illegal cigarettes in 2020, according to the European anti-fraud agency OLAF.

Around a third of them originated from non-EU Eastern Europe such as Belarus, while half came from Asia.

A report by a group of Belarusian and Russian investigative journalists published this month alleged the involvement of the Belarusian state and close associates of President Lukashenko.

Carried out by three outlets -- Warsaw-based TV station Belsat, the Naviny.by news website and Russian investigative website Proekt -- it named Lukashenko ally Alexei Olexin as a beneficiary of the proceeds from cross-border cigarette smuggling.

According to experts, most of the smuggled cigarettes from Belarus come from the state-owned Neman factory.

Story continues

Of the country's two other factories, both privately owned, one belongs to a close Lukashenko ally.

Domestic consumption of cigarettes in Belarus is estimated to account for around a third of the total produced by the three factories, although precise numbers are hard to find as these data are not made public.

Latvian border guards said the contrabandists buy up cigarettes in Belarus in bulk, smuggle them across the border into Latvia, where they are warehoused and shipped on to lucrative markets in western Europe.

In the nearby town of Indra, a recently arrived cargo train waits on the tracks as customs agents search it.

On trains, boxes of the tobacco contraband are sometimes hidden in bulk shipments of wood pulp or coal.

Smugglers are getting technically inventive, too.

They have started using metal claws with remote-controlled electromagnets that hold boxes of tobacco under the rolling stock, Latvian border authorities say.

When the train crosses the border and before it reaches Indra station for inspection, the claws fall off, allowing smugglers waiting in the bushes to retrieve the cigarettes.

Sometimes the officers are quicker and confiscate them.

- Floating rafts of cigarettes -

About 20 kilometres (12 miles) of Latvia's border with Belarus runs along the Daugava river and in the summer smugglers float cigarette boxes into Latvia with makeshift rafts and barrels.

"We have caught many rafts consisting of cigarette boxes, completed with a GPS device, which are then covered with tree branches, trunks, reeds and other natural camouflage, making the whole thing look like the usual floating trash," said Aigars Stelmaks, chief of the border guard station in Piedruja.

When the river is frozen, border guards patrol along the bank in snowmobiles to stop people simply walking over the ice and carrying cigarette boxes into Latvia.

"Snow makes our work easier: if we see footprints in the snow, we can track them," Stelmaks said.

The border official said some smugglers pretend to be fishermen as the river is accessible by the public.

He added: "We suspect that a number of local residents from smaller villages on the Latvian share are participants in the smuggling as well."

il/dt/mas/jj
Lanka bluntly writes off UN Human Rights Chiefs report By Our Political Editor Describes it as speculative, presumptious and unsubstantiated View(s): View(s):

Sri Lanka has hit back at the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelets latest report calling for targeted sanctions, saying it is based on speculative, presumptive and unsubstantiated opinions.

It came in a 30-page response to her report which called for targeted sanctions  asset freezes, travel bans and the reference to International Criminal Court of those responsible for violating human rights and international human rights laws. For this purpose, the UN agency wants governments to use extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction. There is not a semblance of evidence, it asserted.

Ms Bachelets 17-page report has become the basis on which the United Kingdom backed by a core group of countries  Germany, Canada, Montenegro, and North Macedonia  will move a new resolution on Sri Lanka. At the Human Rights Council in Geneva this week, the UK delegation announced that the resolution will be informed by the recent report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to diplomatic sources, most of the observations and recommendations in Human Rights Commissioners report will be incorporated in the new resolution now taking shape. There is also a suggestion that core group members represented diplomatically in Sri Lanka  the UK, Germany, and Canada  are examining elements for a consensus resolution but there were serious doubts that such a move would materialise.

UK High Commissioner Sarah Hulton, Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon and Germany Ambassador Holger Seubert met Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Colombo this week to discuss matters related to the consensus resolution and the new one they propose to move. Also taking part were ministers G.L. Peiris, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage.

On Thursday, the same envoys met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He briefed them on the position taken up by the Government.

See Political Commentary on Pages 14 and 15 for details.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

The sailor assigned to a Virginia-based ship who died of complications tied to the illness caused by the coronavirus this week was a 42-year-old from Hawaii.

Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Marcglenn L. Orcullo, who was assigned to the amphibious assault ship Wasp, died of COVID-19 on Friday, Navy officials said in a statement. Orcullo tested positive for the virus on Jan. 17.

Orcullo was being treated in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital's intensive care unit at the time of his death. He was transferred there two weeks before his death from Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach, where he was first admitted on Jan. 17.

Read Next: Navy Will Make COVID-19 Vaccination Mandatory 'As Soon as We Can:' 3-Star Admiral

Chaplains, counselors and mental health specialists have been made available to Orcullos shipmates on the Wasp, which is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and coworkers of Petty Officer Orcullo during this extremely difficult time, and we ask that their privacy be respected," Navy officials said in a Saturday statement.

Orcullo enlisted in the Navy in July 2010. Before being assigned to the Wasp, Orcullo also served on the Bataan and Nassau. His personal awards include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal, according to career records.

Orcullo is the third U.S. sailor to die of COVID-19 in February.

Chief Quartermaster Herbert Rojas, a 50-year-old staff instructor at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, died of the virus at his off-base residence on Feb. 2. Information Systems Technician (Submarines) Second Class Petty Officer Cody Andrew-Godfredson Myers, a 26-year-old member of the ballistic-missile submarine Tennessee's Blue crew, died of COVID-related complications two days later.

The Navy announced this week that about 5,000 members of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group would receive the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of their upcoming deployment. Multiple ships have been forced to pull into port during the global pandemic due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

The Navy has declined to publicly disclose the number of vessels that have had positive cases among crew members, citing operational security.

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

Related: Sailor Assigned to USS Wasp Dies of COVID-19, 3rd Navy Virus Death This Month
HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2021 ) :The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has claimed some 6,800 lives in Pakistan since 1986 while the number of people infected with HIV positive reached to 190,000 with an increase of 25,000 patients annually. According to the data of the UNAIDS, National AIDS Control Programme and other relevant forums shared at a workshop, no province in Pakistan was immune from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as it had spread to every nook and cranny of the country. Speakers, in the two-day interactive session concluded here other day, said HIV and AIDS were two different immunity disorders but often reported in the media as the same. Dr Saqib Ali Shaikh, the Additional Director, Sindh AIDS Control Program said the objective of organizing such workshop was to sensitize media persons, specially health reporters to reduce stigma and discrimination while reporting HIV and AIDS related news stories and articles. He emphasized the need of using the right words while reporting HIV and AIDS stories so that people living with HIV and AIDS could be saved from any harm and hate. The media should follow ethical principles by respecting the privacy of people living with HIV, who were experiencing trauma as a result of an outbreak, Dr. Shaikh said while participating in the workshop via video link from Karachi.

He stressed that factual and correct data and information must be used in news stories to avoid creating sensationalism.

 UNAIDS Country officer for Pakistan and Afghanistan Dr. Maria Alena Borromeo said the objective of organizing the workshop was to sensitize media persons for using right words while writing news stories and articles with regard to HIV and AIDS incidences. She said after the recent outbreak of HIV cases in Larkana in 2019, the activity had been planned to disseminate basic knowledge among media persons to report such cases with utmost care which could not hurt those who were living with this virus. Dr Maria said the identity of the people infected with HIV and AIDS must be kept secret so that they could be prevented from being sensationalized. Speaking in the workshop here the other day, the Strategic Information Advisor of the United Nations AIDS programme, Dr. Rajwal Khan had said 53,000 women were among the total 190,000 HIV positive cases while more than 25,000 people were being affected with the virus annually in Pakistan. The first case was reported in Pakistan in 1986 when no one had any knowledge about Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Dr. Rajwal said and expressed concern that today the virus was present in every corner of the country.

Karachi, Larkana, Hyderabad in Sindh, and Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sargodha in Punjab were the hot spot areas where the majority of the HIV and AIDS positive cases were being reported in the country, Dr.

Rajwal said, adding that 14,300 people living with HIV were registered in Sindh, of them less than 50% i.e 7,000 were under treatment at Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres.

 He expressed concern that there was an upward trend of emergence of positive HIV cases despite the utilization of funds of billions of rupees.

 He suggested that in order to curb the surge of virus cases, at least 90 percent of people living with HIV must be provided medication on a regular basis.

Waqar Bhatti, the workshop facilitator, said there were 49 anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres in Pakistan for providing treatment facilities to the people living with HIV and AIDS, out of them 27 were working in Punjab, 15 in Sindh, four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Balochistan.

In Sindh, seven ART centres were established in different hospitals of Karachi, three in Larkana district including one at Ratodero, and one each in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Sehwan, Bhatti said.

The JPMC, Civil Hospital (Adult), Civil Hospital (Pediatric), Lyari General Hospital, Agha Khan Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Indus Hospital in Karachi and Chandka Medical College Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Larakana, Taluka Hospital Ratodero, GMC Hospital Sukkur, PMC Hospital Nawabshah, Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas and Abdullah Shah Institute Hospital Sehwan had the anti-retroviral therapy centres where people living with HIV and AIDS were being provided treatment facilities, according to the data shared by the workshop organizers.  Community Support Advisor of UNAIDS Fahmida Khan emphasized the need of the role of media practitioners in thwarting the negative impression about people living with HIV and AIDS by using right words and the terminologies in their news stories.

She suggested some appropriated words that should be used in news stories instead of sensational words often used in the media so that stigma and the discrimination could be avoided.

District Health Officer Hyderabad Dr Juman Bahoto said such programmes always provided an opportunity for the media persons to learn about how to write news stories of sensitive health issues such as HIV, AIDS and other pandemics like COVID-19.

He expressed the hope that media persons of Hyderabad would gain fruitful knowledge and would enrich their professional capabilities.

Dr Juman, Dr Borromeoand HPC President Abdullah Shaikh distributed certificates among the participants.

\778
Evictions have nearly stalled out in New Orleans under a federal moratorium that was recently extended through March. But across the parish line in Metairie last week, Chuck Cusimanos courtroom was humming with activity.

Stressed tenants, fed-up landlords and their attorneys filled the 5th Justice Court in an Elmwood office building Tuesday morning, with more lined up down the hallway, waiting for hearings.

From the bench, Cusimano handed his mobile phone around a plexiglass barrier to a clerk, who extended it to James Rather, an attorney for 1st Lake Properties, which runs several local apartment complexes. Rather began grilling the man on the phone line, who said he was quarantined in Texas after being exposed to COVID-19.

The man's sister stood pensively facing Cusimano in the courtroom. She would soon leave it trembling. The siblings had signed a lease together on an apartment in the Bella Ridge apartments in Elmwood, but the rent was two months late and now her brother was on speakerphone admitting he hadnt applied for housing aid.

He'd claimed in a sworn declaration to be making "best efforts" to find government aid, which is required to qualify under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control moratorium.

Cusimano said he'd been a little more liberal in the past on such declarations but reevaluated the rules after the moratorium was extended again, to March 31. Those rules say everyone on the lease needs to qualify to stay in a rental under the eviction freeze.

He doesnt meet the criteria. The eviction is granted. You have to be out by tomorrow at midnight, Cusimano told both siblings. Im not going to be doing it like they do at the border and splitting families.

A howl shot through the speakerphone: There is COVID going on right now! Are you serious?! Oh my god!

One of eight justices of the peace in Jefferson Parish, Cusimano rules on evictions over an area that includes the largest share of apartment complexes in the parish. The former district judge is now taking a far stricter approach toward those tenant claims than his counterparts in New Orleans, say attorneys for both landlords and tenants.

That means fewer delays and more evictions. Cusimano is now ordering about 100 to 150 of them each month, said the courts constable, Allen Leone Jr.

Thats still less than half of the volume from before the pandemic, Leone said, and nets about two dozen monthly writs of execution, calling him in to toss out a tenant.

By comparison, constables of the two city courts in New Orleans reported only a smattering of eviction orders on both sides of the Mississippi River of late.

We had one eviction the other day, it was a walkthrough. Tenant moved. Maybe two weeks ago we had another one. All evictions have been shut down, said Lambert Boissiere Jr., the constable for the citys east bank.

In Algiers, where Judge E. "Teena" Anderson-Trahan presides over the eviction docket, there were five such warrants issued in the first 10 days of this month, said Constable Edwin Shorty Jr.

A review of records in those five cases shows one in which severe damage to an apartment was alleged; another claiming a tenant was a squatter; and three cases in which tenants of the Oakmont complex had not offered up a CDC declaration form, according to the owner.

Tenant advocates and landlord attorneys alike note a stark contrast in how eviction filings are handled from parish to parish, as judges or justices of the peace grapple with how much slack to grant tenants who may be clinging to their homes.

Right now in Orleans, as far as non-payment of rent cases are concerned, theyre not even hearing evictions, said Christoph Bajewski, an attorney who represents large apartment-complex owners in New Orleans and elsewhere. When, for a time, they did hear such cases, very few of those were won by landlords, he added. You would have to have some phenomenal proof of lying.

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The CDC directive grants relief to those making under $99,000 who declare they cant pay full rent due to a substantial loss of income, are trying to make partial payments and would become homeless or forced into crowded quarters if evicted.

Theres no declaration police. If the tenant walks in and are told about the declaration, theyve presented it and they sign it and give it to the court, it comes to a screeching halt, said Austin Badon, clerk of 1st City Court in New Orleans. If its non-payment of rent, theyre not putting people out.

Data from Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, which monitors New Orleans eviction hearings, found tenants evicted in about a third of the 726 hearings the group's members viewed since the CDC moratorium began. Before the pandemic, nearly two-thirds of filings ended in eviction.

Another third of the cases have been continued to a later date  a rarity before the pandemic. The advocacy groups data show 141 New Orleans households have been evicted over unpaid rent since the CDC moratorium went into effect last fall, nearly all of them default evictions where the tenant didnt show up to court.

Another 47 were evicted over lease violations and 49 over lease expirations, said program director Breonne DeDecker.

Bajewski, the landlords attorney, noted that landlords can still evict tenants paying month-to-month after their leases expired. The Biden stimulus plan, however, figures to include a further extension of a moratorium with explicit protections for those on expired leases who can't pay full rent.

Alexis Erkert, a staff attorney with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, which provides free attorneys in eviction courts in the region, said evictions can hinge on whether a tenant has heard of the CDC declaration -- and that can depend on the court.

A few judges hand the declarations to tenants they consider to be qualified, she said. Others erect obstacles; one judge in St. Charles Parish requires tenants to have their declarations notarized.

Its not even parish by parish. Even judge by judge, they have different standards that theyre going to hold either a landlord or a tenant to, to prove the veracity of the declaration, she said.

Advocates note that justices of the peace such as Cusimano receive a cut of eviction filing fees, and thus have an incentive to keep the docket moving.

From the bench, Cusimano insisted that "the least a person in front of me can do is be honest on the affidavit."

He allowed leeway on other eviction petitions, however, stopping Rather, the landlords' attorney, as he peppered one tenant over whether she'd applied to each and every rental-aid program around.

Cusimano expressed frustration at the lack of clear answers under the CDC's rules. From the bench, he pleaded with attorneys for both sides to appeal his rulings.

The way this act is written, its terrible, he said. There were some good intentions in this act. Just give me clarity...I've begged you guys to take anything up (on appeal) that sounds ridiculous."

Though he ordered the siblings evicted from the Elmwood apartment, Cusimano granted them until next week to get out -- time enough for the brother to clear quarantine.

He'd found something of a tenant-friendly loophole, saying, I dont think you can put someone out who has COVID."
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If you enjoyed the performance of Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri) on The Sopranos, chances are youll enjoy stories of Sirico the man. For some of Siricos former co-stars, its still unclear exactly where Sirico ends and Paulie Walnuts begins.

Thats come out in the Talking Sopranos podcast hosted by Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Baccalieri). Since the podcast launched in April 20, Imperioli and Schirripa have regaled listeners with epic Sirico stories.

On one occasion, Imperioli told a tale story Sirico himself would tell about giving Jimi Hendrix a wedgie. Then there was the time Sirico thought terrorists were coming after him during the anthrax scare of the early 00s.

But that merely scratches the surface of this real-life character. If Sirico spraying Binaca into co-stars mouths doesnt crack you up, perhaps a story about him looking for a lost gold mine will.

Sopranos star Tony Sirico searched for the mythical Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in Arizona

Vincent Pastore (left) and Tony Sirico converse at the premiere of Made at Village East Cinemas. | Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

RELATED: The Godfather II Actor Who Mentored Tony Sirico in His Early Days as an Actor

If you dont know about the legend of the Dutchmans lost gold mine, it begins in Arizonas Superstition Mountains. Thats where the prospector Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant, claimed to have found a gold mine in the late 19th century.

On his deathbed, Waltz gave details of the mine to an innkeeper, but no ones ever found it. Yet that hasnt stopped generation of prospectors from taking their best shot. As you might expect, the least fortunate of the bunch never returned alive after searching for the Dutchmans gold.

As recently as 2011, The Arizona Republic reported on the remains of three treasure hunters found in the Superstition Mountains. Yet these tales did not scare off the man who portrayed Paulie Walnuts.

According to Imperioli, Sirico headed out in search of the lost gold at some point earlier in the 21st century. When [Siricos brother] Carmine moved out to Arizona, Tony and Carmine went looking for the Dutchmans gold, Imperioli said on Talking Sopranos.

Siricos expedition was evidently not successful

Tony Sirico during a Sex and the City premiere at Lincoln Square Theatre | Jim Spellman/WireImage

As Imperioli continued with the story, he revealed that the Sirico brothers did not find the Dutchmans gold. But all was not lost. To Imperioli, the entire episode had the makings of a cinematic adventure.

This may be worthy of a movie, Imperioli told Schirripa on Talking Sopranos. What, just because its Tony with the wings [in his hair] out in the desert? Schirripa wondered. Did he have a gu*nea t-shirt with a miners hat on? I wonder if his helmet had the wings on it.

Sadly, no one can say whether Siricos miners hat had wings on it. Likewise, no one knows exactly how long Sirico and his brother actually searched for the Dutchmans gold. However, their safe return makes the journey more successful than many who went before them.

SANYA, China  The call to prayer still echoes through the alleys of Sanyas nearly 1,000-year-old Muslim neighborhood, where crescent-topped minarets rise above the rooftops. The governments crackdown on the tiny, deeply pious community in this southern Chinese city has been subtle.

Signs on shops and homes that read Allahu akbar  God is greatest in Arabic  have been covered with foot-wide stickers promoting the China Dream, a nationalistic official slogan. The Chinese characters for halal, meaning permissible under Islam, have been removed from restaurant signs and menus. The authorities have closed two Islamic schools and have twice tried to bar female students from wearing head scarves.

The Utsuls, a community of no more than 10,000 Muslims in Sanya, are among the latest to emerge as targets of the Chinese Communist Partys campaign against foreign influence and religions. Their troubles show how Beijing is working to erode the religious identity of even its smallest Muslim minorities, in a push for a unified Chinese culture with the Han ethnic majority at its core.

The new restrictions in Sanya, a city on the resort island of Hainan, mark a reversal in government policy. Until several years ago, officials supported the Utsuls Islamic identity and their ties with Muslim countries, according to local religious leaders and residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid government retaliation.
If California is lucky, our energy future could look like a small town in the rural Salinas Valley.

Longtime readers of this column will not be surprised to learn that the town in question is Gonzales, the California municipal version of the Little Engine That Could. Its small, working-class population of just 9,000, many of them farmworkers, has ingeniously solved tricky local government problems, from universal broadband to health care access, and from economic planning to child development.

Now Gonzales is tackling one of our states most stubborn challenges: how to develop local sources of cleaner, cheaper and more reliable power as our states aging energy grid falters.

Tiny Gonzales solution? Creating the largest multi-customer microgrid in California. In essence, Gonzales is building its own electricity island among the vegetable fields of the Central Coast to guarantee uninterrupted power, from mostly renewable sources, for the agricultural and industrial businesses that provide the tax base to support its ambitious local programs.

The idea of microgrids  local power grids that can be separate or connected to the larger grid  is not new. In California, they are seen as tools to make electricity service more resilient and to better integrate renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, with the power grid. But efforts to establish microgrids face complex obstacles, from scarce financing, to regulatory barriers that prevent utility customers from sharing power across different grids, to opposition from established utilities. What distinguishes Gonzales is how the town is bringing together different entities  a savvy start-up applying advanced technology and financing power to microgrids, big energy customers in agriculture and food processing, a new municipal energy authority, and a method for selling power capacity back into the state grid  to surmount those obstacles.

The effort is actually bigger than the town. The $70 million microgrid is the most expensive public works project in the citys history, dwarfing a $5 million revamping of its Alta Street thoroughfare. But if the microgrid succeeds  its scheduled to start producing power next year  Gonzales could provide a model for other California communities, especially those in rural or outlying areas poorly served by the existing grid.

People want to see if we can pull it off, says Rene Mendez, Gonzaless longtime city manager. We dont agree with the idea that just because youre small, you cant do something like this.

The problems that drove Gonzales to build a microgrid are familiar across California. The poor reliability of our current grid poses serious problems for companies that depend on steady power sources to operate advanced technology  like the refrigeration and processing machines of the food producers in the Gonzales Agricultural Industrial Park.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the investor-owned utility servicing Gonzales and much of Northern and Central California, is so far behind in maintaining the existing grid that many communities, especially in remote places, cant get the upgrades to the equipment needed to reliably deliver additional power. Gonzales city documents indicate that it could take up to three years for PG&E to update the local energy infrastructure to offer service to any new ag and industrial facilities that might move to town.

And PG&Es use of regional power shutoffs to prevent fires has made finding local power sources that wont shut down even more urgent. During one 2019 shut-off, Gonzales lost power for two days, resulting in multimillion-dollar losses for local employers. This month, a PG&E lawyer said that these intentional outages will continue indefinitely.

Officials spent a decade trying in vain to convince PG&E to upgrade its infrastructure around Gonzales before the city started working on a 2017 plan to produce local electricity with ZeroCity, a Monterey-area company that works with municipalities on energy resiliency, and OurEnergy, a Santa Cruz technical and engineering consultancy. Recognizing that its existing municipal utility couldnt afford to finance a microgrid by itself, in 2018 Gonzales formed a municipal energy authority that could enlist private financing and overcome some regulatory blocks.

Last fall, Gonzales agreed to work with Salinas-based microgrid developer Concentric Power to design, build, own, operate and maintain the new microgrid. Concentric will also fund most of the projects $70 million price tag, earning back its money over 30 years by selling power on a wholesale basis to the citys new utility. The new Gonzales Electric Authority will contribute about $10 million, and take ownership of the distribution assets. The municipal utility will sell the power  at retail rates lower than PG&Es.

About 80% of the power will come from renewables and about 20% from natural gas (which could eventually come from a renewable gas facility the city is also pursuing). The microgrid includes a substation that will allow the sale of excess capacity into the state system, or to Central Coast Community Energy, which serves residential customers in Gonzales.

Effectively, Gonzales is betting that its new microgrid wont just keep existing food processors in town, but also will make it easier to attract other companies, strengthening the tax base that supports its civic innovation. Additionally, the microgrid should supplement the two giant wind turbines that tower above Gonzales, local landmarks that already serve local food processors. A third turbine might be in the offing.

This is a community scale microgrid business model that hasnt existed in the past, says Salinas native Brian Curtis, founder and CEO of Concentric Power, which is already working on microgrid projects in the Central Valley and elsewhere in the Central Coast. Its going to be a watershed project for the state.

Should the Gonzales microgrid begin and successfully serve customers, it will be a powerful example of local power, especially for rural communities trying to protect or grow industry. Most microgrids serve a single customer or landowner, or are owned by utilities themselves.

In recent years, California has funded microgrid pilots  from the Blue Lake Rancheria tribal land in the far north to Borrego Springs in northern San Diego County  but it has struggled with the complicated task of creating a regulatory structure that would incentivize localities to produce more microgrids. One especially difficult issue is how to create a system of microgrid tariffs to govern how costs and benefits of different grids are shared.

By building its own microgrid, Gonzales is refusing to wait for the rest of California to get its act together. In so doing, one of our states smallest towns is, once again, setting a very big example.

Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  The Albuquerque Police Department has released the names of victims and additional details in multiple homicides.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said one has been deemed justified and another death has been deemed a homicide.

There have been 19 homicides this year and three reported arrests. By this time last year, there had been 10 homicides.

Gallegos said the Feb. 2 death of Ruben Parra, 39, in a Southeast Albuquerque neighborhood is being looked at as a self-defense shooting.

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Police detained the shooter at the scene, a few blocks from Central and Southern SE.

It is not being considered a homicide for reporting purposes, pending further investigation, Gallegos said Saturday.

Gallegos said the Feb. 8 death of Selena Belin, 22, in Northeast Albuquerque is now being investigated as a homicide.

He said Belins death occurred near Osuna and San Pedro NE but gave no other details.

In the update, Gallegos also identified David Gracia-Dominguez, 42, Mario Delgado Jr., 47, and Theodore Smith, 61, as three victims who had not been named before .

On Jan. 18 around 6:30 a.m., police responding to a gunshot detection device found Gracia-Dominguez dead in the area of Rhode Island and Chico NE.

More recently, on Wednesday night, police responding to reports of a deceased person found Delgado Jr. with trauma in his home near Wyoming and Zuni SE.

The next morning, police responded to a home near San Pedro and San Francisco NE after a man found his brother, Smith, unconscious on the floor.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, where police found very suspicious circumstances.
Burma Myanmar Military Junta Suspends Laws Protecting Citizens Privacy to Crack Down on Opposition

Riot police in Yangon on Feb. 6 as anti-coup protests mounted. / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  Amid late-night arrests of anti-coup protesters across Myanmar, the military regime has suspended laws to allow the authorities to arrest citizens and search private properties without a warrant.

The move puts the country back under complete military rule and spreads fears that anyone can be detained for more than 24 hours without a courts approval.

On Wednesday, the regime suspended the articles from the Privacy Law enacted by the National League for Democracy administration to prevent citizens targeting each other with lawsuits and to protect privacy and security.

The authorities are now allowed to enter into private properties to search, seize evidence and arrest without a warrant.

Private messages can be intercepted and the authorities can demand personal telephonic and electronic communications data from telecoms providers. The military regime also suspended the requirement for a court to approve the seizure and destruction of possessions and property.

The authorities can now open, search, seize or destroy private correspondence, which was previously prevented by the Privacy Law.

The regime has also reinstated provisions (only some provisions) from the 2012 Ward or Village Tract Administration Law which requires citizens to report overnight guests to the authorities.

The legislation was amended in September 2016 despite opposition from military-appointed lawmakers who said it provided key data on peoples location.

Human rights activist U Aung Myo Min told The Irrawaddy that the suspension of the Privacy Law and the return of guest registration targeted anti-coup protesters. He said the regime had authorized itself to arrest anyone at any time.

He added that arrests and house searches without the presence of ward administers or a warrant would lead to human rights abuses.

Lack of witnesses could lead to beatings and arbitrary confiscation of property at the time of arrest. Moreover, mandatory guest registration harms freedom of movement. The authorities can confiscate and seize citizens private property at any time, he added.

Human rights abuses will increase, he said.

Since last week, the security forces have stepped up late-night arrests of civil servants, doctors, activists and politicians who are participating in anti-coup protests. Residents have been reacting with defiance as the authorities try to arrest their neighbors. Pots and pans are used to alert residents and police vehicles have been surrounded to prevent arrests. Citizens have asked to see arrest warrants.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said on Feb. 12 that 384 people, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and prominent activists, have been arrested since the Feb. 1 coup.

On Saturday, the military also issued arrest warrants for seven people, including veteran democratic activists and leaders of the 1988 uprising, U Min Ko Naing and Kyaw Min Yu, also known as Ko Jimmy, accusing them of undermining peace and order.

Despite a ban on gatherings and threats of a crackdown, a ninth day of anti-coup protests are being held across the country.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmars Coup Leaders Name a New Union Election Commission

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Myanmar Coup Means Huge Losses for Thailands Border Trade
Rev. James Bowers, 60, of Shamokin, is pastor of The Ministry of Water and Spirit Church, in Shamokin and Ashland. He runs Gods Chuckwagon, a mobile soup kitchen that serves Schuylkill and Northumberland counties. At age 6, he was sent to a private school for veterans children, Scotland School and was there until age 17, when he joined the Marines. After he got out of the Marines, he lived in Johnstown. He has a five-acre piece of land in West Virginia that he is turning into a camp for the less fortunate.



Q: How did Gods Chuckwagon get started?

A: We started after Hurricane Sandy. The local soup kitchen got flooded out and my wife, Janet, called me and said People are hungry. What can we do? So I called the police and was given permission to serve.

Q: How long does it take to cook the meals you give out?

A: We start at 10 a.m. and it is just finishing up at 2:30 p.m. when we load it on the bus and leave to serve.

Q: What is the nicest thing anyone has said to you at the soup kitchen?

A: Thanking us because they have gone days without eating.

Q: How do you acquire the food for the meals?

A: People donate either food or money to us.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: The smiles on the peoples faces because they have a hot meal.

Q: What is the biggest challenge of preparing the food on a bus?

A: The size of the bus. It works but sometimes wish it was bigger.

Q: What is one thing about you that might surprise people?

A: I was once homeless

Q: What is your favorite time of year and why?

A: Easter because it reminds me of how God sent His Son to forgive me of my sins even though I am not worthy.

Q: Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they?

A: No. I guess serving others is it.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: Martin Lurther King because I wish I could be more like him.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot and why?

A: We have a camp in West Virginia. Its just relaxing.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: Helping others and serving the Lord.

Q: If you could change one thing about this area  anything  what would it be?

A: Getting people to realize their worth and that all is not loss.
on Sunday formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries.

Japan's health ministry said it had approved the vaccine developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc.

The announcement comes after a government panel on Friday confirmed that final results of clinical testing done in showed that the vaccine had a similar efficacy as shown in earlier tests overseas.

(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.)
Of all the footage that played in the video-intensive impeachment of the screen-addicted president, the clip that truly mattered was the one in which a group of rioters, ransacking the Senate chamber on Jan. 6, finds a document in Sen. Ted Cruzs desk about his objection to the electoral college certification. At first they are furious, until one of them explains that the objection means that, like them, Cruz is fighting against the election result. Hes with us, hes with us, this one rioter tells the other rioters.

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That rioter was more honest, and more accurate, than the Democratic impeachment managers were when they made a point of telling the Senate that Donald Trump was singularly, egregiously responsible for the attack on the Capitoleven as clip after clip of their video evidence showed the opposite. Trumps incitement of the mob was singularly Trumpian in its mood and execution, but it was also the culmination of years of Republican politics built on raw power and cooked-up grievance.

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The managers had to pretend Cruz and McConnell and the other Republicans were not complicit in Trumps abuses, because their goal was to get 17 Republican senators to join the Democrats in convicting him. At trials end, only seven of the 50 members of the minority conference took the managers up on it. The rest of the Republicans didnt care what rhetorical gestures the impeachment managers had made toward separating them from their president, for the sake of granting them independence from the president and his mob. They chose to stay bound to him. They are the mob.

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To prosecute the impeachment trial required the House managers to ignore the obvious, telling a story of Trumps guilt that overlooked their jurors role in the same misdeeds. Had the president, in the months-long violent buildup to the attack on the certification, celebrated his supporters attack on a Biden campaign bus? Yes, but so had Sen. Marco Rubio. Did the president pressure Georgia officials to make up reasons to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the state? Yes, but so did Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Still, the distance between the insurrectionists and the people judging the insurrection kept collapsing. If the costumed bozo in the face paint and furry helmet was no longer shouting in the Senate chamber, there was still Sen. Mike Lee, repeatedly breaking into the proceedings to yell his objections when the managers mentioned the story of how Trump had called Lees phone, mid-riot, to keep lobbying senators to block the certification. The story was false, Lee said, though he never specified how, let alone volunteered to testify under oath.

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The Trump-loyal Republican senators spent the trial looking for the tiniest space to hide, and the presidents defense team spent their time inventing that space for them.

The Trump-loyal Republican senators spent the trial looking for the tiniest space to hide, and the presidents defense team spent their time inventing that space for them. Perhaps the House had defeated its cause by lumping all of the presidents various attacks on the election under the single charge of incitement. Or maybe the whole case had to fall because, in between the time when he was summoning the crowd to Washington for the day of the electoral college certification to stop the steal, and the time he was reportedly taunting House minority leader Kevin McCarthy that the people breaking his windows are more upset about the election than you are, Donald Trump did once utter the word peaceful.

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Every senator had seen what happened Jan. 6 firsthand. A mob had in fact stormed the Capitol, leaving blood and corpses in its wake, its members quoting Trumps tweets and waving Trump flags and shouting that they were fighting for Trump. The senators also all knew why it had happenedthe mob, like many of them, was trying to stop the certification of Trumps election defeat. There was no set of facts that could possibly have exonerated Trump. Yet there was no set of facts that could possibly have gotten 67 votes to convict him.

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So led by Mitch McConnellwho said afterward that Trump was practically and morally responsible for the attackthe Republicans chose to pretend that they had no power to do anything. Rubio, whod called the violence around Trump rallies frightening, grotesque, and disturbing during the 2016 primary campaign, cast the 34th vote to acquit, sealing the result. In regretful tones, when it was over, McConnell repeated the same message hed issued in a statement in the morning, preempting the closing arguments, that he read the Constitution to mean that impeachment could only apply to current officeholders.

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Apparently if the coup had succeeded, and Trump had held onto office through mob violence, then he could have been impeached for it. But since the attempt failed, there was no way to stop him from trying it in the future, if he runs in the future.

Yet againone more time, if not one last timethe Trump presidency had demonstrated that the United States Constitution is a failure. Its fundamental mechanisms do not work. A president may not be investigated, if he refuses a congressional subpoena. A president may take bribes and misappropriate funds, if he does it all in the open. Five dead bodies and a Congress put to flight are not enough to convict and disqualify a president from seeking power again, if that presidents party wants to protect him.

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At the beginning of Saturdays proceedings, Senate chaplain Barry Black cited the courage of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman and asked God to give the senators the same sort of courage, to move them to believe that the end does not justify the means. At the end, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, told the Senate, This trial is about who we are.

If any doubt had been left, the Senate established what we are, or what this government is. Donald Trump is still in command of one major political party and free to run for president again, in hopes that the next election might be closer, or that his next mob might bring more guns. Immediately after the trial ended, the Louisiana Republican Party voted to censure Sen. Bill Cassidy, who had been one of the seven Republicans to find Trump guilty. To oppose the coup was to oppose the party.
Posted Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:16 pm

Lawmakers are again attempting to limit lead in Washington schools' drinking water by requiring school districts to fix or replace fixtures that leach the toxin.

This is the third year in a row that state Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, has introduced a measure aimed at curbing children's exposure to lead.

In 2019, legislators never held a hearing. Last session, the bill seemed poised to pass after receiving unanimous support in the House, but there was a deadlock in the Senate after schools pushed back, saying it amounted to an unfunded mandate.

This year's measure, which is sponsored by 21 Democratic lawmakers but no Republicans, is similar to its predecessors. House Bill 1139 would direct public and private schools to test all water outlets  including drinking fountains, but also bathroom sinks and those used to prepare lunch  in schools built before 2016. Schools would need to test again every five years. And schools would also be on the hook to post test results on a public website  and fix outlets with high lead levels.

"What's vitally important is that we have, for the first time ever, a health-based standard for what is acceptable in school water," said Pollet, who teaches at the University of Washington School of Public Health. "It's just morally reprehensible to say we don't want to take action on this."

Pollet said last year's debate was marred by misperceptions about how schools would afford testing and repairs.

The legislation tasks the state Department of Health (DOH) with conducting the tests; schools can also contract with private testing companies, but this is often much more expensive. If districts find a water source that needs repairs, district officials would be responsible for requesting a grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to pay for it. In its budget request, OSPI requested $3 million over two years for such repairs.

Lead is often found in old paint and pipes. In schools, lead can leach from brass valves and fixtures inside drinking fountains and sinks, said Molly Codding, a master's of public health student at the UW who worked on the bill.

No amount of lead exposure is safe. Lead is poisonous for everyone, but it is particularly dangerous for young children whose brains are still developing. The toxin can cause an array of problems, such as damage to the nervous system and permanent cognitive or growth delays.

Washington doesn't require schools to test drinking water, but many do anyway. Voluntary testing among nearly 200 of the state's elementary schools has shown that 97% of schools had at least one faucet with a lead concentration of over one part per billion, the recommended threshold for safe drinking water according to The American Academy of Pediatrics.

The new legislation's standards are weaker than that recommended by the medical professionals: Under the proposal, taps would have to be fixed or replaced if they exceed 5 parts per billion. This standard is the same as that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's for bottled water.

In an updated analysis of DOH data conducted by Codding and her colleagues, which includes 551 Washington elementary schools tested from 2017 to 2020, 82% had at least one outlet above the legislation's threshold.

Some schools tested faucets that registered at levels hundreds of times the legislation's proposed rate. For example, Neah Bay Elementary in Clallam County logged at least one faucet with a concentration of 1,780 parts per billion. Elementary schools in Auburn and Northshore school districts also were among the schools with the highest lead levels.

It's unlikely that water is already contaminated when it flows into school buildings, Codding said. Instead, lead usually comes from individual school sinks or fountains fitted with old or decrepit fixtures. In her analysis, Codding found that 17% of water sources in Washington elementaries had elevated concentrations, suggesting that only a handful of faucets would need to be replaced. Such repairs average $3,271 per school building, state estimates show, or roughly $375 per faucet.

Codding's findings highlight the importance of testing all sources of water on school grounds, not a subset or just those used to drink from or to fill water bottles.

"We want to know if the water used to boil your spaghetti, does that have lead in it?" Codding said.

The measure was heard by the House Committee on Education on Jan. 26 and passed out of committee on Feb. 11.

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Over the past 20 years, after finishing work Mau Van Phi usually drives his old motorbike to offer medical check-ups and treatment to impoverished people, mostly of the Raglai ethnicity, in Khanh Vinh District in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Doctor Mau Van Phi measures blood pressure for 95-year-old Cao Thi Linh who resides in Lien Sang Commune in Khanh Hoa Provinces Khanh Vinh District.  VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Van

He often carries two big bags. One is filled with medicine to cure common ailments such as headaches, while the other contains basic tools for medical examination including a stethoscope, blood pressure monitor and scissors.

Although Phi is now Secretary of Khanh Vinh Districts Party Committee, he still spends his free time helping others.

Cao Thi Xi Tin, a resident of Lien Sang Commune, said her husband had suffered a stroke while she often faced pneumonia.

Despite having health insurance cards they dont want to go to the hospital for treatment as there is no one else to take care of their house, crops and grandchildren. They have been treated by Phi for about four years now.

Thanks to doctor Phi, who regularly visits, my husband's and my health is getting better. My husband now can walk, Tin said.

Ninety-five-year-old Cao Thi Linh is another of his patients.

Though she has suffered from heart disease for many years, she doesnt want to be hospitalised.

Cao Thi Sau, Linhs daughter, said she was grateful to doctor Phi who has treated her mother for a long time, adding that he also gave her medicine free of charge.

Every time she has a fever or feels tired, I call him.

Doctor Phi also tells us to go to see the doctor when we are sick and not to believe in superstitions, Sau said.

Khanh Vinh District is home to 15 ethnic minority groups and the Raglai people account for 48 of the population.

Seeing the tough living conditions in the area, Phi decided to do something to help local residents and studied hard to become a doctor.

He was an excellent pupil during his 12 years of education and his efforts paid off when he passed the entrance exams to the Central Highlands Medical University.

In 1997, after graduating, Phi was assigned to work at Khanh Vinh Districts health centre, becoming the districts first Raglai doctor.

Six years later, he was appointed as deputy director of the centre. Then he was elected as vice-chairman of the districts Peoples Committee in 2005 and deputy secretary and secretary of districts Party Committee in September and October last year.

Despite his political commitments, Phi always uses his spare time to treat poor people who are ill. His patients mainly suffer from malnutrition, diarrhoea, respiratory diseases and chronic conditions.

Offering check-ups after Ive finished my office work has become a habit and I have a strong desire to do the work, Phi said.

He said he wanted every citizen to be healthy and equipped with medical knowledge to take care of themselves.

At first, I offered medical examinations and treatment to serve the people. Then, I wanted to promote the role of a Party member.

Party members must be close to the people and listen to the people so that it is easier to convince them when it is necessary, he said.

Talking about Phi, Nguyen Tan Tuan, chairman of Khanh Hoa Provinces Peoples Committee, said he has become the pride of the local Raglai ethnic group.

As the secretary of the district, he has nurtured many plans to improve the living conditions of local ethnic minority people and has never forgot his responsibility as a doctor.

Phi acts as a motivation for many young people in the mountainous district to have aspirations, studying hard to have jobs and serve their homeland," he said.

Thanh Van (VNS)

Young volunteer doctors make changes in poor areas health care Young doctors who volunteer to work at district-level health facilities in provinces across the country have made significant changes to the public health care sector.
Dozens were killed in overnight clashes in Yemen as Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified attacks to seize the government's last northern stronghold, officials said Sunday.

Earlier this month, the Houthis resumed an offensive to seize oil-rich Marib, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the capital Sanaa.

The city's loss would be disastrous for Yemen's beleaguered leadership.

Two government military officials said at least 16 pro-government forces were killed and 21 wounded in the past 24 hours, adding that "dozens were killed" among Houthi ranks.

The Houthis have cut off supply lines to a district about 50 kilometres south of the city, with "the goal to lay siege to Marib", one of the sources said.

Yemen has been embroiled in a bloody power struggle since 2014 between its government, supported by Saudi Arabia, and Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and most of the north.

The rebels have also escalated attacks against Saudi Arabia, drawing condemnation from the international community.

The kingdom said it had foiled a Houthi drone attack on the southern airport of Abha on Saturday, just days after a rebel drone strike on the airport left a civilian aircraft ablaze.

The upsurge in violence comes shortly after the United States decided to remove the rebels from its list of terrorist groups, in order to ensure humanitarian work in Yemen is unimpeded, and to pave the way to restart peace talks.

- 'Foreign enemy' -

Observers say the Houthis are seeking to take control of Marib as leverage before entering into any negotiations with the internationally recognised government.

If the city falls into rebel hands, the Houthis will have full control of north Yemen, weakening the government's negotiating position, according to observers.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in Marib in recent years, and the Saudi-led coalition has intensified air strikes to stop the rebels from seizing the city.

Yemen's grinding conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to international organisations, sparking what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdelsalam tweeted on Saturday that the rebels were fighting "only those militarily involved with the foreign enemy" amid government calls for residents to defend the city.

"May the honourable people of Marib be reassured... and acknowledge that the aggressor coalition is fighting them, not for them," he said.

On Friday, the UN agencies warned that about 400,000 Yemeni children aged under five are in danger of dying of acute malnutrition this year.

The UN agencies also warned that about 1.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women are expected to suffer from extreme malnutrition in 2021.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 23:37:09|Editor: huaxia

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RIYADH, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition said Sunday that they intercepted two bomb-laden drones launched by Yemen's Houthi militia toward border city Khamis Mushait, the country's official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Malki said that the two drones were destroyed on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Houthi militia said on Sunday that they used two bomb-laden drones to attack the Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, which is near Khamis Mushait.

"They attacked accurately," Yahya Sarea, spokesman of the Houthi militia, said in a statement aired by the group's Al-Masirah Television.

Also using bomb-laden drones, the Houthis on Wednesday attacked the Abha airport, causing a civilian plane on the tarmac to catch fire. No injuries were reported.

The Houthi militia has been targeting Saudi cities near the border with missiles and drones. Most of the attacks were foiled before reaching their targets.

The spokesperson revealed in an interview with Al Arabiya local news channel on Sunday that the coalition had intercepted more than 345 missiles and 515 drones since the beginning of the war in Yemen.

The coalition will complete in March its sixth year of war in Yemen against the Houthi militia in support of the government of the Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Enditem
When Amber Lundgren was a little girl, her mother would pick her up from school and ask how her day went. Oh, it was OK, little Amber would always say, but I cried for you at nap time.

The endearing response became and would continue to be a special exchange between the mother and daughter throughout Ambers short life.

She was such a wonderful kid, Ambers mother, Debi Lundgren, told Dateline. She was happy-go-lucky and just had this big, caring heart.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty was born on February 7, 1977 to her young, single mother who devoted her life to her only child. The mother-daughter duo spent a large part of Ambers life in Florida, where she was doted on by her maternal grandparents and three adoring uncles.

She was the light of our lives, Debi said.

Amber Lundgren as a child. (Debi Lundgren)

When Debis brother, Orrin Lundgren, moved to Asheville, North Carolina, Debi and Amber followed, excited to start the next chapter of their lives. Described by her mother as a deep soul, Amber began to express her creative side through her writing, her art and even her looks, which she was constantly changing with different hair colors, tattoos and piercings.

Debi told Dateline she was a little worried people would judge Amber based on appearances, but said her daughter would tell her that if someone judged her based on looks, its not someone she would want to be around anyway.

I always think about that - she was always teaching me something new, Debi said. And acceptance was something that was important to her. She accepted everyone for who they were.

In the summer of 1997, Amber was 20 years old, had a boyfriend, several close friends, and was working as an assistant manager at Pier 1. She was considering going to University of North Carolina Asheville in the near future, but she wasnt in a rush.

Amber was never one to run through life, she always took the scenic route, her mother said with a small laugh. She preferred to enjoy the journey. And thats what she did.

Story continues

Amber at her graduation. (Debi Lundgren)

But her journey ended in the early morning hours of June 7, 1997. Just hours earlier, Amber was getting dressed up for a night out with her friends. They were planning to dance the night away at a recently opened venue, Bar Code, which was considered to be one of the nicest and safest clubs in town.

Debi spoke to her daughter just before she went out for the night.

She called me and told me she was hungry, Debi told Dateline. I offered to bring her food, but she was getting ready to go out with her friends. I just remember telling her to be careful. But I always told her that.

Two weeks before that summer night, Debi remembers waking up screaming from two separate nightmares about Amber that had left her with an uneasy feeling.

As with many nights out with her friends, Amber was the designated driver that evening. If she decided to drink, she promised to call a cab. If the girls became separated, they planned to meet back up at Ambers apartment. But the night didnt go as planned.

It was Ambers good friend, Nadia Pidgeon, who first noticed she was missing the next day. The two friends, who were planning to move into a 2-bedroom apartment later that month, were supposed to meet to sell off some of their things at a garage sale.

It wasnt like Amber to be late, Nadia told Dateline. And then she just never showed up.

Amber Lundgren (Debi Lundgren)

Nadia said she called Pier 1 to see if her friend had been called into work. But she wasnt there. She called their friends, Ambers boyfriend, Paul, Mission Hospital, and Ambers family. At 5 p.m., Nadia called the police to report her missing.

Ambers mother wasnt aware of the news until she got home from her job at Mission Hospital. Her brother urged her to call Nadia right away.

Back at Mission Hospital, detectives were working on identifying a body that had been found in a ditch alongside Azalea Road by someone walking their dog around 8:30 a.m.

After giving police a full description of Amber and filing the missing persons report, Nadia said the detectives showed her photos of a couple of unique tattoos  a band circling an arm, and a sun around a belly button.

When they showed me the polaroids, I thought they were showing me generic pictures of the tattoos, Nadia said. Im thinking, yes those are her tattoos. But thats not her.

It took a few minutes before Nadia could register that they were showing her photos of her missing friend.

I knew something was wrong all day, but at 19 years old, the realm of possibility of something being wrong was that she got mugged or attacked, but nothing like this, Nadia said. They were showing me a picture of a body. It was her.

Detective Kevin Taylor, now retired from the Asheville Police Department, continues to work part-time on Ambers case, something hes been dedicated to solving since the beginning.

I was one of the investigators on her case from the beginning, Det. Taylor told Dateline. Weve all since retired, but havent given up investigating Ambers case. We all want justice.

Detective Taylor told Dateline that their investigation revealed that Amber left Bar Code around 3 a.m. after she got separated from her friends. She is believed to have left alone on foot and witnesses, who did not know Amber, reported seeing her walking either up Broadway or the next street over, Lexington Avenue.

Nadia told Dateline she later found out that Amber had asked the bartender, who was a friend of theirs, if he had seen the girls she was with, but then left when he said he hadnt seen them.

We think she went to another bar nearby to look for the other girls, Nadia said. I just know that she had the responsibility of getting people home safe so she would not have left without them.

Nadia told Dateline there are also reports that she got into an unknown vehicle, but added that she would have never gotten in with someone she didnt know.

She wouldve never, never, gotten a ride with a stranger, Nadia said. She was the most cautious person - she wasnt a risk taker. She always left her TV on when she was planning on returning late, stuff like that.

But her friends and family think if she vaguely knew the person, she might have trusted them which, in the end, could have been her downfall.

Within hours of leaving Bar Code, water trickled over Ambers body in a ditch alongside Azalea Road. She had a single stab wound to her neck, defensive wounds to her hands and arms that were consistent with a struggle, and her clothes were strewn on the ground nearby, according to Det. Taylor.

Ambers body was taken to Mission Hospital where she remained a Jane Doe until later that evening when Nadia was able to positively identify her.

She was a Jane Doe practically down the hall from where I was working all day, her mother added. She was there the whole day and I didnt know.

Detective Taylor told Dateline that dozens of people have been questioned over the years. He confirmed there were persons of interest at the time, and persons of interest now, but would not elaborate on details due to the ongoing investigation.

DNA evidence was collected at the scene that Det. Taylor said he hopes can be retested using modern technology. He confirmed to Dateline there have been recent developments in the case, but was not able to comment further on them at the time.

Nearly 24 years have passed and Nadia is still haunted by her friends murder. Even though she has long since moved away from Asheville, she stays in touch with Ambers mother and Det. Taylor keeps her updated on the investigation, which is considered to be active and ongoing.

The detective stressed that solving this case has always been a goal of the Asheville Police Department.

I just want to appeal to the person who did this, or knows something, to come forward, Nadia told Dateline. Her life was taken from her. She deserves justice. Do the right thing.

Nadia told Dateline she often wonders what her friend would be like if she were still alive today.

Amber had so many goals, Nadia said. She wanted to go to college. She wanted to go to Europe. She wanted to teach French and eventually have a family.

Debi, who still lives in Asheville, told Dateline she knows her daughter had the potential to do many great things in life but it was taken from her in an instant.

Amber and her mother, Debi. (Debi Lundgren)

Ambers grandmother, who is 92 and living in Florida, is still hoping for closure, an ending to her granddaughter's case.

They meant the world to each other. It took her heart, Debi said. She wants an ending - justice. I would just like to know what happened. I would like to meet them and talk to the person or people who did this. I have so many questions. Are they married? Do they have children? Do they feel remorse? Getting those answers would be justice for me.

Now retired with a lot of free time on her hands, Debi often comes face to face with the loss of her daughter.

Every moment shes on my mind, Debi said. Would she be married now? What would her career be? Would I be a grandmother?

But as Amber would always see the beauty in the smallest things, Debi said shes inspired to do the same.

We were fortunate to have her with us even for a short time, Debi said. She gave us so much joy. I couldnt stop what happened, but I can be grateful for what we had. So we honor her by living.

Debi said her daughters life is perfectly summed up by this poem, now inscribed on her gravestone.

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam

and for a brief moment its glory and beauty

belong to our world

but then it flies on again.

And though we wish it could have stayed

we feel lucky to have seen it

for a little while.

Sunday, February 7, 2021, would have been Ambers 44th birthday. To remember her daughters soul around this time, Debi told Dateline she sometimes reads one of Ambers letters or poems.

And its the signature marked on each one thats the most special to her, and brings 20 short years of memories flooding back -- Xs for kisses, Os for hugs, and teardrops... for the tears she used to cry at nap time.

Anyone with information on Ambers case is asked to call the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110 or contact Det. Kevin Taylor directly at 828-259-5945 or ktaylor@ashevillenc.gov.

The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: Shell is eliminating 9,000 jobs because of President Joe Biden.

THE FACTS: A post circulating on Facebook falsely links Shell layoffs to the Biden administration. Shell oil laying off 9000 workers Thanks Biden, states the false post.

But energy producer Royal Dutch Shell announced in September, before Biden was even elected, that the company would cut up to 9,000 jobs worldwide.

At the time, Shell said that around 1,500 employees had agreed to take voluntary redundancy. The cuts follow a drop in oil demand during the pandemic.

The false posts emerged weeks after Biden signed an executive order his first day in office revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, halting construction.

The 1,700-mile pipeline was planned to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta in Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Bidens executive order cited economic and climate reasons for revoking the permit. Keystone XL President Richard Prior said over 1,000 jobs, the majority unionized, will be eliminated in the coming weeks.

The assertion that Shell is eliminating jobs as a result of moves made by the Biden administration is inaccurate, Anna Arata, a spokesperson for Shell, told the AP in an email. Arata further stated that up to 9,000 positions would be eliminated as part of a broader effort to reduce costs, simplify the companys structure and accelerate investments in lower-carbon energy products.
Marriott Bonvoy, the travel marketplace and highly awarded travel program from Marriott International, has released a redesigned, more intuitive version of its mobile app in anticipation of increased desire and demand for travel later this year.

As a part of the refresh, members residing or visiting the UAE can access a QR code in the app that can be scanned at select on-property restaurants to earn and redeem points for food and beverage purchases. The programme also announced that the app will be available in Arabic from August.

As the centerpiece of the companys mobile-first mindset, the Marriott Bonvoy app ensures guests receive the best available rate; enjoy programme benefits such as exclusive member rates and accruing points for stays; and enables members to customise their experience.

Featuring new travel shopping options based on inspiring destinations and access to more of Marriotts vast travel offerings, such as destination tours and activities, the app now offers members even more personalised recommendations and offers so members can maximise their points earned both while traveling and even when they are not.

The app will make it easier for guests to choose a contactless option for check-in and check-out, easy access to mobile keys, and the ability to request services and amenities via chat and mobile requests.

More and more members are using the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App, which offers mobile check-in and checkout, Mobile Requests and, wherever available, Mobile Key. In participating hotels, Guests who opt into the Mobile Key service via the app can receive a virtual key to their phone, without the need for a traditional plastic room key, in hotels that offer this service. Guests receive an alert when their key is activated following a Mobile Check-In. Mobile key is currently offered at approximately 4000 properties worldwide. Almost half of Marriott Internationals hotels in Europe, Middle East & Africa are now live with Mobile Key, with many more preparing for their implementation during 2021.

While nearly a million people used the app to become members of Marriott Bonvoy in 2020, travellers not yet ready to join (for free) can still search and book stays easier than before.

The pandemic has accelerated the trend of digitalisation in the travel sector. Digital platforms, which have long been the preferred source of content and commerce for Millennials and Gen-Z, will increasingly become a source of both inspiration and sales embraced by all generations. The enhanced Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app is a must-have travel companion. It simplifies the travel planning process, allows for a frictionless experience before and during your stay and gets smarter the more you interact with it, said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app offers travellers access to so much, whether it is the breadth of our global portfolio of 7,500 hotels among our 30 brands or home rentals, to destination experiences and customisable content for travel inspiration. Through tailored offers, members can learn how to earn hundreds of thousands of points just by booking stays, booking a Day Pass to work from a hotel or going about their daily lives.

Whats new on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app:

New Shopping and Booking Options: Work Anywhere with Marriott Bonvoy Day, Stay and Play passes (Select destinations) and Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities are all now available through in-app browsing. By booking via the app, guests are guaranteed the lowest rate available and is one of the ways members can earn points and receive on-property benefits during stays.

More Customisation During the Stay: Improvements and additions to mobile requests and mobile key enable members to get more from their experience and choose to minimise contact and better maintain social distance.

 Mobile Key, available at over 4000 properties, is now accessible on the home screen once checked in. Making it easy to skip the desk and minimize social interactions.Almost half of Marriott Internationals hotels in Europe, Middle East & Africa are now live with Mobile Key.

 Mobile Requests now contains more one-touch-buttons so users can order a cot, along with bath towels, pillows, bath products and more, as well as the ability to chat directly with hotel staff.

Making it Easier for Members to Earn Points: Members can capitalise on points promotions relevant to them on the home screen and their account page,

Updated Searching & Booking with New, Dynamic Map: Users can search and book accommodations by hotel brand, destination, price or points needed for a free nights stay.

And More Improvements for the Frequent App Users:

 Updated Marriott Bonvoy account profile pagehighlighting personalised promotions, on-property benefits to take advantage of during stays and full account activity.

 Member numbers can be copied and pasted onto other web-based forms.

 FaceID and TouchID automatically engages after the first login.

 Room numbers will now appear on the home screen.

An ever-expanding travel programme, Marriott Bonvoy connects 30 extraordinary hotel brands with 7,500 properties located in 132 countries & territories, 20,000 premium and luxury vacation home rentals, and tens of thousands of tours & activities enabling members countless ways to earn and redeem points for a perfect and personalised travel experience. The refreshed Marriott Bonvoy mobile app provides easy access to points earning opportunities, as well as the ability to sign-up for and earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy co-brand credit cards, providing additional ways beyond the stay for members to earn points.

The app is currently available in seven languages - English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese. Four additional languages will be added later this year including Italian (April), Russian (May), Portuguese (June) and Arabic (August). The improved app experience launches first on Apples iOS operating system which accounts for most Marriott Bonvoy app users followed the Android operating system later this year. - TradeArabia News Service
Fair funding in the Scranton School District could mean updating curriculum, creating a science and math academy and attracting and retaining a highly qualified staff.

In Carbondale, the district could offer more electives, provide tutoring and restore cuts made to art and family and consumer sciences.

At Riverside, libraries could become innovative labs and the district could find additional ways to help students prepare for life after graduation.

The way Pennsylvania funds school districts, which Gov. Tom Wolf and public education advocates call one of the must unfair systems in the country, makes it difficult for districts to achieve those goals. The 2021-22 state budget proposed by the governor this month aims to fix that. Just the proposal and the debate surrounding it highlights and exposes the inequities in a way not done before on a statewide level, experts say.

Wolfs plan would provide an additional $159 million to school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania by putting all funding through a formula designed to increase equity and assist the students who need the most help.

While Republican legislators have called Wolfs budget proposal, which relies on an increase in personal income taxes for some residents, dead on arrival, advocates say the proposal is a major step in solving the school funding crisis.

Education organizations, including PA Schools Work and the Education Law Center, have found:

Pennsylvania has the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country, with the wealthiest school districts spending 33% more on each student than the poorest districts.

The states share of total district spending is 38%, which ranks the state 44th in the country. The national median is 48%. As a result of the lower state contribution, Pennsylvania school districts rely more on local property taxes to fund budgets. That creates significant disparities between high-wealth and low-wealth districts.

Pennsylvania spends an average of $4,800 less per pupil in poor districts than on students in wealthy districts, and the average revenue gap between the poorest and richest districts has grown by $1,000 per student over the past decade.

Its not fair that poor children and children of color go to school where this is happening, said Susan Spicka, executive director of Harrisburg-based Education Voters of Pennsylvania. Lawmakers in Harrisburg are going to have to deal with looking at the school funding system for what it is: a system that guarantees that the most vulnerable children in Pennsylvania go to school without the resources they need.

Case for fair funding

With bipartisan support, Pennsylvania created a fair funding formula six years ago to distribute money in a way that reflects a districts needs, factoring in student enrollment, the needs of the student population and district wealth and capacity to raise local revenues. But that formula only applies to new investments the state makes in basic education funding, the largest funding source districts receive from the state. The state distributed 11 percent, or $700 million, of basic education funding through the formula last year. The remaining 89 percent, or $5.5 billion, is still distributed based on student enrollment in 1992, without considering shifts in student counts or actual costs school districts face today, according to the governors office.

Pennsylvanias school funding system is structurally unfair, and thats a problem because it fails students, it fails teachers, it fails communities, it fails all of us, Wolf said earlier this month. No matter where you live, every student deserves an opportunity to succeed. Thats what parents want for their children. And thats what Pennsylvanians, all of us, need for our future.

If all money went through the fair funding formula, more than half of the states 500 districts would receive less than they did this year. While the governors proposal runs all existing basic education funding, $6.2 billion, plus a $200 million increase, through the fair funding formula, he wants the state to invest an additional $1.15 billion so no school receives less next year.

His budget proposal also calls for the income tax rate to increase from 3.07% to 4.49%, but offers income tax breaks to many low- to moderate-income taxpayers. The administration says about two-thirds of taxpayers would pay the same or less. House and Senate Republicans say their constituents cant afford to pay additional taxes, especially during the pandemic.

During a press conference after the governors budget proposal, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, a Republican from Lehigh County, said he would support efforts to increase funding incrementally over time, and not within one year. He said districts would likely be unable to spend the additional money in one year and it would likely sit in reserves.

Falling behind

For more than a decade, mandated expenses, such as pension contributions and charter school tuition, greatly outpaced any additional state money received by school districts. That meant the districts had to rely on increasing local property taxes to help make up the difference.

Scranton School Districts instructional costs grew by $25.3 million, or 25%, from 2011 to 2018, while state funding only grew by $2.2 million, or 5%, according to PA Schools Work, a statewide coalition working to increase funding equity. The state placed Scranton in financial recovery in 2019, after the district balanced budgets using borrowed money.

Since the 1960s, population has declined in metropolitan areas, which led to shrinking tax bases, Wolf told The Sunday Times. Without new construction or a growing population, a district can only generate additional revenue by increasing property taxes.

That leads to low-wealth school districts often having the highest property taxes. Those districts often have students with high educational needs, including those living in poverty or those requiring English learning or special education services, explained Maura McInerney, legal director for the Education Law Center, which has offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Many districts have seen large population changes since 1992, the year in which nearly 90% of current state funding is based. Advocates say the current system does not adequately address needs now.

Every child should have the same opportunity to be successful, not based on where their parents have settled, said Sandra Miller, the northeast field coordinator for PA Schools Work and a school director in the Saucon Valley School District in Northampton County.

In 2014, the Public Interest Law Center, the Education Law Center, and law firm OMelveny & Myers jointly filed a lawsuit on behalf of six school districts, including Wilkes-Barre Area, asking for a court order to force the Legislature to comply with the state constitution and ensure all students receive access to a high-quality public education.

The case, which was remanded to Commonwealth Court by the state Supreme Court in 2017, could go to trial this year. Regardless of how the governors proposal fares, the case will continue so the plaintiffs can ensure funding is equitable and adequate, McInerney said.

Local impact

In Northeast Pennsylvania, no district would receive less funding for next year, but 13 of the 37 districts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties would receive significant increases in basic education funding.

Riverside School District would receive an additional $4.6 million, an increase of 85.3%.Superintendent Paul Brennan said the district could reduce its debt, and in turn, reduce property taxes. Riverside would also create more academic opportunities for students.

We have our wish list and we have our must-haves, Brennan said. This would be able to clear up the must-haves and get into our wish list a little better.

While the governors proposal does not specifically call for districts to use the money to reduce property taxes, school leaders said the additional funding would create stability and predictability, allowing them to reduce the need for future tax increases.

Change like this would put everything on the table, said Katie Gilmartin, president of the Scranton School Board. The measures proposed by the governors budget would open up opportunities and options for us we cant even imagine right now.

With all money put through the formula, the district would receive an additional 85.6% in basic education funding, or $39 million. The district could potentially use some of that money to reduce property taxes, Gilmartin said.

Wallenpaupack Area School District, which could receive $5.8 million, an increase of 103%, is unique. The district has high property values because of Lake Wallenpaupack, with many of the houses second homes or vacation rentals. But the district has a lower personal income than districts with similar property values. The fair funding formula puts a greater emphasis on personal income, so the district would benefit greatly, Superintendent Michael Silsby said.

While Wallenpaupack Area spends more per pupil than most area districts, the district ranks seventh in the state with local tax effort. Additional state funding could reduce the burden on local taxpayers, he said.

Leaders said they will closely follow debates on fair funding leading up to the July 1 budget deadline.

At least right now, the conversation is about equity in school funding, and weve never had that conversation in Pennsylvania, Spicka said.
AstraZeneca vaccines ready to be used at the Wellcome Center in Ilford, east London, Feb. 5, 2021. AP



Britain plan to test the the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in children as young as 6 this month, the university announced Saturday.



Researchers will test the efficacy of the vaccine through a clinical trial of 300 volunteers, ages 6 to 17, to determine if it produces a strong immune response, The Guardian reported. Up to 240 children will receive the vaccine in the trial this month and others will receive a control meningitis shot.



The University of Oxford said while other vaccines have begun testing teenagers, theirs was the first COVID-19 trial in the age group, 6-17.



"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound negative impact on the education, social development and emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents, beyond illness and rare severe disease presentations," Rinn Song, pediatrician and clinician-scientists at the Oxford Vaccine Group said in a statement. "It is therefore important to collect data on the safety of the immune response to our coronavirus vaccine in these age groups, so that they could potentially benefit from inclusion in vaccine programs in the near future."



The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for adults in Britain along with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.



"While most children are relatively unaffected by coronavirus and are unlikely to become unwell with the infection, it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people as some children may benefit from vaccination," chief investigator of the trial Andrew Pollard said. "These new trials will extend our understanding of control of Sars-CoV2 to younger age groups."



Britain has reported over 4 million cases and over 116,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University global tracker.



Children consistently account for 1% to 5% of total COVID-19 case numbers in reports, the professional body for pediatricians in Britain, Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health noted.



"In children, the evidence is now clear that COVID-19 is associated with a considerably lower burden of morbidity and mortality compared to that seen in the elderly," the RCPCH said. "There is evidence of critical illness and death in children, but it is rare.



"There is also some evidence that children may be less likely to acquire the infection," the RCPCH added. "The role of children in transmission, once they have acquired the infection, is unclear, although there is no clear evidence that they are any more infectious than adult."



The Pfizer-BioNtech, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines approved for use in the the European Union are designed to be injected in two doses.



France's High Authority of Health, known as the HAS, appeared to be the first to recommend only a single dose rather than two for people who have already been infected, a statement shows.



"At this stage of knowledge, people who have already been infected retain an immune memory," the statement said. "This leads the HAS to offer only one dose to people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of how long the infection has been. The single does of vaccine will thus act as a booster."



The single dose will be delivered at least three months and ideally closer to six months after COVID-19 infection, according to the independent body's recommendation. (UPI)


Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has hit out at Opposition Leader David Crisafulli for his arrogant comments about winning the next state election, as he sidestepped questions about who would lead the government at that time.

Mr Crisafulli was quoted in a profile piece published by News Corp on Friday saying he was very confident about his chances at the next state election, which isnt due until October 2024.

Treasurer Cameron Dick says the people of Queensland are his boss. Credit:Attila Csaszar

I believe I will be premier. I believe [the LNP] will win in 2024, and I believe we will win big, he said.

Asked about the comments on Sunday, Mr Dick said he believed Mr Crisafulli was getting ahead of himself.
RTHK: Britain hails 'significant' vaccination milestone

Britain prepared on Sunday for the next phase of its coronavirus vaccination programme after meeting the government's target of inoculating 15 million of the most vulnerable people with a first dose.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed hitting the "significant milestone" just over two months after the country embarked on its biggest ever vaccination programme.

"This country has achieved an extraordinary feat," he said in a video message posted on Twitter. "It has been a truly national, UK-wide effort. We have done it together."

Johnson had set the aim of offering a jab to everybody in the top four priority groups of around 15 million people by the end of this week. That comprises all over-70s, care home residents and staff, NHS workers and the extremely clinically vulnerable to the virus.

The country will now start administering vaccines from Monday to those aged between 65 and 69 and the clinically vulnerable to Covid-19, with almost 1.2 million already invited to book their jabs, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) said.

Ministers have also vowed to vaccinate all over-50s by May and all adults by September.

"There is so much more to do and I urge anyone eligible to step forward and take up their appointment," Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday.

"The vaccine is our route to freedom -- we will beat this virus jab by jab."

Britain, which has been the hardest hit in Europe by the pandemic, registering nearly 117,000 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, has led the world in promptly approving the use of several vaccines.

It now has one of the highest proportions of people vaccinated against the virus of any nation -- a rare success story during a pandemic in which it has fared badly by most other measures.

Infection rates have dropped markedly across the country over recent weeks, as strict lockdown measures have curbed previously spiralling case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths.

The improving situation has prompted calls for stringent lockdown restrictions to be lifted in early March, despite concern about the spread of virus variants that may be more resistant to vaccines.

A new 10-day hotel quarantine regime for British residents returning from 33 virus variant hotspots begins on Monday, despite criticism that the move is too little and too late.

Johnson said Saturday he is "optimistic" he will be able to set out plans for a "cautious" easing of the stay-at-home rules in England later this month.

He has vowed to review all relevant data next week, ahead of setting out the government's "roadmap" for the months ahead on February 22.

But he is facing pressure from some of the government's own lawmakers.

Lockdown-sceptic Conservatives have called on Johnson to commit to a timetable for completely ending the controls by May.

In a letter to the British premier, the leaders of the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, said the "tremendous pace" of the vaccination rollout allowed for the move.

"The vaccine gives us immunity from Covid, but it must also give us permanent immunity from Covid-related lockdowns and restrictions," they wrote.

"All restrictions remaining after March 8 should be proportionate to the ever-increasing number of people we have protected." (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
For generations to come, it will simply be known as Jan. 6. Much like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor Day  foreign attacks on this nation  it will need no further explanation.

To mention Jan. 6 is, and will be, to acknowledge in shorthand the day Americans attacked their own nation, seeking to violently overturn an election, prodded by the lies of a losing president.

Jan. 6, a sorrowful day entrenched in the American conscience and story. A day still coming into focus, even with the end of former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial, even after the foregone acquittal of a former president who deserved to be unanimously convicted for inciting a mob.

While House impeachment managers fell short of the 67 votes needed for conviction, and while this is tragic, simply because cowardice is tragic, there is also solace and uplift in this vote. House managers won on the merits with a powerful and chilling account of the Jan. 6 siege, which left five dead and hundreds injured.

The 57-43 vote is the most bipartisan in support of convicting a president  and history will look favorably on the seven Republicans who joined their Democratic colleagues: Sens. Richard Burr, North Carolina; Bill Cassidy, Louisiana; Susan Collins, Maine; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; Mitt Romney, Utah; Ben Sasse, Nebraska; and Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania.

No Texans on that list  a shameful point we will return to momentarily. But first, lets dwell on the words of U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, one of the House impeachment managers and a Colorado Democrat.

Think for a moment, just a moment, of the lives lost that day  of the more than 140 (officers) wounded, he said. Ask yourself if, as soon as this had started, President Trump had simply gone onto TV, just logged onto Twitter, and said stop the attack. How many lives would we have saved?

This is true. Just as it is true Joe Biden won the presidential election. Just as it is true, as Collins said in her floor remarks: That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence. Rather, it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump that were aimed at overturning the results of the presidential election.

This is exactly why Texas Sen. Ted Cruz should be expelled for his forceful and servile enabling of the voter fraud lie.

Most Republicans have argued it was unconstitutional to pursue impeachment and conviction of a former president  and they worried about the precedent such an action might take. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, for example, said in a statement: This practice would, I fear, make impeachments a routine part of our political competition as a tool of the majority party to exact political revenge over the minority party.

This strikes us an argument of convenience  an escape hatch to avoid responsibility. There should be no January exception for presidential behavior. Leaving office does not make one less accountable for actions while in office. And there was precedent for a trial in the 1876 case of former Secretary of War William Belknap, who resigned hours before the House impeached him. The Senate tried him but failed to convict.

Through this lens, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells condemnation of Trump was rhetorically powerful  again, a striking rebuke  it nevertheless falls short on substance.

There is no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, McConnell said. The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole.

Welcome and important words, but ones without action.

Going forward, there will be a 9/11-style commission and Trump faces the prospect of criminal liability. We also, at long last, can fully focus on Bidens presidency. Impeachment and conviction had nothing to do with Biden, who has rightfully been all about COVID-19 relief to end this pandemic, and foster economic recovery and healing.

But for those concerned about the enduring threat to democracy that Trumpism represents, the greatest guardrail is to vote in 2022 and 2024 to reject the persistent forces that fueled Jan. 6.
An undersea tunnel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland could get the green light as early next month in an effort to help unblock trade which has been hit by Brexit tensions.

The tunnel - which would be the same length as the one to France - would create the first ever fixed link between all four nations of the United Kingdom and would possibly be dubbed 'Boris' burrow', according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph.

Any new connection could also appease unionists who have expressed displeasure at the way the Government has allowed the European Union to impose new checks on ferry cargo heading to Northern Ireland.

A new study by the chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy will say whether a link between Stranraer in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland is workable.

It comes after the UK Government is thought to have already privately threatened to increase friction on goods entering the EU unless Brussels backs down.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is now thought to be considering an alternate "mutual enforcement" plan which would restore the border to the island of Ireland. It would also require the UK and EU to apply checks at the same level as each other, The Telegraph has learned.

Despite hopes this would remove friction altogether while respecting the border between the UK and EU, UK officials have conceded the chances the chances of the Northern Ireland Protocol being renegotiated are slim.

On Saturday night DUP MP Sammy Wilson, whose East Antrim seat would host the Northern Ireland end of the tunnel, said: "This kind of project would at least give people in Northern Ireland the belief that the Government was prepared to put in infrastructure and spend money to make sure that we are physically connected.

"The important thing is to make sure that we are economically and constitutionally connected  that is far more important than a physical connection. But nevertheless symbolically it would be very important to hear this message."

Sir Peter has met with the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss findings, which could recommend the Government commissions a feasibility study of the project, with his interim report set to be published within weeks.

Mr Johnson first proposed a fixed link across the Irish Sea in 2018 and is therefore believed to have enthusiastically backed the project, along with Scottish secretary Alister Jack.

In an interview with Chopper's Politics podcast, Mr Jack said he favoured a tunnel because "a bridge would be closed for probably 100 days a year with the weather in the Irish Sea" while also dealing with dumped munitions under water.

He said: "My strong inclination would be that he thinks it should be a tunnel because he and I have had conversations about the weather patterns in the Irish Sea and Beaufort's Dyke, and there's a munitions deposit there.
Bir Lahlou (Liberated Territories), February 14, 2021 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, congratulated his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on his return to Algeria, after his stay in Germany where he underwent a successful surgery on his right foot, following coronavirus -related complications.



It is my pleasure to express to you, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people and government of the SADR, my warmest and sincere congratulations on the occasion of your auspicious return to your dear country, Algeria, after the completion of the treatment period, and your recovery from Covid- 19 and your successful surgery abroad, said the President of the Republic.



In these moments, we wish your Excellency success in your noble tasks in leading the Algeria and its great people to face all challenges, and to move forward to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Algerian people and implement their will, by embodying your ambitious program to build a new, strong, and prosperous Algeria, enjoying its rightful place on the regional, continental and international arena, adhering to the principles and ideals of the glorious November 1st Revolution.



This is an opportunity for me to renew to you our sincere will and firm determination to consolidate brotherhood, friendship and eternal alliance between our peoples and our countries, and to work together to firmly address all the existing and emerging challenges and threats that target the region and its peoples, added the President of Republic in his message to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (SPS)



062/090/T


EXTON, Pa. (AP)  The suburban Philadelphia home of one of the attorneys defending former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial has been vandalized with graffiti.

Detective Scott Pezick of the West Whiteland Township Police Department in Chester County said the graffiti were reported around 8 p.m. Friday at the home of attorney Michael van der Veen.

The Philadelphia Inquirer posted a photo showing the word Traitor in red paint at the entrance of the driveway and an arrow pointing to the home.

No arrests have been made, Pezick said Saturday. The home now has private security, he said, and weve been showing a police presence to deter anything from happening.

A group of demonstrators gathered at some point outside van der Veens law office in downtown Philadelphia, calling him a fascist and chanting, When van der Veen lies, what do you do? Convict. Convict, the Inquirer reported.

Van der Veen drew laughter from senators Saturday when he said any witness depositions could be done at his Philadelphia office.

Vandals also targeted the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate on the opening days of the New Year as Congress failed to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to people to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Spray paint on then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells door in Kentucky read, WERES MY MONEY, and MITCH KILLS THE POOR was scrawled over a window. A profanity directed at the Republican senator was painted under the mailbox.

At House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home in San Francisco, someone spray-painted graffiti and left a pigs head and fake blood.
The Swiss Pavilion will showcase artwork and visual installation of Swiss choreographer and dancer Anna Anderegg in celebration of the 13th Gwangju Biennale. Courtesy of Embassy of Switzerland in Korea





By Yi Whan-woo







The Swiss Pavilion, a space dedicated to presenting the European country's art, will make its first appearance on the occasion of the 13th Gwangju Biennale, according to the Embassy of Switzerland in Korea.







Co-organized by Kunsthaus Pasquart and Eunam Museum of Art, contemporary art museums in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, and Gwangju, respectively, the pavilion will showcase performative art and a visual installation created by Swiss choreographer and dancer Anna Anderegg along with a team of Swiss and Korean artists.







Such works, collectively named "Alone Together," are supported by the embassy as part of its efforts to promote Swiss art performance, visual arts, architecture and urban planning throughout 2021 under a campaign titled, "Pushing the Limits 2.0  Celebrating Swiss Excellence and Innovation in Korea."







The Swiss Pavilion will showcase the art and visual installation of Swiss choreographer and dancer Anna Anderegg in celebration of the 13th Gwangju Biennale. Courtesy of Embassy of Switzerland in Korea





The Gwangju Biennale, Asia's largest contemporary art festival, will begin on April 1. It will last until May 9.







Held every two years, the biennale was initially planned for September 2020 but was postponed to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.







The "Alone Together" program will take place entirely at the Eunam Museum of Art.







A five-hour live performance will be held once every day from Feb. 16 to March 3.







Closely linked to the choreography, film and video footage by Korean filmmaker Swan Park of the performance will be screened until May 9.







"It brings great satisfaction and pride to see that the Swiss embassy was instrumental in facilitating the presence of the first Swiss Pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale, and that finally, despite postponements due to COVID-19, such an exceptional performance as Anna Anderegg's Alone Together can be seen by the public," Swiss Ambassador to Korea Linus von Castelmur said.







He said the embassy worked closely with Anderegg as well as representatives from the Gwanju Biennale, Kunsthaus Pasquart and the Eunam Museum of Art "in order to bring this project to fruition."







"The Swiss Pavilion will offer a platform to widen the network of contemporary artists between Switzerland and Korea in the international art scene and I look forward to seeing many dynamic interactions be generated by Alone Together in the pavilion," he added.







Kunsthaus Pasquart Director Felicity Lunn said it is "a great honor to participate in the Gwangju Biennale."







The director said she has been following Anderegg's "exciting, innovative and internationally respected practice" and thought of the artist after learning about the Swiss Pavilion for the Gwangju Biennale.







Anderegg has previously showcased her solo works and other joint projects several times in Korea.







They are "Tape Riot" choreography in Seoul in 2017 and "Designed by Another Architect" filmed in 2019 in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.






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Lavrov Warns, EU Sanctions Could Lead To Breach Between Moscow and Brussels

Feb. 13 , 2021 (EIRNS)Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov set off a firestorm during a Feb. 12 interview with Russian television journalist Vladimir Solovyov when he indicated that Russia was prepared to split from the European Union if the EU insists on imposing sanctions against Russia over that cause economic damage. Lavrov said that because of the sanctions imposed on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine and Crimeas referendum vote to reunite with Russia,

we have realized that we must rely only on ourselves. No, we do not want to self-isolate. We want to take advantage of the international division of labor, but if someone is saying that there will be competition, but we will be cut off here, here and also there.... As [German Foreign Minister Heiko] Maas put it, they will impose sanctions just to make sure our actions dont go unnoticed. What kind of a reliable partner are you then?

When Solovyov asked him Are we heading for a breach with the EU? Lavrov replied:

We believe we would be ready for this. We are neighbors. Speaking collectively, they are our largest trade and investment partner. Many EU companies operate here; there are hundreds or even thousands of joint ventures. When a business benefits both sides, we will continue. I am sure that we have become fully self-sufficient in the defense sphere. We must also attain the same position in the economy to be able to act accordingly if we see again (we have seen this more than once) that sanctions are imposed in a sphere where they can create risks for our economy, including in the most sensitive areas such as the supply of component parts. We dont want to be isolated from the world, but we must be prepared for this. If you want peace, prepare for war.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov charged that the Western media misinterpreted Lavrovs remarks, that he was not threatening to cut relations, but that Russia will be prepared to act on its own if severe sanctions are imposed. If we face a destructive course that will hurt our infrastructure, our interests, Russia must be ready in advance for such unfriendly steps, Peskov said during a call with reporters when asked about Lavrovs comment. We must be self-reliant. We must ensure our security in the most sensitive strategic areas and be prepared to replace everything we could be deprived of with national infrastructure in case madness prevails and such unfriendly actions take place.

The point is that we dont want this [to sever ties with the EU] but seek to develop relations with the European Union. However, if the EU chooses to go down this path [of imposing sanctions that entail risk for the Russian economy], then yes, we will be ready because you need to be ready for the worst, he explained, reported TASS. The complete interview is posted on the Foreign Ministry website.
Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said it was clear Donald Trump incited the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, and thats why he voted to find the former president guilty in the impeachment trial.

His betrayal of the constitution and his oath of office requires conviction, Toomey said in a conference call with reporters Saturday afternoon moments after the historic vote.

Both of Pennsylvanias senators - Toomey and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. - voted to find Trump guilty in the impeachment trials conclusion Saturday.

The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump but a majority of senators voted 57-43 to convict Trump for insurrection in the deadly invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Toomey was one of seven Republican senators to find Trump guilty. A guilty verdict requires the vote of two-thirds of the Senate.

In explaining his thinking, Toomey said Trump drew thousands to Washington for his rally on Jan. 6 and inflamed their passions by repeating lies about the election being rigged. Toomey said Trump then directed his followers to go to the Capitol for the express purpose of stopping Congress from counting the electoral votes and certifying President Joe Bidens victory. Toomey said Trump did all of this to hold on to power despite having legitimately lost.

As a result of President Trumps actions, for the first time in American history, the transfer of presidential power was not peaceful, Toomey said.

Toomey said there was no specific element of the impeachment trial that led him to find Trump guilty but rather the accumulation of overwhelming evidence. While Toomey said he has seen much of Trumps behavior that he found unacceptable, he said he didnt enter the trial determined to find Trump guilty.

I had not made up my mind that I would vote to convict on an article of impeachment until I heard the arguments, Toomey said.

Even though Trump was acquitted, Toomey said the verdict in the impeachment trial will have a lasting mark in history. Trump is now the first president to be impeached twice and, while falling short of a conviction, a majority of senators found him guilty.

That is an extremely powerful rebuke and that doesnt go away and the American people are aware of what he did, Toomey said.

Casey noted it was the most bipartisan presidential impeachment proceedings in our nations history.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Montgomery County Democrat, delivered some of the closing arguments in the impeachment trial. She argued Trump cultivated the violent insurrection through months of irresponsible statements, failing to condemn violence from his supporters and ignoring credible reports that some attending the Jan. 6 were threatening violence and bringing weapons.

Donald Trump knew the people he was inciting, Dean said.

She also said the trial wasnt about the past but about the countrys future. Senators, the insurrectionists are still listening, Dean said.

The House managers also argued that Trump took no action even when it was clear former Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress were in danger.

Michael van der Veen, one of the attorneys defending Trump, said the impeachment process has been driven by an overwhelming desire to attack the former president. He said it was inappropriate for Congress to engage an impeachment against citizen Trump.

This impeachment has been a charade from beginning to end, he said.

Sen. Bob Casey, shown here in a 2019 interview with the PennLive Editorial Board, voted to convict former President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Casey, Pennsylvanias senior senator, said Saturday night that it was clear Trump intentionally acted to direct his supporters to attack the Capitol. And he said Trump has shown no remorse for the Capitol invasion and, as Casey said, putting a target on the back of his own Vice President and his Vice Presidents family.

He invited them. He incited them. And he directed them to the Capitol to prevent Congress from conducting its constitutional obligation to count the presidential electoral votes, Casey said in a statement.

In a video on Twitter early Saturday, Casey he didnt find the arguments from Trumps attorneys to be very persuasive or focused on the facts.

Citing House prosecutors, Casey also said on Twitter the trial wasnt about punishing Trump politically.

This whole process is about protecting the republic, Casey said.

The closing argument came following a surprising twist in the morning when the Senate agreed to call witnesses, a move that could have delayed the trials by weeks or even months. Ultimately, the House managers agreed to abandon that plan.

Both sides agreed to include a statement from a Republican House lawmaker about a phone call on the day of the riot between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the Associated Press reported. Democrats have said the conversation showed evidence of Trumps inaction during the violence.

Toomey is not seeking re-election and his term expires in 2022. In his news conference, Toomey was asked if it would have been harder to vote to convict Trump if he was seeking another term. Toomey said he would have cast the guilty vote regardless of his future plans.

In his news conference, Toomey reitereated he had voted for Trump and touted his administration accomplishments. But Toomey said those accomplishments were undermined by Trumps actions after the election, including his dishonest, systematic attempts to convince supporters that he had won. Toomey also pointed to the pressure Trump placed on state officials to reverse the election outcome.

Hell be remembered throughout history as the president who went to non-legal steps to try to hold onto power, Toomey said.
TOKYO  Two American men believed to have helped Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chief, escape Japan in a speaker box in 2019 as he faced criminal charges lost their last bid on Saturday to block their extradition from the United States to Japan.

Without comment, Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by lawyers for the two men  Michael Taylor, 60, a former Green Beret, and his son Peter Maxwell Taylor, 27  to suspend a lower court order that cleared the way for them to be sent to Japan to face trial.

The two men are wanted for their role in a caper that seemed straight out of a Hollywood movie, with the countrys most famous criminal defendant fleeing right under the authorities noses.

In December 2019, Mr. Ghosn was spirited from his Tokyo apartment to the Osaka region, where he was smuggled onto a private plane bound for Turkey. He then flew on to Beirut, putting him out of reach of the Japanese authorities, who had accused him of financial wrongdoing.

Americans need to individually make a commitment to look at the bigger picture and carry this dream forward at least for the sake of the future generation. Without that, we may as well be in the last days of the great American empire. Sure enough, the world is standing ready to usher in the Chinese century. We will not hesitate to once again sing Nunc Dimittis to the old republic.

Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.  Author unknown

When I set my foot on the marvel that is America in the Summer of 2001, who could have thought that barely two decades later, one would sit here and write about how the behemoth that is the American empire, the architect of our modern world, is unraveling before our very eyes. Ronald Reagans shining city on the hill is no more. Today, traitors masquerading as politicians have sold to special interest, the soul of a great nation. The charlatans walk around with blood in their hands, defecating on the steps of the Capitol, while conflating greed with national interest.

The period from 18701910 saw the United States make the leap from a largely agrarian society to a leading industrial power. It was in the aftermath of the Second World War, however, that America successfully became a globe-spanning empire. Following the war, the overarching goal was to build a military coalition with allies in impoverished Europe, capable of containing the old USSR and the Eastern Bloc, as well as a push for a solid economic and financial system to ensure sustained prosperity. Reveling in her new role as a superpower, America conquered science and unleashed disruptive technologies and innovation. She increased her population and gained new territories ceded by Mexico (New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas and Western Colorado) and Spain (Puerto Rico, Guam). She also bought Louisiana from France and annexed Hawaii, a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean.

At the turn of the century, the likes of Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, helped formulate the concept of the American Dream. These were men who came from modest beginnings but went on to build business empires; created automobiles, the modern financial system and developed railroad models for the future. Of course, this is not to downplay the impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in building the great American empire. The footprints of that trade could be seen everywhere, ranging from the stupendous fortunes accumulated by many prominent slave-owning families and on national historical landmarks. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama would often talk about The house that slaves built when referring to the White House.

Today, whether its the modern assembly line that delivers automobiles to individual homes, advances in air travel or the World Wide Web, there is hardly any serious technological invention in the last century without Americas imprimatur.

Even with all her prosperity, a huge part of Americas unique identity is to be found in how she eagerly embraced diversity and her ability to attract talents from all races and ethnicities across the globe. If you are good, America cheerfully opened her wide arms to you. Modern democracy would also be one of her biggest exports to the civilised world.

Americas model of democracy is a system whereby the majority rules but the minoritys right is to be fully protected under the law. It is a provision permanently etched in the mind of We the People. In fact, it could be said to be the common thread that has bound this cultural mosaic together for more than three centuries. Over the years, successive generations of Americans have worked very hard to keep the faith and protect this hallowed legacy, almost with cultic devotion.

In trying to answer the question why Muslim immigrants are less prone to terrorism in America than in Europe, a 2007 Pew survey found that most in Europe were more likely to think of themselves as Muslims first, compared to more than half who saw themselves as Americans first. Fact is, integration, a strong sense of justice, and the pursuit of the American Dream, are a huge part of what brings all closer as one large family.

One may be tempted to over-simplify the problem and view the cause of the division only through the prism of racial injustice. The implication would be to ignore other monumental problems such as a broken political system. A system in which elected officials only cater to the base that will decide their re-election, instead of to what is good for the country

America has always lived with the ignominious sin of slavery and been burdened by the perennial struggle for social justice for her minority populations. It is worthy to note, however, that with all her shortcoming, the United States has made quite some progress in many areas of social justice. We should not forget that when the founding fathers wrote the preamble to the Constitution, African-Americans were not even included in We the people. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, that Blacks were finally guaranteed their voting rights. In less than half a century thereafter, America would witness the inauguration of her first black president. It was so surreal and many believed then that the country was at the highest point of racial integration.

Fast forward today and a few years after that historic event. It is very sad to imagine where America is as a nation, in terms of race relations. This country of flag-waving patriots is today so deeply divided in a lot of ways; Democrats versus Republicans, the Police versus the Black community, pro-gun control versus gun right activists. The elected officials cant seem to agree on the most basic and commonsense legislation to curb gun violence, even as her citizens continue to pay the ultimate price. One group only listens to the other side, just enough to give a nice rebuttal, rather than towards making any genuine effort at understanding each other. The division is so toxic that the system, at this point, is seriously crippled. How in the world did this happen?

When a system designed to protect every citizen within the state falls short, people lose faith. The unwritten social contract that reciprocates justice and fairness with allegiance to the flag gets broken. Even politics begins to emphasise that narrative of we versus them and could be seen chipping away at the nobler calling of love for country. The fall out is the awakening of sectional and ethno-cultural consciousness, a natural enemy of the state. Whether it is the Black Panther or Black Lives Matters Movement, the prevailing social circumstances that birthed those philosophies are similar and the ripple effect is often devastating to the health of the republic.

Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, etc., and countless viral videos of police officers killing unarmed black men and evading justice, sowed the seed of distrust in authority figures in the African American communities. It also sparked a lot of racial tension between blacks and whites. American blacks feel unprotected by the law of their country, having constantly witnessed the unnecessary death of too many of their kind. Its crippling when even success cant insulate one from the cold fingers of bigotry. The frustration may sometimes find expression in a reluctant activist taking a knee while reciting The Star-Spangled Banner.

One may be tempted to over-simplify the problem and view the cause of the division only through the prism of racial injustice. The implication would be to ignore other monumental problems such as a broken political system. A system in which elected officials only cater to the base that will decide their re-election, instead of to what is good for the country, is inimical to the inner workings of a representative democracy. That such a system gives a free reign to a talk show host whose entire career has been built on shamelessly peddling conspiracy theories, spewing alternative facts and trafficking in bigotry, is a big shame. We would be ignoring the repercussions of gerrymandering, overt and covert disenfranchisement efforts, and the dangerous effects of corporate money and lobbyists in the body politic. We may also run the risk of ignoring some very poor in the white communities, who look at blacks and immigrants as foes.

I had a GREAT call with my all-time favourite POTUS, President Trump!, was what Marjorie Taylor Greene, the loony freshman congresswoman from Georgia, enthusiastically tweeted to the world, following her conversation with the former president. That this QAnon apologist, who revels in the most sickening conspiracy theories, would tie her political survival to flashing her credential as a bona fide Trumpist, tells you all you need to know about Americas ugly metamorphosis. Even the Republican house leadership, who just within the past week or so chastised Trump for his ignominious role in the capitol insurrection, just made it back from an all-important pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago.

Now is the time for every American to sit back, take a moment and ask some hard questions. It may start by standing up for justice whenever its observed in the breach, no matter who is involved. It may as well be that the people have to begin the discussion on term limits for political office holders and revisit campaign finance reforms.

How in the world did a district in America choose a 9/11 denier, who had once suggested the execution of Speaker Pelosi for treason, as the best candidate to represent her interest in the United States Congress? Once upon a time, it used to be that Americans from both sides of the isle would not touch such toxic and immoral figures, even with ten-foot poles. Not anymore. That same America is now starting to look like a nation of Indigenous tribesmen with irreconcilable sets of values.

The greatness of America lies not in being the most enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

Those were the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French diplomat and author of a popular work, Democracy in America. He made the observation following extensive travels in the U.S. in the early 1800s. If only those words were to ring true today!

Now is the time for every American to sit back, take a moment and ask some hard questions. It may start by standing up for justice whenever its observed in the breach, no matter who is involved. It may as well be that the people have to begin the discussion on term limits for political office holders and revisit campaign finance reforms. America has to invest more on education and literacy and promote diversity programmes in her society. Americas demographics is fast changing and is constantly challenging the old order. While one cant pretend to have all the answer, I do know for sure that this is not the America that some Americans desire.

Before America, was the ancient Roman, Greek and British empires whose relics now lay in ruins. It is left for this generation of Americans to make a solemn pledge, put aside all differences and work together. Americans need to individually make a commitment to look at the bigger picture and carry this dream forward at least for the sake of the future generation. Without that, we may as well be in the last days of the great American empire. Sure enough, the world is standing ready to usher in the Chinese century. We will not hesitate to once again sing Nunc Dimittis to the old republic.

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms it will be because we have destroyed ourselves from within.  Abraham Lincoln

Osmund Agbo, a public affairs analyst is the coordinator of African Center for Transparency and Convener of Save Nigeria Project. Email: eagleosmund@yahoo.com
Pizza boxes, ripped carpets and empty bottles of Canadian Club were the disgusting conditions an alleged paedophile was living in.

Federal Police discovered the disgusting den when they raided a man's home in Caboolture in Queensland.

Images from inside the man's home showed piles of dirty washing, curtains falling down at the windows and empty soft drink cans on the floor.

Cops seized a number of electronic devices including four hard drives, two smart phones and a tablet and charged the 25-year-old man with possessing and obtaining child abuse material.

Pizza boxes, ripped carpets and empty bottles of Canadian Club were the disgusting conditions an alleged paedophile was living in

Images from inside the man's home showed piles of dirty washing, curtains falling down at the windows and empty soft drink bottles on the floor

Police allege he accessed and uploaded material via apps such as Dropbox and Kik Messenger, as well as storing child abuse material on the devices.

He could face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Among the rubbish in his home was pizza boxes, drink cans and a half emptied bottle of Canadian Club whiskey.

Authorities launched an investigation into the alleged child abuse material after reports from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

AFP Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson stated that the investigation was an example of their dedicated efforts to seek justice against those who access and spread vile material.

'The AFP, together with our partners across Australia and around the world, are keeping a watch online to protect our children,' she said.

The man appeared at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on February 12.

The investigation is ongoing.
Seven of the top-10 most valuable companies together added 1,40,430.45 crore in market capitalisation last week, in line with a bullish broader market trend with Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest gainer.

During the week, the BSE benchmark surged 812.67 points or 1.60 per cent.

The companies that witnessed gain in their valuation include Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HDFC, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India and Bajaj Finance, while HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever and Kotak Mahindra Bank's market capitalisation declined.

The market valuation of Reliance Industries jumped by 74,329.95 crore to 12,94,038.34 crore, the most among the top-10 companies.

ICICI Bank added 22,943.86 crore to 4,47,323.82 crore in its valuation and Infosys witnessed a jump of 15,888.27 crore to 5,57,835.85 crore.

The market valuation of HDFC rallied 12,439.33 crore to 5,02,316.66 crore and that of Tata Consultancy Services gained 12,420.4 crore to 11,97,442.25 crore.

Bajaj Finance added 2,274.77 crore to take its valuation to 3,36,032.83 crore and State Bank of India's market capitalisation gained 133.87 crore to 3,50,915.73 crore.

In contrast, HDFC Bank's valuation declined 8,015.87 crore to 8,71,719.64 crore and that of Hindustan Unilever Limited dipped 6,684.48 crore to 5,26,747.02 crore.

The market capitalisation of Kotak Mahindra Bank plunged 6,160.88 crore to 3,86,580.16 crore.

In the ranking of ten most valued firms, Reliance Industries remained the most valued company followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, State Bank of India and Bajaj Finance.

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Is privacy overrated?

The question might seem daft, given how gravely privacy is endangered in our digital age. Spies in government and the private sector routinely devour data for insights into our behavior, insights that may be used to manipulate our behavior. And privacys advocates contend that freedom and democracy are unthinkable without it. As philosopher Michael Lynch puts it, privacy affords us control over our thoughts and feelings, which is a necessary condition for being in a position to make autonomous decisions, for our ability to determine who and what we are as persons.

This idea  that privacy is an enduring, universal, even sacred, virtue  is seductive. But it is wrong, and in a few ways: Privacy is a relatively recent institution, and less than essential to democracy. Whats more, privacy has never been secure; vulnerability is its native state.

Americans may be forgiven for assuming that privacy is a foundational institution in our democracy. You might have read that the nation was spawned, in part, by privacy concerns: Colonists rebelled against British troops occupying their homes and invading their warehouses and workplaces. Privacy may not have been quite so central to our Founders concerns, however. The term is not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution  a right to privacy is never spelled out. In American constitutional law, this right wasnt articulated until a century after the Revolutionary War, by future Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and his law partner Samuel Warren in an 1890 Harvard Law Review article. And privacy earned a robust legal defense only in the 1960s, when the Supreme Court under Earl Warren held that a right to privacy is presumed by the Bill of Rights.

It actually makes sense that privacy was a late arrival to democracy. It seems privacy was more revered, at least early on, as a spatial virtue, rather than a moral one. Historians indicate privacy was conceived as a bourgeois value in the 18th and 19th centuries, born of relative wealth. Premodern homes had few rooms, and certainly few that were designated for single  private  use, like a bathroom or bedroom. People all over the world generally lived in common spaces.

This changed toward the end of the 19th century when a growing middle class demanded homes with multiple rooms into which residents could retreat. As industrialized societies became wealthier, the working class looked to enjoy the same benefits as the wealthy  including privacy.

The development and expansion of suburban architecture, especially in America, reflects the gains privacy made in the 20th century. You might say privacy is the central organizing principle of suburbia: Houses are removed from the street; sidewalks are a rarity in many suburban neighborhoods, thus limiting intrusion by strangers; socializing happens in fenced-in backyards and spacious basements. Since, the 1970s, the average suburban home has grown by a third, even while the number of its inhabitants has fallen, meaning that suburbanites are practically swimming in private space, which seems to be a basic need.

Even as the Younger Report (so named because it was chaired by Sir Kenneth Younger, an experienced politician who led several commissions reporting on the state of British society) was claiming that privacy had been achieved in the 20th century as never before, democratic governments were finding new ways to infiltrate their citizens lives. In the U.S., historian Sarah Igo explains, that included surveillance of home populations during World War I, public health initiatives that invaded and exposed the homes and lives of the poor, and a growing bureaucracy that aimed to address a host of social ills, from retirement to unemployment to homeownership.

Said bureaucracy ballooned midcentury when the Social Security program was enacted, and assigned identifying numbers to all citizens, rendering them transparent to the government in the process. Many critics and commentators issued dire warnings that echo current concerns for privacy.

Such concerns soon evaporated, however. The dangers of lost privacy were unclear, uncertain, unproven; the trade-off for being documented  namely, you gained a secure retirement  was evident.

In the digital age, these trade-offs  often made with the active participation of the public  have so thoroughly routed privacy that people now have little expectation of it. Digital spies do not have to work hard to monitor us; this is a new era of sharing. Over the past two decades, consumers have become accustomed to divulging their data in exchange for the conveniences offered by technology. Many people expose intimate and once embarrassing details on social media, as a matter of course. Digital citizens increasingly live their lives in public, for all to see.

This may not be the tragedy that privacy advocates suggest.

I dont mean to minimize violations of privacy, or to say that its not important or cherished  because surveillance does open the door to being taken advantage of, manipulated, or coerced. But I wish to offer this caution from history: Privacy has never been essential to human liberty and flourishing; and it has always been threatened, and exceedingly hard to achieve or secure.

By understanding the history of privacy, we can better look to its future, and better evaluate proposals about data control. We should be skeptical, for example, about any laws ability to protect our privacy  and about our own individual commitments to protecting it. We also should be careful not to oversell privacy as eternal and universal and vital.

If anything, privacy might prove to be a dangerous distraction from more important values. In this digital age, privacy itself can be dangerous when, isolated behind our computer screens, we are swayed by, and moved to magnify, all manner of conspiracies and untruths that undermine democracy. It is not surprising that autocratic regimes have thrived on digital communications, and the division, confusion and alienation they produce.

The health, welfare and vibrancy of democracy rely more on the public than the private realm  this has always been the case. How citizens organize in public, how they demonstrate, how they muster the tenacity, courage and creativity to capture the attention of the populace and sow the seeds of moral persuasion, this is the basis of our common liberty.

We would be wise to relearn and apply this lesson.

Firmin Debrabander is a professor of philosophy at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, and the author of Do Guns Make Us Free and Life After Privacy. This piece was reprinted from Zocalo Public Square.
I cant wait until Im 45 and get all those great parts. --Elizabeth Hartman, in a 1971 interview.

The first reports of 43-year-old Elizabeth Hartmans June 10 suicide here were sketchy. Homicide detectives werent sure just who the slight woman was who had thrown herself from the fifth-story window of her efficiency apartment. A handful of neighbors volunteered what they knew. She was an unemployed actress, they thought, who had starred long ago in some movie with Sidney Poitier.

She would have hated that description. Even though she was subsisting on disability insurance, Social Security benefits and family handouts, even though her days were spent with various psychiatrists or wandering through the Carnegie Art Museum or merely sitting, listening to records, when somebody asked Hartman what she did, she replied, Im a film actress.

Some of her therapists thought that this was another of her fantasies. But she was.

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In 1965, at age 21, she was nominated for a best-actress Academy Award in her movie debut as a blind girl in A Patch of Blue (but lost to Julie Christie in Darling). She won a Golden Globe Award for most promising female newcomer. She was voted one of 1966s Stars of Tomorrow by the American Film Exhibitors. Columnist Hedda Hopper predicted glowingly that those who watch her at work tell me she cant miss.

Biff Hartman (her nickname originated from her sisters childhood inability to pronounce Elizabeth ) of Youngstown, Ohio, had gone West and taken on the city that had been the object of so many of her childhood dreams.

And, in her own words, the city had won.

All actresses are probably very paranoiac, she once said in an interview with the New York Times, and never accept the fact theyre good. You keep thinking: Nobody wants me, I cant get a job. That initial success beat me down. It spiraled me to a position where I didnt belong. I was not ready for that.

After she died, once co-star Poitier issued the following statement: It saddens me to think shes no longer with us. She was a wonderful actress and a truly gentle person. We have lost a distinguished artist.

(Another Patch of Blue co-star, Shelley Winters, declined comment. Her spokesperson at International Creative Management offered, Shes busy. She was asked to appear in a documentary about Marilyn Monroe and she turned that down, too.)

(Calls by Calendar to the Warners Bros. representative for Clint Eastwood, who starred with Hartman in The Beguilded, were not returned.)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette magazine editor George Anderson had a harder edge: I think hers was a tragic American career that peaks at the beginning and has no follow-up. Its a common Hollywood story.

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The headline in another Pittsburgh paper summed it up. Failing Career/Mental Problems Blamed in Actress Suicide Here.

Those closest to Hartman get angry when it is suggested that it was just her faltering movie career that propelled her out that window. Theres so much more to it, says her sister, Janet Shoop. Thats whats so hard for people to understand about mental illness. Its not always outward. Hartman desperately wanted to resume her career. But, in the end, it was just too difficult for her to do so.

I think that sort of illness is a spiraling thing, says her former husband, screenwriter Gill Dennis (co-writer of Apocalypse Now, writer of HBOs Home Fires). It would have gotten her . . . no matter what she decided to do.

But even Hartmans brother-in-law, attorney Bob Shoop, admits that the link was there: Dont forget, she was nominated for an Academy Award in her first motion picture. She lived a pretty pressure-packed life for a youngster. The pressure had built up so much, I dont think she could handle it.

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Its true that Hartman didnt die like Peg Entwistle, the 30s would-be starlet who hurled herself dramatically from the Hollywood sign in despair over her non-career.

But it is uncomfortably coincidental that Hartman leaped to her death on June 10, five years to the day after she left movies forever.

And people like Joe Don Baker, Hartmans co-star in Walking Tall (1973), do think her predicament is not unique.

I was so upset when I heard, he said. But I wasnt surprised. Nothing surprises me in this town. There are a lot of (people) here who wont stick with someone when theyre down. She was a great actress. She should have been working. I keep thinking that acting is a noble profession, but its nothing but a garbage pail. I wish more people had helped her.

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His harsh Southern drawl softens. I wish I had helped her.

All this has happened so fast, Im kind of misplaced. Im just drifting around. Im in a very strange state of mind. I used to know who Biff was, but I dont, now. Im suddenly in a different kind of world.

--Elizabeth Hartman, 1965 interview.

To the 21-year-old Hartman, her overnight discovery was initially part of the natural order of things.

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Ever since her childhood in Youngstown, she had been positive an acting career was her destiny.

Although desperately shy and a loner, she could lose herself in a character to such an extent that she could tune out the world, and what she perceived as her disabilities: her timidity, her daydreaming and her desire to retreat into her private fantasies. She felt her talent could make her overcome these obstacles, that it was, ultimately, all she would need for stage and motion-picture success.

She wanted to be a movie star, says Janet Shoop. But she didnt think about the glitter and glamour. She didnt dream about those parties shed be too shy to attend anyway. She wanted to be a star because of her abilities.

Her success as the shy, sweet heroine Emily in a local production of Our Town (she was selected as Ohio High School Actress of the Year) and further triumphs in summer stock and at Carnegie Techs drama department, made her determined to try her luck in New York. Her excessive shyness made this initial venture a disaster. She spent five months huddled in her hotel room, too afraid of rejection to audition for acting roles. My illusions were shattered, she said later.

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She returned to Ohio, where she got a job as a resident actor with the Cleveland Playhouse and, later, with the Kenley Players in Warren, Ohio. John Kenley, now director of the Civic Theater in Akron, encouraged her to return to New York, but not without reservations.

She didnt have the aggressiveness it takes, he recalls. She had no confidence in herself.

Nevertheless, she came back, with an agent as a buffer this time, and was quickly offered two major roles. She accepted the ingenue lead in a play called Everybody Out, the Castle Is Sinking. The production closed out of town, but her performance caught the eye of MGM scouts, then casting Patch of Blue. She was brought to Hollywood to audition for director Guy Green, who owned the rights to Elizabeth Katas novel and had casting approval. The moment he saw Hartman, he says, he knew she was right for the part of the blind heroine.

She wasnt a glamour girl, he says. But I gave her a personality test, and it was astonishing how well she came across for someone with no screen experience.

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I told Sidney Poitier I wanted to cast an unknown, and he was horrified at first, until I arranged for them to work on the set together and he, too, became very happy.

Patch of Blue tells the story of the waiflike Selina, accidentally blinded with boiling water by her slatternly mother (Winters). She spends her days in the park, stringing costume jewelry beads to earn her keep, where she strikes up a friendship with a kindly newsman (Poitier), never realizing he is black.

She held her own like a pro with that cast, says Green. At first, I thought she was quiet, shy and retiring, until we went to the Braille Institute so she could research the role. She immediately stopped being shy at all. She was working, and it changed her. She wanted to learn everything about the experience of being blind.

She was one of the best instinctive actresses Ive ever worked with. She had it. No doubt about it.

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The film drew attention for several reasons. It was made on the crest of Poitiers popularity, and it was one of the first films to feature a sympathetic relationship between a black man and a white woman.

At one point, Hartman gives Poitier a gentle kiss on the cheek. The scene made the film something of a civil rights cause celebre (at one screening, an executive yelled There goes Alabama), and it was excised in prints for Southern distribution. Green remembers that MGM was terrified of the controversy, but it ended up enhancing the films national box-office appeal.

Although much attention was given to Winters performance (she won an Academy Award for best supporting actress), the critics fell in love with Hartman.

The prize of the cast is 21-year-old film fledgling Elizabeth Hartman, wrote Time, spindly and coltish as Selina, with a plain-pretty face that can erupt unexpectedly into electric beauty. She wins genuine sympathy by playing up the spunk of her role, playing against the saccharine. She is achingly real without ever being soppy. . . .

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Columnists couldnt get enough of what they perceived as Hartmans endearing self-deprecation. (I was lacking the things they wanted an actress to lack . . . I was disappointed when I saw myself on screen . . . I had a different picture in mind.)

They loved her shy remarks about Dennis, the aspiring director she was eager to wed (I just want to be married to the person I love, have children and live in New England and make breakfast for him every day), and her fragile, childlike qualities. She is shy, timid, wrote columnist Sidney Skolsky. She sleeps in a normal-size bed in sleeveless nightgowns. She always takes her Raggedy-Ann doll to bed with her.

When Hartman was nominated for an Oscar, sister Janet remembers it was an exciting time.

We had a party in our apartment. My husband was in law school then, and half the school was there, and most of the local press. We were so proud. The Academy Awards were something you watch from the time youre a little kid, and there Biff was.

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Hartmans daydreams had come true. Film offers began to pour in. But the overnight star, who should have been ecstatic, was surprisingly pensive.

When they bring people to meet me, you can see the look of disappointment. But I cant be anything but what I am, or I couldnt sleep at night. Perhaps for this reason, my career wont be successful.

And Dennis, who saw Hartman immediately after the first screening of A Patch of Blue, recalls: She said everybody else was wonderful. But she was invisible.

Really, my life has been so unhappy since I made that film. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1969 interview.

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The film catalogue of Hartman is a very brief one. After Patch of Blue, she played a sexually repressed wife in The Group (with Candice Bergen and Joan Hackett); a shy waif in The Fixer (with Alan Bates), a psychotic go-go dancer in Francis Coppolas first major film, Youre a Big Boy Now (with Geraldine Page and Julie Harris); a repressed schoolteacher in Beguiled (starring Eastwood and Page) and the victimized wife in Walking Tall.

Although her output was not prodigious, critics continued to admire her work. (Richard Schickel, who loathed Youre a Big Boy Now, wrote, If anything, she is too strong and artful for her surroundings, and the harsh light of her work, spilling over the rest of the film, intensifies ones sense of dismay with its juvenility.)

Nonetheless, her career never quite took off. There are many theories why.

Her former agent, Howard Rubin, claims the offers were there, but for the wrong films. We got 20 blind girls, deaf girls, crippled girls. Name the handicap and there was a script for it.

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Says Dennis, who married Hartman in 1969: The role in Patch of Blue was one an actress gets once in a lifetime. She wasnt perceived as a comedienne, and she was a wonderful comic actress. She wasnt offered glamorous roles. If she was going to keep getting parts where she was hesitant or insecure, she didnt want them. But the other parts didnt seem to exist.

Dennis says she was offered the ingenue role in Guess Whos Coming to Dinner. But it was just another alternative on the white girl/black man theme, offered to Biff with Hollywoods usual lack of imagination.

Hartman blamed the studio, claiming that her ascent began when the star-making machinery was disintegrating along with it.

Im the last product of the star build-up, she said in 1971. But there was no follow-through. It got to the point where I died.

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But Janet Shoop believes part of the responsibility rested with Hartman herself. She was a dreamer. We kept telling her to sell herself. Wed tell her, This is a hard business. She had such an idealistic view. Shed say, You dont go selling yourself, you stand on your record. Shed audition for roles. But there was none of the using of contacts. That would seem bad to her.

She liked work and applause. She liked making films better than anything else. But she didnt want to deal with the reality of the profession. She was capable of acting, but she lacked stamina, and she wasnt worldly enough to be a fighter. She never could do that very well.

An example of this--Hartman badly wanted the part of Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo (for which Liza Minnelli later was nominated for an Academy Award). She told an interviewer, I read for it, and (director) Alan Pakula said, No, youre just not Pookie. 

What did you do?

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I went home, she said simply.

Whatever the case, the shower of offers turned into a trickle, and Hartman became very depressed. When she returned to Broadway in 1969 to appear in a revival of Our Town with Henry Fonda, she voiced her disillusionment to the New York Times, in an article entitled prophetically, After a Patch of Blue, Gray Skies.

She claimed that she had spent the past two years at home, just reading and brooding (Dennis says it was actually a few months). In a way, I expected to fail. Everybody wants to see if you can live up to your big success. Well, the parts that followed just werent that good.

When the inevitable money problems occurred, Hartman was urged to take on more lucrative roles. At first, she claimed she would never do so. I wouldnt take any part because of the money, she told Seventeen. (Says Janet Shoop: That might have been another reason for the decline in parts. She was a 60s intellectual snob in certain ways.)

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But, in 1973, she did just that with Walking Tall, the violent story of Southern sheriff Buford Pussers campaign to clean up his town, at a risk to himself and his family. Hartman played the wife who was ambushed and killed. (Hartman hated violence and her sister says she never saw the film.)

As usual, the critics had nothing but praise for her. Elizabeth Hartman is a gifted actress who appears too seldom, wrote Pauline Kael. A delicate-featured redhead with a beautifully molded brow, she has the appealing quality that the young Janet Gaynor had. You want to reach out to her, shes huggable. (Director Phil) Karlson uses her for as much tear-jerking potential as he dares.

Joe Don Baker has equally fond memories of Hartman. I liked her an awful lot. She was such a sweet lady. She was fragile, a lot more fragile than I thought. There was a distant look in her eyes. But she was a wonderful actress. She helped me so much. She looked in my eyes and made me feel just like a hero.

It was her last major screen role. Shortly after its release, Hartman began her descent into mental illness.

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Ive spent years being unhappy. What it is is that when things become so important, theyre no fun anymore. Making movies should be fun.

--Elizabeth Hartman, 1975 interview.

The signs were small at first. An increased paranoia, an oversensitivity to fancied slights. (Shed walk down the street, and if someone didnt smile back, shed fall apart, remembers a production assistant on one of her films.) She continued to voice her dissatisfaction about her lack of work. But when acting jobs were offered, she began to turn them down. Dennis says she rejected the Dyan Cannon role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. She even fired her publicist.

If I encouraged her to work, her ex-husband says, shed say I was betraying her. If I didnt encourage her, shed say I was betraying her. Thats the trick with mental illness. There are always reasons.

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She became a virtual recluse. Dennis would return home to find she had not left the house or eaten since his departure. (A reporter described her at the time as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 103 pounds, with a chalk white face.)

Shed cry all day, he says, or sleep all day, and then refuse to let me sleep at night.

The turning point, says Dennis, was when he was offered a job writing additional scenes for Apocalypse Now. I was told I had to stay in the Philippines a month. I realized wed be out of our financial hole. It should have been a joyous time. But the moment she heard, she became incredibly paranoid.

Dennis returned home one day to find Hartman had collected a dresser drawer full of paper scraps that she claimed contained threatening messages from an unseen enemy. She said she had gathered them in the yard. He says, I knew then it had gone far beyond what I could handle.

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I realized what I had perceived as shyness, lack of aggressiveness and overdependence, were actually symptoms of a much greater problem. I only stayed on location for two weeks, so I wouldnt be away from her too long. But I knew then I would not be able to survive it much longer. It was an extremely difficult decision, and a terrible, terrible time.

Janet Shoop says simply, Gill couldnt handle her anymore. So he sent her back home.

In its Sept. 7 article on Hartman, People magazine contended that it was chiefly her growing mental problems that caused her career to come to a halt after Walking Tall.

But Shoop claims that Hartmans determination to be ready for the right role--the one that never came--contributed to her fall.

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Biff was determined to maintain a heightened sensitivity. She felt her sensitivity gave her good qualities in acting. But the same sensitivities caused her to become unglued in real life. She didnt want to be in reality, fantasy was better. The fantasy was that she was going to get a film she would love, and be proud of, as A Patch of Blue. The reality was she was having career problems. They frightened her, and she became less and less able to cope.

I wanted her to work, says Dennis. She was happier working. She got out of herself. But everything became a rationalization for her retreat, after a while. I dont want to do this role because I dont want to be typecast. I dont want to do TV. Then shed get offered a movie role, and shed find a reason for rejecting that. Its a tremendous thing, that kind of torment.

Whatever the case, Hartman arrived at her sisters home in Oakmont, a suburb of Pittsburgh, not in good shape at all. She was very paranoid. She was unable to sleep, unable to talk, unable to literally do anything.

She was institutionalized (the first of 19 hospitalizations before her death) and later alternated between staying with the Shoops and with her mother in Youngstown. (Her father had died in 1964.) In 1978, she was sent to the Institute of Living in Connecticut, a facility that helps the mentally ill learn to take care of themselves. Hartman spent a year there, eventually taking an apartment near the institute and even doing a bit of community theater. By 1979, she felt ready to return to Hollywood.

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Dennis helped her move her furniture into a new apartment. After that, he never saw her again. They divorced in 1981.

I would like to play a well - adjusted girl who isnt afflicted, in a comedy like Katharine Hepburn used to do. Oh, I forgot. Nobody writes well-adjusted things anymore.

--Elizabeth Hartman, 1979 interview.

Hartman attempted to go back to work. Unfortunately, her absence had only lessened producer interest in her. She was reduced to taking roles in undistinguished movies like Full Moon High, in which she played a high school teacher trying to cope with a teen-age werewolf, played by Adam Arkin.

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Arkin, now a co-star in NBCs A Year in the Life, says: She seemed haunted, vulnerable, obviously very fragile. She kept her distance from everybody. I tried to talk to her a little bit and asked if I could do anything to make her feel more comfortable. She seemed to want privacy, but also seemed pleased--and surprised--by my intentions.

However, things improved when Hartman was offered the role of Myrtle Brown in the national company of Mornings at Seven. After the Boston opening, she received the kind of glowing reviews she had gotten in the old days. But the situation had worsened. Shortly after the run began, Janet Shoop received a call from a concerned physician.

She was very suicidal, she recalls. As soon as I arrived, she took an overdose of sleeping pills and was rushed to intensive care. But, the next night, she appeared on stage and she was wonderful. I spent two weeks with her to try to get her to the theater every night. She was frightened of everyone and everything. Wed go to breakfast, and shed get up and dash out as though somebody was after her.

But on stage, she was functional. The second she took her bow, she wasnt.

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When the play came to Los Angeles as a production of the Center Theatre Group in 1981, a family friend was hired to look after Hartman. But, during the Chicago run, she felt unable to continue. She quit, says Shoop. But everyone connected with the show was wonderful and supportive about it.

She returned to Hollywood. But, even though Hartman was now willing to take anything, the offers were sparse. Baker remembers seeing her in a Beverly Hills restaurant in 1982. She seemed very upset about not working, he says. Nothing was happening. She seemed very disappointed. She felt she should have been in some A movie.

She accepted one final role, the voice of the mouse heroine, Mrs. Brisby, in the Don Bluth animated feature, The Secret of NIMH.

But it was her final performance. On June 10, 1982, feeling depressed, disillusioned and unable to take care of herself, Hartman returned home for good.

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One of her last lines in the movie is: Dont let me fall. Im afraid of heights.

As for the future, Id just like to be offered some roles and be healthy enough to accept them, and--ha--live a happy, peaceful, contented life. --Elizabeth Hartman, 1971 interview.

For a while, she rested and read, wrote and brooded. She was hospitalized again and, for a time, lived in a halfway house.

When she felt better, on the advice of a physician, it was decided that she would have an enhanced sense of self-sufficiency if she got her own apartment. It was a tiny place (all her money had long since gone to doctors and hospitals). But she felt at home. For a while, things worked well. Hartman had never learned to drive, and the apartments closeness to the museum, the grocery store and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic was convenient. She even attempted some volunteer work, setting up programs at the museum, and worked for a time as a cashier there.

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But Hartman could not forget her past. Once, she ran away for two weeks. No one knew where she was. Eventually, she was tracked to Los Angeles, where she checked into a hotel room, and just sat waiting, no one is sure exactly for what. She said she wanted to die.

Her neighbors were vaguely aware she had been an actress, but she seldom talked about it. She didnt have any friends. She said it was too difficult for her, says Shoop. Among the few friends who remained from the old days were Francis Coppola and Geraldine Page, who continued to communicate with and support her. (Page died of a heart attack shortly after Hartman died.)

I had received a letter from her shortly before her death, says Coppola. She seemed excited about acting in the theater again. She sent me an identification card from a library she was working in. It had a current picture. She made a few jokes in the letter, and seemed happy to be going on her own and thinking about acting again. I was mentally composing a letter in response to her when I learned of her death.

On her good days, she did indeed think she might try to work again. Once, she gathered all her courage and went to call on the director of a local theater company. His first words, says Shoop, were Well, heres Miss Hollywood.

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Another director was more supportive. He even suggested another meeting. Hartman never kept the appointment.

It was hard to be optimistic and encouraging after a while, says Shoop. At first, I used to say, Youll be able to work again. But I realized it was unfair. We werent seeing progress. After a while, it wasnt I want you to act again. It was Lets try to go out to lunch. 

In the early part of 1987, Hartman became increasingly depressed. Neighbor Vee Toner told an interviewer that she was very morbid. . . . Shed say things like Vee, Im 42 and all by myself. 

Shoop, too, remembers that Hartman was obsessed with age. My youngest son had graduated from high school on June 5, and Biff couldnt believe my kids were as old as they were. Then she realized my oldest son was 21, the same age as she was when she made A Patch of Blue. It threw her.

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On June 9, the last day she saw Hartman, Shoop remembers that Hartman was depresed but not unusually so. She wanted to take her to lunch, but Hartman said she didnt feel like it. Instead, they had coffee at her apartment and talked about a slipcover that Shoop was making for her daybed. She wanted to take Hartman to the fabric store, but again Hartman said no. Shoop, who usually called her sister at 9:30 every morning, had a meeting the next day and told Hartman that shed reach her the next afternoon.

She will always regret not making the morning call. On Wednesday, June 10, something happened that upset Hartman. She called her physician and said she wanted to go to the hospital. After a discussion, she calmed down a bit and said she might be all right after all.

The physician told her to lie down and relax and that Biff could come in later if she needed to see her. Instead, she opened the window.

Biff was able to zero in on something so keenly she could exclude everything around her, Shoop said. It gave her a fine ability in terms of her acting. She also did that in terms of living--in that she didnt always see the whole picture. People talk about the fine line between madness and brilliance. That same thing that gave her the ability to act did not allow her to live normally.

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Whatever the case, Hartman is dead. Despite the conflicting theories about just why, she is certain to be relegated to the annals of those killed by Hollywood.

Hartmans family doesnt think this was true. Others arent so sure.

I get so damn bitter about her lack of work at the beginning, says Baker. I may be idealistic. But a good actress like that should have been working. But that doesnt surprise me in this town.

I was very saddened by the news, says Arkin. But it echoed something of the condition I had seen in her. It didnt startle me; it was not a complete surprise. She seemed so haunted. I guess she just gave way to her demons.

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Its a difficult thing to be an actress, says Dennis. Its a horrible thing, in many ways. The great roles just dont exist. Sally Field, Meryl Streep and Cher get them right now. In two years, itll be three other people.

Nobody ever knew what happened to Cinderella after the ball. Yes, dreams can come true, but, for some people, life can be even harder when they do.

Whatever one believes, its likely that film buffs can catch repeated TV reruns of Patch of Blue until the interest dies down. Shoop caught it on cable TV the other night, when she was alone in the house.

At first, I just lost myself in the movie, she says. As usual, I forgot it was Biff. I completely believed the character. But, shortly after it began, the camera zeroed in on her hands, stringing her beads.

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Biff had such childlike hands, so delicate, so sensitive . . . just like she was.

Thats when it became difficult for me. After the movie was over, I just sat back in my chair and thought about Biff and all her pain. And I cried.
A change in the naming convention of laptop GPUs may dupe gamers into purchasing systems with lower graphics performance than they believe.

Nvidia  the worlds leading PC graphics card manufacturer  makes the majority of GPUs offered in true gaming laptops today.

Generally these cards are less powerful than their desktop namesakes, but they still offer a great gaming experience for those who want to play while on the move.

One reason for their lower performance is the fact that they have to be fitted into a smaller chassis, which means that heat dissipation becomes a problem.

To address this, Nvidia introduced its Max-Q technology in 2017, which allowed compact laptops to get the capabilities of a powerful GeForce card, with slightly muted Thermal Design Power (TDP).

TDP  which is measured in watts  is the maximum theoretical power output of a computer chip or component at its peak load.

Alternatively, it is also an indication of the amount of heat that part can produce which the cooling system of the device it is located within can handle without failure.

Generally, the higher the TDP, the better the performance of the card, bar the few instances where efficiency has become advanced enough to trump raw power.

Max-Q no more

In order for consumers to be able to distinguish between faster and slower cards, manufacturers mostly indicated in laptop specification sheets if the card was using Max-Q technology or was a native mobile GPU (non-Max-Q or Max-P).

However, with the arrival of the RTX 30 Series on laptops, Nvidia has decided to drop the Max-Q branding.

Instead, manufacturers can decide for themselves exactly how much power they want their cards to be able to access, which gives them more room for adapting design and cooling appropriately, and including other Max-Q-related features.

The RTX 3060 can now have a TDP anywhere between 60 to 115W, the RTX 3070 can range from 80W to 120W, while the RTX 3080 can be between 80W and over 150W.

This does not include the additional 5W, 10W or 15Wwhich can be unlocked with the Dynamic Boost 2 feature.

RTX 3060 beating the RTX 3080

If a manufacturer chooses not to include the TDP, there is no way of knowing beforehand if you are, for example, buying a laptop with an RTX 3070 GPU running at 80W or 120W.

What makes it even more confusing is that a lower-end card with higher TDP may perform better than a superior model with lower TDP.

This means that there is no longer a simple hierarchy whereby the RTX 3080 card would always trump the RTX 3070, and the RTX 3070 would beat the RTX 3060.

In fact, a report from Computerbase indicated that the raw teraflops of graphics power on various RTX 3060 mobile cards is in fact higher than certain RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 cards with Max-Q TDPs.

The table below shows the list of 28 known variants of RTX 30 graphics cards for desktops and laptops uncovered by Computerbase, arranged according to their teraflops.

What to check

Following a backlash over the changes, Nvidia has announced it will require laptop manufacturers to indicate the performance specifications of the GPU in detail.

Companies must now indicate attributes like clock speeds, the wattage of a graphics card, and other features.

Consumers will have to peruse these carefully in order to see whether a higher-end card is indeed better than on another unit.

One place to turn to would be reputed tech review sites that test a wide variety of laptops.

Several sites have said that the development is a troubling one, and Notebookcheck has even gone as far as saying it will start calling out manufacturers who do not disclose the wattage of the GPUs in their laptops.

Popular tech YouTuber Dave Lee (Dave2D) has also started including the wattage of the RTX 30 cards for his laptop reviews, a trend which will likely stick with other reviewers as well.

If you are able to use the computer beforehand and have some time to test it, you can do the following:

Check the GPU power usage at idle.

Run a GPU benchmark like PassMark with the graphics load at its peak.

Check the GPU power usage at this point.

Subtract the first measurement.

This should give you a rough indication of the GPUs TDP.

Now read: Huge increase in Steam PC gaming time for 2020
(Newser)  Seth Abramovitch has managed to find Shelley Duvall, the actress forever famous for her turn as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. She essentially vanished when she left Hollywood for Texas in the '90s, only resurfacing in 2016 with an appearance on a mental illness episode of Dr. Phil that many found disturbing and exploitative. For the Hollywood Reporter, Abramovitch writes that he managed to track down and meet with the now-71-year-old in Texas Hill Country in January "unsure of what I would find when I got there. I only knew that it didn't feel right for McGraw's insensitive sideshow to be the final word on her legacy." And while "her mood ebbed and flowed throughout the day ... I found her memory to be sharp and her stories engrossing," he writes.

story continues below

Engrossing is certainly a word that could be applied to Abramovitch's piece. He takes us to the party Duvall threw that ended up changing her life, recounts her airport breakup with Paul Simon, shares praise for the actress from the many celebrities she worked with, and delves into her many roles before The Shining. But fans of that film will eagerly eat up her comments on that movie and the emotional toll it took on her, including her recollection of shooting a staircase scene a staggering 127 times. Noting she hadn't seen the film in years, Abramovitch pulled up the scene, in which she swings a bat at a murderous Jack Nicholson, on his phone. She started crying. "We filmed that for about three weeks," she explained. "Every day. It was very hard. Jack was so goodso damn scary. I can only imagine how many women go through this kind of thing." (Read the full piece here.)
ARCHIVED - WHO warns Spain about the danger of relaxing Covid restrictions too soon



The Spanish Ministry of Health is also urging caution

As Spanish regions begin to consider reopening bars and restaurants and relaxing restrictions due to drops in incidence rates, the World Health Organisation and the Spanish Ministry of Health call for caution

As official figures on incidence rates begin to fall, the authorities fear that a rush to ease restrictions could cause further waves of infection as transmission rates are still very high in Spain. The accumulated incidence rate in Spain as a whole is currently at 540 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a far cry from the set target of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants required to bring the transmission under control.

Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias has expressed her concern over what could happen if restrictions are lifted too quickly, as has WHOs senior emergency officer Catherine Smallwood, who referred specifically to the country during an update on the COVID-19 situation in Europe, saying: A relative decrease does not mean that transmission rates are low. In Spain weve seen a very significant relative decrease, but transmission rates remain very, very high, and the more the virus is among us, the quicker its going to be a step ahead of us. In that sense, we really do need to be careful.

Various regions are preparing to soften their measures due to the falling accumulated incidence rates and lower number of new cases, such as Castilla La-Mancha, where bars are to be allowed to open until 9 pm; Extremadura, where perimeter closures may also be lifted; and Madrid, which intends to shorten the curfew. Others, such as Castilla y Leon and Valencia, do not intend to relax measures for the time being.

Meanwhile the debate on whether or not bars and restaurants should be allowed to reopen continues.

The head of the Health Alerts and Emergency Coordination Centre, Fernando Simon, declared during a press conference on Thursday (11 February) that in areas where the inside of bars has been closed, the transmission rates have registered 8 and 9 per cent drops, whereas in areas where they remained open only 5 per cent drops were registered. Simon provided the figures in response to questions about a Basque Country judges ruling that bars should be allowed to open as they do not cause a health risk (an assertion which has provoked outrage amongst some medical professionals and condemnation from some regional governments, although has been welcomed by the hostelry sector). Simon was quick to state that in his opinion the catering industry presents a high risk for transmission of the virus, not because the bars and restaurants do anything wrong, but simply because of their customers attitudes and behaviour.

Simon also reiterated that a hard lockdown would make no sense now at current transmission levels, but admitted that it could have been a good idea a week or two ago.





Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group opened three new international sea routes on Jan. 19, bringing the number of the company's container routes to 305.





The new routes  EMC Southeast Asia line, WHL/IAL Vietnam line and WHL/IAL/ZIM/KMTC India line  will link Qingdao Port with regions and countries along the Belt and Road and with partner countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a major free trade agreement between Asia-Pacific nations signed last November.





As this year marks the launch of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the opening of the three routes is a decisive measure in implementing the new development concept, serving the new development paradigm and accelerating high-quality development, said Li Fengli, general manager of Shandong Port Group.





According to Li, the new routes will speed up the construction of a consumer goods distribution center in northern China, and make it possible to directly deliver products from Southeast Asian countries to the economic hinterland of Shandong province and enrich food supplies for the local people.





Shandong Port will continue to follow its development strategy of east-west connections and land-sea linkages, further establishing maritime cooperation with more ports and building a dynamic maritime industry ecosystem. It will contribute its strength to boosting high-quality regional economic development, building a nautical bridgehead for BRI and RCEP partner countries, and serving national economic growth, he said.





In 2020, the cargo throughput of Shandong Port exceeded 1.4 billion metric tons, and its container traffic exceeded 31 million TEUs. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it achieved growth against a general world downward trend and ranked among the best coastal ports in China.





Li added that the signing of the RCEP provided a rare opportunity for Shandong Port to deepen cooperation with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia and other countries and regions. The port would be integrated into the country's new development paradigm of "big circulation" and "dual circulation" to stabilize foreign trade, maintain smooth flow, and promote development.





Together with major shipping companies, it will make every effort to increase the density of advantageous route groups and accelerate the building of an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia.





Su Jianguang, general manager of Qingdao Port, believed that the opening of the three routes marked an important achievement in jointly promoting the implementation of the RCEP agreement.





Representatives of relevant shipping agencies and marine companies also held high expectations for the new routes, as the EMC Southeast Asia line will build a highly efficient and low-cost maritime logistics channel connecting with Malaysia; the WHL/IAL Vietnam line is Qingdao Port's first Southeast Asia cold-chain direct express route, which will bring imported food such as fruit from Vietnam to the port within only five days; WHL/IAL/ZIM/KMTC India line will further increase the density of direct routes from Qingdao Port to South Asia.





Liu Jicheng, deputy secretary-general of Qingdao Municipal Government, believed the shipping network would lead to an upgrade of a "seaward golden channel" connecting Shandong Port with BRI countries in Southeast Asia and Middle Asia as well as RCEP partner countries, helping to achieve high-quality economic cooperation with ASEAN countries.





Cai Zhongtang, executive deputy general manager of Shandong Port Group, said that, in order to speed up regional economic and trade cooperation and ensure the smooth flow of the industrial and supply chains, the company had successively issued significant policies to accelerate the breakthrough development of containers and support the expansion of container routes.





Ship arrivals and departures are now more efficient at Qingdao Port, the loading and unloading efficiency further improved, and online services further expanded, all contributing to a better business environment here, he said.





Content created in partnership with Science and Technology Daily.




The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded that the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 must be put in the public domain before starting a discussion on the same. The AIPEF shot off a letter to the Prime Minister on Friday last week and pushed for placing the bill in public domain for stakeholders' comments.

The draft bill is not available on the power ministry website, AIPEF Spokesperson V K Gupta said in a statement. According to the statement, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 is included in the list of 20 new bills to be placed in the current budget session of Parliament.

The union power minister is to hold a video conference on February 17 with power secretaries of states and CMDs (chairman and managing directors) of discoms to discuss the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act 2003, it said. AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey, in a letter to the union power minister, has said this is a short cut and rushing through amendments without due consideration or deliberations is not acceptable.

There have been reports that the power ministry has circulated a draft Electricity Amendment Bill proposing changes to the Electricity Act, 2003. The proposed amendments entail de-licensing of the distribution business, among others.

Gupta said the reports are unauthenticated and deserve to be discarded, particularly as the amendments would introduce a drastic policy of separating carriage and content which was earlier rejected by as many as 20 states. The outcome of the various suggestions of stakeholders on the Electricity Amendment Bill of 2020 remains undisclosed and a new draft bill has been leaked to a select few, the body said.

The present approach of the Ministry of Power is non-transparent and secretive, and it seems the government is trying to hide critical facts, it added. AIPEF further said all the stakeholders, including associations/ unions of employees and engineers, consumers and others must be given sufficient time to present their viewpoints and the state governments are not the only stakeholders.

Also read: Delhi's power demand picks up in January after COVID-19-hit 2020
The dramatic conclusion of former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial laid bare deep philosophical rifts between Republicans, as GOP senators splintered not only over the question of Mr. Trumps guilt, but also the future of their party and Mr. Trumps role in it.

Seven GOP senators voted to convict the former president of inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6not enough to find him guilty but, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed out, the final tally was the most guilty votes cast by members of a presidents own party in any impeachment trial in American history.

The rest of the Senate Republican conference43 senators in totalvoted to acquit Mr. Trump, but not without some angst, reflecting a party schism that has also fractured the House and will likely play out in primary elections in 2022 and 2024.

Its been a tough day," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), who voted to acquit.

Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said as he left the Capitol: Its an uncomfortable vote and time will tell, butI dont think there was a good outcome there for anybody." Mr. Thune also voted to acquit Mr. Trump.

Senate Democrats were unanimous in voting to convict Trump, as House Democrats were in last months impeachment vote, but some in the party were left frustrated by the speed of the trial and the lack of witnessesparticularly the hasty agreement Saturday that didnt result in testimony from Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler. Way to snatch hope," tweeted Melissa Byrne, a progressive strategist.

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, defended the decision to forgo witnesses, saying being able to enter Ms. Herrera Beutlers statement into the record and read it out loud was all that the impeachment managers wanted. He said no matter how many witnesses they called, they would be unable to sway Republicans who argued that it was unconstitutional to try a former president or that Mr. Trump was protected by the First Amendment.

While some Democrats differed on tactics, the Republican rift was more profound, as GOP senators tried to distance themselves from Mr. Trump while stopping short of a step that would permanently exile the de facto leader of their partya figure still very popular with their basefrom future federal office. If the Senate had mustered 67 votes necessary to convict Mr. Trump, 51 senators in a subsequent vote could have barred him from holding office ever again.

Instead, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor to try to bury Mr. Trumps political future and salvage the Republican Partys brand from the legacy of Jan. 6.

Earlier in the afternoon, Mr. McConnell voted to acquit Mr. Trump. But in a harshly critical speech, the Kentucky Republican made it clear he had cut all ties to the former presidentand suggested he might have voted differently had Mr. Trump still been in office.

Mr. McConnell called the mobs Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol a disgrace and laid the blame squarely on Mr. Trump. They did this because theyd been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth because he was angry he lost an election," he said. President Trumps actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty."

There is no question, none," he said, that Mr. Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it."

Mr. McConnell appeared to agree with the argument presented by House managers that the people who stormed the Capitol building believed they were acting on Mr. Trumps wishes and instructions.

The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things," Mr. McConnell said. Sadly, many politicians sometimes make overheated comments or use metaphors, we saw, that unhinged listeners might take literally. But that was different.This was an intensifying crescendo of conspiracy theories by an outgoing president who seems determined to either overturn the voters decision or else torch our institutions on the way out."

By strictly criminal standards, Mr. McConnell said, the presidents speech was probably not incitement. But in the context of impeachment, he said, the Senate might have decided that this was acceptable shorthand for the reckless actions that preceded the riots."

He argued, however, that the question is moot because Mr. Trump has left officea view he said he came to after intense reflection on the text of the Constitution.

The Republican leader could have brought the Senate back early with agreement from the Democratic leader under a 2004 law that authorizes the emergency return of the Senate provided that both lawmakers agree.

Mr. McConnell also chose not to pressure Republican senators to vote one way or another, although in an email to his Republican colleagues Saturday morning, he had revealed that he would vote to acquit, and characterized the verdict as a vote of conscience for lawmakers.

With a tough Senate map on the horizon for Republicans in 2022, Mr. McConnell and other GOP senators face the thorny task of rebuilding a party still dominated by base voters who favor Mr. Trump, while winning back suburban, independent and college-educated voters who fled the party over the past four years, disgusted by Mr. Trump.

Saturdays Republican divides stretched beyond the Senate. In the House, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), a fierce Trump defender, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.), a Trump ally known for promoting conspiracy theories, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R., Ill.), an outspoken Trump critic, all took different tacks on Twitter over the role of Ms. Herrera Beutler and whether her testimony on Mr. Trumps actions during the riot would be relevant or brave.

As Senate Republicans publicly wrestled with their decisions on impeachment this week, they also grappled with the prospect that Mr. Trump might roar back onto the political scene after being acquitted, newly emboldened.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.) voted to acquit Saturday. But he said it would be harder for him personally to vote for Mr. Trump for president again, given what happened Jan. 6.

That has got to be part of what weighs on me, what anybody would have to measure," Mr. Cramer said. But I can assure you that just as sure as that would measure negatively for me, theres a whole lot of people who feel the opposite about it. And a lot of them are my constituents."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), who is up for re-election in 2022, told reporters she agonized over her decision to convict Mr. Trump.

Theres consequences, I guess, with every vote, and this was consequential on many levels, but I cannot allow my votethe significance of my voteto be devalued by whether or not I feel that this is helpful to my political ambitions," she said.

What Im taking home is that at the end of the day, right won," Ms. Murkowski added, referring to Congresss constitutional obligation to finish certifying Joe Bidens electoral win after the riot. And we did it because we had some extraordinary men and women that were willing to stand up and defend and protect, and that was good," she said.

I just wish that Donald Trump had been one of them."

Eliza Collins and Siobhan Hughes contributed to this article.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, has acquired ExxonMobils 32 percent interest in the Baeshiqa license in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, doubling DNOs operated stake to 64 percent.



The company plans to continue an exploration and appraisal program on the license while fast tracking early production from existing wells in 2021.



DNO has already demonstrated proof of concept of producing through temporary test facilities, having delivered 15,000 barrels of 40o API oil and 22o API oil for export from the Baeshiqa-2 and Zartik-1 wells, respectively.



In November 2019 DNO issued a notice of discovery on the Baeshiqa license after flowing hydrocarbons from several Jurassic and Triassic zones to surface in the 3,204 meters (2,549 meters TVDSS) Baeshiqa-2 exploration well. Following acid stimulation, the zone flowed variable rates of light oil and sour gas. Two zones flowed naturally at rates averaging over 3,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of light gravity oil each and another averaged over 1,000 bopd also of light gravity oil. Subsequent analyses on surface samples collected during testing confirm that the Triassic reservoirs contain saturated oil with a gas cap.



An exploration well was completed in 2020 on a second structure (Zartik) some 15 kilometres southeast of the Baeshiqa-2 discovery well. The 3,021 meters (2,322 meters TVDSS) well tested hydrocarbons to surface from several Jurassic zones, with the uppermost zone flowing naturally at rates averaging over 2,000 bopd of medium gravity oil.



The Company currently estimates gross license contingent recoverable resources from three of the tested zones in the two wells ranging from 12 million barrels of oil (mmbbls) (1C) to 156 mmbbls (3C), with a 2C volume of 43 mmbbls.



"By increasing our stake in the Baeshiqa license now, we demonstrate our belief in its ultimate potential, said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO's Executive Chairman. Following the stabilization of oil prices and export payments in Kurdistan, DNO is stepping up spending on new opportunities.



DNO acquired its first 32 percent interest from ExxonMobil and assumed operatorship of the Baeshiqa license in 2018.



The 324 sq km license is situated 60 kilometres west of Erbil and 20 kilometres east of Mosul. The license contains two large structures, Baeshiqa and Zartik, which have multiple independent stacked target reservoir systems, including in the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic. The remaining partners in the license include TEC with a 20 percent paying (16 percent net) interest and the Kurdistan Regional Government with a 20 percent carried interest.



In addition to the Baeshiqa license, DNO also operates the Tawke license containing the Tawke and Peshkabir fields in Kurdistan. Gross operated production from the Tawke license averaged 110,300 bopd in 2020.  TradeArabia News Service


Michael van der Veen, attorney for former President Donald Trump, heads to the Senate Chamber before the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment trials for former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 13, 2021. (Greg Nash/Getty Images)

Trump Impeachment Lawyer: Bloodthirsty Media Is Trying to Divide This Country

One of former President Donald Trumps impeachment lawyers accused media companies of trying to push a narrative instead of sticking to the facts, saying news outlets are trying to divide this country.

What this country wants and this country needs is this country to come together, Michael T. van der Veen said, adding that the reason why there is so much divisiveness is because of the media.

The media wants to tell their narrative rather than just telling it like it is, he said, adding that corporate media outlets have to start telling the right story in this country and that the media is trying to divide this country to make a profit.

You are bloodthirsty for ratings. Youre asking questions that are already set up with a fact-pattern, van der Veen said.

When I watch the news, I watch one station, and it is raining. And I watch another station at the same time, and it is sunny. Your coverage is so slanted, its got to stop. You guys have to stop and start reporting more like PBS does rather than a TV news show that does not have any journalistic integrity at all. What Im telling you is they doctored evidence, he said, referring to managers at the Senate impeachment trial of Trump.

Michael van der Veen, attorney for former President Donald Trump, is seen in the Senate Reception Room before the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment trials for former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Greg Nash/Getty Images)

He was responding to a comment and question from a CBS News reporter, Lana Zak, after the Senate acquitted Trump. She was asking him about what he described was doctored evidence that was presented by Democratic House managers during the trial, including the addition of a Twitter checkmark on a tweet and selectively edited videos of the Capitol riots.

The reporter, in her question, framed her question in a way that van der Veen suggested was an attempt to downplay the apparently doctored evidence.

Its not OK to doctor a little bit of evidence, he said.

Prosecutors in this case doctored evidence. They did not investigate this case, and when they had to come to the court of the Senate to put their case on, because they had not done any investigation, they doctored evidence. It was absolutely shocking. I think when we discovered it and were able to expose it and put it out, I think it turned a lot of senators, van der Veen said.

Zak had interjected, To be clear for our viewers, what youre talking about now is a check mark, a verification on Twitter that did not exist on that particular tweet, 2020 that should have actually read 2021, and the selective editing, you say, of the tapes.

According to a poll from Gallup last fall, only 9 percent of Americans trust mass media a great deal and 31 percent trust the media a fair amount. Meanwhile, 33 percent have no trust at all in the media, while 27 percent have not very much trust in the media, a poll says.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to 2019 Pulwama martyrs and said we are proud of our security forces. Our armed forces showed time and again they are fully capable of protecting our motherland, PM Modi said in Chennai

"No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the PulwamaAttack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs we lost in that attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire generations," PM Modi said in Chennai.

No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the #PulwamaAttack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs we lost in that attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire generations: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/38kri2wBaS  ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2021

14 February 2021 marks two years of the Pulwama terror attack when 40 valiant Indian soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them.

Earlier today, several leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress party also paid rich tribute to the soldiers.

Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the dastardly terror attack.

The attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, 2019. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.





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Students who want to unplug and isolated seniors looking for connections can find each other through a new pen pal program.

Were just trying to put a smile on somebodys face, said Jessica Kjera, from the Wayne County Public Library.  Oh, somebody is thinking about me or Oh, theres somebody else in the world who feels this way. 

The library partnered with the Cooperage Project in Honesdale to create the all-ages NEPA Pen Pals program. The program aims to spread joy by reconnecting residents of Northeast Pennsylvania via snail mail. The Cooperage and the library are working together to pair residents of Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Monroe and Lackawanna counties to write and receive letters from each other.

Participants fill out an online form which asks them for their age, address and phone number, as well as questions that help Kjera and Jessica Mauder, food and agriculture program manager at the Cooperage, find the right pairs. Questions include which pen pal should write first and the distance participants would prefer their pen pals live from them. Paper copies of the form are also available at any Wayne County library or can be mailed to those without internet access. The program launched Feb. 1 but is available for sign-up at any time. Pen pals are encouraged to write at least once a month.

The idea for the project came from a webinar that Kjera, the assistant childrens librarian, participated in last spring. She learned about low-tech ways to connect communities, including how an independent book store in Philadelphia that hosted a book club for students without internet access began a similar pen pal program to keep connected during the pandemic.

The Cooperage was also seeking a project to connect people, said Mauder. The organization switched from its typical live performances and events to engaging in food relief efforts over the past year.

We know theres people without internet, we know they are shut-ins ... we just wanted to try and connect people, said Mauder.

Kjera said the program helps students lacking social interaction find meaningful connections while staying safe.

Kids are on Zoom all day during the week for school and we want them to be doing something that is not plugged in and not electronic. This kind of fills this need for both, she said. The program also teaches letter-writing skills, she added.

The pen pal program revives an old way of connecting people and also widens support systems while giving participants a letter to look forward to receiving, said Mauder.

Its reminding everybody that theres light at the end of the tunnel, she said.

The Cooperages mission is to engage, enlighten and enhance the lives of community members. Its a place to gather, where people connect and smile at each other, shake hands and hug.

The pen pal program is kind of taking the place of those gatherings, she said. Hopefully this will be a way to remind folks that just because were not gathering doesnt mean were alone in the survival of this.

For details or to fill out the Pen Pal form, visit www.waynelibraries.org or contact Mauder at 570-253-2020 or jenna@thecooperageproject.org; or Kjera at 570-253-1220 or jkjera@waynelibraries.org.
This winter saw something that made exporters of liquefied natural gas very happy: a more than a 1,000-percent surge in LNG prices on the spot market from a year earlier as a cold spell gripped swathes of Asia. What could make them even happier is the fact this surge has seriously compromised the appeal of spot market deals. Long-term contracts are reclaiming their territory. Traditionally, natural gas was bought and sold under long-term contracts pegged to the price of crude oil. This benefited sellers when oil was expensive and reduced their income when oil was cheap. In either case, the sellers had long-term secure markets for their gas.

With LNG came the spot market where you could sell a cargo more than once while it was still in the ocean. The increased popularity of LNG gave rise to a dynamic spot market where prices reflected demand and supply much more accurately than long-term oil-linked contracts. Buyers loved the spot market when LNG supply exceeded demand and brought prices to historic lows. Yet they didnt love it so much last month when a million British thermal units topped $30, from less than $2 in May 2020.

As Reuterss commentator Clyde Russell noted in a column in late January, the gas world was moving towards a greater preference for spot market deals thanks to the abundanteven excessiveavailability of LNG. Yet one sudden surge in demand may have been enough to cause some rethinking: after all, long-term contracts do have their advantages, chief among them the guaranteed availability of the commodity.

It is no wonder, then, that one of the worlds biggest producers of liquefied natural gas is grabbing the opportunity to secure its market share. Earlier this month, Qatars energy minister warned LNG importers that they would face more price spikes unless they bet on the certainty of long-term contracts.

Whats more, Saad al-Kaabi said, as quoted by the Financial Times, that new LNG supply was going to be tighter now, with U.S. shale oiland gasproduction in survival rather than growth mode and with international energy companies shelving projects amid spending cuts. At least half of LNG projects planned to start in the next few years, al-Kaabi said, were not going to materialize.

There isnt a lot of money that will be helping oil and gas companies, the official told the FT in an interview. But the pure economics of these projects do not fly any more at low oil prices.

What flies, however, is the economics of Qatars own LNG production expansion plans. Last week, the tiny Gulf nation announced what it called the largest LNG project in the world that will bring its annual production capacity from 77 million tons to 110 million tons by 2025. The expansion will cost Qatar close to $29 billion and will cement its place as the worlds top LNG exporter.

Related: The Oil Deal That Could Break Up Iraq

With such plans in place, it makes perfect sense for Qatar to promote the security of long-term supply, since this also means the security of revenues for it as a producer. But with oil prices on the rise and spot market LNG prices fallingMarch deliveries to north Asia are already below $10 per mmBtubuyers may start having second thoughts.

In the period between 2016 and 2020, according to Reuters, Asian spot market prices for natural gas were on average 27.2 percent lower than Brent-indexed long-term contract prices. Even so, only a third of the gas that enters Asia is bought on the spot market.

There have been hopes that the lower prices on the spot market would help it mature and make the foundation of an international gas market that is not that closely linked to crude oil. But the lower average price comes with much greater price volatility: 51 percent higher than price volatility in Brent-pegged prices over 2016-2020, according to Reuters.

Volatility is great when the market is in oversupply but not that great when demand surges, as the recent events in Asia once again proved. But there is also another factor working to the advantage of long-term Brent-indexed prices. Storage space for liquefied natural gas is limited. This means that even if importers fill up all the available space in preparation for the winter, it may not be enough to secure the fuel they need for their thermal power plants.

With long-term contracts, on the other hand, you dont need to worry about storage space because the seller guarantees you deliveries. Brent-indexed long-term contracts have been called archaic, but it looks like they are here to stay, according to analysts.

If buyers dont secure long-term deals . . . they will see spikes every winter and they will pay a hefty price, Qatars al-Kaabi said.

People thought this is a cheap commodity and you can have it whenever you want and nobody wanted long-term contracts, he added. [But] one or two shutdowns in Qatar or Australia and youre dead.

The way to avoiding death appears to be a single one: long-term contracts. However, the fact that the security of global supply hinges on just two huge producers mayand even shouldbecome a cause for worry, especially in an environment where long-term contracts dominate the market.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The doctors work in the intensive care unit in the pulmonary departments.  AFP

Hyderabad: Two postgraduate doctor, one each at the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences and the Chest Hospital, contracted Covid-19 20 days after taking the first dose of vaccination against the disease.

Both doctors work in the intensive care unit in the pulmonary departments. The doctors were wearing personal protection kits and following safety protocols while at the hospital, their seniors said.

A senior doctor on condition of anonymity explained, Hospital wards have the Covid-19 virus. The doctors are dealing with severe cases and there are chances of contracting from them.

Dr Srinivas Rao, senior resident at NIMS, said, Vaccination is not the reason for the disease. The doctors have contracted Covid-19 as they are in proximity with the patients. They are working in the high-risk respiratory ward.

Both doctors are under observation and their symptoms are being closely monitored.

In the private sector, three doctors contracted Covid-19 after 24 and 48 hours of the first dose.

They all are stable now, according to sources.

Dr Mustufa Afzal, senior infection specialist, said, Vaccination is not the reason for the disease as the first dose is expected to trigger immune system for antibodies. The antibodies will be formed after the second dose and that will take two months. Hence infection is contracted by exposure to those who are carriers of the virus.

It is yet to be understood whether, after vaccination, the disease will be mild or severe. With a large pool of vaccinated beneficiaries it will soon be clear how effective is the vaccine in protecting them from the disease.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The hunt for a Covid-19 vaccination appointment in New York is likely to get even competitive, at least in the short term, starting today, as people with certain medical conditions also become eligible to make appointments starting at 8 a.m.

Appointments did open up this morning at many state sites, including the New York State Fairgrounds. By about 8:30 a.m. this morning, the site appeared to be down for some.

Others had luck clearing their cache and trying again. One reader had better luck trying a different browser.

The state has added a new virtual queue system. It doesnt guarantee an appointment, but it does let you know where you are in the virtual line. If you get in, stay on that page as the clock counts down.

There are three main ways for eligible members of the public to get the vaccine -- through the state, through your county or at local drugstores.

Heres some help in navigating the vaccine landscape:

Who should use the states Am I Eligible? website?

New York states Am I Eligible? website is for any state resident who is eligible. This site mostly has appointments for the states 13 mass vaccine sites, including at the New York State Fair, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Pro tip: Even if the site says no appointments are available, go ahead and click the get started button. Enter your qualifying information. Then stay on the Locate Providers page and update often. Click through to vaccine sites, even if it says there are no appointments. The state is reopening appointments that become available because of cancelations. These are very sporadic and scarce, but they do pop up from time to time.

This image is from New York's "Am I Eligible" website. You get to this page after entering eligibility information. From here, keep updating and clicking on the various vaccine sites. Appointments do pop up occasionally.Source: New York state

Website: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/

How do I get an appointment at the Oncenter?

Onondaga County is also administering the vaccine.

As of early February, county officials were learning each Sunday about that weeks allotment. The vaccine arrives on Tuesdays, County Executive Ryan McMahon says. He usually opens up appointments on the county website on Wednesdays.

These county appointments are mostly for people who qualify because of their jobs. But seniors and others can also apply.

Website: https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/

What about appointments at drug stores?

These are reserved for people 65 and older.

Here in the Syracuse area, Kinney Drugs, Wegmans and CVS are offering many of the vaccination doses. Each store gets about 100 doses each week. The chain makes those appointments available as the vaccine rolls into each location.

Kinney Drugs asks that people refrain from calling individual stores. They dont have access to the appointment system.

Some independent drug stores are also offering the vaccine. As of Friday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomos office has not provided a list of those pharmacies.

Pro tip: Sign up for vaccine alerts from Kinney Drugs. This will let you know when the vaccine arrives in an area. You must act fast to get the appointments.

Website: https://www.wegmans.com/pharmacy/

Website: https://secure.kinneydrugs.com/pharmacy/covid-19/vaccination-scheduling/ny/

Website: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=coronavirus-lp-nav-vaccine

Is there a way to make appointments by phone?

Most appointments are available online, but there is a state number you can call: 833-697-4829.

What info do I need when making an appointment?

Different websites call for different pieces of information. Its best to have the following handy:

Full name

Date of birth

Drivers license

Insurance information, including Medicare or Medicaid cards

Email address

Phone number

What if Im making an appointment for a friend or neighbor?

Generally, youll need the above information.

You should also be ready to answer some general health questions about past vaccine allergies, current medications such as blood thinners or steroids, past or present cancer treatments, and information about any autoimmune issues. The forms also usually ask whether the patient is pregnant.

What if I dont have insurance?

You do not need insurance to get the vaccine.

What should I take when I go get the vaccine?

After you make the appointment, youll get an email explaining what you need to bring, which usually includes a consent form, your ID and insurance information (if you have it). If youre eligible because of your job, youll need a work ID and/or a letter from your employer explaining your eligibility.

People with qualifying underlying conditions will need a doctors letter, medical documentation proving the condition or a certification signed by vaccine recipients stating they have a condition that qualifies them for a shot. The state will audit the evidence to ensure the rules are followed.

What about the other Central New York counties?

Cayuga County

Cayuga County encourages county residents to check its website for upcoming appointments. It also has an alert system about the vaccine.

Website: https://www.cayugacounty.us/1610/COVID-19-Immunization-Clinics

Phone number: 315-253-1560

Cortland County

Cortland County says its contacting employers of eligible people as the vaccine rolls in. But the county also said to routinely check its website for additional information.

The county is asking people not to reach out to SUNY Cortland directly, but to use the states website (above) for those appointments.

Website: https://www.cortland-co.org/1009/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information

Phone number: 607-756-3415

Madison County

The county is booking appointments as the vaccine becomes available. The county does not have a wait list. But it does have a number to help seniors book appointments or get transportation to a vaccine site. That number is below.

Website: https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/2675/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information

Phone number: 315-606-5080 for seniors only

Oneida County

The county is booking appointments as the vaccine becomes available.

Website: https://www.ocgov.net/

Oswego County

Oswego County advises its residents to check this website often. The county is setting up appointments as they become available.

Website: https://health.oswegocounty.com/information/2019_novel_coronavirus/covid-19_vaccine.php

Phone number: 315-349-3545

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado  February 13, 2021

The Caring Generation

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation podcast show for caregivers and aging adults. This coming Wednesday, February 17, 2021, the topic is The Scary Truth About Guardianship and The Responsibilities of a Guardian for the Elderly.

During this podcast, Wilson shares experiences from her years as a guardian for the elderly and disabled so that adult children can avoid surprising situations. Wanting to do the right thing for an elderly parent can be a joyful experience when families get along. Challenging guardianship situations result when children disagree, or a history of potential abusefinancial or emotionalexists within a family.

The Scary Truth About Guardianship

Adult children who become a court-appointed guardian for an elderly parent may underestimate the seriousness and extent of their accepted responsibilities. Siblings may dislike the brother or sister appointed guardian because of disagreements about care for elderly parents or perceived favoritism. Brothers and sisters who hold grudges can make the life of the appointed guardian extremely difficult.

It's easy to empathize with friendships or work relationships that go bad when one person poisons a relationship that can't be repaired. Family relationships can be fractured when siblings misrepresent information to an elderly parent with dementia who cannot discern lies from the truth. In these situations, being the guardian for a parent can feel like a thankless responsibility.

The Responsibilities of a Guardian for the Elderly

The responsibilities of a guardian for the elderly include navigating difficult situations that may include:

Managing or supervising in-home care that brothers or sisters attempt to sabotage because they don't believe that mom or dad needs help

Moving a parent to a care community against their wishes and having the care staff side with your parent who believes that you are the evil guardianthat your brothers and sisters claim you to be

Advocating for care with the healthcare system who are uneducated or biased against care for the elderly diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Searching for a geriatric psychiatrist or a geriatrician willing to prescribe medications for behaviorsinstead of telling you that there are too many side effects or warnings because they are worried about liability

Paying for mom and dad's care instead of saving their estate for the inheritance that your brother or sister expects to receive

Negotiating with nursing home staff who change your parent's medications without asking you and then call to report health emergencies resulting from discontinued medications

The emotional aspects of caring for elderly parents and navigating relationships with family members and care providers can overshadow the good work that a family guardian does for a parent. In this podcast, Wilson shares tips and recommendations for family guardians that offer hope for managing difficult family or care situations.

Wilson releases a new podcast in The Caring Generation series every Wednesday, sharing conversations about aging, caregiving, and family relationships. The podcasts are available on Wilson's website and all major podcast sites. More about Wilson's online courses for elderly care: How to Get Guardianship of a Parent and Taking Care of Elderly Parents, caregiver support, webinars, and speaking engagements is on her website www.pameladwilson.com. Pamela may also be contacted at 303-810-1816 or through the Contact Me page on her website.

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Fon Clement Ndi II of Kom Reserved

The population of Kom in Boyo Division stormed the camp of separatist fighters Sunday, February 14, 2021, to free their traditional ruler, Fon Clement Ndi II.

Open sources say armed separatists kidnapped the paramount ruler of Kom around Fujua in Fundong late Sunday afternoon as he returned from Njinikom where he had taken part in a thanksgiving mass.

The Fon, sources say, was kidnapped on grounds that he allowed state forces to guard him to and from a thanksgiving mass in Njinikom. He is also faulted for making a stopover at the home Denis Awoh Ndang, Mayor of Fundong.

The separatists are said to have guaranteed the Fon of his protection only if he ceases from having anything to do with state authorities.

He was kidnapped by the Ambazonia fighters and questioned why he allows state forces to guard him. The fighters also warned him against interacting with government forces, the Mayor, and other authorities, reports say.

As news of the Fons abduction crept from ear to ear, the population soon mobilized and headed towards the camp of the separatist fighters.

Apparently fearing for the worst, the separatists quickly freed the Fon even before the angry crowd could get to the camp.

At the time of this report, Fon Clement Ndi II of Kom was in his palace.

Last year, armed separatists kidnapped the Fon of Nso, Fon Sehm Mbinglo for being a candidate in the December 6, 2020, regional elections. The Fon was seized alongside Christian Cardinal Tumi, archbishop emeritus of Douala.

The abduction of the Fon of Kom came on the heels of the murder of three traditional rulers in Lebialem Division, South West Region by armed separatists on Saturday night.

Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017.

Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods.

Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, maiming, and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions.
I made that cake as a response to something that someone did that was really ugly, said Hart. I did not make that cake because it was just an idea I had to be supportive of Obama. During his election there was a bakery in Washington, D.C., that made a cookie that looked like poop and named it Obama. In response to that I made a cake that looks like America. The white cake, the red cake and the black cake are the people. Its frosted in cream cheese, because the truth is white folks control America. Its drizzled with chocolate, which represented Obama being in the top office. And its covered in nuts, because its really crazy people running all this.
Security forces fired at protestors outside a power plant in northern Myanmar in an attempt to break up the crowd.

Footage broadcast live on Facebook showed the crowd being shot at by security personnel, but it is not clear whether they were using rubber or real bullets.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the power plant in Kachin, near the city of Myitkyina, which soldiers had occupied since staging a military coup.

In the video footage, the crowds of protestors were doused with a water cannon while security forces fired into the crowd.

Security forces fired at protestors outside a power plant in northern Myanmar in an attempt to break up the crowd. Pictured: Anti-coup protestors gather outside the UN Information office in Yangon, Myanmar earlier today

The military seized power in Myanmar on February1, detaining Suu Kyi and members of her government and preventing recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament. Pictured: A military armoured vehicle is seen driving along a road in Yangon, Myanmar earlier today

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'A few minutes ago the Tatmadaw reinforced with military tanks and now they started shooting.'

The protest at the power plant was far from the only incident seen across Myanmar, as vast numbers of people flouted anti-demonstration orders to march today against the military takeover.

Eight days of street demonstrations are estimated to have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the streets despite the threat of six months' imprisonment for violating an order banning gatherings of five or more people.

The same order imposes an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.

Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by ethnic minorities.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the power plant in Kachin, near the city of Myitkyina, which soldiers had occupied since staging a military coup. Pictured: Anti-coup demonstrators hold up banners in protest against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, earlier today

The protest at the power plant was far from the only incident seen across Myanmar, as vast numbers of people flouted anti-demonstration orders to march today against the military takeover

Resistance also took place in cyberspace, as a group calling itself BrotherHood of Myanmar Hackers defaced the government's Myanmar Digital News website, replacing content on its home page with words and pictures against the military takeover.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and U.S. embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washington's actions sanctioning the military.

'The civil disobedience movement and demonstrations show that the people of Myanmar want democracy. We stand with them,' said a statement Saturday on the U.S. Embassy's Twitter account.

Sunday's activism took place after the ruling junta issued a new order suspending several basic civil liberties.

The order, issued late Saturday and published earlier today in state newspapers, suspends provisions in an existing law on security and privacy protection.

Eight days of street demonstrations are estimated to have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the streets despite the threat of six months' imprisonment for violating an order banning gatherings of five or more people

Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon (pictured), Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by ethnic minorities

This allows the authorities to carry out searches and make arrests without court warrants.

It also allows the interception of electronic and other communications without a warrant and permits the detention of detainees for more than 24 hours without court permission.

The military seized power in Myanmar on February 1, detaining Suu Kyi and members of her government and preventing recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament.

The junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said it was forced to step in because the government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last year's election, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won in a landslide.

The state election commission refuted that contention, saying there is no evidence to support it.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and U.S. embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washington's actions sanctioning the military

Sunday's activism took place after the ruling junta issued a new order suspending several basic civil liberties. The order, issued late Saturday and published earlier today in state newspapers, suspends provisions in an existing law on security and privacy protection

During the protests, a 19-year-old woman who was shot in the head with what experts said was live ammunition at a protest in Naypyitaw was on life support in a hospital and was not expected to recover.

Tributes to the woman were held Sunday by protesters in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city.

The military has also released around 23,000 convicts, some of which, it has been alleged, have been employed to carry out violence and instil panic.

There was already outrage at night-time raids during the curfew period in which security personnel have tried to seize people from their homes.

In several cases, neighbours and others people rushed to the scene in such numbers that security forces abandoned their attempts to haul in their targets.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 384 people have been detained since the coup, with 360 still being held.

Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, but a remand order holding her on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies expires Monday.
In context: Google has issued a bug-fixing update to its YouTube iOS app, which marks the first major iOS app update since Apples new privacy rules came into effect in December. The move comes after many speculated that Google was withholding app updates in protest over Apples privacy nutrition labels in the App Store.

Following the 15.49.6 update, privacy details for the YouTube app are now appearing on the App Store.

The developer, Google LLC, indicated that the apps privacy practices may include handing of data as described below, the page reads. There, it adds that data used to track users includes contact info and identifiers, along with a wider range of data which may be linked to users identity.

So far, YouTube is the only Google app to receive an update since December. Other apps including Gmail, Search, and Docs, received their last update before December 8, meaning they didnt have to comply with Apples new privacy features.

Apple is hoping to equip users with a better understanding of how their personal data is being used, and to allow iPhone and iPad owners to opt-out of tracking on a per-app basis.

The news didnt go down well with ad firms or social media giant Facebook, which went so far as to take out two full-page newspaper ads slamming Apples privacy policies and claiming that such a move would be devastating for small businesses. Critics were quick to question Facebooks motives, however, given the companys history of questionable privacy practices.

For iPhone and iPad users, the good news is that we should expect to see further Google apps receive bug-fixing updates in the coming days and weeks. Like we said, YouTubes latest update is available to download now on the App Store.
A Bethlehem driver is accused of telling his passenger to point a firearm out an open window during a road rage incident in the city.

Jasire M. Ramos, 19, of the 800 block of West Broad Street, is charged with making terroristic threats and simple assault in Saturdays incident.

Bethlehem police responded to the 2100 block of Main Street at 1:24 p.m. on a report of a man waving a firearm out the window of a teal Hyundai Sonata. A male victim reported the driver, later identified as Ramos, cut off his vehicle at Easton Avenue and Jennings Street, police said.

The victim followed Ramos car to the 1800 block of Main Street, where the front seat passenger began pointing the firearm out the window in the direction of the victim, authorities said. The car continued to travel north on Main Street, past the 2100 block, and then onto the 1800 block of Center Street.

The victim took a photo of the Hyundai on his cellphone and provided it to investigators. The Hyundai was registered to a Bethlehem woman who told officers that her son, Ramos, was operating the car at the time of the crime, police said.

Ramos allegedly told investigators he was cutting off cars for the sole purpose of making videos. When he noticed the victim following his car, he asked his passenger Do you have that on you? ... Im rolling down the window. Im going to stop. Aim it out the window, according to police.

The passenger then waved the handgun, police said.

Ramos was arraigned before District Judge Alan Mege, who set bail at $25,000 unsecured. Ramos is due back in court for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Vivian Zumas tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. March 5.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola, Sunday said the Third Mainland Bridge will no longer be opened on Monday but at the end of February.

Mr Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the bridge would experience one more total closure from February 19 to 21 before completion of the project for the final re-opening by the end of February.

Third Mainland Bridge will no longer be opened on the 15th of February 2021 as announced earlier on.

In order not to create untold hardship for the motoring public using the Third Mainland Bridge for their daily activities, the contractor is not allowed to close the Third Mainland Bridge during the week to cast concrete.

Lane markings on the completed section must be completed, he said.

The Federal Ministry of works and Housing regret the inconveniences the extra days may have caused the Lagosians, he said.

Mr Popoola explained that the bridge would be totally shutdown from midnight on Feb. 19 to 21st to cast concrete on the last expansion joint.

He said that the concrete would require between three to four days to set before the final preparations to finally re-open the entire bridge to traffic.

These processes he said could drag to the end of February when the highway would eventually be opened up.

We are looking at the end of the month for the reopening of the bridge. That is, end of this February.

He said that work was soon to begin on the casting of the last expansion joint on the bridge before the bridge finally reopens to traffic.

They will cast concrete on the last expansion joint next weekend. We are not allowed to cast during the week so that the traffic will not be too much for people going to work.

They will cast next weekend and after casting, we need about three or four days to do post-tensioning. That is why we are looking at end of February completion.

Casting will be done next weekend for the last expansion joint, it will require total closure of the bridge next weekend just to prevent vibration.

So if we close the bridge Friday night, then we cast on Saturday by Sunday we will open it. That will be the last total closure to fix the last expansion joint, he said, he told NAN.

NAN reports that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.

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The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.

Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the October 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

(NAN)
In yet another incident of political violence in poll-bound West Bengal, BJP leader Babu Master was attacked on late Saturday night. The former TMC leader who recently joined the BJP was on his way to Kolkata where his convoy was attacked. Bombs were hurled as well as bullets were also fired at Babu Master's convoy at around 9 PM. The BJP leader has sustained serious injuries and is currently under ICU observation.

In a Republic Bangla's exclusive newsbreak, visuals accessed show that the BJP leader has been completely wrecked with its glasses shattered into pieces due to the henious attack. The attack comes on the same day as a massive clash broke out between the BJP and TMC workers in Birbhum district reflecting the deteriorating law & order situation in West Bengal. While the Opposition BJP alleged that they were attacked by TMC workers on their way returning from the Paribartan Yatra on Friday night, the TMC alleged that BJP workers attacked women and senior citizens. Reportedly, five people have been injured due to the violent clash.

READ | CM Mamata Presents Her 1st State Budget; BJP Raises 'Jai Shri Ram' Slogans In Assembly

BJP's 'Paribartan Yatra' Blocked

On Friday, BJP's 'Paribartan Yatra' in West Bengal's Murshidabad district was allegedly blocked by the state police. According to the BJP, five Rath Yatras were to happen in West Bengal, including one in north Bengal. The purpose of the Rath yatras was to inform the public about the manner in which TMC has practised 'corruption and violence.' Police blocking the yatra and other political events in the lead-up to the elections was something that had been spoken of in the last few months, as the BJP alleges that Mamata Banerjee's government routinely uses such tactics, even (and especially) if the event involves high-profile leaders such as Amit Shah, JP Nadda or Yogi Adityanath.

READ | BJP, TMC Clash In West Bengal's Birbhum; 5 People Injured Due To Violence

Bengal poll battle

Ahead of the assembly polls, there has been an increase in clashes and political violence in the state as the battle for Bengal intensifies. The saffron party is gearing for a tough battle in Bengal - aiming to attain more than 200 seats, while not fielding a CM face yet. The BJP had already politically divided Bengal into five parts - North Bengal, Rath Bang (South Western District), Nabadwip, Medinipur and Kolkata, handpicking Shivprakash, Sunil Deodhar, Dushyant Gautam, Bhikubhai Dalsania, Ravindra Raju, Vinod Sonkar, Harish Dwivedi to ta work on booth levels in these regions. A massive exodus has also been witnessed in TMC, with several leaders leaving the party citing displeasure with the faction. However, TMC chief and CM Mamata Banerjee remains confident of being re-elected to power and undettered by the exodus.

READ | BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' Blocked In Poll-bound Bengal; Dilip Ghosh Alleges 'appeasement'

READ | TMC Calls Dinesh Trivedi Ungrateful; Says 'would Win Elections Because Of Mamata's Image'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14) - The Catholic church has modified the celebration of Ash Wednesday this year amid the ongoing pandemic.

The Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments has recently recommended that priests should sprinkle the ashes on the forehead without speaking a word.

The priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything, read the note dated Jan. 12.

However, the government only allows 30% capacity in church activities and other religious activities.

With this, some churches have encouraged the Catholic faithful to observe the tradition in the comfort of their homes.

For those who will not be able to go to church for the celebration of Ash Wednesday, we are providing the liturgical celebrations for the burning of palms or any dried leaves to ashes and the liturgy of Ash Wednesday for families at home, said Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo in a circular.

Meanwhile, the diocese of Cubao and the archdiocese of Cebu shared online the prayer guide for the celebration of Ash Wednesday in homes.

The Cubao diocese also said that small quantities of blessed ashes can be distributed at homes or obtained from churches.

In the absence of ashes, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said that old palm branches or any dried branches of leaves of plants or trees can be burned.

The ash could be placed by families on their foreheads.

The Ash Wednesday, which will fall on Feb. 17, marks the start of the Lenten season.
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For Julie Zuckerman, an elementary school principal in Manhattan, last summer felt like one never-ending day filled with fear and confusion about New York Citys plan to resume in-person teaching. But in the months since classrooms opened in September, something has shifted.

Teachers at the school, Public School 513 in Washington Heights, appear more at ease, and some say they would like to be in their classrooms even when the building closes because of coronavirus cases. Parents, too, seem more confident: About half of the students are in the building most days, up from less than a third in September.

Ms. Zuckerman expects that even more children will return this spring.

People have made their peace; theyre not in crisis in the same way, she said. I feel theres a huge night-and-day difference between what was going on last spring and whats happened this year.

New Yorks push to become the first big school district in the country to reopen classrooms last fall was a high-stakes and risky experiment. It has had its share of miscommunication, logistical stumbles and disruptions  especially when classrooms and school buildings are frequently closed because of virus cases.


MBABANE  The private sector will shoulder the financial sustainability of a newly-formed government oil company to be known as the Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC).

In that regard, government has alerted private oil industry players that from next month they have to start contributing a fuel levy of 35 cents per litre that will go towards financing the operations of the ENPC, which is a Category A public enterprise.

The players that will fund the ENPC include Total Swaziland, Puma Swaziland, Galp Swaziland, Swazi Oil, Phakama Oil, Tholo Oil, Kosotape Eswatini, Fuelex and the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAIPA).

This is the second Category A public enterprise that will depend entirely on funding from these private oil companies.

The other is the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF), which is also funded through a fuel levy of 35 cents per litre  an amount that has been fixed at this rate since 2011.

reflective

SMVAF is now seeking that this levy should be increased because it is no longer realistically reflective of a significantly changed operational and economic environment.

In its financials for the year ended March 31, 2020, SMVAF disclosed that should the levy remain unchanged, it is feared that the fund could be insolvent by mid-2023.

Looking at the income generated by SMVAF through the 35 cents per litre paid by these oil industry players, the ENPC will also receive in excess of E100 million a year.

For the 2020 financial year, SMVAF received E121 million and, for the year 2019, it received E114 million.

The Times SUNDAY has seen a letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energys Principal Secretary, Dorcas Dlamini, informing the Oil Industry Secretary, Bongani Zwane, of the private companies obligations.

The ministry kindly informs the Oil Industry that oil companies will be required to pay a fuel levy of 35c/l to the Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC) as per Clause 33 (1b) of the Petroleum Act No. 18, 2020 Gazette No. 183 of 2020. The above mentioned levy, to be recorded as ENPC levy in the slate, will be introduced to the fuel price structure with effect from the 1st of February, 2021, reads part of the letter that is dated February 8, 2021.

The Act, which was assented to by His Majesty King Mswati III on December 18, 2020, has repealed four other legislations, namely: the Fuel Oil Levy Act of 1980; the Control of Suppliers Order of 1973; the Disposal and Use of Petrol Regulations of 1974; and the Petrol Regulations of 1941.

Clause 33 (1b) of the new Act is one of five ways through which the ENPC may derive revenue.

The other four include: such sums as may be appropriated by Parliament from time to time; storage fees for strategic stocks for the country; storage fees of fuel for other oil companies and the sale of fuel; and any other funds that may be mobilised and whose acceptance is approved in writing by the minister.

plan

In Clause 33(2), it is provided that the minister may, in receipt of the ENPCs strategic plan, business plan and budget, by notice put in place a levy on petroleum products for the funding of the said companys strategic plan, business plan and budget.

The letter to the oil companies continues: As such, oil companies will be required to remit the ENPC levy to the Eswatini National Petroleum Company by the 14th day of every month, based on the preceding months sales volumes for petrol and diesel.

The payment, according to the letter, should be in line with provisions 69 and 70 of the Petroleum Act.

Provision 69  method of collection and payment of the levy - states that every wholesaler shall (a) upon the sale or import of any petroleum product which is liable to a levy, record the amount sold or imported and the levy payable thereupon; (b) not later than fourteen (14) days after the end of each month remit the record as referred in paragraph (a) above the total amount of the key payable on the petroleum product sold during the preceding month; and (c) every wholesaler shall maintain a record, in a prescribed form which shall be open for inspection and examination by an authorised officer.

Provision 70  interest on unpaid levy  states that any wholesaler who fails to pay the levy as prescribed in Section 69(b) shall be liable to pay interest on the amount of any payment or part not made on the due date, calculated at the rate of the prevailing prime lending rate as set by the Central Bank of Eswatini and any such amount together with the interest which shall be treated as a debt to the fund (Strategic Oil Reserve Fund).

The letter from the principal secretary adds: Hence the first payment will be for volumes sold in the month of February, 2021 and should be made to the company by the 14th March, 2021. Oil companies are requested to submit to the company their fuel volumes together with proof of payment by the 14th day of every month, as per the attached schedule.

The oil companies have been provided with the banking details of the ENPC, which has its account held by Nedbank Swaziland.

Eswatini Fuel Retailers Association Chairman Mduduzi Nyawo said he had not yet received the letter from the principal secretary and would, therefore, not be able to comment on it.

Until they formally communicate with me as well, I am unaware of anything, he said.

condition

A fuel retailer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the 35 cents was outside the cost price of fuel and wondered if consumers had been consulted on this because the retailers would pass the levy onto them.

The retailer also raised concern that the oil industry was made aware of the need to pay the 36/litre levy a couple of days after government announced 70 cents increase in the price of fuel. Why was the 35 cents not included in the recent increase? he wondered. Sikelela Khoza, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, said the levy was introduced to the fuel price methodology on February 1, 2021 in line with the commencement of the Petrol Act.

He said as such, the levy had no influence on the recent fuel price increase, which was effected on February 4, 2021.

The recent fuel price increase was informed by oil markets and Lilangeni/Dollar exchange rate as per assessment as at end of January 2021, just as prices increased in the Republic of South Africa, which were informed by market fluctuations, Khoza said.

He went on: There will be no fuel price increase as a result of the introduction of the 35c/l as this will be managed through the fuel pricing formula/slate mechanism, hence this will not burden the consumer.

He added that all stakeholders were consulted during the development of the Act in accordance with the countrys consultation procedures for development of legislation. The 35c/l Eswatini National Petroleum Company levy is mandated by the Petroleum Act, 2020 and is for the operations and infrastructure development by the Eswatini National Oil Company, Khoza said.

Chairperson of the portfolio committee on natural resources and energy MP Big Boy Mamba said oil companies were invited to come and make their contributions when the Petroleum Act was being crafted and, therefore, they were involved in the development of the 35 cents per litre levy.

development

The oil companies have always been aware of the levy and they agreed to it as they were part of the development of the Petroleum Act. Even though these companies will be competing against the new government oil company, they will benefit from its existence because they will be allowed to store their fuel at the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility that will be under this government company, the Ngudzeni Member of Parliament said.

The MP suggested that the oil companies and consumers will benefit because the 35 cents is aimed at sustaining the supply of fuel in the country without experiencing shortages, including ensuring that rural communities do not have to drive long distances before getting fuel because more outlets would be established.

The oil levy will also provide self-sustenance to the national oil company without government subvention, which sometimes comes in short supply, Mamba said.

The legislator said as far as parliamentarians know, it was not entirely correct that the ENPC will be competing with the private oil companies.

He said consumers should also not lose any sleep over the 35 cents per litre levy because it will not result in an increase in the price of fuel.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has its measures of controlling the fuel price to protect consumers so the same will apply even now that the fuel levy has been introduced, Mamba said.

As spelled out in the Act, the objectives of the ENPC are: to secure, market, trade in crude oil and petroleum products; to carry out the business of supplying and distributing petroleum and petroleum products into and from the Kingdom of Eswatini; to carry on the business of importing and exporting petroleum and petroleum products into and from the Kingdom of Eswatini; to identify, build, own, manage crude oil and petroleum logistics investments including storage and handling terminals; to carry out network surveys to determine key national development areas for the development of retail stations in key national development areas; and to issue rural area retail licences in key national development areas.

production

Other objectives include: to identify, build, own and manage hydrocarbon terminals; to carry out the blending of fuel for the production of bio-fuels such as the blending of Unleaded Petrol with ethanol; to appropriate any parts of the property of the company for the purpose of, and to build or let, shops, offices and other places of business and to use or lease any part of the property of the company not required for the purposes aforesaid for any purpose for which it may be conveniently used or let; and to empower local companies through partnerships and joint ventures with indigenous emaSwati as may be prescribed in regulations.

Additionally, the national company will do all or any of these objectives in any part of the world and either as principals or agents and either alone or in conjunction with others; and to do any business that may be necessary and incidental to the attainment of the above-mentioned objects.
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WASHINGTON  T.J. Ducklo, a deputy White House press secretary, resigned on Saturday after reports that he had used abusive and sexist language with a female reporter working on an article about his romantic relationship with a journalist from another publication.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, announced the resignation in a statement on Saturday evening, a day after saying that Mr. Ducklo would be suspended without pay for a week.

We accepted the resignation of T.J. Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening, Ms. Psaki said, noting that Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff, agreed with the decision. We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the president in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.

Mr. Ducklo, 32, had served as the national press secretary during Mr. Bidens presidential campaign, engaging frequently with reporters and acting as a spokesman for the campaign. During the transition, Mr. Ducklo served as a spokesman and was named as a deputy press secretary.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 23:09:34|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's presence in Syria is at the official request of the Syrian government, senior assistant of Iran's foreign minister, Ali Asghar Khaji, said on Sunday.

Asked by the Russian Sputnik about withdrawal of Iran's forces from Syria, Khaji said that "Tehran has received no message about the withdrawal of its forces from Syria," official IRNA news agency reported.

He said that "we are there (in Syria) at the request of the Syrian government, and this presence will continue as long as the Syrian people and government want it."

Those who have came to Syria and have illegally occupied its territories should leave the Arab state, Khaji pointed out.

The Syrian territory should be under the control and sovereignty of the Syrian nation and government, he added.

In July 2020, Iran and Syria signed an agreement to expand "comprehensive" military and security cooperation.

Iran has been a major ally of the Syrian government in its fight against the armed rebels since 2011. Enditem
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will make history Monday when she becomes the first African and woman to lead the increasingly bruised and battered World Trade Organization.

But now comes the hard part.

The former Nigerian Finance Minister is taking the reins of the WTO during one of the most tumultuous periods for global trade. President Donald Trump's combative response to China's aggressive pursuit of dominance in key technology sectors tore at the seams of the rules-based trading system the United States helped create after World War II.

The coronavirus pandemic also unleashed calls around the world for less reliance on global supply chains as well as impulses to hunker down and produce more goods at home. President Joe Biden, while turning a friendlier face to the world than Trump, is putting domestic recovery at the core of his administration with his "Build Back Better" agenda.

Okonjo-Iweala, who holds dual U.S. citizenship, will have to quickly demonstrate her ability to bring countries together after four years of growing mistrust generated largely by Trumps highly disruptive America First trade policy. There will be tremendous pressure on her to produce significant results by the end of the year, when the WTO is expected to hold its first ministerial conference under her watch.

"Given the interconnectedness of the worlds economies, a collective response to current and emerging challenges will always be stronger than individual responses," Okonjo-Iweala told the WTO General Counsel last fall. "As we put it in my Igbo language, 'Aka nni Kwo aka ekpe, aka ekepe akwo akanni wancha adi ocha' (If the right washes the left hand, and the left hand washes the right hand, then both become clean). This is a call for collective action."

As a relative newcomer to the trade world, Okonjo-Iweala has the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to issues negotiators have thrashed over for years. Her selection also represents hope for a bigger African presence in the global economy and governance. She'll stride a world stage still dominated mostly by men.

Story continues

"Therell be a lot of political incentives to work with her," said Dmitry Grozoubinski, a former Australian trade negotiator who now leads the Geneva Trade Platform, a trade policy think tank. It is helpful that shes a new fresh face at the WTO.

WTO time bomb: Still, the 66-year-old U.S.-trained economist  she earned her bachelor's degree at Harvard and Ph.D at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  will take over leadership of an organization struggling to remain relevant and bedeviled by friction between the worlds two economic heavyweights: China and the United States.

Theres also a quietly ticking time bomb that could blow up this year just as Okonjo-Iweala is cajoling members to buckle down and produce results in areas ranging from fishing subsidies to e-commerce at a ministerial conference expected to take place in December.

Thats the extremely delicate issue of whether the United States violated WTO rules when Trump invoked a national security provision in 2018 to unilaterally raise tariffs on steel and aluminum.

A ruling in favor of the United States would open the door to any country using that provision to unilaterally raise duties, unraveling commitments at the heart of the WTO.

A decision against it could further undermine U.S. support for the 26-year-old organization by impinging on the ability of future U.S. presidents to act in what they regard as the best interest of the nation. It would also force President Joe Biden to decide whether to abide by the ruling, exposing himself to attacks by Trump and his allies.

In one bit of good timing, Okonjo-Iweala starts her four-year term just as Biden is settling into office. The former vice president and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has stressed the importance of allies and adherence to international rules.

But behind the hostility that Trump often showed to the WTO are serious U.S. concerns about the organization it helped to create in the early 1990s. On subjects ranging from the operations of the WTO Appellate Body to the disparity in market openness between the United States and other large WTO members, its not clear the Biden administration will take a significantly different tack.

New kid on the block: Okonjo-Iwealas ability to help fix those problems and avoid the WTO becoming little more than a trade debating society on the shores of Lake Geneva will depend largely on her diplomatic skills and powers of persuasion.

It's critical to point out that the director-general doesn't have enormous decision-making powers, said Rufus Yerxa, a former U.S. trade official who served as WTO deputy director-general from 2002 to 2013. The director-general cannot force the membership to accept anything.

Okonjo-Iweala spent 25 years working on development issues at the World Bank, rising to the number two position. She served twice as Nigeria's finance minister, the first woman to hold that job.

She campaigned in 2012 to become the first African and woman to run the World Bank, a job that once again went to an American. Okonjo-Iweala became a U.S. citizen during the Trump administration, when many foreigners were finding it difficult to enter the country.

Last fall, the Trump administration blocked her selection as WTO director-general, even though she gained the support of the rest of the membership. It said the other remaining candidate, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, was far more qualified.

We need a person who actually knows trade, not somebody from the World Bank who does development, former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer later told the Financial Times. There are very few areas where you would say, heres an organization in very bad shape, lets get someone who knows nothing about its core mission.

It took Bidens election and a change in the U.S. position to clear the way for Okonjo-Iwealas historic selection.

Shes taken a crash course in the arcane and often highly technical world of international trade over the past nine months as she campaigned for the WTO post, eventually defeating a field of seven other candidates. But shell still be entering an arena where others have spent years immersed in the minutiae of trade policy.

Okonjo-Iwealas inexperience doesnt mean she cant be effective, Yerxa said.

One of the very best director-generals the system ever had was Peter Sutherland, a former attorney general of Ireland and European Union competition commissioner who knew little about trade before taking on the job, he recalled. Sutherland banged heads and got everybody to get together and finish the Uruguay Round of world trade talks that created the WTO.

"Current problems are not solely of a technical nature," Okonjo-Iweala said last fall. "If they were, they would have been solved long ago, given the technical expertise available among members and in the WTO Secretariat. A number of these problems require political solutions and deep experience in multilateral organizations, skills I would bring to the job."

A built-in bucket list: Still, the trade challenges facing the WTO now are perhaps the biggest it has ever tackled and can broadly be divided into three big buckets: the functioning of the dispute settlement system, its failure to negotiate new multilateral trade agreements and a set of other disruptive issues raised mainly by the United States.

Those include concern over Chinas state-led capitalism and use of industrial subsidies that were at the root of Trumps decision to unilaterally impose duties on more than $350 billion worth of Chinese goods, a move later found to violate WTO rules.

There are also the built-in tariff disparities caused by the WTOs most-favored nation system, which requires each member to apply the same tariff schedule to all other members.

The problem, from the U.S. point of view, is that its tariffs are generally lower than many other big players in the WTO system, such as India, Brazil and China. Plus, WTO rules permit members to self-designate as developing countries, which enables them to avoid taking on deep new market-opening commitments.

Both China and India designate as developing countries, even though they are ranked by the International Monetary Fund as the world's second and fifth largest economies.

A key early test for Okonjo-Iweala will be whether she can broker a deal between the U.S. and the rest of the membership to revive the WTO Appellate Body, which until 2019 had the final word on trade disputes brought to Geneva for resolution.

The Trump administration, angered by many of the Appellate Body's rulings, disabled the panel by blocking the appointment of new judges as the terms of previous judges expired.

However, the U.S. concern that the Appellate Body overstepped its bounds by imposing obligations on the United States that it never agreed to accept is shared by Republicans and Democrats. That makes the issue exceedingly difficult for any director-general to resolve.

The road goes on forever: The WTO has negotiated just one new agreement covering its entire membership in its 26-year history. And that pact, the 2013 Trade Facilitation Agreement, was only possible because it gave developing countries a huge amount of flexibility in the commitments they implemented.

To get around that problem, countries have begun negotiating plurilateral agreements in areas such as digital trade among a subset of willing WTO members.

But Okonjo-Iweala could face pressure from countries like India and South Africa to pull back from the joint initiative approach since those efforts put pressure on them to make reforms, even when they do not participate in the negotiations.

Plurilateral or otherwise, talks at the WTO are measured in years, rather than weeks or months, frustrating anyone who is hoping for quick results. Thats a lesson that Okonjo-Iweala is likely to learn soon enough.

All she can really do is utilize her bully pulpit and support the member-states, Grozoubinski said. You cant make people charge up a hill they fundamentally dont want to.
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Loading Section 51 of the Australian constitution gives the Commonwealth quarantine powers, but it is not an exclusive power, meaning the states public health safeguards operate alongside it. While the Commonwealth could have taken over quarantine, it has not and states have not lobbied for it to. While Victorias third lockdown was caused by more leaks from hotel quarantine, Mr Andrews has repeatedly insisted the state has the countrys strongest hotel quarantine system. Professor Esterman said the Victorian hotel quarantine system was one of the best due to its strict testing regime and the ban on workers having second jobs. But he said poor ventilation continued to be an issue and this could be improved by rolling out air purifiers in every room. They would get rid of a huge amount of virus in the air, he said.

Mike Toole, an epidemiologist at the Burnet Institute, said in an ideal world, every Australian city would have access to a quarantine facility like the one in Howard Springs, near Darwin. It has single-storey cabins that are joined but there are no airconditioning ducts, he said. They have individual airconditioning units and verandas where you can sit out and get some fresh air. Its a 30-minute drive to the Royal Darwin hospital so it really fulfils everything youd love to have in a quarantine facility. The site has so far taken 3781 people arriving on repatriation flights. The former labour camp is co-funded by the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory government to provide up to 850 quarantine places a fortnight. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled plans to more than double Howard Springs capacity, but reiterated that hotel quarantine would remain the primary mode of dealing with returning travellers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Mr Morrison said on Friday that moving hotel quarantine to regional areas would only create another set of risks. Youve got transfer risks. Youve got a workforce that you have to have in place in those situations. Youre further away from major, big hospitals. But Professor Toole said the federal government should consider building regional quarantine facilities, and Victorian locations could include Avalon Airport, Ballarat and Bendigo. He warned this would be a time-consuming and expensive exercise. Were not China, we cant build these things in three days, it takes months. In the meantime, he said, the priority should be on improving hotel quarantine. He urged authorities to engage with occupational hygienists and ventilation engineers to better understand how air moved in hotels, and said daily COVID-19 tests should also be considered for guests. Guests are currently tested on day three and day 11 of their 14-day stay. We should be treating all those cold hotels like they are hot hotels because guests can convert from negative to positive during that period and therefore become infectious, he said.

The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. Credit:Penny Stephens Benjamin Veness, a doctor and co-founder of advocacy group Health Care Workers Australia, said there was a good argument for moving quarantine facilities out of city centres. The argument that people needed to be close to city health facilities did not negate regional quarantine centres. Those who needed to be near CBD hospitals because they were in higher-risk categories could still be housed in better facilities  newer ones, ones with balconies, ones with windows that open, ones with airconditioning systems you can upgrade so theyre providing appropriate ventilation and not spreading COVID-19 potentially between rooms or into hallways. He said returned travellers heading to regional quarantine facilities could also be vaccinated before they flew into Australia. That would cut the chance of them bringing COVID-19 into Australia in the first place, and the reduced risk of severe illness would make regional quarantine safe for the vast majority of people.

Loading Together, these measures would have the problem pretty much solved, Dr Veness said. There is a lack of political will, not technical complexity, stopping us from finding a better solution due to state and federal governments being really stretched, he added. The federal government should be taking responsibility for quarantine, but it has turned out that the states have taken on that responsibility, and so youve got this argy-bargy playing out, he said. The feds particularly dont want to commit, because they know getting hotel quarantine perfect is a tricky exercise and I think Scott Morrison doesnt want to risk having outbreaks at a federally run facility that then impacts on his election chances later in the year.

Dr Veness said the NTs Howard Springs facility was working well. There is plenty of fresh air for residents, which is good not only from an infection perspective, but also its better from a mental health perspective, he said. Id prefer to go there than one of the high-rise towers with closed windows like we have in Melbourne. On Sunday, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said state leaders had to remember it was a vital part of our humanity to bring Australians home. [These are] mums and dads coming home to see their sons and daughters, children who have been studying overseas, families that have been separated, people coming home to say goodbye to loved ones, some themselves who may have terminal conditions, he said.

Bong Go urges public to celebrate Valentine's Day in a safe manner

In a radio interview on Friday, February 12, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go encouraged everyone to celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday in a safe manner by taking extra precautions to keep loved ones safe from COVID-19.

"Happy Valentine's Day sa mga Pilipino. Sa mga walang date diyan, narito kami ni Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte na nagmamahal sa inyo," began Go.

"Sa darating na Araw ng mga Puso, mag-ingat. Mag-face mask kayo dahil talagang delikado pa ang panahon habang hinihintay natin ang binibiling vaccine ng gobyerno," he reminded.

The Senator, who also serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, made it clear that government's top priority is to ensure the health and safety of every Filipino by vaccinating as many people as quickly as possible to help put an end to this pandemic.

He acknowledged the public's concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and warned that failing to address such apprehensions could serve as a barrier to achieving herd immunity.

"Dapat safe at effective na vaccine ang iturok sa bawat Pilipino para makuha natin ang kumpiyansa ng bawat Pilipino," said Go before, promising that he and President Rodrigo Duterte would continue to work tirelessly to address the needs and priorities of the Filipino people.

On this note, the Senator also disclosed that President Duterte was meeting at Clark Air Base on Friday too with the families of the victims of the Bukidnon helicopter crash.

Last January 16, a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter crashed in Malaybalay City during a routine mission to deliver supplies. All seven members of the Armed Forces onboard were killed, including four Philippine Air Force personnel and three Army personnel.

President Duterte inspected fifteen new Black Hawk helicopters which the government acquired to address the heli-lift deficiency of the Armed Forces following the recent decommissioning of all Huey helicopters.

"Pupunta kami ni Pangulo sa Philippine Air Force sa Clark Air Base. Bibisitahin niya ang mga sundalo. Titingnan niya ang mga kagamitan, 'yung mga bagong bili ng gobyerno na mga helicopters," said Go.

"May mga nag-crash na mga lumang helicopters. So, mga bago ito na bili ng gobyerno. Papakita ito kay Pangulo... Kakausapin din namin ni Pangulo ang naiwang pamilya ng nag-crash sa Bukidnon," he explained.
The second dose of Covid-19 vaccination for health care workers in Tamil Nadu commenced on Saturday, 28 days after they took the first shot, with a senior official saying that it would soon be available to members of the public.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, who inspected the administering of the second dose to healthcare workers at the Government Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here, said the vaccination drive would soon be extended to the public.

Read: No new Covid-19 deaths in 17 states, UTs in 24 hours

Speaking to reporters, he said nearly 2,27,340 people, including 1.9 lakh health workers, 19,405 frontline workers and 9,789 police personnel have so far been vaccinated.

"One need not have any apprehensions over the vaccine being administered. We have given time till February 17 for the frontline workers to register. Soon, the vaccination drive will be extended to other sections of people," Radhakrishnan said.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

He urged all those who had taken the first dose to avail the second shots after a gap of 28 days. Also, with few cases of dengue fever being reported from Alangulam and certain pockets in Tenkasi district, the health department has advised all District Collectors to take preventive steps in their districts, Radhakrishnan said.

Tamil Nadu began administering the first shots to health workers from January 16 and the drive was inaugurated by chief minister K Palaniswami at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. Bharat Biotechs Covaxin and Serum Institutes Covishield vaccines require a two-dose schedule to be administered through the intramuscular route.

As of February 12, Tamil Nadu has logged 8,44,173 lakh cases, while the toll stands at 12,408. A total of 8,27,480 people have recovered.
Former president of the United, Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty to inciting his supporters' attack on the U.S. capitol. This ends a historic trial that made him the first-ever U.S. president to be acquitted in an impeachment trial.

President conviction and exposes the brittleness of America's democratic traditions, alongside the divided nation that comes to terms with the violence that anchored from the riots.

In a report by CBS News, supporters of former president Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 that forced the Congress to evacuate as lawmakers try to count the electoral votes to certify President Joe Biden's reign as the new president of the United States.

They add that the chaos happened after Trump's speech, falsely claiming that he could win a second term. According to Associated Press, the speedy trial showed how dangerously close the invaders had come to the nation's tradition of a peaceful turnover of presidential power.

Read also: AG Barr Considers Early Resignation Before End of Trump's Term

The Decision

Stars and Stripes, the verdict on the vote of 57 - 43, notes that it will influence the former president's political future and the senators on oath said they will deliver the impartial justice as jurors.

They add that seven republicans joined the Democrats in the decision to convict; however, the number is still far from two-thirds of the threshold, which is a requirement.

Lancaster Online shares that although Trump was acquitted of the sole charge of provocation of an insurrection, it was the most significant number of senators to vote for their president guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors.

They add that among the senators, GOP Sens. Richard Burr from North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted Trump as guilty.

Meanwhile, Republican leader Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as responsible for the insurrection, even after voting to acquit. McConnell adds that Trump cannot be convicted since he is out of the office.

On the other hand, Stars and Stripes shares that Trump's lawyers argued, saying that the former president's words are not intended to spark the violence.

They also exclaimed and compared the impeachment trial to "witch hunt" which is steered toward preventing him from running and serve on the office once more.

Implications

NBC News shares that the maximum effect caused by the impact of Trump's acquittal is his freedom to run for the presidency in 2024.

They add that the former president may also face criminal and civil court proceedings. On the side of the Republicans, NBC News shares that Trump's entire leadership team voted to reject the charge moved and approved by the house, signifying that there won't be so much argument about renouncing Trumpism.

The acquittal of Donald Trump in the historic impeachment trial only indicates that the power of instating someone to rule and lead the nation is in the hands of the Americans.

And the change they seek will spark from the ballots they will fill to vote for a deserving candidate.

Related article: President Trump Considered as Frontrunner for 2024 Election, But Some Contenders Remain

WATCH: Donald Trump acquitted of inciting insurrection in impeachment trial from BBC News




Outgoing US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump address guests at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on January 20, 2021. Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump released a statement after his impeachment trial ended in acquittal.

He called the trial "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country."

He also said he would have more to share with the public in the coming months.

Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

Former President Donald Trump thanked his supporters and derided what he called "the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country" in a statement on Saturday, after his second impeachment trial ended in an acquittal earlier that day.

Trump faced one charge of inciting an insurrection after the deadly January 6 Capitol siege, in which his supporters stormed the building while lawmakers counted the Electoral College votes.

Ultimately, seven Republicans joined 50 Democrats in their vote to convict Trump, but failed to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to convict a federal official and remove them from office.

In his statement, Trump did not directly address the insurrection that left five people, including a police officer, dead last month. Instead, he simply said he was a "champion for the unwavering rule of law" and supported law enforcement and peaceful debate.

"This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country," the statement said. "No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago."

Trump also hinted at a future in public life, saying "our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun."

He said he would have more to share in the coming months.

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said.

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Firefighters have struggled for a second day to battle a massive blaze that began when a fuel tanker exploded at a major crossing in Afghanistans western Herat province on the Iranian border.

At least 20 people were injured and many of the more than 500 lorries lined up at the Islam Qala crossing carrying natural gas and fuel were still ablaze, according to Afghan officials and Iranian state media.

Herat provincial governor Wahid Qatali said first responders were quickly overwhelmed on Saturday by the huge, out-of-control fire.

When each cylinder was exploding it was flying hundreds of metres high, he said.

Expand Close Firefighters work to tackle the blaze (Hamed Sarfarazi/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Firefighters work to tackle the blaze (Hamed Sarfarazi/AP)

Two explosions at the border crossing were powerful enough to be spotted from space by Nasa satellites. One blast erupted at around 1.10pm Afghan time, the next around a half and hour later.

The United States allows Afghanistan to import fuel and oil from Iran as part of a special concession that exempts Kabul from US sanctions against Iran. Satellite photos taken Saturday before the explosion showed dozens of tankers parked at the border crossing.

Mr Qatali said officials were concerned that windy conditions on Sunday could fan the flames and spread the fire to even more fuel-laden trucks in the area. He said the government was able to save more than 1,200 trucks.

Herats chamber of commerce and industries chief Younus Qazizada said the explosion and fire started when provincial customs employees were inspecting a gas tanker. But an investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.

Expand Close Smoke rises from fuel tankers at the border (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Smoke rises from fuel tankers at the border (AP)

Iran has sent 15 firefighting units to the Afghanistan side to help deal with the blaze.

The Islam Qala border crossing is around 75 miles west of the city of Herat and is a major transit route between Afghanistan and Iran.

The Afghan government is working on an alternative to resume trade between the two countries, as Afghanistan is mostly dependent on imported goods from neighbouring nations.
Tehran, Feb 14 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for stricter Covid-19 border controls, noting that another wave of the pandemic may be on the way in the country.

"More attention must be paid to foreign entries, especially from countries infected with new variants of the virus," he said in a meeting of the national anti-Covid-19 headquarters in Tehran on Saturday.

Rouhani stressed the need that all local officials and members of the Basij, a volunteer force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, engage in the monitoring of individuals coming from abroad, who must stay in quarantine when necessary according to Iran's protocols, reports Xinhua news agency.

The President called on a general effort to prevent a new wave of the outbreak before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, given the social and economic importance of the yearly celebrations.

Also on Saturday, the southwestern province of Khuzestan declared a red alert over the spread of the virus, after several weeks without any province on the highest warning.

Even if vaccination against Covid-19 is successful, Rouhani further said, people should still be careful and maintain the current lifestyle for at least a year.

The spokesman for the headquarters, Alireza Raisi, said that the number of daily deaths is decreasing in Iran, but warned about the increase in cases in Khuzestan and northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, state TV reported.

The spokeswoman for Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Sima Sadat Lari, said that 74 new deaths related to the coronavirus were registered in the country between Friday and Saturday, pushing the death toll to 58,883.

The total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed so far in Iran is 1,510,873, after 7,120 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours, she added.

The Health Ministry started the Covid-19 vaccination on February 9 using Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Yet most could not bring themselves to find him guilty of sparking the chaos, brutality and darkness that engulfed the Capitol, for fear of potentially offending the Trump supporters Republicans have come to rely on to win elections, and will need again in 2022 if they hope to regain the Senate  a paramount goal of Mr. McConnells.

They offered myriad justifications. Like Mr. McConnell, they said it was unconstitutional given that Mr. Trump was no longer president. They said Mr. Trump used the fiery, pugnacious language all politicians employ. The timeline was fuzzy. Prosecutors could not tie him explicitly to the start of the riot. Bad precedents would be set. Democrats were acting out of political malice. This was a matter for criminal courts. They said he was not the only one who contributed to the toxic environment.

He has some responsibility, as do many of the people in that chamber today, said Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina.

Democrats said they were stunned that most Republicans would effectively give Mr. Trump a pass for bringing about the assault, particularly since it was aimed at the Senate itself.

It is shocking, said Senator Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado.

As strong as the indictment of Donald Trump, it is also an indictment of Republicans, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut. Neither has been convicted in a legal sense, but in a moral and political sense they have. How they can try to walk away and look the other way is beyond me.

In his remarks on Saturday, Mr. McConnell characterized his delay in recognizing Mr. Biden as defending the presidents right to bring any complaints to our legal system. The legal system spoke. But rather than ending his push to undermine the election, Mr. McConnell said, it just really opened a new chapter of even wilder, wilder and more unfounded claims.

The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things, he said.

The Minister of National Security-designate, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has stated that government will unravel the whereabouts of missing excavators seized by the state during the fight against illegal mining.



He said the government was making concerted efforts to conclude investigations into the missing excavators.



Mr Kan-Dapaah, who occupied the same ministry from 2017 until January 6, this year, was answering questions when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament last Wednesday.



He was quizzed on a wide range of national security issues, including the threat posed by illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.



The committee sought updates on how far the government had handled allegations that some excavators that were seized from illegal miners had disappeared.



In his response, the minister-designate said given that a "huge amount of the taxpayer's money" was injected into the galamsey fight, every effort would be made to get to the root of the missing excavators.



Mr Kan-Dapaah indicated that although considerable success had been achieved in the galamsey fight, "a lot of mess" had been created in the fight, and the government was doing "thorough investigation" to come out with a comprehensive report on the issue.



On how much was put into the galamsey fight, he said the amount was "colossal" but he was not the right person to provide those figures.



The minister-designate said the government would revisit the galamsey fight to ensure that insecurity emanating from that sector was dealt with.



Military in Parliament



On the issue of military invasion of Parliament during the election of the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, Mr Kan-Dapaah said he had no knowledge about the deployment of the military into the chamber that night as had been purported by some people.



Rather, he indicated that he learnt later that a certain commander directed the military to come into the House to restore order.



When the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, asked him to disclose the identity of the said commander, he said he could not immediately remember.



Soldiers at border towns



Touching on the brouhaha surrounding the deployment of soldiers to the country's border towns during the electioneering exercise, Mr Kan-Dapaah reiterated that the deployment was done purely on national security basis.



"I want to use the opportunity to explain to the whole country that the deployment of the military to the borders had nothing to do with the registration exercise, but to make sure that terrorists do not enter our country," he said.



The minister-designate also said it was not entirely true that the military were recalled from the borders after the election-related activities.



Mr Kan-Dapaah explained further that the presence of the military in the Volta Region was partly because of the activities of the secessionist group in the area.



Killings



Responding to the killing of some persons by some security officers during the December 7 elections, the minister-designate said investigations were underway to determine the circumstances behind the killings.



He noted that although available evidence suggested that some of the shootings that resulted in the death of the persons could have emanated from the military, the culprits were yet to be identified.



Mr Kan-Dapaah, however, gave an assurance that the necessary steps would be taken to get to the root of the matter.



Some members of the Minority side of the committee said they were ready to provide all material evidence to the minister-designate to help in the investigation.

Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Chief Executive Officer of B5 Plus Limited, Mukesh Thakwani has lamented on challenges facing companies as far as the 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 the 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 from providing free oxygen to hospitals nationwide, we're also providing nose/face masks, sanitizers, Veronica buckets, and other coronavirus safety equipment 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..



Infact 2020 was very challenging year for all of us due to the disease, but we hope put the disease behind us in 2021..



About B5 Plus Limited



Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus Ltd



B5 Plus Ghana Company Limited is a West African, manufacturing, fabricating, and trading enterprise with the vision to become the worlds steel industry benchmark through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach, and overall conduct.



With corporate headquarters in Tema Ghana, today the company operates in all the ECOWAS Countries. They have a significant presence in African steel as an integrated manufacturer of steel and finished steel products.



The principal product is steel products which come in seven major categories: Mild Steel, High Tensile & Iron Rods, Galvanized Products, Stainless Steel, Marine & Mining, Roofing & Nails and Concrete & Fencing.



As a supplier, B5 Plus Steel is an accessible business partner that can ensure the quality and security of supply. They value strong relationships with customers and believe that commercial relationships are a learned skill.



Their integrated supply chain helps them to ensure a high standard of product quality and service delivery. This reduces the potential need for rework, increases the reliability of service, and saves their customers time and money.



The key to their success is the ability to deliver upon promises and skill in responding to the needs of their customers.



Their strong facilities and market positions allow them to tailor offer the service to all customers from the smallest to largest.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video


Bereavement, illness, social isolation, unemployment, financial insecurity plus daily worry have caused a tsunami of psychological problems over the past year.

According to mental health charity Mind, two thirds of those already suffering from poor mental health have said their symptoms are worse as a result of the pandemic. And these statistics dont take into account those who will be suffering for many years to come.

One of the most worrying aspects of our current situation is that due to lockdown measures, people may not be getting the help they need  nor even know where to begin looking for it.

If you, a colleague, friend or family member are suffering, heres my guide to getting mental health help from the comfort of your sofa. Do not suffer in silence.

Where to start

If you think you are suffering from a mental-health issue, never think that your GP is too busy to be contacted. Many are offering online consultations, and they should be able to talk you through treatment options.

Instead of googling your symptoms (which can pile on unnecessary anxiety), head to mind.org.uk, which is the UKs hub for trusted mental-health information. Their confidential Infoline (0300 123 3393) is open Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm.

For under-25s

Its hard enough being a teenager or student, but with exams on hold, being locked inside with your parents and unable to see friends, its more than tough (and dont forget the teenage years are often when mental illness starts to manifest). If youre under 25 and suffering, or you know someone who is, head to themix.org.uk to find access to a confidential helpline and one-to-one chat service. There are also multiple apps and tools that help with everything from love and relationships to managing stress.

If youre at crisis point

According to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), every week in the UK 125 people take their own life, of whom 75 per cent are male. CALM has been set up to help and raise funds for the prevention of suicide and to assist anyone who feels theyve hit a wall. Its a safe space for men to come to for help. If this is you, or someone you know, call the helpline on 0800 585858 (daily, 5pm-midnight), thecalmzone.net. Alternatively, head to samaritans.org or call 116123.

Text your troubles

Giveusashout.org is a free texting initiative that helps people vocalise problems theyd prefer not to say out loud. With 2,300 volunteers, you can find help 24 hours a day. Born out of the charity Heads Together (the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are patrons), its designed to make getting help easy. Just text SHOUT to 85258 and someone will get back to you.

Find a therapist

One question Im often asked is How do I find a good therapist? Helpfully, you can self-refer through the NHS website. The IAPT programme (improving access to psychological therapies) was set up over ten years ago to help people gain access to talking therapies. The aim is to enable 1.9 million people to access treatment by 2024. Go to nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service, type in your postcode, select a clinic and someone will get in touch.

@susannahtaylor_

If youre in need of some motivation to exercise then look no further than Anthropologies new activewear. My favourites are the Kachel leggings in paisley or leopard print (below), which are made from recycled polyester, 78, anthropologie.com.
Amanda Holden has 'dodged being issued with a fine' after she was reported to police for making a 215-mile trip from London to Cornwall during lockdown.

The Britain's Got Talent judge went to see her parents after she got a 'distressing phone call' from her stepfather Les Collister on the weekend before her 50th birthday.

The 49-year-old took a black Mercedes from Richmond to a small hamlet near Bude to see the 75-year-old and her 71-year-old mother Judith on Friday - it is believed she had not seen the pair for a year prior to the visit.

Devon and Cornwall Police had previously warned visitors that they would face a fine for breaking lockdown restrictions but a source has since told The Sun: 'Officers turned up at [Amanda's] parents' this afternoon to ask about the visit.

'As they left they said this would be the end of the matter.'

Amanda Holden, 49, (pictured leaving Heart Radio on Wednesday) has said she is 'devastated she had to break the rules' after being reported to police for making a 215-mile trip

The 49-year-old took a Mercedes from Richmond to a hamlet near Bude to see the 75-year-old and her 71-year-old mother Judith on Friday (pictured with Amanda and her daughters, Lexi, 15, and Hollie, eight)

A neighbour  thought to be a police officer  is understood to have reported Amanda to the police for breaching Covid travel restrictions after locals spotted the Londoner arriving at the home.

It is thought that the star stayed overnight on Friday before making the return journey to her house in south west London yesterday.

Amanda has said she is 'devastated she had to break the rules' but will not have to issue an apology on her Heart Radio show tomorrow as she is taking a week-long planned break from hosting the show for February half-term, Mirror reports.

Speaking of the rule-breaking trip one Bude local told the Sun: 'I was really shocked when I saw it and then felt quite angry. A man unloaded quite a lot of luggage from the boot and then the car sped off.

'There are a lot of key workers and vulnerable people around here, and we need to keep them safe.'

They added: 'They also know she had travelled miles from Surrey to get down here and she dashed into the house. She must have known what she was doing was wrong.'

Ms Holden is a well-known figure in the area after visiting her parents before the pandemic but residents were still furious.

She was spotted by a neighbour  thought to be a police officer  who is understood to have reported her for breaching Covid travel restrictions. Pictured: Bude - a town in Cornwall near to where the parents of the Britain's Got Talent star live

Friends of Ms Holden said although she knew she should not have made the journey, she was so concerned about her parents' welfare she felt she had no option.

One said: 'Amanda got a call on Friday afternoon and felt she had no other choice but to get down there as quickly as she could.

The 49-year-old took a black Mercedes from Richmond to a small hamlet near Bude to see the 75-year-old and her 71-year-old mother Judith on Friday. Pictured: Yesterday

'Because of the issues involved with their health, she knew she had to go  there was no way she couldn't.

'She knows she has done something wrong and she is regretful but until you are in that moment, how can you judge?

'In order to ensure she posed as little risk as possible, she drove alone, leaving her husband and daughters at home.

'She did not come into contact with anyone else.'

Devon and Cornwall Police refused to comment. Today, in a social media post which made no reference to the star's visit, Cornwall Council posted a video urging 'everyone to stick to the rules this half-term'.

The video, which was accompanied by the caption 'We know it's tough. But this won't last forever', featured members of the council's public health team speaking about how they would be staying at home next week.

It was claimed Ms Holden arrived after dark, but her spokesman said she got there at 4pm and had just one bag.

He said she was aware of the rules but was 'devastated she had to break them'.

Amanda and her mother and step father attend La Dolce Vita Gala July 2003 in London

Amanda pictured with her mother Judith (pictured), who she is believed to have not seen for a year before her illegal visit on Friday

He told MailOnline: 'Amanda is aware that all families are going through difficulty during these turbulent times but received a distressing telephone call from her elderly father on Friday afternoon.

Amanda and her step father at the La Dolce Vita Gala

'On balance Amanda felt the round-trip to Cornwall was necessary to contain the matter at her family home.

'The very personal situation has now been aided and Amanda is back in London.

'Amanda did not act on a whim and has adhered to Covid rules every step of the way in all three lockdowns.

'Amanda is aware of the travel rules and is devastated she had to break them on this one occasion.

'Her parents are vaccinated and with Amanda testing for Covid weekly (and is negative), she felt she was not putting her parents at risk. She did not come in contact with any member of the public.'

It comes as Ms Holden approaches her 50th birthday on Tuesday and said she felt 'so grateful and overwhelmed at the thought and love' her Heart Radio colleagues put into her celebrations.

She was surprised with 50 presents by her radio colleagues to mark the occasion.

Ms Holden approaches her 50th birthday on Tuesday and said she felt 'so grateful and overwhelmed at the thought and love' her Heart Radio colleagues put into her celebrations

The Britain's Got Talent judge (pictured Friday) went to see her parents after she got a 'distressing phone call' from her father Leslie

They included a massage chair, flowers, prosecco, a margarita cocktail, a roast dinner and a cake.

Her co-host Jamie Theakston told listeners: 'Our very own Amanda Holden is celebrating her birthday - as a gentleman I wouldn't say how old - but what we thought we would do is pull together 50 of her favourite things.'

An advertising board outside the radio studio also displayed a birthday message to Holden.

She wrote on Instagram: 'So grateful and overwhelmed at the thought and love they've put into it.'

Holden shared the message alongside a photo of her drinking prosecco, which she said was taken at 6.30am.

Amanda Holden celebrates her 50th birthday at Global radio studios on February 12, 2021 in London

Amanda's 50th birthday cake given to her at Global studios, it features a picture of the Britain's Got Talent judges, a cocktail and a model of Amanda wearing a crop top sat on the top

A number of her friends also sent her birthday messages.

Her fellow Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon said: 'Happy 50th birthday to my amazing TV wife.

'I love you very, very much and I'm absolutely gutted that we cannot celebrate today and celebrate with you, as you deserve to be celebrated, on this incredibly momentous occasion.

'Your 50th birthday! You still look 25, woman!'

Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan called in to the show to wish Holden a happy birthday.

'I've actually got out of bed on my day off just to pay homage to the queen, Amanda Holden,' he said.

'You know what, I just think, seeing pictures of you drinking prosecco at 6.30am in the morning, it brings back such fond memories of working with you on Britain's Got Talent.'

MailOnline has contacted Ms Holden's representatives for comment.
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Tran Mai Anh is currently general manager of communications for Vietnam Airlines, commonly known as a marketing specialist and project consultant. Hoang Thi Na Huong is deputy general director of US-invested Protec and also the operator of the Asian Injury Prevention Foundation.

The book A Journey of Love: The Story of Thien Nhan written by Tran Mai Anh and edited by Michael Arnold received numerous national honours and several media awards recognising Mai Anhs charity work. Following the publications success, Mai Anh was recently named one of Vietnams most influential women by Forbes Magazine.

The book recounts Mai Anhs efforts to seek specialist treatment for her adopted son Thien Nhan, visiting expert physicians in leg prosthetics and genital reconstructive surgery around the globe as well as providing an eyewitness account of his bravery and path to treatment. Their experiences led to the establishment of the Thien Nhan & Friends charity fund which now arranges surgeries for hundreds of Vietnamese children afflicted with genital and urological disorders.

The book and its moving stories remind of the strange relationship Tran Mai Anh and Hoang Thi Na Huong had with the miracle boy Thien Nhan, who seemed predestined to meet the two opposing women.

Thien Nhans journey began as a baby when he was left to die in a banana plantation in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam. Abandoned after birth, he was attacked by wild animals that devoured his right leg and genitals. Ants and insects sealed the wounds, and the dried blood all over his body was black and purple by the time he was discovered.

Mai Anh adopted Nhan after she found him, even though she already had two sons and a very messy life.

Na Huong has been with Mai Anh since the first days after Nhans discovery. Their love is founded on the love for Thien Nhan, and they have become each others supporting pillars in life. After witnessing Mai Anhs hardship when taking care of three children herself, Na Huong could not help but to become an important part of the family.

Mai Anh does everything for her children because she is a good person, said Na Huong.

When mentioning the role of her companion Na Huong, who is also the director of Thien Nhan & Friends, Mai Anh said she always believed that there must be a clever arrangement from the creator to make the two women come together and build a large community.

The connecting part

At work, the two have a very clear division of roles. Mai Anh loves poetry and has a romantic spirit. She often appears in front of the media and at events to tell her touching journey as well as many interesting things that happened over the past 10 years working at Thien Nhan & Friends. Na Huong is the one behind the scenes, silently supporting both materially and spiritually, building the action plans to manage the fund effectively.

Although there is a clear assignment at work, Mai Anh admitted, in their family relationship, neither she nor Na Huong decides important things alone. Thien Nhan, with his intelligence and sophistication, does not only connect the two mothers, but is also the one who plans what each mother does.

Mai Anh described, Huong and I often accompany Nhan when he has to go abroad for a surgery. Huong is younger and healthier than me, so she assumed the tasks of bathing, holding, and toileting him. Not only does he know how to allocate in the care but he even allocates the mothers finances. Nhan told Huong that she owned a factory, so of course she would have to spend more money than me. But knowing that the factory is affected by the pandemic, when Na Huong wants to buy him things, he will refuse. Nhan is willing to help me clean and cook when I am busy, but when he comes to Na Huongs house, he assumes that it is a place to enjoy and relax.

Na Huong often describes Nhan as miraculous. The boy is not only the one who connects her to Mai Anh, but also the core elements in all other relations. It is a connection I cannot believe. Whenever Nhan comes, my house is always full of people. There are relatives who never appear at my house without Nhan, she said.

Thien Nhans New Year

More than 15 years since Thien Nhan appeared and changed their lives, both Mai Anh and Na Huong are proud that they have created a broader definition of what family can mean. Thien Nhans family not only includes Mai Anh or Na Huong but also has members from many other countries around the world.

There is a team of eight famous doctors on urological and genital surgery from the United States, Italy, Russia, Belarus, and other countries that voluntarily go to Vietnam to provide free treatment for children with genital defects.

Thien Nhans family also includes thousands of children who are examined and operated every year. Donors have been supporting the programme for more than 10 years. All these people not only exchange work related things, but also share common things in life. Thien Nhans family gives me a sense of completeness and I never feel lonely, it is even better than many families with normal children. This family has no limits, no borders, and we voluntarily reach out to each other, shared Mai Anh.

Over the 10 years since the establishment of Thien Nhan & Friends, his family is growing stronger and creating a positive influence for the community. The foundation has supported surgeries for 497 children with genital anomalies, and examined another 1,700 children, with more than 1,000 currently on the waiting list.

For Na Huong, those figures are impressive, but not comparable with the awareness they have created in the community. 10 years ago, genital malformation was a very foreign concept to the vast majority of Vietnamese people and almost no one thought that such problems exist in the world.

At first, Na Huong and Mai Anh named the programme Genital Reconstruction Programme for Unfortunate Children. However, genitals is a sensitive word in East Asia, so they could not organise any promotion programmes.

Thien Nhan & Friends was born from this stigma and we changed the name accordingly, shared Na Huong.

Thien Nhan & Friends is currently the only fund in the world that work to support children with disabilities related to genitals. The successful surgeries organised by the fund also attracted the attention of many urologists in the world, who came to Vietnam to work with Dr. Roberto De Castro, who has been with the fund from the very beginning.

Mai Anh said that each year, Thien Nhan & Friends organises at least two surgeries. Every surgery is also an opportunity for the members of Thien Nhan Family to reunite, she said.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden launched his administration with nearly 50 executive actions, variously described in the media as "a barrage," "a blitz" and "a burst."

If the public was struck by the sheer number of orders, however, the team that spent more than six months planning them struggled with the opposite problem: resisting the temptation to craft even more orders and reverse larger chunks of former president Donald Trump's agenda.

Biden's staff even had a motto: Don't try to boil the ocean. "You can't try to do all of the things," explained Cecilia Munoz, a senior transition official who oversaw the domestic executive actions. "A transition's job isn't to do everything. That's the administration's job."

But now that Biden has undone the most easily reversible Trump policies, the hard part begins - especially after the impeachment trial hampered early Senate action. While liberals are pushing Biden to do more, goals such as expanding health care and strengthening gun control would probably require new laws, which are much harder to enact.

The coming months will tell how much Biden can erase his predecessor's legacy and how much of Trump's imprint, despite his chaotic style, will endure.

Some Biden supporters say the public will grow impatient if they do not see broader results fast. "We have a very short period of time to have people believe that government is the great equalizer of opportunity," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who co-chairs the House Progressive Caucus and worked with the Biden transition, noting that the Biden transition leaders internalized this urgency.

Biden signaled early that he was sensitive to accusations he would try to do too much unilaterally. When signing a batch of executive orders shortly after taking office, he took a defensive tone, saying that day's actions merely aimed to "undo the damage Trump has done" and that "there's nothing new that we're doing here."

But that modesty belies a massive effort, occupying hundreds of volunteers and several months, to plot Biden's early actions and keep them to a manageable scope. The team included many Obama administration veterans who had seen their work reversed and were eager to help put it back together.

"A lot of us viewed this as among the most gratifying professional experiences of our lives," Munoz said.

Biden's team even set up a shadow administration of sorts, recruiting Democrats with expertise in specific agencies to ensure that the orders would stand up to legal challenges.

The effort was driven by a view that Trump's policies have been codified via an army of operatives who found endless ways, public and hidden, to turn federal policies in nefarious directions.

Even now, Democrats are digging layer-by-layer through federal orders and manuals - "bureaucratic archaeology," in the phrase of Lucas Guttentag, a law professor who helped on the immigration efforts - in hopes of unearthing buried Trump initiatives.

Trump also opened his tenure with a flurry of executive orders, signing them with great ceremonial flourish. But his approach was less disciplined, and Biden's onslaught frustrates conservatives who say he is contradicting his own high-flown rhetoric on bipartisanship.

"This isn't the unity he promised," Heritage Foundation president Kay James said. "He's signaled that he'll take unilateral steps that usurp Congress's power and leave no room for debate or dissent."

Other Republicans complain that Biden's moves are highly damaging.

"It's obviously true that Joe Biden can terminate a wide swath of policies (in ways) that we would argue would have very harmful effects," said Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to Trump who helped set up some of the policies that Biden is now trying to unwind.

On immigration policy, where Miller was particularly influential, he acknowledged the Trump policies were fragile. "It doesn't take much at all to topple the border security infrastructure that was painstakingly put in place," he said.

Miller contended that powerful forces oppose Trump's policies, and that big business, foreign governments and even organized crime support porous borders. "It actually requires a great deal of vigilance to keep the border secure," Miller said. "Even just suspending that vigilance will cause it to fall apart pretty quickly, let alone trying to work in the other direction."

On immigration, Biden signed executive orders ordering a review of Trump's deterrent policies along the border and created a task force to reunite families, calling their separation under the Trump administration a "moral and national shame."

Despite the methodical early moves, the Biden team is now facing the limits of what he can accomplish on his own. He has promised, among other things, to create a new public health care option, fix the nation's roads and bridges, tackle the immigration system and enact tougher climate rules. All would require pushing complex bills through a bitterly polarized Congress or enacting time-consuming regulations.

Biden's allies are bracing for this next phase. "There is an inevitable limit to how much a president can do with his or her own pen alone," Guttentag said.

Jayapal said Biden's unilateral actions on health care in particular are not enough to meet the need. "I am still very afraid that there are a lot of people who are uninsured across this country (and) even with the subsidies are going to be falling through the cracks," she said.

In December, Biden cited the danger of overusing executive power, privately telling Black civil rights leaders that he intended to limit his unilateral actions. "I am not going to violate the Constitution," Biden said, according to a tape obtained by the Intercept. "Executive authority that my progressive friends talk about is way beyond the bounds."

Munoz, too, is aware of the limits of relying on executive actions, despite her role at the center of Biden's planning. A MacArthur "genius grant" recipient and the daughter of Bolivian immigrants, she started her career as an advocate for immigrant rights before spending eight years in the Obama White House.

Munoz disappointed some former allies at the time by defending President Barack Obama's deportation policies, which he had deployed in the absence of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. When Biden invited her into his transition, immigration groups complained, and one even launched a petition to keep her out of the administration.

Unfazed, Munoz last year drew up plans for quick executive orders on a range of subjects, organizing them into "buckets" for easy prioritization. One, termed "imminent harm," was for edicts that had to be issued quickly to avoid people getting hurt - such as extending a ban on evictions and prolonging a freeze on student loan repayment.

A second bucket included things Biden had explicitly promised to do on his first day, such as rejoining the Paris climate accords and lifting the ban on travel from some majority-Muslim countries.

Others reflected Biden's proactive agenda, including a "Buy American" edict and an order on racial equity that repealed Trump's 1776 commission and aimed to root out racism throughout the federal government.

Many of the actions fell under the scope of what presidents typically do, including laying out ethics policies and proclaiming a national day of unity. Biden also lifted a restriction on taxpayer money for nonprofits that perform abortions overseas - a sensitive policy that gets reversed each time a new party takes the White House.

The process is ongoing, Guttentag said, adding that it "requires delving into innumerable details" and sorting "through these almost hidden and easily overlooked administrative actions that have incredibly long tentacles that have to undone, root and branch, to even begin the process of reform."

Guttentag, a former director of the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants' Rights Project, tracked more than 1,000 Trump-era changes to the immigration system alone. Even some of Biden's executive actions that sound relatively modest - for example, directing agencies to review certain policies - amount to promissory notes that changes will be made, he said.

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama, cited an experience that reflects the challenges now facing Biden. On one particular day, she recounted, a major Obama immigration measure failed in Congress, while a gay rights provision advanced.

Jarrett recalled that people in the domestic policy team had worked in both areas for years, so half the staff was jubilant and the other half in despair. Jarrett told Obama about the high emotions engulfing his policy staff, and the president made an unscheduled visit to Munoz's office.

"He said to everybody, 'For those of you who are so upset about the Dream Act, just remember that the people who've been trying to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" have been at it for 20 years. This change takes time,' " Jarrett recalled.

Because Munoz fought for policies that Trump reversed, Jarrett said "there is a certain poetic justice to her having the opportunity to help the Biden administration shape the policies going forward."

But Miller, the former Trump aide, said that even if Biden is able to rewrite federal regulations, his predecessor's broader legacy - a larger realignment in politics and a growing distrust in the establishment - will be much more difficult to take on.

"Nothing that Biden can do can possibly touch that," Miller predicted.

As the fire raged at the Imperial Underwear Co. in Scranton on Jan. 8, 1908, workers flung themselves from fire escapes and jumped out windows.

Amid the chaos that killed five people and injured a dozen others, firefighter Lincoln Link Tillman walked into the building again and again, hauling out unconscious victims one at a time. Fellow firefighters who could recall the blaze 40 years later said they lost count of how many people Tillman saved.

It was just one of innumerable examples of bravery Tillman displayed, first as a member of the citys only all-Black fire department, Union Hook and Ladder, and later as one of the citys paid firemen.

That courage earned Tillman the nickname Smoke Eater. The moniker belied the deep respect his fellow firemen had for him. One told The Tribune, Link was one of the most efficient and courageous firemen in the history of the city. He feared nothing. He could go into the densest smoke and wed say to ourselves Link was gone for good. But hed suddenly come out of the smoke with a person, whod owe their life to him, in his arms.

In an interview with The Tribune published March 31, 1937, he offered his own explanation for his unique nickname.

During my 50 years in the department, I swallowed a lot of smoke and gas, he said. I dont remember the exact number, but more than half a dozen times I went to fires and woke up in the hospital. Of course, thats a firemans job.

Tillman followed in the footsteps of his father, Isaac Tillman, and joined Union Hook and Ladder in 1875 when he was only 16. His brothers, Henry M. Tillman and O.J. Tillman, also joined. Over the years, several other members of Tillmans family fought fires for Union and the city.

Union Hook and Ladder was formed when residents in the citys 8th Ward thought there was a lack of fire equipment in the neighborhoods. Union Hook and Ladders station was located on lower Lackawanna Avenue, across the street from the D&H Depot.

Several Black families banded together to form Union Hook and Ladder, Tillman explained in the 1937 story. In those days, a bell would ring at the Center Street police station; fire companies would know which ward needed assistance by counting the number of times the bell would ring.

Then wed rush down to our station house and grab hold of the handle of our engine, Tillman said in the article. Then wed run for the ward where the fire was.

But even getting there was a challenge. The firefighters of Union Hook and Ladder carried their equipment, including apparatus, by hand, Tillman said.

When we had a long run ... we werent much use when we got to the fire. Wed just flop down and the citizens would have to fight the fire until we got our breath back, he said.

Over the years, Tillman and his fellow firefighters battled a number of dramatic, dangerous blazes, including the YMCA Building when it was located on Wyoming Avenue, the Lyceum Theater on Penn Avenue and the Diamond Oil and Paint Co. on Seventh Avenue. On July 2, 1903, the barns and warehouse of C.P. Matthews & Sons on Gordon Avenue caught fire, producing rolling black smoke and heavy flames. No firefighter dared go inside until Tillman arrived and headed straight into the barn. He rescued eight horses and was going back to help more when the roof collapsed, nearly trapping him inside.

When fire broke out at Klines Opera House and the Boston Store on the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue, it was the Tillman family themselves that sounded the alarm. They lived over Isaac Tillmans dye shop at 518 Lackawanna Ave. and discovered the fire, according to a Nov. 19, 1941, obituary for Lincoln Tillman.

In 1896, Tillman was appointed as a permanent firefighter by then-Mayor William L. Connell. He was the second Black firefighter to be hired in the city; Henry Brown was the first, according to newspaper articles.

He was assigned to Phoenix Hose Company No. 6, headquartered at 606 Lackawanna Ave. After a decade there, he was assigned to Engine 1, located first in the 200 block of Spruce Street and then in the 200 block of Franklin Avenue. Later, his nephew, Bert Tillman, also fought fires with Engine 1.

Tillman retired from Engine 1 in January 1927. He lived with his nephew at 411 Franklin Ave. until his death at 81 in 1941. Lincoln Tillman is buried at Forest Hill cemetery.

Albert doesnt really know why he gets in lines.

Albert doesnt really know why he gets in lines.

Like clockwork, the 52-year-old queues up quietly outside his favourite store every weekend  legs fidgeting and upper body writhing, as his face gets numb from the cold. Hes done this for the last four weeks in a row.

Its not like he didnt check his cellphone for the extreme weather warnings either; Albert is adamant he did.

Theres something strange, however, that overcomes his mind when he wakes up. And he insists its what brings him here on this particularly frigid Saturday.

He knows its freezing outside, and he admits the pandemic continues to cause far more problems for thousands of people, some still stuck at home in other provinces and others who have watched their loved ones die without getting a chance to ever say goodbye.

"You can easily judge me," he said. "I would rather you just know the full story before you do. Really, I mean this, thats all I ask."

Albert is in line to get Swedish meatballs from the Winnipeg Ikea. Hes not alone.

At least three dozen people are also queued up, five of whom said theyre here for the meatballs too.

Sociology professor Christopher Schneider at Brandon University says humans are creatures of habit who crave seeing other people, especially after periods of prolonged isolation.

"A lot of its been lost by the pandemic," he said Saturday. "Governments have imposed restrictions, no ones been able to meet up with others when they want to, and so much has happened as a result of all of this."

Thats why Schneider isnt really surprised to watch people go out and buy something they could get delivered or just pick up after ordering online. "Theyve finally been told they can," he said.

Schneider believes its not about the attraction for indoor shopping, but rather an act that stems from what he calls "the conditions of human existence."

"Getting in a line just happens to be that one thing you feel like youre allowed to do," said Schneider. "After all, with varying circumstances and behaviours, we have different things we all want to be doing Some people just decide to do."

For Albert, his "personal ritual" is hard to explain. As he slowly sips a warm cup of Tim Hortons coffee, he tries to put it together in words.

"Its like I have no choice," he said, an hour or so after his morning shopping. "It just makes me feel good and happy after so many months of not feeling like that. I dont mean to say my problems are bigger than others  I know theyre not, I wouldnt be able to go out and buy what I wanted if they were  but Ive had a lot of sadness because of this whole pandemic thing, too."

Albert, who asked his last name not be used because it would identify his family and put them at risk of repercussions, told the Free Press his youngest son died from cancer last year.

In the few weeks after that, one after the other, his wife and his daughter both tested positive for COVID-19. By the time they had quarantined in a separate part of their Winnipeg home, and tested negative around September, Alberts marriage was over.

His wife moved out with their daughter in October, asking for no alimony or contact, "just peace." Albert never really got a chance to mend his relationships  not with his wife, his daughter or even his young son before his death.

Albert blames all of that on the pandemic, and said perhaps thats why he isnt afraid of the virus anymore.

"Its been the hardest year of my whole life," he said. "I have another stepson, too, and he doesnt even answer my calls. Honestly, these days, it feels like I have no one there for me at all."

So, one random day in January four weeks ago, which happened to be the first weekend the province allowed retail stores to reopen at 25 per cent capacity, Albert woke up with an idea.

"I had this kind of theory," he said. "I didnt feel comfortable with any of the therapists or psychiatrists or those hocus-pocus people Id seen, but I knew that if my favourite store (Ikea) was opening, I would just feel happy going there."

For about 45 minutes, Albert waited in line, despite the biting snow showers or the fact that he couldnt spend too much time inside because of the new pandemic restrictions. "None of that mattered to me," he said.

"Once I got inside, it was like a special kind of solace, if you will."

It didnt matter what he was there to purchase, said Albert. He was just happy to see other people and spend some time with his thoughts after his long bout of "pandemic confinement."

"And you know, I did end up getting more of those fake plants and cooking utensils than I needed, but it just seemed worth it."

Albert said he likes the waiting, as cars scrape on ice nearby and people queue up behind him. He likes the wind blowing heavily on his mask, and especially the colourful Ikea flags waving "voraciously" in the parking lot.

He chooses to be here every Saturday and Sunday, hoping to catch the same person he talked to with that same face mask again. "It hasnt happened yet," he said.

Hes also discovered a new game he can play with himself when hes in that line, now that theres two signs that show how long the wait ahead could be. "I like testing on my stopwatch if I can beat that sign that says 60-minutes wait or 30-minutes wait," he said.

For better or for worse, this has become Alberts ritual.

"It is safe, after all," he said. "Thats what the government is saying. And for now, Im sticking with it. Who knows what comes next?"

Twitter: @temurdur

Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca
New Zealand has recorded three new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 after 21 days without any community transmissions.

Three members of a South Auckland family - a father, mother and daughter - tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

Aucklanders could be set for a new COVID-19 lockdown amid the latest discovery, which has prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to return to Wellington for briefings.

COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said health officials were moving rapidly to test and isolate close contacts.

Aucklanders could be set for a new COVID-19 lockdown after recording three new cases of community transmission for the first time in 21 days. Pictured: : Nurses speak to people waiting in line outside a pop up Covid-19 testing station in Freyberg Place in November

The mother's employer LSG Sky Chefs, an airport laundry and catering facility at Auckland airport, has been listed as an exposure site

'There is a number of gaps in our knowledge around these cases,' he said.

Mr Hipkins said Auckland remained at alert level one, but government officials would meet later on Sunday to discuss next moves - which could include a fresh lockdown.

'There are still a lot of questions here ... this is a precautionary measure,' he said.

'Having the prime minister in Wellington means we can make decisions quickly. At this stage we don't know whether we need to.'

The mother works at works at LSG Sky Chefs, an airport laundry and catering facility at Auckland airport, while the daughter is a student at Papatoetoe High School.

The venues along with supermarket Pak n Save Manukau, in Cavendish Drive, have been listed as exposure sites, Stuff reports.

The school is undergoing deep cleaning and will be closed on Monday and Tuesday as a precaution, with a testing facility to be set up on the campus.

Another family member from their household is currently undergoing testing.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has returned to Wellington for briefings after three members of a South Auckland family tested positive

Papatoetoe High School (pictured) has been closed and a testing facility will be erected on the campus for members of the school community

Health authorities are conducting genomic sequencing on the family to determine whether they are infected with one of the more transmissible variants reported overseas.

Another case of coronavirus was recorded on Sunday in managed isolation, bringing the daily total to four.

Manukau ward councillor Alf Filipaina has urged members of the community to come forward for testing.

'In south Auckland, our community are just more vulnerable than any other,' he said.

'I'm saying to people, get tested, it has to be. We don't want to end up to where were were (during the last outbreak).'

The new cases come a day after New Zealand's first COVID-related death in five months and three weeks since the country's last case of community transmission, a woman who tested positive on January 24 after leaving hotel quarantine.





On Saturday, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said a person tested positive for the virus while in mandatory isolation died after being moved to North Shore Hospital in Auckland.





The fatality was New Zealand's 26th COVID-related death through the pandemic.
ANZ Banks technology chief Gerard Florian has hosed down the immediate prospects of the lender buying a neobank to improve its digital offering, saying it will lean on partnerships instead of acquisitions to keep pace with its big four rivals.

Analysts have put the spotlight on ANZs response to fintech disrupters, after rival moves including National Australia Banks purchase of neobank 86 400, Westpacs partnership with Afterpay, and Commonwealth Banks increased tech spending and its joint-venture with Klarna.

ANZ Banks group executive for technology, Gerard Florian. Credit:

ANZs app has also been regarded as a laggard in recent years, however Mr Florian said it had now caught up with the market, in terms of the features people needed.

He added that ANZs technology strategy was focused on internal technology development and the idea of big banks buying disruptive neobanks was a bit of a flavour of the month at the moment.
The civil supplies minister has also filed a privilege notice against the state election commissioner with assembly speaker Thammineni Seetharam for issuing a gag order against him. (Photo: DC)

VIJAYAWADA: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Saturday directed Krishna superintendent of police to file a case against civil supplies minister Kodali Sri Venkateshwara Rao for making derogatory remarks against the election commissioner and lowering the esteem of SEC.

The case against the minister is to be filed under sections 504, 505 (1) and 506 of IPC for threatening the SEC and violating the poll code. As these sections deal with non-cognisable offences, police are taking legal opinion before proceeding further.

State election commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar was not satisfied with explanation given by Kodali Nani denying making derogatory remarks against SEC as well as the election commissioner.

The civil supplies minister has also filed a privilege notice against the state election commissioner with assembly speaker Thammineni Seetharam for issuing a gag order against him. The speaker is learnt to have referred the issue to the Assembly Privileges Committee headed by YSR Congress legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy.

The minister further filed a petition in AP High Court challenging the State Election Commissions order imposing curbs on him over speaking to media until completion of gram panchayat polls on February 21.
CHICOPEE  In their continued search for an 11-year-old boy who has been missing for more than a week, police are asking for assistance from anyone who may have been walking in the area behind the WWLP-22 station off Chicopee Street the day the child disappeared.

Aiden Blanchard was last seen around 11:30 a.m. on Friday in the Willimansett neighborhood and is believed to have been heading to the area of the Medina Street Boat Launch at the Connecticut River. His family reported him missing later in the day.

We are looking to speak to anyone who was walking behind the area of the WWLP-22 News Broadcast Center, police said on Facebook.

Detectives are looking for anyone who was in that area between about 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 5. Those who were in that location are asked to call Chicopee Police detectives at 413-594-1740.

Police also continue to ask any residents who saw Aiden after about 11 a.m. on Friday to contact them. Willimansett residents, especially those who live around Old Field Road, are also asked to check any footage of surveillance cameras to see if he was picked up on video any time after he disappeared.

The area behind WWLP-22 leads to the Chicopee and Connecticut rivers. Since Aidens disappearance, multiple searches have been conducted along both waterways.

Since his disappearance, Chicopee police and firefighters and the Massachusetts State Police have searched the water with divers, boats, drones and by helicopter. On Wednesday night a person reported seeing a body in the river in Agawam, prompting a two-hour search of the river in that town by boat by the Agawam Fire Department and by helicopter by the State Police Air Wing. Searchers found no evidence.

On Thursday the State Police Air Wing conducted an aerial search of the Connecticut River, flying low over the water and its banks from Chicopee to the Connecticut line, seeking any evidence related to the sixth-graders disappearance, said David Procopio, state police spokesman.

The flight crew did not locate any evidence related to Aidens disappearance. The crew observed vast areas of ice covering parts of the river, including south of where Route 91 crosses the river down to Memorial Bridge in Springfield, he said.

State Police specialized units, including trained divers, have joined with local police and fire departments to continue searching. The Marine Unit, brought in a special boat from Boston Harbor which is larger and had the stability to navigate among ice floes, has been used in the search.

The investigation into Aidens disappearance shows foul play is not suspected, he said.

Aiden, a student at Edward J. Bellamy Middle School, is described as having brown hair, blue eyes, is 5 feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red ski jacket and black ski pants.

He was alone when he was last seen. People can also call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST if they have any information about his disappearance.

Co-workers of Aidens mother, Michelle Blanchard, have set up a GoFundMe account to raise money to help with the search and to assist her to take care of her family, which includes two younger children who are fifth-graders at Gen. John Stefanik School. It has raised about $10,300.
Emmett's father was among the first on the scene and could do but watch on

She survived the crash but her grandson and his dogs unable to be saved

Emmett Tayler, 9, travelling with grandmother when she lost control of car in WA

The grieving father of a boy killed in a horror car crash has relived his discovery of the fiery wreckage where he couldn't save his 'outgoing red hair spunk'.

Nine-year-old Emmett Tayler set off on a family beach holiday five hours away in Western Australia's south west last Wednesday with his grandmother Nancy and border colllie puppies Hudson, Timba and Seyma.

His dad Jacob and stepmother Jasmine Cole travelled separately in a different car just a few kilometres behind them.

Jacob Tayler (right) was unable to pull his son Emmett (left) from the fiery wreckage

Emmett's grandmother was halfway there when she lost control of her white Toyota Kluger and slammed into a tree near Wickepin in the state's Wheatbelt region.

Mr Tayler and his wife could see smoke billowing ahead of them and when they arrived at the scene, his badly injured mother had been pulled from the wreckage but Emmett and the dogs were trapped in the car which had erupted into flames.

'The flames were so hot I just ... I couldn't get any closer to the car,' a shattered Mr Tayler told The West Australian.

'I just had to be with her, there was nothing... I had to be with my mum and watch it burn. Yeah, there's nothing I can do for Emmett now.'

He then had to make the harrowing call to his son's mother, Sarah-Dean Kirk, who remembered her cheeky little baby who had a heart of gold'.

'I'm heartbroken that this has happened, which is not covering how I feel,' Ms Kirk said. 'It's like 10 years of my life has just been wiped out.'

A shattered Sarah Dean-Kirk (left) paid tribute to her son (right) as having a heart of gold

Photos on Facebook show Emmett as a typical country kid who loved the outdoors, camping with his dad, riding his bike and his dogs.

Emmett's stepmother Jasmine penned a gut-wrenching Facebook post.

'Our hearts are completely broken. I am completely speechless. We are going to miss you so much buddy. Home is never going to be the same. Make sure you take care of Hudson, Timba and Seyma,' she wrote.

Emmett's grandmother Nancy was flown to Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital with serious injuries and is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Mr Tayler and his family pays tribute to the beautiful soul Emmett was.

Emmett (his) was a typical country kid who loved the outdoor and camping with his dad (right)

Emmett (pictured) was on his way to a family beach holiday when his grandmother lost control of her car and slammed into a tree

'It is a long road ahead for these beautiful people, the page states.

'Full of tears, heartache and hurdles. To help them grieve with no added pressure with their permission this fund page has been setup to help them take the time they need.'

'All funds will go towards travel and accommodation for Jacob and Jasmine to support Jacob's mum in hospital, towards any bills and outgoing costs that they have while taking time away from work to grieve and to help honour Emmett when the time comes in a way they feel is appropriate.'
Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director, Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET), has reiterated Governments commitment to the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.



Mr Asamoah was speaking on Thursday during the launch of the Precision Quality Training Programme (PQ) to equip artisans with the requisite knowledge and skills to meet globally accepted industry standards.



The event was organized by The Design and Technology Institute (DTI), a technical/vocational training institution with focus on young people.



The Programme forms part of DTI's partnership agreement with the MasterCard Foundation and will create 40,000 direct and indirect work opportunities for young people within the next three years.



Mr Asamoah said Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) was the solution to Ghanas unemployment situation and the countrys youth unemployment challenge required an all-round deliberate and consistent response to ensure quality and precision.



He said attention should not only be given to youth unemployment but also develop the human capital in areas such as interpersonal skills, presentation skills, communication skills, leadership skills, analytical skills, basic computer skills and critical thinking skills.



He said over the past few years, Government had made tremendous strides at improving the TVET sector, notable amongst them being the development and approval for implementation of a five-year strategic plan which had five policy objectives and seventeen strategies.



Mr Asamoah said Government had passed the Education Regulatory Policy Act which also established the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education Regulation through the merging of COTVET and the National Board for Professional Technicians Examinations (NABPTEX).



We passed the Pre-tertiary Education B into law to establish a Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service that would specifically look at TVET delivery in the Pre-tertiary sector. Government has also developed a National Apprenticeship Policy that would train people in the industry where everybody benefits and quality is also assured, he added.



Mr Titi Ofei, Director of Institute, DTI, said education was a powerful tool by which both adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully as citizens of a nation.



He said the rapid changes occurring in the global economy had led to the introduction of new technologies and the demand for more highly skilled workers.



As such, Ghanas education system must be modified to meet the needs and challenges of today, adding that, the skills of yesterday may not be able to fix the problems of tomorrow.



He said all over the world, TVET was the vehicle being used to develop skills and train the workforce.



However, he said in Ghana, more provisions had been made to support academic institutions as opposed to technical/vocational institutions and this must change.



In Ghana there are 900 academic institutions as compared to only 45 public technical institutions and TVET have been historically positioned as a second-class type of education. Many parents look forward to sending their children to academic institutions and do not give thought to technical institutions, he said.



Mr Ofei said apart from parental resistance towards the patronage of TVET schools, the youth also had no interest in it because the general idea that had been created amongst peer groups was that students of tertiary institutions were academic failures or blockheaded.



Mr Gideon Bidor, President of Artisans Association of Ghana, said artisan skills such as kente weaving, beads making, basket making, blacksmith, goldsmith, plumbing, should be added to the educational curriculum right from basic school so that children would grow up appreciating technical education.



He said to achieve PQ attitudinal change was required, in that, industry players must endeavour to carry out their duties in a professional manner with or without supervision.



Let us encourage those in this field to do it more and not look down on them because they are not formally educated and cannot speak the Queens language. One major problem we face is discrimination. Artisans are underpaid for their services even though their work is very tedious. This causes great discouragement and as such a person may decide to look for another work and discourage any of his children from venturing into this field, he said.

Source: GNA









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The coronavirus has brought to a sudden halt one of Europe's oldest surviving street carnivals. In normal times, the small town of Binche in southern Belgium would be bursting with excitement. It's this time of the year when craftsmen put the finishing touches to the vibrant costumes, ostrich-feather hats and wax mask of performers known as Gilles.

The whole city braces itself for the carnival festivities that have been labeled a 'Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity' by UNESCO. Not this year, though. On a frosty morning this week, downtown streets were empty of the sound of the drums rehearsals and cafes remained shut amid strict anti-coronavirus measures implemented across Belgium.

"The Binche carnival is a very popular carnival. That's what makes it so special. All the inhabitants in Binche live and take part in the carnival," said Daniel Pourbaix, who heads the Association for the Defence of Binche folklore. "So when there is no carnival, everyone is sad."

Each year the carnival, of which the roots date back to the Middle Ages, normally draws thousands of aficionados. It takes place during the three days before Lent, reaching its climax on Mardi Gras, when the Gilles characters with their green spectacles and thin moustaches dance to the sound of local brass and clarinets. Rather than planning a cut-rate festival this year, organizers have opted for its cancellation.

But the Gilles will be floating in the air as their gigantic heads have been deployed on poles across the city. Binche residents have also been invited to set up mimosa displays close to their windows - the yellow flower is a symbol of the carnival - and to wear Gilles face masks. In addition to the sadness that engulfed the little town in the Hainaut province, the economic impact of the cancellation will be difficult to swallow for all the craftsmen who rely on the carnival season for their revenues.

To help artisans like Karl Kersten go through the crisis, Binche's folklore association has launched a solidarity pot. Kersten, a fourth-generation tailor of Gilles costumes, spends all year preparing for the carnival season and rents about 1,000 costumes during the festivities. This year, his shelves are full. "We don't do anything, we don't work. So, despite everything, I come to work at the same time every day, just to keep a rhythm of life," he said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Mexico is in talks with Cuba to host part of a trial on a covid-19 vaccine in an effort to draw more supplies from international laboratories as doses run short in the country and the death tally grows.

So far, just 0.5% of Mexico's population has received at least one vaccine against the coronavirus, compared with 11.5% in the U.S., according to the Bloomberg vaccine tracker.

The country received 870,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from India on Sunday and is preparing to start inoculations of its elderly, officials said during a press briefing headed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Of the total, 10% will be channeled to Mexico City.

AMLO, as the president is known, pledged during the briefing from Oaxaca state to vaccinate more than 15 million people above 60 years of age by mid-April with at least a first dose.

Mexico is negotiating with Cuba to host part of a Phase 3 vaccine trial and will announce it once health regulator Cofepris approves it, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. Cuba has four vaccine candidates in trials, the Wall Street Journal reported in January.

Mexico is racing to reach vaccine deals with several companies and nations, among them China, Russia and now Cuba, as inoculations remain slow. AMLO said Mexico is looking at developing its own vaccines.

So far, Mexico has inked deals with the United Nations's vaccine system COVAX, Pfizer/BioNTech and China's CanSino Biologics. The country was first in the region to start a vaccination plan in late December, but the pace has lagged.

Mexico reported 173,771 deaths from the virus as of Saturday night, the third most in the world. Total cases are approaching 2 million.

Other details from Sunday's press conference:

- The first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines are being sent to seven states by land and to the rest of Mexico's states by air so that all states receive some shots. Mexico City is getting 87,000 of the initial doses. AstraZeneca vaccines that arrived Sunday are ready to administer and another 1.2 million such doses from India are due to arrive in March. The Indian shipment was going to be reduced to 500,000 doses, but Mexico pressed India to deliver the full amount, AMLO said.

- Pfizer will deliver 490,000 vaccines on Tuesday and a second batch the following week, Ebrard said. The Pfizer batch will go toward second doses for health care workers.

- Vaccination of elderly will go ahead in all states, starting with 330 small towns, so that the least fortunate are also being vaccinated, AMLO said.

- Russia's Sputnik V vaccines are supposed to arrive next weekend.

- China's Sinovac is set to send Mexico 1 million doses in the coming days, Ebrard said.
And some users figured this out the hard way back in 2019 when they reported a glitch in Android Auto thats yet to be fixed after nearly one year and a half.More specifically, users said phone calls lose audio when the call is connected via Android Auto, explaining the whole thing was happening randomly without them changing anything on their side.Recently I have started having an issue where callers cant hear me and I cant hear them even though the call is connected. Sometimes if it is safe to do so I can swap to loudspeaker and back to Bluetooth and that will sometimes fix it. Also the issue seems to be intermittent and it will work for a couple of calls then stop again, the original report posted in September 2019 read But here we are in mid-February 2021 with Android Auto yet to get a fix for the whole thing and users still struggling with the whole thing in their cars.While some have discovered that enabling the Use Phone Ringtone restores part of this feature, others claim the full functionality isnt coming back. And there are several questions that nobody can answer right now.First of all, the most important question concerns the ETA of a possible fix. When is Google projected to fix this Android Auto bug? Not soon it seems, as the company has never shared any specifics. Furthermore, the company says it actually informed partners about the whole thing, so theres a chance the Android Auto team doesnt consider it a priority because its not happening on their side.Then, who exactly is affected by the problem? At this point, owners of models produced by various carmakers confirmed the problem, including Vauxhall, Ford, Acura, Subaru and others. Google, on the other hand, says it has reached out to Ford, so presumably, the search giant believes only models from this company are impacted.Google says the bug hits SYNC 3 models, so theres a chance a patch would land in the spring. A Ford spokesperson told us recently a bug-fixing Android Auto update would be released in a few months, but we cant yet confirm this problem would be addressed.In the meantime, neither Google nor another carmaker shares more specifics on the whole thing, so if youre hitting the same bug in your car, the only option is to try out the aforementioned workaround.
Mr Wyatt has not flagged concerns about Mr Frys role in relation to the IBA. But in a series of stinging letters penned late last year, and seen by the Herald and the Age, Mr Wyatt raises serious concerns about the governance of the ILSC and Mr Frys role in particular. The correspondence culminated in Mr Wyatt informing Mr Fry on December 7 that I have lost confidence in your ability to lead the ILSC as chairperson and seeking reasons why I should not ask for your resignation. The minister cites numerous grounds for loss of confidence in the chair, including adverse findings and concerns outlined in a January 2020 report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, complaints from board members, motions of no-confidence, the significant amount of time the minister has spent trying to resolve governance issues and a review of the organisation by independent assessor Vivienne Thom who warned that the ILSCs long-term viability was at risk.

A defiant Mr Fry wrote back to the minister on December 18 defending his record and stating that he found the ministers loss of confidence in him demeaning and inexplicable. He claimed the ILSC had a remarkable turnaround under his leadership, and warned that any political and bureaucratic interference would run afoul of the paramount need for Indigenous Australians to break free of the yoke of government. Mr Fry also remained defiant in a statement to the Herald and the Age on Friday, insisting that I have no intention of resigning from the ILSC board. He said he was determined to play a key role in leading this organisation that now consistently meets or exceeds its performance targets. He said he believed the board remains functional and governs effectively. The legislation which governs the ILSC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Act, says directors can only be terminated if they are physically or mentally incapable or because of misbehaviour. However, it does not define what misbehaviour means.

Asked if he lacked the power under the act to remove Mr Fry, a spokesperson for Mr Wyatt said Ms Thom, a former inspector general of the intelligence services, made it clear in her independent review that Mr Frys conduct has apparently not reached the threshold to be considered misbehaviour. The minister does not have confidence in the current chairman and is acting within the powers available to him as minister to progress the best interests of the ILSC, the spokesperson said on Friday. Professor Ian Ramsay, the head of Melbourne Universitys Centre for Corporate Law and an expert on corporate governance said the general expectation would be that if a chair has two votes of no confidence against him and also the minister who appoints the board has stated that he does not have confidence in the chair, then the chair would be expected to resign. Behind closed doors the toxic board relations have been playing out for months, with factions repeatedly calling on Mr Wyatt to back a side. Tensions came to a head on May 7, when Mr Fry attempted to ram through changes to the governance of the organisation with less than 48 hours notice, including stopping ILSC directors sitting on subsidiary boards, arguing it was a conflict; a position at odds with the Corporations Act and Australian Institute of Company Directors guidelines on directors sitting on parent companies and subsidiaries.

Mr Fry had expected directors to endorse the changes and when they asked questions it descended into loud berating and bullying as well as a warning they were treading on fine ground, one director reported to Mr Wyatt. Some saw it as an attempt to sideline them while Mr Fry tightened his control as he worked on a strategy to transform the ILSC to create a second board that would diminish the role of the main board. The plan would reduce head count by 31 per cent. Of the then seven directors, the four who have clashed with Mr Fry are each significant figures in their own right. Dr Donna Odegaard is co-chair of the committee set up by Mr Wyatt to co-design an Indigenous voice to government. Roy Ah-See is a former chair of the Prime Ministers Indigenous Advisory Council. Patricia Crossin is a former Northern Territory senator. And Bruce Martin is also a former member of the Prime Ministers advisory council. On June 17, these four directors supported a motion of no confidence in Mr Fry and the ILSCs acting chief executive Leo Bator, who stepped down immediately. Dr Odegaard notified Mr Wyatt that the boards action was a culmination of Mr Frys failure over 12 months to provide leadership. She said her concerns included the impact of his behaviour on ILSCs subsidiaries, which included suspending funding without reason and attempting to shut them down, which she said made them unable to perform effectively and efficiently.

Dr Odegaard said she found the situation harrowing and her trust and loyalty to the chairperson has been broken by his actions and my hopes for the ILSC delivering greater benefits for our people compromised if this conduct continues. Mr Ah-See told Mr Wyatt in a letter of extremely poor governance and Mr Fry aggressively opposes any director who holds a different opinion to his own and attempts to bully these directors into acting according to his wishes. Ms Crossin also complained about Mr Frys failure to consult and failure to provide updates on a radical transformation plan.

Mr Martin generally echoed the complaints of the others, adding it was symptomatic of larger governance issues, while another director, Daniel Tucker backed Mr Fry, describing the May 7 board meeting as robust. On August 19, ahead of the release of Ms Thoms report, a second motion of no confidence was carried four votes to two. Ms Thoms report, commissioned by Mr Wyatt, concluded that Mr Frys conduct had not amounted to bullying but it would be open to the board to find it had breached the corporations code of conduct. More fundamentally, Ms Thom warned that there is a high risk that the board cannot currently fulfil the functions as set out in the ATSI [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Act and its charter. Unless urgent action is taken this will also place at risk the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the ILSC as well as potentially its longer-term viability. The current level of conflict in the board also carries with it significant risks in terms of the morale, wellbeing and, ultimately, retention of ILSC management and staff, she warned.

Its not the first time the ISLC has been plagued with problems. Ten years ago, the board, under different leadership, purchased the Ayers Rock Resort for an inflated price of $300 million, saddling the organisation with massive debt, against the advice of the then Indigenous affairs minister. A former chair, Dr Dawn Casey, later pronounced the deal the largest single evaporation of public money in the Indigenous policy domain, ever. Mr Fry, in his defence, claims he has rescued the corporation from the brink of insolvency and the ILSC had out-performed under his leadership. He also denies claims of dysfunction or board tensions. The chairperson continues to serve as per ILSCs governing legislation and with the support of his fellow directors, he said.

Upheaval continues with Mr Tucker resigning last week, effective immediately, leaving five people including Mr Fry on the board. It means if any two people are absent from any board meeting there wont be a quorum. Directors were contacted for comment, including whether they supported Mr Fry. Ms Crossin declined to respond, saying the trove of documents that had become public speak for themselves. Other directors didnt respond. Mr Wyatt for his part, is playing a waiting game. Mr Frys second term ends in October. Given the circumstances that have now evolved, the minister is watching the actions and performance of the ILSC very closely and is considering the options that may be available to him to ensure this situation does not occur again, a spokesman Mr Wyatt said. In the meantime, the ISLC board remains in disarray.
For many years, Jim Nowlan was a senior fellow and political-science professor at the University of Illinois. He has worked for three unindicted governors and published a weekly newspaper in central Illinois.
Most countries introduced school closures during the spring of 2020 despite substantial uncertainty regarding the effectiveness in containing SARS-CoV-2. In Sweden, upper-secondary schools moved online while lower-secondary schools remained open.

A comparison of parents with children in the final year of lower-secondary and first year of upper-secondary school shows that keeping the former open had limited consequences for the overall transmission of the virus.

However, the infection rate doubled among lower-secondary teachers relative to upper-secondary ones. The infection rate among partners of lower-secondary teacher was 30 percent higher than among their upper-secondary counterparts.

On March 18, 2020, Swedish upper-secondary schools moved to online instruction while lower-secondary schools remained open. This facilitates a comparison of infections and disease between groups that are comparable in other regards. In the study, all PCR-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 and all healthcare registered cases of COVID-19 until the summer break are linked to register data on families and teachers in lower and upper-secondary schools.

Since the age of the student is likely to correlate with the severity of symptoms, student infectiousness and various types of risk behavior, it is crucial to compare parents to children close in age. According to the study, the risk of infection was 17 percent higher among parents whose youngest child studied at the final year of lower-secondary rather than the first year of upper-secondary school.

Had lower-secondary schools moved online, the estimates correspond to 500 fewer detected cases among a total of 450 000 lower-secondary parents (4.5 percent of the population). This can be compared to 53 000 PCR-confirmed cases in the total population during until the summer break in mid-June.

When comparing lower to upper-secondary teachers, we find that the risk for both PCR-confirmed infection and healthcare treatment due to COVID-19 doubled by keeping schools open. Among 124 occupations, upper-secondary teachers had a median risk of infection while lower-secondary were the 7th most affected.

This comparison excludes healthcare workers who had markedly different access to PCR-testing. By the end of June, 79 out of 39 500 lower-secondary teachers had been hospitalized due to COVID-19, one of whom deceased. According to the study, this number had been down to 46 if lower-secondary schools had closed.

It is well-known that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted within households. The study finds that the risk of a positive PCR-test was 30 percent higher among partners of lower-secondary teachers than among their upper-secondary counterparts. The estimates for more serious cases of COVID-19 are somewhat lower than for PCR-tests but - just as for parents - these estimates are imprecise.

Closing the schools is a costly measure with potentially long-run detrimental effects for students. The results for parents are in line with theoretical models predicting a limited impact of school closures on the general transmission of SARS-CoV-2. In an international comparison, the precautionary measures undertaken in Swedish schools are best described as mild.

Thus, strict measures within open schools cannot explain the relatively minor impact on the overall rate of transmission. The results for teachers suggest that further precautionary measures could be considered.

The study does not analyse the impact of school closures for virus transmission among students. We note, however, that there are few cases of serious illness among the young. In particular, zero deaths from COVID-19 had been recorded among 2-19 year olds in Sweden until mid-summer 2020.
High Court Denies Accused Ghosn Smugglers Bid to Stay in US

BOSTONThe U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Saturday for the extradition of an American father and son wanted by Japan in the escape of former Nissan Motor Co. boss Carlos Ghosn.

Justice Stephen Breyer denied a bid to put the extradition on hold to give Michael and Peter Taylor time to pursue an appeal in their case challenging the U.S. officials plans to hand them over to Japan.

Michael Taylor, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, and his son are accused of helping Ghosn, who led the Japanese automaker for two decades, flee the country last year with Ghosn tucked away in a box on a private jet. The flight went first to Turkey, and then to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Security camera video shows Michael L. Taylor, center, and George-Antoine Zayek at passport control at Istanbul Airport in Turkey on Dec. 30, 2019. (DHA via AP, File)

Lawyers for the Taylors argue the men cant legally be extradited and will be treated unfairly in Japan. Their lawyers told the Supreme Court in a brief filed Friday that the men would face harsh treatment in the Japanese criminal justice system.

The issues raised by petitioners merit full and careful consideration, and the stakes are enormous for them. The very least the U.S. courts owe the petitioners is a full chance to litigate these issues, including exercising their appellate rights, before they are consigned to the fate that awaits them at the hands of the Japanese government, their attorneys wrote.

U.S. authorities had said they would not hand the men over to Japan while their bid for a stay was pending before Breyer, an attorney for the Taylors said.

Michael Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press that he feels betrayed that the United States would try to turn him over to Japan after his service to the country. Taylor refused to discuss the details of the case because of the possibility that he could be tried in Japan, but he insisted his son had no involvement.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston refused Thursday to put the extradition on hold, finding that the Taylors are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their case. The Taylors have been locked up at a suburban Boston jail since their arrest last May.

Ghosn was out on bail at the time of his escape and awaiting trial on allegations that he underreported his income and committed a breach of trust by diverting Nissan money for his personal gain. Ghosn said he fled because he could not expect a fair trial, was subjected to unfair conditions in detention and was barred from meeting his wife under his bail conditions. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing.

By Alanna Durkin Richer
The discussion of a parliamentary report critical of Egypts Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal was postponed by MPs on Sunday based on a request by the minister for time to prepare a response.

House of Representatives Speaker Hanafi Gibali told MPs in a plenary morning meeting on Sunday that he has received a request from Heikal asking that the discussion of the Media and Culture Committees report, which was critical of his performance, be postponed for some time.

Minister Heikal said he needs some time to prepare complete and detailed responses to the reports critical points and so we will not be able to discuss the report today, said Gibali.

I hope that you approve that the discussion of the report be postponed to the next plenary meetings.

Egypts parliament was scheduled on Sunday to discuss an eight-page report which directed scathing attacks against Heikal, accusing him of poor performance and financial wrongdoing.

The report, prepared by the Houses Media and Culture Committee, recommended that the information ministry be scrapped because it is redundant and a waste of public money. But, it is up to state officials to give a final say on this issue, said the report.

Tamer Abdel-Qader, secretary-general of the Media and Culture Ministry, told Ahram Online that the committee concluded that the information ministry should be cancelled because it by no means has any roles to play.

The constitution states that three independent institutions shall be the ones who take charge of regulating the media sector and these are the National Press Organisation, the National Media Organisation, and the Supreme Council for Media and Press Regulation, said Abdel-Qader, adding that the Supreme Administrative Court ruled in 2013 that the information ministry be cancelled.

The report said Heikals policy statement, delivered before parliament on 19 January, was rejected because Heikal failed to achieve the objectives of his ministry and that he violated a number of financial and administrative regulations.

The report said the fact that Heikal works also as chairman of the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) is a constitutional and legal offence. This [chairmanship of the] EMPC goes against Article 166 of the constitution and Article 79 of the joint-stock companies law, said the report, adding that the information ministrys budget cost EGP 12 million over the last six months.

MPs agree that it is unconstitutional and illegal for Heikal to work both as information minister and chairman of the EMPC and so, he should pay back all the money he obtained from the two posts, said Abdel-Qader.

The report also said that a number of public announcements made by Minister Heikal have inflicted a lot of political damage to the states reputation and image.

The ministers aggressive statements against Egyptian journalists and media people in terms of accusing them of poor performance were exploited by hostile television channels  broadcasting from Qatar and Turkey  to attack the Egyptian state, said the report.

The report also added that Heikal made another bad announcement when he claimed that Ethiopian media excelled over the Egyptian one in its coverage of the GERD negotiations in Washington last year.



Heikal is the only cabinet minister which received ferocious attacks from MPs, leading many to believe that he will be fired in any expected cabinet re-shuffle. He was named Minister of State for Information in December 2019.

The other 27 cabinet ministers which have so far delivered policy statements before parliament have received complimentary reports from committees.

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Once again, former President Donald J. Trump beat the rap and once again he wasted no time claiming victory. He released a statement one minute before the presiding officer in the Senate even officially declared that he had been acquitted on Saturday, denouncing his impeachment as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country.

But this one was still different. This one will come with an asterisk in the history books if not a dark stain. This time Mr. Trump did not have the East Room of the White House to summon allies for a celebration to crow about eluding conviction. This was the most bipartisan impeachment in history and even the Republican leader castigated him. This was an escape, not an exoneration.

The president who emerged from last years impeachment trial feeling emboldened and used his office to take revenge against those he blamed for the charges against him emerges from this one defeated after one term and secluded behind closed doors in Florida with no government power and an uncertain political and legal future. He forced most Republican senators to stick with him in the trial, but few of them defended his actions, citing constitutional reasons for their votes.

No one condemned him in more forceful terms on Saturday than one of those who voted to acquit him, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader who for four years held his tongue and worked in tandem with Mr. Trump but has since washed his hands of him. Mr. McConnell accused Mr. Trump of a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty in trying to overturn an election and setting a mob loose on Congress to block the formalization of his defeat and he methodically demolished the former presidents defense point by point.
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  Getting caught with drugs is sending a Rudd man to prison.

Matthew John Stiles, 34, was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver LSD after the search of a home in Nora Springs where Stiles was living in June 2020. Law enforcement says it found meth, LSD, a digital gram scale, packaging material, and a large amount of cash.

Stiles pleaded guilty to a controlled substance violation and has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Jammu: A Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing seven-kilogram was detected near the general bus stand area in Jammu on Sunday (February 14, 2021).

The plan by terrorists to set off an explosion on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama attack was successfully averted, officials told PTI.

After receiving specific inputs, a raid was conducted and the device was recovered, the official said.

The recovery of explosives comes close to the heels of the arrest of two top terrorists from Kunjwani in Jammu and Bari Brahmana area of Samba district.

Zahoor Ahmad Rather, a top terrorist affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF) who was wanted in connection with the killing of three BJP workers and a policeman in south Kashmir last year, was arrested in Bari Brahmana area of Samba on Saturday.

Earlier on February 6, self-styled commander of the Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM), Hidayatullah Malik, alias "Hasnain", was held from the Kunjwani area of Jammu.

On this day in 2019, a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist had carried out an attack on a CRPF convoy of 70 vehicles in Pulwama, resulting in the death of 40 troopers.
Some smaller companies have argued that Apple and Google force app makers to pay an artificially high fee only because of their sheer dominance. The two companies software underpins nearly all of the worlds smartphones.

The bill would prohibit Apple and Google from requiring apps to use their payment systems, which enable them to collect their commissions.

It would also require Apple and Google to allow users of their smartphones to download apps from outside their flagship app stores, though Mr. Davison said he was trying to remove that provision to ease some of his colleagues concerns. Google already allows such downloads, but Apple does not.

North Dakotas 47 senators are set to vote on the measure this week after debate starts on Monday. The timeline is accelerated because the legislature meets for just 80 days every two years. If a majority votes aye, the bill will move on to the House.

If the bill fails, Apple and Googles fight would appear far from over. Georgia and Arizona lawmakers are considering nearly identical app-store legislation, and Andy Vargas, a state representative in Massachusetts, said he planned to introduce a comparable bill this week. Lobbyists said they were also pushing for app-store bills in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

An Apple spokeswoman said most iPhone apps were free and didnt pay any commission. She added that most of the North Dakota companies that shared revenue with Apple earned less than $1 million a year from their apps, meaning they pay Apple 15 percent of some sales, rather than 30 percent. Apple lowered its rate for smaller companies last year amid scrutiny of its App Store policies.

Google did not respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Davison said he had been given the draft legislation by Lacee Bjork Anderson, a lobbyist with Odney Public Affairs in Bismarck. Ms. Anderson said in an interview that she had been hired by Epic Games, the maker of the popular game Fortnite and the plaintiff in lawsuits against Apple and Google over their app policies. She said she was also being paid by the Coalition for App Fairness, a group of firms, including Epic, Spotify and Match Group, that has protested app commissions and is leading the push for app-store bills.
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Irish Wheelchair Association in Longford has called on the Government to prioritise people with disabilities under its vaccination plan, as concerns grow over vaccine delays.

The charity said that people with physical disabilities are at severe risk due to underlying conditions.

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Martin Tarmey, from the Irish Wheelchair Association based in Kenagh, Co Longford said: Many people with physical disabilities are at severe risk of Covid due to health conditions that could cause complications and hospitalisation, yet they have not been recognised as a vulnerable group by the Government.

The Government must also recognise that in the absence of regular day services, many people with disabilities have been confined at home since the virus took hold last March, adding additional stress.

"People we support are eager to get the vaccine and are highly concerned about how long they will wait with vaccine supplies lower than planned.

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At the current time, people over 65 in residential settings with disabilities are rightly getting vaccinated.

"Yet worryingly, those living independently in the community and being assisted at home in Longford and across the country are not.

This is a real issue. Our members have told us they are very keen to be vaccinated, but are concerned that they will be left waiting.

"With concerns about vaccination supplies, we urge the Minister for Health to urgently include people with disabilities on the priority list to ensure their protection.

Also read: Longford dairy farmer Mike Magan the catalyst for raising 190,000 for Irish Red Cross for Yemen Appeal

Irish Wheelchair Association is Irelands largest organisation supporting people with physical disabilities to lead active and independent lives and has 20,000 members.

The association currently has 1,500 staff across Ireland visiting 4,000 homes each month, caring for individuals with disabilities, in their own homes.

Martin continued: In Longford, we have a strong team of frontline workers, who have been visiting people at home every day since Covid arrived almost a year ago.

"We are helping people get out of bed, get dressed, preparing meals, helping around the home, making trips for shopping, the chemist and with personal care.

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Our immediate priority is to protect people with disabilities and to ensure that the most vulnerable have all the support they need while they cannot be with their family and friends.

"Our members have added vulnerabilities to the Covid-19 virus. They must be included on the Governments vaccine priority list.

For further information about Irish Wheelchair Association visit www.iwa.ie
By Gwynne Dyer





China's Xinhua news agency tactfully described the Myanmar army's seizure of power Feb. 1 as a "cabinet reshuffle." This suggests a possible new approach for Donald Trump's legal team. But it won't work, for two reasons. One, Trump's coup attempt failed. Two, people got killed.



In contrast, the Myanmar army moved with practiced ease to arrest democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all the members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) who had been elected to the new parliament by an 80 percent landslide last November.



The internet and the phones went down nationwide, military snatch squads grabbed the sleeping MPs out of their beds  they were all in the capital for the official opening of the new parliament later that day  and the job was done by the time the rest of the country was awake. And nobody got hurt.



An impressive piece of work. Eat your heart out, Donald Trump! But the great mystery is why the army bothered.



After all, the army still owned all its money-making commercial enterprises, and it really controlled the government too despite the democratic window-dressing. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was in office, but the army was the power behind the throne. That was the deal (hopefully transitional) that she had made with the generals in 2015.



She didn't get the title of president or prime minister, although she actually held the top job. When the generals rewrote the constitution, they put in a clause excluding people whose children hold foreign passports (i.e. Suu Kyi) from those positions, so her official title was just "state counselor."



She could not choose who got the three most important cabinet posts in terms of controlling the country: home, defense and border affairs were reserved for serving generals. And one-quarter of the seats in parliament were reserved for unelected military officers, which was enough to veto any changes to the constitution.



It was a rotten deal, but Suu Kyi could not just force the army from power. The military had ruled Myanmar since 1962, and they had simply ignored a landslide election victory by the NLD in the past. The generals had all the guns, and that lopsided power-sharing deal was the only alternative to naked military dictatorship.



In fact, it was worse than that. When the army started massacring the Rohingya, a Muslim minority in the state of Rakhine, in 2017, Suu Kyi had to go along with that as well. The Myanmar army's main business has always been keeping restive minority populations down, and it would not brook civilian interference in that key role.



"Had to go along with it" may be a bit too generous. Suu Kyi didn't just keep quiet about the genocide that drove most of the Rohingya population (700,000 people) across the border into Bangladesh. She actually went to the International Court of Justice last year and defended the army's actions in person. (That was when her foreign admirers finally canceled her honorary sainthood.)



As a Myanmar politician hoping to be re-elected, Suu Kyi probably felt obliged to cater to the ferocious anti-Muslim prejudice of Myanmar's Buddhist majority. The genocide is the one really popular thing the army has done in decades. But there have also been hints in her private conversations that she shares the majority's paranoia about Islam.



No matter. She did it, she still stands by it  and the NLD got 80 percent of the votes in the November election, so it worked. She kept her side of the rotten deal. Why did the generals not keep their side? After all, they still really held the final control, and all their investments were safe.



Part of the reason seems to be that the soldiers expected the army's proxy civilian party to do much better in the election because of popular support among the Myanmar ethnic majority (66 percent of the population) for its actions in Rakhine. And at this point it goes very Trumpish.



If you believe you should have won the election, it's a short step to thinking that the vote was rigged, and a longer but still possible step to believing you should use force to reverse this injustice. There was no evidence of fraud and the national election commission said so, but the army started claiming there had been "massive voting irregularities."



There has long been dissatisfaction among junior generals and colonels about the army's collaboration with the NLD, profitable though it has been. However, the commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was distinctly less enthusiastic in his claims of fraud in the run-up to the coup.



What happens now? Probably a new president and commander-in-chief to replace Min Aung Hlaing within weeks, and then another prolonged period of military rule. Foreign sanctions? Definitely. Popular protests? Almost certainly. Massive bloodshed and repression? Quite possibly; the army has done that before. And Aung San Suu Kyi gets another crack at sainthood.





Gwynne Dyer (gwynne763121476@aol.com) has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. He is the author of "Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)."


Plaque commemorates local man who died in First World War

East Ilsley Parish Council has secured a grant to finance the restoration of a recently-salvaged memorial plaque.

The plaque commemorates the life of Sgt Reginald George Wells, a war hero known locally as 'Rex'.

Sgt Wells was born in East Ilsley in 1887.

He joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War, but was ultimately transferred to the Hampshire Regiment.

He was killed amid fierce fighting in Palestine in 1917 and was buried there alongside his company captain.

The event was covered extensively in the Newbury Weekly News at the time.

Years after his death, a memorial plaque was put up in the East Ilsley Baptist church.

In 2019, West Berkshire Council approved plans to convert the chapel into a house.

Builders renovating the building discovered Sgt Wells' tablet and the late sergeant's relatives took a keen interest in the plaque's future.

This prompted East Ilsley Parish Council, spearheaded by clerk Fenella Woods, to arrange for the restoration of the plaque.

Cardiff-based masonry firm Mossfords was commissioned, but Welsh lockdown restrictions delayed the process.

This week, funding was formally secured from the War Memorials Trust towards all costs incurred.

Moreover, the Diocese of Oxford has granted permission to relocate the plaque to East Ilsley's Anglican church, St Mary's, upon its return to the village.

These proposals were a cause of some controversy, not least because Sgt Wells was raised in the Baptist faith.

However, it was found that he had converted to Anglicanism as an adult, with his confirmation into the faith actually taking place at St Mary's in 1912.

The date of the tablet's return remains uncertain.

However, Mrs Woods is hoping Mossfords will send it back this summer and is planning a ceremony at St Mary's to reintroduce it to East Ilsley.

She said: "East Ilsley Parish Council have been successful in obtaining a grant from the War Memorials Trust towards the restoration costs of the plaque rescued from the Baptist chapel last year.

"The parish council are delighted that we have secured this funding and that we have been able to rescue and restore this important part of local history.

"We have now instructed Mossfords in Cardiff to start the work on the renovation and they will give us a timeline of expected completion as soon as they can.

"We have also received the 'faculty' from the Diocese of Oxford confirming we have been granted permission to place the newly-restored plaque into St Mary's Church upon completion."
At 7pm on February 11 in South Sudan, 5 time zones away from Vietnam, more than 60 officers and soldiers at a field hospital straightened their costumes, saluted the flag and sang the national anthem to see in the New Year. On the TV screen was a video of fireworks exploding over the skies of Hanoi.

With hands on their chest and eyes looking towards the motherland, they offered incense to President Ho Chi Minh and listened to General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trongs New Year greetings. The soldiers, away from home, were moved upon hearing the top leader extend his wishes to all Vietnamese people both at home and abroad.

Raising their glasses, giving warm hugs and making wishes of peace, Vietnamese doctors on the UN peacekeeping mission looked to the small stage and watched a home-made arts programme.

We called back home to inquire after our family members on New Years eve. This is the second Tet of the hospital staff in South Sudan although the tenure was expected to be just one year, said Lieutenant Colonel Vo Van Hien, director of the field hospital, explaining the tenure has been lengthened due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, guests invited to the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations included a large number of service members on the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. But this year, the celebrations were only held internally to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Earlier Senior Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, a military observer, and a number of officers working in the capital Juba, had managed to complete their work and returned to the Bentiu base, 900 kilometres from the capital, to celebrate Tet along with military doctors.

A shipment of supplies was dispatched from Vietnam to South Sudan at the end of the year so that soldiers here could have a warm Tet. In addition to medical supplies and protective gear, we also received essential food such as vermicelli, shiitake mushroom and cloud ear fungus, said Senior Lieutenant Le Trong Nghia, adding the hospital management board also ordered additional purchases of beef, goat meat, chicken and banana leaves to make banh chung so that the hospital staffs year end party could include all the traditional dishes as in Vietnam.

With much fewer staff than the South Sudan mission, there are only 7 Vietnamese officers working at the peacekeeping mission in Central Africa. In addition to four at the headquarters in the capital Bangui, three others are working in different regions. Senior Lieutenant Ngo Xuan Tung, a military observer, travelled to Bangui to celebrate Tet with his comrades.

At the start of a new year, five green beret soldiers burn incense on the altar dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, praying for peace and prosperity for Vietnam.

Since the mission does not allow us to be off for Tet, we tried to complete the work as soon as possible and go home to make preparations. At 6pm, everything was ready to ring in a new year as here we are six time zones away from Vietnam, said Lieutenant Colonel Luu Dinh Hien, commander of the Vietnamese force in Central Africa.

In order to have a warm year-end meal, the soldiers spent their weekends and hours off work looking for the necessary goods to make banh chung. Each soldier completed their own task, from washing rice, processing meat and washing leaves to wrapping and boiling banh chung. Those who had never wrapped banh chung in Vietnam have now become experts in making the dish.

After the banh chung are cooked and meatloaves made, they were packed and sent by air to soldiers stationed in different regions. Due to Covid-19, the soldiers invited no one to the year-end party. However, traditional dishes such as spring rolls were be made in surplus so that they could be offered to colleagues in other departments to enjoy.

In Central Africa, there is no spring, no drizzle and no peach blossom, so we fetched a tree branch and used paper flowers brought from home for decoration. We also bought blinking lights to install on the tree and now we have a sparkling peach branch, said Lieutenant Colonel Hien.

He said they also worked hard to prepare a fruit tray with different kinds of fruit, although there are no bananas. Green vegetables were self-supplied in various forms including Jute mallow, Malabar spinach, mustard, amaranth, sponge gourd and herbs.

Next year when the pandemic is fully under control, we will extend New Year greetings to the Vietnamese community in Central Africa, said Hien.
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When RTE's Northern editor Tommie Gorman was being interviewed about his retirement on The Late Late Show, host Ryan Tubridy recalled the times Gorman appeared from Belfast on a split screen alongside a colleague in the studio in Dublin. "It was like two different continents," Tubridy said.

The remark betrayed an attitude which Northerners perceive as an indifference at best in the Republic towards Northern Ireland.

It echoed a comment last year by Claire Byrne in a podcast with Sunday Independent journalist Rodney Edwards, when she said that the Northern troubles were far removed from her day-to-day existence. "It was as alien as Israel, almost," she said.

After partition, the Republic soon became largely socially distanced, and as the Troubles unfolded in the final part of the 20th century, the North was put into isolation as far as many in the Republic were concerned. But we live in different times, and as momentum grows over what a new Ireland might look like, much of the focus has been on the need to encourage unionists to join the conversation.

There is another problem: the Republic of Ireland isn't fully engaged yet either, often to the frustration of those who want to address the values that would underpin a new Ireland, however that might be shaped constitutionally.

Apathy, indifference, natural reluctance to change, hostility towards a troublesome North, a refusal to consider a possible financial change or even a fear of loyalist violent resistance are all factors at play.

The Ireland's Future group has been to the forefront of expanding conversations in the North about how to shape the future. I took part in a panel discussion it organised on Thursday evening - all panellists were from a Protestant or unionist background and there was general recognition that relationships are evolving and changing across the island. Among these panellists, at least, fears of being subsumed into a 32-county Catholic Ireland are gone.

The online event received widespread reaction on Twitter and one of the clear messages was that the Dublin Government needs to do a lot more planning to prepare for change, including constitutional change.

The unanimity from the panel on this point prompted one of them, the Rev Karen Sethuraman, to tweet directly to the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, saying: "Let's get this on the table. Voices are rising." The Rev Sethuraman is a mother originally from east Belfast who became the first woman to become a Baptist minister in Ireland.

Those "rising voices" of what could be termed "others" in Northern Ireland need to be listened to more in the Republic, which perhaps understandably focuses on its own issues.

Theresa Reidy, a political scientist at University College Cork, points out that exit polling at last year's Dail election showed concerns about housing, health and an unequal economic recovery were uppermost in voters' minds. While Sinn Fein performed strongly in the election, Ms Reidy says, "this was not evidence of strengthening nationalism".

In fact, as regards limited polling in the Republic about a referendum or attitudes towards the North in general, she notes: "The very fact the question isn't asked often tells a story of its own. The feeling is that the Good Friday Agreement reached a settled position and while Brexit has unsettled that, [the North] still isn't a top priority. Mild nationalism categorises the majority opinion in the Republic, so Fianna Fail and Fine Gael would be very reluctant to engage with a referendum that doesn't clearly spell out what people are voting on."

This last point is key, because the momentum towards a Border poll is such that it will happen at some point, and lessons from Britain about failure to prepare properly for the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums are examples of the real problems in the aftermath of the result either way.

The Government in Dublin, and indeed society in general south of the Border, is misreading the mood if it does not realise that the momentum for change will increase and have an impact right across the island. The challenge is for the Republic of Ireland to be open to change to make it amenable to a new relationship with Northerners, of whatever heritage.

"Mild nationalism" and general indifference to the North mean that Micheal Martin may feel comfortable within his own base, and indeed with the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael alliance when kicking the idea of a Border poll into the long grass.

The "shared island" project, which is laudable in its objective of fostering better relationships across the island, is limited in its ambition if it is a political holding operation to keep the demands of an advancing Sinn Fein at bay.

It remains to be seen how sustainable such a softly-softly approach is for a Fianna Fail leader, even within his own party. And with Sinn Fein's rise likely to continue, they will continue to push and ask the question. This should not be a party political issue, however; it is about wider societal change and widening discussions in the North show what is coming down the track.

With demographic change in Northern Ireland and an increase in English and Scottish nationalism threatening the break-up of the United Kingdom, the tectonic plates are shifting, and it would be better if the Republic took a deeper interest in and engaged with a changing Northern Ireland. The rumblings for change are not going to quieten down.

Denzil McDaniel is a former editor of 'The Impartial Reporter'
A killer nearing the end of his life sentence for a shotgun murder has taken his own life in Magilligan Prison.

Jason Weir (34) was found dead in his cell last Tuesday by shocked jail staff.

He was serving a minimum nine-and-a-half year sentence for the 2012 execution of Philip Strickland near the village of Comber, Co Down.

Caged alongside him for murder were his millionaire farmer father Jimmy Seales (60) and older brother Ian Weir (35).

Expand Close SEARCH: Forensics examine an area near where Philip Strickland was gunned down / Facebook

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Seales was sentenced to life with a minimum 14-year tariff while Ian, who gave evidence against his dad, was jailed for just four years.

Prison sources say they cannot understand why Jason Weir took his own life when he was due to be freed later this year.

"His death has come as a huge shock to everyone, staff and inmates alike," explained a Magilligan insider.

"Jason was popular enough with the other prisoners, he didn't have any enemies and was always talking about getting out soon.

"He seemed to have withdrawn into himself these last few weeks and isolated himself from his friends, but no one had any idea that he was feeling suicidal.

"The inmates and staff feel very low at the moment. Regardless of what crime a prisoner is serving a sentence for, they don't deserve to have their lives ended so suddenly."

Our source said that Jason Weir's jailed father Jimmy Seales has taken his son's death badly. Unlike his other son Ian, he was on good terms with Jason.

A spokesman for the Prison Service refused to comment on the Magilligan suicide, saying it never talks about individual inmates.

The Weir family is having a private funeral ceremony for Jason, and has not placed death notices in any newspapers.

His victim Philip Strickland was killed with a shotgun nine years ago after being abducted by Jason and Ian Weir at their father Jimmy Seales' yard.

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Seales blasted the 36-year-old in the leg before bundling him into the boot of a car and driving off. Despite being severely injured Strickland tried to flee, but was shot again in the face causing catastrophic injuries from which he died.

Also convicted of his murder was Stephen McCaughey (33), who was sentenced to life with a minimum 10 years.

Seales is currently appealing against his murder conviction, telling Sunday Life he was physically incapable of firing the fatal shots because of horrific arm injuries he suffered in a beating the year before.

Ian Weir was freed in 2019 having served his minimum four-and-a-half year term for murder, while McCaughey is due for release next year.

During Seales' trial it was claimed he had offered his sons Ian and Jason 500,000 each to take the rap for the Strickland killing and put him in the clear. He has since denied this in behind bars interviews with this newspaper.
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Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has confirmed that he will vote to acquit former president Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, calling the decision a close call.

In an email to Republican colleagues on Saturday morning that was obtained by Politico, Mr McConnell said that he would vote to acquit Mr Trump, writing: As I have said for some time, todays vote is a vote of conscience and I know we will all treat it as such.

I have been asked directly by a number of you how I intend to vote, so I thought it right to make that known prior to the vote. While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primary of removal and we therefore lack jurisdiction.

Mr McConnell then confirmed which way he would vote, writing: I will vote to acquit.

Read more: Follow live updates from Trumps impeachment trial

Mr Trumps Senate trial began on 9 February, just a few weeks after the House voted to impeach him for inciting the deadly Capitol riots on 6 January with a speech at a Save America rally near the White House.

Five people died and several more were injured as a mob of pro-Trump supporters breached the Capitol on that day. A week later, and a week before leaving office, Mr Trump was impeached by the House.

In his email on Saturday, Mr McConnell also indicated that the former president could still face criminal prosecution for his actions during the riots, saying that the possibility alleviates the otherwise troubling January exception argument raised by the house.

Although he has criticised Mr Trumps actions over the last few weeks, Mr McConnell had refused to say which way he would vote on impeachment.

He voted alongside 43 other Senate Republicans earlier in the week that Mr Trumps trial is unconstitutional, but still did not confirm which way he would vote on conviction after the proceedings went ahead.

However, the former Trump ally finally confirmed that he will vote to acquit on Saturday morning, just hours after Mr Trumps legal team concluded its defense.

Speaking to Politico about Mr McConnells confirmation on Saturday, Republican senator Roy Blunt said: Based on his comments over the past two months I really had no idea what he was going to do.

The Missouri senator added: He said everybody should make this decision and their own and I guess he thought that that would apply to him as well.

After only using three of the 16 hours allowed to mount its defense on Friday, Mr Trumps legal team had been pushing for the conviction vote to take place on Saturday, but that plan was derailed after Democrats insisted on witnesses being called.

Five Republicans  Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  also voted to allow the impeachment managers and Mr Trumps defense counsel to call witnesses.

Mr Trump is not expected to be convicted, as some 17 Republicans would need to join all 48 Democrats and two Independents to meet the two-thirds threshold. Only six GOP senators have signaled that they will vote for conviction.
Amidst the cascading agonies of 2020 and early 2021, the past 11 months have offered up critical learning opportunities. For me, and for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, those came during a few steely-eyed looks in the mirror.

We stayed focused, and, instead of looking away, we are now committed to shining a light on the cracks and flaws so we can learn and adjust. Since our launch 30 years ago, the community foundation has been about creating and sustaining a long-term charitable resource for Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Its why we were founded  to advance the greater good, locally. What we are learning from the crucible of this year is that dollars alone are not enough.

If we envision a thriving region where every resident can realize their full potential, liberated from barriers to opportunity, then we must strive in all we do to advance equity and collaboration. Community foundations like ours have a unique responsibility and ability to help create fully inclusive, flourishing communities  through powerful listening, research, partnership, along with the thoughtful, informed distribution of philanthropic dollars.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is recognizing that, in our work helping donors give and support students and nonprofits, we have also reinforced inequities in our community. We pride ourselves on being a community-driven grantmaker, so we are asking ourselves:

Who is missing from the decision-making?

Do we fully understand the needs?

Are our grants and scholarships having impact?

Are we sharing our learning with our fundholder so they, too, can create equitable solutions?

Our answers to these questions are anemic. They simply are not good enough, and we can and must do better. We are starting with ourselves, assessing our work and discovering what needs to change and what needs to be amplified to increase equity.

Recruiting more diverse volunteers and staff is a step we have taken. Representation and inclusion matters. These new voices and perspectives are enriching our work.

Listening to nonprofits that serve the region and understanding the needs of the people they serve is also critical. Data can tell us a lot, and we also want to hear directly from residents, so we are exploring more ways to make grant decisions together.

We are also examining how we can better share knowledge and enhance giving skills among all our communities.

We are taking action and learning from doing. During our emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis, we had to move quickly so we reduced barriers, streamlined processes, and simplified reporting. We also knew which communities are disproportionately affected by disasters, so we were laser-focused on support for traditionally marginalized communities. Its clear to us that no one knows how to be more effective than the nonprofits and the residents of our region, and as a result, we awarded grants without restrictions.

We are not alone. Reflection and change are underway nationally. In fact, many large foundations in the eastern part of the state are recognizing there is deep philanthropic inequity in our commonwealth and are now looking to address that imbalance.

According to Philanthropy Massachusetts Massachusetts Giving Report, donations to Massachusetts nonprofits totaled $4.7 billion in 2017. Yet, per capita, Hampden County received less than $100, compared to Suffolk Countys $1,900 per capita. Hampshire County received $350. When you combine that with the fact that the three towns with the highest poverty rates in the commonwealth are Amherst (33%), Springfield and Holyoke (both 29%), the imbalance is even more grim.

When COVID-19 hit, the philanthropic community responded in a new way. Spurred by First Lady Lauren Baker, donors, most from eastern Massachusetts, gave more than $32 million to the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The vast majority of those dollars then were distributed outside of the Greater Boston area, where there are fewer sources of funding.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts received $4.4 million from the fund, along with additional gifts from the eastern part of the state. In all, we have received $5.9 million from outside of our three counties, half of the $11.7 million weve leveraged for COVID grantmaking to date.

In 2021, the community foundation will continue to examine our work, listen to our communities and move from awareness to action. We are committed to fueling and sharing the power of philanthropy so, together, we can create truly inclusive communities across our region.

None of us has all the answers, so lets work together to remove the barriers and create systems that advance equity so our whole region can thrive.

Katie Allan Zobel is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, which serves Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.
When Gov. Charlie Baker announced that people could be vaccinated by bringing eligible seniors to certain clinics, the pushback was swift.

Quote "Because its a health care situation with at-risk people, it's really important to have a way to be as safe as possible. By vetting who's signing up, even if its a mutual aid effort, were trying to make sure we have some standards for whats expected with a volunteer."  Julie Berger, Berkshire Mutual Aid

Those next in line decried what they saw as others cutting ahead of them. State lawmakers argued that the move would make vaccine distribution less equitable. Other leaders pointed out that the policy could create dangerous situations.

Julie Berger, one of the founders of the Berkshire Mutual Aid group and a disability rights advocate, could also see the pitfalls. Everyone was concerned, said Berger. You understand that, with these high-risk populations of elderly and disabled people, theres a high rate of exploitation and abuse.

Buddy system offered to boost vaccination for those 75 and over, including in Berkshire County Anyone  but only one person  who accompanies a senior 75 or older to get a COVID-19 vaccine at some of the state's public vaccination sites 

Not long after the change, screenshots began circulating of Craigslist ads in Eastern Massachusetts offering to pay to take seniors to vaccine clinics. A few even appeared in Western Massachusetts, with one Great Barrington post offering $750.

I honestly dont know with whom I am more angry, wrote state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, on Facebook. The individuals that are engaging in this practice or the governor who dropped this policy on us and created the conditions for this totally predictable outcome.

While the new policy appeared at first to only apply to mass vaccination sites, Berkshire Countys public clinics have adopted it as well. With hundreds of clinic slots going unfilled, local coordinators have said the policy could help get more shots into arms until the state opens up eligibility to the next Phase Two groups.

In addition to criticism, however, the change also brought confusion. While local coordinators encouraged residents to sign up under the buddy system, the states 211 vaccine helpline was still reporting as of Saturday that only mass vaccination sites allowed caregiver vaccinations.

Meanwhile, there remains no designation for a caregiver registering online at local sites. Coordinators asked people to check Non-COVID facing health care worker and to wait for a separate link if they are getting their first dose at their loved ones second dose clinic.

Julie Berger Julie Berger, a founder of Berkshire Mutual Aid and a disability rights advocate, sees pitfalls in the states decision to allow caregivers of

Despite the confusion, and her own critiques of the policy, Berger decided the best course of action was to figure out a way to facilitate those kinds of encounters  ethically, safely and, ideally, in a fashion that would result in more high-risk individuals getting the vaccine.

Within two days, Berkshire Mutual Aid had launched an unofficial, grassroots effort to connect seniors with neighbors willing to drive them and assist people in the registration process, echoing community efforts nationwide of neighbors helping neighbors get vaccinated.

Because its a health care situation with at-risk people, its really important to have a way to be as safe as possible, Berger said. By vetting whos signing up, even if its a mutual aid effort, were trying to make sure we have some standards for whats expected with a volunteer.

Volunteers who sign up under the organizations effort are asked to wear masks  ideally double masked or mask with face shield, the form reads  offer hand sanitizer, clean their car before and after the trip, follow COVID-19 precautions, and offer physical and emotional support to the person they drive.

The form also asks volunteers if they are in later segments of Phase Two, in order to prioritize people who are at-risk but not yet eligible.

Ideally, somebody with multiple health conditions in their 70s can get through the door, said Berger. Versus someone who is 18, able-bodied and not being exposed anywhere. Then thats a mutual benefit.

She stressed that the best situation would always be a family member or loved one driving a senior to a clinic. In situations where that is not possible, however, she hopes to see the states new policy benefit people most at risk, including ineligible elders and people with comorbidities, as well as essential workers.

Berkshire Mutual Aid will not solicit seniors for the effort, Berger said, but people with no access to transportation can reach out directly to the group. Berger hopes the effort can continue into later phases of the vaccine rollout, with community members volunteering to help each other access the sites both digitally and physically.

To help seniors sign up and get transportation to clinics, BMA launched a vaccine-specific neighborhood helpline at 413-591-0611, though Berger urged people to try their local councils on aging first. The group also aggregates answers to questions on Facebook, and you can also visit berkshiremutualaid.com for more information.

Seeing specifically the kind of exploitation potential, its a priority for us to give the community a positive way to focus on this, Berger said. To ensure theres less exploitation, to meet the overflow needs.

And though she is optimistic about the Berkshires ability to come together as a community, Berger thinks the way the Commonwealth has approached the vaccine rollout, and the pandemic more broadly, shows a level of disregard for the specific concerns and needs of people with disabilities, whether age-related or not.

She pointed out that other states have moved people with disabilities up in priority, while Massachusetts relies on a limited shortlist of comorbidities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statewide, disability advocates have called for the state to expand its list of comorbidities to include conditions such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Theres a lack of awareness, Berger said. And a lack of working with marginalized communities to know what our needs and concerns are.
Venture capital has become a key component in wealth creation investment strategies as GCC investors seek alternative asset classes to further diversify their portfolios, a report said.



What began as a questionable year for Venture Capitalists, with investments in the startup and innovation ecosystem expected to significantly drop, soon became a transitional point in the Venture Capital realm with new opportunities available across various industries, said Kamco Invest, a regional non-banking financial powerhouse with one of the largest AUMs in the region, in its report on the importance of venture capital



The unexpected circumstances global economies are facing due to the pandemic led to the rise of industries that were overlooked by analysts. The cloud computing industry, for example, boomed since the onset of the pandemic witnessing a drastic increase in the demand for cloud-based technology. Performing at a level far exceeding analyst predictions, the industry is now considered a key and necessary component in streamlining the path to the new normal.



Lockdowns and social distancing accelerated the adoption of a decades worth of digital technology into one year, driving traditional businesses to shift online and digitize their operations. This shift in return has increased the demand for such solutions, increasing revenue levels of suppliers exponentially to reach record highs.



The impact triggered by the pandemic led most Venture Capital firms to halt spending and fund-raising activities. This however rapidly changed in a matter of 3 months, when they witnessed retailers achieve significant revenue growth due to strong online sales. On one hand, countless employees were losing their jobs due to cost-cutting, and on the other, small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), including mom-and-pop stores were suffering due to lockdowns and social distancing.



Retailers with strong online platforms, however, witnessed a surge in sales and higher demand for such services. Quarantine and isolation proved to have a positive effect on the technology sector, and hence Venture Capital activities witnessed a strong return in Q3-2020 with companies lined up to go public.



The transition was documented in the latest study released by Abe Othman, Chief Data Science at AngelList, revealing that Q4-2020 was the best quarter on record for early-stage startups. More than 80% of the startups that changed valuations in Q4 were marked up, according to AngelList investments into 3,449 active startups.



Large-cap technology stocks, led by Apple, Amazon and Netflix, drove major U.S. stock indexes to record highs in 2020, capitalizing on the larger shift towards digitization. The rise in e-commerce spending sent Amazon surging 76%, while Apple became the first-ever $2 trillion company. Lockdowns and social distancing spiked the number of subscribers to online streaming services, increasing Netflix shares by almost 62%.



The big four, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and Facebook, now worth approximately $5.9 trillion in total - roughly one-fifth of the S&P 500 SPX, reported record revenue reaching $718.55 billion over three quarters.



Venture capital is currently outperforming other assets classes in the US. According to the 2019 NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments, venture capital was the highest-performing asset class for university endowments with 13.4% in 10-year average annual returns, bringing in more than U.S. equities (8.2%).



With the potential to generate attractive returns while making a significant and positive impact, venture capital has become a critical component of long-term investment strategies. Cambridge Associates considers venture capital as a key component in wealth creation investment strategies, for both financial institutions and HNWIs to sustain future generations. As such, top performing institutional investors understand the importance of venture capital and its positive impact on their portfolios. This has been a key driver in increasing venture capital allocations, reaching a mean of 15% of their portfolio.



It is important for investors to understand how the risk profile of venture capital investing has changed considering that todays market is not the same as it was 20 years ago. The industry has evolved, and fund managers have learned from their mistakes. Before the 2000 tech bubble, venture capitalists relied on capital and luck, since then, they started implementing a more rigorous risk management approach.



They focus on how to add value and scale their portfolio companies. This involves surrounding themselves with advisors and incubators, while setting aside capital for follow-on investments to increase exposure in wining portfolio companies or mitigate any potential risks. This has had the effect of reducing the impairment and capital loss ratios of the underlying companies. To further reduce the risks associated with single startups, investors are considering venture capital portfolios or funds that include several investments, allowing more opportunity for growth and diversification.  TradeArabia News Service

A fire on Friday evening destroyed a large section of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children in Connecticut. It was not immediately clear if anyone was working at the camp at the time of the fire and the origin and cause of the blaze were being investigated by federal, state and local authorities.

The camp, with extensive medical facilities on site, was founded by Newman in 1988 in the woods of eastern Connecticut, with a Western motif inspired by the late actor's movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

It provides summer camping experiences adapted for children with serious physical and medical limitations, although its traditional summer camp was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity also runs outreach programs for children in more than 40 hospitals, clinics and other settings in the Northeast, serving more than 20,000 children each year. The camp is funded in part through proceeds from the sale of Newman's Own brand products.

Tom Borgman, the deputy chief of the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department, said the fire destroyed two buildings, including a large structure that was made to look like the center of an old western town. He said at least six other local departments assisted in putting out the fire.

According to Borgman it took about 90 minutes to bring the fire under control and firefighters were also able to save the camp's infirmary. Jimmy Canton, the chief executive of the camp in Ashford, said in a statement that although the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, what is known is that The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a community devoted to hope and healing.

Image: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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If you light a match in an otherwise empty room, it will eventually go out. If you light it in a room full of gasoline, youll get an explosion. And if you poured the gasoline yourself, thats an act of arson.

Swap incendiary rhetoric for gasoline and insurrection for arson, and thats essentially what the impeachment trial of Donald Trump is about.

Mr. Trump spent months fueling a volatile situation by relentlessly promulgating the lie that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen from him.

He assembled thousands of supporters in Washington, D.C., for a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6.

And then he lit the match. He told his supporters, among them violent extremists who had been chatting for weeks on the internet about their intentions, that they must stop Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. He even told them the president of the United States would be right there with them.

He poured the gas. He lit the match. That he didnt say, Go stage an insurrection, in no way mitigates his fomenting of the ensuing violence.

The question now is whether enough Senate Republicans will put their partisan loyalties aside and, yes, quite possibly put their political futures on the line, and affirm Mr. Trumps unquestionable guilt and bar him from ever holding office again. To do otherwise would be to give aid and comfort to the leader of an attempted coup, an act of disloyalty so abhorrent, so dangerous to our republic, that only one word expresses its gravity: treason.

Over the course of three days this past week, House impeachment managers laid out a devastating case against Mr. Trump, drawing a bright line from his months of incendiary, untruthful rhetoric  both before and after the election  to the deadly riot that claimed the lives of five people, including two police officers, and injured 140 law enforcement personnel.

They showed the clear signs of violence brewing on social media and websites frequented by violent militia members, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists. They showed how, with his legal avenues exhausted after more than 60 courts rejected a series of frivolous lawsuits, the president turned to illegal means, trying to strong arm Georgia officials to change the results.

And as if all that were not incriminating enough, the House managers showed how Mr. Trump stood by for hours in the White House as the nation and the world watched on live television as his loyalists overran barricades, attacked police, broke windows and rampaged through the Capitol as lawmakers, staffers, family members and his own vice president scrambled for their lives. He watched the insurrection erupt like an arsonist watching a fire burn.

And when Mr. Trump finally did communicate publicly amid the chaos, it was to attack Vice President Mike Pence  even as the mob was chanting, threats to hang him. It was only much later that he tweeted calls for people to be peaceful. In a video released while the rampage was still going on, he praised the demonstrators, even declared his love for them, and repeated the big lie of the stolen election that had enraged them, then belatedly told them to go home in peace. That evening, he tweeted an inspiration to supporters: Remember this day forever!

His defense?

He has a right to free speech.

He wasnt responsible for the mob he assembled, inflamed and sicced on the Capitol.

He has said he stands for law and order, so he couldnt possibly do something contrary to that.

He called for peace  eventually.

Its all just Democrats hating him.

Oh, and other politicians have used violent language and imagery, too. Not to defend it, but that argument ignores, of course, the critical context: Other politicians didnt precipitate an insurrection by launching a concerted campaign of lies, as the president did  which everyone could see was rousing radicalized right-wing fringe groups to plan violent action.

And why? We dont have to guess at Mr. Trumps motive. Its as apparent as it can be. He set out to accomplish the one thing all autocrats crave: to hold power. And by his own actions he showed he was willing to do it illegitimately. Mr. Trump wanted to undo an election that was widely acknowledged by states and election officials on both sides of the aisle, and even within his administration, to be secure and fair. The presidents refusal to accept the results was not some harmless exercise of free speech. He precipitated a coup attempt that he then took no steps for hours to stop. He put lives at risk, and indeed five people died for his wanton ambition. He not only betrayed his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, he attacked the Constitution. He committed treason.

Two hundred and forty-five years after this nations founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to this nation, senators have to decide where their loyalty lies  to that nation, or to a demagogue and their own political popularity.

No senator who gave this evidence a fair hearing could come away with a verdict of not guilty. To let Mr. Trump get away with this would invite him to run again and do whatever he wishes in his quest for power. It would tell his most radical followers that senators are allies in their violent cause, their condemnations of violence mere obligatory tut-tutting for the cameras. It would pave the way for the next demagogue  perhaps one with a bigger, better armed and organized mob  to try to succeed where Mr. Trump and his mob failed.

In short, to acquit Mr. Trump would put our nation in new peril.

It would be treason.
DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2021) Tehran does not believe that the political process in Syria has failed and expects the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee to be successful, Senior Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister in Special Political Affairs Ali-Asghar Khaji told Sputnik during his visit to Damascus.

The fifth round of the Syrian Constitutional Committee' small body mediated by UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen was held in Geneva in late January. Pedersen called the talks a "disappointment," as nothing was achieved on certain agenda issues the diplomat had defined before the start of the session.

"I do not agree ... that the political process in Syria has failed. We created the Constitutional Committee and we have a difficult road to go, because there are 10 years of war between the parties, so the lack of trust was a very difficult moment.

But this process has begun, and there is progress. We strive for the work of the constitutional committee to be completed successfully," Khaji said.

The diplomat noted that during his visit to the Syrian capital, he discussed the latest round of the Constitutional Committee talks, with the country's leadership. The upcoming Astana-format meeting in Russia's Sochi, scheduled for February 16-17, was also addressed. Khaji expects the talks to be beneficial.

The Syrian Constitutional Committee is a 150-strong body with equally-sized delegations from the government, opposition and civil society that is tasked with rewriting the nation's constitution amid conflicting issues.
In a bid to improve financial health of state-owned general insurance companies, the Finance Ministry will infuse Rs 3,000 crore capital into them during the current quarter. The proposal to provide capital support to three public sector general insurance companies - Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OlCL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL) - has already been approved by the Union Cabinet last year.

The cabinet had also proposed to increase the authorised share capital of National Insurance Company to Rs 7,500 crore and that of United India Insurance Company and Oriental Insurance Company to Rs 5,000 crore each to give effect to the capital infusion decision. The government had halted the merger process of three National Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance.

Recently, the government sought Parliament approval for gross additional expenditure of Rs 6.28 lakh crore for 2020-21 as part of second and final batch of supplementary demands for grants. This included Rs 3,000 crore for providing additional funds towards recapitalisation of insurance companies.

The fund infusion will be done after the supplementary demands for grants is passed by Parliament which will reconvene on March 8.

The capital infusion will enable these state-owned general insurance companies to improve their financial and solvency position, meet the insurance needs of the economy, absorb changes and enhance the capacity to raise resources and improved risk management.

To ensure optimum utilisation of the capital being provided, the government has issued guidelines in the form of key performance indicators (KPIs) aimed at bringing business efficiency and profitable growth.

Also read: Saral Jeevan Bima for low-income earners fills need gap; insurers ready policies

Also read: Income tax pampers senior citizens with extra benefits; here's the list
HOLLYWOOD  A 76-year-old woman has been identified as the victim who was dragged from a house fire early Friday morning.

Ruth Porter, of Hollywood, died before sunrise at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal said.

Firefighters had to douse the flames that filled a Hollywood home before rushing inside to carry Porter from a bedroom. She'd still been breathing at that point, authorities said, but later died.

St. Paul's Fire Chief Larry Garvin said the fire's cause is still under investigation. Two dogs and a cat were also killed, while four people escaped and firefighters rescued a dog.

"They did what they could, but it's tragic news," Garvin said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 18:57:28|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- An online Chinese New Year gala night held on Sunday brought a culture feast to audiences across New Zealand.

The 2021 Chinese Lunar New Year online gala in New Zealand, organized by the Chinese Culture Association New Zealand and Pacific Culture and Arts Development Association Inc., was broadcast via multiple online video platforms in New Zealand and China.

Zhiyun He, president of Pacific Culture and Arts Development Association Inc., told Xinhua that the online gala night was a perfect occasion to commemorate a whole year's endeavours fighting against the COVID-19 in New Zealand and to showcase the New Zealand Chinese community's diligence and resilience.

"Chinese New Year celebration is increasingly popular in New Zealand. The online gala night is here to bring a brand new experience of the Chinese New Year festival, and to bring hope, friendship and spirit to every New Zealander," said He.

New Zealand Cabinet ministers, politicians, government officials, city mayors have sent their best wishes with many of them saying auspicious words in Mandarin and Cantonese to the Chinese audiences. Chinese Consul General in Christchurch Wang Zhijian and Chinese deputy Consul General in Auckland Xiao Yewen also sent their New Year blessings.

Famous artists from China, New Zealand, Britain, Canada, Australia and Japan brought their masterpieces to the four-and-half-hour long online gala night, which featured singing and dancing performances, Peking Operas, traditional Chinese instrument orchestra, symphony orchestra, cross talks, magic shows and acrobatics and so on.

Red envelopes (hongbao) were sent to the audience through an online interactive activity of spring couplets matching, which saw the gala night culminated with joy and luck. Enditem
United Nations, Feb 14 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned an attack against the peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Through a statement attributable to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric issued on Saturday, the UN chief condemned "the complex attack by unidentified armed elements against a temporary operating base of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Kerena, Douentza region, reports Xinhua news agency.

The attack, which took place on February 10, resulted in the wounding of 27 Togolese peacekeepers, and the death of one peacekeeper", reports Xinhua news agency.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the family of the victim, and to the people and Government of Togo. He wishes a full recovery to those injured," said the statement.

"The Secretary-General emphasizes that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime. He calls on the Malian authorities to spare no efforts in promptly holding to account the perpetrators of this heinous attack.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity of the UN with the people and government of Mali," the statement added.

In January, five peacekeepers lost their lives in Mali where terrorist threats persist since the coup in 2012.

In 2020, six peacekeepers were killed while on duty.

The MINUSMA was deployed in 2013 to support political processes in Mali.

During a failed coup in 2012, extremist militias took control of Mali's north.

A UN-backed peace deal in 2015 between the government and various armed groups failed to stabilise the situation in the country's central and northern regions, with attacks multiplying in the past years.
Hyderabad, Feb 14 : The final production batch of Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) system, designed and developed by DRDO in collaboration with various industry partners and integrated by BDL, was flagged off here on Sunday at DRDL, APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex.

G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman DRDO and Rear Admiral V. Rajasekhar, Director, Defence Machine Design Establishment (DMDE) attended the ceremony.

LRSAM is jointly developed by DRDO and IAI Israel to equip latest ships of the Indian Navy. This LRSAM missile system can provide point and area defence against various aerial targets including fighter aircraft, subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles, said a defence statement.

The missile is powered by indigenously developed dual-pulse rocket motor and dual control system to impart required manoeuvrability at the terminal phase. This state-of-the-art weapon system is designed with active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker to identify, track, engage and destroy the target with high kill probability.

The LRSAM system's end-to-end performance has been successfully demonstrated through a number of user flight trials from Indian naval ships. This weapon system has been successfully productionised and has been delivered to the Indian Navy, the statement added.

Satheesh Reddy highlighted the importance of indigenous production efforts and complemented the industries that have established the manufacturing facilities and successfully executed the production orders in achieving the goal towards 'Make in India'. He also commended the efforts of Missile System Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA), DG (NAI) in streamlining the production activities at various industries across India, leading to delivery of the missiles with aerospace quality standards.

Rear Admiral Rajasekhar appreciated the efforts of DRDO for successfully completing the production order and strengthening air defence capability of the Indian Navy. He also urged DRDO to design and develop similar advanced weapon systems for futuristic warfare.
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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.
Gandhinagar, Feb 14 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani collapsed on the stage while giving an election speech in Vadodara on Sunday. He was quickly checked by a doctor and his condition is said to be fine now.

However, he was flown back to Ahmedabad and taken to the U.N. Mehta hospital for a further check up.

The incident happened as Rupani was addressing a public gathering in the Mahesananagar, Nizampura area of Vadodara while campaigning for BJP candidates in the February 21 polls to six Municipal Corporations.

Rupani was flown to Ahmedabad on a chartered plane, with Dr Vijay Shah, from SSG Hospital in Vadodara, said to be accompanying him.

A statement by the state BJP media convener advised all not to pay attention to any rumours on Rupani's health. "CM's health is good now. It was low blood pressure issue, possibly due to tiredness and stress linked to hectic election related programmes. After treatment given by doctor, his health is fine now." It noted that arriving at Ahmedabad, Rupani avoided an ambulance and took the front seat in his regular car, and waved to media persons, on way to the hospital.

On learning of this incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the CM and advised him to be careful and take rest.

Camilla Parker Bowles is said to be saddened by plans to redevelop an apartment block dubbed 'aristo-flats' in Belgravia where she lived in her twenties and entertained Prince Charles after nights out in Mayfair.

The Duchess of Cornwall, 73, has privately expressed her concerns over the Duke of Westminster's property group's 400million scheme for Cundy Street Quarter, near London's Victoria Station, reports the Sunday Telegraph.

The block earned the nickname 'aristo-flats' due to their blue-blooded tenants, which included Camilla, who lived in a two-bedroom flat there in the early 70s before her first marriage to Andrew Parker-Bowles.

The Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor's property firm has been accused of putting 'profit before people' for his proposal to knock down four blocks and replace them with new housing - a project recommended for approval by Westminster City Council.

The Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor's company is being accused of putting 'profit before people' with a 400million development project in Belgravia that is fiercely being opposed by local residents who claim the 200,000 sq ft, 48m high development will deprive them of 70 per cent of their natural light (pictured: Grosvenor at the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks at the church of St Mary the Virgin on August 4, 2018 in Frensham, England)

The Duchess of Cornwall used to live in one of the flats when she was in her mid-twenties in the early 1970s, before her wedding to Andrew Parker-Bowles (pictured: Camilla, now 73, in March 2020)

Neighbours have objected to the planned build, which will be up to 48m high in some places - as tall as the spire of nearby St Barnabas church - claiming it doesn't suit the character of the area and will blight their Regency homes and deprive them of up to 70 per cent of their natural light.

They have also taken issue with the fact a large proportion of the new homes, spanning more than 200,000 square feet, will be allocated for 'specialist senior living accommodation' for 170 people.

It will also offer 93 affordable homes, including 44 for social rent, and 70 to go on the open market.

The flats were originally built to suit the character of Belgravia. While a resident there, Camilla, then 25, invited the Prince of Wales for coffee in 1972 after a night out at Annabel's. Other previous occupants include former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd.

Pictured: the block of flats as it looks now. The flats were inhabited by aristocrats in the 1970s

Local residents against the project, which they claim will only add 12 additional dwellings to what is already there, are concerned the new development will threaten the heritage of Belgravia.

Dame Susan Tinson, a former editor of ITV's News at Ten who produced the Queen's Christmas broadcasts in the 1990s and 2000s, is among those leading the objection.

Her four-story high Georgian home is one of the properties which would be affected by the new development.

Dame Susan, 78, said: 'I just thought at the beginning they cant possibly mean this. They cant possibly be going around completely ruining the lives of a row of people yet they dont seem to care.

'Theres a difference between buying a house that is dark and buying a house that is light and then having darkness imposed upon you. Grosvenor is supposed to be the guardian of Belgravia. It's all very upsetting.'

A projection of what the Grosvenor flats will look like. Existing residents claim the structure is too high and will blight their properties' natural light

The Belgravia Society has penned a letter of complaint to the Westminster City Council ahead of the project's final proposals being put forward on Tuesday 16 February, claiming that Grosvenor's development does not fit the character of the area.

It also read that the 'bulk and massing of the development is overbearing and out of character in terms of its appearance and with the rest of Belgravia'.

One of the Belgravia Society trustees, Mary Regnier-Leigh, 77, a solicitor, told the Telegraph she felt the large allocation of housing going to old people was intended to go to 'rich old people' who wanted to live in Belgravia.

She claimed the company was only seeking to make a profit with the new development and is disregarding the architectural integrity of the block.

A spokesman for Grosvenor said the proposal wanted to scrap the outdated bloc of flats with an eco-friendly, handsome new build.

They added that the company had looked very carefully into the height and had tried to strike the right balance to provide as much affordable housing as possible while respecting the character of Belgravia, which they said was dear to the company.

They argued that the site will be 'unusually' open and set back, claiming the amount of light it would retain was as important as the level of light that would be lost and that those were comparable to other streets in the neighbourhood.

It is not the first time the Grosvenor project has been the subject of a controversy. In 2019, the Duke of Westminster was accused of 'social cleansing' after trying to relocate the current resident of the Cundy Street flats to other housing.

The Mirror reported at the time his project had to be quashed after local residents signed a petition to oppose the removal of existing tenants, which included disabled children.
Dr Herman Addae, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lead It Africa, an international consulting firm, has said efforts to provide quality leadership for the country must pull focus on students.



He said the company had considered with concern, a general dearth of leadership in society, and maintained the view that stakeholders must look to the tertiary level, where leaders were molded.



The CEO, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a leadership seminar for tertiary student leaders in the Volta Region, said student leaders in general have been the nucleus of bulwark channels into politics and other leadership areas, and that the right skills must be poached and nurtured at the formative stages.



Dr Addae said the company therefore, as part of its corporate social responsibilities, was collaborating with Progressive Students Network, a human capital development organisation steeped in Gods word, to deliver annual seminars for students towards raising leaders of competence and effectiveness.



We hear people within organisations, within our homes and even in the general body politic - the leadership of the country, even businesses and even politicians - we hear ourselves crying for an improvement of leadership.



And we believe that the best point at which we can really create transformational leadership and critical thinking is, where leadership skills and desires are being built.



What we observe in our society when it comes to our organisations and even the national leadership, the trend of students leadership evolving into organisational leaders and politicians seems to be high and we believe that when we start nurturing competent leadership skills and the desire to serve your constituency- if we nurture that spirit in them early we will be contributing to improving the quality of leadership that we have, he said.



Dr Addae said the impact of Lead It Africas efforts has been good so far, and appealed for stakeholder support towards improving the quality of leadership.



The more students we are able to reach the higher the possibility that we will be able to usher them into more responsible leaders for our country, he said, adding that the Company would continuously strive to improve the quality of leadership and would regularise its engagements.



The student leaders were engaged in an interactive and practical session that employed the use of infographics and video materials.

Participants were taught to be resourceful as leaders, critical thinkers and also to strive persistently towards goodness, while maintaining a growth mindset.



Evangelist Godwin Baako Boafo, Founder of the Progressive Students Network said leadership in Africa failed in the areas of service, selflessness and transparency among qualities needed to build impact.



He appealed to students to rise to the occasion and build up quality leadership, considering the sacrifices, humility and selflessness of Christ, the greatest leader ever recorded.



Mr Francis Ampiaw, Dean of Students of the Ho Technical University, where the seminar was held, said leadership was critical for the youth of our time, and commended organisers for stepping up to the challenge.



He said more such initiatives must be encouraged to provide the needed modeling of future leadership.



Participants of the forum noted to the GNA that the session was practical, loaded with guidelines, and had stimulated a re-orientation.



Lead It Africa has been collaborating with the Progressive Students Network since 2018 on enhancing leadership skills among students in the country.



The Progressive Students Network has also for the past 15 years, been enhancing leadership development in the educational sector both in and outside the country, towards academic excellence and moral uprightness.

Source: GNA









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Every year around 20 Australian children die from the incurable brain tumor, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). The average age of diagnosis for DIPG is just seven years. There are no effective treatments, and almost all children die from the disease, usually within one year of diagnosis.

A paper published today 12 Feb 2021 in the prestigious journal, Nature Communications, reveals a potential revolutionary drug combination that - in animal studies and in world-first 3D models of the tumor - is "spectacularly effective in eradicating the cancer cells," according to lead researcher and pediatric oncologist Associate Professor David Ziegler, from the Children's Cancer Institute and Sydney Children's Hospital.

In pre-clinical testing in mouse models, the researchers found that the promising drug combination led to survival in two-thirds of the mice and that the drug combination completely halted growth of these highly aggressive tumors in these mice.

Importantly, the drug therapy, which is currently in early trials in adult cancer, is the most effective treatment ever tested in laboratory models of this incurable childhood cancer. The treatment is a combination of two drugs: difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an established drug, and AMXT 1501, an investigational agent being developed by Aminex Therapeutics.

The DFMO is increasingly getting attention as a treatment for difficult-to-control cancers like neuroblastoma, another aggressive childhood cancer, and colorectal cancer in adults. DFMO works by targeting the polyamine pathway - an important mechanism that allows tumor cells to grow.

Associate Professor Ziegler has shown for the first time that the polyamine pathway is critical to the growth of DIPG cells. Ziegler and his team developed Australia's first research program into DIPG by using tumor cells donated by the parents of children who have passed away from the disease.

From these, they created the first laboratory models of the tumor in order to test new drugs. These models have been used to show that DIPG can bypass the activity of DFMO by pumping polyamines into cancer, essentially allowing the tumor to continue growing despite treatment with DFMO. They have now made the breakthrough discovery that treatment with a new developmental drug, AMXT 1501, potently blocks the transport of polyamines into the DIPG cancer cell.

Treatment with AMXT 1501 was found to re-sensitize the DIPG cells to DFMO leading to what Associate Professor Ziegler said, "was a spectacular response in animal models, with a significantly increased survival and minimal toxicity (side effects)".

Associate Professor Ziegler said that clinical trials of the drug combination in DIPG are planned to begin this year in children in a global study led by the Children's Cancer Institute and the Kid's Cancer Centre at Sydney Children's Hospital.

The Australian DIPG Tumour Database was started by the Children's Cancer Institute in 2011.. Australia's first DIPG tumor database has allowed Associate Professor Ziegler and colleagues to make great inroads into solving this disease. "Since establishing the tumor bank we have been able to grow this very aggressive cancer in our laboratories to allow us to screen hundreds of drugs to find those that are effective at killing the cancer cells. Its due to this capacity that we have been able to discover what we hope will be the first effective treatment for DIPG," he said.

Rachael Gjorgjijoska was the first parent to agree to donate DIPG tumor tissue following the death of her daughter Liliana at just 4 years old, 15 months after her diagnosis.

We made the difficult decision to donate Liliana's tumor because we wanted to make a difference, there were no treatments to save Liliana from this devastating disease, but if her cancer cells help advance research so there be new treatments for children in the future, this will be a lasting memory of our little girl." Rachael Gjorgjijoska, Parent

Dr. Mark R. Burns, the Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Aminex Therapeutics, and inventor of AMXT 1501 said "the dramatic results against this devastating disease demonstrated by Dr. Ziegler and his team adds greater fire to our motivation to see these findings duplicated against human cancers. We share hope that this treatment will make a difference in the lives of those with DIPG and other aggressive cancers."
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.
MONTANA

Judge orders US officials to weigh coal mine's climate costs

BILLINGS  A judge says U.S officials downplayed climate change impacts and other environmental costs from the expansion of a massive coal mine near the Montana-Wyoming border, in a case that could test how far the Biden administration is willing to go to unwind its predecessors' decisions.

The lawsuit over Montana's Spring Creek mine hinges in part on an issue central to President Joe Biden's climate change agenda: Making decisions based on the full costs of fossil fuel extraction, including impacts on a warming planet that are being felt across society.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters said that under former President Donald Trump, the Interior Department played up the economic benefits of the 2-square-mile expansion of Spring Creek, which opened up development of 85 million tons of coal.

But Watters said in her ruling Feb. 3 that officials failed to fully consider how burning the coal would contribute to climate change, known as the "social cost of carbon," a concept that places a dollar value on every ton of greenhouse gasses emitted.

Trump in 2017 issued an order for agencies not to use social cost of carbon estimates developed at the end of the Obama administration. Watters said the executive order did not excuse the government from considering those costs if they represent the best science.

The strip mine  Montana's largest  employs about 250 workers who mined more than 9 million tons of coal in 2020, according to government records.

Watters rejected a request from environmentalists to blocked mining at the site, giving the government until October to do a new analysis of the mine's climate impacts and other environmental effects.

NEW MEXICO

Lawmakers eye curbing governor's power in crisis

SANTA FE  Lawmakers from both parties in New Mexico are putting forward bills to curb the governor's emergency powers during a public health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

On Feb. 3, a Senate committee considered a Republican proposal to limit emergency health orders to two weeks and bar unilateral renewals like those used by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham during the pandemic.

Instead, renewals would have to get approval from the Legislature or if it's not in session, a small group of legislative leaders.

In the House, a bill introduced by Democratic and Republican lawmakers would limit emergency health orders to 90 days. After that, the governor would have to convene a special session and get legislative approval.

The proposals come amid Lujan Grisham's coronavirus-related emergency health order, which has been renewed multiple times over 11 months with no need for a vote by the House or Senate.

A Lujan Grisham spokeswoman said it's important governors have "the flexibility and authority to take immediate action to prevent loss of life in any public health emergency.

Lujan Grisham called two special sessions of the Legislature last year to pass funding bills related to the pandemic, once in June for about a week and again in November for one day.

GOP lawmaker changes affiliation after abortion vote

SANTA FE  A Republican lawmaker in New Mexico who voted in favor of a Democratic-backed abortion bill has left the GOP, officials said.

House Minority Leader Jim Townsend said on Feb. 5 that state Rep. Phelps Anderson of Roswell changed his voter registration to "declined to state" after voting to repeal a 1969 abortion law that bans and criminalizes the procedure.

Anderson, serving his fourth non-consecutive term, sided with seven Democrats in repealing the abortion ban, drawing criticism from his constituents as well as calls for his resignation.

The decision to change his party means Democrats now hold an advantage over Republicans in the House, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

John Block, who founded a conservative news website Pinon Post, said Anderson's vote is why he was forced out of the Republican Party and called for Andersons resignation.

The current New Mexico statute is unenforceable because of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Supporters of the repeal legislation have expressed concern that the high court weaken or overturn the 1973 ruling.

WYOMING

Local courts struggling to keep up thanks to pandemic cuts

Courts in Natrona County are struggling to keep up with a heavy caseload and a backlog of jury trials while pandemic-era budget cuts continue to make adequate staffing impossible.

District Attorney Dan Itzen said his office is now down two staffers  a legal assistant and a receptionist. He also expected to have to cut an attorney when the state slashed budgets in the fall, but luckily avoided that blow.

Itzens office processes roughly 3,000 cases every year. Now, he said, the team of 10 attorneys and seven legal assistants is coming in early and working late to stay on top of that caseload.

As of Feb. 3 at the district level, Itzen said that just over 100 backlogged jury trials were waiting for their day in court.

The office has had to solicit help from other agencies, namely the municipal court in Casper, to make sure everything gets done. Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters said the district attorney's office sent him a memo in June detailing a list of misdemeanors that should be dealt with on the city level if possible, in an attempt to lighten the circuit and district courts' loads.

Those include charges for shoplifting, assault, battery, first-time DUI or marijuana possession, drunk pedestrians, property destruction, check fraud, and defrauding an innkeeper, among others.

Usually, Itzen said, it's up to the officers on the scene of an arrest to decide where to send a particular case. Now, according to McPheeters, if the crime is covered by a part of Casper's municipal code, it should stay in municipal court.

IDAHO

Bill would require legislative OK to remove Confederate monument

BOISE  The Republican-dominated Idaho Legislature could have the final say before Idahoans can remove a Confederate monument if a newly proposed bill passes.

Republican state Rep. Doug Okuniewicz on Jan. 29 introduced a measure in committee that would require approval from lawmakers via a resolution for anyone who wants to remove a monument or rename something that mentions a figure or event from history.

Okuniewicz said House Bill 65 is intended to protect monuments and prevent local jurisdictions from making what he termed "rash" decisions.

The bill would seize local control from any individual, entity or jurisdiction  such as a school district or city  that wanted to remove a controversial monument or marker, or rename something that was dedicated to a historical figure.

Okuniewicz cited an example in San Francisco, where a school district voted to rename 42 schools that were dedicated and named after people some said were associated with slavery or colonization  Abraham Lincoln and George Washington among them.

Democratic state Rep. John Gannon said the bill could be burdensome on municipalities if a city wants to simply move a monument or needs to rebuild a school.

One of Boise's largest churches, the Cathedral of the Rockies, removed a stained-glass window featuring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee last summer, part of a wave of such action across the country after protests erupted over the death of George Floyd and other African-Americans at the hands of police.

State Rep. Chris Mathias, a Democrat and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and the only Black Idaho House member, said during the committee meeting that he believes it's a "good bill," but pointed out that figures portrayed in some Idaho monuments might not even have local ties, possibly undermining an argument that the bill prevents anyone from erasing history.
A Japanese man who died at Somerset West Point in Hanoi's Tay Ho District tested positive for the novel coronavirus, city health authority said Sunday afternoon.

Authorities have put 139 hotel employees and guests under quarantine after finding out the deceased man had tested positive for the virus.

The man, born in 1967 and entering Vietnam on Jan. 17, stayed on the ninth floor of the serviced apartment building and died at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

He had previously undergone centralized quarantine in Ward 2, Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Binh District.

During the quarantine, he tested negative for the virus twice, on Jan. 17 and 31. He later took a flight to Hanoi and underwent self-quarantine at Somerset West Point since 2 p.m., Feb. 1.

Twelve other guests had also stayed on the ninth floor of the building.

The cause of his death has yet to be confirmed.

An expert from Hanoi's National Institute Of Hygiene and Epidemiology arrives in Hai Duong Province to test workers at a factory where many Covid-19 cases have been reported, January 28, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/The Quynh.

Tay Ho District's medical authority has been investigating his travel history. Areas in and around the hotel were disinfected.

The swab sample of the man, which was sent to Hanoi's Center for Disease Control, showed he contracted the coronavirus.

The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam has transferred the man's body to the funeral home of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital.

As of Sunday afternoon, Vietnam has recorded 2,228 Covid-19 cases with 35 deaths.

Hanois Center for Disease Control (CDC) is looking for those who had come into contact with the Japanese man, or visited places he had been to at the same time:

-IBIS Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, the night of January 31.

-Flight VN254 from HCMC to Hanoi, from 11 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. on February 1.

-Somerset West Point serviced apartments, No. 2 Tay Ho Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, February 1 to 13.

-Red Sun River Building (P903 and Tokyo Red Grill Restaurant on the second floor), No. 23 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 12-1 p.m. on February 2.

-Hachi Ju Hachi Restaurant, No. 168 Xuan Dieu Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, 6-8 p.m. on February 3.

-Raffles Medical Clinic, No. 51 Xuan Dieu Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, in the mornings of February 4 and 8.

-Torikichi Restaurant, No. 75 Kim Ma Thuong Street, Linh Lang Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, 7-9 p.m. on February 5.

People who visited these places in the aforementioned time are advised to contact local health authority, or call 0969082115; 0949396115.
The editorial screed isn't so surprising, but charging 5 bucks and expecting people to pay for this is kind of . . . Weird.

Here's what could be a transcript of Anderson Cooper 360 but what now passes for Kansas City op/ed journalism on the topic of the FAILED impeachement part deux . . . Read more:
All central government employees have been asked to attend offices on working days, said Personnel Ministry.

However, all officers and staff residing in containment zones shall be exempted from coming to office till their containment zone is de-notified, the statement said.

Until now, officers of the level of Under Secretary and above were only attending office due to the coronavirus-induced restrictions imposed in March.

The Centre had in May asked 50 per cent of its employees below the level of Deputy Secretary to work from their offices, while implementing different time slots in its effort to further check the spread of the coronavirus.

The officers/staff shall follow staggered timings to avoid over-crowding in offices/workplaces as decided by the heads of department, it said.

The government servants at all levels are to attend office on all working days without any exemption to any category of employees," said the order issued late Saturday to all the central government departments.

Biometric attendance shall continue to be suspended until further orders, it said.

The officers and staff who are residing in the containment zone shall work from home and shall be available on telephone and electronic means of communications at all times, it said.

Meetings, as far as possible, may continue to be conducted with video-conferencing and personal meetings with visitors, unless absolutely necessary in public interest, are to be avoided, the order said.

The Personnel Ministry, in another order, said that all departmental canteens may be opened".

Meanwhile, the Union health ministry issued new 'SOPs to contain spread of COVID-19 in offices' and according to these, if one or two cases are reported, the disinfection procedure will be limited to the areas occupied and visited by the patient in the last 48 hours.

Work can resume after disinfection has been completed as per laid down protocols, the standard operating procedures (SOPs), which were issued on Saturday, stated.

If a larger number of cases are reported at workplace, the whole block or building should be disinfected before work is resumed, the ministry said.

Officers and staff residing in containment zones should inform the same to their supervisory officer and not attend office till the containment zone is denotified. Such staff should be permitted to work from home, the new SOPs stated.

Offices in containment zones shall remain closed except for medical and essential services and only those outside will be allowed to open up, the document said.

The SOPs stated that only asymptomatic staff or visitors shall be allowed entry, individuals must maintain a minimum distance of six feet in common places as far as feasible, and use face covers or masks at all times.

"They must be worn properly to cover the nose and the mouth. Touching the front portion of the mask or face cover to be avoided," the ministry said.

It also underlined practicing frequent handwashing with soap for at least 40 to 60 seconds, even when hands are not visibly dirty, and use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser for at least 20 seconds wherever feasible.

Meetings, as far as possible, should be done through video conferencing and large physical gatherings continue to remain prohibited, the SOPs stated.

"Offices and other workplaces are relatively close settings, with shared spaces like workstations, corridors, elevators and stairs, parking places, cafeteria/canteens, meeting rooms and conference halls etc, COVID-19 infection can spread relatively fast among officials, staffs and visitors," according to the procedures.

"There is a need to prevent spread of infection and to respond in a timely and effective manner in case suspect case of COVID-19 is detected in these settings, so as to limit the spread of infection," the SOPs said.

Entrances of offices should have mandatory provisions for hand hygiene like sanitiser dispensers, thermal screening. These should be proper cleaning and frequent sanitisation, at least twice a day, of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces, according to the document.

The number of people in elevators shall be restricted, duly maintaining physical distancing norms for which proper markings should be made on the floor of the elevators, the SOPs stated.

For air-conditioning and ventilation, the guidelines of Central Public Works Department must be followed and these mention that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius, relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70 per cent, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate, they said.

Cleaning and regular disinfection using one per cent sodium hypochlorite of frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails, benches, washroom fixtures, must be done in office premises and in common areas at least twice a day, the new SOPs stated.

The document said that any shop, stall, cafeteria or canteen outside and within the office premises must ensure physical distancing norms are being followed at all times.

Staff should take their temperature regularly and check for respiratory symptoms and must see a doctor if they feel unwell or show flu-like symptoms.

Besides, staff and waiters should wear mask and hand gloves and take other required precautionary measures. The seating arrangement has to be done to ensure a distance of at least six feet, the SOPs stated.

According to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday, the COVID-19 active caseload remains below 1.5 lakh.

With inputs from PTI

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UPDATE 7.50AM: The Prime Minister says genome sequencing hasn't linked the latest Covid-19 community cases to anyone in managed isolation.

The three new community cases of COVID-19 announced yesterday are the UK strain of the virus, Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report.

Sewage tests will be undertaken in Auckland and Taranaki today to see if it can detect any traces of COVID-19, says Ardern.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson says the results of genomic sequencing for the first two Auckland February cases is now available.

"The results, which came through from ESR overnight, show the COVID-19 variant B1.1.7 first detected in the UK.

"The results from these cases do not link directly to any other positive cases detected in New Zealand to date.

"ESR is now conducting a scan of the international genome database to see if there is a match."

Lockdown restrictions in Auckland started at midnight and will last three days, although the government will revise the status daily. The rest of the country is under alert level 2.

Police say Auckland boundaries will be set mostly in the same locations as the last time the city was in alert level 3 in August, to ensure there is no non-essential movement through the region.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff says travel exemptions will be made for those needing to get home.

Under the restrictions, Aucklanders need to stay home, and should also work from home if possible.

Non-essential shops will close, and schools and early childhood centres will only be open to children whose parents cannot work from home.

Australia has suspended its quarantine-free travel corridor. People flying from New Zealand from Monday to Wednesday will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

A police checkpoint at Mercer, Auckland. Photo: RNZ.

Checkpoints in and out of Auckland are in place after the city went into level three lockdown at midnight.

The boundaries will be set mostly in the same locations as the last time Auckland was in Alert Level 3 in August.

Eight checkpoints on the outskirts of Auckland will be stopping vehicles and questioning drivers, ensuring there is no non-essential movement through the region, says a police spokesperson.

"From midnight, anyone attempting to travel across the regional boundaries should expect to be stopped and asked for proof of essential travel.

"The exemption process will run the same way as it has previously."

More information is available on the COVID-19 website.

For the latest information, follow the live blog below.

Police will also be highly visible across the region to provide reassurance and to educate people and ensure they are aware of the restrictions in place.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says this is not new territory for police or the public, and learnings from last time have allowed staff to mobilise quickly to respond to the change in alert levels.

We will continue work with a graduated response, starting with education.

We are once again asking the public be safe and abide by the alert level restrictions for their region.

In Auckland, we will continue be visible and provide assurance to the community, and to checkpoints around the regions Super City boundaries.

Police staff have been reminded about exercising good hygiene and social distancing practises, and we have issued a directive to our Auckland staff that they must wear masks when dealing with the public, and other PPE gear as necessary.

All front counters in Tamaki Makaurau are closed to the public with the exception of Henderson (Waitemata), College Hill (Auckland City) and the Counties Manukau Hub, which are all open 24/7 but with restricted access.

North Shore Policing Centre will also be open 7am to 10pm, seven days a week, with restricted access.

Throughout the rest of the country most front counters are open, but with restrictions to protect our staff and those coming into the building.

Our Alert Level 2 safety measures focus on physical distancing, hygiene standards, and contact registers.

The 105 Police non-emergency line has been experiencing high demand.

People are being encouraged to visit the police website where possible.

You can report non-emergency situations online at www.police.govt.nz/105support or call 111 if its an emergency.

For the latest information and updates on the Alert Level restrictions visit covid19.govt.nz.

Australia has suspended its quarantine-free travel corridor. People flying from New Zealand from Monday to Wednesday will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern say the new community cases are not linked to an MIQ case and are a UK varient of the virus.
Jammu, Feb 14 : A major tragedy was averted after police recovered a seven-kilogram Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from the Jammu bus stand on Sunday, officials said.

With this recovery, the police foiled a major plan of the terrorists to set off an explosion on the second anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama attack.

As there were inputs that the terrorists would carry out terror attacks, adequate security measures were taken by the security forces.

"It was a huge IED," a senior police official said.

The bus stand is a crowded place in Jammu city thronged by hundreds of people daily.

Additional forces have reached the spot and a search operation has been started.

In 2019, 40 CRPF jawans were martyred after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle on a bus in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.
An Aristocrat attacked the lack of accountability in the police last night over the unlawful raid on his castle during Scotland Yards shambolic VIP child sex abuse inquiry.

The Duke of Rutland expressed shock that no officers involved in Operation Midland have faced disciplinary or criminal proceedings  despite a former High Court judge saying the law was broken.

Scathingly, the duke added that although the raid on Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire proved to be illegal he is yet to receive an apology from the Metropolitan Police.

In his first statement on the scandal, he also backed the widow of former home secretary Leon Brittan, who said there is a culture of cover-up and flick away at Scotland Yard and senior officers lack a moral spine.

Lady Brittans interview with the Daily Mail last week prompted retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques to write an open letter to Priti Patel.

The duke (pictured) said that although the raid on Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire proved to be illegal he is yet to receive an apology from the Metropolitan Police

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor (pictured) was under investigation after being falsely accused of serial murder and sex abuse by Nick, real name Carl Beech

Sir Richard  who wrote a searing 2016 review about Operation Midland  is calling on the Home Secretary to set up an independent criminal investigation into five detectives at the centre of the Nick row and the watchdogs who cleared them. And Justice Secretary Robert Buckland last night piled further pressure on Miss Patel by saying the demands merit serious consideration.

The Duke of Rutland, 61, said: There have been three occasions that Belvoir Castle has been invaded  in the Wars of the Roses, the 17th century Civil War and in March 2015 by the Metropolitan Police Service under Operation Midland.

The search of my home in March 2015 has been proved to be illegal. I have yet to receive an apology from the police for their unlawful intrusion into my private offices and home.

It is time for the Metropolitan Police to assure me this will never happen to me or my family or to anyone else again.

I am shocked to learn not one police officer involved in the investigation has been held to account in any way.

David Manners, the 11th duke, spoke out on the Nick controversy after the Mail obtained a copy of the search warrant application made by police to raid the castle  which dates back to the 11th century  and the grace-and-favour home of his then-private secretary, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, in March 2015.

It shows that detectives under the command of then-Met deputy assistant commissioner (DAC) Steve Rodhouse  who approved the raid  used the infamous words credible and true to persuade a judge to let them carry out the searches. Mr Proctor was under investigation at the time after being falsely accused of serial murder and sex abuse by Nick, real name Carl Beech, and later received 900,000 in compensation and legal costs in an out-of-court settlement with the Met.

The secret court document also indicates the warrant to raid Belvoir Castle  which has been the ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland for nearly 1,000 years  was required because Scotland Yard believed the occupants would not accede to a voluntary search or would try to destroy evidence if notified of a police visit.

Sir Richard says a district judge was misled into granting the warrants. And Miss Patel insisted on Friday that police were not above the law as she said she would consider the former High Court judges open letter.

There have been three occasions that Belvoir Castle has been invaded: in the Wars of the Roses, the 17th century Civil War, and in March 2015 by the Metropolitan Police Service

The warrant application  revealed in detail for the first time today  was signed by Detective Sergeant Eric Sword and approved by his boss, Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth on February 27, 2015.

Mr Sword indicated on the application that there was no reason to doubt the sensational VIP abuse and murder claims made by Beech, now serving 18 years in prison for his lies and other offences. According to Sir Richard, this is clear evidence police misled the district judge into approving the warrant as police were aware of at least six matters in particular which undermined Beechs credibility at this stage.

The warrant application, which repeatedly refers to Beech as a victim, although his claims had not yet been proved, was signed off by District Judge Howard Riddle on March 2, 2015, and led to the raid three day days later.

Mr Riddle, now retired, said on the document: I discussed the access conditions and was satisfied by Detective Sergeant Sword that these are appropriate.

This has been considered at DAC level.

The reference to DAC level relates to Mr Rodhouse who  with the controversial backing of Met chief Dame Cressida Dick  has been promoted to deputy head of the National Crime Agency on a salary package of around 300,000.
5 days ago

More than dozen slain in Peru, allegedly by Shining Path
Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows artists rehearsing for "The Sound of Spring", an online concert for the Chinese New Year, at Bard College Conservatory of Music in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States. The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music on Feb. 13 staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year. (Photo by Hsiao-Fang Lin/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music here on Saturday evening staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The concert, titled "The Sound of Spring," featured a new performance at the Fisher Center at Bard by the conservatory's pre-professional orchestra and master's degree program The Orchestra Now, and was joined by special guests from the Central Conservatory of Music Chinese Chamber Orchestra, the China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

The event, live-streamed for free, began with Chinese artist Tan Dun's Internet Symphony "Eroica" to honor the numerous heroes worldwide who are working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It also offered a sampling of traditional and contemporary Chinese symphonic, chamber, solo and theatrical music, showcasing different regional folk traditions, as well as blending Chinese and Western instruments and musical forms.

"The Lunar New Year is celebrated by people all around the world. This is the Year of the Ox, which symbolizes strength and determination," said Cai Jindong, director of the institute.

"We created this year's program to give people some feelings of hope and of looking forward to the future. We hope through music we can give you inspiration," said Cai, also conductor of the concert.

The U.S.-China Music Institute was founded in 2018 by Cai and Robert Martin, founding director of the conservatory, with a mission to promote the study, performance, and appreciation of music from contemporary China and to support musical exchanges between the United States and China. Enditem

 "Bargained Justice: The Rise of False Testimony for False Pleas" | Main | "Black on Black Representation" 

I have not been able to keep up with all of the jurisprudential ups and downs that have followed the FIRST STEP Act finally making retroactive key parts of the Fair Sentencing Act for federal crack offenders. Thus, I am quite grateful that a recent email discussion with various lawyers led to Assistant Federal Defenders Johanes Maliza and Thomas Drysdale drafting this extended guest post to catch us all up on some critical cases and issues in this arena:

The sentencing excesses that Congress addressed with the Fair Sentencing Act, and then the First Step Act, should stay in the past. The pending cert petition in Bates v. United States, No. 20-535, has the potential to keep them there for everyone. Bates asks the Court to decide whether cocaine base defendants getting resentenced under the First Step Act should get resentenced under modern sentencing guidelines, or under repealed, invalidated, or otherwise discarded sentencing rules.

The Court recently granted cert in another First Step Act case, Terry v. United States, No. 20-5904. But Terry gets at a different, more limited question. In Terry, the Court is answering only whether certain low-level cocaine base offenders are eligible for a resentencing. The Terry question is important, and needs to be resolved to bring uniformity across the circuits, but the government made one good point as it opposed the petition: Terry concerns a limited group of defendants.

A Terry defendant would have to be a person with a small (often very small) amount of cocaine base, who is still serving her sentence 10 years after the Fair Sentencing Act. Most 841(b)(1)(C) defendants from 2010 are out of prison by now, though many are still on Supervised Release. The vast majority of cocaine base offenders still serving prison terms for pre-August 2010 conduct are mid- and high-quantity defendants, who were charged under 21 U.S.C.  841(b)(1)(A) or (B). Terry only concerns people charged under  841(b)(1)(C).

Even if Terry comes out for the petitioner, every single person who would benefit from Terry needs the answer to Bates: Which guidelines do courts use for resentencing? Indeed, the few Terry defendants still in prison are those who need a positive result in Bates the most because resentencing based on the guidelines from 2010 could still be sky high, even while the statutory scheme has shifted dramatically in the last 10 years. Guidelines still anchor federal sentences; as the government says in Bates they remain the lodestar.

Consider a real, but anonymized, defendant in Central Illinois to show the need for modern guidelines in  404 resentencings. Mr. Jones [not client's real name, though he has given permission to speak about his case] was convicted of violating 21 U.S.C.  841(b)(1)(A), for 50 grams or more of cocaine base in 2010. The charge began with a 10-year mandatory minimum; but with four drug priors, his statutory minimum was Life. His guidelines were Life. His minimum term of Supervised Release was 10 years.

Because he cooperated, (the only way to get out from under life), Mr. jones got a 324- month sentence, plus 10 years of Supervised Release. Even if he got out of prison before he died, he was going to die on Supervised Release. Terry, which only concerns persons sentenced under  841(b)(1)(C), has nothing to do with him because was charged under  841(b)(1)(A). With an 841(b)(1)(A) conviction, Mr. Jones is clearly eligible for resentencing under  404 of the First Step Act, but the terms of that resentencing was not defined by the Act. Since Mr. Jones was convicted of having 50 grams of cocaine base, his charges would come under 21 U.S.C.  841(b)(1)(B) in 2019. But how much does that really matter if his guidelines didnt change?

One might assume the statutory changes transform everything now that a Mandatory Life is either 5-40 or 10-Life after First Step. Which one, and why do we care? Well, his prior convictions still set up his stat max, and his stat max still sets up his new guidelines. Considering all four of his prior drug crimes still worked to raise his statutory max to Life and made his guidelines range 262-327 months and his 324-month sentence was still within that range. But while one provision of the First Step Act gave Mr. Jones the right to seek resentencing, another provision made two of his priors ineligible to trigger  851 enhancements because the statutory maximum sentences on those priors was below 10 years. And while Mr. Jones resentencing worked its way through the docket, the Seventh Circuit issued a string of opinions that culminated in a ruling that Illinois cocaine convictions cannot serve as  851 enhancements. Mr. Jones remaining two statutory enhancements, both for cocaine, were now out. Well, they were still there, since this Seventh Circuit ruling wasnt necessarily retroactive, but this was a shockwave for Mr. Jones guidelines. Under the law in 2010, Jones had statutory Life, and guidelines range of Life. Now, under statutory changes and modern guideline interpretation, he had a statutory range of 5-40, and guidelines range of 188-235.

While his case was pending for First Step Act resentencing, the law had shifted for everybody else. Mr. Jones 324-month sentence, after cooperation, had transformed from Harsh-but-at-least-not-Life, into, Thats 11-plus years over the low end of the guidelines?!? Thankfully for Mr. Jones, he is in the Seventh Circuit, so the district court recalculated his guidelines as part of First Step resentencing, and gave him a 188-month (bottom-of-the-range) sentence. Still harsh. But hell be out in a few years, not a decade. But in the Tenth Circuit, which is where the Bates case comes from, this entire analysis would have amounted to passionate argument from his attorney, soaring rhetoric about finality from the government, and a Whaddya gonna do? from the district judge because the circuit does not permit a defendant's current guideline range to be considered at a First Step resentencing.

It is hard to imagine that that the First Step Act intended to leave people like Mr. Jones behind. A broad bipartisan coalition passed the First Step Act, trying to reduce the draconian sentences imposed on nonviolent drug offenders. Because the Supreme Court in Terry will only resolve the few people with  841(b)(1)(C) convictions who are still in prison, the difference in treatment between what happened with Mr. Jones and what happened in a case like Bates will not be addressed. The Supreme Court should take up and render a decision in a case like Bates as soon as possible in order to resolve a resentencing wait and uncertainty for hundreds, if not thousands, of defendants. No matter what happens in Terry, the issue in Bates is going to need a resolution. That resolution should come earlier, so that nobody has to overserve a minute of their sentences.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Allopathic doctors across the country have been on a relay hunger strike since the past two weeks to protest the central government notification regarding surgical training for postgraduate students of Ayurveda and have resorted to legal and political recourse for its rollback.

The protest came in response to the rules, introduced in November 2020, which enable provision of training for Ayurveda practitioners to perform surgical procedures. The notification specifies 58 procedures surgeries, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT, removal of benign tumours and cataract operations etc.

The protesting doctors have strongly objected to mixing of modern medicine with AYUSH and are of the view that Ayurveda practitioners should not be allowed to carry out complicated surgeries that take years to learn. They also emphasised that the Ayurvedic medical colleges are not fully equipped for surgical training.

The Indian Medical Association is at the forefront of the fight. It had launched a two-week nationwide hunger strike on February 1. The strike is the latest of several protests against the notification, including a day-long closure of all non-emergency services on December 11, 2020. IMA doctors had staged the first protest on December 8.

"We have taken three steps to register our protest: by educating the general public as it directly effects them, approaching the Supreme Court and reaching out to the Members of Parliament," said Dr. Kunal Juneja, Spokesperson of Indian Medical Association.

This protest will conclude on February 14 but, Dr. Juneja said: Abhi toh yeh angadyi hai, aage badi ladayi hai (this was just a small awakening; we have a big fight ahead). "These fourteen days were an alarm for the government. We have won it partially in courts. We will make sure the notification is rolled back." Dr. Juneja, who is also a medico-social activist, termed their protest as a people's movement, contending that the notification not only concerns the medical fraternity but the general public. He said that medical students, junior doctors and delegation from Resident Doctors' Assocation across the country are protesting against the same.

Dr Parul Vadgama, who joined the protest in Delhi from Gujarat, said that citizens have the basic right to good health. She agreed that the implementation of new rule will help address shortage of surgeons in India, but said that it will dilute the quality of surgeons.

"This will also confuse the citizens because they would not know where to go. If we do not focus on the quality of treatment, India's name will go down globally in the next ten years. Not only that, there will be increase in mortality of patients. We must make people aware about the issue," Vadgama said.

To spread awareness, protesting doctors distributed pamphlets to people on the traffic signal at ITO area in Delhi on Saturday. The delegation also spoke to shopkeepers in the area. The people were asked if they would ever opt to be operated upon by an Ayurvedic surgeon, to which they said no.

One of the senior citizens sitting outside a clock-fixing shop said, "If I have any issue related to my knees, I will obviously go to the orthopedic doctor and not the Ayurvedic doctor." Another said, "The patient will face the consequences if they go to the Ayurvedic doctor. I will only go to the one who is more experienced in the field." IMA national president J.A. Jayalal had earlier said that the doctors will strive hard to maintain the purity of the medical profession. "Each stream of medicine has its own individuality but the Centre is trying to promote mixopathy." Notably, a survey conducted in December last year had revealed that the citizens are divided over central government's decision, with 47 per cent of citizens said in support, while 43 per cent not in its support. But, interestingly, only 14 per cent said that they are willing to go to an AYUSH dentist for tooth extraction or RCT.

(Aakanksha Khajuria can be contacted at aakanksha.k@ians.in)

With limited opportunities and growing uncertainty of when harness racing will resume in his home province of British Columbia, John Abbott has made the decision to move his base of operations to Ontario as early as next month.

"My wife, my son and I are hoping to be out there by mid-March," Abbott told Trot Insider. "We feel like it is in the best interest of our future to be in Ontario. We have been discussing it for a while. We want to be where the racing is. More tracks, horses and work in general."

Given the lengthy hiatus and uncertainty faced by the harness racing industry in Western Canada, many stables have been forced to downsize or relocate altogether. That reality, paired with limited willingness to keep playing the waiting game, is one that Abbott, along his wife, Jessie Robinson, and their son, Beau, prompted their decision to make the cross-country trek to a new home base in Guelph, Ont.

"They're obviously trying to get money to race right now, so they're waiting on a response from the government and those types of things," Abbott explained. "But, with everything going on in the world right now, it's tough to gauge when that's all going to take place. For us, we just had to make a decision and act on it, just like a few other people from B.C. and Alberta have done already."

Abbott does have ties to Ontario, though. The move east brings things full circle for the 35-year-old horseman, whose dad, Gord, was born in London, Ont., before venturing west and racing primarily in British Columbia for the past three decades, save for a stretch in Ontario from 1999 to 2003.

"It's kind of neat," Abbott continued, indicating that the relocation is not a short-term proposition. "We're not just going to go for the summer; we're pursuing it full-time and we have some goals."

Abbott, who finished 2020 in eighth place in the Fraser Downs driving standings, has 300 driving wins to his credit through his career. While racing will have resumed in Ontario for a few weeks before his planned arrival  and he'll be able to hit the ground running to some degree  Abbott will still have other business to get in order upon landing in his new home base.

"I potentially have a job lined up; I've been talking to a trainer out there. I'm kind of looking more for a second trainer gig, so to speak, and then pursue some driving and see where that goes. Once the wife gets settled, she can figure out exactly what path she wants to pursue, whether it's grooming or equine therapy."

After he acclimates himself to new surroundings and a new circuit, Abbott has indidcated he'll look to expand his own stable.

"We have one cheaper class horse we're bringing out," he said, "but over the summer, we're looking to possibly buy one or two more."

The move east may take the trio away from Abbott and Robinson's immediate families, but Abbott believes the benefits of the move will far outweigh the challenges:

"We just feel like it's the move we have to make. We're very passionate about horse racing, so it's where we've got to go.... We're excited to see some old friends and meet some new faces, too."
They clashed at the Married At First Sight Grand Reunion earlier this month.

But on Saturday, Cyrell Paule and Nasser Sultan put their differences aside when he attended her son Boston's first birthday, who she shares with Eden Dally.

Nasser, 52, joined the reality star couple's close friends and relatives at their Sydney home.

Mend it with a kiss! Married At First Sight's Cyrell Paule and Nasser Sultan [both pictured] put their tumultuous past behind them at a birthday party on Saturday

The reality star villains were seen chatting and hugging during the celebrations.

At one point, Nasser and Cyrell were seen posing for photos together and even planted a kiss on the star's cheek.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Cyrell decided to forgive and forget after Nasser apologised during filming of the reunion.

Remember this? Cyrell and Nasser clashed at the Married At First Sight Grand Reunion in December

Friends again: Daily Mail Australia understands Cyrell decided to forgive and forget after Nasser apologised during the reunion

'It's very simple... Nasser apologised while we were filming,' Cyrell explained.

She continued: 'People always forget how far a SINCERE apology goes.'

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Nasser said: 'Look we have always been friends and I have apologised many times for my actions.

Before adding: 'Me and Cyrell understand each other now.'

United: At one point, Nasser and Cyrell were seen posing for photos together and even planted a kiss on the star's cheek. Pictured with baby Boston

Nasser wasn't the only reality star to attend little Boston's milestone celebration.

MAFS stars Elizabeth Sobinoff and Billy Vincent were also in attendance.

They were also joined by My Kitchen Rules star Romel Kouyan and YouTube personality Carla From Bankstown.
Savers and investors face higher product and advice charges this year as a result of a rash of expensive scandals and company failures.

The compensation bill for victims of poor advice and mis-sold financial products has shot up to more than 1 billion.

Experts warn that the eye-watering bill is likely to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs for financial advice and products such as investment funds and pensions.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme compensates investors and savers if their bank, building society or investment platform goes bust

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the compensation fund of last resort, has set its budget for the year ahead at more than 1billion - up from 700million last year.

A large chunk of the money will be compensation paid following the collapse of mini-bond issuer London Capital & Finance in 2019, which left investors with losses totalling 236 million.

The cost of claims for poor pension advice is predicted to total 256 million.

Claims from victims of failed self-invested personal pension operators are forecast to rise by 89 per cent to 336million.

More firms are also predicted to collapse due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Chief executive of the FSCS, Caroline Rainbird, told The Mail on Sunday: 'This level of compensation is too high for all sorts of reasons.

'For every penny of compensation paid, that is a consumer who has had a really unfortunate set of circumstances. The bill also needs to be funded by the industry, and it's a large amount to pay.'

PIMFA, the trade association for the wealth management and financial advice industry, believes it is unfair to ask well-run firms to pay for the wrongdoing of others.

Tim Fassam, director of government relations and policy, says: 'Reform of the compensation scheme is urgent but will take time. The Government must find other sources of revenue to cover these extreme costs resulting from financial failure.'
Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) walk out of the Senate Chamber in the Capitol after former President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate, in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

House Impeachment Managers Defend Not Calling Witnesses After Senate Approval

House Democrats acting as managers during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump after the trial defended not calling observers after the Senate voted to allow them to call witnesses.

Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) said the managers presented testimony from witnesses during arguments in the trial, even if they didnt call people to testify.

There is no other additional witnesses that were friendly to us that were not there on the screen, she said.

Democrats presented body camera footage from U.S. Capitol Police officers, statements from Trump, and other evidence during the trial.

Others who we would have liked to have called, like the president, who we invited, is in fact the defendant and does not have to testify, Plaskett added. Other individuals who may have been there with the president were not friendly witnesses to us, and would have required subpoenas and months of litigation.

Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) answers questions at a press conference after the conclusion of former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial, in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Many Republicans, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), voted previously to call the trial unconstitutional because Trump is now a private citizen. That was the main reasoning that 43 of them used in explaining their not guilty votes.

We could have had 5,000 witnesses, and Mitch McConnell would be making the same speech, because what hes asserting is that the Senate never has jurisdiction over a former president, lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told reporters.

The point is that no number of witnesses demonstrating that Donald Trump continued to incite the insurrectionists even after the invasion of the capital would convince them. They wouldnt be convinced. They were hinging it on a matter of law, he said.

Raskin said he personally made the call not to follow through after the Senate voted 55-45 to allow witnesses. He said he did not consult with anyone from the White House before making the decision.

Look, if we had needed any witnesses to make our case, then we would have gone all the way and insisted on witnesses and a six-week trial or an eight-week trial, or whatever. We didnt, we overwhelmingly proved our case, he alleged.

The House of Representatives heard from zero witnesses before voting Jan. 13 to impeach Trump while he was still in office. The body impeached the president one week after the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol. Critics said Trump incited the incident.

Following the witness vote, impeachment managers, the Senate, and Trumps impeachment defense team reached a deal to not call any witnesses but to insert a statement from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) regarding a phone call Trump is said to have made to Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Jan. 6 into the record as witness evidence.

The trial then moved to closing arguments and the vote, culminating with Trumps acquittal.

Michael van der Veen, part of Trumps legal team, said on Fox News that Democrats launched the surprise attack using Beutler because their core arguments were rebutted successfully.

Nothing really surprised me, he said. What had happened was the day before, we demolished their case, and they were like a dying animal that we had trapped in the corner. And so, this morning, their last gaps would be swinging out at us trying to save their case, and it didnt work. So we were kind of expecting them pulling something.

It is somewhat confusing to us that, if this conversation was of such great import, why was it only brought to our attention today? And it formed the basis of most of the closing that the House managers made, Bruce Castor, another Trump lawyer, told reporters on Capitol Hill.

If this is the centerpiece of their case, it should have been front and center from the beginning. I kind of think that yesterday their case was destroyed. They needed to throw a Hail Mary pass, and it fell in the endzone without being caught.

Vietnams effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic along with it signing a host of new free trade agreements has resulted in many global tech giants shifting their investment to the country.

The Hong Kong-invested EVA Hai Phong Precision Co. Ltds factory at the VSIP Hai Phong Industrial Park.

Foxconn, Luxshare, Pegatron, and many leading manufacturers of components and products for 'giants' such as Apple, Sony, and Microsoft have recently invested in Bac Giang Province and Hai Phong City in Viet Nams north.

Analysts believe these big names could create a new wave of investment in the country.

The Peoples Committee of Bac Giang Province has recently issued an investment certificate for the Fukang Technology factory project invested by Foxconn Singapore PTE Ltd at the Quang Chau Industrial Park, with registered capital of US$270 million.

The factory will produce iPhone, iPad and MacBook for Apple in Viet Nam, with a production scale of 8 million units per year.

The Foxconn Technology Group, meanwhile, has constantly expanded its scale of investment and established a range of companies since 2007.

Its total investment in Viet Nam stood at $1.5 billion as of last December, of which Bac Giang had received about $900 million. It expects to invest an additional $700 million in the province this year.

Total registered FDI into Viet Nam was $28.53 million last year. In total, 33,070 FDI projects were operating in the country as of the end of last year, with total capital of $384 billion and disbursed capital at $231.86 billion.

Bac Giang also granted investment certificates to three FDI projects in the electrical and electronic sectors in the early days of the new year.

Risesun Investment Pte Ltd from Singapore will invest $75 million in a plant producing plastic and composite products and $6 million in another factory manufacturing PVC decorative film at the Hoa Phu Industrial Park.

Ja Solar Investment (Hong Kong) Ltd will invest $210 million in a photovoltaic manufacturing plant at the Quang Chau Industrial Park.

Foxconns under-construction factory in Bac Giang Province. Many experts believe the arrival of large, high-tech foreign investment represents the beginning of a new investment wave. Photo ricons.vn

The northern port city of Hai Phong, meanwhile, granted investment licences to three investment projects of the Pegatron Group, a supplier for Apple, Microsoft and Sony, in March last year.

Pegatron also plans to invest $1 billion in an electronics manufacturing plant in the city.

Total investment in the three projects of the group at the Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park stands at around $1 billion.

It is also planning to move its R&D centre from China to Viet Nam at an appropriate time.

After being granted an investment certificate four months ago, Universal Global Technology (Taiwan), a member of the ASE Holding Co., officially began construction of a factory at the citys DEEP C Industrial Zone producing electronic circuit boards for wearable devices (watches, phones and earphones) for leading global electronics companies.

New investment wave

Many experts believe that the development of large, high-tech FDI investors in Viet Nam represents the beginning of a new investment wave.

Talking with Nguoi Dua Tin (The Herald) newspaper, Nguyen Van Toan, vice president of the Viet Nam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), said the top suppliers, manufacturers and assemblers for Apple, Microsoft and Sony recently selecting Viet Nam was a positive sign and confirmed the countrys success in attracting foreign capital with high science and technology content.

The appearance of leading tech corporations in Viet Nam showed that the countrys investment environment was sound, he said.

Toan said he believed "a good legal framework and reasonable incentives for investors is the best method of promotion".

"Viet Nam is a suitable choice because of many factors, especially in the context of the country successfully controlling the COVID-19 pandemic," he noted.

"This has brought about a robustness to the economy and local businesses," he said.

"When COVID-19 first hit, the digital economy was given priority in promotion and had unexpected effects."

Moreover, Viet Nam is a good destination given there is a combination of innovation, continuous improvements to the business investment environment and legal framework, and determination in institutional reform.

Its attraction of foreign investment is also due to its sterling role as ASEAN Chairman and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. It also boasts a young workforce that is quick with technology and quite creative.

"Viet Nam has been participating in low-value segments, making simple components and accessories. It must direct itself to a higher and more sophisticated contribution," Toan said.

"To do this, it must have capital in addition to management capacity, to buy technologies and engage skilled engineers. Capital can be supported by the Government or mobilised by businesses themselves."

Viet Nam had signed bilateral trade agreements with many countries and also multilateral agreements with blocs such as ASEAN and the EU.

It had therefore become a true production venue, not just a home to factories.

He recommended that it identify what to produce and which industries are suitable for future development.

It had been orienting towards high technology, increasing its value in the global supply chain, Toan noted. VNS

FDI enterprises increase but more losses reported The number of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises continues to increase in Vietnam, but more are reporting losses.

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BRIAN VINER: Cinemas are back. The way motion pictures were meant to be seen when they were invented in the 19th century and the way they have been best enjoyed and cherished ever since.
(Natural News) It is no secret that the government has an insatiable appetite for money and power, and it has all sorts of methods at its disposal to pay for its excesses.

One of its favorite techniques appears to be sin taxes. Enacted under the guise of discouraging people from engaging in activities that could harm them, such as smoking, drinking alcohol or consuming sugary beverages, they are really just another way to fill their coffers.

Not content with the money they bring in from taxing your car, house, property, inheritance and income, some cities have recently started placing taxes on sugary drinks. There is no question that these beverages are pretty bad for your health, and the supposed aim of such taxes is to inspire lower-income communities that are dealing with diabetes and obesity epidemics to make healthier choices by raising the prices of these drinks significantly.

However, this approach is not having the intended effect. Although the sales of sugary drinks have indeed decreased in places that have enacted such a tax, the sales figures for the same drinks have spiked at stores situated just outside many of these cities. The only real effect it has had is pushing people to shop elsewhere  theyre still drinking what they want to drink and potentially giving themselves diseases. But the government doesnt really care because they are still earning more money than they did before thanks to those who are still buying the drinks inside city limits.

Sin taxes are climbing, but people arent changing their behavior

Since 2000, the Pew Research Center reports that all but nine states have raised their taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products, with the median state tax on cigarettes climbing more than fourfold. Although the stated intent of such taxes is to improve public health, there is no denying that its also having the very convenient effect of collecting significant amounts of revenue from people who do not want to give up the habit.

Just how profitable is this approach? The Tax Policy Center estimates that sin taxes on alcohol, tobacco, lotteries and gambling raised almost $64 billion in revenue in 2017.

The state that benefits the most from sin taxes, according to rankings by USA Today, is Rhode Island, where 10.4 percent of its total revenue came from sin taxes in 2016. This is the largest share of revenue from sin taxes in the nation. Despite having just over a million residents, Rhode Island raked in more than $856 million thanks to sin taxes that year. West Virginia came in second place, with 6.9 percent of its total revenue coming from sin  $953.1 million to be exact. In both of these states, lottery was the most profitable sin.

Nevada, not surprisingly, came in third place. Sin City brought in $1.1 billion from sin taxes in 2016; its most profitable sin was gaming.

The problem with sin taxes is that they are regressive taxes that end up getting paid mostly by people with a low income. It is a tax on people who can least afford it, and it doesnt fulfill its purported aim. Is all of the money that comes in from taxes on things like cigarettes and sugary drinks going directly to improve health care, or is it just ending up in states budgets, where it is ultimately being used to fund politicians paychecks and other wasteful government spending?

If the government truly cared about the people who are making poor health decisions, it would devote more resources to education and warning labels showing people the consequences of these actions. This could potentially go a lot further in terms of discouraging these unhealthy habits than simply making them more expensive.

Sources for this article include:

WakingTimes.com

USAToday.com

PewTrusts.org
Supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny braved the cold in Moscow and St Petersburg on Sunday to take part in a 'flashlight' protest.

The planned demonstrations, which asked people to shine the torch on their phones in solidarity with Navalny had been seen by some as a winding down from the mass nationwide protests that took place the previous two weekends.

The flashlight protests took on new importance for Navalny supports, however, after both Russian authorities and state media made substantial efforts to extinguishing them before they began.

Officials accused Navalny's allies of acting on NATO's instructions. Kremlin-backed TV channels warned that flashlight rallies were part of major uprisings around the world.

State news agencies cited unnamed sources saying a terrorist group was plotting attacks during unapproved mass protests. No such attacks occurred.

The suppression attempts represent a change of tactics for the authorities who once tried to weaken Navalny's influence by erasing him.

Kremlin-controlled TV channels used to largely ignore protests called by Navalny and Russian President Vladimir Putin has never publicly mentioned his most prominent critic by name.

State news agencies referred to the politician and anti-corruption investigator as 'a blogger' in the rare stories they ran mentioning him.

'Navalny went from a person whose name is not allowed to be mentioned to the main subject of discussion' on state TV, Maria Pevchikh, head of investigations at Navalny's Foundations for Fighting Corruption, said in a YouTube video Friday.

Supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny braved the cold in Moscow and St Petersburg on Sunday to take part in a 'flashlight' protest. Pictured: Protesters near Red Square in Moscow on Sunday

The planned demonstrations, which asked people to shine the torch on their phones in solidarity with Navalny had been seen by some as a winding down from the mass nationwide protests that took place the previous two weekends. Pictured: Young people at a flashlight protest in Moscow on Sunday

Supporters of Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia take part in a flashlight protest called by the jailed opposition leader

Pevchikh credited Navalny's latest expose for the sudden surge in attention. His foundation's two-hour-long video alleging that a lavish palace on Black Sea was built for Putin through elaborate corruption has been watched over 111million times on YouTube since it was posted on January 19.

The video went up two days after Navalny was arrested upon returning to Russia from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

The Russian government denies involvement and has said it has no evidence that Navalny was poisoned.

While the high-profile arrest and the subsequent expose were a double blow to authorities, political analyst and former Kremlin speech writer Abbas Gallyamov says that keeping Navalny and his activity off the airwaves to deprive him of additional publicity no longer makes sense.

'The fact that this strategy has changed suggests that the pro-government television audience is somehow receiving information about Navalny's activities through other channels, recognises him, is interested in his work, and in this sense, keeping the silence doesn't make any sense,' Gallyamov said.

Russian authorities and state media made substantial efforts to extinguish Sunday's planned flashlight protests before they began. Pictured: Protesters in Moscow on Sunday

Officials accused Navalny's allies of acting on NATO's instructions. Kremlin-backed TV channels warned that flashlight rallies were part of major uprisings around the world. Pictured: Protesters in Moscow

State news agencies cited unnamed sources saying a terrorist group was plotting attacks during unapproved mass protests. No such attacks occurred. Pictured: Navalny supporters shine their mobile phone torches during a rally in St Petersburg on Sunday

The weekend protests in scores of cities last month over Navalny's detention represented the largest outpouring of popular discontent in years and appeared to have rattled the Kremlin.

Police reportedly arrested about 10,000 people, and many demonstrators were beaten, while state media sought to downplay the scale of the protests.

TV channels aired footage of empty squares in cities where protests were announced and claimed that few people showed up.

Some reports portrayed police as polite and restrained, claiming officers had helped people with disabilities cross busy streets, handed out face masks to demonstrators and offered them hot tea.

Once the protests died down and Navalny ally Leonid Volkov announced a pause until the spring, Kremlin-backed media reported that grassroots flash mobs titled 'Putin is our president' started sweeping the country.

State news channel Rossiya 24 broadcast videos from different cities of people dancing to patriotic songs and waving Russian flags, describing them as a genuine expression of support for Putin.

Several independent online outlets reported that instructions to record videos in support of Putin came from the Kremlin and the governing United Russia party, and that people featured in some of the recordings were invited to shoots under false pretenses.

The Russian president's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Kremlin had nothing to do with the pro-Putin videos.

Alexei Navalny (pictured in court on Friday) was arrested on his return to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from the effects of Novichok poisoning, which he blames on the Kremlin

Police reportedly arrested about 10,000 people in previous mass protests in support of Navalny. Many demonstrators were beaten, while state media sought to downplay the scale of the protests. Pictured: A flashlight protest in Moscow on Sunday

Protesters braved the cold in Moscow to show their support for Navalny and his wife Yulia on Sunday

After Navalny's team posted its video involving the palace allegedly built for Putin, state channel Rossiya aired its own expose of Navalny.

Anchor Dmitry Kiselev said that while working on the investigation in Germany, Navalny lived 'in the luxury he so much despises.'

The reporter sent to chronicle the allegedly luxurious lifestyle the politician maintained while abroad filmed inside a house Navalny rented but failed to capture any high-end items in the two-story building, which featured several bedrooms and a small swimming pool.

She pointed to 'two sofas, a TV, fresh fruit on the table' in the living room and 'a kitchen with a coffee machine,' and described a bedroom as 'luxurious' even though it didn't look much different from a room in a business hotel.

In recent days, official media coverage has focused on plans for this weekend's flashlights-in-courtyards protest.

Reports extensively quoted Navalny ally Volkov's social media post announcing the event and accused him of acting on instructions from his Western handlers, pointing to an online conference with European officials he took part in the day before.

The political talk show '60 Minutes' devoted nearly a half-hour to the topic, calling the flashlight rally an idea from a handbook on revolutions.

It aired footage of protesters shining flashlights during the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, mass rallies in Belarus last summer and other uprisings around the world.

A woman attends a rally in support of Navalny in Moscow on Sunday, which was Valentine's Day

Supporters of Navalny and his wife Yulia formed a chain holding a white ribbon during a demonstration in Moscow on Sunday

Ahead of the flashlight protests, demonstrators gathered in Moscow for a rally in support of Navalny

On Thursday, state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported, citing anonymous sources, that a terrorist group from Syria was training insurgents for possible terrorist attacks in Russian cities 'at locations of mass rallies.'

The reports didn't refer to any specific protests. Neither did public warnings against 'unauthorized public events' the Prosecutor General's office and Russia's Interior Ministry issued Thursday, although the ministry mentioned events 'planned for the nearest time.'

'The Kremlin is awfully scared of the flashlight action,' because such a peaceful, light-hearted event would allow the opposition to build a rapport with new supporters who are not ready to be more visible and involved in the protests, Volkov said in a YouTube video.

He suggested that the heavy-handed response to the announcement actually helped dispel skepticism about the courtyard demonstrations.

'I saw many posts on social media (saying) 'When Navalny's headquarters announced the flashlight rally, I thought what nonsense... But when I saw the Kremlin's reaction, I realised they were right to come up with it.''

Thousands of people have taken part in protests since Navalny's arrest, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Pictured: Navalny supporters during a rally in Moscow on Sunday

Some of the protesters at the Valentine's Day demonstration in Moscow on Sunday held roses
The latest move is the signing of a share purchase agreement on February 9 to acquire a 70 percent stake in the Duy Tan Plastics Manufacturing Corporation, Vietnam's top producer of rigid plastic packaging products, according to its letter sent to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The purchase will be made through the SCGP's wholly-owned subsidiary and further transaction details will be provided in the middle of this year.

SCGP chief executive Wichan Jitpukdee said SCGP has constantly increased investment in Vietnam, which has yielded a revenue growth of more than 10 percent annually.

"SCGP is prepared to work with all partners to share experience and knowledge in the development of integrated packaging solutions and support the growing demand for diverse types of packaging among customers in ASEAN," Wichan was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying.

Duy Tan operates business-to-business sales to multinational companies and local brand owners of consumer and fast-moving consumer goods. The company also manufactures household plastic containers under the brand name "Duy Tan," with a capacity of 116,000 tonnes per year, the paper said.

The 10 billion baht is part of 20-billion-baht investment budget the SCGP announced last month for business expansion and merger and acquisition plans.

Earlier in 2009, the SCGP established Vina Kraft Paper in the Vietnamese southern province of Binh Duong to produce packaging paper, with total production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year.

In 2015 the company invested in the Tin Thanh Packing Joint Stock Company (BATICO), one of the five largest flexible packaging producers in Vietnam.

The company also acquired 94.11 percent stake in the Bien Hoa Packaging Joint Stock Company (SOVI), a producer of corrugated paper and offset laminated packaging in Vietnam, with an annual total capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

According to Wichan, all three projects expand SCGP's production base for downstream products in Vietnam and are expected to contribute sales of an additional 8.5 billion baht per year.

The SCGP is also seeking opportunities for business expansion in paper production capacity in northern Vietnam to serve demand within the country.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  They were baptized by gunfire their freshman year, bonded as they spent hours hiding under desks, inextricably linked by tragedy. For the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Class of 2021, high school would never be about Friday night football and innocent first kisses.

Seventeen students and staff were killed in the 2018 Valentine's Day shooting. As the Parkland students struggled to define high school apart from tragedy, their senior year has been punctuated by the coronavirus pandemic, upending their lives once again.

The majority are isolated at home on a computer, their hard-fought normal routines altered and their support systems splintered.

The shooting catapulted some students into the spotlight as they rallied for gun control and landed on the cover of Time magazine. But that was just a sliver of the experience of those in this largely affluent, palm-tree studded suburb. In the shadows, many struggle at times to manage daily life.

Their only full year at Stoneman Douglas was as sophomores - a time tinged with triggers from fire alarms and fireworks. Many students felt retraumatized every time they walked by the now cordoned-off freshman building, the site of the shooting.

Abby Price's best friend, Alyssa Alhadeff, was killed that day.

I struggled every morning to wake up and go to the school where I lost so many friends, the 17-year-old said. I struggled to find a purpose of just doing simple tasks in life without my best friend by my side.

The two were inseparable like sisters, playing on the same soccer team and even sharing a birthday. They'd dream about what high school would bring while listening to the Miley Cyrus song The Climb."

Price's family moved to North Carolina for her junior year, hoping for a fresh start. She was terrified of a new school and forging new friendships. But there was also a sense that her life was no longer just her own, that she'd be creating new memories and chasing her dreams for Alyssa  for both of them.

Then the pandemic hit, forcing Price into virtual school and making it difficult to connect with the friends she'd finally made.

"I started to lose myself again, Price said.

Like millions of students across the country, proms and pep rallies were forgotten in the wake of the pandemic, depriving Price and the Parkland seniors yet again of traditional rites of passage and a normal high school experience.

Even graduation remains in limbo as closure to their high school years bookended by tragedies.

At the very most, were going to have a digital graduation," senior Ryan Servaites said. "And thats going to be the ceremonious end to four years of trauma.

Servaites, who hid under a chair in the auditorium for two hours while texting I love you to his parents, has found healing in activism. He joined the student-led March For Our Lives, registered first-time voters in various states and now works on gun-reform policy. He sounds assured and self-confident in his passion for enacting change, but it's been a process.

I was trying to be an activist whereas inside I wasnt very OK with myself, Servaites said. Ive learned to cope. Ive learned to come to terms with what Ive gone through.

Samara Barrack struggled to connect with friends after the shooting, saying some classmates changed as they coped with the tragedy in different ways.

Related: Parkland high school stage protest in state capital

I saw people that were like, I just need to get high or I just need to paint, she said. Neither of those things would help me.

Barrack was on the cheerleading squad, but the pandemic canceled most events, making it hard to bond over practice and games. Her closest friends go to other schools, but she still long for her senior-year traditions.

Even if Im not best friends with those people, its an experience," said Barrack, who instead focused on a part-time job and a new start at the University of Central Florida where she's enrolled this summer.

Many of the students view college as a sorely needed do-over.

Most Stoneman Douglas graduates go to college, and before the shooting, Aria Siccone never questioned that she would, too.

People say college experience is the best time in their life, and I wish I could do that. But at the same time I know I wouldnt be able to handle it," said 17-year-old Siccone, who avoids malls, movie theaters and other public places. Sometimes she's jealous of friends who've had happy times at other schools. The former honors student fears a nagging voice that says she can't be successful without college.

Its scary to think about because going to college is the normal path, and I just want to have the normal path," she said.

On the brink of their next step, many of the students are finding the balance between mourning a tragedy and moving forward, for themselves and those who died.

As children, we are supposed to be the innocent ones; we are supposed to be untouchable, 18-year-old Servaites said. Now were at this point where we cant get that childhood we deserve, and as a result, were angry, were upset, and were just trying to do something about it.

Price isn't sure what her future will bring. Wherever she goes, her purpose will be Alyssa. Perhaps that's why she feels drawn back to Florida.

I find it impossible to figure out what I want to do with my life since school was never my main focus these past four years," she said. I most definitely want to go to school in Florida, and see where life takes me.
Nicki Minaj's father has reportedly been killed in a hit-and-run in Long Island.

Nassau County Police in New York confirmed the death of 64-year-old Robert Maraj to TMZ on Sunday.

Maraj was walking on a road in Mineola at about 6pm Friday when he was struck by a car heading northbound on Roslyn Road at the intersection with Raff Avenue, authorities said.

The driver fled the scene and has yet to be identified. Investigators have asked for the public's help in tracking them down after the vehicle feld the scene too quickly for witnesses to get a description.

Maraj was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

Nicki Minaj's father Robert Maraj (pictured together) was killed in a hit-and-run in Long Island, New York, on Friday, according to TMZ

Maraj was walking on a road in Mineola at about 6pm Friday when he was struck by a car heading northbound on Roslyn Road at the intersection with Raff Avenue (pictured)

Minaj, 38, has yet to comment publicly on her father's death but a representative for the rapper confirmed his death.

The tragic news comes four months after the Super Bass rapper welcomed her first child with husband Kenneth Petty.

Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and raised in New York City, has spoken about her relationship with her father on multiple occasions, often posting photos of the pair sharing loving embraces on social media.

Her parents both moved to the United States from Trinidad when she was five years old and raised Minaj in Jamaica, Queens.

She has detailed the domestic violence in her childhood home - including an incident in which he tried to burn down their house - and how her father would use crack cocaine.

In a 2015 interview with the New York Times, Minaj said they she was never personally abused by her father.

'No. He was just abusive,' she said. 'I would always hear him yelling and cursing, always. And it made me feel it was the way to interact, because thats how I saw him interacting.'

Minaj's father Robert and mother Carol are pictured together in 2013

In 2010 she told Details magazine about how Maraj was allegedly abusive toward her mother, his wife Carol.

'He drank a lot and did drugs, and he would get violent when he did. When he set fire to the house, he was attempting to kill my mother,' she said at the time.

'She got out before it burned all the way down. I've always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind  because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn't be. I thought: "If I'm successful, I can change her life."'

It's unclear what terms Minaj was on with her father at the time of his death.

The family had already had a tough year, after Minaj's brother Jelani Maraj was sentenced to life in prison in January 2020 for raping an 11-year-old child.

Jelani, 41, was found guilty of 'predatory sexual assault against a child and endangering the welfare of a child' in 2017 and last year, Nassau County Supreme Court Judge Robert McDonald refused to give him a soft sentence.

It was despite his lawyer reading a 2016 letter his famous sister wrote in a bid to reduce his time behind bars, calling him the 'most patient, gentle, genuine, giving selfless man I know'.

The judge said that his 'view is that you ruined this child'.

Authorities have asked anyone with knowledge of the hit-and-run to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.


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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  An Albuquerque police officer was hit in the face by shrapnel or debris after getting into a gunfight with a suspect during a foot chase in a neighborhood off East Central on Saturday.

Were very fortunate that the officer was able to survive this incident as several shots were fired at the officer, interim Police Chief Harold Medina said during a briefing just before 8 p.m.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the officers injury is not serious and that police used flash-bang devices, tear gas and a dog to force the suspect  Johnny Ray Gallegos, 33  out of a refrigerator that he hid in during a lengthy standoff.

The officer is on standard administrative leave pending the shooting investigation.

Medina said around 3:40 p.m. the officer was near Dallas and Chico SE working an operation to address crime trends being seen in the area when he came into contact with Johnny Gallegos.

APDs Gallegos said Johnny Gallegos shot at the officer, which led to a foot chase, during which the two fired several rounds at each other.

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Gallegos said they arent sure if the officer was hit by shrapnel or a piece of gravel or concrete kicked up by gunfire. Medina said the officer was not taken to a hospital.

Once the shooting stopped, Medina said Johnny Gallegos hid and the SWAT team was called to search the area. APDs Gallegos said officers eventually found him inside a refrigerator that was outside.

Medina said Johnny Gallegos refused to come out of the appliance initially, but was taken into custody after police used chemical munitions. He said a handgun was found at the scene.
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Spain's tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with 'vaccine passports'.

Fernando Valdes has reportedly raised the prospect that travel could resume within months due to the success of the UK's rollout.

He also played down the idea that holidaymakers would have to quarantine when they arrived in Spain, saying there are 'other means' of limiting spread.

The optimistic comments emerged as the government steps up work on a system of 'vaccine passports' that could free those who have had jabs from the draconian restrictions on travel.

UK ministers have refused to be drawn on when holidays might be back on the agenda, amid mixed messages on whether anyone should be looking to book at this stage.

Spain's tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with 'vaccine passports'. Pictured, Playa de Alcudia beach in Mallorca

But they have confirmed that efforts are being made to put the technology and paperwork in place.

Greece has already suggested it would be open to using documentation showing that people have had jabs, and according to the Sun on Sunday Mr Valdes said: 'The UK is among the countries with the highest vaccination rates in the world.

'In Spain, we aim to have at least 70 per cent of the adult population immune by summer so I'd say to British people, 'Keep open your expectations regarding holidays in Spain. We're looking forward to welcoming you again'.'

Mr Valdes confirmed that a 'vaccine passport or similar documentation' would be part of the strategy to help travellers 'regain flexibility', along with face masks and social distancing.

He said: 'We are defending this approach in the European Union and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). We'd like to coordinate these works with the British government.'

Mr Valdes said Spain was not planning to have any quarantine period for such people - which could potentially wreck any hopes of week or fortnight long holidays.

'We have other means beyond vaccines to control the transmission such as test before travel, facial masks, social distancing,' he said.

'We're going to keep all these measures as long as necessary to let tourism recover gradually and as the pandemic evolves.

'New vaccines approved will give us the necessary impulse to achieve our plan.'
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.

Ahmedabad:

Congress veteran Shankarsinh Vaghela, said to be unhappy with his party, will make an important announcement and share his feelings with his supporters during a mega gathering on his birthday on Friday in Gandhinagar.

Sulking for not having been given a free hand for the partys campaign for the state assembly election due later this year, the former chief minister on Thursday visited Delhi for some personal work.

He is expected to make an important announcement about his future course of action at Fridays event in the state capital.

Vaghela had earlier slammed the state Congress over lack of homework for the assembly polls.

The Leader of Opposition visited the national capital earlier in the day and on his return in the evening, he claimed that it was purely a personal visit and refused to divulge details about whom he met.

When asked about the cross voting by Congress MLAs in favour of NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, Vaghela claimed ignorance.

I voted for UPA nominee Meira Kumar. I dont know about cross voting. My Delhi visit was purely personal. It was not political, he told reporters at the airport.

At least eight MLAs of the opposition Congress in BJP-ruled Gujarat appeared to have voted Kovind.

On Tuesday, Vaghela had announced that he would hold a mega gathering of his supporters on his 77th birthday (July 21) to share his feelings and give a message.

The gathering, which is scheduled to be held near Gandhinagar Town Hall, is being seen as his attempt to display his political might ahead of the assembly polls.

However, Vaghela has maintained that it was not a show of strength against the Congress leadership.

As the sudden move by him shook the state Congress, several leaders, including former state party president Siddharth Patel and AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil, met him and urged him not to announce his retirement at the event tomorrow.

Speculations are also rife that Vaghela has made his mind to part with Congress, if not retirement.

When asked about Vaghelas next possible move, be it retirement or opening a new front by quitting Congress, his son and Congress MLA Mahendrasinh Vaghela said, Wait and watch.

Mahendrasinh, however, asserted that his father, fondly known as Bapu, will not announce retirement.

I know him not just as his son, but also as a Congress worker. Therefore, I can say that Bapu will never announce retirement. He will never leave active politics, Mahendrasinh told PTI.

When asked if his father has made up his mind to quit Congress, Mahendrasinh said, You need to wait till tomorrow.

Vaghela had earlier said that all the 57 Congress MLAs along with two of NCP and one from JD(U) have been invited for the event in Gandhinagar tomorrow.

This is not a show of strength. I just wanted to respect the feelings of my supporters, especially those from my constituency Kapadvanj, he had said.

However, the Congress has asked its party members and MLAs not to attend tomorrows meeting. We hope that no Congress MLAs or workers will attend the meeting, Siddarth Patel said.

On June 24, while addressing a meeting of his supporters in Gandhinagar, Vaghela had said he would not follow the Congress leadership if it continued on its present suicidal path in Gujarat, where elections are due this year.

My problem with the party is they have done no planning to win Gujarat elections, when we know that it (elections) wont be delayed for even a month. Owners lack the foresight. They do not know what is going to happen tomorrow, he had said.

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Tara Gandhi Bhattacharya, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi , extended her support to the ongoing farmers' protest against the central government's farm laws and said that her visit is "apolitical".

87-year-old Bhattacharya reached the Ghazipur border protest site on the Delhi-UP border on Saturday with other workers of the Gandhi foundation.

Speaking about the farm laws, she addressed the protesting farmers saying: "I have not come here for any political party and there is no police escort with us. I am an 87-year-old senior citizen of this country. We have come here today for the farmers, who feed us all our life. If farmer brothers will not benefit, the country will not be benefitted."

"I always stand with the truth. I have absolutely no knowledge about politics," she added.

She also recalled the 1857 fight for independence from British rule. That fight also started from Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh, she added.

Chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee urged farmers to remain peaceful while requesting the Centre to "take care" of the farming community.

Bhattacharya also shared a stage with Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait during her visit to Ghazipur.

She was accompanied by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi chairman Ramchandra Rahi, All-India Sarv Seva Sangha managing trustee Ashok Saran, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi director Sanjay Singha and National Gandhi Museum director A Annamalai.

Her visit comes two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha had said that the new farm laws have been brought to ease difficulties in agriculture and called upon protesting farmers to resume talks with the government over their demands.

"We are working for the country. I once again urge farmers to come for talks and resolve the issues," the Prime Minister had said to the debate in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President's address.

The government has offered to put the farm laws "on hold" for 12-18 months, an offer rejected by the farmers' unions protesting against the laws. Several rounds of talks have been held with farmers over their demand for the repeal of three new laws.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

With agency inputs

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 16:39:53|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- With the arrival of Spring Festival on Friday, overseas Chinese are turning to online blessings, celebrations and get-togethers this year to observe the most important festival in their culture.

Despite the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic hindering family gatherings, online alternatives to celebrating the Chinese New Year are providing a remedy for homesickness.

DIGITAL GREETINGS

For those who observe the Spring Festival, a common practice is to call relatives and friends on the lunar calendar's first day to convey greetings and blessings.

This year, amid the disruption of COVID-19, overseas Chinese have had to resort to digital means to celebrate the holiday.

Twelve associations of Chinese students and scholars in Germany gathered for an online event late last month, during which they exchanged greetings ahead of the Chinese Year of the Ox. The affair included street dances and martial arts.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated wherever the Chinese people are, and they never fail to find a way to celebrate together, said Du Xiaohui, Chinese consul-general in Hamburg, who viewed the holiday as an example of the power of Chinese culture.

World leaders have also taken the opportunity to extend their wishes to the Chinese people.

On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a video, which started with the Mandarin Chinese "Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Happy Spring Festival!)"

"This year is the Year of the Ox -- the same sign as the year of my birth," he said, adding "the ox symbolizes energy, strength, and courage. These qualities are what the world needs now."

U.S. President Joe Biden has also extended greetings to the Chinese people and wished the Chinese people happiness and good fortune in the new year.

On Thursday night, or the eve of the Lunar New Year, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his greetings, saying "I extend my best wishes to all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, and wish everyone health, success and happiness!"

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has also sent his congratulations to overseas Chinese in Japan via an open letter, saying he would like to express his gratitude to all Chinese friends and wish them good luck and prosperity in the new year.

"My wife and I would like to join the celebrations with all of you on this occasion," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on his official Facebook page, with the words "Gong Xi Fa Cai 2021" (Chinese spelling for 'wishing you prosperity') appearing in the post.

OFFLINE TO ONLINE

The pandemic has forced a rapid shift to life online while breaking through geographical boundaries, providing people worldwide an opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and the Spring Festival.

On Saturday, vibrant celebrations -- including virtual performances, interactive activities and artist-led workshops -- were streamed by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery based in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in the United States.

Normally held in person at the museum's courtyard, the event was moved online this year, but the audience "has been very responsive, very excited to see this program," Gloria Kenyon, senior public programs coordinator for the museum, told Xinhua in an interview.

The program started with a paper cut animation presented by the Cultural Office of the Chinese Embassy. "Folks can ask questions, and we respond to them (on Zoom) in real time, and we encourage them to bring their scissors, grab a piece of red paper ... (and) join along with us," Kenyon said.

In Europe, the Chinese New Year was welcomed by a train of online celebrations held by Chinese embassies, cultural centers and Chinese community groups.

The China Cultural Center in Paris is organizing a series of online celebratory events through to Feb. 26, including virtual exhibitions on Spring Festival traditions and Chinese zodiac designs, as well as an acrobatics performance on ice. An estimated 800,000 people in France are expected to follow the celebratory events broadcasted on various social media platforms.

In Sweden, the China Cultural Center in Stockholm is hosting a series of online activities with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism over the next two weeks, presenting a variety of exhibitions, performances and interactive experiences.

The "China-Sweden Happy Chinese New Year Gala" is showcasing cultural performances involving Peking Opera, the Chinese musical instrument guqin, and traditional dance.

VIRTUAL CONCERTS

As is typical for this festive occasion, concerts are essential parts of the celebrations. This year many concerts are going online for the Spring Festival, such as top orchestras in the United States, including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra.

Such widespread interest makes this year's Spring Festival "a truly globalized celebration," said Wei Zhou, founder and president of Weiber Consulting based in New York City.

"The good thing about it is that you break the barrier of a localized celebration because everything is online ... it truly has become a globalized celebration this year," said Zhou.

On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in the United States also hosted an uplifting virtual Lunar New Year reception and concert.

"In the Chinese culture, the Ox symbolizes stamina, energy and dedication," said Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai at the 2021 Chinese New Year Online Reception and Symphony Concert streamed online, adding that "we will show the spirit of the Ox and work together for a better shared future, for the Chinese and American people and people of the whole world."

Likewise, opera has shifted online. In Malta, the opera Turandot was presented both online and on Maltese TV.

Showcasing opera on this special occasion illustrated the deep bond between China and Malta, said Yang Xiaolong, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta.

The center, in cooperation with the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta, also hosted an online "Happy Chinese New Year" event on Tuesday, which featured martial arts, singing and dancing, trivia and other interactive activities. Enditem
Desertion, war, and conspiracy fill the pages of this thrilling saga that you wont be able to put down

New York, NYGeorge Washington and other founding fathers are burned into the annals of history, with every American child learning about their feats of valor and the heroic actions that led to the founding of the United States. History remembers bold, grand events such as the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Washington crossing the Potomac, and the horrors endured during the winter at Valley Forge. But sometimes, it is the less dramatic figures, the ones lost in the shadow of bigger events, that change the course of history forever.

Chains Across the River: A Novel of the American Revolution, a thrilling new book by veteran historical fiction writer Bevis Longstreth, tells the story of Thomas Machin, a British-trained engineer on whom General George Washington placed a huge wager in 1776 by summoning him to imagine, design, and install obstructions to block the British armada gathering in New York Harbor. "Control of the Hudson River was believed by both sides of the conflict to be essential," says Longstreth.

"Revolutionary American history is rich with close calls, lucky breaks and in the case of Chains Across The River a brilliant tactic implemented by George Washington that may have saved this rebellious upstart of a country from an early demise." John Kelly, Detroit Free Press 5-stars

"I had so many questions about who Thomas Machin was," says Longstreth. "What drove him, with enormous risk to his life, to desert the British army? What drove him to engage so importantly in the American battle for independence? Did the shame of being labeled a deserter outweigh the pride he could claim in joining the Continentals? Questions like this triggered my imagination, invoking a desire to complete his tale."

A retired lawyer with a love of historical fiction, Longstreth masterfully melds fact, fiction, and contemporary ideas in his books.

"An illuminating reflection on our history and a major literary feathighly recommended." Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 50 Reviewer, 5-stars

"Why do historians devote so little attention to Machin?" says Longstreth. "It's because of what didn't happen on the Hudson. The British cut the first chain without testing it, and they never sailed against the second. Washington and Machin understood that the chain could deter without being tested at all."

Without Thomas Machin, the revolution may never have achieved victory. And without Longstreth, Machin and his chains across the river may have remained lost in the shadow of history.

Chains Across the River, ISBN 978-05787-50507. Published by Honeycomb Publishers, April 2021. (268 pages) Available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $29.00 or via the author's website: www.BevisLongstreth.com/

About Bevis Longstreth: Bevis Longstreth is the author of four historical novels: Spindle and Bow, Return of the Shade, Boats Against the Current, and Chains Across the River. He combines his passion for history with a unique, contemporary perspective.

Mr. Longstreth is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He practiced law in the New York City law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, becoming a partner in 1970. From 1981-84 he served as a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. After returning to Debevoise & Plimpton in 1984, he retired from the practice of law in 1993 to teach at Columbia Law School and pursue other interests, among which was writing. He lives in Manhattan, New York with his wife, Clara, and their dog, McKenzie. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

See www.BevisLongstreth.com/ for further information about the author and his writings.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Chains Across the River or to arrange an interview with Bevis Longstreth, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @abookpublicist
Bobbing on a battered aluminium group chair that collides rudely with this knee-hole desk, Im heady just writing about the romance and creative expressions of Charles and Ray Eames. As my teen puts it while perusing a photograph of the pair  relationship goals.

If it was all just cynical, newspaper puff tailoring the cream cheese smiles of this design duo in each others arms  I never, ever want to know.

A collection of Eames furnishings manufactured by Herman Miller.

In 1930 at the age of just 23, Charles Eames (1907-1978) was married and a father, and had established an architectural partnership with Charles Gray and Walter Pauley. Precocious and brilliant, he had trained in engineering and architecture in Washington University in St Louis, reprimanded by his tutors over his advocacy of stark European-led modernism, and his insurrectionist enthusiasm for the eclectic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Having bailed on a formal education after a mere two years due to the pressure of paid design work, he was recruited to head of industrial design at the Cranbrook Academy of Arts in Michigan, where he would meet his lifelong friend Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and his father Eliel.

In 1940, the Museum of Modern Art held an Organic Furniture Competition.

A striking, joy-rich former art student at Cranbrook, Ray (Bernice) Kaiser (1912-1988), became involved in the graphic design work on Eero and Charles (winning) entry. Charles and Rays personal relationship ignited (appropriately) while drawing up pieces in moulded plywood. Kindred souls at every level, within a year his first marriage imploded, and Eames filed for divorce.

His proposal letter to Ray reads: Dear Miss Kaiser, I am 34 years old, single (again) and broke (under-lined). I love you very much and would like to marry you very, very soon. Soon means very soon. I cannot promise to support us very well. He finishes with a sketch of a hand, with an arrow pointing to the ring finger, with the inquiry, what is the size of this finger-tip?

He had her measure, and their passion and creativity would go on to twine their names personally and professionally for the next four decades and beyond  the aesthetic king and queen of American Mid-century modern.

Charles and Ray Eames, 1950s, were among the most photographed design celebrities of all time, Library of Congress Collection

Riding on a can-do cloud of love, talent and confidence they ran away from their former responsibilities back to Rays native state of California, where Charles had no professional credentials, including the critical stamp of an architectural license.

Settling in LA, they were uniquely unqualified but brave as lions. Charles would remain a potent force in his daughter Lucias life and apart from her own remarkable design accomplishments, Lucia would continue to guard the Eames legacy until her death in 2014, founding the Eames Foundation in 2004.

Charles and Ray proved to be nimble design opportunists, delivering on US Navy contracts for highly effective plywood stretchers and splints (their partnership with a team under the Moulded Plywood Division under the famed Colonel Evans). Charles even contributed to ideas for plane parts for the aerospace division after the US entered the Second World War.

While he worked as a set architect for the film studio MGM, Charles and Ray moonlighted under even the threat of eviction on their plywood furniture designs with their Kazam moulding machine from a guest room at the inspiring Strathmore Apartments designed by Richard Neutra in LA.

By 1943, they had begun working from their 901 Washington Avenue address, and Evans Products exhibition at MoMA in 1946 would give the pair a chance to show off their radical but beautiful furnishings in NY. They participated in the 1945-1962 Case Study House Program of John Entenza, editor of Art & Architecture magazine.

Charles and Eero Saarinen began developing the humanist home come studio (known as Case Study 8 or the Bridge House) which deployed the best of new materials and techniques in minimalist domestic design in the Pacific Palisades.

Ray had more input than originally intended in the homes design as the couple camped out on the cliffs of the Palisades, pushing Saarinen completely out of the plans in the end. Enclosed in each others company the Eameses found their house conjured in the views and surrounding natural environment, something especially close to Rays heart from childhood.

With a steel frame visible indoors  that was something completely new for 1947, concrete slab roof, birch panelling and acres of glass  it democratised a sort of new Bauhaus-led spare chic, summing up much of what Charles and Ray were exploring in their furnishing work. Popular, functional, accessible and blistering with style.

They clearly got their own house right, first time, as their old cave remained their first and last forever home. Ray remarked, What works good is better than what looks good because what works good  lasts.

At the heart of it all is the surprising restraining ethic attached to Charles that innovation was the last resort. Something new should only be introduced if there was a really good reason to do it.

We dont do art; we solve problems, he later wrote. They both dressed in relaxed almost Boho semi-formal for the time. Their furniture for Herman Miller, Vitra and IBM, whatever the form was intended to be, equally comfortable whether deployed in a Manhattan corporate board room or a Laurel Canyon lounging pit.

The Eames House, together with Entenzas house next door was covered by magazines across the design world. Its bold energy was supped up by the exhausted spiritually battered Americans longing to put the war years behind them.

It was a home first and foremost, the ceilings of the house clouded in hanging tumbleweed collected by the couple on their honeymoon road-trip to California in 1941.

Ray suspended paintings downward from the rafters so they could be enjoyed even lying on the floor.

Rays contribution to the Eames legacy was shadowed by the tall imposing frame of her husband until the 20th century and swallowed up in their collaborative successes. Sidelined as a Girl Friday by onlookers, a surviving TV interview for the 1956 Home Show painfully displays this public perception in wincing motion as shes dismissed from the stage.

Ray was a multi-talented creative and business person providing the crucial insight and final gentling polish on the collection. More recently her legacy has been re-explored and celebrated.



A filmmaker, designer and artist in her own right, Rays graphic art and commercial designs including her textiles are now receiving a lot of attention. Sadly Rays expressionist paintings from her time under the tutelage of Hans Hoffmann in New York have all but disappeared.

Charles Eames always recognised Ray as his primary and most precious asset. His greatest compliment to his devoted partner and powerhouse wife was one brief, perfectly drawn line of love and generosity: Anything I can do, Ray can do better.
He has suffered from severe anxiety, depression and agoraphobia in the past, but the writer and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub says the behaviours he worked hard to eradicate are now "rational and appropriate" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Covid restrictions themselves are a lot like being mentally unhealthy," says the Limerick star, formerly of the Rubberbandits. "The pandemic, by its very nature, and how it restricts my freedoms, is causing me to live as a depressed person and that's a unique problem."

Blindboy's podcast, in which he talks openly about his mental health, among many other subjects, has now had more than 25 million listens. He is determined to use his influence to press for change and is calling on the Government to improve mental health services.

"We need properly funded, professional mental health services so that every person in this country can meet their mental health needs, regardless of whether they can afford it or not," he says in an interview with the Sunday Independent.

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Rodney Edwards: How has your mental health been during Covid-19?

Blindboy Boatclub: We are in exceptional societal circumstances; I don't assess my mental health under the same criteria that I would if there was no pandemic. I am sad, I'm frightened, I am worried about the future. I am not socialising with other people, I'm not achieving my goals, I'm not living my life in a way that used to bring me meaning. However, there's a pandemic, and there's lockdown. Being frightened, upset, and sad are appropriate responses to a frightening, upsetting and sad situation.

RE: How do you feel day to day?

BB: I'm not socialising with other people because there's a lockdown. I'm not achieving my goals, because my industry as a live entertainer and TV writer has effectively shut down. My lived experience is that of a person with mental health problems. If there wasn't a pandemic, and I was staying inside all day, feeling upset and frightened, not socialising, and not achieving my goals, then I would be experiencing depression.

RE: How do you define depression?

BB: A negative view of self, and a negative view of other people, and a negative view of the future. However, with depression, these positions are sometimes not based in observable reality. Cognitive therapy helps a person to change their negative views of self, other people, and the future to a more rational and flexible view. But the pandemic, by its very nature, and how it restricts my freedoms is causing me to live as a depressed person - and that's a unique problem. However, that doesn't mean that I'm depressed. I'm actually doing OK, under the circumstances. I'm upset, I'm sad. But I'm not depressed.

RE: Are you able to control those negative feelings?

BB: I achieve a sense of being OK by accepting, on a daily basis, that life contains suffering. Suffering, pain, rejection, grief are all givens of human existence. They cannot be avoided. Sadness is the price we pay for joy and love. And right now, there's a global pandemic and that is suffering. A bad thing is happening. It's frightening, and it's sad. It is also completely outside of my control. I can't control a global virus and the restrictions that exist to keep us physically safe.

RE: When over the past year have you struggled the most, and why?

BB: A big struggle for me personally is how Covid restrictions themselves are a lot like being mentally unhealthy. I've suffered from severe anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia in the past.

When I was experiencing that, I was scared to be in public spaces, I wouldn't leave my house. I would be excessively fearful of germs, I wouldn't touch door handles, I would carry hand sanitiser. I would wash my hands lots. I was frightened of people; I was excessively aware of other people. This is how I used to behave when I had incredibly bad mental health. It was a very stressful and painful way to live.

RE: But you got better?

BB: I got better. I stopped being scared of public places, I became a happy person who would socialise, who didn't see germs on door handles, who didn't care about other people in a public space. I chilled out. Now, all that has changed.

RE: How?

BB: Behaviours that I worked hard to eradicate, are now rational and appropriate behaviours. There's a virus, I should be scared of densely packed public places. I should stay in my house; I should use hand sanitiser. I should be concerned about the behaviours and actions of strangers because if they don't adhere to Covid safety guidelines, then they could kill me or someone I love. I'm back to behaviours that were toxic. I'm back to behaving like I have anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia because they are now appropriate responses to reality.

RE: So you acknowledge it and that's how you cope?

BB: I take ownership of it. It's not in my control - what is in my control is my attitude towards it. It can't be avoided, I will be hurt, I will be rejected. I will grow old, I will be sick, someone I love will die, I will die.

RE: When was the last time you felt anxious?

BB: I used to get anxiety attacks in supermarkets where I genuinely believed, at that moment, that I was dying. And all the terror of imminent death would wash over me while I'm staring at a multipack of Capri-Sun in the fridge section of Dunnes. Something deeper was at play, which isn't related to supermarkets.

RE: Like what?

BB: For me it was crippling low self-esteem, self-loathing, fear of being an autonomous adult, fear of "failure". I've healed myself to a point beyond anxiety attacks by working on self-compassion, learning to accept myself as a fallible human being. I stopped comparing myself to other people, this helped me conquer anxiety.

RE: Have you felt anxious during lockdown?

BB: Yes, loads. My industry has been devastated by the virus. I feel anxious daily. I can't gig, I can't get work on TV because there's not a lot of TV being made, the shops that sell my books are closed. No one has money to buy books. My career that I've been building since I was 16 has ground to a halt. So that makes me feel anxious. But it's appropriate anxiety. These are genuine scary things that are happening, they are real. It would be odd if they didn't make me anxious.

RE: And these things are out of your control?

BB: Completely. So instead of reacting to the fear or wallowing in a sense of powerlessness, I look at what is in my control. I just don't have the career that I'd have if there was no lockdown. That's sh*t, but life is sh*t. Despite all that, I'm coping. And with all due respect, I'm healthy. I haven't lost anyone I love to coronavirus. I'm grand.

RE: How has lockdown impacted on those tools you have been using to help you?

BB: Socialising, meeting other people, being spontaneous, being present for another person as well as listening to them, laughing. The beautiful spontaneous chaos of being alive is currently gone. I'm quite introverted. But I now realise that I need people.

RE: How crucial is that?

BB: I need that connection. That bendy ritual of being a human in a complex system of other humans, the empathy and compromise of it. It is a form of self-help. There's only so much introversion you can do before you need a bit of extroversion. As an artist and writer, it's also the well that I visit to fill up my unconscious mind with ideas. That's gone.

RE: What do you think of the Government's response to the pandemic - and, in particular, lockdown?

BB: It has been strange. There's an element of infantilisation that reminds me of primary school when the priest would visit on a Friday. When we were all in school, the teacher would say, 'Behave yourselves all week, and maybe the priest will give you a half-day'. So, we'd behave ourselves all week, we'd even police our other classmates. Then the priest would visit. And it was clear, that he couldn't give two f**ks how we behaved, and he was giving us the half-day anyway, or not giving it to us. It was arbitrary.

The teacher was just talking out of their arse to get us to behave. That's what the Irish Government have been doing since the start.

RE: And so it reminds you of the tone of that teacher or priest?

BB: The tone is off and then we respond by adopting an infantile set of behaviours. 'Behave yourselves and you might have a meaningful Christmas', 'behave yourselves and you might have staycations in June'. It's all very infantilising and disempowering. It shuts down adult critical thinking and ties us into an emotional feedback loop that's rooted in childhood power structures. .

RE: Is that why the country suffers as a result?

BB: This approach suits the Government because they can shift the blame on to the individual while avoiding accountability on their end. When things go wrong, we then blame ourselves, or the next-door neighbour. We were bold boys and girls. While the most marginalised people, in direct provision centres, are suffering outbreaks of Covid, or in the meat factories, or in nursing homes, or a refusal to introduce mandatory quarantine for international travellers or look towards the Zero Covid of another island nation, New Zealand, who have effectively eradicated the virus. No, we were bold all week and now there's no half-day.

RE: What should the Government do to tackle the growing issue of mental health problems now and post-Covid-19?

BB: Fair play to government ministers for using their social media accounts to suggest ways that we can be positive. But really, what's needed here is to adequately fund mental health services. We wouldn't need positive messages if this had been the case all along. We need properly funded professional mental health services so that every person in this country can meet their mental health needs, regardless of whether they can afford it or not.

RE: Has the Government done enough to help all of us?

BB: In my humble, unqualified opinion, we need proper funding for mental health services and no waiting lists for people who are in crisis. We need a reactive approach to the current crisis and a proactive approach beginning at school age to prevent future crises.

RE: When you reflect on your own struggles with mental health, have you ever been close to giving up?

BB: I have experienced suicidal feelings in the past. To be self-compassionate means to accept the givens of human existence. I am fallible, I make mistakes, I'm not perfect. I am deserving of love, and to love myself. Everyone is deserving of love.

RE: How do you find the strength to carry on when times are hard?

BB: I deserve to be the best version of myself. Life contains unavoidable suffering. I will be hurt, rejected, and disappointed, I will hurt reject and disappoint other people. Everyone I know, and everything that I love, will die and they will suffer. This is the price I pay for love, and fun and craic, and warm sunshine, and the nice smell of a breeze in June, or the taste of my favourite meal when I'm starving, or the feeling of waking up on the first day of a holiday with the day ahead of me.

RE: There will be many reading this who want hope, who want to weather this storm. What advice do you have for them?

BB: Find what gives you meaning, under the circumstances, and don't demand too much of yourself. Just coping day by day is perfectly OK.

'The Blindboy Podcast' is available to listen to on Acast and other platforms
James Ridgeway, an investigative reporter who exposed corporate dirty tricks, the secrets of environmental polluters and the horrors of solitary confinement in the nations prison systems, died on Saturday in Washington. He was 84.

His death was confirmed by his longtime collaborator Jean Casella, who did not specify the cause.

In a career that spanned six decades, Mr. Ridgeway wrote for The New Republic as a staff member and as a contributor to The New York Times, The Nation, The New York Review of Books, Ramparts, Hard Times and Mother Jones. He was the Washington correspondent of The Village Voice for 30 years; wrote, co-wrote or edited 20 books on national or foreign affairs; and wrote, produced and directed several documentaries.

His targets were legion: Detroit automakers concealing unsafe car designs, the strutting Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis, universities profiteering from government weapons research, unanswered questions on the Sept. 11 attacks, the shabbiness of the sex industry, and 1992 presidential candidates who were caught on film preening when they thought nobody was watching.

In the tradition of Lincoln Steffens, who revealed municipal corruption in a muckraking book, The Shame of the Cities (1904), Mr. Ridgeway attacked malfeasance and skulduggery in American life with a passion, as one critic put it, so earnest and straightforward that he can make a lengthy explanation of sewage interesting.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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NORTH BAY, Ont. - Health officials in North Bay, Ont., say a variant of COVID-19 believed to be contributing to a major local outbreak has been identified in one patient as the strain that first emerged in South Africa.

NORTH BAY, Ont. - Health officials in North Bay, Ont., say a variant of COVID-19 believed to be contributing to a major local outbreak has been identified in one patient as the strain that first emerged in South Africa.

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says the patient was a close contact of an international traveller.

A total of 20 confirmed COVID-19 variant cases have been reported in the region as of Saturday, but the health unit says only one of those has so far been verified as the South Africa-based variant.

The health authority says there are 18 instances of a variant of concern in the neighbouring Nipissing district and two in Parry Sound, Ont.

North Bay has seen a recent surge in cases, prompting the region's top doctor to order the closure of a public school last week as well as testing for all residents of an apartment building at the centre of an outbreak.

North Bay is one of just four Ontario regions that will remain under a provincial stay-at-home order this week while 27 other units are permitted to revert to Ontario's tiered pandemic response plan and begin easing public health restrictions based on local case counts.

""We must stay home and follow public health and safety guidelines," regional Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Chirico said in a statement. "When trips outside the home are required, try to keep them as low-contact as possible, for your own protection and the protection of others. We need to stop the spread of COVID-19 variants of concern, and if we dont act now, it could be devastating for the entire district."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Aspirin should be favoured over warfarin to prevent blood clotting in children who undergo a surgery that replumbs their hearts, according to a new study.

The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, will have implications for clinicians when prescribing blood thinning medications after Fontan surgery, a complex congenital heart disease operation redirecting blood flow from the lower body to the lungs.

The Fontan procedure is offered to children born with severe heart defects, allowing the child to live with just one pumping heart chamber instead of two.

MCRI Dr Chantal Attard said although the operation couldn't completely 'fix' the heart, most were able to live well into adulthood and have relatively normal lives. But she said those who have the procedure were at an increased risk for blood clots.

"Blood clots are dangerous because they can cause the heart to fail or lead to a stroke. For this reason, all patients are given blood thinning medications, with warfarin and aspirin the most common," she said.

"Warfarin can be affected by food, other medications and illness, so patients must have regular blood tests to check their warfarin levels are safe."

The study involved 121 patients enrolled in the Australian and New-Zealand Fontan (ANZ) Registry. It found stroke was common regardless of which medication the patient took. But patients on warfarin had poorer bone mineral density and were at a higher risk of bleeding.

Dr Attard said the research showed for patients who undergo Fontan surgery, and do not have additional blood clotting risk factors, aspirin should be offered over warfarin.

She said given the need for regular INR monitoring of warfarin, a shift to aspirin would also have a cost benefit to the patient and the healthcare system.

About 70,000 post Fontan patients are alive today, with this number expected to double within two decades.

Carley Clendenning's son Lachie, 7, had the Fontan procedure two years ago after being born with one heart ventricle.

She said the aspirin findings were a relief as the medication was much easier to manage and would benefit other families whose children required the procedure in future.

"Lachie has been taking warfarin ever since his surgery and there are things you have to keep on top of with this medication," she said.

"We have to monitor his blood clotting levels with regular finger prick blood tests at home and watch out for injuries because there is a greater chance of bleeding and bruises.

"In what is already a difficult time for families, this new recommendation will make things a little easier."

###

Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Western Health, Monash Children's Hospital, Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital also contributed to the study.

Publication: Chantal Attard, Paul T Monagle, Yves d'Udekem, Mark T. Mackay, Julie Briody, Rachael Cordinam, Ebrahim Bani Hassang, Peter Simma, Kathryn Rice, Vera Ignjatovic and the ANZ Fontan Registry Research group. 'Long-term outcomes of warfarin versus aspirin following Fontan surgery,' The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.12.102

*The content of this communication is the sole responsibility of MCRI and does not reflect the views of the NHMRC.

Available for interview:

Dr Chantal Attard

Carley Clendenning's whose son had the Fontan procedure
Apple plans to unveil the AirTags and its 2021 iPad Pro refresh, according to new reports. Possibly launching simultaneously, rumours about the pair have been circulating for months.

4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker

Jon Prosser rose to popularity last year with his claims about upcoming Apple hardware releases, and now the YouTuber and Twitter personality claims to have the inside track on the release of the iPad Pros and the long-awaited AirTags.

According to Prosser, Apple plans to announce both next month, although it is unclear if the company plans to launch them simultaneously. These could well be educated guesses, in our opinion.

On the one hand, Apple announced the iPad Pro 2020 series in March 2020, so it is not much of stretch to suggest that their successors will debut a year later. It is worth emphasising that Apple, typically, leaves 18 months between iPad Pro releases, not 12 months. Hence, a June 2021 announcement would seem more likely, based on past iPad Pro releases. Additionally, Prosser claimed in March 2020 that 5G iPad Pros would be coming 'towards the end of this year [2020], which never happened. You can read about more concrete iPad Pro 2021 leaks here.

Another Republican, former Representative Mark Walker, a Trump ally, has already announced his candidacy, and Pat McCrory, a Republican former governor, is considering one. Mark Meadows, the former North Carolina representative and former Trump chief of staff, is also said to be in the mix.

We are going to take a very long look at all the candidates versus, you know, some kind of coronation, said Mark Brody, a member of the Republican National Committee from Union County, outside Charlotte.

Doug Heye, a former Republican National Committee spokesman who used to work for Mr. Burr, questioned whether Ms. Trump was willing to endure the tussle and tedium of running or serving. Many people love the speculation and the attention, but being senator is a lot of hard work, he said.

First, however, there is the question of her residence. Ms. Trump currently lives with her husband, Eric, and their children in the northern suburbs of New York City and would have to move back.

Then there is the less straightforward question of branding. The Trump family name is a wild card  it will be a plus with loyalists and fund-raising nationally, but it could be a liability in a battleground that the former president won by a mere 1.3 percentage points in 2020. There is also a possibility Ms. Trumps candidacy could help increase Democratic turnout, especially among the states large Black population.

Or it might be a wash.

There is a myth that Trump voters will come out for Trump candidates or family members, said John Anzalone, a Democratic pollster and a veteran of campaigns in the South. Cult members only come out in full force for the cult leader.

That Ms. Trumps may-or-may-not-happen candidacy is generating buzz is, in itself, a reflection of the partys anxiety over its future.
Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat

PM Modi 'hopping' to poll-bound states,says D Raja; No time for farmers

India

oi-Deepika S

Kochi, Feb 14: CPI National General Secretary D Raja on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'hopping' to poll-bound states,but not finding time to meet representatives of farmers who have been agitating for over two months, demanding repeal of the three contentious agri laws.

The attack against Modi came on a day when he was in the city for inaugurating a slew of development projects,including the Rs 6000 crore petrochemical complex of oil major Bharat Petroleum,hours after his visit to Tamil Nadu for inaugurating the Chennai Metro Rail phase-I extension and laying the foundation stones of various other schemes.

Raja also attacked the opposition Congress led UDF for raking up the Sabarimala women's entry issue ahead of the assembly polls, due to be held in April-May.

Addressing CPI(M)-LDF workers here after inaugurating the southern leg of the left rally, being led by CPI leader Binoy Vishwam, Raja said the Prime Minister was in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and in Kerala.

'Why is the PM hopping allover to states where elections are due?.... But Modi has no time to address farmers' concerns and has not met their representatives so far,' he said.

Lakhs of farmers have been staying put on the Delhi borders for over two months, demanding repeal of the three contentious farm laws, which, he said, are not in the interest of the country or the farmers.

The states had not been consulted and this was an attack on the federal structure, he said.

'Modiji aap kya Kisan ke sath hain?' (Modiji are you with the farmers?), he asked.

Farmers create wealth and they should be protected.

'Modi protects crony capitalists and he thinks serving their interests is serving the country', he alleged.

The BJP and UDF cannot 'hoodwink' people by raising religious issues, he said.

'The Sabarimala issue is before the Supreme court. Let thecourt give its verdict. The LDF government will act appropriately.

Politics and religion should remain separate. Why is UDF making it an election issue?, he asked.

PM Modi launches projects in Kerala, focusses on tourism

Kerala should emerge as a role model of the country to fight communal elements and corporates, he said.

Hitting out at the BJP-RSS combine for posing a 'grave threat' to the constitution of the country, he alleged that they have 'unleashed aggressive campaigns against minorities, dalits adivasis We are seeing this from Karnataka to Uttar Pradesh'.

The Prime minister also came under attack for privatising public sector companies, which, Raja said, was the 'backbone' of the country's economy.

He said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stood up against the Centre over the privatisation of airports.

'But the Modi government is determined to hand over airports and Air India and ports to private players,'Raja said.

The CM had on Saturday inaugurated the northern part of the rally, being led by LDF convenorA Vijayaraghavan, atKasaragod district.

Vijayan had lashed out at the Opposition Congress and BJP, saying both the parties lost their moorings in Kerala and that the people were looking forward to the continuation of Left rule in the state.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 21:39 [IST]
Health charities in Mozambique have warned it could take "three to five years" to vaccinate the country's population against coronavirus, as hospitals are struggling to cope with soaring infection rates and a surge in admissions, according to a report by British broadcaster Sky News.

Maputo's Hospital Central has been forced to fashion a makeshift COVID-19 response ward with donated tents, providing an extra 140 beds, to try and meet demand.

Dr. Lucia Chambal, who coordinates the hospital's response, confirmed the worsening situation and called on authorities to get out "in front of the problem" so as not to "have a burnout of the system."

Health experts have linked the rise in cases to the arrival of the South African variant, according to the report.

Official figures currently point to a total of 47,000 people infected and 486 fatalities, but most people have little faith in the official numbers, the report says.

With only four free testing centres in the capital and no track and trace system, containing the virus is proving difficult for local authorities.

Preventive measures also seem to have proven inefficient, with many complaining that they cannot afford to stay home or they will go hungry.

A woman at Maputo's Xiquelene market told Sky just that. "We are scared of hunger more than COVID," said Amelia Cossa.

The government has enrolled in the COVAX global vaccination initiative.

But the programme can only manufacture and supply for 20% of the Mozambican population by the end of 2021.

Local health organisations have also warned that it could take between three and five years to roll out an effective nationwide vaccination scheme.

Flavio Ismael, projects coordinator at prominent public health charity Dream Sant'egidio, said that even with the arrival of first-generation vaccines, any kind of national roll out would present problems.

You can have people living 50 kilometres from Maputo city but never for 50 years never arrive to Maputo.They live there and they won't come just to get vaccinated.

(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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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

For some, getting a vaccine at the drive-through clinic at the Lovington fairgrounds is just a phone call away. But you have to be eligible under current state guidelines  75 and older or over 16 with a health condition  and reside in the county.

In Albuquerque, one independent pharmacy booked a 1,000-person COVID-19 vaccination clinic for eligible at-risk people this past Saturday. But theres another event next weekend, and people can register on the pharmacys website.

Meanwhile, hundreds of New Mexicans have taken short cuts by sharing event codes or portal information for appointments meant for others, or they have traveled out of state for the potentially lifesaving shots.

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For instance, one Albuquerque resident traveled to Amarillo for a first-come, first-served coronavirus vaccine clinic. She estimated about 40 percent of vehicles in the parking lot had New Mexico license plates.

But more than 600,000 people statewide have signed up through New Mexicos centralized vaccine registration system, which randomizes who gets appointments in a given eligible group and sends a notification when an appointment is available.

Although more than 272,473 people have received at least the first dose and an estimated 5 percent of the states population is fully vaccinated, others eligible to be vaccinated have waited weeks without an appointment because of limited supply from the federal government.

For many, the wait breeds frustration and anxiety.

William Kenna Jr., an 85-year-old cancer survivor, told the Journal he couldnt understand why his wife quickly got an appointment for the vaccine and he didnt, after they both registered online at the same time weeks ago.

All my docs say get the shot, he wrote the Journal. Doesnt seem to make a difference to them (DOH). Last week he received an email from the DOH notifying him of a vaccine opportunity. Tried to make an appointment but couldnt get in, he told the Journal in an e-mail.

By then he had almost given up hope. Seems politicians have a better chance than us seniors, Kenna told the Journal.

On Friday, Kenna received another invitation from the state vaccine registration system and by noon had his first primary dose. So maybe there is hope after all, he told the Journal.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who at last report said she had not received the vaccine, last week acknowledged the national reports of the chase for vaccine in far too many states.

Her response was that in New Mexico, Im going to support random, fair, equitable distribution. If we all had the vaccine, different situation.

At this point, that translates into the state through its registration system determining when each person gets the vaccine, where they get it and at what time.

In what the DOH says is one of a few centralized state vaccine distribution systems in the country, New Mexicans must complete an online registration form. Then, the applicants in each category are selected by random for an appointment depending on availability.

The system we have created was intended to provide equity, fairness and a responsible effort, and when providers (of vaccine) dont work with us exactly in that way, they actually prejudice other New Mexicans and its wrong, Lujan Grisham said during a Wednesday public update on the pandemic response.

In Lea County, David Shaw, CEO and administrator of Nor-Lea General Hospital, said his staff, along with community volunteers, began preparing in October for vaccination distribution. Southeastern New Mexico has been hit especially hard by the virus, and he said there has been a little bit of a sales job to get people vaccinated.

Following state guidelines, Nor-Lea sorted out its patients 75 and older and those 16 and older with health conditions. Each week, we call 600 people and offer them an appointment. Two sites, one at the fairgrounds, and the other at the Hobbs Event Center, offer drive-through vaccinations.

We now have had close to 6,000 to 7,000 initial vaccinations, Shaw said. And some who initially refused have seen their neighbors vaccinated without adverse reactions and are calling back to sign up for themselves.

He said that the state DOH vaccine registration system was a brilliant idea but that Nor-Leas has proved that we can be much more efficient, effective and much quicker using our own system.

And we havent wasted a single dose since Dec. 16 (when vaccinations were rolled out by the federal government), he said.

The state registration system might be an option for the future, Shaw added.

The state gets its vaccines from the federal government, then distributes it among roughly 200 providers statewide. Department of Health Secretary Tracie Collins said in a news release that the DOH has been forced to adjust distributions based on provider capacity, efficiency and local interest in getting vaccinated.

Gone to Texas

As first reported by The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, some New Mexicans have traveled to Texas, where those 65 and older are eligible to be vaccinated.

An Albuquerque woman interviewed by the Journal said she had registered with New Mexico but then learned from a relative in Amarillo about the ease of getting vaccinated there.

After a four-hour trip to that citys civic center, she waited an hour to be vaccinated. No appointment was necessary or residency required.

Most of those inside the Civic Center were getting their second booster vaccine, she said.

But she said her relatives in the Dallas area havent had such luck getting vaccinated although they are eligible.

I know people are frustrated, and theres all this uncertainty, and people are wanting to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, she said.

Linked-in

Hundreds of Albuquerque residents, although eligible for the vaccine under state rules, have bypassed the state registration system to get vaccinated sooner.

In January, Presbyterian Healthcare Services set up a link to a scheduling portal for only health care workers and first responders, who were in the top, initial priority group for vaccinations.

But that link was then shared in the community by unknown sources, Presbyterian spokeswoman Melanie Mozes said.

By that time, the state had moved beyond the 1A group that included health care workers and first responders to the IB group, which includes those 75 and older and those 16 years and older with a qualifying health condition.

We honored any appointments made prior to Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. by community members who qualified in either of those two categories, she added.

Subsequent to this event, the portal link was no longer live and we began a phone process.

Mozes said hundreds took advantage of the link but were technically eligible under the states vaccination priority list. Some were offered the link by friends or others but declined to use it, according to Journal interviews.

In-state travel

Even when someone gets an appointment through the state registration website, there might be a road trip involved.

Kelly Genova of Albuquerque told the Journal her 68-year-old husband, who survived a heart attack, was offered an appointment last week. But the only location the DOH offered was 78 miles away in Grants.

He made the trip anyway. But once there, he learned he would have to go elsewhere for his booster shot weeks from now, but no location was given.

Luckily, she said, her husband was able to make the drive to Grants.

But we have plenty of elderly in New Mexico, plenty of poor people who have cars that wouldnt be able to even get to Grants, she said. What are they supposed to do?

Genova said she has a friend in Albuquerque who got appointments this weekend for vaccines for his two adult disabled sons through the DOH website, but the vaccinations must be administered in Socorro.

Asked to explain, DOH spokesman Matt Bieber told the Journal in an email, Matching eligible users with providers who have vaccine in real-time is an extraordinarily complex logistical task  and New Mexico is performing it far better than nearly every state in the country.

As for providers of vaccinations scheduling their own appointments, such as Vida Pharmacy, Bieber said, We are onboarding providers. It takes time for each one to learn the process and get up to speed. Vida has been running its vaccination clinics at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and at the Raymond Sanchez Community Center, according to its website. Registration for the next clinic begins Tuesday.

As the state urges people to register for vaccinations on its website, at vaccinenm.org, the Biden administration wants to broaden access, speed up the vaccination process, and ship directly to pharmacies around the country, such as Walgreens and CVS, with plans to initially ship 1 million doses, according to news reports.

DOH spokesman Bieber said Friday that we expect federal pharmacy partners to use the state registration system to set up appointments for those eligible.

The governor echoed that sentiment last week at the press update:

I have been, I hope, constructively critical to the new federal administration that getting vaccine out to all these different providers who dont report, who have their own patient lists, who have their own systems, is not fair to the number of people who are waiting or who cant drive across the border, or drive to a different community because someones got vaccine.

We want people to have ease of access, and we want them to get vaccinated. But weve been really firm about getting our arms around  we gotta do this with the DOH system.
Tunisian police took Ahmed Gam from the shop where he worked, accused him of looting during recent protests, and beat him so badly during his detention last month that he lost a testicle, he said.

Lying in bed in his parents' home in Bennane, near the coastal city of Monastir, Gam, 21, could not stand without help and cried as he described police beating and burning his genitals.

His account was supported, in part, by a hospital report viewed by Reuters.

Tunisia is widely seen as a success story for its democratic advances following a revolt in 2011. It holds regular elections and has a press that criticises the state.

But Gam's case is one of at least 100 in which, a Tunisian and international rights group says, security forces recently used violent abuse after people engaged in protest and dissent, freedoms won during the revolution 10 years ago.

The protests, which began on Jan. 15, the day after the 10th anniversary of the revolution, have increasingly focused on abusive tactics by police.

The Interior Ministry, which has oversight of the police, said it would not comment on ongoing cases, including Gam's, when asked by Reuters. But it denounced allegations against police as "attacks aimed to undermine the credibility of its structures" and said it sought a balance between upholding rights and enforcing the law.

"Some individual mistakes happen but ... we have maintained self restraint despite provocations," said Jamel Jarboui, spokesman for the national syndicate of security forces, a police union.

A judge in Monastir is investigating Gam's complaint of torture. The family gave the judge the report from Sahloul Hospital in Sousse describing Gam's admission on Jan. 30 with "testicular trauma" and a decision to remove the testicle.

The document, viewed by Reuters, is stamped by both the hospital and the Monastir Court of First Instance and dated Feb. 4. An official at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed Gam was hospitalised on Jan. 30 and his testicle removed.

The judge could not be reached for comment but the state news agency TAP cited a court spokeswoman as saying he had opened an investigation for torture which caused the loss of an organ after seeing the doctor's document and hearing from the plaintiff.

The judge has asked three people to appear before him on Monday in connection with the case, TAP reported.

The recent unrest, which began on the day after the 10th anniversary of the revolution, started as clashes at night between police and youths in poor city districts before spreading to daylight protests.

While the protests initially targeted inequality, they later focused more on anger at police abuses, with demonstrators last week shouting: "police everywhere, justice nowhere".

TORTURE

Gam denies having taken part in the protests as well as the accusations of looting. He said police seized him on Jan. 27 while he was at work and started hitting him in the face as soon as they put him in their vehicle.

They took him to a detention centre in Monastir, tied his feet to the legs of a table "like a chicken" and then beat him in the groin with sticks, he said.

"I told them I would die," he said.

They then removed his clothes. "One of them took a lighter and put it to each testicle," he said. The policeman stopped when a colleague told him to, Gam said.

A group of seven police continued to torture him for more than an hour, he said. He was then held for two days without medical treatment.

To end the assault, he said he told police he "stole everything", a confession he told Reuters was untrue.

After two days police took him to hospital in the nearby city of Sousse, his testicle swollen and blackened. Doctors then removed it, he said.

After his operation he was returned to custody and still faces prosecution for looting. However, the judge ordered his release while under investigation because of his medical condition, he said.

Apart from viewing the medical records, Reuters was not able to independently corroborate his account.

ANGER

Monther Charni, head of the Tunisia Organisation Against Torture, said he knew of more than 100 cases of ill treatment in detention. Abuses also included beatings, rape threats, stripping detainees naked and fabricating charges, he said.

Amnesty International North Africa director Amna Guellali also said the organisation had documented eight cases and believed police abuses during the recent unrest to be widespread.

Mohammed Hdaya from Kasserine told Reuters by phone that police accused him of incitement against the security forces in Facebook posts in support of the protests. They arrested him, beat him, removed his clothes and photographed him, Hdaya said. He denies incitement and said the judge rejected the charges but police continued to harass him.

"Is this a country of law?" he said.

Hamza Nassri Jeridi, a prominent activist and blogger, told Reuters he was detained on Jan. 17 after being accused of taking part in an illegal protest. He was held for three days in a crowded and dirty cell with no mattress or blanket.

Water was only available from a dirty tap in the cell. Food was served during the day but because he was taken to court each morning and returned at night he was not fed for three days, he said.

As with the case of Gam, the Interior ministry said it would not comment on ongoing cases. Reuters was unable to independently corroborate Jeridi and Hdaya's accounts.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

Short link:


Fifteen Turkish sailors who were kidnapped by pirates off west Africa last month returned to Turkey on Sunday.

The freed hostages were welcomed at Istanbul Airport by their families and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu after 21 days in captivity, Anadolu news agency said.

The Liberian-flagged M/V Mozart was sailing from Lagos, Nigeria, to Cape Town, South Africa, when it was attacked on Jan. 23 about 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) northwest of the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe.One crew member, an Azerbaijani national, died during the attack.Three other Turkish sailors who were left aboard the Mozart returned to Turkey last month.

The crew were held under armed guard in tough conditions in a forest before being released and flown back from the Nigerian capital Abuja.Apart from the psychological stress of their captivity, none of the seamen were harmed.No details of their release has been provided and it was not known if a ransom was paid.The Gulf of Guinea, off the coasts of Nigeria, Guinea, Togo, Benin and Cameroon, is the most dangerous sea in the world for piracy, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
Officials are urging residents to stay home while snow and ice create treacherous driving throughout much of the Portland metro area and transit options are limited.

TriMet has restored limited MAX Blue Line and bus service after suspending all transit lines Saturday morning due to dangerous weather conditions.

Trains are serving MAX Blue Line stations between Hatfield Government Center and Goose Hollow and between Rose Quarter to Cleveland Ave. Shuttle buses are serving stations between Goose Hollow and Rose Quarter.

The transit agency said it hopes to restore Blue Line service through Downtown Portland at some point this morning. Crews working to clear the snow and ice packed on MAX tracks and clear ice from the overhead power wire, TriMet said. MAX Green and Red lines remain suspended, while Orange and Yellow lines have limited shuttle service.

Buses are running on 17 of the 47 regular Sunday bus lines, but some sections of those lines may not be in service due to road conditions. Riders can check online to see if the buses are running in their area. All buses are chained and cannot go faster than 25 mph, the transit agency said.

Lines with regular service include 2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 54, 56, 57, 72 and 73. TriMet urged people not to travel if possible.

LIFT paratransit service has also been restored at reduced levels. The Portland Streetcar has also suspended service Sunday morning due to icy conditions and anticipated freezing rain.

HIGHWAY CLOSURES

Interstate 84 has re-opened as of about 10 a.m. after being closed Friday evening, but the following highway closures remain in place:

Northbound Oregon 99 is closed from Canby to Milwaukie.

Oregon 224 is closed from the Oregon 212 junction near Sunnyside to three miles west of Eagle Creek near Barton.

CHAINS REQUIRED

The treacherous roads mean chains or traction tires are required in parts of the metro area, including some steep local roads.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said vehicles were required to carry or use chains or use traction tires on Interstate 84 through much of the Columbia River Gorge, from Troutdale to just west of the Rowena exit.

The Portland Department of Transportation issued chain advisories for West Burnside between Southwest Barnes Road and Northwest 23rd Avenue as well as Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
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Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 87F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 55F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to host fellow G7 leaders for a virtual meeting on February 19 ahead of its presidency of a summit in June of the Group of Seven countries including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, Downing Street said on Sunday.

The virtual meeting, the first hosted by Johnson as part of the UK's G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020, will bring together the world leaders to discuss how leading democracies can work together to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world and prevent future pandemics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the G7 Summit in Cornwall in June after India was invited as a guest country by the UK, alongside South Korea and Australia.

"The solutions to the challenges we face - from the colossal mission to get vaccines to every single country, to the fight to reverse the damage done to our ecosystems and lead a sustainable recovery from coronavirus - lie in the discussions we have with our friends and partners around the world," said Johnson.

"Quantum leaps in science have given us the vaccines we need to end this pandemic for good. Now world governments have a responsibility to work together to put those vaccines to the best possible use. I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe," he said.

The G7 leaders' meeting on February 19 will be attended by the leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, and the Presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission.

Downing Street said Johnson plans to use the virtual meeting, which will also be US President Joe Biden's first major multilateral engagement, to call for leaders to work together on a "joined-up global approach" to pandemics that brings an end to the nationalist and divisive politics that marred the initial response to coronavirus.

He will argue that putting citizens first should not come at the expense of working on a unified response, and that the last 12 months of the pandemic have showed that no country can be safe until every country is safe from the pandemic.

The rollout of vaccines offers a fresh opportunity to demonstrate the value of international cooperation, he is expected to highlight.

"International pandemic preparedness will be a major priority for the UK's G7 Presidency and the Prime Minister will work with fellow G7 leaders to implement his five-point plan to prevent future pandemics announced at the UN General Assembly last year," Downing Street said.

The five-point plan includes a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, developing global manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines, the design of a global pandemic early warning system, the agreement of global protocols for a future health emergency and the reduction of trade barriers.

There have already been positive steps to ensure equitable access to a coronavirus vaccine. Last month, the US announced it would join the COVAX initiative, becoming the final G7 country to do so.

COVAX will provide developing countries with 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine this year and the UK is providing 548 million pounds to the scheme.

Plans for the virtual meeting next week come as UK Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey held the first meeting of G7 Finance Ministers on Friday.

During February, the UK also holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which rotates between members every month.

The UK has said it will use its Presidency to galvanise international action on coronavirus, climate change and conflict.

On February 23, the UK Prime Minister will chair a virtual meeting of the UNSC on the link between climate change and conflict, marking the first time a UK Prime Minister has chaired a Security Council session since 1992.

The session will also involve permanent UNSC members China, France, Russia and the US; non-permanent members Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam; and the UN Secretary General.

Downing Street has said that discussions at the meeting will inform crucial action ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit scheduled for Glasgow in November.

Also read: India, UK speed up FTA talks; roadmap to be announced during Boris Johnson's visit
Washington: Democrats have backed down on calling witnesses to appear at Donald Trumps impeachment trial, paving the way for a speedy final vote on whether the former president was guilty of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

A surprise move by the Democratic impeachment managers to call witnesses to testify threw the trial into disarray for several hours and threatened to extend the process for weeks longer than expected.

The Democrats secured the votes required to call witnesses but later abandoned that plan and agreed to move on to concluding arguments and a final vote.

House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin surprised the Senate by requesting that witnesses appear at the trial. Credit:Senate Television

The witness debate blindsided both Democratic and Republican senators, who had expected the trial to move towards a speedy conclusion on Sunday (AEDT).

As Louisiana cities prepare for potentially icy conditions, city and government officials are announcing closures for Monday ahead of expected severe weather.

For updated radar and reports, click here.

Here's a list of what's closing Monday:

Statewide

Louisiana state offices

State offices will be closed statewide Monday, February 15, as a winter storm passes through the area, according to a release from the governor's office.

All agency heads are responsible for determining those essential personnel who should remain on duty, report for duty or those who should report to alternate work sites as necessary. Officials continue to monitor conditions throughout the state, and this announcement may be updated.

This office closure applies to all nonessential employees, including those authorized to work from home due to COVID-19.

Baton Rouge area

Ascension Parish

All parish government buildings and office are closed to non-essential personnel on Monday.

Bridge & road closures

(East Baton Rouge Parish) DOTD currently anticipates closing all of I-110 starting at midnight and will remain closed until further notice. This closure is necessary due to freezing temperatures. Changes in weather conditions may require this closure before midnight.

The East Baton Rouge City-Parish Department of Transportation & Drainage, Traffic Engineering Division announced today that the Central Thruway from Greenwell Springs to Choctaw will be closed beginning Sunday, February 14 a 7 p.m. until further notice due to the inclement weather.

The Sunshine Bridge is St. James Parish closed Monday.

Livingston Parish

La. 63, south of La. 449, due to ice

River Road between Florida Boulevard and Government Drive, due to downed trees

Juban Road overpass at Interstate 10 iced over.

Pete's Highway overpass at Interstate 10 iced over

Capital Area Transit System (CATS)

The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) is suspending bus service effective at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. The suspension will last until at least the morning of Tuesday, Feb.16, according to CATS officials.

LSU

LSU announced it will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15, because of the severe weather.

Classes and activities, whether in-person or vitual, scheduled for Monday have been cancelled. The LSU Vet School and the LSU Law Center, however, will host classes virtually on Monday.

The closure also includes the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool.

+2 Winter storm warning issued for metro Baton Rouge: Significant ice storm approaching A potentially dangerous ice storm has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm warning weather advisory for metro Baton Rouge.

The university normally closes for Lundi Gras, the Monday before Mardi Gras. But this year with the pandemic schedule, it was marked as a school day. However, the weather ended up forcing its cancellation.

LSU will also be closed on Tuesday for the Mardi Gras holiday.

Campus bus service will be suspended on Monday while residence halls, on-campus apartments and dining halls will remain open.

Non-essential employees should not report to campus on Monday.

Garbage Service Suspended

Republic Services has suspended garbage and recyclable collections for Monday Feb. 15 in the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, and the City of Central. Tuesday collections are still being determined.

Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Waste Management is also suspending its garbage and trash collection services for Baton Rouge metro area and surrounding parishes on Monday. Waste Management will resume collection services when road conditions are deemed safe to travel.

City-Parish Buildings

City-Parish buildings will be closed Monday. Buildings were already scheduled to be closed Tuesday for the Mardi Gras holiday.

BREC Facilities

BREC will close all facilities Monday because of the Winter Storm Warning and Hard Freeze Watch. BREC plans to reopen them Wednesday unless otherwise informed by emergency officials.

Employees who are responsible for the care and feeding of animals, protection of property and other duties will continue their work as necessary.

East Baton Rouge Council on Aging

The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging announced it will be closed Monday due to extreme weather temperatures. The agency advises all seniors to stay off the roads and stay tuned to local news for any news alerts or changes regarding site-re-openings. The agency said it has already provided essential meals to Meal on Wheels clients in anticipation of the Mardi Gras holiday.

Louisiana Women's Healthcare

Due to anticipated weather conditions, Louisiana Womens Healthcare will be closed Monday and Tuesday, and reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Ochsner Baton Rouge

Ochsner clinic appointments, outpatient diagnostics and elective surgical procedures in the Capital Area scheduled for Monday, February 15 will be postponed.

The free COVID-19 community testing scheduled for BREC Jefferson Hwy Park on Monday has also been cancelled.

While Ochsner Urgent Care locations will be closed on Monday, access to urgent care is available 24/7 online with Ochsner Anywhere Care virtual visits. Go to www.ochsneranywherecare.com to get started.

Baton Rouge General

Baton Rouge General Physicians Clinics, Vaccine Clinics and Express Care locations will be closed again Tuesday, Feb. 16.

All hospital campuses  Bluebonnet, Mid City and Ascension  will remain open. Patients with appointments Monday, including vaccine appointments, will be contacted to reschedule for later this week.

Elective surgeries scheduled for Tuesday are postponed. Doctors offices will contact patients with the most up-to-date plans.

Tuesdays closure also includes outpatient therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient wound care, and radiation oncology. The imaging clinics inside each hospital will remain open, though the imaging clinics on Dijon and ONeal lane will be closed.

St. James Parish

All parish government buildings closed for President's Day and trash service has been suspended.

City of Baker

Baker Utilities

Baker Utilities drive through will not be open for regular operations. Due to hazardous street conditions, Baker Utilities urges residents to use its online payment option or call for service.

Baker City Hall & Municipal Buildings

Baker City Hall & Municipal Buildings remain closed to the public due to COVID19 however, it remains open for regular operations until 5:30 PM and is accessible by phone and email. Please call 225-778-0300 to speak with employees remotely.
As Trinidad and Tobago continue to explore for major oil and gas fields in the Caribbean region, the Bahamas Petroleum Co. has made a non-commercial oil discovery.

While Trinidad and Tobago have focused on natural gas for the last two decades, the countrys oil industry has been developing steadily. In 2020, the countrys third-largest oil producer Trinity Exploration & Production increased production by 7 percent to 3,226 bpd. This figure is expected to reach around 4,000 bpd by 2023.

Trinity Exploration & Productions executive chairman, Bruce Dingwall, explained of Trinidads oil industry, [There is a] huge reserve base and not many players and I think youll see some structural change in Trinidad over the next few years.

In 2016, Trinidad and Tobago had 728 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves. With output levels of between 55-60,000 bpd throughout 2020, Trinidad managed to maintain its pre-pandemic levels of production during the industrys difficult year.

As well as being the regions biggest oil producer, Trinidad and Tobago is home to the largest natural gas processing facilities in the Western Hemisphere. In 2014, Trinidad was the sixth-largest global exporter of natural gas, following 15 years of heavy investment in the sector.

The Caribbean region has great oil potential going into 2021 as recent discoveries in Suriname and Guyana demonstrate the untapped potential of the region. Majors are starting to show greater interest in the Caribbean as production costs could be as low as $30 to $40 a barrel.

This February, the Bahamas Petroleum Co. completed drilling of its Perseverance #1 well in the Southern Seas of the Bahamas, however, it did not find hydrocarbons at the commercial levels it had hoped. The exploration project was the first in the zone in several decades and leaves the door open for greater exploration.

The Bahamas Petroleum Co. is also ramping up production in neighboring countries, with projects in Trinidad and Suriname expected to reach production levels of 2,500 bpd in 2021.

However, upon the Perseverance #1 disappointment, Bahamas Petroleum Co. share prices fell 73 percent this week to 0.56p. It is expected that its other regional projects will prop the company up, yet hopes for an oil boom in the Bahamas looks unlikely to be fulfilled any time soon.

In addition to continued investment in fossil fuels, the Caribbean region is also looking into the potential for renewable energy development over the next decade, with Dominica and Barbados announcing a 100 percent renewable energy target by 2030, and Guyana by 2040.

According to the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Community could save as much as US$5.7 billion in generation costs from 2020 to 2040 through better renewable electricity generation investment.

Related: Oil Prices Post Longest Winning Streak In Two Years

Due to the Caribbean countries close proximity to the sea, their hydro potential is significant. In addition, wind and solar power could provide the region with a significant source of energy.

Guyana and Suriname are already embracing the change, investing in solar PV mini-grids and battery storage facilities to power local communities. The countries governments intend to introduce taxes to carbon emissions to encourage the switch to renewable energy over the coming years.

This February, The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago also announced plans to invest in offshore wind at the Energy Chambers 5th Annual Energy Efficiency and Renewables Conference. An onshore wind assessment will provide a clearer picture of the countrys wind energy potential.

Senator Franklin Khan, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries said of the plan, "Over the next decade, offshore wind, which includes bottom-fixed in the shallow water and floating in the deeper water, is projected to become one of the most competitive sources of electricity, commensurate with fossil fuels, solar PV and onshore wind.".

So while the Caribbeans oil and gas production is going from strength to strength across several countries, the region is also likely to be a forerunner in the introduction of new technologies to harness the power of water, wind, and sun.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Mohamed Salah has warned Manchester City that Liverpool will "fight like champions" despite a miserable run that plunged his side's Premier League title defence into turmoil.

Jurgen Klopp's side are languishing 13 points behind leaders City after crashing to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester on Saturday.

Salah had given Liverpool the lead with his 17th league goal of the season, but the Reds collapsed in the closing stages.

Klopp conceded the title to City after Liverpool's third successive defeat.

It is a remarkable decline after Liverpool romped to their first title in 30 years last term.

But, after 24 hours of painful fallout from the loss at the King Power Stadium, with Liverpool fans hanging a banner in support of the German boss on the railings outside the Kop reading 'Jurgen Klopp YNWA', Egypt forward Salah made a defiant statement of intent.

"It's been a tough period for many reasons. We are champions and we will fight like champions, until the very end," Salah wrote on Twitter.

"We will not allow this season to be defined by the recent results we've had. That is my promise to all of you."

While retaining the title may now be beyond Liverpool, they are still in the Champions League.

Klopp's team face the Bundesliga's second-placed side Leipzig in a last-16 first-leg clash on Tuesday.

The match, which has been moved to the Puskas Arena in Hungary due to German government coronavirus regulations not allowing Liverpool to travel to the country, could be pivotal to the rest of the Reds' campaign.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold hopes a different competition and scenario will provide the lift they need to get out of their current slump.

"Everyone talks about a bad spell and a dip in form and stuff, but I feel personally we've performed well in the last few weeks, in the last two months or six weeks or so," he told Liverpool's website.

"It's just that we haven't been getting the results and it's a results business so there's no excuses for that.

Story continues

"But I think confidence-wise, we're not playing badly, we're not getting battered.

"It's about turning those performances into results and that's probably what we need to look at most.

"In situations like this you want the opportunity to put it right as soon as possible.

"Different competition, which always freshens it up, different mentality going into it. It's going to be a different task for us, a Champions League night."

smg/mw
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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

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Approaching a year since COVID-19 forced students out of the classroom and parents into the role of teachers aides, Lehigh Valley schools have begun adding more in-school days.

But its not an easy switch, nor is understanding the changing and sometimes confusing recommendations on balancing education and safety, school officials say.

For whatever reason, some have decided that COVID is gone and that we can operate in a way that we havent up to this point, and that safety may no longer be an issue, Easton Area schools Superintendent David Piperato said during a school board meeting earlier this month.

COVID has not gone away, he said in presenting statistics showing the virus continues to spread at a substantial level in Northampton County.

At that substantial level, the highest above moderate and low, the Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends students learn exclusively from home, though districts can sign attestation forms that theyll follow mitigation strategies to maintain some in-person instruction. That is what Eastons been doing along with other Lehigh Valley school districts, since Northampton Countys been in substantial spread since early November -- a week after Lehigh Countys transmission levels rose from moderate to substantial.

Saucon Valley School District has managed to bring students into the classroom five days a week, in addition to offering a full-remote option, Piperato noted. Thats while maintaining the 6 feet of social distance between students that the state is requiring, he said.

Northampton Area School District has announced plans to bring students into the classroom at least four days a week, beginning March 9 for grades kindergarten through first, according to Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik. Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings, except while eating lunch or during designated mask breaks, and students will be no closer than 4 feet in the classroom and 6 feet at lunch and on breaks.

Whitehall-Coplay School District also plans to bring students back four days a week, beginning Monday, with continued mitigation measures that include maintaining 6 feet of distancing in all eating areas.

In Easton, Assistant Superintendent Tracy Piazza worked with building principals to calculate the staffing needs to bring students into the classroom who are currently in the hybrid program of some days in school and some days remote. Without even beginning to factor in where classrooms can be set up, she said the district would need to hire 29 teachers at the elementary level, 50 to 60 for the middle school and 130 for the high school to maintain 6 feet of distancing in the classroom. At a minimum, thats 209 more teachers, or about 35% of the districts current staffing level of 606 teachers.

We all know that that has been our goal, she said of more in-classroom days for students. We all know that that is the best education option for our students both from an academic standpoint but certainly from a social-emotional-health-wellbeing standpoint, as well.

For now, Easton is sticking with the hybrid model. The district is asking parents to decide by June 15 between two options for 2021-22, either the districts cyber academy or brick and mortar whatever that looks like, Piazza said.

Bethlehem Area School District is also continuing its current hybrid approach of two days in class and three days remote, in addition to a full-remote option, Superintendent Joseph Roy said.

Our goal has always been to have students be in school more days a week -- depending on case counts in the community, among other things, he told lehighvalleylive.com last week. The best I can say right now is that we are studying the issue of when/how to expand to four days a week, we have not developed plans as of this point because we are just beginning to see case counts come down.

Allentown School District, the regions largest, remains full remote but has been surveying families on what theyd like to see happen in the final quarter of this school year. The Morning Call reports the district is preparing to offer a hybrid model beginning in mid-April.

Patience has been running thin with parents.

Jennifer Ortiz, one of the organizers of a Rally to ReOpen Lehigh Valley Schools movement, told the Allentown School Board on Thursday its heartbreaking to feel so powerless to help her daughter who is struggling with remote learning and that shed like to see the district do more to restart face-to-face instruction.

Theres absolutely no reason why these kids should have to wait until April to go back to school, she said. By now they should have been back months ago at least on a hybrid model, and by now we should be talking about bringing them back full time.

At last weeks Easton Area School Board meeting, parent Bonnie McCarthy also pointed to the struggles students have been having with trying to learn through a laptop.

If our children can use bedrooms as classrooms, you guys can find some more space, she said.

At the federal level, President Joe Biden is being accused of backpedaling on his pledge to reopen the nations schools after the White House added fine print to his promise and made clear that a full reopening is still far from sight. His initial pledge in December was to reopen the majority of our schools in his first 100 days in office. In January he specified that the goal applied only to schools that teach through eighth grade. And last week the White House said that schools will be considered opened as long as they teach in-person at least one day a week.

Bidens press secretary said the administration will act on new school guidance released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I can assure any parent listening that his objective, his commitment, is to ensuring schools are open five days a week, Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Thursday. Thats what he wants to achieve, and we are going to lead with science and the advice they are giving us.

The new CDC guidance for schools emphasizes mask wearing and social distancing. It says vaccination of teachers is important but not a prerequisite for reopening.

An unusual coalition of education groups -- from superintendents and school boards to teachers unions -- places greater emphasis on vaccinating faculty and staff members. In a letter Thursday to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, the group demanded the state prioritize school staff for the COVID-19 vaccine, calling it an absolutely essential step toward reopening schools and keeping them open.

The letter was signed by the leaders of two statewide teachers unions, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and several other groups.

The Wolf administration replied Thursday that it will not accelerate vaccinations for school staff, saying it is adhering to federal guidelines meant to get vaccine out as efficiently as possible while prioritizing health care workers and those most vulnerable to serious illness.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday termed the reported remarks by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Rajya Sabha member Ranjan Gogoi about the judiciary as "shocking and "worrisome". Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said in Nashik that Gogoi's statement should be taken seriously, and added that the former CJI should have explained with "examples from his tenure" as to why he thinks so.

Gogoi had reportedly said that the judiciary is in a "ramshackle" state and expressed concern over the pendency of cases. Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Pune, Pawar said, "Last week, I read somewhere that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) in one of the meetings of Supreme Court judges, stated that the standard of the Indian judiciary is very high. We all felt good.

"But the statement made by former Chief Justice of India, who has been now sent to Parliament, is a very shocking kind of a statement. I do not know if he tried to explain the truth of judiciary." The NCP patriarch added that the remarks made by Gogoi are "worrisome" for all. Pawar was speaking to reporters at the musical event 'Khayal Yagya' organised to celebrate the birth centenary of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Talking to mediapersons in Nashik, Sanjay Raut said Gogoi was making the remarks after being a part of the judiciary for years. "Gogoi's remarks should be taken seriously. There is a precedent that the judiciary shouldn't be criticised... Had Gogoi explained with examples during his tenure as to why he thinks so, the country would have been enlightened." "But he is a Rajya Sabha member with BJP's blessings...You have been part of the judiciary for several years and after retirement, you say this," the Sena MP added.
Nigerian police arrested scores of people on Saturday following protests to mark the killing last year of twelve activists at a toll gate in Lagos.

A judicial panel's decision to reopen the Lekki Toll Plaza triggered the anger of campaigners, who are still asking questions about the moment Nigerian security forces opened fire there during a demonstration against police brutality last October.

Peaceful campaigners returned to the site on Saturday, but were promptly arrested.

One protester who was detained said enough was enough. "We are not criminals, this country belongs to all of us," said Dabira Oluwadeyinka.

Another demonstrator who gave her name only as Hellen pleaded to Nigerians to "wake up".

The killings last October came amid calls for Nigeria's government to close the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS.

The movement spread much more broadly to become a demand for better governance in Nigeria.

(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)
A refusal to give priority Covid-19 vaccinations to "the forgotten frontline" of family carers has provoked anger and frustration.

Those who give full-time care to vulnerable loved ones at home should be given the same access to vaccinations as nursing home staff, said Mike Molloy, of south Co Dublin.

He cares full time for his mother, Rose-Marie, an 84-year-old retired radiographer who has Parkinson's Disease.

Mr Molloy previously worked in 2010 as a policy and communications adviser to then British prime minister Gordon Brown and had compiled high- level reports at the UN.

Read More

Speaking at the family home in Killiney, he said he felt all family carers were "belittled and demeaned" by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly's recent statement that they must wait until their own age groups in the general population get vaccinated.

His mother's condition causes her to be unsteady on her feet, and he helps her with her personal care and daily needs. He is able to work online from home and makes trips to the pharmacy and shops for her.

"I worry a lot about bringing the virus home to my mother. If I get sick, who will look after her?" he asked.

"We've spent a year trapped by fear. I'm part of an army of hundreds of thousands of family carers, the forgotten frontline, who do what we do because of love.

"From early morning to late at night, we ensure the persons we love are safe and well, which is challenging at any time, but it feels nearly impossible in a pandemic.

"It's like family carers are living prisoners under some form of house arrest with people who could become seriously ill or die if they get Covid. We hear heartbreaking stories of those who have died."

The past 12 months have been "a year from hell", and the decision to refuse any form of priority to family carers was "sad and unforgivable".

Mr Molloy said aspects of health care and vaccinations during the pandemic may be examined by tribunals in future, "but it will be too late for family carers who face the danger now".

He added many stressed family carers were also in danger of mental breakdown, and called on the Government "to protect the lives of those we live with and give us back our own lives by recognising our special need to be vaccinated urgently". To not do so "is to risk the lives of the most vulnerable".

"No one can relax, even when they get vaccinated, but the arrival of vaccines into Ireland finally brought a great light of hope," Mr Molloy said.

"But the minister's statements dashed our hopes of getting early vaccines and appeared to demean the role of family carers. It's bad enough to be considered not worthy of any priority in vaccinations. I believe his approach shows he doesn't truly value the work we do as carers.

"I have worked with many senior political and religious figures abroad, and the minister has certainly shown a lack of respect for family carers."

His mother told the Sunday Independent: "Michael has to do everything for me and looks after me so well. I don't know what I'd do without him if he got sick. He just wants to keep me safe and he should get vaccinated. Family carers save the Government a lot of money in health costs."

Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy with Family Carers Ireland, called for family carers to be vaccinated "as a matter of urgency".

"While caring for loved ones in the home, most family carers, out of necessity, need to leave their home for essential supplies, to attend appointments, school and part-time or full-time employment, which many combine with their caring," she said.

"We must offer this group the maximum protection for the vulnerable cared-for person and for the family carer who may otherwise unwittingly bring the virus into the family home, jeopardising the cared-for person and also their role as a care provider.

"While some family carers will fall under the categories outlined for priority due to their age or own health conditions, many will not. Protecting the vulnerable is about more than protecting the vulnerable person, it is also about protecting the support infrastructure that surrounds them.

"The question we must ask is, who will care for the vulnerable but vaccinated person if their family carer tests positive and has to self-isolate or be admitted to hospital? And at what cost to the State, not to mention the pressure on our already overburdened hospital beds?

"Older people and frontline care workers in nursing homes and care facilities have rightly been prioritised for the vaccine," Ms Cox said.

"However, less than 5pc of older people reside in these settings, with approximately 95pc living in private households, according to Census 2016. By targeting the paid care work provided to older people in nursing homes, we are failing to reach the vast majority of carers who provide unpaid care within the home.

"Family Carers Ireland is calling for equal treatment in the administration of the vaccine between carers who are paid and those who are not.

"We are appealing to the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to include family carers under category four or six with immediate effect."
A $1.5 billion property fund is waiting to pounce on distressed buildings as the COVID-19 crunch further disrupts Melbournes commercial property market, emptying office towers.

The seismic shift in workplace attitudes caused by the pandemic is prompting big corporations, which cannot break long-term leases signed before the pandemic, to flood subleasing markets with excess unwanted office floors because staff are working from home.

The Little Bourke Street building that once housed Paddy Pallin outdoor store and B-grade office space could be among those ripe for conversion. Credit:Simon Schluter

Between June and December last year the amount of available sublease space in the CBD soared 186 per cent to 182,416 square metres, a figure three times the normal annual average, commercial real estate agency CBRE estimated.

And a long list of corporate tenants were considering shedding office space including Australian Super, Medibank, AGL, Origin, KPMG, NBN, CUB and Deloitte, two people from prominent commercial property firms, who asked not to be identified because it would jeopardise commercial deals, told The Age. Thats just the tip of the iceberg, said one.

A large image that has an X mark on the face of Commander in chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, also chairman of the State Administrative Council, lies on a road as anti-coup protesters gather outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Burma, on Feb. 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

Burma Rattled by Army Movements, Apparent Internet Cutoff

YANGON, BurmaSightings of armored personnel carriers in the biggest city of Burma (also known as Myanmar) and an internet shutdown raised political tensions late Sunday, after vast numbers of people around the country flouted orders against demonstrations to protest the militarys seizure of power.

Public concern has already been heightened for the past few nights by what many charge is the militarys manipulation of criminals released from prison to carry out nighttime violence and stir up panic.

Ambassadors from the United States and Canada and 12 European nations called on Burmas security forces to refrain from violence against those protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government. They condemned the arrests of political leaders and activists as well as the militarys interference with communications.

We support the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy, freedom, peace, and prosperity, they said in a joint statement issued late Sunday night. The world is watching.

The military seized power on Feb. 1, detaining the countrys elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her government and preventing recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament.

The junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said it was forced to step in because the government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last years election, which Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. The state election commission refuted that contention, saying there is no evidence to support it.

There was no official word about why armored personnel carriers traversed the streets of Yangon in broad daylight Sunday, making their way through busy traffic. As night fell, there were videos and other reports on social media of the movement of trucks packed with soldiers, and in the central city of Mandalay as well.

Anti-coup protesters hold posters as they gather outside the U.N. Information Office in Yangon, Burma, on Feb. 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

An order that appears to be from the Ministry of Transport and Communications told mobile phone service providers to shut down internet connections from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday. It circulated widely on social media, as did a notice said to be from service provider Oredoo Myanmar containing the same details. Several users contacted through other means confirmed that access though Burmas broadband and mobile services were cut as scheduled.

Previous leaks of government orders to limit internet access have proven accurate, and the U.S. Embassy issued a caution to American citizens about the military movements and possible internet shutdown. The authorities have previously sought with mixed success to block social networks, and also shut off access to the internet for about a day.

Monday holds the prospect of two flashpoints for the political standoff.

Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, but a remand order holding her on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies expires Monday and a court in the capital, Naypyitaw, is supposed to take action on her case. Her freedom is a major demand of the protest movement.

Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer asked by Suu Kyis party to represent her, said he was uncertain if she would have a court appearance Monday, and it could be delayed by a day. He has not been able to make contact with Suu Kyi.

There is also the possibility that a young woman who was shot during a demonstration last week, also in Naypyitaw, will be declared legally dead. She has been on life support in a hospital in the capital, and unofficial memorial services were held for her Sunday at protests in Yangon and Mandalay, the countrys two biggest cities.

Mandalay University graduates bow their heads as they hold posters with an image of Mya Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, the 19-year old woman shot by police in Naypyitaw, on Feb. 9, during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Burma, on Feb. 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

Mandalay University graduates hold posters with an image of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, a 19-year old woman shot by police on Feb. 9 in Naypyitaw, during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Burma, on Feb. 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

Large demonstrations were also held in Naypyitaw and far-flung corners of the country dominated by ethnic minorities.

Resistance also took place in cyberspace, as a group calling itself BrotherHood of Myanmar Hackers defaced the governments Myanmar Digital News website, replacing content on its home page with words and pictures against the military takeover.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and U.S. embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washingtons actions sanctioning the military. There were scattered appeals on Twitter for armed intervention by the United States.

Other protesters carried signs urging people to boycott businesses linked to the military.

Eight days of street demonstrations are estimated to have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the streets despite the threat of six months imprisonment for violating an order banning gatherings of five or more people. The same order imposes an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.

Sundays activism took place after the ruling junta issued a new order suspending several basic civil liberties.

The order, issued late Saturday and published Sunday in state newspapers, suspends provisions in an existing law on security and privacy protection, allowing the authorities to carry out searches and make arrests without court warrants.

It also allows the interception of electronic and other communications without a warrant and permits the detention of detainees for more than 24 hours without court permission.

Civil servants have been very active in the protests, and social media postings on Sunday indicated that state railway workers have joined them, with some unconfirmed claims that they have gone on strike.

The public at large has been alarmed since the government last week declared an amnesty that led to the release of more than 23,000 convicts. There are many claims on social media that some have been recruited by the authorities to carry out violent activities at night in residential areas to spread panic, especially by setting fires. Some areas have responded by setting up their own neighborhood watch groups.

The truth of the allegations about government-directed thugs is difficult to verify, even with videos claiming to show their activities. There is historical precedent, as the military released convicts to carry out violence and cause chaos in 1988 during a failed popular uprising against a military dictatorship.

People have also been rattled by police raids carried out during curfew hours to seize individuals seen as opposed to the coup. In several cases, nearby residents rushed to the scene in such numbers that security forces abandoned their attempts to haul in their targets.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 400 people have been detained since the coup, with 375 still being held.

Detainees have included political leaders, government officials, civil servants, activists and student leaders. Medical personnel have been singled out because their community initiated the civil disobedience campaign against the military takeover and remains in its vanguard.
APIIT Sri Lanka holds its annual Convocation 2020 338 graduands obtain undergraduate and postgraduate degrees View(s): View(s):

The Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) Sri Lanka held its annual Convocation at the Main Hall of the BMICH on 10 February 2021. Chairman, University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge graced the occasion as Chief Guest while Managing Director, Nestle Lanka PLC, Mr. Fabrice Cavallin joined as Guest of Honour.

The Convocation saw 338 graduands of APIIT obtain globally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Business, Computing and Law awarded by Staffordshire University, UK. There were 38 First Class Honours passes, 117 Second Class (First Division) passes and 10 Postgraduate distinctions.

Chairman of APIIT Sri Lanka, Mr. Bandula Egodage addressing the gathering said, The annual Convocation is the most remarkable event in our academic calendar. APIITs purpose is to nurture leaders who uplift lives; you are the leaders of the future. You will have the unique opportunity and profound responsibility to contribute to the economic and social advancement of our country  your hopes, your dreams, your energy and your efforts will shape and create the future for all of us.

The colourful ceremony was a joyous occasion where students who entered APIIT as young undergraduates finally reaped the fruits of their hard work and formally bid goodbye to student life. Reflecting the high standards of education at APIIT leading to a rich learning experience and overall personality development, the graduands walked on to the stage to receive their awards exuding confidence and were poised to take on the challenges of their career and life ahead.

Chief Guest, Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka in his Convocation address said, Today APIIT is awarding 338 students a degree that will take them far in their lives. I would first like to convey my best wishes to those who are graduating from this esteemed institution. This is indeed a great milestone in your lives. You have faced many challenges and have come on top gracefully. I request you to take a moment to appreciate the significance of this achievement and appreciate the circumstances in which you are receiving this award.

The country and the world are facing a pandemic; the most severe in recent history. During a time when the freedom to breathe has been restricted, you have completed a great academic feat. You have successfully laid the foundation stone for your journey ahead. This is indeed a moment of celebration. Therefore, take a minute to appreciate yourself, your family, friends, loved-ones, your Alma Mater and most importantly your motherland on this achievement. You have received a qualification that will take you far and will be the cornerstone of your success story and I for one am very proud of you, he added.

Professor Liz Barnes, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University, UK who shared her message via video said, Every one of you graduating today has achieved something significant and special. Being awarded a degree is a life changing achievement and a culmination of considerable effort, hard work, commitment and determination. It comes at the end of a period of sustained learning through acquiring new knowledge, researching ideas, critically appreciating them, challenging accepted views, sharing understanding and debating views with others. All these skills will help you with your future and enable you to make a difference for yourself, those around you and the organisations you create, work for or support.

The last year of your degree has coincided with a global pandemic that has disrupted our normal ways of studying, working and living. This has required you to adapt to new and different ways of learning and working. In overcoming these additional barriers, you have demonstrated your ability to adapt and change  skills that will be essential for your future career success, she added.

In his speech, Guest of Honour, Mr. Fabrice Cavallin, Managing Director, Nestle Lanka PLC said, Today, the world is in a state of constant fast-paced change, with thousands of trends and an overflow of information. Id like to pass on some of my own learnings over the years that will help you to succeed in this new reality. Be a critical thinker, keeping an open mind, and separating facts from opinions. You have learnt it at your university, please continue to cultivate it. Lifelong learning is essential, otherwise you will become outdated very quickly. It will always help you discover new opportunities. Thirdly, the fear of failing is what keeps us from stepping out of our comfort zone and doing things differently. Failing is not bad, you have to take it positively and learn from it. It will make you stronger on your road to success.

He went on to say, Finally, find your purpose. This last learning has been crucial for me, and I would have been happy to discover it earlier in my life. Purpose is why we exist, its what motivates us and what makes us wake up in the morning. It gives meaning to what we do. Once you find your purpose, approach everything with that in mind  it will fulfill you and make you happy. You are the generation that can drive positive change. Live your purpose with passion. I wish you a great start to this new exciting stage of your life.

A highlight of the graduation ceremony was the awarding of Gold Medals to students who performed best in their respective streams. The gold medallists were Hanau Fathimath (Software Engineering), Chanaka Shehan Marasinghe, (Computer Networks and Security), Yeheni Ama Weerakkody (International Business Management), Aathika Naahid Mohamed Mackie (Law), Rukshi De Silva (MBA), Deshan Kuruvita-Aratchy (MSc -Technology Management) and Arith Seneviratne (LLM).

APIIT Sri Lanka is a leading higher education institution with a reputation for quality and standards and has a longstanding partnership with Staffordshire University, UK. To date, the Staffordshire University-APIIT Sri Lanka collaboration has produced nearly 4000 alumni who hold key positions in various industries spanning the world.
Photo: The Canadian Press Mandalay University graduates hold posters with an image of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, a 19-year old woman shot by police on Feb. 9 in Naypyitaw.

Vast numbers of people all over Myanmar flouted orders against demonstrations and marched again Sunday to protest the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by ethnic minorities.

Resistance also took place in cyberspace, as a group calling itself BrotherHood of Myanmar Hackers defaced the government's Myanmar Digital News website, replacing content on its home page with words and pictures against the military takeover.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and U.S. embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washingtons actions sanctioning the military.

The civil disobedience movement and demonstrations show that the people of Myanmar want democracy. We stand with them, said a statement Saturday on the U.S. Embassys Twitter account.

Other protesters carried signs urging people to boycott businesses linked to the military.

Sunday's activism took place after the ruling junta issued a new order suspending several basic civil liberties.

The order, issued late Saturday and published Sunday in state newspapers, suspends provisions in an existing law on security and privacy protection, allowing the authorities to carry out searches and make arrests without court warrants.

It also allows the interception of electronic and other communications without a warrant and permits the detention of detainees for more than 24 hours without court permission.

Civil servants have been very active in the protests, and social media postings on Sunday indicated that state railway workers have joined them, with some unconfirmed claims that they have gone on strike.

The military seized power on Feb. 1, detaining Suu Kyi and members of her government and preventing recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament.

The junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said it was forced to step in because the government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last years election, which Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. The state election commission refuted that contention, saying there is no evidence to support it.

Eight days of street demonstrations are estimated to have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the streets despite the threat of six months' imprisonment for violating an order banning gatherings of five or more people. The same order imposes an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.

Protesters also have reason to fear for their personal safety, as police have used rubber bullets to try to break up some demonstrations. A 19-year-old woman who was shot in the head with what experts said was live ammunition at a protest in Naypyitaw was on life support in a hospital and was not expected to recover.

Tributes to the woman were held Sunday by protesters in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city.

Public concern is also rising at what many charge is the militarys manipulation of criminals released from prison to carry out violence and instil panic.

The government last week declared an amnesty that led to the release of more than 23,000 convicts. There are many claims on social media that some have been recruited by the authorities to carry out violent activities at night in residential areas to spread panic, especially by setting fires. Some areas have set up their own neighbourhood watch groups in response.

The truth of the allegations about government-directed thugs is difficult to verify, even with videos claiming to show their activities. There is historical precedent, as the military released convicts to carry out violence and cause chaos in 1988 during a failed popular uprising against a military dictatorship.

There was already outrage at nighttime raids during the curfew period in which security personnel have tried to seize people from their homes.

In several cases, neighbours and others people rushed to the scene in such numbers that security forces abandoned their attempts to haul in their targets. Videos of such raids were widely posted on social media.

Detainees have included political leaders, government officials, civil servants, activists and student leaders. Medical personnel have been singled out because their community initiated the civil disobedience campaign against the military takeover and remains in its vanguard.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 384 people have been detained since the coup, with 360 still being held. Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, but a remand order holding her on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies expires Monday.

Hundreds of women have attended protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg on St. Valentine's Day in support of Russian women prosecuted for political reasons.



The Chain Of Solidary And Love protest is also dedicated to imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, who flew to Germany on February 10. Although no explanation was given for her departure, Navalnaya had recently been detained for taking part in unsanctioned rallies in support of her husband.



Images shared on social media on February 14 show women holding red roses, balloons, and heart signs with the names of female political prisoners written on them. Demonstrators also sang "Love is stronger than fear," the motto of the protests.



The organizers said on their Facebook page that the rallies were dedicated to the women who were "beaten and tortured by police during peaceful protests," as well as "to everyone who spends their days in courts, police buses, and special detention centers."



They said the "chain" along Moscow's Old Arbat Street honors Navalnaya as well as lawyer Lyubov Sobol, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, municipal deputy Lucy Shtein, Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh, and Alliance of Doctors head Anastasia Vasilyeva, who all face criminal charges for calling on supporters to rally for Navalny's release last month.



Later on February 14, Navalny supporters used light from mobile phones, flashlights, and candles to express support for him, despite a warning that people taking part could face criminal charges.

Navalny's team called on people across Russia to switch on their cell-phone flashlights for 15 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. local time and shine the light into the sky from their homes or the courtyards of their apartment buildings.



Navalny, 44, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany where he had been treated for a nerve-agent poisoning he says was ordered by Putin. The Kremlin denies it had any role in the attack.



Navalny's detention sparked outrage across the country and much of the West, with tens of thousands of Russians taking part in street rallies on January 23 and 31.



Police cracked down harshly on the demonstrations, putting many of Navalny's political allies behind bars and detaining thousands more -- sometimes violently -- as they gathered on the streets.

With reporting by tvrain.ru, Reuters, hrw.org, and themoscowtimes.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  The Armed Forces of the Philippines said 46 sites nationwide have been identified as vaccination centers in support of the government's vaccine program.

In an interview on Sunday, AFP spokesman MGen Edgard Arevalo said of these sites, 30 are already accredited by the Department of Health and are ready for use. In a separate message, he added these are camps and military treatment facilities.

Arevalo said accessibility was a primary concern in the selection of these areas.

"Mas maigi kasi yung, mas ideal sila para gawin na sites na vaccination kasi accessible, primarily accessibility ang ating consideration," he said in a message to reporters.

[Translation: It would be better and more ideal to make these vaccination sites because these are accessible. Accessibility is a primary consideration.]

The locations of the proposed sites were also not mentioned.

Arevalo said the AFP was more than ready to support the government's vaccination program when it comes to security, providing additional medical personnel and logistics.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants police stations and military camps used as COVID-19 vaccination sites in far-flung areas, adding these sites should be utilized if there are no other suitable venues for vaccination activities in rural areas.

Apart from military camps, the President also said public schools and gymnasiums could be used as well.

RELATED: CHED and DepEd: No final list yet of schools eyed as Covid-19 vaccination sites

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippine government secured 9.407 million vaccine doses against the COVID-19 from Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

The government is targeting to start the mass vaccination drive in the country this month. Under the government's immunization plan, health workers will be the first to get the shots.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Intensifying their protest against the Centre's order to train post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of ayurveda in general surgical procedures, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a non-cooperation movement, asking the surgeons and anesthesiologists to not cooperate in training the Ayush doctors.

The apex association of modern medicine practitioners also said that it will submit a list to the Union government of 1,000 modern medicine doctors to willing to serve in any remote areas of the country. "This is done to counter the false claim of lack of doctors which is cited as a reason to promote mixopathy," IMA President Dr J.A. Jayalal said.

The IMA had started a pan-India relay hunger strike from February 1 which concluded on Sunday. "It was our first step towards 'Save Healthcare India Movement' which was initiated this month. We are going to intensify it further with a next stage of non-cooperation," Dr Jayalal added.

The whole exercise by the IMA is to push for immediate withdrawal of the Centre's order which, the association claims, is impractical, unscientific and promotes "mixopathy" of different streams of medicine.

Last year, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) amended the Indian Medicine Central Council (Post Graduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2016, to allow PG students of ayurveda to perform a variety of general surgery including orthopaedic, ophthalmology, ENT and dental through notifying an amendment in a gazette notification issued in November.

The latest amendment allows PG ayurveda students to receive formal training for such procedures. The training modules for surgical procedures will be added to the curriculum of ayurvedic studies.

This move has drawn a lot of criticism from the doctors of modern medicine which also result in a series of protests the country witnessed last December, called by the IMA.

"We have categorically expressed our righteous say against this extremely serious move to allow Aayush postgraduates to perform 58 surgeries. The government policy of mixopathy of all systems is unethical in which the mutually unrelated in principles & mode of operandi are integrated unscientifically together as a one system. IMA opposes strongly the proposal to make single doctor practicing all systems together. The association has raised valid & simple questions arising out of this Mixopathy notification," the IMA stated.
Mr Wyatt has not flagged concerns about Mr Frys role in relation to the IBA. But in a series of stinging letters penned late last year, and seen by the Herald and the Age, Mr Wyatt raises serious concerns about the governance of the ILSC and Mr Frys role in particular. The correspondence culminated in Mr Wyatt informing Mr Fry on December 7 that I have lost confidence in your ability to lead the ILSC as chairperson and seeking reasons why I should not ask for your resignation. The minister cites numerous grounds for loss of confidence in the chair, including adverse findings and concerns outlined in a January 2020 report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, complaints from board members, motions of no-confidence, the significant amount of time the minister has spent trying to resolve governance issues and a review of the organisation by independent assessor Vivienne Thom who warned that the ILSCs long-term viability was at risk.

A defiant Mr Fry wrote back to the minister on December 18 defending his record and stating that he found the ministers loss of confidence in him demeaning and inexplicable. He claimed the ILSC had a remarkable turnaround under his leadership, and warned that any political and bureaucratic interference would run afoul of the paramount need for Indigenous Australians to break free of the yoke of government. Mr Fry also remained defiant in a statement to the Herald and the Age on Friday, insisting that I have no intention of resigning from the ILSC board. He said he was determined to play a key role in leading this organisation that now consistently meets or exceeds its performance targets. He said he believed the board remains functional and governs effectively. The legislation which governs the ILSC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Act, says directors can only be terminated if they are physically or mentally incapable or because of misbehaviour. However, it does not define what misbehaviour means.

Asked if he lacked the power under the act to remove Mr Fry, a spokesperson for Mr Wyatt said Ms Thom, a former inspector general of the intelligence services, made it clear in her independent review that Mr Frys conduct has apparently not reached the threshold to be considered misbehaviour. The minister does not have confidence in the current chairman and is acting within the powers available to him as minister to progress the best interests of the ILSC, the spokesperson said on Friday. Professor Ian Ramsay, the head of Melbourne Universitys Centre for Corporate Law and an expert on corporate governance said the general expectation would be that if a chair has two votes of no confidence against him and also the minister who appoints the board has stated that he does not have confidence in the chair, then the chair would be expected to resign. Behind closed doors the toxic board relations have been playing out for months, with factions repeatedly calling on Mr Wyatt to back a side. Tensions came to a head on May 7, when Mr Fry attempted to ram through changes to the governance of the organisation with less than 48 hours notice, including stopping ILSC directors sitting on subsidiary boards, arguing it was a conflict; a position at odds with the Corporations Act and Australian Institute of Company Directors guidelines on directors sitting on parent companies and subsidiaries.

Mr Fry had expected directors to endorse the changes and when they asked questions it descended into loud berating and bullying as well as a warning they were treading on fine ground, one director reported to Mr Wyatt. Some saw it as an attempt to sideline them while Mr Fry tightened his control as he worked on a strategy to transform the ILSC to create a second board that would diminish the role of the main board. The plan would reduce head count by 31 per cent. Of the then seven directors, the four who have clashed with Mr Fry are each significant figures in their own right. Dr Donna Odegaard is co-chair of the committee set up by Mr Wyatt to co-design an Indigenous voice to government. Roy Ah-See is a former chair of the Prime Ministers Indigenous Advisory Council. Patricia Crossin is a former Northern Territory senator. And Bruce Martin is also a former member of the Prime Ministers advisory council. On June 17, these four directors supported a motion of no confidence in Mr Fry and the ILSCs acting chief executive Leo Bator, who stepped down immediately. Dr Odegaard notified Mr Wyatt that the boards action was a culmination of Mr Frys failure over 12 months to provide leadership. She said her concerns included the impact of his behaviour on ILSCs subsidiaries, which included suspending funding without reason and attempting to shut them down, which she said made them unable to perform effectively and efficiently.

Dr Odegaard said she found the situation harrowing and her trust and loyalty to the chairperson has been broken by his actions and my hopes for the ILSC delivering greater benefits for our people compromised if this conduct continues. Mr Ah-See told Mr Wyatt in a letter of extremely poor governance and Mr Fry aggressively opposes any director who holds a different opinion to his own and attempts to bully these directors into acting according to his wishes. Ms Crossin also complained about Mr Frys failure to consult and failure to provide updates on a radical transformation plan.

Mr Martin generally echoed the complaints of the others, adding it was symptomatic of larger governance issues, while another director, Daniel Tucker backed Mr Fry, describing the May 7 board meeting as robust. On August 19, ahead of the release of Ms Thoms report, a second motion of no confidence was carried four votes to two. Ms Thoms report, commissioned by Mr Wyatt, concluded that Mr Frys conduct had not amounted to bullying but it would be open to the board to find it had breached the corporations code of conduct. More fundamentally, Ms Thom warned that there is a high risk that the board cannot currently fulfil the functions as set out in the ATSI [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Act and its charter. Unless urgent action is taken this will also place at risk the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the ILSC as well as potentially its longer-term viability. The current level of conflict in the board also carries with it significant risks in terms of the morale, wellbeing and, ultimately, retention of ILSC management and staff, she warned.

Its not the first time the ISLC has been plagued with problems. Ten years ago, the board, under different leadership, purchased the Ayers Rock Resort for an inflated price of $300 million, saddling the organisation with massive debt, against the advice of the then Indigenous affairs minister. A former chair, Dr Dawn Casey, later pronounced the deal the largest single evaporation of public money in the Indigenous policy domain, ever. Mr Fry, in his defence, claims he has rescued the corporation from the brink of insolvency and the ILSC had out-performed under his leadership. He also denies claims of dysfunction or board tensions. The chairperson continues to serve as per ILSCs governing legislation and with the support of his fellow directors, he said.

Upheaval continues with Mr Tucker resigning last week, effective immediately, leaving five people including Mr Fry on the board. It means if any two people are absent from any board meeting there wont be a quorum. Directors were contacted for comment, including whether they supported Mr Fry. Ms Crossin declined to respond, saying the trove of documents that had become public speak for themselves. Other directors didnt respond. Mr Wyatt for his part, is playing a waiting game. Mr Frys second term ends in October. Given the circumstances that have now evolved, the minister is watching the actions and performance of the ILSC very closely and is considering the options that may be available to him to ensure this situation does not occur again, a spokesman Mr Wyatt said. In the meantime, the ISLC board remains in disarray.
First lady Melania Trump speaks during a campaign rally on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Atglen, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Melania Trump, the former first lady of the United States, has been spending most of her time relaxing at a spa after leaving White House. Her daily schedule has little to do with politics, Congress, Donald Trump's impeachment trials or social media accounts.

The former first lady has mentally all but left Washington behind, unlike her husband, CNN reported.

"She goes to the spa, has lunch, goes to the spa (again) and has dinner with Donald on the patio. Rinse and repeat. Every day," a person familiar with her schedule told CNN.

Read: Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in second impeachment trial

As per the report, Trump spends her evenings on the outdoor patio of Mar-a-Lago and is often joined by her parents Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who reside in a private suite at the same hotel.

There have been moments of bitterness and regret, several people familiar with Trump's conversations told the publication.

Notably, when Trump left Washington, she had the worst favorability ratings of any modern first lady during departure from the White House, as per a poll conducted by SSRS for CNN.

Early on in her tenure, Melania Trump was the most-liked member of the Trump family and the broader administration. However, the January 6 Capitol riots had a residual effect on the first lady's popularity.

Trump did not make a statement denouncing the violence for five days after the incident. Despite her husbands ongoing impeachment trial, Trumps day to day schedule is said to have returned back to normal before Washington.

"It is pretty much the same as it was before (she was first lady) or even when she would come down during vacations," a source familiar with her schedule told CNN.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

In a farewell message, Melania Trump said that "violence is never the answer," weeks after the president's supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump was acquitted on February 13 on charges of inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol, after a majority of Senate Republicans closed ranks and refused to punish the former president in his historic second impeachment trial.

Donald Trump, who has been secluded in his Florida club since leaving office on January 20, welcomed the verdict -- denouncing the proceedings as "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country."
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 19:35:13|Editor: huaxia

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Doctors and staff of the Saint George Hospital wait to receive doses of vaccine against COVID-19 in Beirut, Lebanon, on Feb. 14, 2021. Lebanon launched on Sunday its vaccination campaign by starting with employees in the health sector after receiving, a day earlier, 28,500 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, LBCI local TV channel reported. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

BEIRUT, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon launched on Sunday its vaccination campaign against COVID-19, starting with employees in the health sector, after receiving 28,500 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines on Saturday, LBCI local TV channel reported.

The vaccination campaign started in three centers in the country including the American University of Beirut Medical Center, El Roum Hospital and Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) which was the first hospital to treat COVID-19 patients in the country.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited on Sunday the RHUH and he saluted the doctors and nurses who sacrificed their lives to save COVID-19 patients.

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections has reached 336,992 cases while the death toll stands at 3,961. Enditem
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Djokovic defies injury to secure quarterfinal place

Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves in his fourth round match against Canada's Milos Raonic. Photo: Reuters

Eight-time winner Novak Djokovic fought through what he had described as a tournament-ending injury to beat Milos Raonic and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.



Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams survived scares to go through but US Open champion Dominic Thiem was a major casualty when he fell to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.



Simona Halep avenged her crushing French Open defeat by Polish teenager Iga Swiatek to set up a meeting with Williams, while Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei reached her first Slam quarter-final at the age of 35.



Djokovic, the world number one, had raised the alarm over an abdominal injury after his five-set battle with Taylor Fritz, but he showed few outward signs in his 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.



However, the 17-time Grand Slam winner said he had spent "every single hour" since Friday's win trying to recover, and wasn't sure he would play until he warmed up before the match.



"If it was any other tournament than a Grand Slam I would retire from the tournament, that's for sure," said Djokovic, who becomes just the second player after Roger Federer to win 300 Grand Slam matches.



"But because it's a Grand Slam, I want to give my best alongside my team to try to recover and get on the court."



The defending champion will next meet German sixth seed Alexander Zverev, who beat Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 as he seeks his first Grand Slam title.



Earlier, Japan's Osaka edged a thriller with fellow major-winner Garbine Muguruza, and Williams came through a physical test against Aryna Sabalenka to maintain her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.



In an empty Rod Laver Arena, with fans barred on the second day of a five-day, state-wide coronavirus lockdown, Osaka was on the verge of elimination at 3-5, 15-40 on her serve in the third set.



But the three-time major champion rattled off four points in a row and then twice broke Muguruza's serve to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.



"I felt like I was intimidated because she was playing so well," said Osaka, after her first meeting with last year's beaten finalist. "On the stressful points, I had to play within myself."



Osaka now faces an all-Asian quarter-final with Hsieh, who beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 6-2 to reach her first Slam quarter-final in 16 years of trying.



Williams, 39, was also meeting Sabalenka for the first time and she had to weather an onslaught from the Belarusian to reach the last eight 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.



"I knew it wasn't going to be easy, she was teeing off on every shot," said the American, who will play Halep in the quarter-finals.



But a tired-looking Thiem, coming off a five-set win over Australia's Nick Kyrgios, slumped in straight sets to Dimitrov who took it 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 in just over two hours.



Dimitrov's victory against Thiem, the third seed and last year's runner-up, sets up a quarter-final with surprise package Aslan Karatsev, who is into the last eight on his Grand Slam debut.



"Whether it's a fairytale or not, it's a match and you've got to be ready," Bulgaria's Dimitrov said of the unheralded Russian.



"I've seen a little bit of his matches, clearly he's a dangerous player."



Karatsev beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets to become the first player in 25 years to reach the quarter-finals on his Grand Slam debut.



The 27-year-old, a virtual unknown before the tournament started, battled back from two sets down to upset the Canadian 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.



Halep won just three games against Swiatek, 19, at last year's Roland Garros, but she turned the tables with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.



"I knew she would hit strong, but after the first set I tried to make her run and she started to miss," said the Romanian. (AFP)
Over 200 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast: UN Migration Agency

EditorWang Xinjuan Time2021-02-11 15:30:01

Illegal immigrants are seen on the deck of Libyan Coast Guard's ship at the port of Al Khums, Libya, on Feb. 10, 2021. The UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 200 illegal immigrants were rescued off Libyan coast on Wednesday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)

TRIPOLI, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 200 illegal immigrants were rescued off Libyan coast on Wednesday.

"We reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya, and that the arbitrary detention of migrants must end," the IOM tweeted.

Because of the insecurity and chaos in Libya following the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean from in the North African country toward Europe.

According to IOM, more than 2,000 illegal immigrants have been rescued off Libyan coast so far in 2021.

In 2020, 323 migrants died and 417 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route while 11,891 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya, according to the IOM estimates.
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Cindy Crawford and Gisele Bundchen have led the charge of celebrities spreading the love on Valentine's Day.

The superstars posted gushing tributes to their partners on social media as they celebrated the romantic holiday on Sunday.

Cindy, 54, posted a sweet throwback of herself in the arms of her husband, Rande Gerber, whom she has been married to since 1998 and shares two children with.

'I love you!' Cindy Crawford and Christina Aguilera have led the charge of celebrities spreading the love on Valentine's Day

'Every day is Valentines Day': Rande Gerber also posted a stunning flashback photo of his wife, enjoying breakfast in bed

'Still the one after all these years. Happy Valentine's Day @randegerber. I'm proud of us for the life we have created. Even when things get crazy, when we join forces, we can get through anything. I love you!' Cindy gushed in the caption.

Rande also posted a stunning flashback photo of his wife, enjoying breakfast in bed.

'Every day is Valentines Day when I get to wake up with you,' he captioned the gorgeous throwback.

Tom Brady took a break from Super Bowl celebrations to gush about his gorgeous wife Gisele Bundchen.

Aww: Tom Brady took a break from Super Bowl celebrations to gush about his gorgeous wife Gisele Bundchen

Sweet: Returning the favor, Gisele uploaded a sweet shot of herself kissing Tom's cheek with the caption: 'My forever lovvvey!  #happyvalentinesday'

'My Forever Valentine,' he captioned the sweet snap, which captured him tenderly kissing his wife on the cheek.

Returning the favor, Gisele uploaded a sweet shot of herself kissing Tom's cheek with the caption: 'My forever lovvvey!  #happyvalentinesday'

Christina Aguilera, 40, marked the special day with a photo of herself enjoying a romantic, candlelit date with her fiance, Matthew Rutler.

So in love: Christina Aguilera, 40, marked the special day with a photo of herself enjoying a romantic, candlelit date with her fiance, Matthew Rutler

'My forever Valentine!!' The actress, who is currently expecting her first child with the music executive, posted a throwback photo of the couple packing on the PDA by a serene river

The couple were the picture of bliss sitting before an enchanting display of red roses and taper candles.

'Happy Valentine's Day my love... here's to all the adventures we've shared and many more to come,' she captioned the picture, along with a heart and lip print emoji.

Love was also in the air for Katharine McPhee and her husband David Foster.

The actress, who is currently expecting her first child with the music executive, posted a throwback photo of the couple packing on the PDA by a serene river.

Forever and ever: Gal Gadot paid tribute to her 'forever Valentine', her husband Yaron Varsano

'I can't wait for forever with you': Lily Collins did not shy away from expressing her affection for her fiance Charlie McDowell

'My forever Valentine!! My Best friend, my favorite person, my motivator, everyday! @davidfoster. I looove you cookie,' she captioned the photo.

Gal Gadot paid tribute to her 'forever Valentine', her husband Yaron Varsano, with a sweet boating throwback.

Lily Collins also gushed about her fiance Charlie McDowell, posting a photo from the day they got engaged last year.

Hugs and kisses: Kate Hudson celebrated the special day with this throwback video of her kissing Danny Fujikawa

Cuddles: Halle Berry posted several loved-up snaps with her boyfriend Van Hunt

Kate Hudson puckered up on Sunday morning for her beau of nearly four years Danny Fujikawa, whom she shares two-year-old daughter Rani with.

'First trip together with a kiss in a lotus field sealing the deal,' wrote the actress. 'My everyday Valentine, grounding loving kind soul, greatest father, oh how did I get so lucky. I love you.'

She included footage of herself and Fujikawa making their way through a field together, before locking lips for the camera.

Halle Berry has not been shy about gushing over her beau Van Hunt since getting together with the musician last year, so the 54-year-old actress used Valentine's Day to give her fans some words of wisdom about 'never settling' for less in their love life.

'To all the Valentines who may be struggling to get it right...I feel you, but never give up and NEVER SETTLE for less than what makes your heart sing!' captioned Berry on Instagram, who included numerous snapshots of herself and Hunt taken during their most intimate and happy moments.

Reese Witherspoon wished her 25million Instagram followers a 'Happy Valentine's Day' by treating them to an adorable holiday-themed photoshoot featuring herself and her beloved pup Minnie

Sexy: Bella Thorne sizzled in racy lingerie as she promoted her OnlyFans account

'No matter what they say or what they call you. No matter how many times you try, it's always worth it. If you desire love, you will find your match, your equal ....your person...even if it takes you until you're 54!' stressed the star, concluding with: 'Happy Valentine's Day.'

Reese Witherspoon wished her 25million Instagram followers a 'Happy Valentine's Day' by treating them to an adorable holiday-themed photoshoot featuring herself and her beloved pup Minnie.

'Happy Valentine's Day from me and Minnie!' wrote the 44-year-old Oscar-winner, who cradled the pooch in her arm for one precious snap.

Bella Thorne used Valentine's Day to attract more customers to her popular OnlyFans account by modeling a black lingerie set for her 24.3million followers.

The actress-turned-singer, 23, also penned a sweet post for her hunky Italian beau Benjamin Mascolo, writing: 'Caught red handed at dinner serving straight love #happyvalentinesday'

Engaged: Alex Rodriguez famously proposed to his megastar girlfriend Jennifer Lopez in 2019, after two years of dating

Thankful: And the 45-year-old MLB star took to Instagram on Sunday to thank Lopez for 'taking [him] into [her] heart, and on the journey of a lifetime'

Speechless: 'Words can't do justice to how you make me feel, and what you have meant to my life,' captioned Rodriguez, who crafted a sentimental slideshow featuring photos of himself and Lopez set to the Bill Withers hit Just the Two of Us

Forever: 'Today we celebrate each other. 'Just the two of us.' But what I love most is that together, we have truly become one. Happy #ValentinesDay, @jlo! I love you. Today and forever'

Alex Rodriguez famously proposed to his megastar girlfriend Jennifer Lopez in 2019, after two years of dating.

And the 45-year-old MLB star took to Instagram on Sunday to thank Lopez for 'taking [him] into [her] heart, and on the journey of a lifetime.'

'Words can't do justice to how you make me feel, and what you have meant to my life,' captioned Rodriguez, who crafted a sentimental slideshow featuring photos of himself and Lopez set to the Bill Withers hit Just the Two of Us.

'Today we celebrate each other. 'Just the two of us.' But what I love most is that together, we have truly become one. Happy #ValentinesDay, @jlo! I love you. Today and forever.'

Sharing a candid black-and-white photo of herself and beau Garrett Hedlund to Instagram, Emma Roberts wished a 'Happy Valentine's Day [her] love' via Instagram on Sunday.

The look of love: Emma Roberts gazed lovingly into the eyes of her beau Garrett Hedlund as she marked Valentine's Day with this intimate snap

Roses: Taking to her Instagram Story, Emma also gave her followers a look at the gorgeous bouquet of red roses that were seemingly gifted to her by the 36-year-old heartthrob

Kiss me! Salma Hayek planted one on her husband Francois-Henri Pinault

The pair, who commenced their romance in early 2019, welcomed their first child together, son Rhodes, in late December.

Taking to her Instagram Story, Emma also gave her followers a look at the gorgeous bouquet of red roses that were seemingly gifted to her by the 36-year-old heartthrob.

Salma Hayek gave fans a peek into her love life with husband Francois-Henri Pinault as she shared a photo with the 58-year-old CEO of Kering to Instagram.

'#happyvalentinesday,' captioned the actress, who placed a tender kiss on Pinault's cheek as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Nina Dobrev showcased her goofy side as she paid tribute to beau Shaun White, whom she began dating last year before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Happy we got 'stuck together'': Nina Dobrev gushed about her boyfriend Shaun White

'my favorite snow cone flavor is White,' captioned the Vampire Diaries actress, 31, as she pretended to lick White's auburn locks. The photo was taken during the couple's recent ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming earlier this month.

happy we got 'stuck together' last year and stuck it out ;) happy valentine's day to my quarantini in crime' concluded Dobrev, who made sure to tag the 34-year-old Olympic gold medalist in the thoughtful post.

Kim Kardashian did NOT pay tribute to husband Kanye West, but, instead, promoted her latest SKIMS Valentine's Day drop by appearing on Instagram in the collection's nude lingerie.

Ryan Reynolds could not help but add a little humor to his Valentine's Day post to wife of nine years Blake Lively as he uploaded some of his favorite footage of the actress to Instagram.

'My forever valentine for the foreseeable future,' wrote the 44-year-old Canadian-American actor, who shares three daughters with 33-year-old Lively.

Riding solo? Kim Kardashian did NOT pay tribute to husband Kanye West, but, instead, promoted her latest SKIMS Valentine's Day drop by appearing on Instagram in the collection's nude lingerie

True love: 'My forever valentine for the foreseeable future,' wrote Ryan Reynolds to wife Blake Lively, whom he shares three daughters with

Jovial: He included a slow motion video of Blake sledding in the snow, as well as his favorite photo of himself and the blonde beauty

He included a slow motion video of Blake sledding in the snow, as well as his favorite photo of himself and the blonde beauty.

Blake took the cake for BEST Valentine's Day post by showcasing Ryan's hairdressing skills in a video clip taken during quarantine.

'That time I f*d my hairdresser,' joked the Gossip Girl star as Reynolds helped her touch up her hair color at home.

She also shared a sweet snapshot of herself and Reynolds taken in the backyard of their New York City abode.

Little helper: Blake took the cake for BEST Valentine's Day post by showcasing Ryan's hairdressing skills in a video clip taken during quarantine

Sweet: 'That time I f*d my hairdresser,' joked the Gossip Girl star as Reynolds helped her touch up her hair color at home

Happy life: She also shared a sweet snapshot of herself and Reynolds taken in the backyard of their New York City abode

Megan Fox and her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly have been the talk of the town, since getting together in April of last year following her split from estranged husband Brian Austin Green.

And Megan made sure to make the 30-year-old rapper-turned-rocker feel special about their relationship on Sunday by sharing some photos she had tucked away in her camera roll.

'happy valentine's day rehab barbie,' wrote the Transformers actress, who also seemed to pen a poem for MGK.

In one of the intimate snapshots, Machine Gun Kelly can be seen planting a tongue-filled kiss on Fox, while the others showed the couple posing before a floor-length mirror in some of their favorite coordinating ensembles.

Machine Gun Kelly also made sure to honor the 34-year-old actress by upload some photos of his own, noting that Fox is his 'bloody valentine.'

Talk of the town: Megan Fox and her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly have been the talk of the town, since getting together in April of last year following her split from estranged husband Brian Austin Green

And Megan made sure to make the 30-year-old rapper-turned-rocker feel special about their relationship on Sunday by sharing some photos she had tucked away in her camera roll

Machine Gun Kelly also made sure to honor the 34-year-old actress by upload some photos of his own, noting that Fox is his 'bloody valentine'

Although her and husband Taylor Goldsmith are 'not big on Valentine's Day,' Mandy Moore still made sure to let her 4.4million Instagram followers know that she is 'the luckiest' to have 'landed' the singer-songwriter for herself.

Miranda Lambert beamed in the show with her husband of nearly two-years Brendan Mcloughlin as she deemed the New York native her 'valentine' on Instagram.

Elsa Hosk deemed her newborn daughter her 'valentine' on Sunday, while sharing a makeup-free shot of herself and the little one to Instagram.

Hosk shares her daughter with longtime beau and entrepreneur Tom Daly.

Luckiest: Although her and husband Taylor Goldsmith are 'not big on Valentine's Day,' Mandy Moore still made sure to let her 4.4million Instagram followers know that she is 'the luckiest' to have 'landed' the singer-songwriter for herself

Beaming: Miranda Lambert beamed in the show with her husband of nearly two-years Brendan Mcloughlin as she deemed the New York native her 'valentine' on Instagram

Baby girl: Elsa Hosk deemed her newborn daughter her 'valentine' on Sunday, while sharing a makeup-free shot of herself and the little one to Instagram

Olivia Culpo brought the cuteness as she gushed over her NFL beau Christian McCaffrey.

The 28-year-old beauty flooded her Instagram with a ton of precious photos of herself and the 24-year-old, including plenty of kissing snaps.

'Holy sh*t I love you,' captioned Culpo. 'happy valentimes day @christianmccaffrey '

Flashing their killer smiles for the camera, Katherine Schwarzenegger labeled husband and actor Chris Pratt her 'valentine' via Instagram.

Too cute: Olivia Culpo brought the cuteness as she gushed over her NFL beau Christian McCaffrey

Loved up: 'Holy sh*t I love you,' captioned Culpo. 'happy valentimes day @christianmccaffrey '

Smooch: The 28-year-old beauty flooded her Instagram with a ton of precious photos of herself and the 24-year-old, including plenty of kissing snaps

Smiley: Flashing their killer smiles for the camera, Katherine Schwarzenegger labeled husband and actor Chris Pratt her 'valentine' via Instagram

Lucky man: Chris Pratt deemed himself a 'lucky man' for nabbing Katherine

'I love you Valentine && love the Valentine we get to share forever,' wrote model Gigi Hadid to on-and-off beau Zayn Malik.

The 25-year-old runway maven and the 27-year-old former boy bander welcomed their first child, daughter Khai, five months ago.

Katy Perry, who engaged to fiance Orlando Bloom on Valentine's Day in 2019, appeared on Instagram in an elaborate gown that proved appropriate for the day of love.

'Will you be joining a Queen of Hearts for the #AmericanIdol premiere tonight? Grab your beloved valentine and tune in to @abcnetwork at 8/7c' captioned the 36-year-old singer.

New parents: 'I love you Valentine && love the Valentine we get to share forever,' wrote model Gigi Hadid to on-and-off beau Zayn Malik

Queen of Hearts: Katy Perry, who engaged to fiance Orlando Bloom on Valentine's Day in 2019, appeared on Instagram in an elaborate gown that proved appropriate for the day of love

Tune in! 'Will you be joining a Queen of Hearts for the #AmericanIdol premiere tonight? Grab your beloved valentine and tune in to @abcnetwork at 8/7c' captioned the 36-year-old singer

Time of year: Katie Holmes, who has been dating chef Emilio Vitolo Jr, marveled at 'that time of year' on Sunday as she uploaded an artistic image of a heart to Instagram

Katie Holmes, who has been dating chef Emilio Vitolo Jr, marveled at 'that time of year' on Sunday as she uploaded an artistic image of a heart to Instagram.

The 42-year-old actress' post earned a 'like' from her 33-year-old boyfriend.

Joe Jonas wished a 'Happy Valentine's Day to [his] 2 Valentines,' referencing to wife Sophie Turner and their newborn daughter Willa, on Twitter.

He included a throwback photo of the 24-year-old Game Of Thrones actress showing off her belly, while sprawled out on the couch.

Heidi Klum was treated to a gorgeous bouquet of bright red roses by her husband and Tokio Hotel rocker Tom Kaulitz.

He's got TWO! Joe Jonas wished a 'Happy Valentine's Day to [his] 2 Valentines,' referencing to wife Sophie Turner and their newborn daughter Willa, on Twitter

Gorgeous: Heidi Klum was treated to a gorgeous bouquet of bright red roses by her husband and Tokio Hotel rocker Tom Kaulitz

A little dance: 'My Valentine,' captioned the 47-year-old supermodel, who shared a video of herself and Tom dancing with one another in their kitchen

'My Valentine,' captioned the 47-year-old supermodel, who shared a video of herself and Tom dancing with one another in their kitchen.

Lizzo had no issue with being her own Valentine as she posed up a storm in some barely-there red lingerie from Yandy for her 9.8million Instagram followers.

'*New pose unlocked* I grab my own a**' joked the Grammy Award-winner, who modeled the sexy get-up, along with a pair of Rad and Refined sunglasses, in her glamorous bedroom.

Megan Fox's estranged husband Brian Austin Green spent Valentine's Day with his new flame Sharna Burgess.

Don't need anyone else! Lizzo had no issue with being her own Valentine as she posed up a storm in some barely-there red lingerie for her 9.8million Instagram followers

Werk it! '*New pose unlocked* I grab my own a**' joked the Grammy Award-winner, who modeled the sexy get-up in her glamorous bedroom

New flame: Megan Fox's estranged husband Brian Austin Green spent Valentine's Day with his new flame Sharna Burgess

Tender: The pair appeared on the 47-year-old 90210 actor's Instagram on Sunday, with the 35-year-old DWTS pro holding onto his arm as they spoke to his following

The pair appeared on the 47-year-old 90210 actor's Instagram on Sunday, with the 35-year-old DWTS pro holding onto his arm as they spoke to his following.

Joe Manganiello shared a stunning photo of wife Sofia Vergara as he wished a 'happy valentine's day to the most beautiful woman in the world' in Spanish.

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old star of Modern Family uploaded her favorite snapshot of herself and the Magic Mike actor to Instagram to commemorate the love-filled day.

Britney Spears' hunky boyfriend Sam Asghari penned a sweet, yet funny message to the 39-year-old pop star, not that 'After chocolate, [he is] her favorite.'

He added: 'Happy chocolate Day lioness!'

Most beautiful: Joe Manganiello shared a stunning photo of wife Sofia Vergara as he wished a 'happy valentine's day to the most beautiful woman in the world' in Spanish

Favorite: Meanwhile, the 48-year-old star of Modern Family uploaded her favorite snapshot of herself and the Magic Mike actor to Instagram to commemorate the love-filled day

She also gave a shout out to her beloved Chihuahua pups and son Manolo on her Instagram Story

Second place: Britney Spears' hunky boyfriend Sam Asghari penned a sweet, yet funny message to the 39-year-old pop star, not that 'After chocolate, [he is] her favorite'

Miley Cyrus spent her first Valentine's - in a long time - as a single lady, which she happily celebrated with her gorgeous mother Tish.

Taking to Instagram, the 28-year-old pop rocker deemed her mother, as well as her sister Noah, as her Valentines.

She also made sure to show off her casual, yet stylish Valentine's Day outfit as she hung out at home, jokingly writing: 'this could be yours but you're dumb'

Drake was also happily sporting the 'single' vibe as he shared two gussied up selfies to Instagram.

Cardi B and her hubby Offset recently escaped normal life to spend Valentine's Day in a tropical destination with their two-year-old daughter Kulture.

Mommy Valentine: Miley Cyrus spent her first Valentine's - in a long time - as a single lady, which she happily celebrated with her gorgeous mother Tish

Antics: She also made sure to show off her casual, yet stylish Valentine's Day outfit as she hung out at home, jokingly writing: 'this could be yours but you're dumb'

Family affair: Cardi B and her hubby Offset recently escaped normal life to spend Valentine's Day in a tropical destination with their two-year-old daughter Kulture

Suave: Drake was also happily sporting the 'single' vibe as he shared two gussied up selfies to Instagram

Brooke Burke's boyfriend Scott Rigsby uploaded some very sultry snaps of himself and the 49-year-old actress, including one of him seemingly undoing her lingerie in the bedroom.

Newly single Rebel Wilson put some confectionary fun into the holiday by chowing down on a delicious glazed donut.

'The only ring I'll see this Valentine's Day,' joked the star as she bit into the treat.

Carrie Underwood admitted that 'Valentine's Day is [her] least favorite holiday' and that she 'cannot put [her] finger on exactly why that is but it may be because [she] wants [her] true love to love [her] 'extra special' for 365 days out of the year.'

Sultry: Brooke Burke's boyfriend Scott Rigsby uploaded some very sultry snaps of himself and the 49-year-old actress, including one of him seemingly undoing her lingerie in the bedroom

Ready to mingle? Newly single Rebel Wilson put some confectionary fun into the holiday by chowing down on a delicious glazed donut

Jokester: 'The only ring I'll see this Valentine's Day,' joked the star as she bit into the treat

The country songstress added: 'not just on the one day that he's 'supposed' to.'

'That said, everyone else has been posting the sweetest pics of them and their loves, so here's mine. My Valentine... Every. Single. Day. Hope you all are being sweet to each other out there.  ' concluded Underwood, who included a stunning snap of herself with hubby Mike Fisher.

Shawn Mendes and his girlfriend of nearly two years Camila Cabello were all loved up on Sunday as they paid tribute to one another on social media.

Mendes shared two snaps with the brunette beauty, including one of him graciously kissing her foot, writing: 'I kiss your foot cuz I love you'

All year long: Carrie Underwood admitted that 'Valentine's Day is [her] least favorite holiday' and that she 'cannot put [her] finger on exactly why that is but it may be because [she] wants [her] true love to love [her] 'extra special' for 365 days out of the year'

Happiness: Shawn Mendes and his girlfriend of nearly two years Camila Cabello were all loved up on Sunday as they paid tribute to one another on social media
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New Delhi, Feb 14 : The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 must be put out in the public domain before starting the discussion on it in Parliament.

AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey in a statement here said that the Bill is not available on the Power Ministry website.

He said the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 is included in the list of 20 new Bills to be placed in the current Budget session of Parliament. Now the Union Power Minister is to hold a video conference on February 17 with power secretaries of the state and CMDs of the discoms to discuss the proposed amendments in Electricity Act 2003.

AIPEF has threatened a lightning strike against any unilateral move to rush through the Bill in Parliament.

AIPEF national executive meeting has been called on February 27 at Mumbai which will decide the future agitational course of action. Dubey said all power engineers across the country will go for nationwide struggle along with 1.5 million power employees against Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021.

AIPEF in its letter to the Prime Minister has mentioned that this is a short cut and rushed through amendments without due consideration or deliberation and is not acceptable.

There have been reports that the Power Ministry has circulated Electricity (Amendment) Bill proposing amendments to the Electricity Act 2003. The proposed amendments entail de-licensing of the distribution business.

A copy of the letter addressed to the Prime Minister has been endorsed to all Chief Ministers with the request to use good offices to ensure that Bill is placed in public domain and all stakeholders including consumers and employees are given the due opportunity to submit their comments on the Bill, AIPEF said.

Dubey said that the reported matters in the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 are un-authenticated and deserve to be discarded, particularly as they are tantamount to introducing a drastic policy of separating carriage and content which was earlier rejected by as many as 20 states.

The outcome of the various suggestions of the stakeholders on the Bill 2020 remains undisclosed and a new draft Bill 2021 has been leaked to the selected few. The present approach of the ministry of power is non-transparent and secretive, and seems that the government is trying to hide secret critical facts, he said.

AIPEF stressed that all the stakeholders including associations/unions of employees and engineers, consumers and others must be given sufficient time to present their viewpoints as state governments are not the only stakeholders.

The draft of amendment was sent by Power Ministry on February 5 only to Principal Secretaries of states and CMDs of state power corporations to file comments in 14 days, i.e. by February 19.

Even before the last date of February 19, Power Minister R.K. Singh is going to hold a video conference on February 17 with states and state CMDs.

"The government has forgotten that consumers, employees and workers are the most important stakeholders that Ministry of Power is ignoring by keeping the amendment Bill secret. This wrong approach will recoil on MOP and surely defeat the entire process. We again request intervention of PM of India to restore transparency and order that amendments be put on MOP website with time of minimum 3 months to submit comments," AIPEF said.
Dhanush took to Twitter to share the first look poster of Karnan along with the release date.

South star Dhanush on Sunday announced that his upcoming Tamil film Karnan will have a worldwide theatrical release on 9 April.

The film, reportedly billed as an action-drama, is helmed by Mari Selvaraj of Pariyerum Perumal fame.

Dhanush took to Twitter and shared the first look poster of Karnan along with the release date. The poster features the actor star standing handcuffed, bleeding from the forehead and hands.

"The soul of justice never dies," the tagline on the poster read.

Check out the post here

Last month, Dhanush had thanked the producer of the film, Kalaippuli S Thanu, for opting for a theatrical release despite other available options to screen the movie.

"Karnan releases April 2021 in theatres. A much needed encouraging news at the right time. Thank you Thanu sir for thinking of the theatre owners, distributors, exhibitors and everybody who's livelihood is dependant on films and theatres, even though you had other options.

"A big thank you on behalf of my fans as this means a lot to them. Love you all. Spread Love," the actor had tweeted.

Dhanush is currently awaiting the release of director Karthik Subbaraj's action-thriller Jagame Thanthiram.

He will also reunite with Aanand L Rai's Atrangi Re, following his Hindi film debut Raanjhanaa in 2013 with the filmmaker.

Dhanush''s last Hindi title was Shamitabh, which released in 2015.
News  Vietnam

Central city to build duty-free zone
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
According to The Daily Telegraph', the invisible coating on facemasks attacks the virus by rapturing its outer layer, effectively eliminating all new mutant variants

Scientists at the University of Cambridge working with an anti-viral coating technology called DioX believe that it could protect facemask users by killing the deadly in as little as an hour.

According to The Daily Telegraph', the invisible coating on facemasks attacks the virus by rapturing its outer layer, effectively eliminating all new mutant variants, including the UK's so-called Kent variant and the South African variant.

"The antiviral agent within the coating of the mask kills the virus by breaching its protective outer membrane, which is known as its envelope. Unlike other parts of the virus, the membrane remains the same regardless of any type of mutation. Hence this way of attacking the pathogen will work on any new variant of coronavirus, Dr Graham Christie, senior lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, told the newspaper.

In fact, you could mutate the entire genome of the virus and it would have no effect on the envelope. We expect to see the same response regardless of the strain of because structurally they are all very similar," he said.

The technology called DiOX is based on quaternary ammonium salts organic compounds widely used in the textile industry for their antimicrobial properties. Laboratory tests showed that the mask coated with it killed 95 per cent of pathogens on its surface within one hour and they were undetectable after four hours.

Experts say the action of the antiviral agent continues to work because it is unaffected by changes in the spike protein of the virus, which is the method by which mutates.

"The variants that we are seeing occur in the spike proteins that stud the surface of the virus rather than the membrane of the envelope," said Dr Christie.

It is the genetic information that encodes this protein that is mutating, and this is leading to very slight structural changes in the shape of the spike. However, the envelope is derived from part of a human cell that the virus grabs from its host in order to protect its genetic material. It is made from lipids, which unlike the proteins do not change," he said.

According to the newspaper report, the mask is reusable and can be washed up to 20 times, albeit subject to a reduction in efficacy after multiple washes. During the study, the mask was tested on a coronavirus called MHV-A59, which is genetically and structurally very similar to SARS-CoV-2.

"The Cambridge work followed industry standards for the testing of viruses on material," said Andy Middleton, co-founder of LiquidNano, the UK company which commissioned the study.

"It also made some critical adaptations to give it a more real-world' relevance. This included conducting splash tests to mimic sneezing, helping to ensure the tests were as rigorous as possible. We have taken a proven antiviral agent and developed it for fabric in order to create a user-friendly mask," he said.

DioX D4 claims to offer a patented technology for inhibiting the growth of a wide array of bacteria, mould, mildew, algae, fungi, and yeast on textile materials.

The novel antimicrobial agent provides an invisible microbiostatic coating to inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria. Given the coronavirus pandemic, DiOX D4 said it has also been independently tested to rapidly reduce bacterial and viral pathogens, greatly limiting the risk of contact contamination and infection.

If proved effective in further analyses, the technology could offer an additional layer of protection against deadly viruses over time.

(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.)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) didn't hold back on Saturday when she issued a "scorching" statement on why she decided to vote to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.

"The facts make it clear that the violence and desecration of the Capitol that we saw on Jan. 6 was not a spontaneous uprising," Murkowski said, explaining that she believes Trump "set the stage" for the insurrection months before by repeatedly pushing unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud in the presidential election. Trump, she said, "did everything in his power to stay in power," ultimately calling on his supporters "to come to Washington, D.C., ... to 'Stop the Steal' of an election that had not been stolen" and giving the crowd on Jan. 6 "explicit instructions" to march to the Capitol.

Once the riot started, Murkowski continued, Trump was "not concerned" about members of Congress, the Capitol Police, or former Vice President Mike Pence. "He was concerned about his election and retaining power," she said.

Lawmakers were still able to finish certifying the Electoral College results that day because of "brave men and women who fulfilled their oath to protect and defend Congress. I regret that Donald Trump was not one of them," Murkowski said as she wrapped up the statement.

Murkowski will be the first of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump to come up for re-election in 2022 (two of the senators are retiring), though any risk she may face for defying Trump is mitigated somewhat by Alaska's unique electoral system, analysts say. Either way, Murkowski has built a reputation as one of the more bipartisan senators, so there's no reason to think she would have changed her vote under different circumstances. Read the full statement here.

More stories from theweek.com

More Republicans blame Biden for Capitol riot than fault Trump

The architect of Texas' electricity market says it's working as planned. Critics compare it to late Soviet Russia.

7 scathingly funny cartoons about Republicans' impeachment cowardice


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WASHINGTON  Donald Trump's acquittal at his second impeachment trial may not be the final word on whether he's to blame for the deadly Capitol riot. The next step for the former president could be the courts.

Now a private citizen, Trump is stripped of his protection from legal liability that the presidency gave him. That change in status is something that even Republicans who voted on Saturday to acquit of inciting the Jan. 6 attack are stressing as they urge Americans to move on from impeachment.

"President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said after that vote. He insisted that the court were a more appropriate venue to hold Trump accountable than a Senate trial.

"He didn't get away with anything yet," McConnell said. "Yet."

The insurrection at the Capitol, in which five people died, is just one of the legal cases shadowing Trump in the months after he was voted out of office. He also faces legal exposure in Georgia over an alleged pressure campaign on state election officials, and in Manhattan over hush-money payments and business deals.

But Trump's culpability under the law for inciting the riot is by no means clear-cut. The standard is high under court decisions reaching back 50 years. Trump could also be sued by victims, though he has some constitutional protections, including if he acted while carrying out the duties of president. Those cases would come down to his intent.

Legal scholars say a proper criminal investigation takes time, and there are at least five years on the statute of limitations to bring a federal case. New evidence is emerging every day.

"They're way too early in their investigation to know," said Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Law School and former federal prosecutor. "The have arrested 200 people, they're pursuing hundreds more, all of those people could be potential witnesses because some have said 'Trump made me do it'."

What's not known, she said, is what Trump was doing during the time of the riot, and that could be the key. Impeachment didn't produce many answers. But federal investigators in a criminal inquiry have much more power to compel evidence through grand jury subpoenas.

"It's not an easy case, but that's only because what we know now, and that can change," Levenson said.

The legal issue is whether Trump or any of the speakers at the rally near the White House that preceded the assault on the Capitol incited violence and whether they knew their words would have that effect. That's the standard the Supreme Court laid out in its 1969 decision in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which overturned the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader.

Trump urged the crowd on Jan. 6 to march on the Capitol, where Congress was meeting to affirm Joe Biden's presidential election, Trump even promised to go with his supporters, though he didn't in the end. "You'll never take our country back with weakness," Trump said.

He also had spent weeks spinning up supporters over his increasingly combative language and false election claims urging them to "stop the steal."

Trump's impeachment lawyers said he didn't do anything illegal. Trump, in a statement after the acquittal, did not admit to any wrongdoing.

Federal prosecutors have said they are looking at all angles of the assault on the Capitol and whether the violence had been incited. The attorney general for the District of Columbia, Karl Racine, has said that district prosecutors are considering whether to charge Trump under local law that criminalizes statements that motivate people to violence.

"Let it be known that the office of attorney general has a potential charge that it may utilize," Racine told MSNBC last month. The charge would be a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Trump's top White House lawyer repeatedly warned Trump on Jan. 6 that he could be held liable. That message was delivered in part to prompt Trump to condemn the violence that was carried out in his name and acknowledge that he would leave office Jan. 20, when Biden was inaugurated. He did depart the White House that day.

Since then, many of those charged in the riots say they were acting directly on Trump's orders. Some offered to testify. A phone call between Trump and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy emerged during the impeachment trial in which McCarthy, as rioters stormed the Capitol, begged Trump to call off the mob. Trump replied: "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."

The McCarthy call is significant because it could point to Trump's intent, state of mind and knowledge of the rioters' actions.

Court cases that try to prove incitement often bump up against the First Amendment. In recent years, federal judges have taken a hard line against the anti-riot law. The federal appeals court in Virginia narrowed the Anti-Riot Act, with a maximum prison term of five years, because it swept up constitutionally protected speech. The court found invalid parts of the law that encompassed speech tending to "encourage" or "promote" a riot, as well as speech "urging" others to riot or involving mere advocacy of violence.

The same court upheld the convictions of two members of a white supremacist group who admitted they punched and kicked counter-demonstrators during the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

It's possible federal prosecutors will decide not to bring charges, and if Trump were indicted in one of the many other separate investigations, federal prosecutors could decide justice would be done elsewhere.

Atlanta prosecutors have recently opened a criminal investigation into Trump's attempts to overturn his election loss in Georgia, including a Jan. 2 phone call in which he urged that state's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to "find" enough votes to reverse Biden's narrow victory.

And Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., is in the midst of an 18-month criminal grand jury investigation focusing in part on hush-money payments paid to women on Trump's behalf, and whether Trump or his businesses manipulated the value of assets  inflating them in some cases and minimizing them in others  to gain favorable loan terms and tax benefits.

GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who voted to acquit along with McConnell and 41 other Republicans, argued that because Trump is no longer in office, impeachment is not the right way to hold him to account.

"The ultimate accountability is through our criminal justice system where political passions are checked and due process is constitutionally mandated. No president is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution, and that includes former President Trump."

Associated Press writers Jim Mustian and Michael R. Sisak in New York and Mark Sherman contributed to this report.
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by U Zaw Zaw

The military coup is strengthening solidarity among all sections of the population, even between police and military. Aung San Suu Kyi also deserves respect. Europe does not understand Myanmar and its hope. The testimony of a humanitarian worker for 30 years in Southeast Asia.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - "These people deserve respect and support": this is the conclusion of a reflection that an Italian humanitarian worker sent to his friends. Under the local name of U Zaw Zaw, he has been working in Southeast Asia for over 30 years. The reason for the "respect and support" is that the coup d'etat by the military junta is generating ever greater solidarity among all strata of the population, even between the police and the military. U Zaw Zaw also defends the track record of Aung San Suu Kyi (the Lady) in the face of the empty presumption of many Europeans, who do not understand the complexity of the country and its difficulties. And that is why they do not understand the hope that the people of Myanmar have for their own future and that of their children.

Dear readers,

The past two weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me and my companions. Tonight I am allowing myself to express some of them in these few lines that I share with you because I profoundly believe that what we are experiencing deserves reflection. Allow me to share these thoughts, all of which are deeply personal. I don't think it will happen often.

It is not the first time that I have witnessed a coup. Back in 1992 in Bangkok, in the first year of my work, as well as in 2005, again in Thailand. But I saw that it was a struggle between forces that were already in power. They had never worried me, just as they have never been a cause of great concern for the people; except the last one, when the institution of the king began to crumble.

But this here is something much more. A people that until 2008-2010 lived in fear, under a terrible regime.

Only in recent years, and in particular since 2015, with the great free elections, have these people begun to breathe and understand that they could be the architects of their progress and their future.

But I don't want to make philosophies. I will tell you the things I have seen and heard. And my companions who go out among people more than me, more so.

I can tell you that this situation has thrown the whole country into great turmoil. All people almost suddenly found themselves retrogressing back 15 years. Our Daw Mary, who prepares our food and helps us with the house cleaning, was already talking about it, as she did at the time, in a low voice: you cannot speak openly about these things, because you never know who is listening.

As I write, the concert at eight in the evening has just ended: 20 minutes of banging pots and pans with an exceptional choral participation from all the houses and apartments, placed at the windows banging pans, lids, irons ... to echo the shared unifying sentiment. Throughout the city and in all cities.

And this unifying sentiment has been seen in these days of demonstrations, not far from here. An exceptional crescendo. Last Monday, demonstrations ran across the country, without the color of parties, to say that everyone is united in this request for freedom.

There are very orderly events: from 10 to 4 in the afternoon and then at home. At 8 pm there is a curfew. It is sad return to past times.

I must say that the dignity and contained behaviour is great. There is a great sense of solidarity: people offering water to the participants, there are places where food is distributed; boys who collect garbage after the processions have passed; truckloads of bananas distributed to the participants and to anyone who passes by.

Two days ago I happened to go to the embassy where some fellow citizens had been summoned for some coordination. I went by bike, I would never get there by car; and it was a continuous passage among many young people, many, and among those who supported them, offering them, and me, water or a package of rice to eat, or some typical dessert ...

I left with a bit of fear and returned full of the enthusiasm of these young people, without fear.

The Chinese in front of the house, a bit cold and always busy with work, even opened up the other day, offering dozens and dozens of young people who passed here to go to the event, prepared packages of rice, but in large quantities ...

Taxis that bring people home for free; policemen who coordinate traffic with great empathy with those participating in the protest ...

Even the staff who work with me, here in Yangon and Taunggyi, participated in the demonstrations: we can't go back, my project manager told me, I know what that means. She, the daughter of a catechist from a city in the delta, knows well what the dictatorship of the past meant.

The Taunggyi project manager told me that we don't want that for our children ".

The other day the physiotherapist who works with us, also with a two-year-old girl, repeated the same thing to me: we are ready to die, but we cannot go back. We die for our children.

I listened entranced by so much strength, but also with so much shame inside.

I often think of our young people without anywhere to go, without meaning; I think of our little Europe that is ever smaller and older, unable to understand and open horizons for which it is worth living and dying, engaged in very different agendas ...

I think that what happened came at a time of great weakness for this country and for its leader. Weakened by ten months of Covid-19 which really consumed those forces that the country had recovered somewhat in recent years.

But weakness also due to an international conspiracy that in recent months has weakened the very image of the "Lady", even taking away recognition and suchlike. I am not a political scientist and what I write is just my opinion, but it seems to me that the superficiality shown in particular by some European countries in making judgments was great; without calculating that if in Italy we lived the "twenty years", here there were three of "twenty years old" consecutively; in a population with 135 recognized ethnic groups, with languages, cultures. completely different. Superficiality and perhaps even arrogance, it seems to me are two aspects present in our Europe made up more of "bureaucrats" than of peoples. A Europe that is ashamed of its history.

I have seen young people without fear, eager to live in freedom. The style of their demonstrations are a thousand years away from our "black-blocks": our children whom we cultivate and train, and at the right moments we let them out to ... show that there is anger in people's hearts ...

Here too there is a lot of anger, an anger that instead gives rise to solidarity, closeness, acceptance, makes people suffer with great dignity, and also accepts to put their work in crisis ...

Today a person I know said to me: a friend of mine called me who is a policeman and doesn't know what to do; he can't go on like this; he would like to quit his job, but then what? His family? But how is it possible to stand against people?

This people deserve respect and support.

For this reason, I reiterate and reiterate our desire to continue, despite the many difficulties that are opening up on the horizon.

I ask you all, dear readers, to remember us in your prayers.

U Zaw Zaw

February 12, 2021
Country suffers largest job loss in two decades



The Moon Jae-in administration needs to overhaul its job creation policy as the country reported its largest monthly job loss in January. According to Statistics Korea, the number of employed people stood at 25.8 million last month, recording a fall of 982,000 jobs from a year earlier. The reduction was the steepest since December 1998 when 1.28 million jobs disappeared following the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.



As a result, the unemployment rate surged by 1.6 percentage points year-on-year to 5.7 percent last month, hitting a record high for any January since 1999. The jobless rate for people aged between 15 and 29 shot up to 9.5 percent. All these gloomy figures were attributed to the devastating economic fallout from the long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic.



It was inevitable  to a large extent  for the country to see the unprecedented public health crisis taking its toll on the jobs market. Lodging and dining businesses were the most vulnerable to the pandemic with their job losses amounting to 367,000 last month. The wholesale and retail sectors shed 218,000 jobs. Temporary workers lost 563,000 jobs, followed by day laborers with 232,000 jobs and the self-employed with 158,000 jobs.



The employment market has been battered by tightened social distancing guidelines and quarantine measures. The health authorities raised the social distancing guidelines to Level 2.5, the second-highest, in Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan area Dec. 8 and Level 2 in other regions to fight the third viral wave. This has put a ban or other restrictions on the operation of crowed places such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs and indoor gyms.



On Saturday, the government decided to lower social distancing rules to Level 2 for Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, and Level 1.5 for the rest of the country for two weeks from Monday. Under the decision, restaurants and some other public facilities in Seoul and its vicinity will be allowed to extend operations by one hour until 10 p.m. However, a ban on gatherings of five or more people will remain for the time being as the number of daily new infections stayed above 300 during the Feb. 11 to 14 Lunar New Year long weekend.



Against this backdrop, the depressed job market is not showing signs of tangible improvements anytime soon. Some analysts predict that doom and gloom will prevail until the nation completes its vaccine program to build herd immunity in the latter half of the year. This could mean the worst has yet to come as far as jobs are concerned.



The Moon administration has so far relied on offering public sector jobs amid the prolonged economic slump. This policy is a stopgap measure. The government cannot solve the problem without encouraging private businesses, the main actors of generating jobs, to hire more people. It must create an environment favorable to job creation. It is also imperative to push for bolder deregulation and promote innovation, not only to speed up economic recovery but also to offer more jobs.


A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Yaw Dabie Appiah Mensah, has called for the scrapping of the ex-gratia paid to Members of Parliament (MPs) after every four years.



According to him, the present economic state of the nation (amidst surging cases of Coronavirus disease) required the immediate scrapping of the huge emoluments paid to the MPs.



They are part of Article 71 office holders whose salaries and emoluments are determined by committees set up by the President, and are awarded huge lump sum as ex-gratia after every general election every four years, he stated.



Realistic



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Odumase in the Sunyani West Municipality, Mr Appiah, who is a former organiser of the NPP, indicated that governments around the world were spending huge sums of money to manage and contain the COVID-19.



"It's urgent the nation considers a realistic approach and generates more funds locally to tackle the COVID-19 proactively and to make Ghana safe for her people. I strongly believe it is among this and other factors that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reduce his ministerial portfolio to save the national coffers.



"You agree with me that we are not in normal times and so everybody must sacrifice for the nationwide fight against this COVID-19, which has potential to devastate and drain the national economy. If we don't take radical measures, the nation will go into huge economic crisis which will be extremely difficult to repair", Mr Appiah added.



The former NPP organiser stressed that the COVID-19 had had a huge impact on the nation and thereby worsened the socio-economic conditions of many Ghanaians who were currently living in abject poverty, saying it would be unfair and unreasonable for the nation to continue to pay the MPs ex-gratia while their constituents suffered economic hardships.



"I am not painting the picture that the MPs and other Article 71 office holders don't deserve the ex-gratia, but my brother you will agree with me that President Akufo-Addo is struggling and spending too much to contain this COVID-19 and at the same time to meet the development needs of the people. - GNA







Source: Graphiconline.com









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Featured Video

The extremely uncomfortable moment a cop appears to taser himself in the genitals has been caught on camera.

The injured policeman looks to be in serious pain while his colleagues, believed to be New South Wales police officers, continue to attempt to arrest a man on the ground.

The video has already received hundreds of views and comments from amused online commentators after it was uploaded to Facebook on Thursday.

In the video the police officer is seen holding his groin and grimacing, while the offending yellow taser hangs from his wrist.

In the video the police officer is seen holding his groin and grimacing, while another police officer attempts to handcuff a man on the ground

A policeman realises his colleague is injured and puts his hand on the 'victim's' shoulder, while a cop in the foreground struggles to handcuff another man on the ground.

The injured cop staggers around the handcuffed man, as other police officers attempt to control the growing crowd of spectators.

In a bizarre move, a police officer then appears to checks his mate's pulse, who is doubled over in pain and struggling to stand.

In a bizarre move, a fellow police officer appears to check his mates pulse, who is doubled over in pain

The video has attracted hundreds of comments from entertained Facebook users.

'Bad day at the office', one user commented.

'Makes a paper cut seem pretty insignificant,' one comment read.

'I'd just retire. Right there on the spot. Just think of your future nicknames,' another joked.

'Looks like he'll be getting the ambo service to get that one out,' another user said.

Police struggle to control the handcuffed man on the ground, as other police officers attempt to control the growing crowd of spectators

Police officers are trained to make a risk assessment of a situation before choosing to use a weapon, such as a taser.

Tasers can be particularly useful when police are dealing with violent or dangerous situations when people are threatening to harm themselves or others.

The use of a taser has allowed police officers to resolve potentially violent situations without injury to officers or members of the general public.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to NSW police about the incident.
With attacks against Asian Americans, including many elders, surging, a multiracial crowd of hundreds gathered in a park in Oaklands Chinatown on a sunny Saturday afternoon during the Lunar New Year to show support for the community and decry the violence.

The rally drew a diverse group of people, some carrying signs. Asian Americans save lives as your doctors, nurses, grocers, farmers and teachers  we are not the enemy, one read. We stand with our neighbors  end white supremacy, another said. Several in the crowd wore T-shirts proclaiming Black-Asian unity. Other tied big red ribbons to a wishing tree to express their hopes for the community.

A long string of speakers voiced messages in a variety of languages that had a common theme: The community needs to unite against violence against anyone  and everyone.

Meghan Schwartz of Berkeley said thats why she went to the rally with her husband, two young daughters and 5-month-old puppy, Poki.

Its our community that keeps us safe, she said. By us coming out here and supporting Chinatown, it shows that we can help keep each other safe. Harm against one community hurts us all.

Attacks both physical and verbal against Asian Americans have increased during the pandemic as former President Donald Trump blamed the Chinese government for failing to contain the coronavirus spread  even as he did not contain the virus on American soil.

Recent attacks in Oakland Chinatown, including one in which a 91-year-old man was hurt after he was pushed to the ground, have attracted national attention and prompted some in the community to organize volunteer patrol groups. In San Francisco, an 84-year-old man died after he was shoved to the pavement and struck his head in an attack in the Anza Vista neighborhood. Suspects have been arrested in both incidents.

A protest against the recent violence is planned for Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.

Since the start of the pandemic through the end of 2020, 2,808 cases of hate or discrimination incidents against Asian Americans nationwide were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate project, co-founded by Russell Jeung, an Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University. Reports from the Bay Area accounted for 708 of those cases, with most of them  292  occurring in San Francisco followed by 58 in San Jose and 55 in Oakland.

Rally speakers and attendees said they know family members and friends who have been victims of discrimination against Asian Americans ranging from snide and hateful remarks to coughing and spitting to robberies and physical assaults.

Vivie Pan, a San Francisco resident in her early 20s, said her parents have both been victims of robberies and that she often stayed awake at home as a teenager waiting for them to come home.

I would always be afraid something was going to happen to them, she said.

Pan attended the rally with Daniel Segura, who lives in East Oakland and said he wants to show support for the Asian American community.

I want to make sure my neighbors and extended family are OK, he said. I want to show the solidarity of being there for them.

Pan said the rally made an important statement that people within communities of different backgrounds need to come together, she said, not see each other as enemies.

Sine Hwang Jensen, a librarian from Berkeley, attended the rally because of fears for the safety of elders. The diversity of faces and voices gathered in the park provided solace.

I was very inspired by the solidarity being shown by the communities of color, Hwang Jensen said. I was encouraged to see so many people from different communities here.

Even as the rally went on, an Illinois information technology consulting company apologized for a job posting on LinkedIn for Menlo Park that appeared to require that applicants be non-Asian. The company, Aptude, told The Chronicle on Saturday that the posting  which is now removed  occurred after misunderstood communication was posted by an individual with no conceivable discriminatory intent.

As a company with diverse leadership, we are especially sensitive to, and aggressively oppose, discrimination in any form. We deeply regret this occurrence, and we are especially saddened by the pain it caused and by the resulting misperception of our values, Aptude officials told The Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle reporter Lauren Hernandez contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
HYDERABAD: The Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of the GHMC removed flexi banners installed to congratulate newly-elected Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal R. Vijayalakshmi. It also levied a penalty of Rs 1lakh on a supporter of the Mayor for putting up banners illegally in Jubilee Hills and Himayatnagar.

Varying fines were imposed on a few other supporters as well for putting up banners and hoardings in different parts of the city.

The issue came to light when a city resident through his Twitter handle posted: "Can you please convey Mr. Atish Agarwal "special thanks" on behalf of the first citizen for dirtying the city! (sic)

BJP leaders and few local activists criticised Vijayalakshmi for letting her supporters put up banners across the city in clear violation of the rules. There were several banners of the mayor seen along TRS office road and Banjara Hills, from where she has been elected corporator.

A supporter, Atish Agarwal, apart from other TRS cadre, had put up the banners at various vantage points. Several citizens posted pictures of these banners on social media pointing out that they were illegal, asking whether the EVDM was clearing the banners, besides levying penalties.

As per GO 68, advertising structures like banners, hoardings and uni-poles are not allowed in the city. From this year, ads that have no utility for citizens will be razed or removed immediately and advertisers fined, said EVDM director and head of GHMCs advertising department Viswajit Kampati.

Putting up unauthorised hoardings constitutes an offence under the GHMC Act, inviting a fine of Rs15,000, the EVDM said in a notice to Atish Agarwal. In another notice, it levied a fine of Rs1 lakh on Agarwal for erecting ads thanking the Mayor.
American history is beautiful, and ugly. Its amazing, and pitiful. In time, we wonder how we couldve supported some ideas.

Discussing voting rights any time should be a good thing. We should want people to vote in this republic. Several Louisiana parishes see it that way. Im wondering whether Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory and the local library board agree.

With consultation from Guillory, the library board rejected a Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities grant to support a couple of discussion facilitators and some books for a library program titled Who Gets to Vote? funded with a $2,700 LEH grant that is part of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundations Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative.

Several Louisiana public libraries asked to host the national program. As far as I can tell, no library other than Lafayette had any issues with the opportunity to give residents a chance to consider voting rights. Libraries in St. Tammany, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge, Bossier, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Terrebonne, Ascension and Rapides parishes are signed up to participate in what the LEH calls a book club program focused on fostering conversations about the history of voting  and efforts to suppress the vote  in the United States.

I love the idea of voting rights for all. I dislike voter suppression. Im willing to listen to historical context about voting rights, and suppression, especially in the context of what we recently experienced with fraudulent claims about winning the presidency and recent efforts by a number of state legislatures to make voting more difficult. I want to understand why anyone wants to limit voting.

Apparently, Guillory worried that conservative Lafayette Parish voters might be offended by such a discussion, especially one that included Theodore Foster, an assistant professor of African American history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Foster was deemed too liberal, and not the type of person who should be a part of the program.

Fortunately, the Edith Dupre Library at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced with a tweet that it would host the Lafayette-based event. The UL event will feature Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality For All, a book by historian Martha S. Jones, and Bending Toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy by historian Gary May.

Jones looks at the 19th Amendment and how the Jim Crow South proved difficult for Black women just as much as it did for Black men.

Mays book is a reminder that the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870 gave Black folks the right to vote and white conservative segregationists did all they could to limit the impact with silly voting tests and poll taxes. It wasnt until decades later, when Democrats and Republicans responded to demands for voting equality that Black folks got more equal ballot access with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Five conservative members of the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled those protections with a 2013 decision. That prompted May, in a CNN piece, to note how Republican Senate leader Everett Dirksen played an important role in drafting the historic legislation at a time when some GOP leaders also believed in voting rights. With the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans throughout the South are again passing voter suppression laws. May wrote. It is no longer the party of Lincoln or Reagan. It has become the party of Jefferson Davis. Whether the American people wish to turn the clock back to 1861 remains to be seen.

The same might be said now. Is that perspective more pleasing to conservatives?

Discussion about voting rights should include why voting rights are good, and how we can protect the vote. Lets hear arguments about voter ID laws. Someone, please, explain why people should have less time to vote and why its a good idea to limit early ballot drop-offs to single locations.

UL Lafayette said hosting the program because the institution supports a free expression of ideas and open and balanced dialogue as a part of its environment of intellectual inquiry. I like it.

I wish Guillory and the library board believed in those ideas. However, what was done makes me think they favor voter suppression and they want to take us back to the 1800s when Black people couldnt vote.
Katie Peterson has two perspectives when it comes to seeing the psychological toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on children.

In the evaluations her Eastern Michigan University graduate psychology students are doing for children with learning disabilities, shes seeing an increase in the number of referrals for teenagers who think they might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

As the mother of a 15-year-old boy with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, shes seeing her sons frustration in not having face-to-face interactions with peers and his struggles to focus while learning from a screen.

I think (the isolation) is driving so much more depression and that is impacting their abilities to be motivated and initiate and stay engaged in school, said Peterson, a clinical psychologist. Its sort of a vicious cycle for some teenagers where the schooling is going to suffer because of the social and emotional isolation.

Related: Mental health struggles are surging in Michigan families during the pandemic. Here are their stories.

Struggling with a new routine

From teens struggling with not seeing their friends and participating in extracurricular activities, to younger children feeling isolated in virtual classrooms, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issues child psychologists and school counselors typically see.

Recognizing these struggles, Gov. Gretchen Whitmers proposed budget released Thursday, Feb. 11, includes investing $250 million in one-time funding to support student academic recovery, as well as mental and physical wellbeing.

David Jangda, Rockford Public Schools clinical psychologist and mental health liaison, said hes seen more anxiety and depression in students during the pandemic than in previous years.

In a districtwide mental health survey this fall, Rockford high schoolers reported the highest levels of anxiety and depression compared to other grade levels. Almost 15% of students in grades 10-12 reported feelings of anxiety, and around 9% reported feelings of depression.

In comparison, less than 11% of students below ninth grade reported feelings of anxiety, with as low as 3% of students reporting anxiety in some elementary schools. Around 8% of middle school students reported depression, compared to less than 6% of students in elementary schools.

Overall, more than 10% of Rockford students reported feelings of anxiety, which is slightly higher than the national average of 7% of children ages 3-17, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Many students have struggled with the instability of schools switching back and forth between remote and in-person instruction, which has left some children feeling isolated and withdrawn from school, Jangda said.

Even as adults, when our routines are thrown off and our habits and rituals are changing, it can create more stress for us, Jangda said. So equally with kids, the routine was thrown off and things arent the same.

Mental health issues manifest differently in kids depending on their age, Jangda explained. Younger kids may not be able to communicate when theyre struggling emotionally, but instead might show it by acting more irritable and defiant, he said.

Ive noticed kids are less tolerant, less patient, because they just dont know what to expect the next day or the next week, he said. Kids thrive off consistency. They want that routine of seeing their teachers, seeing their classmates, going to recess. Its tough for them to transition (between in-person and remote classes).

Older children are a bit better at communicating how theyre feeling emotionally, Jangda said. But many often feel a stigma around talking about mental health, and instead might display anxiety by withdrawing from school and their peers.

Weve seen a lot of avoidance of school, where kids are like, I cant do this anymore, Im just going to stay home or avoid school, and thats their anxiety talking, Jangda said.

Removing children from their village

There is a sense of grief and loss among students who have been away from peers and out of the classroom since last March, Kalamazoo Public Schools Director of Student Services Nkenge Bergan said.

Whether its a counselor or custodian or campus safety officer or a trusted secretary, the kids had their village in the building, and now thats not necessarily the case for them, she said.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Kalamazoo Public Schools officials are seeing an increase in loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts among students, Bergan said. Many of those mental health struggles existed before the pandemic, but have worsened since it began, she said.

To help, the district monitors students at home via their online searches or school chatroom conversations with friends, Bergan said. adding adults are notified if a student searches online for ways to commit suicide or about feelings of loneliness and frustration.

Adults now must be more vigilant and intentional about speaking with young people about their mental health, and it helps when adults are open about their own struggles, Bergan said.

Its made parents and caregivers pay attention with greater intentionality, Bergan said. As opposed to just ignoring it and saying, Oh theyre just being a moody teenager. Well no, this thing is real.

Meeting unique needs

Professionals across the state are working on programming to help families cope with the challenges of learning at home during the pandemic.

This includes Build Up Michigan, a program that works to get children age 3 to 5 prepared for kindergarten, said Christy Callahan, director of the Office of Innovative Projects at Clinton County RESA.

Parents are at home with their children, who are young and very busy and need attention, Callahan said. The resources weve been able to provide give structure and activities for children to parents and grandparents who might be home to keep their children learning and active and engaged.

Demand for help in teaching from home has increased during the pandemic, Callahan said. Prior to the August launch of the campaign, the average number of users per day at buildupmi.org was just more than 100. During the campaign, that average increased to 361 users per day.

Universities also have seen demand for mental health services increase.

During the fall 2020 semester, Michigan State Universitys Counseling and Psychiatric Services provided services to 2,258 unique students, which was slightly less than the fall 2019 semester, according to Director Mark Patishnock. However, the number of sessions students attended increased from 8,459 in fall 2019 to 9,804 in fall 2020, he said.

Approximately 83.2% of students seeking services at CAPS reported concerns related to anxiety, while 79.4% of students reported concerns surrounding stress and 69.7% around depression, Patishnock said. Everyones situation is a little bit different, he said.

Its important to know that although we are all in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat, Patishnock said. We all have different types of struggles, barriers and resources. This pandemic has disproportionally impacted many in our community, especially persons of color, and its OK to ask for help in any way you may feel comfortable.

With students of all ages adapting to a significant increase in screen time in their daily lessons its important for parents to find ways for their children to be hands-on in their learning whenever possible, Peterson said.

That can include old-fashioned paper and pencil work and using hand-held objects to teach subjects like math. Peterson also recommends outdoor time for children  weather permitting  and organizing online sessions with friends and classmates outside of class time.

I really worry about young kids learning exclusively from screens, Peterson said. As much as possible, if they can do hands-on programs, that is hopefully going to offset some of the learning losses weve seen this year.

To help you navigate this complicated school year, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

READ MORE:

Childrens social and emotional learning another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on students mental health, district survey shows

New council to focus on helping Michigan students recover from COVID-19 education disruptions

Emotional trauma related to pandemic leads Whitmer to push for more mental-health funding
Photo: (Photo : Pranidchakan Boonrom from Pexels)

A Missouri teen donated his kidney to his mom with a rare condition.

The mom, Kebra Peebles, already had a kidney transplant 14 years ago. However, she had to undergo dialysis again due to complications. This situation led to her son, Kendal Henderson, deciding to donate his kidney.

ALSO READ: Father and Daughter Lawyers Are Each Other's Kidney Donor and Recipient





The mom's rare condition

The Missouri mom has been undergoing dialysis at SSM JHealth Saint Louis University Hospital. In that same hospital, Kebra received both of her kidney transplants.

According to a report by the KTVI, Kebra's condition is rare, that doctors did not even think she could survive giving birth. However, Kebra did not want to terminate her two pregnancies. This decision was something that Kebra would surely not regret because her son decided to donate his kidney to save his mom years after giving birth.

ALSO READ: Dad Gets the COVID-19 Vaccine, the Doctor Is His Daughter





The kidney transplant

According to the Missouri teen, seeing his mom suffer from dialysis every day was difficult for him, especially when Kebra started to have complications. Peebles shared, "I started having complications, but it gave me 14 years (the first transplant) of a wonderful life."

That is why when the Missouri teen reached 18 years old; he started thinking of donating his kidney to save his mom.

The thought of Kendall donating his kidney was something that Kebra objected to at first. The Missouri mom said, "I was against it because he's my son, and he's my baby."

However, the Missouri teen continued to convince his mom to the idea of having another kidney transplant. Kendall's reason was, "Seeing her cry every day, and I just couldn't see her like that."

Thankful to Missouri teen's kindness

After undergoing her second transplant, Kebra feels like a new person. She said, "I feel great now."

Because it was her son who donated the kidney, the Missouri mom is very thankful for him. She said, "I would just like to publicly thank my son for giving me life."

ALSO READ: California Dad Meets Dead Son's Cornea Recipient





Kidney transplants in the United States

According to one of the kidney doctors at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, Dr. Krista Lentine, having living donors give better outcomes for patients. Dr. Lentine said, "Living donors can help bridge the gap between the need for organs and the organ supply."

In the U.S., more than 91,000 people need kidney transplants. In Missouri, around 1,400 are still hoping to find their kidney donors.

For the Missouri teen, he would like other people to learn more about becoming a donor. He said, "Try to get more information."

Dr. Lentine added that there is a federal program that reduces the financial difficulties to the living donors. The doctor also encourages those who would like to understand the process further to visit their website.

ALSO READ: Father Gives Piece of Liver to Daughter Suffering from Biliary Atresia [Surgery Was Successful]

Barack Obama shared a sweet Valentines Day message to his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha on Sunday in which he praised them for making everything brighter.

Happy Valentines Day to the three who never fail to make me smile, the former president wrote alongside an undated picture of the family.

Your dazzling light makes everything brighter.

Former First Lady Michelle posted her own heartwarming message two minutes later, accompanied by a picture of her and Barack surrounded by lights.

Happy Valentines Day, @barackobama! she wrote. Life is always brighter when I'm by your side.

Former First Lady Melania Trump also shared a Valentines Day message on Sunday morning, but it did not mention her husband Donald.

Barack Obama posted a sweet Valentines Day message to his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha on social media on Sunday saying they make 'everything brighter'

Barack accompanied the post with an undated pictured of the family, as above

Michelle responded two minutes later with her own Valentine's message for Barack

She added a picture of them together as she said 'life is always brighter when I'm by your side'

Instead, she sent her love to the young patients at The Childrens Inn at the National Institutes of Health.

On this #ValentinesDay, I think of the brave & inspirational children at @TheChildrensInn @NIH where I visited the past few years, Melania wrote.

Sending them love & strength, today & every day. #HappyValentinesDay.

On Saturday, she had also reshared a video which showed her meeting with children from across the world during her husbands presidency.

It was wonderful to meet all of the incredible children from all around the world. Wishing everyone a happy #ValentinesDay weekend! she wrote.

It came a day after it was revealed she had finally established her post-White House office - three weeks after leaving Washington, DC - and 'hopes to resurrect her Be Best campaign' to help children deal with online bullying.

Trump himself has been banned from most social media platforms since his speech before the violent riot carried out by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6.

He has not yet shared a public Valentines Day message.

Former First Lady Melania Trump also shared a Valentines Day message on Sunday morning

The former First Lady sent love to the sick children she had met with in the past four years

The Obamas touching tribute to each other came after Joe and Jill Biden made a surprise appearance on the North Lawn early on Friday morning to see a Valentine's Day message the First Lady had installed overnight.

The first couple walked with coffee cups in hand and dogs Champ and Major at their side to see the giant heart-shaped signs in red, white and pink with messages of 'unity,' 'hope,' 'healing' that had been placed on the lawn.

'Love Jill' was written on one of them.

Jill Biden's office said the message was a Valentine's Day gift for the country.

'The First Lady is known for her sense of humor, love of surprises and celebrating traditions, especially with her family. Valentine's Day has always been one of her favorite holidays. Sending messages of healing, unity, hope and compassion, this is her Valentine to the country,' the East Wing said.

'Love Jill' read the message of 'healing', pictured, that was erected on the White House North Lawn as part of First Lady Jill Biden's Valentine's Day message to the nation

Jill Biden posted a photo of her painting her 'love Jill' message on the sign

The messages include 'love,' 'healing,' 'unity,' as the First Lady said she wanted to spread 'joy'

The First Lady said she created the display as she wanted to give the country some 'joy.'

'I just wanted some joy. With the pandemic, just everybody's feeling a little down. So, it's just a little joy. A little hope. That's all,' she said.

President Biden, when asked about his Valentine's Day message to the nation, said: 'There's hope. There is hope. You just have to stay strong.'

Biden, wearing jeans, an aviator jacket and face mask, checked out the display with the First Lady, who wore a magenta coat and face mask.

'Press is going to think it's for them,' the president joked.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the North Lawn Friday morning to see a Valentine's Day message the first lady had installed over night, as pictured above

The Bidens carried cups of coffee and had dogs Champ and Major with them

Biden refused to divulge what he got his wife for the upcoming holiday.

'It's not Valentine's Day yet. I'm not going to tell,' he said. 'Valentine's Day is Jill's favorite day for real.'

'I know the last year has been difficult and painful for all of us. I hope Jills Valentines Day message helped brighten your day,' Biden later tweeted.

And Jill posted a picture of herself picking up some macarons ahead of the weekend, adding 'Shhh  dont tell Joe!'
The Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial Saturday, but seven Republicans stood with Democrats to call him guilty in a historic bipartisan vote that drew startled gasps, party criticism and eventually pats on the back.

By voting with Democrats, the seven Republicans helped execute the most bipartisan vote for convicting a president in American history, though the 57-43 tally wasn't the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

When the Senate held impeachment trials of former President Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999, only Republicans in the opposition party voted to convict, while the votes to acquit were bipartisan. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah made history at Trump's first trial last year when he became the first senator in history to vote to convict a president of his own party.

Such precedent added to the gravity of the decisions from the seven Senate Republicans on Saturday, when they cast their votes in a quiet Senate chamber after days of arguments from Trump's lawyers and House prosecutors.

Democrats on witnesses: Democrats say calling witnesses in Trump impeachment trial could have cost GOP votes to convict

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, who had voted in the House in 1998 to impeach Clinton, was perhaps the biggest surprise because he hadn't signaled his intention before becoming the first GOP vote for conviction. Burr came first because senators were called in alphabetical order.

Burr, who isn't seeking reelection in 2022, sat sockless at his mahogany desk with his legs crossed and his head looking down at his lap. He fiddled with his eyeglasses, tapping them on his desk repeatedly.

The former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee had investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, a probe that dogged Trump throughout his term. But Burr had voted to acquit Trump at his first impeachment trial a year ago about his dealings with Ukraine.

Story continues

When Burr's name was called, he stood at his desk and firmly said, guilty.

Senators in the chamber looked around at one another, clearly stunned. Reporters gasped while watching the vote from the balcony gallery above the Senate floor.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., departs Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in the Senate. Trump was accused of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the acquittal gives him a historic second victory in the court of impeachment.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was next, tapping his fingers against his chair during the vote. His state Republican Party had already criticized his vote supporting the constitutionality of the trial and would later censure him for his vote to convict.

Lindsey Graham: Lindsey Graham says Mitch McConnell speech slamming Trump could haunt Republicans in 2022

Cassidy looked down at his lap and at times put his head in his hand. He had jotted notes during the five days of oral arguments on a white pad. When his name was called, he too stood at his desk.

Guilty, Cassidy said, before walking to the back of the chamber to watch the rest of his colleagues vote.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, voting in her third impeachment trial, remained focused and kept her gaze on the clerk reading the names of each of her colleagues. She had earlier voted to acquit Clinton, a president of the opposing party, and to acquit Trump at his first trial.

When her name was called this time, she rose from behind her cluttered mahogany desk, which was covered by a large binder, stacks of papers and a white legal pad she used to take detailed notes throughout the trial.

"Guilty," she said in a stern voice.

Republican US Senator Lisa Murkowski speaks to a reporter as she leaves after the first day of the impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, February 9, 2021, in Washington, DC. - The US Senate voted on February 9, 2021, to proceed with the impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, rejecting defense arguments that it was unconstitutional. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 0 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_92L8LV.jpg

Seated next to her, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, was the next Republican to join them. Murkowski leaned back and forth in her chair. She continued jotting down notes in a small, bound notebook until her name was called. She took off her facemask and rose to cast her guilty vote.

The 7 Republicans: 7 Republican senators bucked their party and voted to convict Trump at his impeachment trial. Here's how they explained their votes

After settling back in her chair, Murkowski leaned toward Collins and exchanged whispers.

Romney sits in the last row of the Republican side of the chamber, in a corner flanked by some of Trumps most loyal allies. Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana sits to his right, Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are to his left, and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri is seated in front of him.

Romney kept his head down with his hands clasped in his lap. When his name was called, he rose and loudly said, guilty. He then made a quick exit from the chamber.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., leaves the chamber as the Senate voted to consider hearing from witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska refused to vote for Trump in 2020 and condemned his lies that many say led to the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, which Trump was charged with inciting.

After reports the Nebraska Republican Party was considering a censure resolution against Sasse, he released a video earlier this month saying he would always vote his conscience even if that ran against the party stream. "The anger in the state party has never been about me violating principle or abandoning conservative policy," Sasse said in the video.

Moments after Romney's vote, Sasse rose, took off his face mask and joined him. Guilty, Sasse said.

Joe Biden's reaction: Biden quotes McConnell as he reacts to Senate trial, says it's 'not in dispute' that Trump is to blame for riot

Two desks away from Sasse in the back row, Ohio Sen. Rob Portmans eyes widened, appearing shocked. He whispered to Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who sits between Portman and Sasse, for several moments.

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who like Burr isn't seeking reelection next year, sat motionless at his desk. He peered down at his hands in his lap. The notebook where he jotted down thoughts during the trial was closed on his desk.

As his name was called, Toomey took off his black face mask and cast the final Republican guilty vote.

Afterward, Toomey remained at his desk even as many of his colleagues, including those who sit nearby, quickly left the floor. He fiddled with his phone for several minutes.

Burr and Sasse got pats on the back from several of their Republican colleagues, including from Portman and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican in the chamber.

"It's an uncomfortable vote and time will tell," Thune told reporters afterward. "But I don't think there was a good outcome there for anybody."

'Only just begun': Donald Trump thanks Senate Republicans for second impeachment acquittal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate chamber tense as 7 Republicans broke with Donald Trump at trial

1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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THE vaccine is our only hope to get back to normality said Kilmallocks Eileen Wiley, who got the jab in Beech Lodge Care Facility last month.

Eileen was one of 58 residents and 54 employees to get their first dose of their Covid vaccine Pfizer/BioNTech.

Eileen said: I miss going out visiting my family who live five minutes down the road from the care facility in Bruree.

Eleanor Clancy, director of nursing, said there was unparalleled joy, hope and relief on the day

There was overwhelming excitement and happiness among residents and staff in the lead up to the arrival of the vaccines with the reassurance that the risk to our most vulnerable residents has been reduced. We hope it will get us one step closer to going back to normal within our care facility, said Ms Clancy.

Vaccinations, carried out by an eight member HSE team, who were methodical in their work, began at 9.30am and were completed by 3pm.

The first resident to get vaccinated was our wonderful residents representative Ann Ryan, who was also sporting her encouraging hope T-shirt, which read. Join the Covid fight, I got my vaccine today, said Ms Clancy

Throughout the pandemic, Beech Lodge has taken great pride in the fact that they have been able to keep all of their residents safe and Covid-free within the care facility, governed and led by the management team of Ms Clancy and clinical nurse managers Paulson George and Rahul Poulose.

This would not have been possible if it was not for our remarkable, dedicated, and hard-working staff members who went above and beyond the call of duty, day in and day out during these trying and challenging times.

And it goes without saying, our extraordinary residents, who stood strong and showed, and continue to show, their courage towards this invisible enemy, which has changed all of our lives, said Ms Clancy, who thanked the resilient and sympathetic families and friends who were so understanding for the last year.

She said vaccination day was a ray of hope for our residents who have been separated for so many months from their families and loved ones.

Our residents have been everyones priority at all times throughout this pandemic and we continue in our efforts to take every precautionary measure to protect our residents and staff and to keep them safe until they receive their second dose of the Covid vaccine at the end of February and have the full benefit of the vaccine in the weeks after that.

The continued ability to care for our residents could not have been achieved without the support and advice received from our dedicated GPs, Public Health, HSE Covid Response Team and Nursing Home Ireland, said Ms Clancy

Residents representative, Ann Ryan, Bruff, said the last year has been difficult. She said not being able to visit her sister and friends in the community has been the hardest but this vaccine brings hope to all of us and to our families.

Margaret Cusack, Croom, said receiving the vaccine meant a lot to her.

What chance would I have if I got Covid? said Margaret, who wanted to thank all the staff in Beech Lodge for the hard work over the last year keeping her safe.

James Kinnane, Bruff, said he cant wait for the local priest to resume his weekly in-house Mass when its safe to do so.

Amen to that.
Roughly one in 100,000 people develops Addison's disease every year in Sweden. The disease is autoimmune where the immune system attacks the cortex of the adrenal glands, which secretes essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. A swift diagnosis is essential as disturbed production of these hormones can be fatal.As Addison's disease is rare, it is not known why some people develop this disease and it is also difficult to conduct large-scale genetic studies.For this study, researchers enrolled a large number of patients from the Swedish and Norwegian Addison registries. DNA was isolated from over 1,200 people with autoimmune Addison's disease and more than 4,000 healthy geographically matched individuals as the control group. 7 million gene variants were analyzed and the researchers found several gene variants that were significantly more common in people with Addison's disease.Previously, several variants were associated with autoimmune diseases, but in the AIRE gene the variants could be specifically linked to Addison's disease. This AIRE gene is important for the ability of T cells, an important type of blood cell in the immune system, to learn to tolerate endogenous proteins.When compared to healthy controls, in Addison's disease the AIRE gene produced a protein with an additional cysteine, an amino acid that can affect the protein's function, structure and ability to bind zinc ions.Eriksson said,Source: Medindia
AGAWAM  At Balbonis Bakery, the recipe has never changed, says Mae Balboni. Were satisfied with what we have.

What they have is an Italian star bread, baked with a recipe that dates back four generations, and a fiercely loyal community of customers who leaned on Balbonis as an island of tradition during a year of upheaval.

With the epidemic, I hate to say this, really, but the business got busier, says Balboni. I think its because people didnt want to go to the grocery store. They also wanted to help small businesses  which were grateful for.

As families hunkered down to celebrate holidays at home, many of them looked to reconnect with the foods of their youth, adds her son, Marc Balboni, who now runs the family business. People also developed a keen appreciation of the personal service one gets at a small business like the bakery.

Theres a special feeling to coming to a small place like this, Marc Balboni says.

Folks who grew up eating Balbonis bread, angel-wing cookies and pasta have no qualms about making the pilgrimage to 25 King St. in North Agawam, whether its from across the Connecticut River or from as far away as Maine, from where one loyal customer drives just for star bread.

I get people from New York, they come (here) and they (say), I can get anything in New York, but I cant get this, says Mae Balboni. Were getting (returning customers), who say, I came here with my grandfather when I was a little kid.

The bakery also ships its products to Western Massachusetts expatriates desperate for a taste of home even though the postage often costs more than the bread itself. The bakerys bread has been sent to Florida and California, the Balbonis say, and, during the Vietnam War, it was often sent to soldiers serving in southeast Asia.

When Mae and her husband, Kenny Balboni, took over the bakery from his father, Carlo, they kept it open on the weekends only, baking just enough to keep the tradition alive and to serve their regular customers. Then, son Marc Balboni expanded the distribution network and introduced new products.

Balbonis now makes a star bread-based garlic bread and bambino-sized star breads for snacking. The ovens run four days a week, and the retail shop is open daily. They bake about 400 to 500 loaves of bread a week in the same oven theyve been using since 1956.

Were busy enough to stay busy, Marc Balboni says. He hopes the new products can introduce Balbonis star bread to a new group of customers outside their neighborhood and ethnic base.

Still, Mae Balboni says she doesnt want to see the bakery grow too much. She prefers the mom-and-pop atmosphere  only two of their employees are not members of their extended family  and focus on traditional Italian products.

The quality of the product hasnt changed, she says. I dont want to change it. Its fun to have the business. I dont want to get to the point where its no longer fun.

The bakery was founded 108 years ago by Celeste Balboni, an immigrant from Bologna, Italy. Its been in the same location, on King Street in North Agawam, since 1912.

In the early years, Balboni and his sons would deliver bread to homes in Springfield and surrounding communities, in addition to selling at retailers. Balboni star bread was so popular that it was even carried as a retail item in competing bake shops in Springfields predominantly Italian South End neighborhood.

Today, Balbonis products can be purchased at the bakery, 25 King St., Agawam, as well at butcher shops and small markets and grocers throughout Greater Springfield.

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The supports are expensive. They can cost thousands of dollars to install. From then on, they must be maintained to make sure they dont rust or fail. Its also important to check that no new problems have developed in the tree.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
Rita Ora performed her new single, Bang Bang, on ITV's Dancing On Ice on Sunday.

Yet fans of the show were sure to hit Twitter to slam the channel's decision to feature the star - who is still relatively freshly embroiled in scandal following her lockdown-flouting 30th birthday party just weeks ago.

Despite Rita putting on a dazzling display in a red suit for the Valentine's Day-themed show many weren't impressed with the primetime show giving her publicity.

Not amused: Rita Ora performed her new single, Bang Bang, on ITV's Dancing On Ice on Sunday. Yet fans of the show were sure to hit Twitter to slam the channel's decision to feature the star

There was also confusion given that Rita is currently in Australia, with Dancing On Ice being a live show and hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield passing the song off as if it were in real-time.

Tweets rolled in slamming ITV, with one viewer posting: 'What the hell @ITV why are you allowing Rita Ora on TV??? Blatantly disregarding our NHS she doesn't deserve a platform #dancingonice!'

Another penned: 'Rita Ora - seriously?! Breaking lockdown rules over and over but still getting airtime?'

'#DancingOnIce did we really have to listen to RitaOra tonight. COVID-19 is spreading all around us thanks to rule breakers. ITV should not promote this,' someone else seethed.

Over it? Rita is still relatively freshly embroiled in scandal following her lockdown-flouting 30th birthday party just weeks ago

Got a new single out have you? Despite Rita putting on a dazzling display in a red suit for the Valentine's Day-themed show many weren't impressed with the primetime show giving her publicity

Lady in red: Viewers were left slightly baffled, given that the show is live and Rita is in Australia for The Voice, proving her performance must have been a pre-record

'OUTRAGED to see Rita Ora perform on DOI tonight! Shame on you ITV! You should not be supporting somebody who has flouted the rules and broken lockdown. How much did you pay her for this performance?? Insensitive and not clever,' raged another.

'@dancingonice how you can justify @RitaOra promoting her new single when she broke lockdown rules and we are all still suffering!' another posted, as someone else agreed: '@ITV giving @RitaOra a platform to further increase the wealth she abused against the NHS!'

Another penned, 'Whats worse is that @dancingonice and ITV paid her to perform... thats how she paid all her 10,000 fines!' referring to the fine Rita incurred for the rule break.

Tweets rolled in slamming ITV, with one viewer posting: 'What the hell @ITV why are you allowing Rita Ora on TV??? Blatantly disregarding our NHS she doesn't deserve a platform #dancingonice!'

Some backed up Rita's appearance, however, with one writing: 'I'm not defending what she did, it wasn't right, but I'm defending her right to perform on television and actually have a career!'

'I thought Rita was brilliant and looked fabulous. Loved her outfit!!!' another penned.

A third posted: '@RitaOra Amazing as always! So good to see you back performing on tv! You were brilliant!'

A fourth penned: 'You look great and your performance and new song was brilliant. Stuck in my head already!'

Rita threw a birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill but was caught out. She was branded 'selfish' by British police as a result.

The party came amid another rule break, as she had previously flown by private jet to Cairo on November 21 to perform at the five-star W Hotel.

Centre stage: Rita wore an all-red ensemble for the performance

Chic: She wore a diamonte-studded mini-dress and red tights

Red-y to go! She added an oversized red blazer

Songstress: She showed off a strawberry blonde mane which she wore in waves around her shoulders

She returned the next day and under Government quarantine rules should have self-isolated for 14 days. Instead, she had her party.

For this she apologised with the following statement: 'Hello all, I attended a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday.

'It was a spur of the moment decision made with the misguided view that we were coming out of lockdown and this would be OK I'm deeply sorry for breaking the rules and in turn understand that this puts people at risk.

'This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility.

In her defense: Some backed up Rita's appearance, however

'I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe. Even though this won't make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.'

The infamous birthday party at Casa Cruz saw Rita branded 'selfish', being fined 10,000, the manager of the restaurant sacked and the venue facing losing its licence.

Making matters worse, she had previously pretended on social media that she was simply spending her birthday quietly with her parents, even quoted in a prior interview with The Times saying the same thing.

She was also forced into another grovelling apology for breaching strict coronavirus rules by flying to Cairo and not isolating on return.

Rita said: 'I recently flew to Egypt to perform at a corporate event for a private company, where my travel party followed protocol and presented negative Covid tests upon entry, as required by Egyptian authorities.

Rule breaker: It comes after Rita was branded 'selfish' for holding a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash at London restaurant Casa Cruz in November [pictured on her birthday]

I'm sorry: Rita offered an apology on social media and said she felt 'particularly embarrassed' after her party was revealed

'Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed Government advice and isolated myself for the required period. As you know, I didn't follow Government advice and I apologise again, unreservedly.

'While I realise the apologetic words of a pop star might not carry much weight, especially one who has broken the rules like I have, I do realise some might seek to follow my example.

'My message to them is simple: please don't. The guilt and shame I've carried this week for my mistake aren't worth it. Instead, continue to listen to the Government advice and the voices of the heroes of the NHS and take the required precautions.'

Rita has now jetted to Australia, where she will be filming The Voice over the next few months.

London, Feb 14 : UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that he believes new treatments and vaccines will turn the novel coronavirus into a disease which "we can live with like we do flu".

Hancock, speaking to the Daily Telegraph newspaper on Saturday, said that new drugs should arrive in 2021 that will make coronavirus much more treatable, reports Xinhua news agency.

He said vaccines would reduce the number of people admitted to hospital, bring down the number of deaths and cut transmission of the virus.

"I hope that COVID-19 will become a treatable disease by the end of the year," he said.

"If Covid-19 ends up being like flu, so we live our normal lives and we mitigate through vaccines and treatments, then we can get on with everything again," he said.

Hancock's remarks sparked speculation that the UK government was not pursuing an elimination strategy aimed at ruling out Covid-19 in Britain, according to the Evening Standard newspaper.

More than 14 million people in Britain have now been given their first vaccine does and on February 12, the coronavirus reproduction rate, also known as the R number, dropped below one for the first time since July.

According to official data, the R number is now between 0.7 and 0.9 in every region of the UK.

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.

As of Sunday morning, the UK has registered a total of 4,038,884 coronavirus cases and 117,128 deaths.

The country's caseload is the fourth highest in the world after the US, India and Brazil, while the death toll is the fifth largest following the US, Brazil, Mexico and India.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bodies of three crew members were recovered by the Indian Coast Guard on Sunday morning from the engine room of the offshore ship 'Rohini' that caught fire on Saturday.

Two bodies of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition while the third one had burn injuries, Hindustan Times quoted the Director-General of Shipping Amitabh Kumar as saying.

Eight crew members of the ship and 11 personnel of the Coast Guard carried out the search operations jointly. Kumar was further quoted as saying that an officer of the rank of director general, technical (principal officer MMD, Mumbai) will be responsible to conduct anm inquiry into the incident. He said that the fires normally break out when work is being done.

The blaze erupted onboard the ship at 1 pm on Saturday when it was 92 nautical miles from the Mumbai shore, near the NQO platform of Mumbai High. One injured crew member was rescued yesterday and flown in with the help of an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) helicopter, the Coast Guard had said. The injured person is being treated in Mumbai.
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They're back from a gorgeous trip to Lake Tahoe and MORE than ready to celebrate the lovers' holiday.

Heidi Montag and husband Spencer Pratt were seen out for a romantic and sexy shopping excursion on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California on Saturday.

They made a stop at high-end lingerie shop La Perla, where Heidi made quite the splash in the window.

Wowsers: Loved up couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were seen out for a romantic and sexy shopping excursion on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on Saturday, during which Heidi posed playfully in skimpy red lingerie right at the boutique's window

Montag let her gorgeous blonde hair flow down her back as she modeled a tiny red bra and panties, still with the tags on, for passersby through the boutique's window.

Her underthings were a rich shade of red with delicate black lace detailing.

Heidi also wore a matching red silk robe with black lace, which she let dangle from her wrists.

Excursion: They made a stop at high-end lingerie shop La Perla, where Heidi made quite the splash in the window

Love: The sensational pre-Valentine's Day sighting comes after Hills stars Montag, 34, and Pratt, 37, recently returned from shooting scenes in Tahoe for the reality show reboot

Her nails were done in a subtle shade of lavender, and she wore fancy earrings.

Spencer joined her, and the pair were seen kissing and sipping champagne from glass flutes.

Heidi was clearly soaking up every bit of the attention, both when canoodling with her husband as well as striking sultry poses all on her own.

Coquettish: Montag let her gorgeous blonde hair flow down her back as she modeled a tiny bra and panties, still with the tags on, for passersby

Couple goals: Spencer joined her, and the pair were seen kissing and sipping champagne from glass flutes

Comfortable in the limelight: Heidi's underthings were a rich shade of red with delicate black lace detailing

Outside the shop, the mother of one rocked a fabulous off-white snakeskin shirt dress, which was cinched at the waist with looped belts.

Heidi's legs went on for days, and on her feet, she wore studded sandals.

She added a showy touch of color with a teeny hot pink purse.

Curves: Heidi also wore a matching red silk robe, which she let dangle from her wrists

She was clearly soaking up every bit of the attention: Both when canoodling with her husband as well as striking sultry poses all on her own

Heidi looked to be taking selfies or recording a video, as she held her marble encased smartphone in front of her on the sidewalk as she strolled.

The television personality pulled her standard disposable face mask down and was seen making animated expressions.

Pratt wore a short-sleeved mustard work shirt, along with shredded black jeans.

Outside the shop: The mother of one rocked a fabulous off-white snakeskin shirt dress, which was cinched at the waist with looped belts

With Spence: Heidi looked to be taking selfies or recording a video, as she held her marble encased smartphone in front of her on the sidewalk as she strolled

He stayed safe from COVID-19 in a blue marble printed face mask.

He had a heavy-looking pendant around his neck.

On his feet, Spencer walked along in red Amiri slip on shoes with a skeleton footprint on the top.

Heidi documented her day with Spencer on Instagram, which included playing around with the paparazzi and having Mexican food at Don Antonio's.

As for Pratt: He wore a short-sleeved mustard work shirt, along with shredded black jeans

The sensational pre-Valentine's Day sighting comes after Hills stars Montag, 34, and Pratt, 37, recently returned from shooting scenes in Tahoe for the reality show reboot.

The pair are part of the cast of The Hills: New Beginnings, which is currently in the midst of filming scenes for the second season.

Other cast members in the series include Brody Jenner, Kaitlynn Carter and Whitney Port.

(Newser)  The LAPD is investigating claims an offensive Valentine-like image of George Floyd has been circulated in the department. Per the Los Angeles Times, an internal investigation was launched after an officer reported that a photo of Floyd with the words You take my breath away" was being passed around by officers. Our investigation is to determine the accuracy of the allegations while also reinforcing our zero tolerance for anything with racist views, said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. Meanwhile, LAPD officer Rosario Cervantes came closer to confirming reports in an interview with Patch. "We are aware of that inappropriate post," she said. The employee whose complaint launched the investigation will be interviewed Monday, per the LA Times.

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It was not clear from reports whether the image originated from within the LAPD or if it was a social media post that made its way into an officer's feed. Either way, Chief Moore did not mince words: "People will find my wrath" should the investigation determine such an image was being circulated, he said Saturday. Floyd, who is black, died in May after former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyds neck even as he said he couldnt breathe, sparking national protests. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and is scheduled for trial March 8. (Read more George Floyd stories.)
The government will extend its eviction ban for another month, ministers have announced  but loopholes for landlords will stay in place.

Most renters will now be protected from bailiffs until 31 March after another decision made just a week before the lapse of the current period.

But campaigners point to exemptions that are already seeing many of those worst hit by the pandemic summoned to court for possession hearings and facing homelessness.

Under exemptions introduced at the start of 2021, landlords can now evict tenants who accrue six months of arrears in rent  even if it has been built up during lockdown.

Previous versions of the ban allowed evictions for people who had not paid nine months of rent, but crucially excluded any debt built up since March so that people who lost their jobs because of the pandemic were secure.

Ministers say the revised approach is a balance between protecting tenants and enabling landlords to exercise their right to justice.

But it goes back on an earlier promise by Mr Jenrick that nobody would be made homeless as a result of economic damage inflicted by the government coronavirus response.

Last-minute decisions and half-measures from the government are putting peoples homes at risk, said Labours shadow housing secretary Thangam Debbonaire.

Ministers promised nobody would lose their home because of coronavirus, but the current ban isnt working. The government should give people security in their homes, by strengthening and extending the ban for the period restrictions are in place.

The London Renters Union (LRU) branded the eviction ban policy fake and called for the loopholes to be closed.

This new fake evictions ban allows landlords to send in the bailiffs and kick tenants out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic, the union wrote in a letter to Mr Jenrick shared with The Independent.

Many of our members were up to date with their rent payments before the start of the pandemic. But just like another 800,000 renters around the country they have lost income since March 2020, fallen into rent debt, and are now at immediate risk of being evicted.

Many people in this situation have possession hearings this month and, thanks to your rule change, they could be made homeless in a matter of weeks.

Some renters hit by the new loopholes already have possession hearings scheduled for next week, despite the country being in a national lockdown.

Victor Yuan, a tenant from east London who is a member of the union, told The Independent: I lost my job in the theatre industry at the start of the pandemic. When I told my landlord I couldnt afford rent, he responded by threatening me, changing the locks on my property and cutting off the electricity.

I managed to get back in to my home with support of the London Renters Union, but of course I still cant make the rent. I have no recourse to public funds, so the homelessness team at the council has refused to help me  not that they have much capacity to help anyone.

Now the governments latest rule change means that Ive got to go to court next week for a possession hearing. My doctor has prescribed me long-term medication because of the impact the stress has had on my mental health. If I lose the court case, theres nothing to stop a bailiff evicting me from my home.

The government says theyre keeping renters safe but thats clearly untrue  I could be made homeless next week.

The LRU says the full eviction ban should be reinstated by amending the Housing Act, that rent debt should be written off, and that the government should hold to its commitment to abolish Section 21 evictions and introduce rent controls.

The charity Citizens Advice estimates that around half a million tenants are in arrears, with the average amount owed being 730.

Landlord groups criticised the extension of the ban. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said the policy means debts will continue to mount to the point where they have no hope of paying them off and will lead eventually to them having to leave their home and face serious damage to their credit scores.

He added: The government needs to get a grip and do something about the debt crisis renters and landlords are now facing. A package of hardship loans and grants is needed as a matter of urgency. To expect landlords and tenants simply to muddle through without further support is a strategy that has passed its sell-by date.

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City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA

The eviction ban policy only applies to England because housing is a devolved issue in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Wales and Scotland separate eviction bans are expected to run until the end of March, and in Northern Ireland, rules requiring landlords to give 12 weeks notice before moving to eviction proceedings have also been extended to March.

Housing secretary Mr Jenrick said: We have taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic including introducing a six-month notice period and financial support to help those struggling to pay their rent.

By extending the ban on the enforcement of evictions by bailiffs, in all but the most serious cases, we are ensuring renters remain protected during this difficult time.

Our measures strike the right balance between protecting tenants and enabling landlords to exercise their right to justice.
Troops have found the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens abducted by Kurdish insurgents in a cave complex in northern Iraq, the Turkish defense minister said Sunday.

Hulusi Akar said 12 of the victims were shot in the head and one died of a shoulder bullet wound. They were discovered in the Gara region near the Turkish border during an operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, launched on Feb. 10.

``In searches of a cave, which was taken under control after intense clashes, the bodies of 13 of our abducted citizens were found,'' Akar said from an operations center in Sirnak on the Turkish side of the border.

The victims had been killed at the start of the operation to seize the cave complex, Akar said, adding that ``all the terrorists in the cave. have been neutralized.''

The identity of the Turkish citizens was not revealed and Akar said their kidnapping had not previously been disclosed due to security reasons.

There was no immediate statement from the PKK on the killings.

Operation Claw-Eagle 2 had led to 48 PKK militants, including two senior members, being ``neutralized,'' Akar said, using a term employed by the Turkish military for killed or captured enemies.

Ammunition stores and PKK bases in the mountainous region were destroyed in the operation, which deployed air strikes and helicopter-borne soldiers. The PKK uses bases in northern Iraq to launch cross-border attacks against Turkey.

Three Turkish troops died during the operation and three were wounded, Akar said.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union, began an insurgency in Turkey's majority Kurdish southeast region in 1984.

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mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE  A USA company with a clientele that involves Google, Uber, YouTube and others has been named after deceased former Eswatini Cabinet Minister Dr. George Soze Vilakati.

The profit-driven company is called The Soze Agency.

Soze means never again. Dr. Vilakati was recruited by His Majesty the King from Los Angeles to work for his Cabinet in 1998. He died in October 2000 at the age of 52. He was buried at his home in Mahlangatsha.

He was born at Edulini, Mahlangatsha. He did his primary education at Mahlangatsha Methodist Primary School before proceeding to Magubheleni Secondary where he did his Standard 7 in 1966 and completed his senior secondary education at Franson Christian High School.

He studied teaching at William Pitcher College in Manzini and began his career at the age of 24 at Franson Christinan High at Mhlosheni where he later became a deputy head teacher.

profession

He then left the teaching profession to further his studies abroad, mainly at University of California where he obtained a PhD in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis in 1991. He returned to the country to be a head teacher at St. Phillips High School. He headed back to the US to take a post as lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1991 until 1998 when His Majesty King Mswati III recalled him to assume his ministerial position.

He was a minister of then Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Communication, which is now called the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

Ironically, the current minister of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs is a Vilakati (Moses).

Dr. Vilakati was already serving as Cabinet minister at the time of his death.

Michael Skolnit, one of the companys directors, told the Times of Eswatini SUNDAY that they decided to name their agency after the ex-Eswatini minister because he was a very special man.

Skolnit, whom the late Vilakati named Jabulani, said he was his professor at UCLA from 1997-1999, where he taught him the Zulu language. Over the years, he said the Soze Agency has employed over 100 people. The company is said to be successful as its annual donation to charities, at some point, amounted to E45 million.

The six co-founders of the Soze Agency are - Jamila El Sahili, Daniel Leon-Davis, Paola Mendoza, Michelle Minguez, Michael Skolnik and Daveen Trentman. After his passing, he said they decided to do whatever they could to keep his legacy alive.

Fifteen (15) years ago, I also started a scholarship at my old high school in his name and honour, he said.

While I only had him in my life for a few years, before his sudden passing, he had a profound influence in all that I have done in my career. He came to work everyday with a smile, a big laugh and a joy for teaching his students.

He said the joy for life was contagious and certainly rubbed off on me. He mentioned that Dr. Vilakati was his mentor and he would forever be thankful for all the incredible lessons he taught him about life.

incredible

On a lighter note, he said the man was also an incredible chef as he made the best ribs in the entire world.

One of the politicians who were close to Dr. Vilakati is Lutfo Dlamini, the former minister of Enterprise and Employment (now Ministry of Labour and Social Security). The department of enterprise was fused with that of commerce to create the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

In an interview, Dlamini, the current MP for Ndzingeni in the northern part of Eswatini, said he was happy that a company in the USA has been named after a highly qualified liSwati who never bragged about his education, but remained humble and approachable.

He said he heard of the US company for the first time from this publication.

Soze was a likeable fellow. Why am I being reminded of this fellow gentleman who never showed anyone that he was highly educated? He is the one who introduced a programme whereby ministers would visit border gates to welcome tourists, said the politician.

He said the late minister would have taken the countrys tourism to greater heights had he survived his illness. He said he told him at some point that the Matsapha International Airport was too small to accommodate the thousands of tourists he had arranged to bring to the country.

His strategy was to bring American tourists to the country. He was highly respected in the US at that time, he said. Dr. Vilakatis death is one of the unfortunate losses which caused grief and sorrow in the countrys echelons of power as it happened a year after the passing away of another minister, Peter Dlamini, who was killed in a car accident at Mpaka in November 1999.

Soze Agency, which is different from Soze Foundation, is involved in programming, curation and exhibition, integrated marketing strategies, creating planning, ideation and development, research, branding, design, content creation, etc. During his tenure of office, he introduced visitations of Cabinet ministers to border gates to welcome tourists.

At some point, he amused stakeholders in the tourism industry during a workshop held at the University of Eswatini that hotels should be fully booked during the festive season of 1999, including a motel that was perceived to be largely frequented by strippers.

belittlement

The directors of this defunct motel took offence at the late former ministers remarks, which they misconstrued as belittlement. They did not understand why their most loved motel was singled out for laughter.

Kufanele kugcwale lapha kule motel (the motel should be fully booked), Dr. Vilakati had said when he triggered an all-round laughter, which did not go down well with the establishments directors. He was likeable and a jovial minister. In fact, he was a favourite minister in the newsrooms and many editors and their reporters in the countrys media houses liked him. Dr. Vilakati spoke English with an American accent. However, he preferred communicating in SiSwati.

Despite the fact that he earned a decent salary, which was obviously in US dollars, the former minister and university lecturer heeded the Kings order in 1998 and returned to serve as a minister in Eswatini. It is said that some former students of the University of California are still devastated by the death of the ex-minister despite that it occurred 21 years ago. Apart from making profits, The Soze Agency also offers internships and fellowships to Americans to get work experience.

The company is not the only entity that has honoured the liSwati former minister as there is a scholarship for students studying at John Jay High School that was named after him. It is called the Dr. George Soze Vilakati Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is given by a 1996 graduate of John Jay High School in memory of his UCLA liSwati professor. This is Skolnit.






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Plantations on fire View(s):

Sri Lankas plantations are on fire once again, though the opposing parties to the conflict seem to have reached, rather reluctantly, an agreement over wages. Sri Lankas plantations are on fire once again, though the opposing parties to the conflict seem to have reached, rather reluctantly, an agreement over wages.

This was also the discourse that the trio was having on Thursday morning. Ape wathukaraye thiyena prashne mokakda (What is this problem in the plantations?) asked Kussi Amma Sera, sipping a mug of tea under the margosa tree. Eh padi gena ne (Well its about wages), noted Serapina.

Thani aithikarayo inna wathuwala, weda karana kattiyata wedi padiyak gevanawa, eth eka kadana te-dalu kilo eka matha thama balapanne (In the plantations owned by individuals, workers get a higher wage but its based on a rate per kilogram of tea plucked), added Mabel Rasthiyadu, whose family in Matugama has a small plot of tea land.

While turbulence in the plantations areas is not new, the latest crisis is over demands that workers should get a minimum Rs. 1,000 per day, while the regional plantations companies (RPCs) are only able to cough out Rs. 700 in addition to other add-ons which include extra wages based on more plucking, together totalling Rs.1000 and over.

Wathu company walata wediya, podi wathu aithi kramaya hondata weda karanawa (The tea smallholders concept is working better than the plantation companies), continued Mabel Rasthiyadu while the other two looked on in amazement at her in-depth knowledge of the subject.

The conversation became distant as I moved from the office room window to answer a call. It was Pedris Appo, short for Appuhamy  a retired agriculture expert who does farming. Pedris Appo is also familiar with tea smallholders who produce mostly low-grown teas.

Hello  have you been following the dispute between plantation companies and trade unions over a wage hike? he asked. Wellto some extent, yes but I would like to hear your views on this, I said after greeting him warmly.

The colonial model of running estates is no more viable. I agree with plantation companies that increasing the wages, with costs rising and tea prices falling is unsustainable, he said. So what is the solution? Or is there one? I asked

The plantation companies are suggesting a minimum wage cum payment for every increase in tea plucked, apart from the minimum requirement to be plucked, which I think is reasonable, he said, adding that trade unions also need to be realistic about current trends.

RPCs have been losing money in recent times and the new wage structure would add another financial blow to their bottom line. Cost of production is seen at Rs. 800 per kg, while the tea auction price was Rs. 500 per kg in December 2020, which makes tea a losing proposition.

While the RPCs and trade unions were unable to reach an agreement over wages, the matter was put to the Wages Board which met on Monday and agreed to a wage of Rs. 900 per day plus another Rs. 100 which was for a different component. The RPCs had to agree after government representatives, the majority on the board, voted in favour of the changes.

Earlier, the RPCs had reached agreement with the Labour Minister to pay workers Rs. 725 including a Price Share Supplement of Rs. 50 and another Rs. 225 as Attendance Incentive and Productivity Incentive totalling Rs. 1,000 which is also based on the Collective Agreement that has been in force. But the workers, via their trade union representatives, were demanding a minimum wage of Rs. 1,000 in addition to other add-ons.

As the dispute grows, the traditional tea estate model where workers live on the estates in housing provided by the companies in addition to other benefits like medical and pre-school benefits, is at breaking point and unlikely to last.

Ironically, while the workers are demanding their pound of flesh, many are also working outside in tea fields owned by tea smallholders. They leave in the morning, work in tea smallholder plots and return to their homes in the plantation areas.

To get a feel of the tea industry from a tea smallholders perspective, I spoke to Kehel Gunaratne, President of the Federation of Tea Smallholder Associations. His information was interesting.

From where do you get workers to work on your fields? I asked. Well, they are workers from nearby estates owned by plantation companies, he said.

But how are they working on your fields when they should be working in the estates run by plantation companies which provide them housing and other benefits? I asked again. Well, they work half the week here and half the week on the RPC estates, he said.

Sri Lankas tea production in 2020 was 278.4 million kg, the lowest in 23 years since 1997 and a significant drop compared to 2019s 300 million kg.

Tea smallholder lots are mostly low-grown plantations which represent 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the total production of tea in Sri Lanka with the balance coming from RPCs (high and mid-grown).

According to Mr. Gunaratne, workers from nearby RPC estates work on their smallholder plots for two to three times a week, often going to different fields on different days. They are paid Rs. 30 per kg and generally pluck 30 kg to 40 kg per day, working in different plots. Thus, they make over Rs. 1,000 a day which is more than what they earn from plantation companies, he said, adding that they may have to increase the per kg payment now that RPCs are compelled to pay more. The attraction to work on smallholder fields is because they make more money than working on RPC fields.

But the irony is that they work a few days on the estates to ensure they receive all the benefits like free housing, medical and other subsidies. RPCs are well aware of this fact where hundreds of workers leave the plantations every morning and return in the evening, but there is little that they can do due to a shortage of labour. To the RPCs, the workers by enjoying the benefits of plantation life but working elsewhere, is a case of keeping the cake and eating it too.

Today the situation in the plantations is a grim picture of companies struggling to survive amidst huge losses, while the government is on the side of the workers and threatening the companies to exit if they cannot pay fair wages. The government seems to be following the proverbial ostrich policy tending to ignore obvious matters and the reality and pretending they dont exist.

It was time for my second mug of tea and I shouted in the direction of the kitchen: Where is my tea?

In rushed Kussi Amma Sera, with the tea, saying: Samawenna, mama loku kathawaka hitiye (Sorry, I got caught up in the conversation). I smiled and nodded, and as I took the first sip reflected on the never-ending crisis in the tea plantations.
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.
President Biden marked the early weeks of his presidency with his broad use of executive action, but he has another go-to move: the task force.

The Biden administration has established about two dozen new interagency working groups, advisory councils, task forces, committees and offices, which are charged with producing more than 80 reports, proposals for future policy, plans and reviews of current policies, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of more than 40 executive actions made public.

Thats more groups created via presidential decree than his most-recent predecessors had at this point in their administrations. Former President Donald Trump, who often relied on a cadre of informal advisers to inform his decisions, had created one new task force and one new office by the same point in his administration, and former President Barack Obama had set up five new panels.

Mr. Bidens aides and backers say the proliferation of panelsincluding two unveiled this week to coordinate government efforts on carbon-reduction technologies and to review the national-security aspects of the administrations China strategydemonstrates a deliberative approach to governing that seeks to incorporate expert input.

This is how a normal administration operates," said Chris Lu, who managed Mr. Obamas first-term cabinet. It brings together experts from inside and outside the government to provide the best advice in order to solve big problems."

Some Republicans, critical of Mr. Bidens reversal of swaths of his predecessors agenda, counter that the task-force blitz allows bureaucrats to tackle issues that Congress should confront.

View Full Image No of task forces

The [executive orders] that stop or undo a previous presidents orders are bad enough," Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.) said. But forming panels, councils, commissions is even worse. In addition to creating costly bureaucracies, it threatens to bypass the first branch of government elected by citizens to create public policy."

Some of Mr. Bidens allies on the left, meanwhile, argue the administration is putting off some big policy changes, particularly around immigration, and that pushing contentious issues to a task force could lead to a protracted process. The president has ordered up three new immigration-related task forces, including one to reunite immigrant families separated at the Southern border under the Trump administration.

Were dealing with a life-and-death situation on the border where migrants are living in a squalor," said Erika Pinheiro, litigation and policy director for immigration advocacy group Al Otro Lado. And so, you know, the various task forces and review boards and all of that, to me, just dont go far enough and frankly are just continuing to cause harm."

Mr. Biden proposed a broad immigration bill on his first day in office, but it is unlikely to pass in its current form in Congress. He has also taken executive actions related to immigration, including reversing Mr. Trumps ban on travel to the U.S. for residents from predominantly Muslim countries and pausing most deportations for 100 days. He hasnt rescinded some Trump-era rules, such as a ban imposed last year on most forms of legal immigration in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

White House spokesman T.J. Ducklo said Wednesday that Mr. Biden signed more executive orders in his first week in office than any other president, and he said the task forces and other groups were needed to take on more-complex problems.

Some of our biggest problems cant be solved overnight," Mr. Ducklo said. This is how responsible and effective leaders govern and its why the American people elected Joe Biden to be their president."

Mr. Biden is expected to form another task force that will likely be closely watcheda promised commission examining proposed changes to the Supreme Court. During his presidential campaign, progressives urged him to endorse adding justices to the court to weaken its conservative majority, while Mr. Trump and Republicans warned Mr. Biden would pack the courts as president. Mr. Biden said he was not a fan of court packing" but would create a commission to study potential changes.

In general, the groups are tasked with formulating recommendations for Mr. Biden as the administration develops its early policies. Most are required to report at least initial findings to the president within 60 to 120 days.

Mr. Bidens new groups arent as high-profile as some bipartisan presidential commissions in the past, such as a deficit-reduction panel led by former Sen. Alan Simpson (R., Wyo.) and Erskine Bowles, chief of staff in the Clinton White House. Mr. Bidens groups so far are largely focused on finding ways his administration can implement his agendain many cases without legislation.

Most of the new groups, which rely on existing agency resources, are made up of cabinet members or representatives from their agencies. Some include specialists and stakeholders from outside the government, who either wont be paid for their service or are only allowed to collect reimbursement for travel expenses.

For example, the Covid Health Equity Task Force has 12 private-sector members, including physicians, public-health specialists, nurses, a former head of an Alaska nonprofit representing tribal governments and a South Florida student.

Mr. Bidens allies say such outreach is necessary given the complicated conditions the country is facing. They are thinking deliberately and smartly, and they are building out the processes, and the teams, and the thinking needed to deliver," said Scott Mulhauser, a Democratic consultant and former aide to Mr. Biden.

Some of Mr. Bidens task forces are charged with addressing intractable problems that previous administrations grappled with, such as a 90-day commission to review how the Pentagon handles sexual-assault cases, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Others are focused on working across government agencies to implement Mr. Bidens agenda, including the new National Climate Task Force, which met for the first time Thursday, and Office of Domestic Climate Policy that will coordinate the administrations efforts on climate change. Mr. Biden has also set up a Covid-19 Pandemic Testing Board that will coordinate the governments efforts to promote testing and make recommendations for making it more widely accessible.

Eliza Collins contributed to this article.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republican senators that their vote on impeachment should be based on "conscience."

Conscience? It apparently has less of a presence on Capitol Hill than partisan identity.

Consider the words of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a likely presidential hopeful in 2024 anxious to court the Trump vote.

During a Fox News interview Thursday, Hawley charged the impeachment effort is a "totally illegitimate" and has "no basis in the Constitution." And he chastised Democrats for trying to "silence and write out" the votes of 74 million Trump supporters.

Thing is, Hawley has no credibility when it comes to legitimacy. Hawley was ready to overrule 81 million votes legally cast for now-President Joe Biden.

In December, when Hawley announced he would not vote to certify the Electoral College vote, he gave birth to the fantasy that on Jan. 6, Donald Trump's most outraged supporters somehow could persuade Congress to overturn, rather than certify, Electoral College results putting Joe Biden in the White House. Consequences? Not an issue.

Up until Hawley's announcement, Washington had expected Trump's claims he actually won the election would fizzle when Congress did its job on Jan. 6. Instead, there was mayhem and death.

Hawley also called impeachment a "political vendetta" and a waste of time when Washington should be concentrating in getting out vaccines to the American public.

If only Hawley had thought about sticking to the Senate's business before he blew up the Republican Party.

I've listened to objections to this impeachment, and yes, they point to a double standard.

If it's so wrong to challenge the outcome of an election, Trump supporters ask, why make Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the head House impeachment prosecutor? Raskin, after all, challenged Florida's pro-Trump electoral vote on technical grounds in 2017.

Be it noted that then-Vice President Biden ruled Raskin out of order. And that was the end of that.

When leftists torched American cities during protests ostensibly meant to promote social justice, Democratic politicians weren't put in a position where they were expected to forcefully denounce violence generated on their side of the aisle.

Months after the riots began, Biden issued a statement in which he actually blamed Trump for inflaming the country.

On Thursday, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., asked on Fox News where the outrage was when protesters of police shootings accosted his wife and him after they attended Trump's Republican National Convention acceptance speech on the South Lawn.

To those who say that Trump's remarks incited a riot, Paul added, he never used that standard on Sen. Bernie Sanders after a left-wing activist who had volunteered on Sanders' campaign shot Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., during softball practice.

Paul has a point, but it is dwarfed by the enormity of what happened on Jan. 6. Egged on by a president who falsely claimed the election was stolen from him, partisans stormed the Capitol to overturn an election by force.

If Hawley hadn't proposed trying to pressure Congress to do something it was not entitled to do, there may not have been a riot on Jan. 6.

So, I guess it's too bad Hawley has issues with impeachment. But really, he only has himself to blame.

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Any other winter, the workshop of Kenner-based D&D Creations would be bustling with energy as a couple dozen workers sewed handmade, locally designed Mardi Gras ball costumes 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

This year, the company that bills itself as the areas largest Mardi Gras costume fabricator has found itself scraping by with a few people painting Carnival-themed yard art and doing custom embroidery work on clothing contracts it snagged with apparel manufacturers.

Were trying to find other business just to keep ourselves going, manager Missy Hildreth said. Were sort of reinventing ourselves this year.

D&D is just one of an untold number of New Orleans-area companies and workers  float builders, caterers, bakeries, tailors, bead sellers, ride-hailing drivers, short-term rental owners, limousine services, parade stand companies, flambeaux carriers and equipment rental outfits, among others  forced to reckon with the harsh reality that Carnival in the coronavirus era will be a far cry from the usual economic bonanza.

Hildreth furloughed all eight full-time hourly workers on Jan. 22 and couldn't even bring in the part-timers this year. After delivering the bad news, she said, I bawled all day.

The business, for now, is transformed.

I havent touched a costume in two months, she said. Its so weird; its almost surreal  Its kind of lonely and sad here right now.

Mel Grodsky, owner of Tuxedos to Geaux, got 2,000 tuxedos and tailcoats in last year and knew just what to do with them.

We just put them right in storage units and didnt even open the boxes, he said.

Buoyed by events like the Endymion Extravaganza, Grodskys business would normally sell about 3,000 units during Carnival season.

February last year was the biggest month Ive ever had in 53 years of business," he said, "and this year we will have nothing.

At Beads by the Dozen, which has thousands of beads hanging throughout 15,000 square feet of retail space in Elmwood, owner Dan Kelly said business is off by 80%.

Kelly, who is also president of the Krewe of Endymion, said there has been some business trickling in because more people are decorating their homes, but its not nearly enough. Kellys shop typically brings in 125 shipping containers carrying 5 million pounds of beads each year. Were still sitting on 85 containers now that we wont move until next season, he said.

Georgia Wilson, who owns The Bead Shop on Magazine Street, said her Carnival-related sales are down about 95%, largely because of the cancellation of Mardi Gras balls. Carnival is just a portion of her sales, but the financial strain the pandemic has put on many of the Mardi Gras Indians, who make up part of her customer base, have made her realize how interconnected it all is.

If my customers dont have money, guess what? They cant spend it, she said. "There is a trickle-down effect."

. . . . . . .

It's proven difficult to put a precise figure on Carnival's economic effect. But with parades canceled in parishes throughout the metro area and far fewer tourists in town, its clear that the tens of millions of dollars typically circulating in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday will be staying right where they are.

Carnivals economic tendrils reach deep into the local economy, and are not confined to the weeks that make up the official season, according to Toni Weiss, an economics professor at Tulane University.

+5 Hotels in New Orleans expected a boost during Mardi Gras. Instead, they saw sharp drops in occupancy. The chance that New Orleans might see a modest boost to tourism during this year's final days of Carnival, still a hope among some hotels and 

Weiss has conducted the most authoritative studies on Carnivals economic impact in recent years, the latest in 2015. That study found that the 2014 Mardi Gras season generated $465 million for the New Orleans economy, with $17.5 million in tax revenue for local governments and $164 million in direct spending on things like hotels, food, alcohol and krewe memberships.

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The city said it will save about $7.6 million in costs for not having a traditional Carnival season, but will not take in about $530,000 in permits, fees and sales taxes from vendors. The broader sales tax impact is harder to measure, but the city said the months associated with Carnival typically account for almost $40 million in sales tax revenue total. This year might provide some insight into how much of that is due to Mardi Gras.

Weiss said her 2015 estimates are likely very conservative. She stopped doing the study in large part because it required more funding to get a precise measure of Carnivals pervasive effects. The effect of the loss is similarly difficult to predict.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is not just a celebration; its an industry unto itself that employs people throughout the year, said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc. So you are hitting businesses and entrepreneurs and culture bearers in a very direct way.

Spending that would usually come from tourists has largely evaporated. Hotels, for example, would normally be booked to more than 90% capacity, but now expect to be only half full for Mardi Gras weekend, up from about a third full on a typical pandemic weekend.

Spending by locals also will be considerably muted, Weiss said.

If I spent thousands to ride in Endymion, for example, I might take that and spend it somewhere else at a different point in the year, Weiss said. But its unlikely that Im going to spend that money in the same places that I would have spent it, so there is going to be a redistribution.

The lack of parades also will have a significant impact on spending, not just through the food and liquor sales that fuel house parties along the routes, but for the businesses in the areas the parades pass through.

We make a lot of money around parade season, said Shannon Solomon, the bartender at Del Fuego Nola on Magazine Street, which routinely sells out special dining packages on its patio on parade nights. Every day that a parade passes, we at least double our business.

+7 Three more New Orleans bars shuttered in pre-Mardi Gras enforcement of coronavirus rules New Orleans officials cracked down on bars flouting coronavirus rules and crews erected fences along North Claiborne Avenue over the weekend a

After weeks of admonishing crowds that have coalesced on Bourbon Street, City Hall recently announced bars will be closed for the five-day Mardi Gras weekend. Bourbon, Frenchmen and Decatur streets will also be shut down from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. and a large portion of the Claiborne overpass will be fenced off. The city has pledged to beef up police presence in those spots and others, such as Magazine and St. Charles Avenue to prevent crowds from forming.

Even so, some aspects of Carnival have proven resilient. The local demand for king cakes, for example, has not abated. Many bakeries have found orders to be brisk and have ramped up shipping their offerings out-of-state to get at customers who can't be in town.

+30 For a Mardi Gras without parades, king cake is one tradition New Orleans won't give up Mardi Gras parades and parties are off this year, but Andrew Baer's love for king cake is burning as passionately as ever  pandemic be damned.

. . . . . . .

For Barry Kern, CEO of Kern Studios and Mardi Gras World, his businesses are tied closely enough to Carnival to feel the pain, but are diversified enough to survive the downturn.

In addition to building Mardi Gras floats, Kern Studios does work for theme parks and corporate clients all over the world. Much of that business is still intact.

But the two business lines that make up Mardi Gras World, its corporate events and in-house tours, have gotten hammered. Kern said Mardi Gras World and Kern Studios, which employ 125 people combined, laid off about 20 people, a third of its Mardi Gras-related workforce.

Were staying busy and well make it through this, he said. Its going to be a lot tougher for some of the other float builders.

How the Mardi Gras float house phenomenon began and how it's spreading beyond New Orleans The idea of a Mardi Gras without parades due to the coronavirus pandemic left Louisianans feeling lost. But dont fret, because Louisiana coul

Despite the hardships, most are holding on to a sense of optimism about the future.

Weiss and Hecht both believe the brand of Mardi Gras will emerge unscathed.

Locals will likely embrace next Carnival season with a fervor similar to after Hurricane Katrina, Weiss said.

And while airline surveys have found business travel may be impacted by the pandemic long-term, leisure travel is expected to bounce back strong, Hecht said.

Kern agreed, noting the explosion of house floats signifies the spirit that endures. Mardi Gras next year is gonna be bigger and better than ever.
The Tema Region Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has over the past one year recovered a total of GH7,855,404.90 from power theft.



The amount which has been paid to the ECG formed part of a total estimated GH9, 725,011.18 that was stolen by customers through illegal connections.



Madam Sakyiwaa Mensah, Public Relations Officer, ECG Tema Region, told the Ghana News Agency at Tema that the Revenue Protection and Loss Control Unit of the office was able to determine a loss of 10.81GWh of energy amounting to the total figure.



She added that the remaining amount of GH1,869,606.28 was yet to be paid as some customers had an agreed payment plan and terms over a specified period with the Company.



She disclosed that illegal connection of energy continued to be an issue for the operations and commercialization of ECGs activities adding that 12,635 meters of residential, non-residential, and Special Load Tariff (SLT) customers were monitored between January and December 2020.



Out of the said meters monitored in all the seven districts, 541 were discovered to have issues with illegal connections including; meter bypass, unauthorized service connections and meter tampering.



The seven districts under the ECG Tema Region are; Tema North, Tema South, Nungua, Ada, Afienya, Prampram and Krobo.



The PRO said the Revenue Protection and Loss Control Unit could not monitor as many meters as it planned due to the COVID-19 restrictions including; physical human movement, social and safety protocols which made usual visits to certain areas, and homes difficult.



She explained that the Tema Region Office of the ECG under the leadership of Mr Emmanuel Akinie, who is the General Manager are committed to take legal action against culprits of illegal connections as the activities bother on criminal intent and action.



She said, The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited has a legal mandate to prosecute persons involved in illegal energy theft.



On behalf of the ECG Tema Region General Manager, the PRO reiterated ECGs policy to reward people who inform the Company of illegal connections with six per cent of the amount involved in that specific case and therefore urged the public to report such acts.



Touching on COVID-19 and the Companys operations, the PRO stated that they were guided as much as possible by the protocols in all their operations and dealings with customers, and therefore, encouraged their clients to do same.

Source: GNA









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Washington: Donald Trumps second impeachment trial ended with an outcome that was never seriously in doubt: acquittal for the former president.

As both a fact-finding exercise and a means of delivering accountability for the deadly riot on January 6, the impeachment process proved deeply defective. The final result was not only predictable but unsatisfyingly ambiguous: neither Democrats nor Trump can legitimately claim to have emerged victorious.

Michael van der Veen, defence attorney for Donald Trump, fist bumps at the US Capitol on Saturday after the impeachment trial ended in a not guilty verdict. Credit:Bloomberg

Seven of the 50 Republicans in the Senate voted to convict Donald Trump of inciting the riot at the Capitol. That figure was higher than most observers expected and easily surpassed the number of Republicans  just one  who voted to convict Trump during his first impeachment trial.

Trump can hardly claim to have been cleared of any wrongdoing given that majorities in the both the House of Representatives and Senate found him guilty of inciting an insurrection.
President Donald Trump leaves the Oval Office as he walks to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and then on to Erie, Pa. for a campaign rally. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The US Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday of the charge of inciting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol in an unprecedented second impeachment trial.

Donald Trump:

Trump's acquittal raises questions about what's next for the 74-year-old former president, the Republican Party and President Joe Biden.

Although Trump's acquittal by the Senate was a near certainty, the verdict must have come as a relief to the former president.

Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in second impeachment trial

In a statement, Trump denounced what he called a "witch hunt" and talked about the future.

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," he said.

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future."

Trump has flirted with the idea of running for the White House again in 2024 and a conviction would have likely barred him from holding federal office again.

Since leaving the White House on January 20, Trump has been holed up in his Mar-a-Lago resort, deprived of the Twitter account he used to communicate with his many millions of followers.

Capri Cafaro, executive in residence at American University in Washington and a former Democratic member of the Ohio state senate, said the acquittal could be a "rallying cry" for Trump and his backers.

But, Cafaro added, "the legacy of Donald Trump for many at this point may be the events of January 6, regardless of acquittal."

"There will be Americans who think that Donald Trump had some kind of role," she said, and that could carry over to the real estate tycoon's activities in the private sector.

"It's almost like he has no choice but to continue to try to be in politics," she said.

Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University, agreed that Trump's future may be limited.

"If a corporation were to offer him a speaking appearance, the social media backlash would be swift and severe, with possible boycotts of their products," Schiller said.

The Republican Party:

"Even holding conferences or events at Trump properties will be a problem for large publicly traded companies, or companies that provide a direct to consumer product," she said.

The fact that the vast majority of Senate Republicans voted to acquit Trump is a clear signal that he retains a grip on the GOP, the Grand Old Party.

"The party is his," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most fervent supporters, said last week. "It doesn't belong to anyone else."

But seven Republican senators voted to convict the former president and 10 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted last month to impeach him, including the party's third-ranking member, Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted for acquittal but said Trump was "practically and morally" responsible for the January 6 violence.

A number of Republicans have distanced themselves from the former president and are lining up to take their own shot at the White House in 2024.

Among them is former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who said Republicans were wrong for supporting Trump's campaign to reverse the election results, a course that led to the January 6 attack on Congress.

"He went down a path he shouldn't have, and we shouldn't have followed him," Haley said in an interview with Politico magazine.

Haley also dismissed speculation Trump will seek the presidency in 2024. "I don't think he can," she said. "He's fallen so far."

But the Republicans advocating a complete break with Trump are in the minority and most remain fearful of the power he holds over his base.

"GOP senators who vote to acquit may be protecting themselves against primary challenges from the more extreme wing of their party in 2022, or even 2024," Schiller said. "But they may simultaneously make themselves more vulnerable to defeat in the general election."

Cafaro said Republican lawmakers remaining faithful to Trump were making an "incredibly risky" gamble.

"They're making a decision based upon a snapshot in time that may not exist for them in two years," she said.

Joe Biden:

A group of anti-Trump former Republican officials has raised the idea of creating a center-right third party but it is unlikely to gain much traction.

Trump's impeachment trial has been hanging over the start of Biden's presidency and the Democrats must be glad it took just five days.

The Senate will now be in a position to swiftly confirm Biden's cabinet appointees and work on his legislative agenda as the country struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic and severe economic woes.

"President Biden has done a very good job of separating himself from the impeachment trial proceedings and keep his messaging on the Covid-19 crisis and the accompanying economic crisis," Schiller said.

But Trump remains a force to be reckoned with.

"There's no saying that we're immune from more protests, demonstrations, activism from the far right," Cafaro said. "If and when that happens how Joe Biden deals with them will be something to watch."
The hope for a new era of freedom and democracy that surged across the region has been largely crushed. The United States proved to be an unreliable ally. And other powers that intervened forcefully to stamp out the revolts and bend the region to their will  Iran, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates  have only grown more powerful.

People now know quite well that nobody is going to help them, that they have to help themselves, and that those countries that they used to look to for change are part of the problem, said Amr Darrag, who served as a minister in the democratically elected government that led Egypt for barely a year before it was toppled by the military in 2013. The forces that are against change in our region are numerous and they have a lot of common interests that allowed them to unite against any kind of positive change.

The biggest hope voiced by intellectuals in Washington and the region is that the Arab Spring at least gave people a taste for the possibility of democracy. And that if the underlying inequality and oppression that led to the revolts have only gotten worse, uprisings are likely to return, as they have recently in Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Jammu: Police recently foiled a terror attack and arrested terrorists associated with Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), said Jammu and Kashmir`s Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh on Sunday.

"Police recently arrested the chiefs of Pakistani terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed`s India-based outfits- The Resistance Front and Lashkar-e-Mustafa respectively," said Singh.

Addressing the media after the police foiled a major terror attack in with the recovery of an IED of 6-6.5 kilogram in Jammu, Singh said that both outfits -- The Resistance Front and Lashkar-e-Mustafa -- were involved in multiple terror-related activities in the country in past few years.

Police also recovered 15 small IEDs and six pistols along with ammunition from Samba.

"Lashkar-e-Mustafa became active in August 2020. Police have arrested its commander Hedayatullah Malik. He was active for a long time in the terrorism-related world. He worked for long for OGW, and later on JeM`s directions, he built a local outfit. He was currently trying to make a local hideout in Jammu. He has also built a network where he was bringing in weapons from Bihar and exporting them for different terror-related works," said Singh.

Malik, who was arrested last week, was also involved in the recce of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval`s office on instructions of his Pakistani handler whom he called `doctor`.

The DGP informed that Malik had built a network where he recruited Kashmiri-based students studying in Punjab to transport weapons from Bihar and other parts of the country.

Singh added that the Resistance Front`s commander Zahoor Ahmad Rather was arrested on Saturday. Rather was wanted in connection with the killing of three BJP workers and a policeman in south Kashmir last year.

He was also involved in looting a cash van of a bank in Sopian. Four of his associates including his wife have also been arrested.

He used to work for Hizbul Mujahideen. He surrendered in 2006. He was again activated by JeM in 2019," said the DGP. (ANI)

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Conference vice president on Sunday claimed he and his family, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

This is the naya/new J&K after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they've locked my sister & her kids in their home as well, Omar wrote on Twitter.

The former chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city here.

Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.

Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren't being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry & bitter, he said in another tweet.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq -- one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.

"Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic), she had said on Twitter.

(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 United Kingdom's television regulator Ofcom has imposed a penalty of 50,000 (Rs. 50 lakh) on Khalsa TV for violating the country's broadcasting rules. Khalsa TV has been fined over the broadcasting of a music video and a discussion programme that "indirectly" called on British Sikh living in the UK to commit violence. For the music video song called Bagga and Shera, Khalsa TV has been fined 20,000, while the live discussion programme Panthak Masle fetched the channel a penalty of 30,000.

We have today fined KTV 50,000 for airing content which had the potential to incite violence and cause harm. KTV also must not repeat the content concerned, and air a summary of our decision. https://t.co/ieBbuP3ROs  Ofcom (@Ofcom) February 12, 2021

Read: UK Regulator revokes License Of Chinese State-owned Broadcaster CGTN Citing CCP Links

"Ofcom found that the music video was an indirect call to action for Sikhs living in the UK to commit violence, up to and including murder. It also included brief flashes, which, when slowed down, revealed frames of on-screen text. It appeared, therefore, to be seeking to influence viewers by conveying a message to them or otherwise influencing their minds without their being aware, or fully aware, of what has occurred," Ofcom said about the music video.

Read: Germany To Strengthen Regulator After Wirecard Debacle

"Ofcom found that this programme provided a platform for several guests to express views which amounted to indirect calls to action and were likely to encourage or incite the commission of a crime or lead to disorder. Ofcom also found that it included a reference to the proscribed terrorist organisation the Babbar Khalsa, and which in our view could be taken as legitimising it and normalising its aims and actions in the eyes of viewers," Ofcom said about the discussion programme.

Read: Regulator Says Australia Must Address Google Ad Dominance

Ofcom directs Khalsa TV to broadcast findings

The British television watchdog has asked Khalsa TV to broadcast a statement of Ofcoms findings on its channel on a date and time of Ofcom's choosing. Ofcom has directed Khalsa TV to not repeat the music video or the discussion programme again. The music video was broadcasted by Khalsa TV on July 4, 7, and 9 in 2018, while the live discussion programme was aired on March 30, 2019.

Read: South Africa Regulator Approves Ivermectin For Coronavirus Treatment



The situation was so serious, he said, that his team did not send children home for Christmas, as it usually would. Isolation has also disrupted the usual teenage transition, when young people move from belonging to their family to belonging to their peers, Dr. Vermeiren added. They feel empty, lonely, and that loneliness brings them into despair, he said.

In Italy, calls doubled last year to the main hotline for young people who have considered or attempted harming themselves. Beds in a child neuropsychiatry unit at the Bambino Gesu Childrens Hospital in Rome have been full since October, said Dr. Stefano Vicari, the director of the unit.

Hospitalizations of young Italians who harmed themselves or attempted suicide have increased 30 percent in the second wave of cases, he added.

To those who say that, after all, these are challenges young people have to go through, that they will come out stronger, this is only true for some, those who have more resources, Dr. Vicari said.

Catherine Seymour, head of research at the Mental Health Foundation, a Britain-based charity, said that young people living in poorer households were more likely to experience anxiety and depression, according to a study conducted among nearly 2,400 teenagers.

It may be that those in poorer households are more likely to lack enough space and internet access to help with schoolwork and communication with their friends, Ms. Seymour said. They may also be affected by their parents financial worries and stress.

Studies from the first lockdowns suggest that they may have already left an indelible mark.

In France, a survey of nearly 70,000 students found that 10 percent had experienced suicidal thoughts during the first months of the pandemic, and more than a quarter had suffered from depression.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City police have arrested a suspect in connection with a spate of stabbing attacks on the city's subway that left two people dead, authorities said on Sunday.

Rigoberto Lopez is charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, the New York Police Department said on Twitter.

The four unprovoked attacks apparently targeted homeless people and took place on the A train or at stations served by it beginning on Friday morning.

Local radio station 1010WINS, citing police sources, said Lopez was taken into custody late on Saturday wearing blood-soaked clothes and shoes.

In the first attack, a 67-year-old man is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed by a masked assailant at the West 181st Street station in upper Manhattan, police said.

Hours later, a man was found stabbed to death on an A train at Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station in Queens.

Soon afterward, a 44-year-old woman was discovered unconscious with stab wounds on an A train at the 207th Street station in Manhattan. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The fourth person was a 43-year-old man who was stabbed early on Saturday, also at the West 181st Street station. After undergoing surgery, he was in a stable condition, police said.

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters on Saturday that 500 additional officers were being deployed to the city's transit system "to make sure people feel safe."

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Sonya Hepinstall)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 14:47:38|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Hyundai Motor Co. will recall 425,201 vehicles from the Chinese market, according to China's top quality watchdog.

The recall, set to begin on March 16, will involve Tucson models manufactured between May 12, 2015 and Dec. 14, 2018, according to a statement by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

A short circuit could occur in the faulty hydraulic electronic control unit of the vehicles in question, which may lead to fires under extreme circumstances, the statement added.

The company will replace the fuses of the affected vehicles and upgrade related software. Enditem
Pulled over for a defective taillight in the area of a suspected drug house, the driver of the Mercedes Benz showed a Clark County sheriffs deputy his Washington ID card but had no proof of registration or insurance, investigators said.

Once the driver told deputies that his license was suspended, the traffic infraction turned into an alleged misdemeanor, giving officers the authority to get him out of the car and arrest him.

When he apparently refused, two deputies put their hands on him to pull him from the four-door sedan -- one of the most dangerous and unpredictable maneuvers for everybody involved, policing experts say.

Its also a tactic that officers usually dont get a lot of detailed instruction on how to do effectively, police trainers said.

Its like a pursuit in a sense, theres no good way to do it, said Geoffrey P. Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina who studies police use of force.

I dont think Ive seen good training on how to extract someone from a car, Alpert said. Its a very rare event when someone doesnt want to get out. Most people comply.

While much remains unknown about what exactly transpired Feb. 4 on a residential road in suburban Vancouver, the basic outlines provided by investigators describe a chaotic scene that escalated quickly with an unarmed Black man.

Once the driver refused to exit the car, police experts and trainers said the responding county deputies could have backed off, blocked in his car, waited him out or even let him go in what appeared to be a low-level case.

Instead, two of the deputies tried to force 30-year-old Jenoah Donald out of his car shortly after 7:30 p.m. that day in Hazel Dell, an unincorporated community in Clark County.

Donald grabbed onto Deputy Sean Boyles outer ballistic vest and pulled him into the Mercedes, started the car and revved the engine, according to a Vancouver police detectives synopsis of what happened. The police department is leading the investigation.

Boyle felt the car move forward and feared for his life, the police report said. The deputy had one hand on the cars floorboard but was unable to free himself, unholstered his gun with his left hand and shot Donald, according to police. Donald died Friday, his familys lawyer said.

It appears from what police have released so far that the deputy made a tactical error, Alpert said.

The question is how in the world did he get in the position where a guy could grab his vest and get him in the car? Alpert said.

While the deputy may be justified in firing once he felt his life was in jeopardy, Alpert said investigators must ask: How did he get in that position?

The law enforcement community also must ask after a shooting like this: What could have the police done differently? said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. The independent Washington, D.C.-based organization provides management and education services to police agencies.

Reaching into the car is a high-risk maneuver, and you really want to think, Were there other choices? Wexler said.

When a driver doesnt follow commands to get out of a car, You have to ask yourself, What do I really have here? What was the threat? What was the compelling reason to make an arrest?

Beyond the suspended license, the deputies appeared to have no other justification for Donalds arrest at the time they tried to remove him from his car, according to the initial police report.

Clearly this had the ending that no one would be happy with, including the police, Wexler said. Once you ratchet it up, the situation inevitably gets worse.

CONSIDER JUSTIFICATION FOR A STOP

Police typically are trained not to enter a car or reach in to grab keys.

Theyre also taught to try to immobilize and secure a car -- by asking the driver to hand them the keys, place them on the dash or car roof -- before officers even open a door to get a driver out, police trainers said.

If the driver refuses, officers should slow down, make a plan with other officers who are at the scene or call for backup officers, Alpert, Wexler and other observers said.

Some police agencies train officers to fire a Taser, stunning the driver to give officers a chance to remove someone without a struggle.

Others, including the state training academy in Washington and the Portland Police Bureau, train officers to use control holds to remove a driver.

But when all that fails, officers should consider backing off and rethinking their response, policing experts said.

The Clark County Sheriffs Office declined to describe the specific training its deputies receive on traffic stops or how to remove a resistant motorist from a car. The agency didnt respond to a public records request for its training manuals.

But Sean Hendrickson, a program manager for the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission, discussed training as well as gaps in instruction. The commission provides 19 weeks of basic training for all law enforcement recruits in Washington -- except for the Washington State Patrol, which runs its own academy.

New officers are taught to consider the legal justification for taking someone from a car during a traffic stop and then instructed on tactics, including gaining leverage and using pain compliance, Hendrickson said.

The phrase references a range of techniques from finger and wrist locks to hyperextending a persons elbow, he said. That forces people to move as officers want them to, he said.

But if an officer opens the car door, grabs a driver and the person starts to resist, We actually dont spend that much time on that part of it, Hendrickson said.

From a skills standpoint, we do not practice enough of that scenario to have answers as quickly as theyre going to need them, he said.

The training instead focuses in on having officers ask: Can we slow this down? Can we get more officers there?

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS

The Washington training commission last year began providing a required additional 40 hours of officer training every three years, with 24 hours of that devoted to de-escalation, Hendrickson said.

Oregons 16-week basic training for new officers doesnt cover the removal of uncooperative drivers from cars during traffic stops, said Linsay Hale, the state Department of Public Safety Standards & Trainings interim training director.

Individual police agencies, such as the Portland Police Bureau, can provide their own training in subsequent advanced academies.

Portland police adopted a directive prohibiting officers from entering an occupied car that is readily capable of being driven (i.e. engine running or keys in the ignition) without substantial justification.

That followed the fatal shootings by police of 21-year-old Kendra James in 2003 and 28-year-old James Jahar Perez in 2004, both killed during stops as officers unsuccessfully tried to remove them from cars. Both were unarmed but uncooperative with police.

After those shootings, Portland police revamped training to focus on distraction techniques and control holds designed to get the driver out of a car. Theyre never supposed to reach into a car and are encouraged to call for at least one more officer if they decide to try a removal.

Because extracting uncooperative persons from vehicles is so potentially problematic, such situations demand planning and effective, thought-out tactics, investigators from the Police Assessment Resource Center, hired by the city, concluded in a 2005 report.

Portland police spokesman Sgt. Kevin Allen said officers are taught to weigh risks and circumstances.

It can be difficult and dangerous, he said, so police look at the size and strength of the driver as well as the size, strength and number of officers at the scene.

Police look for potential weapons in the car and determine whether the car is capable of moving, the size and height of the car, its door opening and whether the person is wearing a seat belt, he said.

Jenoah Donald died early Friday from a gunshot wound. He was shot in the head by a Clark County Sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop.

OFFICERS CAN BACK AWAY

The Hazel Dell stop occurred after a 9-1-1 caller reported suspicious cars circling the area of a suspected drug house.

Early in the traffic stop, one less-experienced deputy reported seeing a ball-handled object with a sharpened stake on the end near the center console inside the car from her vantage point standing outside the passenger side of the Mercedes.

She said she also saw the driver pull a cellphone and a pair of metal pliers from behind him in the drivers seat.

The police search warrant return filed in court, though, identifies only a cordless Kobalt drill found on the front passenger seat and no reference to an object with a stake or pliers in the car.

After Boyle opened the drivers door and Donald refused his directions to step out of the car, Boyle and another deputy attempted to grab onto Donald and pull him out. When he started to struggle with the deputies, fellow deputy Holly Troupe placed finger pressure under Donalds jaw but the move had no effect, according to a police affidavit. Boyle struck Donald in the nose with his closed fist, again having little effect, the affidavit said.

Then the driver grabbed onto Boyles vest and pulled him into the car, the affidavit said.

Merrick Bobb, founder of the Los Angeles-based Police Assessment Resource Center, said deputies in this case could have considered other options before they went hands-on, especially because they described the driver as uncooperative,

refusing to keep his hands visible or stepping out of the car as requested.

Dont put yourself in a position where they can either pull you into a car or in a position where the car could take off and youre hanging on for your dear life, Bobb said.

Other options include firing a Taser, deflating the cars tires or putting down spike strips or a block in front of the cars wheel to prevent it from moving, he said. Bobbs organization provides independent examinations or advice on policing.

Some training instructors urge officers to balance the need for an arrest with the potential dangers by considering these questions:

What is the reason for the stop? Whats the severity of the alleged crime? Can I wait and call for more backup? Can the car move? Is the engine running or is it in gear? Can I get stuck or caught in the car if it suddenly moves?

In the Hazel Dell case, because the deputies had the drivers name and information, letting him drive off might have been an option. Police could have shown up the next day at his door with a warrant.

So you have someone whos noncompliant for a very minor offense, said Alpert, the criminology professor. Youve got to ask, Why bother? It doesnt seem like its worth all the time and effort on such a minor offense.

Or the deputies also could have been creative, Alpert suggested: Take the ID from the driver and tell him he can get it back when he comes to pick it up at the Sheriffs Office. Or just wait him out until he has to use the bathroom and gets out on his own.

Brian Higgins, a retired New Jersey police chief who teaches at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, said officers need to know they can back away.

Once you enter the vehicle, youre now at a disadvantage as an officer, he said. Thats not consistent with most training.

Being drawn into the thinking that once we start a situation that it has to come to a conclusion is getting cops in a lot of trouble and getting them hurt, Higgins said.

Especially now, you really have to balance what the purpose is of the stop and how far you want to go, he said.

Higgins called the fatal shooting of Donald, stopped for a traffic violation and driving with a suspended license, a tragedy no matter how you look at this.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
No respect for the dead, scant regard for the living Families of those who died during the pandemic thrown from pillar to post, with no clear instructions View(s): View(s):

Yohan Perera had only just handed over his mothers body to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH) in Kalubowila when a mortuary worker dressed head-to-toe in personal protective equipment approached him.

Mahattaya, he said, cheerfully, Give us some money for a cup of tea santhoseta. Shattered by the death overnight of his 69-year-old mother, santhosey or happiness was the last sentiment Yohan was feeling. But soliciting wasnt even the most harrowing part of his story.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, PCR tests on dead bodies in Sri Lanka are conducted out of sight of relatives. Their outcomes are not always believed.

Immediately quarantined themselves, families are expected to suddenly find friends or relatives to deal with haphazard procedural issues, to raise funds for coffins sold by designated undertakers, and to cope with their own pain while often being deprived of saying their last goodbyes.

Kith and kin are not always able to view the bodies, even through plastic and at a safe distance. And because of the chaos brought on by COVID-19, even families whose deceased do not test positive for the virus face obstacles to get simple formalities out of the way.

The stress of getting her body removed from the house and doing the formalities was sheer hell, said Tina Edward Gunawardhana, whose mother-in-law died at home in early January from cancer. There are no protocols. It seems rules are made as they go along.

The attitude of the officials and lack of empathy is unbearable, she observed. They seem to forget that people are grieving and in shock and instead send them from pillar to post. The system stinks.

Sixty-eight-year-old Cynthia Perpetua Perera arrived at Yohans home in Mt Lavinia on January 15 from the residence of his brother at Talangama. She complained of body aches around 5pm. At the doctors, she was told she would need surgery to tackle her arthritis or face paralysis.

Cynthias countenance fell upon hearing this and her pressure was deemed a bit high. When my mother entered the house, I saw her face was not good, he said. She didnt eat much and went upstairs.

Yohans seven-year-old daughter told his parents around 10.30pm that her grandmother was breathing unusually. They rushed upstairs where Yohan placed his mother on his lap. She took a deep breath and then nothing, he said. An ambulance crew checked her and relayed to a doctor that she had passed away.

His sister and family arrived from Wattala. Shortly before midnight, Yohan and his brother-in-law went to the Mt Lavinia police to report the death so the body could be removed. They were told everyone was asleep and to return around 8am.

On January 16, they went to the police station around 7am to find that officers were in a training a class which would end in an hour. So they went back at 8am, waited till the police settled down after breakfast before approaching the Officer-in-Charge.

He asked us when the death had occurred and shouted at us for having kept the body till morning, Yohan said. But he quickly calmed down when they told him why. A statement was recorded and a policeman accompanied them home around 9.30am.

They took the body to CSTH in a hearse. Yohan filled documents and went with the remains to the mortuary. The hospital said the body would be released after a PCR, which was conducted out of sight.

On January 17, Yohan went to CSTH to get his mothers PCR results. A girl there showed us an Excel sheet with the results of three people, he said. It indicated that my mothers sample had failed. This meant it was neither positive nor negative but that there may have been a problem with the test or the manner in which the swab was taken.

The sample will be run again, the hospital said. And the result came back positive during the mid-morning. That afternoon, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) disinfected the house which was now occupied by Yohan, his wife and two children, his 69-year-old father, his sister, brother-in-law and their two kids. All were asked to quarantine in Mt Lavinia for 14 days.

His brother in Talangama was also placed in quarantine with his family. Suddenly, everyone was confined to their homes while their mothers body was still at the mortuary. Around 6pm, the PHI telephoned Yohan and said the cremation would take place between 10am and 1pm on January 18. He had to arrange for two people to be present. His uncle and his uncles son-in-law were duly enlisted.

The Mt Lavinia police then called him. They said the body will be taken for cremation at 10 am and that I have to be present! he recalled. When I conveyed this to the PHI, he said I had better follow police instructions. So I went to the hospital with my uncle.

Both were given PPEs and kept apart. The Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) on duty explained that my mother had died of a heart attack although there was no history of such illness on her side of the family, Yohan said.

The JMO also revealed that two samples were taken from Cynthia. One was tested in Maharagama and returned positive while the one tested at Kalubowila failed and was repeated. It showed positive the second time.

Meanwhile, Yohan was told to contact Peiris Funeral Parlour in Kalubowila for the coffin and transport. A driver from that company had arrived for another body and he claimed COVID-19 positive bodies were only handled by them, he recalled. He said it would cost Rs 25,000 for the coffin and that he will return after depositing the other body at the Nedimala Cemetery.

Unlike some others, Yohan did get to see his mothers remains. He went into the mortuary and placed her rosary and his own rosary inside the body bag before sprinkling holy water on her. She was transferred to a coffin and taken to the Kalubowila Cemetery. Yohan and his uncle were not permitted inside. But the police and PHI, upon their imploring, allowed him to collect the ashes from the cemetery the next morning.

The rules pertaining to Yohans movements, as a first contact, were not consistent. Whilst he was separated from others at the hospital, he was sent by the police to the Kalubowila junction to photocopy some documents with just a mask on.

And, on January 21, the immediate relatives were all summoned to the Kotelawala Ground in Ratmalana for PCR tests. Separately, his brothers family took PCR tests in Malabe. Eighteen people  including two aunts and a cousin  underwent the procedures. Each one of their tests returned negative. Despite this, they were all quarantined till January 30.

My mothers death certificate said she was a COVID-19 infected patient whose long-term high blood pressure had caused a heart attack, Yohan said. She didnt have long-term high blood pressure. We doubt now that she even had COVID-19. And till now, her case has not been mentioned in the reports released daily by the Government regarding COVID-19 deaths.

Gunapala, from rural Thuththirihena in Kodagoda, Galle, had a worse time clearing his mothers body. He also could not make it in time to view her remains.

Ninety-one-year-old Podi Nona died at a home for the aged in Panadura on February 1. She had once been a tea plucker and suffered from Parkinsons disease, cellulitis and a little bit of pressure.

The homes matron said that, in her 20 years at the job, 178 inmates have died. But is has never been this difficult to clear a body and conduct a funeral. Not only did she have to spend hours at the police station before they took her complaint (compulsory now), Podi Nonas son was given the runaround for three days.

Gunapala is poor. Now 63-years-old, he earns a small salary as a security guard. After the body was sent to the Panadura Base Hospital, the home received a call on February 3 to say Podi Nonas PCR result had returned positive. The PHI arrived and her immediate contacts were quarantined in the sick room that she had occupied. None of them were tested. But none of them show symptoms.

Meanwhile, Gunapala arrived from Galle for the first time. It costs Rs 17 from his home to Imaduwa; Rs 53 from there to Galle; and Rs 163 from Galle to Panadura. He visited the police and hospital but wasnt shown the body.

For the next three days, Gunapala was sent from police station to hospital, hospital to police station but achieved nothing. He did not even receive the death certificate. He spent Rs 4,194 on transport alone.

I spent three whole days trying to sort out matters, Gunapala said. I had to borrow money from my workplace. One time, the police wanted her medical reports so I walked all the way to the home and back with the file. Every day, they told me to come tomorrow.

Two people are required to identify a body. On one occasion, as he was alone, Gunapala was refused access to the mortuary and told he could view the remains at the cemetery. He was later told the coffin would be sealed if he didnt come at a particular time. Drained by the seemingly endless formalities and time-wasting, he refused to go.

The cremation took place on February 7. Before that, however, the police called the matron and said an autopsy would have to be done. By then we had even been issued the death certificate so I asked the policeman what he was talking about, she said. He later telephoned to say an autopsy wasnt required.

The fact of the matter is, nobody is really sure what went on at authority-level after Podi Nona died, someone familiar with the case said. There was much confusion and certainly much hassle for Gunapala.

Podi Nonas death, too, was never announced in the Governments official statistics.

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KYODO NEWS - Feb 14, 2021 - 12:12 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

As the Japanese government prepares to roll out novel coronavirus vaccines on Wednesday to fight the pandemic, skepticism in some sections of the public may hamper the effort.

Medical experts say that around 80 percent of the population must have immunity against COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, through vaccinations or previous infections to reach herd immunity and start turning the tide against the virus.

Yet in a Kyodo News survey conducted on Feb. 6-7, only 63.1 percent of people in Japan expressed willingness to get a shot while 27.4 percent said they were unwilling, with women in their 40s and 50s the most unwilling cohort.

Japan's COVID-19 cases are relatively low compared with other countries, standing at around 415,000 in total with over 6,900 deaths.

Nevertheless, it is riding a third wave of infections with an overwhelmed medical system. A second state of emergency over the virus, initially declared in early January for Tokyo and its vicinity, has been extended for another month until March 7, covering 10 prefectures including the capital.

The health ministry said it will prioritize inoculations of frontline health workers starting on Wednesday, and expand the effort over several months to cover general health-care workers, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.

Members of the general public are expected to start receiving their first shots in May or later.

Japan will procure vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. of the United States, with an efficacy rate of some 95 percent, as well as from Britain's AstraZeneca Plc, whose rate averages around 70 percent.

Despite their effectiveness, public hesitancy remains.

In a survey held in late January across 15 countries by marketing research firm Ipsos, Japan ranked fourth from bottom in terms of people's willingness to be inoculated at 64 percent, above South Africa, France and Russia, the most skeptical country with only 42 percent wanting to receive a jab.

But Japan fell to second bottom in the 15-country rankings when it came to enthusiasm for inoculation, with only 19 percent "strongly" agreeing to get vaccinations when they become available. Only 26 percent of those willing to be vaccinated wanted to get shots "immediately," suggesting a prevalent wait-and-see attitude.

At the same time, anti-vaxxer sentiment was low, with only 3 percent of respondents saying they were against vaccines in general, compared with 11 percent in the United States, 10 percent in Italy and 9 percent in South Africa.

In the survey, concern over possible side effects was the biggest reason for the public mistrust in Japan, similar to many other countries but highest among them at 66 percent.

Willingness to take the vaccination differed by age and gender, according to the Kyodo News survey.

In the poll, based on responses from 510 people contacted by fixed-line phone in randomly selected households and 513 mobile phone users across Japan aged 18 or older, the most willing cohort was men aged 60 or above, 72.0 percent of whom said they want to be vaccinated.

In contrast, only 49.5 percent of women in their 40s and 50s were willing, with this cohort also expressing the highest level of unwillingness with 40.9 percent saying they would not get a shot.

While the COVID vaccines have produced side effects in some cases, they are overwhelmingly mild with only a very small number of serious reactions such as allergic responses. Nevertheless, in Japan, past reversals by the government over some vaccines loom large in public memory.

A combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was withdrawn in 1993 over concern that it caused aseptic meningitis. In 2011, two vaccines against certain types of meningitis and pneumonia were suspended after four children who took them died.

In 2013, the health ministry stopped actively promoting a vaccine against the human papillomavirus which causes cervical cancer, citing a limited number of reported adverse reactions such as lasting pain.

The HPV vaccine is universally recognized as safe, with the World Health Organization setting a global target for the 2020-2030 period of 90 percent of girls being inoculated with the vaccine by age 15.

Experts are worried about misinformation on the COVID-19 vaccines that could fan fears over side effects and deter people from inoculation. Some people feel uneasy over the rapid pace at which the vaccines have been developed, and others at the use by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines of a new technology -- messenger RNA, or mRNA.

While traditional vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into human bodies to trigger an immune response, mRNA vaccines give instructions to cells -- in the case of COVID, to make a harmless "spike protein" that resembles one found in the novel coronavirus.

The immune system then detects the protein and starts building an immune response and making antibodies to protect against future infection.

Kazuya Yamanouchi, 89, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science and a virology specialist, said that the rapid speed of development will not deter him from being injected with a COVID vaccine.

The development was quicker than expected but reflects the scientific progress made in the past several decades, he argued. "The only thing that truly works for a virus pandemic is prevention by vaccination," he said.

While admitting that no vaccine has zero risk, Yamanouchi said that social benefit trumps the possibility of side effects. He encouraged people to also consider the safety of friends and families when deciding whether to be vaccinated.

Related coverage:

Japan to formally approve 1st coronavirus vaccine

Health ministry panel OKs Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine

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Gov Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, on Sunday, explained himself over a comment he made about Fulani herdsmen carrying Ak-47 rifles for self-defence

The Governors clarification was contained in a statement issued by Mukhtar Gidado, his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on media, said.

Mr Mohammed said the primary objective of his comment was to avert the dangerous prospect of a nation-wide backlash and generalisation of the Fulani clan as criminals.

According to the statement, Mr Mohammed said it would be inappropriate to label an entire tribe as criminals, based on the crimes of a few members of the ethnic group.

The attention of the Bauchi State government has been drawn to reactions from various members of the public to gov. Mohammeds speech, at the closing ceremony of the Press Week of the Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ in Bauchi State, last Thursday.

The Governor used the occasion to weigh in on the contentious issue of clashes between herdsmen and farmers, particularly against the backdrop of the eviction and other forms of restriction orders, issued by some state governments and non-governmental entities.

The primary objective of the Governor was to avert the dangerous prospect of a nation-wide backlash as tempers flared and given that the phenomenon of inter-ethnic migration, is a national pastime involving all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

By extension, the Governor made it abundantly clear that it will be inappropriate to label any one tribe based on the crimes of a few members of the ethnic group, said the SSA.

The statement further stressed that the governors reference to AK47 was simply to put in perspective the predicament and desperation of those law-abiding Fulani herdsmen who, while carrying out their legitimate cow-rearing business, have become serial victims of cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping and assassination.

He said these were the people who, in the absence of any protection from the security agencies, are forced to resort to self-help, to defend both their means of livelihood and their lives.

As a Constitutionalist which, he has proved over time, all through his political career, gov. Mohammed will be the last person to advocate a subversion of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He did not do so in the past; he will not do so today, Gidado said.

The statement explained further that Mr Mohammeds description of forests, as no mans land is a carry-over from his own geo-political environment where a pastoralist could set up camp, in any forest, for a few weeks without causing any uproar or opposition.

To interpret such a temporary stay as a form of land grab by the Fulani herdsmen is completely incorrect.

In actual fact, neither does such temporary habitation of the forest inconvenience anyone nor does the itinerant Fulani sojourner, bother anyone about his plight in the forest characterised by life without access to electricity, pipe borne water, good roads or hospitals.

On the contrary, Mohammed is very familiar with the Land Use Act, including the criteria for land acquisition and cannot, therefore, seek to undermine the statute which, as governor, he has sworn to uphold, he said.

Mr Gidado said the governors statement was intended to caution all stakeholders to guard against escalating the tension, just as many patriotic stakeholders, particularly from the North, have been working round the clock to avert reprisal actions that could throw the entire country into a cauldron of unimaginable proportions.

Rather than vilify Gov. Mohammed, it is incumbent on all those criticising him to admonish those governors whose lack of restraint is responsible for the escalation of this crisis.

Mohammeds antecedents, as a bridge-builder, humanist and nationalist, are so well known that he will never, under any circumstances, deliberately fuel any national crisis or subvert the Constitution, the statement said. (NAN)

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Myanmar's new military regime warned the public not to harbour fugitive political activists on Sunday after issuing arrest warrants for veteran democracy campaigners supporting massive nationwide anti-coup protests.

Much of the country has been in uproar since last week when soldiers detained Aung San Suu Kyi and ousted her government, ending a decade-old fledgling democracy after generations of junta rule.

Troops briefly moved some armoured vehicles around Yangon, days after security forces stepped up arrests targeting a civil disobedience movement that has seen huge crowds throng streets in big urban centres and isolated frontier villages alike.

Police are now hunting seven people who have lent vocal support to the protests, including some of the country's most famous democracy activists.

"If you find any fugitives mentioned above or if you have information about them, report to the nearest police station," said a notice in state media on Sunday.

"Those who receive them will (face) action in accordance with the law."

Among the list of fugitives was Min Ko Naing, who spent more than a decade in prison for helping lead protests against an earlier dictatorship in 1988 while a university student.

"They are arresting the people at night and we have to be careful," he said in a video published to Facebook on Saturday, skirting a junta ban on the platform, hours before his arrest warrant was issued.

"They could crack down forcefully and we will have to be prepared."

The 1988 protests vaulted Suu Kyi to the top of Myanmar's democracy movement, and the Nobel laureate spent years under house arrest as a prisoner of the generals.

She has not been seen in public since she was detained on February 1 alongside top aides.

Nearly 400 others have been arrested in the days since, including many of Suu Kyi's top political allies, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.

Military leader Min Aung Hlaing suspended laws requiring warrants for home searches as part of several legal manoeuvres announced on Saturday.

The news did not deter thousands in Yangon from returning to key intersections around the city in a ninth straight day of street protests.

Some armoured vehicles were briefly spotted moving around the commercial hub towards evening. One was later parked inside the city zoo.

But seven police officers broke ranks to join anti-coup protesters in the southern city of Dawei, mirroring local media reports of isolated defections from the force in recent days.

Neighbourhood watch

In Yangon, many areas have begun forming neighbourhood watch brigades to monitor their communities overnight -- in defiance of a junta curfew -- and to prevent the arrests of residents joining the civil disobedience movement.

Some have also expressed fears that a mass prisoner amnesty this week was orchestrated to release inmates into the public to stir up trouble, while freeing up space in overcrowded jails for political detainees.

"We don't trust anyone at this time, especially those with uniforms," said Myo Ko Ko, a member of a street patrol in Yangon.

Near the city's central train station, residents rolled tree trunks onto a road to block police vehicles and escorted away officers who were attempting to return striking railway employees to work.

A day earlier, Buddhist monks gathered outside the city's US embassy and chanted the Metta Sutta, a prayer that urges protection from harm.

"We wanted them to know most citizens in Myanmar are against the military," said Vicittalankara, one of the participants.

'Media ethics'

The country's new military leadership has so far been unmoved by a torrent of international condemnation.

An emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday called for the new regime to release all "arbitrarily detained" people and for the military to hand power back to Suu Kyi's administration.

Solidarity protests have been staged in neighbouring Thailand, home to a large community of Myanmar migrant workers, as well as the United States, Japan and Australia.

But traditional allies of the country's armed forces, including Russia and China, have dissociated themselves from what they have described as interference in Myanmar's "internal affairs".

The junta insists it took power lawfully and has instructed journalists in the country not to refer to itself as a government that took power in a coup.

"We inform... journalists and news media organisations not to write to cause public unrest," said a notice sent by the information ministry to the country's foreign correspondents' club late Saturday.

It also instructed reporters to follow "news media ethics" while reporting events in the country.
Security forces in Myanmar opened fire to disperse protesters at a power plant on Sunday and armoured vehicles rolled into major cities as the army rulers faced a ninth day of anti-coup demonstrations that saw hundreds of thousands on the streets.

The government also imposed an internet shutdown.

Soldiers were deployed to power plants in the northern state of Kachin, leading to a confrontation with demonstrators, some of who said they believed the army intended to cut off the electricity.

The army in Yangon on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

The security forces fired to disperse protesters outside one plant in Kachins state capital Myitkyina, footage broadcast live on Facebook showed, although it was not clear if they were using rubber bullets or live fire.
Washington: The White House has called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it has deep concerns about the way the findings of the World Health Organisations COVID-19 report were communicated.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that it is imperative that the report be independent and free from alteration by the Chinese government, echoing concerns raised by the administration of former President Donald Trump, who also moved to quit the WHO over the issue.

Dominic Dwyer of the World Health Organisation team during the investigation in Wuhan earlier this month. Credit:AP

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday (AEDT) said all hypotheses are still open about the origins of COVID-19, after Washington said it wanted to review data from a WHO-led mission to China, where the virus first emerged.

A WHO-led mission, which spent four weeks in China looking into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak, said this week that it was not looking further into the question of whether the virus escaped from a lab, which it considered highly unlikely.
Just weeks into the rollout of vaccines to combat Covid-19, researchers are shifting their focus to a new class of potential shots to take on the threat posed by fast-spreading mutations.

Dangerous coronavirus variants identified in Africa, Europe and South America are carpeting the globe, pushing scientists in the UK and elsewhere to target multiple versions of the pathogen in a single shot and perhaps head off more lethal foes that may emerge.

A variant that arose in South Africa has already shown itself capable of partially evading defenses raised by several vaccines. The country paused rolling out a shot from AstraZeneca Plc because it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate illness cause by the mutant, called B.1.351. With a spreading virus comes an increased risk of more alarming mutations.

We cannot be complacent that weve got the vaccines we need and its just a matter of time to ending the pandemic -- its not," said Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which has worked to accelerate development of Covid inoculations. Were in a race with the virus and weve got to get ahead of it."

Britain snapped up huge Covid vaccine supplies early and became the first Western country to approve a shot. Now its seeking to catch up with the outbreak and sustain its momentum in the next phase of the crisis, a difficult task as the virus runs rampant.

Blunted optimism

The government last week announced a pact with CureVac NV to tackle variants, pairing artificial intelligence to predict future mutations with messenger RNA technology that can rapidly generate new vaccines. After a once-promising partnership with Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc. ended and separate trials with Sanofi ran into delays, London-based GlaxoSmithKline Plc is also working with CureVac on mutant-quelling vaccines.

Meanwhile, countries across the European Union, which has lagged the U.S. and UK in immunizations, have raised questions about the blocs strategy on mutants. At a meeting of ambassadors Wednesday, countries including Malta and Germany urged the European Commission to ensure contracts with manufacturers cover sufficient batches if booster shots are needed, according to a cable seen by Bloomberg.

The new variants, including the B.1.1.7 lineage that surfaced in southern England, have blunted the optimism that greeted highly-effective mRNA shots from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. late last year. The variant is likely to be associated with a greater risk of hospitalization and death than earlier versions, according to a report published Friday by the government.

Theres a possibility that B.1.1.7 is dampening host antiviral responses and moving deeper into the lungs more quickly, said Julian Hiscox, a University of Liverpool coronavirus specialist and member of a U.K. advisory group, calling the increased risk of death slight."

If required, companies should be able to quickly redesign their inoculations based on the distinctive spike protein that the coronavirus uses to invade human cells, according to Michael Kinch, a vaccine specialist at Washington University in St. Louis. While scientists have the tools to keep pace, further mutations call for alternative approaches, he said.

The bad news with these particular variants, and the reason many of us are nervous, isnt that the vaccines will suddenly not work," Kinch said, but that they will slowly become obsolete."

Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have said theyre starting work on developing booster shots or other efforts to bolster their vaccines. AstraZeneca and partner Oxford aim to have a tweaked version tailored to new variants available by fall.

One problem drugmakers confront in the quest for a single shot that covers different strains is that they dont yet know which ones will be the most prevalent in the months to come, according to Andrew Pollard, the lead investigator on the Oxford trials.

We know today which ones you would choose, but the virus is likely to continue to evolve under pressure from human immunity and so that could change over time," he said.

Researchers are considering a number of ways to overcome the challenges. Another strategy involves including a variety of antigens, the molecules in the vaccine that provoke an immune response, Kinch said. Although the spike protein has proven to be a good target, other surface proteins in the viruss envelope and membrane could turn out to be important, too.

Almost job done

Vaccines based on the spike protein are the first out the door," said Hiscox, the University of Liverpool professor. The next round could add the N -- or nucleocapsid -- protein, whose job is to bind viral RNA, he said. With both S and N proteins, thats almost job done," he said.

Traditional methods that use the virus itself in a weakened or inactivated form and provide a broader choice of potential targets -- like those used by some Chinese developers including Sinovac Biotech Ltd. -- could also play a more significant role, Kinch said.

CEPI, the Oslo-based group that has funded a number of Covid vaccine programs, has set a goal of developing strain changes" within 100 days if needed, Hatchett said. Pfizers partner BioNTech SE has said that if their vaccine turns out to be ineffective against a new strain, they could, in theory, produce an updated shot targeting that variant within six weeks.

For years, multivalent flu vaccines targeting three or four versions of the pathogen have provided protection against multiple strains circling the globe. Glaxo and CureVac plan to rely on mRNA technology to develop a product that addresses multiple variants in one Covid vaccine. If the work is successful, a vaccine could be ready next year.

That could still have a big impact given how many countries lack access to vaccines, said Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer for Glaxos vaccines unit. One of the big flu vaccine suppliers, Glaxo is used to altering vaccines quickly, he said.

Following partnerships with the U.K. and Glaxo, CureVac has been approached by other governments, said Mariola Fotin-Mleczek, its chief technology officer.

The virus will mutate further, and therefore we need to re-invest now," she said.

Some scientists, including a team at the University of Cambridge, are exploring vaccines that could protect against multiple coronaviruses to prepare for future pandemics. Backed by U.K. funding, the Cambridge group is developing technology that could be plugged into any platform to fight multiple variants and other coronaviruses, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Theyre planning to start human trials in the spring.

Pressure rises

We need to bring on the next generation that are going to work against not only these variants, but the next pandemic," said Jonathan Heeney, the Cambridge professor leading the study.

Combinations are another avenue drugmakers are pursuing. Oxford is launching a trial bringing AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines together to determine whether two shots of different products yield better results. Russia also plans a study mixing the Astra vaccine with its Sputnik V shot.

As the work progresses, the pressure is rising. New strains could make it more difficult to achieve a sufficient level of immunity needed to get control of the virus, Hatchett said.

Every responsible observer is concerned about what were seeing. Were going to get an awful lot of mileage out of the vaccines that we have," he said. But we also need to be ready."

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court of India on Friday asked Centre and States to file an affidavit on the issue of cow vigilantism and asked them not to protect any kind of vigilantism.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra was informed by the Centre that law and order is a state subject but it does not support any kind of vigilantism in the country.

"You say that law and order is a state subject and states are taking actions as per law. You don't protect any kind of vigilantism," the bench, also comprising A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said.

Saying that it does not support any kind of violence in the name of cow, the government of India told the apex court, no vigilante group has any place in the country as per the procedure of law.

Counsel appearing for BJP-ruled Gujarat and Jharkhand where violent incidents related to cow vigilantism have taken place lately submitted in the court that appropriate action has been taken against those involved in violent activities related to cow vigilantism.

The bench recorded their submission and asked the Centre and other states to file their report regarding the violent incidents in four weeks time and posted the matter for further hearing on September 6.

The issues of violence and atrocities against Dalits and minorities by cow vigilantes have stormed the nation since the BJP govt came in power.

Recently, Prime Minister Modi putting the onus on states asked them to ensure that no violence should be allowed in the name of cow vigilantism and strict action should be taken against those involved in such incidents.

(With agency inputs)

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The Congress also pay tribute to the tremendous courage of the Indian Soldiers. Exactly 2 years ago, divisive, violent & hateful forces took away 40 of our brave jawans in Pulwama. Today we honour these martyrs & pay tribute to their tremendous courage. We are all duty-bound to stand by each brave jawan as they strive to protect our nation. Jai Hind, it tweeted from its official handle.<br />(Credit: PTI)<br />
Labor is stepping up its fight over industrial relations changes with a national advertising campaign featuring a knife-brandishing chef who accuses Prime Minister Scott Morrison of slashing wages and conditions.

The ad and plans for a stoush on the topic are likely to dominate in Parliament this week as Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter accused Labor of wanting to cut a quarter of the pay packet for casual workers.

Labor is stepping up its fight over industrial relations changes with a national advertising campaign.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has pitched a plan to create secure jobs, including forcing employers to offer a permanent position to any employee after two years or two fixed-term contracts, and to make a range of entitlements portable between jobs with different firms in the same industry. It sets up an alternative to the Morrison governments industrial overhaul, which is struggling to win support in the Senate, in part because of a proposal to allow coronavirus-hit businesses to strike wages deals that leave workers worse off.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus says the oppositions plan would be cost-neutral to employers because they wouldnt have to pay casual loadings if staff became permanent and entitlements were offered.
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There have been 66 further deaths related to Covid-19 reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team today.

There have also been a further 1,078 confirmed cases of the virus in Ireland.

Some 41 of these deaths occurred in February, eight occurred in January, seven in December and nine occurred in November or earlier.

Nphet reports that the median age of those who died was 84 years and the age range was 39-98 years.

A statement revealed that of today's cases 433 are in Dublin, with 139 in Galway. 52 cases are in Limerick, with 49 are in Wexford, 43 in Mayo and the remaining 362 cases are spread across all other counties.

Of today's cases:

523 are men

549 are women

70% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 32 years old

The death toll from the virus here now stands at 3,931 while there have been 208,796 total cases in Ireland.

As of 8am today, 898 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 171 are in ICUs.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, urged people to contact their GP if they have Covid-symptoms.

"If you have any symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, such as cough, fever, shortness of breath or a change in your sense of smell or taste, self-isolate (stay in your room) immediately and phone your GP without delay.

"If you are in any doubt about any symptoms you have, you should always contact your GP.

"Your test and GP assessment will be free of charge. This includes GP out of hours services, contact details for which are on the HSE website www.hse.ie."

Dr Glynn said any GP can arrange a test for you if you do not have one.

He added: The best way to protect ourselves and our vulnerable loved ones from serious illness as a result of Covid-19 infection is to continue taking the actions we know can effectively supress this virus.

"Keep physical distance from others, wash hands regularly, avoid crowds and wear face coverings that are fitted correctly."

Vaccines

Nphet confirmed that as of February 10, 256,681 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Ireland.

Some 166,863 people have received their first dose, while 89,818 people have received their second.

Meanwhile, almost 5,000 Covid-19 vaccines are being administered to doctors and practice nurses at mass vaccination centres across the country this weekend.

The HSE is hoping that the vast majority of them will have had at least their first dose of the vaccine over the next two days.

The Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are being given at centres in Dublin, Portlaoise and Galway, with 1,800 expected to receive their second dose.

Earlier today, the Tanaiste said the country is 'back on track' in the battle against the virus, after case numbers soared last month.

Leo Varadkar said the number of people in hospital and ICUs should continue to drop in the coming weeks.

"It's estimated that the R number is between 0.6 and 0.8 so if we stick with what we are doing, if we stay on track then we project that the number of people in hospital by the end of February/start of March would be around 500-600.

"So roughly half what it is now and the number of people in critical care between 70 and 100 - around half what it is now."
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The idea of simultaneously releasing films in theatres and on OTT platforms caught the world by surprise, but there seems to be an alternative to the model that is brewing in India, which is shortening the gap between theatrical release and OTT release.

The trend came to notice first when the Tamil film "Master", starring Vijay and Vijay Sethupathy, dropped digitally within days of release in January.

"Can foresee the fight of windowing b/w cinemas & OTT by reducing the gap time period. Like #WarnerBros releases in US simultaneous with @hbomax many #Hindi films too may try same, South has already reduced time gap unknowingly. Time to retrospect, Pan India Industry norm is need of the hour," trade expert Girish Johar tweeted at that time.

In fact, the Tamil film "Aelay", featuring Samuthirakani, Manikandan, and Mathumathi, found itself in trouble when theatre owners got to know of the producer's plan to release the film on OTT within a short time from release. Now, the film will have a direct television premiere.

Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd said: "These are extremely unusual times for the industry, as few stakeholders have deviated from the age-old and globally prevalent theatrical windowing system due to the prolonged closure of cinemas." "Any movie, which skips a theatrical release, impacts the commercial value chain in a substantial manner, from its overall collections perspective. We are confident that once we return to normalcy with all states allowing cinema operations and full capacity seating, producers will continue to follow the usual windowing pattern," he added.

Asked how theatres and streaming platforms can coexist, Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vice President, Films and Events at Saregama India Ltd, told IANS: "OTT platforms have definitely created a healthy disruption in the content creation space. Now we can see strong, edgy, gritty narratives aimed at engaging specific target groups. The overdependence on star driven vehicles is also waning." "Thematically, too, there is a lot more diversity in the content ecosystem. OTT budgets are getting bigger, the canvas is expanding and even the so-called 'smaller' films have something that sets them apart. OTT platforms, frankly, have negligible space for mediocrity," Kumar shared.

"The audience is growing increasingly discerning and can opt out of a weak narrative with the click of the remote, so to offer them anything below par is self-defeating. Today, quality matters, be it in a series, a film or a stage play. Big budget films lend themselves naturally to the big screen and yes, there will always be an audience for lavish blockbusters. Eventually though, good content will have the last word on the big and small screen," he concluded.
The AAP accused the Congress of booth-capturing in Samana, Rajpura, Dhuri, Abohar and Bhikhiwind, a charge the ruling party denied

On Sunday, voting for eight municipal corporations, and 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab was marred by violence purportedly between the workers of the ruling Congress and Opposition. Meanwhile, over 71.39 percent voting was recorded in the polls.

According to a spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission, the highest turnout of 82.99 percent was recorded in Mansa district while the lowest was in SAS Nagar at 60.08 percent.

According to officials, seven people were injured in Rupnagar after workers of the ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal clashed following a heated argument in ward number one in the city.

Skirmishes and scuffles were also reported from Batala, Rajpura, Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Samana, Rupnagar, Nabha, Nangal, Mohali and Ferozepur.

In Kapurthala's Sultanpur Lodhi, an Akali worker was injured in a clash with Congress supporters, PTI reported. The SAD workers reportedly alleged that Congress supporters tried to control the polling booth and that the party's members fired in the air.

The incident took place when the voting time was about to be over. Supporters of both parties also pelted stones at each other.

In Batala, a BJP leader sustained injuries on the head after a scuffle with some Congress workers, the PTI report added.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised the Congress-led government for the violence.

Failed on all fronts, Congress party leaders knew they would lose, so they resorted to rigging & booth capturing and even violence. What can we expect from a govt that unleased goondaism in the state? Shame on the State Election Commission for its absolute incompetency!  Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) February 14, 2021

Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that the Congress goons not only captured booths but also attacked Opposition candidates.

Additionally, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the ruling Congress of misusing the government machinery to win the polls.

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma even staged a sit-in in Pathankot on Sunday evening in protest against the alleged misuse of government machinery. The saffron party alleged that their polling agents were "forcibly removed" from some polling booths.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too accused the Congress workers of indulging in booth capturing in Samana, Rajpura, Dhuri, Abohar and Bhikhiwind, a charge denied by the ruling party.

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema claimed that an AAP volunteer was allegedly shot at in Patti by some Congress activists. However, police rejected the charge.

#Punjabmunicipalbodypolls2021: Long queue of voters at Government Senior Secondary School, Phabhat village in Mohali

Follow live updates here: https://t.co/TkmzUhDtXk pic.twitter.com/N7CW6T2Xbt  TOIChandigarh (@TOIChandigarh) February 14, 2021

A Congress candidate also reportedly sustained injuries on Saturday night.

Candidate Yadwinder Singh Yadu, who was contesting a seat in the Muktsar municipal council, was injured in a clash on the outskirts of Muktsar town on Saturday night, as per News18.

News18 reported that Sudhir Sharma, a supporter of Yadu, was also injured in the incident.

Congress leader and ex-Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar blamed members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the violence, the report added.

Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed in Batala after Congress and BJP workers clashed, News18 reported, adding that the situation was brought under control by the police. The Tribune reported that tight security arrangements are in place.

News18 also reported that SAD candidate Parveen Kumar Pinna, who is contesting the Moga municipal corporation election, was "assaulted by unidentified people" outside the Arya School polling booth in the area.

AAP's Cheema also demanded Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's resignation over the incidents of violence on Sunday.

The ensuing poll violence show that @capt_amarinder is a killer of democracy. I demand his immediate resignation. Instead of protecting the people of Punjab he is promoting his goons and suppressing the people's voices.@ArvindKejriwal@ZeePunjabHH@thetribunechd@htTweets  Adv Harpal Singh Cheema (@HarpalCheemaMLA) February 14, 2021

However, the Punjab Congress hit back at the Opposition parties and said they were making "baseless accusations".

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said, "They (Opposition) do not have any argument against the Congress Party, which is fighting elections purely on the development work done in the state."

While the SAD and the AAP accused the Congress of misusing the government machinery, the BJP had charged the ruling party of "unleashing hooliganism under the guise of the farmers' protest".

A total of 9,222 candidates were in the fray for 2,302 wards of the Abohar, Bathinda Batala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Moga municipal corporations, in addition to the municipal councils and nagar panchayats

EVM snags were also reported in a few places like Ludhiana and Mohali, reports said. Around 7,000 EVMs were deployed for voting, PTI reported.

Prominent among those who cast their votes till noon included Punjab minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Akali leader Majithia, AAP legislator Aman Arora, and Punjab BJP chief Punjab Ashwani Sharma.

The State Election Commission (SEC) had set up 4,102 polling stations. Of these, 1,708 were declared as sensitive and 861 as hyper sensitive.

Out of the total candidates, 2,832 contested as Independents, 2,037 are of the ruling Congress and 1,569 of the Akali Dal. The number of candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Aam Aadmi Party and the BSP are 1,003, 1,606 and 160 respectively.

Former allies, the SAD and the BJP fought the municipals elections separately. The SAD had walked out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to registers its opposition to the farm laws last year.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other party leaders campaigned for their party candidates.

As many as 19,000 police personnel were deputed to conduct free and fair elections, the SEC said. Voters, including elderly citizens, began lining up at the polling booths early on Sunday morning.

Voters were also screened through thermal scanners at polling booths in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were 20,49,777 male, 18,65,354 female and 149 transgender voters, totalling 39,15,280 registered voters in the state for the civic body elections, according to the SEC data.

The counting of votes will take place on 17 February.

With inputs from PTI
Founded in March 2020 by Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka, Koo can be used to express views and opinions on various topics much like Twitter.

Where on earth did koo come from? Not the company. We know that the homegrown microblogging platform was launched in March 2020 by serial entrepreneurs Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka. But the name Koo?

Where did that come from?

Is it onomatopoeic, from the call of the koel that most Indian of birds celebrated equally in music and poetry. Or is it even deeper, mined from India's rich past in keeping with the spirit of the endeavour. Perhaps it is a Sanskrit derivation, from nikujitam, meaning vibrated. If so, the founders have chosen wisely.

To take on the likes of Twitter, Atmanirbhar Bharat's play has to be a name that is shorter and equally mysterious, at least to the uninitiated.

Twitters naamkaran, by contrast, was far more pedestrian. Its founder Jack Dorsey told New York Public Radio in a 2011 interview that it originated from how a person's phone would buzz/jitter/twitch on receiving a tweet. So, the earliest names were Jitter and Twitch. As Dorsey explained "neither one of them really inspired the best sort of imagery". Thank god for that. Imagine having to deal with jitterati or worse twicheratti!

The team then took recourse to the dictionary in search of something better and came up with Twitter, which means a short inconsequential burst of information as well as the chirp from birds. That worked out rather well, encapsulating precisely the two main elements of the platform.

Radhakrishna and Bidawatka havent yet come up with a similar explanation for their creation. Cant blame them, with the site growing exponentially over the last few weeks, theyve had their hands full. Till then it will stay a mystery.

Time was when companies came with names such as International Business Machines, General Electric, United Technologies and Infosys. Prosaic they might have been but there was an air of gravitas to those names.

Now is the age of the bizarre and the outlandish, the more arcane the name, the better it is for branding. Over the years, we have had the likes of Yub and Boo and Gab contending with tongue twisters like Bacn and the truly weird Zombies and Sermo, which incidentally comes from the Latin word for conversation and is a network for physicians. Go figure.

There's a practical reason as well for such unconventional names. With squatters booking every conceivable domain ID, obvious names are ruled out. Predictably, twitter.com was spoken for when it was conceived and the founders had to buy the domain name. Fortunately for them, it was lying dormant and didn't cost them a bomb. This very reason has led to the mauling of spellings with topper becoming Toppr and untapped, Untappd, while Likee is you know what.

Not that being too correct helps. Telegram and Signal clearly the more intuitive terms to describe their purposeof communicatingdon't stand a chance against the much-mauled WhatsApp (from the well-known greeting Whats Up or wassup).

Mastodon, last years celebrated rival to Twitter, didnt quite make it despite a decidedly more intellectual name.

The Chinese have had it easier. Besides the small matter of banning everyone else, they also had a word, Weibo, for microblog in their language. So when Sina Corp wanted to launch the local version of Twitter it kept it to a simple weibo.com.

Maybe we live in far too complex a world to have more such simplicity. With zillions of sites in the digital universe, standing out isnt easy. Finding names that are unique and memorable can be a real challenge. To that extent, Koo has got it right by being both cryptic and open to all possibilities.

It is in keeping with the changing nature of people's names. Today's young people have such exciting names as Cy and X  A-12, and here I am saddled with the dull and boring Sundeep.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

View Results
After hours of heated arguments in former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, lawmakers found a rare moment of consensus when the U.S. Senate voted on Friday to award the highest honor Congress can bestow to one of the police officers who responded to the January 6 Capitol siege.

By unanimous consent, the Senate passed a measure to give the Congressional Gold Medal to officer Eugene Goodman of the U.S. Capitol Police force.

Goodman steered rioters away from lawmakers as a pro-Trump mob rampaged through the Capitol while Congress gathered to formally certify President Joe Biden's election victory. In video shown during the trial, Goodman was seen directing Senator Mitt Romney out of harm's way.

"Here in this trial, we saw new video, powerful video, showing calmness under pressure, his courage in the line of duty, his foresight in the midst of chaos, and his willingness to make himself a target of the mob's rage so that others might reach safety," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor.

Schumer pointed out Goodman, who stood in the back of the chamber. Lawmakers burst into a standing ovation for him. Goodman briefly placed his hand on his heart. Schumer said all the law enforcement officers who responded to the Capitol attack should be honored and recognized as well, spurring a second standing ovation. Goodman joined the second round of applause.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell also praised Goodman, saying: "If not for the quick thinking and bravery of Officer Eugene Goodman in particular, the people in this chamber may not have escaped that day unharmed."

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced a bill on Thursday that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Capitol Police force and to Washington's Metropolitan Police Department, whose officers were also called to the scene to secure the Capitol complex.

Trump, the first U.S. president to face two impeachment trials and the first to have such as trial after leaving office, has been accused of inciting an insurrection for an incendiary speech he made to supporters shortly before the siege.
Today is the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack wherein 40 troops from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) laid down their lives. The attack incited sadness but outrage and a desire for revenge more than anything and the desire was fulfilled, when French-built Indian Mirage 2000 multirole fighter aircraft dropped bombs in terrorist training camps in Balakot on February 26.

February 14th, 2021, marks two years of the Pulwama terror attack wherein 40 troops from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) laid down their lives for the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tributes to the soldiers who were martyred in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama after a Vehicle-bourne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), i.e. a car loaded full of explosives, drove into a bus carrying the men.

The bus was part of a 78 bus convoy transporting around 2,500 CRPF from Jammu to Srinagar. The suicide bomber went by the name of Adil Ahmad Dar, a 22-year-old who rammed a Maruti Eeco into the bus at about 3 p.m. causing the explosion and the great tragedy.

PM Modi wrote in a tweet, Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom.

Also read: Chamoli disaster: China blames India for glacial outburst, shifts blame on Indian army

Also read: #FreedomForTibet: Tibetans in-exile commemorate 108th Tibetan Independence Day, demand release from CCPs clutches

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted in honour of the 40 CRPF soldiers who died in the suicide bombing in Pulwama.

The event caused the highest number of Indian security personnel casualties in a single day in the Kashmir conflict. The attack incited sadness but outrage and a desire for revenge more than anything and the desire was fulfilled, when French-built Indian Mirage 2000 multirole fighter aircraft dropped bombs in terrorist training camps in Balakot on February 26. Although, Pakistan denied the bombs hitting any valuable targets other than some trees, their opening of the bombed area for international media after a month suggests that they swept the area clean of bodies and other debris.
Demeaning text messages sent by a Republican state committeeman have exposed cracks in the Hudson County minority partys unity.

The revelation of the messages, in which GOP state Committeeman Joshua Sotomayor-Einstein admitted to emotionally abusing a woman, have thrust the usually low-key Hudson County Republicans into the spotlight, highlighting a simmering discord over the partys future.

We have two sides of our parties digging in their heels, and they both have different ideas on how to run things, and they seem to be trying to take each other out, said Jennifer Zinone, a Bayonne Republican who won 40,298 votes last year in an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.

You can see battle lines being drawn, and its not good, she added.

In Democrat-dominated Hudson County, the Republican party often flies under the radar. As of Feb. 1, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the county by more than five to one. The last Republican mayor in the county left office 20 years ago, and county committee chair and state chair of chairs Jose Arango has presided for two decades over a party apparatus largely free of the infighting that defines the countys Democratic politics.

But Sotomayor-Einstein, who announced a long-shot bid for Arangos seat in 2019, has changed that. Through frequent op-eds and media appearances, Sotomayor-Einstein has become arguably the most visible Republican in the county. The Hoboken state committeeman has cast himself as the leader of a grassroots conservative movement taking on an ineffective Republican party machine.

The difference between him and Arango, he said, is not ideological  both have supported Donald Trump, though Arango with less enthusiasm than his challenger  but rather about efficacy and tactics. Sotomayor-Einstein wants the party to field more Republican candidates in local elections, ramp up organizing in the county, and be louder and more outspoken.

Theres a dichotomy in Hudson County between grassroots leadership of Republicans that wants to do stuff, thats engaged in outreach, engaged in activism  and then the do-nothing title-holders that are in bed with the Democrats, he said.

Those criticisms  that Jose Arango is too close with the Hudson County Democrats, to the detriment of his own party  are not new. During his tenure, some in the GOP have bristled at the fact that Arango works for Democrat-run Jersey City, and that members of the county committee have endorsed Democratic candidates in local elections.

And Sotomayor-Einsteins vision has drawn at least a handful of followers, like Herminio Mendoza, a Jersey City committeeman and president of the Hispanic Republicans of North Jersey. Over the past 20 years, Mendoza said, nothing has changed in the Hudson GOP.

I want something to grow, he said. I want a future.

Asked about divisions within his party, Arango defended his record: under his tenure, he noted, the share of Hudson Countys vote that went to then-President Trump increased between 2016 and 2020, from roughly 22% to 26%. The number of registered Republicans in the county has grown from 24,656 in February 2016 to 42,027 today. And many of his opponents aspirations  like fielding competitive candidates in local races  are unrealistic in deep-blue Hudson, he said.

We have enough problems being a small party to have these type of divisions on issues, he said, adding, You cant be talking Republican politics like you are in Warren County, in Hudson County.

To win the chair seat, Sotomayor-Einstein must win the support of a majority of the roughly 400 county committee people, a tall order for the outsider candidate  especially after the revelation of offensive comments he made about women in 2018.

Last month, Tia-Lyn Ghione, a Bergen County GOP operative, posted screenshots of text exchanges she had with Sotomayor-Einstein; in one message, the committeeman wrote, I convinced this one really dumb bird I was totally emotionally abusing that it was her idea to sex in the courtyard, roof, and gym bathroom of my old building.

I had her thinking we were dating, he wrote.

The messages drew swift condemnation. In statements to NJ Globe, GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli called Sotomayor-Einsteins behavior abhorrent and completely unacceptable and state chair Michael Lavery slammed this kind of misogynistic and sexist behavior.

Kamei Harris, the president of the Hudson County Federation of Republican Women, said the comments were horrible and completely offensive to women. In response to the messages, the state GOP adopted a sexual harassment and conduct policy.

Ghione said the communications show that theres still so much work to be done within the party. She has been in contact with the Hudson County Prosecutors Office; a spokeswoman for the prosecutor said the agency was looking into the messages.

We are aware of the matter and it has been referred to our Special Victims Unit, the spokeswoman said in an email.

Sotomayor-Einstein said the events referenced in the messages are not times that I extoll. But has has refused to drop out of the race, saying the uproar was cancel culture B.S. and a political attack. Even if he did step down, he said, someone else would take up his cause.

There would be other county grassroots leaders that would step in and take over the charge to get rid of Arango and build an actual GOP, he said.

But Arango wants his opponent to leave the county GOP entirely.

Im not looking for perfect people, but Im not going to have somebody who admits that they abuse women in my party, as long as Im here, he said.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)  San Francisco police are investigating a shooting in the city's Bayview District Saturday evening which has left six people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Investigators are searching for a suspect.

A police spokesperson said that officers responded to several 911 calls near Third Street and Quesada Avenue.

There are no further details at this time.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is obtained.

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.
With former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial ending in an acquittal after five days of deliberation, many people are wondering what the end of the trial could mean for the $1400 stimulus checks.Many Americans have raised concerns that since it was the priority of the senate and congress, it may cause a disruption to the talks about President Joe Biden's $1.9 billion coronavirus relief bill proposal, which includes the proposed $1,400 stimulus checks to Americans.

End of Trump's Impeachment Trial

Since the beginning of the week, Trump's second impeachment trial has overwhelmed the Senate calendar. Senators needed to weigh testimonies from Trump's defense team, as well as the impeachment managers of the house in order for them to decide if he is indeed guilty of inciting violence in connection to January 6th's Capitol Insurrection.

The impeachment trial threatened to take longer on Saturday after House impeachment managers called on witnesses. Senators initially agreed with the calling of witnesses, however, they realized that having witnesses may prolong the trial by weeks, WPTV reported. Senators then called for a recess, after which the House managers dropped their request to call witnesses and the trial ended up with a vote favoring Trump's acquittal, CNET reported.

READ ALSO: Will You Need to Pay Taxes for Stimulus Checks? No, IRS Announces Stimulus Money is Tax-Free

When will the $1400 Stimulus Checks Arrive?

However, while many people expect that the end of Trump's trial would mean the immediate start of the talks on the economic relief bill, this is not the case.

According to Newsweek, both the Senate and the House are scheduled to take breaks this week.

Both the House and Senate are on scheduled breaks this week. The legislation of the stimulus bill, including the $1400 stimulus checks has been passed to the House Budget Committee which will reconvene when congress resumes. Both House and Senate will remain in recess until February 22.

However, the bright side is that House committees have already voted on several sections of the stimulus proposal. Last Wednesday the section of the stimulus proposal which will send the $1400 stimulus checks to Americans earning up to $75,000 annually was voted on by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The committee also approved that unemployment supplements worth $400, should be sent through the end of September. While the committee has already voted on the checks to be received by those earning up to $75,000 a year, many are still questioning whether they would receive the full $1400 stimulus checks or not.

Some Democrats have reached out to President Biden through a letter urging him to keep the amount at $75,000. However, there are others who said that a more targetted threshold should be made.

Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an announcement that the stimulus package will be passed by Congress by the end of this month. In her statement, she said that the bill which includes the $1400 stimulus checks will be sent from the house to the Senate in just over a week allowing them to finish by the end of February. Meanwhile, lawmakers have set the unofficial deadline for approving the coronavirus aid and the $1400 stimulus checks to March 14.

RELATED ARTICLE: Trump Defense Triumph: Ex-President Acquitted in Second Impeachment Trial, Conservatives Hail Victory

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Dewa Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) on Saturday posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 13,095.38 crore in the third quarter ended December 2020 against a net profit of Rs 934.31 crore in the year ago quarter. Sequentially, the company witnessed widening of net loss from Rs 2,122.65 crore in the second quarter ended September 2020.

Crisis-ridden DHFL, which is under the process of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CRIP), under the provisions of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 said during this quarter, additional transaction amounting to Rs 1,039.84 crore has been identified and reported by the company to stock exchanges and National Housing Bank (NHB).

Also Read: DHFL resolution: Lenders back Piramal's bid

The company has made provisions as per NHB guidelines on provisioning pertaining to fraud accounts.

The company, now being run by an RBI appointed administrator, is being investigated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs from December 2019 through the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to look into the affairs of the company.

The Enforcement Directorate is also probing the company in connection with loans given by it to certain borrowers. The Central Bureau of Investigation has also initiated an investigation in connection with certain loans granted by the company.

Apart from this CBI is also investigating into the matter of amounts invested by an Uttar Pradesh State Government entity - Provident Fund in the Fixed Deposits of the company.

"The company is fully cooperating with all the investigating agencies and providing the necessary information/data as and when the same is sought," DHFL said.

Also Read: DHFL bidding: CoC declares Piramal as successful bidder

The company's chartered accountant, KK Mankeshwar & Co in its limited review report, said that the net worth of the company is fully eroded, rendering the company unable to comply with the regulatory requirements of NHB in respect of the Net Owned Fund (NOF) and which also resulted in multiple contraventions of the provisions of NHB Act, 1987, Directions and Guidelines thereon.

"Although the aforesaid non-compliance may in ordinary course result in potential action against the company by NHB in this regard, we are not commenting on the same since the company is presently under moratorium imposed by the NCLT which prevents any actions against the company," it said.
What happened in the spring of 2018 was, in its essence, an anti-Karabakh movement. The third President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, said this in an extensive interview with a local television.

The said television published an excerpt from this interview in which Sargsyan spoke about the reasons for the Armenian sides capitulation in the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war, the diplomatic, military and political failures of Armenia, and future-oriented plans.

"We have never negotiated about what we will give; we have always negotiated about what we will get," he said regarding the Karabakh peace talks.

To the remark that there is a widespread theory that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is his project, and asked whether or not this is so, Serzh Sargsyan responded: "I would not want such a project even for my enemy. Would I scribble such nonsense for myself? They had put me before a zugzwang."

Referring to the relations between PM Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, the third president of Armenia said:. "If the capitulator considers Aliyev's steps 'constructive,' then he must explain which stepsthe start of hostilities? Or were there any secret arrangements? Or did they make some secret promises to each other?"

And regarding the actions of the Armenian government, Serzh Sargsyan stated: "When these crazy authorities rejected our accomplishments and started learningfrom Aliyevabout the negotiation history, it was already clear to me that we were going toward defeat; that we are going toward war."

The aforesaid interview will be broadcast on Monday at 9pm local time.
Nicky with his beloved golden labrador Maxwell

After struggling for years to come to terms with being adopted, Long Lost Family presenter Nicky Campbell finally had a breakdown. Then a true friend helped him find peace

At 6.30 I said good morning  the biggest lie Id ever told  to our listeners on Radio 5 Live. I felt sick in my heart and could barely breathe.

After the clock had agonisingly ticked round to the end of the programme, I made my way out of the building in a zombie march.

For years  despite my successful career in television and radio presenting, and my wonderful wife and four daughters  I had been in a downward spiral. Suffering obsessions, fixations, manic missions, terrible lows and deep depressions. Id been having random moments of crying when I felt overwhelmed by a despair that seemed to come from nowhere  no specific trigger, but a feeling that my heart was broken. That morning, it was a news story about animal cruelty which had finally tipped me over the edge.

I crossed the road, narrowly avoiding a bus that swept around the corner from nowhere. I couldnt believe the people all around me. I couldnt believe that everyone was blithely carrying on while so much was going wrong in the world.

I gave up. I was on my knees on a patch of grass near the tube station, with people shuffling past, avoiding me. I scrabbled in my pocket for my phone, rang my wife Tina and babbled through the mess of tears. Come home now, she said. Were going to sort this out. Come home to us. To Maxwell.

For 35 wasted years I didnt have a dog. I didnt realise how much I yearned for one until Maxwell, my molten-golden labrador, arrived.

He came along at exactly the right time. My mum  my adoptive mum  always used to say it was clear, once she and my dad adopted me, that it was meant to be. Our family was perfect  Mum, Dad, my sister Fiona and me.

It was the same for me with Tina and our glorious children. And then, 12 years ago, like a meteor, Maxwell. He landed and has never left my side.

From the first moment Maxwell arrived, I was safe. I knew in a heartbeat of our connection that those gnawing feelings of abandonment that have never really left me were not going to floor me. Maxwell was there when I was on cloud nine and he was there when I crashed and burned.

Nicky as a boy with his mum, dad and sister Fiona on holiday in the Highlands, 1967. Nicky as a baby, 1961

   

To understand what led to this breakdown, I have to travel back.

Despite my wonderful family, like most adopted children, my identity was fragile. I wished that I could be normal and not the child of a stranger. The growing awareness of what it meant to be adopted became a tangled path that was trickier to navigate as I got older. On good days, I was barely conscious of my adoption; but on darker days, it took on a sinister quality. Being adopted was a lie I was living, and no matter how hard I tried to hide it, it was central to who I was.

I was in my 20s when I began tracing my birth mother and father. I found out that when I was born, she had travelled from Ireland to Edinburgh to find a family for her son, and to escape the shame of being an unmarried mother. I thought I was closer to self-revelation, but in reality, I wasnt an inch nearer to understanding anything. It was like a detective story. I was solving a mystery like a journalist reporting on someone elses life. I was intoxicated by the process but detached from the consequences.

Knowing who my birth mother was did nothing to quell my unresolved issues with the woman or mother who gave me away. In giving me up for adoption, she ensured I had a better life than she could ever have given me. My parents are my parents. I dont have enough words to say how special they were and how happy my childhood was. And yet there was a lifelong whisper inside me: she didnt want you, she gave you away.

I was 29 when I first met my birth mother, Stella, in a Dublin hotel. She was two hours late, uncertain and fragile. I felt no emotional connection. I felt nothing.

Stella wanted to make up for lost time. But my time hadnt been lost. I had my story  my truth. As far as I was concerned, my quest was over. And while I understood her need and I didnt want to break off contact or never talk again, once every so often and a Christmas card would have been fine. I couldnt magic up feelings that werent there. Maybe it was self-protection  subconsciously, I just couldnt let the hurt shed already caused go deeper.

This was my justification for putting Stella away. Her letters I put in a drawer unopened, and her phone calls became less frequent.

I had to close it down for the sake of my sanity. By now I had met my sister Esther, the first child Stella had given up for adoption, and guiltily explained how I was struggling with Stellas ongoing need to be part of my life. Esther got it and I felt less culpable.

Left: Nicky considers Maxwell his guardian angel. Right: Nicky and Mum Sheila with a Photo of his dad, 2018

In 2008, 17 years after our first meeting, Stella died. Esther and I went over for her funeral on a bleak Dublin day. I was conscious that there was no explanation at the funeral as to who we were. There I was, the bastard son; there was Esther, the unwanted daughter.

I was sad  but not sad enough. Not like I was when my dad Frank died [from pancreatic cancer] in 1996. One of my last visits to see him when he was gravely ill will stay with me for ever. Id never felt comfortable discussing my quest to find Stella with my parents. That day at his bedside, I had wanted to tell Dad that I had traced my birth mother to find out who I was. That I felt like a traitor and didnt speak to them about it because I wanted to protect them. But I was a coward and couldnt say it.

He opened his eyes, momentarily clear from pain. With as much strength as he could muster, he pointed to the shelf behind him and the card Id sent a few days before. I love that, Nicko. Thats what I love.

He put his thumbs up, beaming in silence. His eyes were glistening. All Id written was I love you. Id said it before and written it before, but now it seemed to mean more to him than anything Id ever said in my life. All the things I wanted to say, and should have said, were wrapped up in those three words. But later, when I kissed him goodbye  for now  still those long-lurking regrets were raging inside and I felt ashamed.

Death was close. Within days Dad was being moved to the hospice. I held on to his hand and told him we all loved him. Then, and it sounded like a final goodbye, a full stop, he said: And I love all of you.

I promised myself that whatever my failings, if I could at least strive to be half the man he was, I would achieve a lot. Family was at the epicentre of everything for him. Hed made us safe and wed made him complete; hed rescued me.

   

It wasnt until years later, in 2011, when I started presenting Long Lost Family, that I began to see my story from another perspective. Talking intimately with dozens of adopted sons and daughters, with the same feelings and similar stories, made me realise that although Stella didnt initially look for me, she tried to maintain contact once wed met  and for the rest of her life, I hid. My shortcomings as a birth son were laid out bare to me. The grief I felt from this and the loss of Dad began to overwhelm me.

Although Maxwell was always my soft landing, an escape to a better me  unaffected, unburdened, perhaps the truest me  the din of desperation got louder and louder. The day I collapsed in front of the station, Tina organised for me to have time off work and made a doctors appointment for the next morning. The moment I started to realise that the way I was feeling wasnt actually normal was an epiphany.

My GP referred me to a psychiatrist. I was diagnosed as clinically depressed and bipolar type 2. Your high-wire adrenaline jobs help soak up the highs, but the lows have just become too much to deal with.

I felt a strange amalgam of validation and helplessness. He prescribed a drug that was used for epilepsy and bipolar disorder. He swayed back in his dark green leather chair. Just out of interest, he said, has anyone else in your family been bipolar?

No, I said, thinking of Mum and Dad. And then I realised what he meant by family. It turned out Stella had lived with bipolar disorder in its most sporadically debilitating form for all her adult years.

   

Left: At a British war cemetery in France with Long Lost Family co-host Davina, 2019. Right: With Maxwell and daughter Breagha at the Animal Hero Awards, 2019

During my time off I sat on the sofa with my hand on Maxwells head and I let it come, a reckoning. My adoption search had been all about who I was. Id never bothered addressing the question who was she? Who was Stella? I thought about the first question Stella had asked me. Do you like dogs? What a brilliant question that was. Its a test of humanity because loving animals means we understand ourselves. She knew how dogs take us to a better us and give us back to ourselves. I looked down at Maxwell and heard the refrain strike back up. I knew what I needed to do.

Id never read Stellas letters. Id never even opened them. I felt a cold shiver of self-loathing and failure. Id do it now. I went upstairs to get them, Maxwell following me up and then back down, as if he was part of the mission. Or a guardian angel. Just having him next to me meant that I could do this.

I opened them all. And there they were: unedited torrents of thought, reams and streams of consciousness, all in her microscopic scrawl.

When Id received these letters, Id told myself I had no time or energy to unravel the words and crack the code. Id stuffed them, unopened, into drawers. But now, the letters spread around me, Maxwell by my side, I realised what Id been searching for: just a tiny scrap of a hint that shed never wanted to give me up. That shed had to bury it all. That shed thought about me every day.

Two hours later, I found it. All the people who matter know about you, she wrote. I hadnt taken that in first time. It had been hidden in the undergrowth. But there it was  the shame but the steely determination, the courage to tell people whod never known and would never imagine this woman would have had secret children. She told the people who mattered. They might think badly of her; they would certainly see her completely differently, but it was the right thing to do.

With Tina, his wife of 24 years

   

It may have taken a while and been a bumpy ride, but I have reached the point where I recognise my birth mother and my birth father for what and who they are. I am part of them and they are part of me. Ive got to a point where its good being me. Thanks to Mum, Dad, Fiona, to Tina, my daughters, Esther; thanks to my diagnosis, to the many adopted children Ive met working on Long Lost Family; to working through the labyrinth of adoption and to reading Stellas letters and truly finding her when I read them 30 years after she sent them.

And, of course, thanks to my best friend in the whole world, the one who helped me to be my real self and my best self. My therapist with four legs. The one who said nothing but understood everything. The one who convinced me that theres no need to pretend, no need to hide. The one who shone a light on my childhood and helped me understand it. How could he, Maxwell, ever have been in any other family but ours, been anyone elses dog but mine? Maxwell helped me to be me.

The new series of Long Lost Family is available on itv.com

This is an edited extract from One of the Family by Nicky Campbell, published by Hodder & Stoughton, 20. To order a copy for 17.60 with free p&p until 28 February, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193.
The race to build the worlds first functioning Hyperloop - a proposed transport system of levitating capsules speeding through vacuum tubes - has captured the publics imagination.

But one of the leading companies trying to make the concept a reality, Hyperloop Transport Technologies (Hyperloop TT) , is testing something else almost as revolutionary: the potential of crowdsourcing.

Hyperloop Transport Technologies test system in Toulouse, France.

If youre a billionaire, its easy to change the world, says Hyperloop TTs co-founder and chairman Dirk Ahlborn in an interview ahead of an appearance at Pause Fest 2021, a Melbourne-based business and creativity event sometimes billed as Australias South by Southwest.

You can just throw a bunch of money behind something and try to do something completely new. But Im not a billionaire so how do you tackle big problems, how do you tackle big ideas?
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Eateries and salons in east Delhi have gone all out with special discounts on the occasion of Valentine's Day on Sunday.

While speaking to IANS, Mahesh Verma, Assistant Manager, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Preet Vihar area, said : "We have started a 'couple meal' from February 12 which is valid till February 14 and is available at special discount rates." Owner of 'Unique Pastry' in IP Extension area on condition of anonymity, said: "Special heart-shaped cakes are being baked at our bakery on Valentine's Day with special discounts." IANS also spoke to Kriti Yadav, the owner of the 'Nail Site', which specialises in nail shaping and also runs a 'Beauty Academy' in Delhi's Nirman Vihar.

She said on the occassion of Valentine's Day, our salon is providing service of nail extension, eyelash extension along with any nail art at reasonable rates. She also told IANS that manicure and pedicure services at home are also being extended without any visiting charges.

Sahil Gupta of 'Sakhi Beauty Parlour' at Patparganj area said, "At 'Sakhi', we are offering 50 per cent discount on facial treatment to mark the Valentine's Day."

Latest updates on Valentine's Day 2021
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The Prince of Wales has expressed concern about the 'variable uptake' of the Covid-19 vaccine in some ethnic minority communities.

Prince Charles, 72, who along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, has had his first coronavirus jab, described the 100,000 death toll in the UK, passed last month, as a 'most sobering milestone'.

The comments from the heir to the throne are in a keynote address he is making this week at the British Asian Trust's Webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine - Facts for the BAME Community.

Charles, royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), will say: 'In view of my concern about the health and welfare of our ethnic minority communities, I am so glad to be able to introduce this crucially important discussion on vaccination.

The Prince of Wales (pictured at a vaccination centre in December) has expressed concern about the 'variable uptake' of the Covid-19 vaccine in some ethnic minority communities

'Everyone present today represents the collective effort we have made as a society to combat this relentless pandemic.

'Over the past year, we have all been inspired by innumerable accounts of dedication to duty not only from those working tirelessly in our marvellous National Health Service, or in social care, but also in all forms of public service, as well as - of course - in business, industry, commerce and the voluntary sector.

'We have needed every last reserve of their selfless service and commitment to help defeat this pernicious threat.'

In the address, to be delivered via video message on Thursday, he will add: 'Recently, I fear we have reached a most sobering milestone in this seemingly interminable campaign as we marked the tragic loss of a hundred thousand souls.

'It is clear that the virus has affected all parts of the country, and all sections of society - but it is also clear that there are particular challenges faced in particular sections of our society, especially in some ethnic minority communities.

'What saddens me even further is to hear that those challenges are being made even worse by the variable uptake of the vaccines which finally offer us a way out of the suffering of the past year.'

Prince Charles, 72, who along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, (pictured together in December) has had his first coronavirus jab, described the 100,000 death toll in the UK, passed last month, as a 'most sobering milestone'

Clarence House confirmed during the week that Charles and Camilla have had their first Covid-19 vaccinations.

As over 70-year-olds, the couple are in the fourth priority group for the rollout of the jabs.

The confirmation comes after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were given the injection last month, announced in an unusual move by Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on the private health matters of the 94-year-old head of state and her consort, 99.

Charles had previously said he would 'absolutely' get the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to him.

He and his eldest son, Prince William, both contracted coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic.

Charles was described as having mild symptoms and lost his sense of taste and smell for a period, while it was reported William was hit 'pretty hard' by the virus.

The comments from the heir to the throne, who is royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), are in a keynote address he is making this week at the BAT's Webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine - Facts for the BAME Community

There has been concern in Government at the rate of vaccine uptake among some communities - including some ethnic minorities.

Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, said that he urges everyone who gets a letter to get the vaccine without hesitation.

He said officials have been working with faith groups and local community leaders to encourage everybody to come forward.

'Don't hesitate at all. These vaccines are safe, they're effective against Covid, they'll protect you, they'll protect your loved ones, and of course they'll help get society back to normal again,' he said.

The Government has been urged to prioritise vaccinating ethnic minority groups after research showed that people of South Asian background have continued to experience disproportionately high Covid-19 death rates.

Research published recently showed that Bangladeshi and Pakistani people have experienced an 'alarming' higher risk of dying with coronavirus throughout both waves of the pandemic, compared to British white people.

The authors said people from South Asian groups are more likely to live in deprived areas and in large, multigenerational households. A higher proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men work as taxi drivers, shopkeepers and proprietors than any other ethnic background - occupations with a higher risk of exposure to coronavirus.
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial that spared him the first-ever conviction of a current or former U.S. president but exposed the fragility of Americas democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to terms with the violence sparked by his defeated presidency.

Barely a month since the deadly Jan. 6 riot that stunned the world, the Senate convened for a rare weekend session to deliver its verdict, voting while armed National Guard troops continued to stand their posts outside the iconic building.

The quick trial, the nations first of a former president, showed in raw and emotional detail how perilously close the invaders had come to destroy the nation's deep tradition of a peaceful transfer of presidential power after Trump had refused to concede the election. Rallying outside the White House, he unleashed a mob of supporters to fight like hell" for him at the Capitol just as Congress was certified Democrat Joe Bidens victory. As hundreds stormed the building, some in tactical gear engaging in bloody combat with police, lawmakers fled for their lives. Five people died.

The verdict, on a vote of 57-43, is all but certain to influence not only the former president's political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats to convict, but it was far from the two-thirds threshold required.

The outcome after the uprising leaves unresolved the nations wrenching divisions over Trump's brand of politics that led to the most violent domestic attack on one of America's three branches of government.

Senators, we are in a dialogue with history, a conversation with our past, with a hope for our future," said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa.., one of the House prosecutors in closing arguments.

What we do here, what is being asked of each of us here in this moment will be remembered."

Trump, unrepentant, welcomed his second impeachment acquittal and said his movement has only just begun." He slammed the trial as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country."

Though he was acquitted of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, it was easily the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Voting to find Trump guilty were GOP Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Even after voting to acquit, the Republican leader Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as practically and morally responsible" for the insurrection. McConnell contended Trump could not be convicted because he was gone from the White House.

The trial had been momentarily thrown into confusion when senators Saturday suddenly wanted to consider potential witnesses, particularly concerning Trump's actions as the mob rioted. Prolonged proceedings could have been especially damaging for Biden's new presidency, significantly delaying his emerging legislative agenda. Coming amid the searing COVID-19 crisis, the Biden White House is trying to rush pandemic relief through Congress.

Biden has hardly weighed in on the proceedings and was spending the weekend with family at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland.

The nearly weeklong trial has delivered a grim and graphic narrative of the riot and its consequences in ways that senators, most of whom fled for their own safety that day, acknowledge they are still coming to grips with.

House prosecutors have argued that Trumps was the "inciter in chief" stoking a months-long campaign with an orchestrated pattern of violent rhetoric and false claims they called the big lie" that unleashed the mob. Five people died, including a rioter who was shot and a police officer.

Trumps lawyers countered that Trumps words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment is nothing but a witch hunt" designed to prevent him from serving in office again.

The senators, announcing their votes from their desks in the very chamber the mob had ransacked, were not only jurors but also witnesses. Only by watching the graphic videos  rioters calling out menacingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the January certification tally  did senators say they began to understand just how perilously close the country came to chaos.

Many senators kept their votes closely held until the final moments on Saturday, particularly the Republicans representing states where the former president remains popular. Most of them ultimately voted to acquit, doubting whether Trump was fully responsible or if impeachment is the appropriate response.

Just look at what Republicans have been forced to defend," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive."

The second-ranking Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, acknowledged, Its an uncomfortable vote," adding, "I dont think there was a good outcome there for anybody."

In closing arguments, lead defender Michael van der Veen emphasized an argument that Republican senators also embraced: that it was all a phony impeachment show trial."

Mr. Trump is innocent of the charges against him," said van der Veen. The act of incitement never happened."

The House impeached Trump on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection one week after the riot, but the Senate was not in full session and McConnell refused requests from Democrats to convene quickly for the trial. Within a week Biden was inaugurated, Trump was gone and Pelosi sent the article of impeachment to the Senate days later, launching the proceedings.

The turmoil on Saturday came as senators wanted to hear evidence about Trump's actions during the riot, after prosecutors said he did nothing to stop it.

Fresh stories overnight had focused on Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state, who said in a statement that Trump had rebuffed a plea from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to call off the rioters.

Several Republican senators voted to consider witnesses. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina changed his vote to join them on that 55-45 vote.

But with the Senate facing a prolonged trial and the defense poised to call many more witnesses, the situation was resolved when Herrera Beutlers statement about the call was read aloud into the record for senators to consider as evidence. As part of the deal, Democrats dropped their planned deposition of the congresswoman and Republicans abandoned their threat to call their own witnesses. They also agreed to include GOP Sen. Mike Lee's time stamp of a call from Trump around the time Pence was evacuated, minutes after Trump sent a tweet critical of his vice president.

Impeachment trials are rare, senators meeting as the court of impeachment over a president only four times in the nation's history, for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and now twice for Trump, the only one to be twice impeached. There have been no convictions.

Unlike last years impeachment trial of Trump in the Ukraine affair, a complicated charge of corruption and obstruction over his attempts to have the foreign ally dig up dirt on then-campaign rival Biden, this one brought an emotional punch displayed in graphic videos of the siege that laid bare the unexpected vulnerability of the democratic system.

At the same time, this year's trial carried similar warnings from the prosecutors that Trump must be held accountable because he has shown repeatedly he has no bounds. Left unchecked, he will further test the norms of civic behavior, even now that he is out of office still commanding loyal supporters, they said.

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Economic development relies on the creation of more productive jobs for an ever-rising share of the workforce. Once, it was industrialization that enabled poor countries to embark on this transformation. Factory work may not have been glorious, but it enabled farmers to become blue-collar workers, transforming the economy and society as a result.

Many low-income countries in Africa and elsewhere hope to travel a similar path. While none necessarily expects success on the scale of China and the East Asian tigers, industrialization and integration into global value chains are viewed as essential for achieving rapid economic growthor restoring it after covidand creating a large number of jobs for Africas young population. Prior to the pandemic, African countries had already achieved some success in industrialization. Ethiopia has established an export-oriented garment and footwear sector, with help from Chinese and European investors. Tanzania has built a more resource-intensive manufacturing sector focused on serving domestic and regional markets. Recent research suggests that the premature de-industrialization to which the continent had been subject may have been halted or even reversed after the early 2000s.

Theres a rub, however, in Africas manufacturing renaissance. Even where industrialization is putting down deeper roots, few good jobs have been created in the more modern, formal, and productive manufacturing branches. Formal jobs have been stagnant, with the bulk of the increase in manufacturing employment coming from small, informal enterprises. This experience stands in stark contrast with that of the rapid industrializers of East Asia, such as Taiwan or Vietnam.

The paradox is deepened when we look behind the aggregate numbers. In new research, Margaret McMillan of Tufts University, Xinshen Diao and Mia Ellis of the International Food Policy Research Institute and I have found a striking dichotomy in the performance of large versus smaller firms. In both Ethiopia and Tanzania, larger firms exhibit superior productivity performance but do not expand employment much, while small firms absorb labour but do not see much productivity growth. The result is that these economies create few good jobs, while the benefits of productivity enhancements remain limited to a very small segment.

Conventional explanations cannot account for this dichotomy. A poor business environment might explain low job creation but not the rapid productivity growth within the same firms. African wages are often thought to be high relative to productivity, but we find that payrolls share in total value added is exceedingly low in both Tanzania and Ethiopia, suggesting that labour costs are unlikely to be a constraint. Moreover, low business dynamism is belied by the very high rates of entry and exit we observe in manufacturing.

One feature of larger manufacturers that may help account for the paradox is that they are very capital-intensive. In countries such as Ethiopia and Tanzania, workers are plentiful and capital (machinery and equipment) is scarce and hence expensive. Standard economic theory predicts that production in such circumstances would be tilted toward labour-intensive techniques. Yet, we find Ethiopia and Tanzanias large manufacturers are significantly more capital-intensive than their income levels or factor endowments would suggest.

It might seem irrational for businesses to use so much capital (along with complementary inputs such as skilled labour) in countries where the underlying comparative advantage is an abundance of less-skilled workers. But it is not clear they have much choice. Manufacturing technologies have become progressively more capital- and skill-intensive over time, responding to the factor prices in advanced economies. Old technologies may have been more labour-intensive, but they will not help African firms compete in world markets today. And technologies used in global value chains seem particularly biased against unskilled labour.

This leaves African economies in a bind. Their manufacturers can either become more productive and competitive, or they can generate more jobs.

This dilemma is reminiscent of an old concern in the development literature on inappropriate technologies. Authors such as E.F. Schumacher worried in the 1970s that Western technologies favoured large-scale, capital-intensive plants ill-suited to conditions in low- income countries. Such worries were swept away by the phenomenal expansion of manufacturing employment in export-oriented industrializing countries in subsequent decades.

We may need to bring the idea back. Recent patterns of technological change in the advanced economies appear to have made it more difficult for low-income countries to develop and converge with income levels in the rest of the world. These changes have contributed to deepening economic and technological dualism even within the more advanced segments of developing countries economies. This is yet another reason for a public debate on the direction of technological change and the tools that governments have to reorient it. 2021/Project Syndicate

Dani Rodrik is professor of international political economy at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government

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It seems that Google has finally released an update for YouTube on iOS. This is the first time since December that the app has received an upgrade. Were not really sure why it took so long for Google to roll out an update for YouTube. But, were glad it is finally here. The update was released earlier this week. Users on iOS noticed a message that told them the app was out of date and needed to be updated. Google did mention that the company would be adding labels to apps that needed updates.

Google releases a much-needed update for YouTube in iOS

Users will now be able to see updates to the app page listings which will also include new app privacy details. A report on the companys blog also stated that the labels will represent the maximum categories of data that could be collected. This essentially means that you will be able to use every feature and service in the app. Google did state that users can always control their privacy settings. This can be achieved by heading into their individual Google Plus account.

Here is the statement in full. As Googles iOS apps are updated with new features or to fix bugs, youll see updates to our app page listings that include the new App Privacy Details. These labels represent the maximum categories of data that could be collectedmeaning if you use every available feature and service in the app. The data you provide to Google products delivers helpful services to you, and you can always control your privacy settings by visiting your Google Account or going directly to the Google products you use on iOS..
The travel restrictions that had been put in place on most area highways ahead of Saturdays expected snow, sleet and freezing rain have been lifted.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced the lifting of those restrictions Sunday morning.

The Tier 1 restrictions included trailers, trucks with unloaded trailers, motorcycles, RVs, and buses without alternate traction devices.

More snow, sleet and freezing rain is on the way starting early Monday. The storm isnt expected to bring much accumulation to the Harrisburg area, but it could affect travel conditions.

Its expected to last through Tuesday afternoon.
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES/

Creates new growth-focused silver producer in Peru

Multi-asset company led by team with proven track record

Concurrent minimum C$14,000,000 financing to fund 30,000 m exploration and development drilling campaign at Nueva Recuperada project

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - ORO X MINING CORP. (TSX-V: OROX) (OTC Pink: WRPSF) ("Oro X" or the "Company") and Mines and Metals Trading (Peru) PLC ("MMTP", also commercially known as "Latitude Silver") are pleased to announce the signing of a business combination agreement (the "Business Combination Agreement"). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Oro X will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of MMTP (the "Transaction").

With a team led by CEO Jose Garcia, Executive Chairman Luis Zapata, and Lead Advisor Paul Matysek, Silver X will be Latin America's next low-cost silver producer. The combination of Oro X's and MMTP's teams, assets and operational experience creates a growth-focused platform primed to consolidate the fragmented Peruvian silver landscape.

Upgrading and expanding MMTP's Nueva Recuperada inferred resource pursuant to a NI 43-101 Technical Report for Recuperada Project, Peru with an effective date of October 15, 2020 (the "Recuperada Technical Report"), from 7.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 130.38 g/t Ag and increasing processing capacity beyond 600 tpd at the operating plant has the potential to create significant near-term positive cashflow. The inferred resources estimated are 7,324,400 T at grades of 130.38 gm/T Ag, 3.17% Pb/T, 2.04% Zn/T.

Additionally, the anticipated minimum C$14,000,000 Financing (as defined herein) will provide the resources to develop the now-consolidated, approximately 15,000 Ha Nueva Recuperada district and to create shareholder value in a multi-asset portfolio.

SILVER X HIGHLIGHTS

Consolidated silver district  Approximately 15,000 Ha of total concessions at the Nueva Recuperada project hosts 90 known productive veins in Peru's premier silver belt.





 Approximately 15,000 Ha of total concessions at the Nueva Recuperada project hosts 90 known productive veins in premier silver belt. Significant current silver resource  The Recuperada Technical Report includes an inferred resource of 7.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 130.38 g/t Ag, 3.17% Pb and 2.04% Zn .





The Recuperada Technical Report includes an inferred resource of 7.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 130.38 g/t Ag, 3.17% Pb and 2.04% Zn High impact drill campaigns  Planned 30,000 meters of exploration and development drilling in 2021 includes targets at Esperanza and Maria Luz along with continued exploration of the Coriorcco gold project.





Planned 30,000 meters of exploration and development drilling in 2021 includes targets at Esperanza and Maria Luz along with continued exploration of the Coriorcco gold project. Strong financial platform  Well funded pro forma treasury with synergies to reduce corporate G&A and a strategy to monetize select non-core assets.





Well funded pro forma treasury with synergies to reduce corporate G&A and a strategy to monetize select non-core assets. Experienced team  Executive team, directors and advisors with proven mining pedigree have created over CAD $3.2 billion in shareholder value over the past 13 years.

Jose Garcia, CEO of Latitude said: "Through this Transaction, Latitude Silver takes one step further in the fast-track development that the company has embarked upon since its inception. This outstanding team is committed to developing one of the most agile mining companies in the sector, combining operations with high-quality exploration and resource development. This is great news for all of our stakeholders and strategic partners, and we look forward to continue working with all of them. Also, we appreciate Oro X's and Latitude Silver's investors support to the Transaction, and we remain committed to delivering great results over the next few years."

Luis Zapata, CEO of Oro X said: "From founding Oro X barely thirteen months ago to now having completed three increasingly significant transactions, I could not be happier for our shareholders as we become a high-growth silver producer. I look forward to working with Jose Garcia as the incoming CEO of Silver X. I will continue to ensure that the new company has the proper capital markets exposure and following to complement our operational excellence."

Paul Matysek, Lead Advisor to Oro X said: "The combination of Oro X and Latitude to form Silver X creates a dynamic platform primed to consolidate a myriad of high-quality silver-centric projects that require financing, improved structure, and local knowledge. Silver X will be led by a team with a proven track record of operating assets and creating shareholder value. I look forward to seeing the Silver X team build a high-growth silver producer that will take advantage of the exciting M&A opportunities throughout the region."

About MMTP

MMTP is a private mining company with a mission to realize the full value of underdeveloped silver projects across Latin America. MMTP's only asset is the Nueva Recuperada silver-lead-zinc project, located in Huancavelica, Peru. It consists of 218 concessions covering approximately 15,000 hectares, that host a network of 90 known mineral-bearing veins, advanced infrastructure from historical underground mining operations, and a fully permitted and operational 600 tonnes per day and (210,000 tonnes per year) ore processing plant.

MMTP acquired the Nueva Recuperada project from Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA (NYSE: BVN) in 2017 and rapidly restarted commercial operations. MMTP has also increased its mineral concession package from the original 6,000 Ha to approximately 15,000 Ha via strategic acquisitions from companies including Pan American Silver (TSX: PAAS).

The Nueva Recuperada Project hosts an inferred resource estimate pursuant to a NI 43-101 Technical Report for Recuperada Project, Peru with an effective date of October 15, 2020 (the "Recuperada Technical Report"), of 7,324,400 T at grades of 130.38 gm/T Ag, 3.17% Pb/T, 2.04% Zn/T. The key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to estimate MMTP's mineral resources includes the verifiable portion of the historic (Buenaventura, Panamerican Silver) data by site visits, core examination and database confirmation and physical verification of the current Gemin and MMTP exploration data.

The Recuperada property is fully permitted and is operating per Peruvian law. MMTP has the approved, required operations notices and the required closure/rehabilitation plan. The Recuperada Technical Report states "Potential risks for starting mine operations and permitting are considered to be minimal. In Peru, the social risk is the potentially largest risk for mining projects. The local communities are long-time mining communities and have large portions of their populations as miners. The communities also are welcoming to the mining industry. Environmental and cultural risks are relatively minor. Risks in the permitting with the government is also of minor, almost unlikely levels."

Current MMTP development and exploration targets at Nueva Recuperada include:

Tangana  7M tonnes of 43-101 inferred silver resources currently being processed at the Recuperada Plant

7M tonnes of 43-101 inferred silver resources currently being processed at the Recuperada Plant Maria Luz  High grade silver vein system

For a complete overview of all Silver X assets please refer to the Investor Presentation now hosted at www.oroxmining.com.

Transaction Summary

The Transaction, if completed, is anticipated to be a Fundamental Acquisition for Oro X, as defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Transaction is an arm's length transaction and Oro X anticipates that shareholder approval from Oro X's shareholders will not be required. Pursuant to Exchange policy, Oro X's common shares have been halted and will remain halted until all required documentation has been filed and accepted by the Exchange, and permission to resume trading has been granted.

Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, Oro X will acquire all of the MMTP common shares (the "MMTP Shares") as part of a merger of equals. Each MMTP Share will be exchanged for 28.828 (the "Exchange Ratio") common shares of Oro X (an "Oro X Share"), resulting in an aggregate of approximately 42,969,000 Oro X Shares to be issued to the MMTP shareholders pursuant to the Transaction.

The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are subject to, among other things: (i) the completion of a financing for minimum gross proceeds of C$14,000,000, as described below; (ii) the approval of MMTP shareholders; (iii) the receipt of all necessary consents, approvals, authorizations (including Exchange approval) for the Transaction; (iv) certain changes to the board of directors and management of Oro X, as described below; and (v) other conditions which are customary for a transaction of this type.

A termination fee of C$2,500,000 is payable by Oro X or MMTP, as applicable, if the Business Combination Agreement terminates under certain circumstances.

The Company also anticipates paying a finder's fee consisting of 1,250,000 Shares in connection with the Transaction to an arm's length third party.

The Transaction remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") acceptance.

Management and Board Appointments and Significant Shareholders

On closing of the Transaction, Oro X anticipates that two members of its current board of directors will resign and that Jose Maria Garcia Jimenez and Sebastian Wahl will be appointed in their place to hold office until the next annual meeting of Oro X shareholders. The parties have also agreed to appoint a third director to be determined but is expected to be agreed upon as Mr. Mike Hoffman, the former Chairman of Trevali Mining.

Luis Zapata is expected to resign as Chief Executive Officer of Oro X and to be appointed as the Company's Executive Chairman. Mr. Garcia Jimenez will become Oro X's Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Wahl will become the Vice President of Corporate Development.

Pursuant to the Transaction, Jose Maria Garcia Jimenez and Sebastian Wahl, the two largest shareholders of MMTP, are expected to receive 13,385,128 and 12,866,244 Oro X Shares, respectively, in exchange for their MMTP Shares, equal to 15.6% and 15% of the outstanding Oro X Shares upon closing of the Transaction, assuming gross proceeds of C$14,000,000 raised pursuant to the Financing.

Below is a brief description of the backgrounds of each of Jose Maria Garcia Jimenez and Sebastian Wahl.

Jose Maria Garcia Jimenez

Mr. Garcia is a Mining Engineer with 17 years of experience across Peru, Chile, Australia, Spain and Switzerland; having worked for Anglo American, Inmet Mining and BHPB among others. Mr. Garcia holds a MSc in Mining Engineering from Madrid Polytechnic University, a Master of Philosophy in Mineral Economics from the University of Queensland, Australia and is a Global Leadership Fellow from the World Economic Forum. Mr. Garcia is also a Professional Engineer (Spain). He is currently a Director and Chief Executive Officer of MMTP and its operating subsidiary, Mines & Metals Trading (Peru) SAC (2016 - present). Previously, he was a co-founder of and consultant at Mining Sense Global SL (2013 - 2016), a mining consulting firm focused on mining project evaluation, economics, and strategy, an Associate Director of Mining and Metals at the World Economic Forum (2011 - 2014) and worked in various mining engineering roles with mining and professional mining services firms.

Sebastian Wahl

Mr. Wahl is an executive with over a decade of experience in the investment industry, mining and commodities trading. Mr. Wahl holds a BBA from the Graduate School of Business Administration Zurich. He is currently a director of Mines & Metals Trading (Peru) SAC (2016 to present). Previously, he was a project development and assessment consultant and member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of Affinity Gold Corp. (2014 - 2015).

Financing

Oro X and MMTP expect to engage a syndicate of agents co-led by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. ("Echelon") and Red Cloud Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Agents") in connection with a "best efforts" private placement financing (the "Financing") of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts").

Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, and concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, the parties will complete the Financing of Subscription Receipts of a company to be incorporated ("MMTP Finco"), as a wholly-owned British Columbia incorporated subsidiary of MMTP, for gross proceeds of a minimum of C$14,000,000. Oro X and MMTP intend to use the proceeds of the Financing, subject to the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below), to develop the Nueva Recuperada project, complete a planned 30,000 m drill campaign and to provide general working capital.

The gross proceeds from the issuance of Subscription Receipts will be deposited with a subscription receipt agent (the "Subscription Receipt Agent") in escrow (the "Escrowed Proceeds") pursuant to a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement"). It is anticipated that the Escrowed Proceeds will be released by the Subscription Receipt Agent to MMTP Finco upon receipt of a notice (the "Release Notice") to the Subscription Receipt Agent from Oro X, MMTP and MMTP Finco indicating (a) all conditions to the completion of the Transaction pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement have been satisfied or waived to the satisfaction of the Agents, acting reasonably, (b) the receipt of all court, regulatory, shareholder and third-party approvals, if any, required in connection with the Transaction, (c) the distribution of: (i) the securities underlying the Subscription Receipts; and (ii) the Oro X Shares to be issued in exchange for MMTP Shares pursuant to the Transaction being exempt from applicable prospectus and registration requirements of applicable securities laws, and (d) Oro X and MMTP not having committed any breach of the agency agreement for the Financing that has not been cured within five (5) days of the receipt of written notice from Agents (collectively, the "Escrow Release Conditions").

Upon and subject to the receipt by the Subscription Receipt Agent of the Release Notice the Escrowed Proceeds shall be released to MMTP Finco and the holders of Subscription Receipts will be issued securities of MMTP Finco, which are to be then exchanged for Oro X securities on a one-for-one basis upon completion of a three-cornered amalgamation between MMTP Finco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oro X and Oro X as part of the Transaction.

Change of Name

On the closing of the Transaction, subject to Exchange acceptance, the Company anticipates changing its name to Silver X Mining Corp.

Advisors and Counsel

Echelon is acting as financial advisor and McMillan LLP and Dentons is acting as legal counsel to Oro X. Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP is acting as legal counsel to MMTP.

About Oro X Mining

Oro X Mining is a Canadian exploration company currently targeting high grade gold exploration in Peru. The Company's flagship asset is the Coriorcco Gold Project in Ayacucho, Peru. Founders and management have a successful track record of increasing shareholder value. For more information visit our website at www.oroxmining.com.

Qualified Person

Mr. John E. Bolanos, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release for Oro X. Mr. Bolanos is a M.Sc. Mining Geologist from Camborne School of Mines (U.K.) and a Professional Geologist Eng. from The Central University of Ecuador (honours degree). He is a registered member (ID 4172671) of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) of the United States; Director of the Ecuadorian College of Engineers in Geology, Mines, Oil and Environment; and a member of the Mining Chamber of Ecuador. He has 27 years of experience in the exploration and mining industry throughout the Americas.

Mr. A. David Heyl who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release for MMTP. Mr. Heyl, B.Sc., C.P.G., QP is a Certified Professional Geologist and Qualified Person under NI 43-101. With over 25 years of field and upper management experience, Mr. Heyl has a solid geological background in generating and conducting exploration and mining programs for gold, rare earth metals, and base metals, resulting in several discoveries. David has 20 years of experience in Peru. He worked for Barrick Gold, was the exploration manager for Southern Peru Copper, and spent over ten years working in and supervising underground and open pit mining operations in Peru

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States. Such 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, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Luis Zapata

CEO & Director

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements in respect of the completion of the Transaction, the Company's exploration plans for the Company's properties, the terms of the Financing, the use of proceeds from the Financing and the completion of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE Oro X Mining Corp.

For further information: Oro X Mining Corp., Luis Zapata, CEO, 604 358 1382 | [email protected]

Related Links

https://oroxmining.com/


JAMMU : A major terrorist plan to set off an explosion at a crowded place here on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack was scuttled with the recovery of a powerful IED from a nursing student who was arrested along with three others, a top police officer said on Sunday.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu Range, Mukesh Singh also said six pistols and 15 small Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were seized from Samba district in a separate operation.

"Over the past four days we were on high alert because there was general intelligence input that terror groups want to trigger a major blast in Jammu city on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack. The security around all important locations were strengthened and checking intensified," he told reporters here.

Singh, who was also flanked by Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, said a youth was found moving in suspicious manner along with a bag in the general bus stand area and it led to the recovery of nearly seven kg of IED which was, however, not activated as yet.

The IGP identified him as Suhail Bashir Shah, a resident of Newa village of Pulwama, who was pursuing nursing course in a college in Chandigarh and was assigned the task to plant the IED in Jammu by his Pakistan-based handler affiliated with Al-Badr terror outfit.

"He was given four targets including (the famous) Ragunath mandir, bus stand, railway station and Lakhdata bazar (jewellers market) and was scheduled to take a flight to Srinagar after completing his job," he said.

Singh said Athar Shakeel Khan, who is a high ranking overground worker of Al-badr, was supposed to receive him at Srinagar airport and accordingly, Khan was arrested.

"His fellow student from Kashmir, Qazi Wasim, was aware of the plan and he was picked up from Chandigarh, while their another associate Abid Nabi was arrested from Srinagar," the IGP said, adding Bomb disposal squad was investigating the IED and it is not yet clear whether RDX was used in the fabrication of the device.

However, he said timely recovery of the IED averted a major tragedy in Jammu region.

In another successful operation, he said police seized six pistols along with a large quantity of ammunition and 15 minor IEDs while patrolling in Jang area of Ramgarh in Samba district during the intervening night of February 13 and 14.

"We are investigating the backward and forward links of the consignment," he said.

The IED recovery comes close on the heels of the arrest of two top terrorists from Kunjwani in Jammu district and Bari Brahmana area of Samba district.

Zahoor Ahmad Rather, a top terrorist affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF) who was wanted in connection with the killing of three BJP workers and a policeman in south Kashmir last year, was arrested in Bari Brahmana area of Samba on Saturday.

Earlier on February 6, self-styled commander of the Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM), Hidayatullah Malik, alias "Hasnain", was held from the Kunjwani area of Jammu.

Two years ago on this day, Pakistan-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out the dastardly attack on a CRPF convoy of 70 vehicles in Pulwama, resulting in the death of 40 jawans.

The DGP complimented the police for the alertness and busting of the terror networks, leading to the spectacular success over the past week.

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This time last year, as bushfire smoke had just started to clear from our suffocating skies, the Victorian government was on the cusp of setting emissions reduction targets for the critical decade to 2030.

Then the pandemic hit, and we were all wearing face masks for a different reason. Faced with the worst public health crisis in living memory, the Andrews government put the climate targets decision on the backburner and focused on stopping the spread of this deadly virus instead.

The environment dropped as a priority when the pandemic broke out. Credit:Getty

Fair enough  it was a necessary delay, and most people could agree with the shift in focus while case numbers soared. Public safety must come first. Even now, on the cusp of rolling out the vaccine, governments are dealing with a volatile situation as the virus mutates and various states - including Victoria - have needed to call short, sharp emergency lockdowns.

But as we learn to live alongside COVID-19, governments will need to balance this urgent pandemic response with long-term planning and address the backlog of outstanding decisions. Businesses need this certainty to invest. Thats why once this latest outbreak is under control, Victoria should announce climate targets to help guide Victorias economic recovery.
Valentine's Day 2021 has turned extremely special for the Telugu superstars Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun. Both the stars took to their respective social media pages to share the precious gifts they received from the loves of their lives.

Mahesh Babu's daughter Sitara Ghattamaneni surprised him and his wife Namrata Shirodkar, with a hand-written note, thus proving that this special occasion is not only for the couples. The Sarkaru Vaari Paata actor, who is overwhelmed with his little daughter's loving gesture, shared a picture of her letter on his Instagram page and thanked her. He also wished his fans and well-wishers a happy Valentine's Day.

Allu Arjun, on the other hand, got a lovely gift from his dear wife Allu Sneha Reddy, on the occasion of Valentine's Day. The actor shared the picture of his dear wife's thoughtful gift on his Instagram story and wrote: "Thank You Sooo Much Cutie "

Mahesh Babu is currently shooting for his highly anticipated upcoming project Sarkaru Vaari Paata in Dubai. The actor's wife Namrata Shirodkar and their kids Gautham Krishna and Sitara have accompanied him to Dubai. As per the reports, the family is having their little vacation in the city, while Mahesh Babu is busy with the shooting of the Parasuram Petla project. Sarkaru Vaari Paata will feature the National award-winner Keerthy Suresh as the female lead. The movie is slated for a Sankranti 2022 release.

Allu Arjun, on the other hand, has recently wrapped up the first two schedules of Pushpa. The actor is currently enjoying some family time with his wife Shena Reddy and their kids, Ayaan and Arha. The actor is expected to join the next schedule of Pushpa after a couple of weeks. The Sukumar directorial, which features Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead, is slated to hit the theatres on August 31, 2021.

Also Read:

Sarkaru Vaari Paata: After Dubai, Mahesh Babu And Team To Kick Start Second Schedule In Goa

Pushpa Shoot Update: Makers Of Allu Arjun Starrer Announce Wrap Up Of Two Hectic Schedules
Double-Fisted Winter Storm Through Thursday

By National Weather Service





PADUCAH - The first of this week's two blasts of snow and cold took hold of the region on Sunday night.The winter storm warning continues for our entire region until 6 a.m. Tuesday.Heavy snow will take place all day with total snow accumulation of 6 to 12 inches. The heaviest snow will occur from late this morning into this afternoon.Wind chills will range from 0 to 15 below, with the lowest values expected across southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois.North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts of 20 to 25 mph will likely cause blowing and drifting of snow.Travel conditions will become extremely dangerous and life threatening today. Commutes this morning and evening, and Tuesday morning will be disrupted.Another storm is taking aim on the area later Wednesday through Thursday with several more inches of snow possible. As a result, impacts may last through the end of the work week.Temperatures will not get back above freezing until Saturday.PREVIOUS STORY: The winter storm warning affecting parts of 15 states promises that multiple rounds this week will pile on even more on Wednesday and Thursday.Forecasters say winds of up to 24 mph will accompany the dry snow, which will make significant drifting a possibility.Compounding the snow will be extreme wind chills below zero across the area on Monday and Tuesday. The coldest air mass in about 30 years is sitting on the center of the nation, and will take days to gradually move eastward and try to return to normal temperature by next weekend.Although the first bands of snow will begin to affect our area Sunday night, NWS Paducah Lead Forecaster Chris Noles says the timeframe of greatest impact will be Monday afternoon."There's definitely a concern for high precipitation rates with the second round on Monday. That's the real timeframe of concern. The highest rates, maybe the greatest sudden impacts to travel. This is when it really gets going, tomorrow afternoon." Noles said.Yet another winter weather system approaching our area has the potential to dump even more snow on Wednesday and Thursday. Forecasters have not yet issued official predictions on exactly how much accumulation that system is likely to produce.If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. It will be dangerous to be stranded for any length of time due to the bitterly cold conditions.On the Net:
Rioters in the Capitol, from video shown Thursday during the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Associated Press)

It always seemed unlikely that Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate Republican leader, would vote to convict the disgraced ex-president who, even from exile in Mar-a-Lago, holds sway over most of his party.

But the justification McConnell offered when announcing his vote for acquittal Saturday was an act of political cynicism and a weaselly evasion of the main issue the Senate was asked to decide: whether Donald Trump bears responsibility for the sacking of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

McConnell has already said what he thinks about the facts: Trump is guilty of incitement, at least under a common-sense definition of the word.

The mob was fed lies, McConnell said in a Senate speech last month. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding  the certification of President Bidens election  which they did not like.

For the usually sphinx-like McConnell, that was a moment of stunning clarity  as close to an act of courage as we've seen lately in a party whose members are alternately enthralled or terrified by Trump.

But McConnell then retreated, voting to spare Trump from being held accountable  not because he is innocent, but on narrow procedural grounds.

While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primarily of removal, and we therefore lack jurisdiction, he wrote to other senators before the vote.

Even though Trump was impeached when he was president, McConnell argued, he cannot be put on trial after the end of his term.

Most legal scholars, conservatives and liberals alike, believe that argument is wrong. In past centuries, the Senate has tried at least two officials who were no longer in power. And last week, by a bipartisan vote of 56 to 44, the Senate upheld those precedents.

The motive for McConnell's retreat is clear: He wants to give his Republican colleagues a cover story, a technical excuse to vote against impeachment so it doesn't come back to haunt them. Most Republican primary voters remain loyal to Trump, often fiercely so.

Story continues

But the reason McConnell is providing is so flimsy that it's unlikely to stand up well in the eyes of history.

McConnells dodge wasnt the only weak excuse GOP senators reached for as they searched for reasons to acquit a defendant many of them privately believe to be guilty.

Some engaged in old-fashioned tit for tat: Sure, Trump riled up the mob, but didnt some Democrats do the same thing when they made excuses for violence on the fringes of Black Lives Matter protests?

You had a summer where people all over the country were doing similar kinds of things, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said. So whats the big deal about Trump encouraging the people who sacked the Capitol and threatened to kill the vice president?

Equally weak was the assertion that the impeachment was just politics, a product of hatred for Trump and his followers.

This is about humiliating the individuals that supported President Trump, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee argued.

Leave aside that 10 House Republicans, including Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, considered the charges serious enough that they joined Democrats to vote in favor of impeachment.

Then theres the 1st Amendment argument: the notion that holding Trump accountable for the effect of his words is a violation of his rights.

Thats simply wrong. The 1st Amendment protects Citizen Trumps right to speak his mind. It doesnt protect former President Trump from losing his job  or being barred from holding it again  if Congress decides that he has committed crimes against the Constitution. And the 1st Amendment doesn't protect incitements to violence.

And that brings us to the substantive charge against Trump  the one Republicans keep trying to evade.

The evidence has made it clear that Trump not only encouraged the mob; when they rampaged through the Capitol, he waited hours before telling them to go home.

The presidents defenders want senators to judge Trumps guilt of incitement under the standard of criminal law, which requires showing that he knowingly and directly caused the riot.

But impeachment isnt a criminal proceeding. Its the process by which Congress can remove a high official who has violated his oath and disqualify him from holding office in the future.

The senators who voted to acquit need to say clearly whether they believe Trump incited the mob or not. McConnell said Trump was "practically and morally responsible" for the events of Jan. 6 but let him off on a technicality. Most other Republicans haven't even gone that far.

History will remember their votes as their judgments on Trumps words and actions  not as a decision about whether officials are exempt from impeachment trial for actions in their final month in power.

They should consider how their short-term political calculation may look years from now, including to voters in coming elections.

On Saturday, Trump claimed his acquittal as a victory and promised his followers that he will remain politically active. "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," he said.

In the months ahead, new evidence may emerge to show whether Trump connived directly with the extremists who assaulted the Capitol. As we heard Saturday, Trump seemed unconcerned that members of Congress were in mortal danger that day.

And if Trump survives all the investigations into his conduct, maintains his grip on the GOP and wins his partys presidential nomination in 2024, his loyalists in the Senate will bear responsibility  even though they may pretend it wasnt their doing.

McConnell, no fan of Trump, seems to be gambling that the former president will naturally fade away and that his hold on the Republican Party will weaken. He and the GOP have to hope they're right.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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The earthquake measured at magnitude 4.7 at its epicenter 8 kilometers southeast of Armenias capital, reported the national seismic protection agency. It said tremors were also felt in five of the countrys ten provinces.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Health, the quake did not kill or injure anyone. The ministry reported only minor injuries sustained by three people as a consequence of panic caused by the earthquake.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations urged local residents to stay outdoors shortly after Yerevan was jolted by the quake at around 3:30 p.m. local time. It said it has registered 46 aftershocks.

In another statement issued at 7 p.m., the ministry told people to return to their homes. The analysis of available data shows that the likelihood of a powerful earthquake is low, it said.

The quake appeared to have caused no serious material damage in or outside Yerevan. The Ministry of Emergency Situation reported tentatively that it damaged only one house and three buildings in the city of one million.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck another Armenian region on February 5. It too did not result in casualties. The authorities warned on February 6 that more earthquakes of low or medium magnitude could occur in the days ahead.

Armenia is located in a seismically active zone and earthquakes are a regular occurrence there. The most powerful quake in the countrys modern history killed in 1988 more than 25,000 people and left hundreds of thousands of others homeless.
House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy was nowhere near the Senate on the final day of Donald Trumps impeachment trial, but a phone call he made to the former president the day of the Capitol insurrection nearly derailed the proceeding.

As pro-Trump rioters stormed the building Jan. 6, the Bakersfield Republican pleaded with Trump to call off his supporters, according to a Republican House member from Washington state.

Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are, Trump said, according to Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who said McCarthy had briefed her on the call.

That exchange, which Herrera Beutler originally told to a local paper shortly after the insurrection and was reported again late Friday by CNN, triggered a last-minute fight in Trumps impeachment trial.

In a dizzying sequence of events Saturday, House prosecutors first won the right in the Senate to subpoena witnesses including Herrera Beutler, which could have added weeks to the trial, then acquiesced as Senate Democrats and Republicans cut a deal to enter Herrera Beutlers remarks in the trial record instead.

Hours later, the Senate voted 57-43 that Trump had incited the insurrection, 10 votes short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. Both of Californias senators, Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, joined with all their party colleagues and seven Republicans in voting to convict.

Feinstein was among Democrats who said McCarthys phone call showed that Trump was not only aware of the violence as it unfolded at the Capitol, but that he had refused to intervene to protect Congress. Feinstein said it was proof the former president had sought and guided the insurrection, which resulted in five deaths.

Despite direct pleas from members of Congress and the former presidents closest Republican confidants, Trump refused for hours to call off the mob or urge calm, Feinstein said in a statement after the trial.

Padilla said the case against Trump was abundantly clear and criticized GOP senators for choosing their loyalty to Donald Trump in acquitting him.

The Democrats decision not to go forward with witnesses prompted fury among many progressives. House impeachment managers, who included Dublin Rep. Eric Swalwell, explained after the trial that entering Herrera Beutlers statement in the record achieved their purpose and that no amount of witness testimony was likely to sway enough Republicans to convict.

Spokespeople for Feinstein and Padilla did not respond to queries about whether the senators supported the ultimate decision not to call witnesses.

A senior Democratic House aide, speaking on condition of anonymity to be free to describe the events, said that during a break after the vote to hear witnesses, Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons told House managers that the move could lose votes for conviction among Republicans and even some Democrats. The jury is ready to vote, Coons said, according to the aide.

Michael van der Veen, Trumps attorney, said that although the former presidents lawyers agreed to let Herrera Beutlers statement about the call into the trial record, they did not agree about its truthfulness.

He also suggested that McCarthy disputed reports of the call, although the GOP leader has not commented publicly. His office did not respond to repeated requests from The Chronicle for comment.

Herrera Beutler, who voted to impeach Trump in January, said McCarthy had shared details of the call with her, including that Trump had initially repeated the falsehood that antifa activists were the ones attacking the Capitol.

McCarthy refuted that and told Trump that these were Trump supporters, she said.

When Trump told McCarthy that they must be more upset about the election than you are, the House GOP leader reportedly replied, Who the f do you think you are talking to?

San Francisco Chronicle Washington correspondent Tal Kopan contributed to this report.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner


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A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

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A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.


Republicans are hammering their own in other states for committing one of two political sins: voting to impeach Donald Trump or to remove QAnon-believing Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from her House committees.

But not in California. Here, those sinners are rewarded. Celebrated, even.

So while the Wyoming state GOP censured Rep. Liz Cheney for her vote to impeach Trump, California Republican Party leaders have declined to scold Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford (Kings County), for his. Nor have they criticized Rep. Young Kim, R-Fullerton (Orange County), for being one of 11 Republicans who joined House Democrats in stripping Greene of her committee assignments.

Why not? Because top California Republicans may belatedly have figured out the obvious: They have no shot at regaining relevance if they eat their own.

Instead, state Republicans are focused on something they can all agree on: a recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, which increasingly looks as though it will come before voters this year.

If you talk to people about the biggest issue of the day, its not about impeachment, its not about Marjorie Taylor Greene, its about the direction of the state, GOP strategist Sam Oh, who advises Kim and other House Republicans, told me. Thats why were focused on the recall. Theres a total failure of leadership. On vaccinations. On reopening schools. On how theyve handled the fraud at the Employment Development Department.

Another reason Valadao is getting a pass: His seat is far from safe for Republicans. Valadao defeated Democratic Rep. TJ Cox by just 1,522 votes in November in a San Joaquin Valley district where Democrats hold a 16-percentage-point advantage in voter registration.

I have to go with my gut and vote my conscience, Valadao tweeted by way of explaining why he was one of only 10 House Republicans to back impeachment. Trumps inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent and absolutely an impeachable offense.

That got Valadao scolded by the Fresno County Republican Party executive board, which called his vote a slap in the face to those who donated or worked on his campaign.

Yawn. A mean Tweet from county party functionaries? It will be forgotten by sundown. Its more important to watch what House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy does. So it was telling that the Bakersfield Republican thought so little of Valadaos impeachment vote that two days later, he appointed him to the House Appropriations Committee.

Why is that a big deal? That committee green-lights a lot of pork-barrel spending, so members tend to rake in more campaign contributions than the typical lawmaker. Valadao raised $3.2 million in 2018, the last time he served on Appropriations, far more than the $2.1 million the average House member collected.

Valadao is going to need that kind of cash because not only will he be facing at least two Democrats  Cox, who beat Valadao for the seat in 2018 before losing last year, and former Assembly Member Nicole Parra  along with a Republican, former Fresno City Council member Chris Mathys, a Trumpist who promises to never allow America to be a socialist country.

Valadao is hardly a never-Trumper: He voted with Trump 97% of the time in 2017 and 2018. Figure Democrats will focus on that in his race next year, just as theyve already started an ad against Kim for not voting to impeach Trump. Its all a preview that once again, the hottest House races in the country will be fought in California.

California Exit Interview: The story of why people are leaving California will dominate upcoming political campaigns. Were beginning a regular feature called California Exit Interview where we ask some recent ex-Californians why they left.

Kieran Blubaugh dreamed of living in California when he was growing up in Indiana. He played the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game and envisioned himself skateboarding down San Franciscos crazy hills.

After paying off his student loans four years ago, he landed a job with a tech company and moved to San Francisco. At first, life was heavenly. He had a seven-minute commute on his motorcycle. He could pay $30 to see Incubus, one of his favorite bands, a short walk from his apartment.

Soon, however, his California dream soured. Thieves broke into his locked garage and did $8,000 worth of damage to his motorcycle, doubling his insurance rates. His dog nearly died after eating human feces on the sidewalk. Seeing people either getting arrested or being treated for an overdose outside a nearby building was a regular occurrence.

And I live in a nice part of town, said Blubaugh, 33.

Not anymore. On Saturday, Blubaugh moved out of the $4,000-a-month two-bedroom apartment he shared on Russian Hill and moved to Dallas, where he will pay $1,300 a month for a place the same size.

Its not that he set out to ditch San Francisco for Dallas. But it was the financially responsible thing to do, he said. Fortunately, his employer has an office there.

The final insult: Blubaugh paid $3,000 to rent a van for the move out of town. It cost him $300 when he came here from Portland, Ore., four years ago.

The last overpriced item he paid for: Lunch today. A $17 salad.

What would make it better in California: We need more police. Theres a general lawlessness thats just scary.

Bay Area experience he wished he had: hiking Muir Woods. It was always too crowded. Ive never been to a place where you get in a traffic jam just to see the nature parts of it.

What he will miss most: quick access to snow and nature.

What will he miss least: being yelled at by three different people on a two-block walk near his apartment. I feel bad that I sound like (Im) complaining about the homeless population, but I will not miss that.

Translating Gavin: Sometimes, Gov. Gavin Newsom dives so deeply into policy-wonk speak that its hard to understand what hes saying. So it was the other day during a news conference in Fresno, where Newsom was describing a plan to reopen schools.

Were here to help you understand with a recurring feature called Translating Gavin.

What Newsom said: I maintain confidence that we will announce a deal as early as Friday with the Legislature that will allow our youngest cohorts to return safely to school, starting with kindergarten to second grade, and ultimately get cohorts up to sixth grade.

Translation: You may know youngest cohorts by their more common name, kids.

By the way, no such deal was announced Friday. Maybe this week.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli

Families of journalists who died of COVID-19 in UP to get Rs 10 lakh aid: Yogi 30 May 2021 | 11:52 PM Lucknow, May 30 (UNI) In a bid to encourage and honour the tireless and unparalleled contribution of the Journalists and Media workers, on the occasion of Hindi Journalism Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs10 lakh aid for family members of journalists who died due to COVID-19. see more..

COVID-19: MPs body count rises to 8,019 30 May 2021 | 11:51 PM Bhopal, May 30 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh spawned 1,476 fresh instances of novel coronavirus infection and reported 60 fatalities on Sunday  thereby taking the aggregate beyond the 8,000 mark  even as the number of active cases declined to 27,256 and prevalence rate dropped to 1.8 per cent.

The Health Services Directorates late-evening bulletin stated that 78,437 specimens were subjected to analysis. Of the total 7,78,825 infected individuals; 7,43,550 have recuperated. Indore reported 473 more sufferers, Bhopal 264, Jabalpur 92, Gwalior 60, Sagar 38, Ratlam 26, Betul 21, Dhar 20, Ujjain and Rewa 19 each plus Khargone 17. Corona curfew is scheduled to be gradually relaxed from Tuesday. see more..

Bihar records 1,475 new positive cases, 52 deaths 30 May 2021 | 11:43 PM Patna, May 30 (UNI) A total of 1,475 new positive cases came to light while 52 people lost their lives due to Corona infections in last 24 hours in Bihar. see more..

COVID-19: Nath demands compensation for victims 30 May 2021 | 11:35 PM Morena, MP, May 30 (UNI) Reiterating his demand that the Madhya Pradesh dispensation should disclose the actual number of fatalities caused by the millennium scourge, Congress state President Kamal Nath averred on Sunday that ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each be disbursed against every such death and  if a government official succumbs thus  a member of his or her family should be appointed on compassionate grounds.

Oxygen and medicines must be stocked up prior to onset of the third wave, the erstwhile chief minister averred during an interaction with the press. see more..
Everything about the life of legendary Colorado Springs businesswoman, Fannie Mae Duncan, roared togetherness.

It wasnt just that she owned the first jazz club in the city to welcome black and white patrons in a time of segregation, or that she took on the male-dominated business world in 4-inch heels; she did it by combining entrepreneurship and art. Saturday, hundreds of people gathered to dedicate a bronze statue of Duncan in her mid-30s, outside the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts.

The statue was erected at 190 S. Cascade Ave., just a stones throw from where her jazz venue, the Cotton Club, once stood on West Colorado Avenue between Cascade and Tejon Street. Speakers included Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, sculpture artist Lori Kiplinger Pandy, Pikes Peak Community College professor Regina Lewis and Kate Perdoni, a documentary-maker for Rocky Mountain PBS.

One of the first places in Colorado Springs to say Everybody welcome, the Cotton Club challenged the segregated norm of the 50s, and attracted talent such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. For nearly 30 years, Duncan ran the joint and built the block up to include several other businesses  a hair salon, barbershop, barbecue restaurant and record shop. That ended in 1975 when the city took over the property through eminent domain and tore it down as part of an urban renewal program.

This exciting and wonderful experience began with the incredible story of how a little girl, daughter of sharecroppers, with an indomitable spirit, a keen mind and a beautiful smile, grew up to become a philanthropic businesswoman in an era where such achievements were seemingly unlikely, Kiplinger Pandy said. Instead of talking of change, she simply was the change.

Nearly 40 extended family members from as far as South Africa joined the ceremony to honor their late relative.

We need to love everybody, said Claudean Bragg-Brooks, Duncans niece. We grew up in this town together, and its all about love.

Duncan graduated from the integrated Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High) in 1938, the first in her family to get a diploma. She went on to serve at the segregated soda fountain at what was then Camp Carson and, after a few years, decided to go into business for herself at age 26. Duncan bought the building that would become Duncans Cafe and later the Cotton Club at 25 W. Colorado Ave., across from the Antlers hotel, when she was just 28. But it was the way she used music as a vehicle for change, said project manager Kay Esmiol, that made her special.

Our collective desire to promote what is good and true about our community and to speak toward a narrative we can relate and aspire to is what stirred this cascade of wonderful events ... Perdoni said to the crowd. Nothing meaningful is ever about looking good. The real experiences you have and the people you have them with, and the space thats created for people to come together and grow and thrive without prejudice has nothing to do with money or keeping up appearances.

Duncan died in 2005 at the age of 87, but those honoring her legacy said they hope her influence will continue to spread, and that Colorado Springs will be known as a place where everybodys welcome.

Business and art can often have a difficult time coexisting ..., Perdoni said. But it can work. And Fannie Mae knew that. And she created something that was somehow separate from commerce. It was a community that raised all kinds of people.
Computer Predicts If COVID Will Kill You With 90% Accuracy

Artificial intelligence can foresee if you will die from COVID-19, even before infection.

A computer model used by researchers in Denmark can predict whether a person will die before they even get infected with the coronavirus.

Being older and overweight are the main predictors, along with being a man and having high blood pressure.

The model determines the progression of the disease and death showing who should be the first to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Denmark.

The models prediction of whether a person with no evidence of COVID-19 infection would die or survive was 90 percent accurate.

The models prediction of whether a person will be admitted to hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or require a respirator was 80 percent accurate.

Professor Mads Nielsen, study co-author, said:

We began working on the models to assist hospitals, as during the first wave, they feared that they did not have enough respirators for intensive care patients. Our new findings could also be used to carefully identify who needs a vaccine.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, scientists have been working on machine learning (ML) models to predict the severity of the disease before people become ill by using their health records.

The computer program was designed to look for patterns in peoples history of illness and how they fought against COVID-19.

Professor Nielsen said:

Our results demonstrate, unsurprisingly, that age and BMI are the most decisive parameters for how severely a person will be affected by COVID-19. But the likelihood of dying or ending up on a respirator is also heightened if you are male, have high blood pressure or a neurological disease.

According to the study, health risk factors and chronic diseases are the keys to find out whether a COVID-19 patient will need a breathing machine or respirator.

BMI, age, high blood pressure, being male, neurological diseases, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes and heart disease were the key parameters in predicting the risk of hospital and ICU admission, use of mechanical ventilation, and death.

Professor Nielsen said:

For those affected by one or more of these parameters, we have found that it may make sense to move them up in the vaccine queue, to avoid any risk of them becoming inflected and eventually ending up on a respirator.

The research team are hoping to develop a program to help hospitals foresee whether they need respirators several days in advance.

Professor Nielsen said:

We are working towards a goal that we should be able to predict the need for respirators five days ahead by giving the computer access to health data on all COVID positives in the region. The computer will never be able to replace a doctors assessment, but it can help doctors and hospitals see many COVID-19 infected patients at once and set ongoing priorities.

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports (Jimenez-Solem et al., 2021).
Michael V. Murphy is the director of FixUS, the democracy reform advocacy arm of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal policy think tank. Murphy is also chief of staff for that organization, and Benajmin P. Tomchik is deputy chief of staff. The Fulcrum covers whats making democracy dysfunctional and efforts to fix our governing systems.
The United Arab Emirates' 'Hope' probe has sent back its first image of Mars, capturing the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.

The national space agency made the announcement on Sunday, days after the spacecraft successfully entered the Red Planet's orbit.

The image will be followed by many similar such views of Mars as the spacecraft studies the planet's weather and climate systems.

The UAE's probe has beaten both Nasa and China to the Red Planet.

A handout picture provided on February 14, 2021 by the United Arab Emirates Space Agency showing the Olympus Mons, the highest volcano on Mars, and the Tharsis Montes, three volcanoes named (top to bottom) Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons

The picture 'captured the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, emerging into the early morning sunlight,' it said in a statement.

The image was taken from an altitude of 15,300 miles above the Martian surface on Wednesday, a day after the probe entered Mars' orbit.

The picture shows the north pole of Mars in the upper left of the image. In the centre of the image, emerging into the early morning sunlight, is Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System.

The Tharsis Montes, three volcanoes named Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons, are also visible.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE prime minister and Dubai's ruler, shared the coloured image on Twitter.

'The first picture of Mars captured by the first-ever Arab probe in history,' he wrote.

The mission 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.

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

Hope became 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.

'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 more information back to Earth in September 2021, with the data available for scientists around the world to study.

The United Arab Emirates became the first Arab nation and only the fifth nation overall to place a spaceship in orbit around Mars on Tuesday.

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.

It 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.

On the day the UAE Hope probe took this first image, the Chinese Tianwen-1 orbiter arrived at Mars.

It arrived ahead of NASA and Chinese spaceships, - but unlike those crafts, this one won't be landing as it is an orbiter probe.

'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 on Tuesday 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.

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

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 above the Martian surface  and provide regular updates on the Martian weather.

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

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: 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

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.

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

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.

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 entered 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.

Perseverance rover fires up its descent stage engines as it nears the Martian surface in this NASA illustration

Both the UAE and China are newcomers to Mars, where more than half of Earth's emissaries have failed.

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.


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 10:09:57|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 756 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 145,704, the country's Ministry of Health said Saturday.

The death toll from COVID-19 in the country reached 2,181 on Saturday evening after four new deaths were reported, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, 155 more recoveries were logged, taking the national count to 128,019, it added.

Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, has so far reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the East Africa region.

According to the latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the country's COVID-19 cases accounted for around 4 percent of Africa's total.

The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement COVID-19 precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem

Natalie Portman arrived in Australia in September ahead of filming scenes for Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder.

And on Sunday, the Hollywood actress and her husband Benjamin Millepied hosted a party for their daughter Amalia's fourth birthday in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The 39-year-old Black Swan star was every inch the doting mother as she carried gifts, arranged drinks, and set up a pinata for guests to enjoy at a local park.

Doting parents: Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied (both pictured) hosted an outdoor party for their daughter Amalia's fourth birthday in Sydney on Sunday

Natalie dressed for the occasion in a pink and white floral frock, adding black strappy sandals and designer sunglasses to the look.

The brunette swept her locks into a sleek chignon at the nape of the neck, and looked to have worn minimal makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine though.

Very much a hands-on mother, Natalie helped set up a food and drinks table, as well as a cake stand for her daughter and their guests to enjoy.

Summer attire: The Hollywood actress, 39, wore a pink and white floral frock, black strappy sandals and designer sunglasses for the occasion. Benjamin, 43, donned a navy T-shirt, grey trousers and white sneakers

Content: Natalie was all smiles as she hosted the picnic in the park for her daughter who turns four later this month

Fun in the sun: Natalie set up a pinata for guests to enjoy while Benjamin captured precious moments on camera

Natalie's dancer and choreographer husband Benjamin, 43, was pictured keeping a close eye on his brood, and captured precious moments of the day on camera.

Benjamin, who recently directed scenes for his debut feature film Carmen in Australia, cut a casual figure in a navy T-shirt, grey trousers and white sneakers.

The couple wed in 2012, and alongside Amalia, are also proud parents to son Aleph, nine.

Beauty: The Black Swan star tied her brunette tresses into a sleek chignon at the nape of the neck, and looked to have worn minimal makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine through

Hands-on: Natalie carried gifts and was very much a hands-on mother during the outing

Party essentials: She was later pictured helping to set up a drinks table for the party

Ahead of filming scenes for Thor: Love and Thunder, Natalie has been thoroughly enjoying her time in Australia.

In November, she was photographed sipping a glass of wine at Nielsen Park Beach in Sydney's Vaucluse.

And just recently, she enjoyed some down time and went horse riding in Centennial Park.

The latest instalment in the Thor franchise is only just starting to take shape as filming began at Fox Studios in Sydney last month.

Down Under: Natalie and her family arrived in Australia in September last year, and looked to be thoroughly enjoying their time Down Under

Upcoming gig: The screen queen will soon commence filming scenes for Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder

Big names: Also starring in Thor: Love and Thunder is Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt

The blockbuster will see Natalie's character, astrophysicist Jane Foster, take up the mantle of Thor after transforming into a female version of the Norse god.

In October, Natalie revealed her excitement on returning to the franchise during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

'It's going to be really silly and funny and great. We've got [director] Taika Waititi. He's wonderful, so I'm very excited,' she said.

Natalie was absent for 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, but was a key player in the first two Thor films in 2011 and 2013.

Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to be released in February 2022.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 13:47:46|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 500 more police officers will be deployed immediately to patrol New York City's transit system both on ground and underground following four stabbing incidents within 24 hours, said New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Dermot Shea on Saturday afternoon.

The separate incidents happened from Friday to early Saturday on A line subway trains or along its subway stations, leaving two people dead, said the NYPD in a press briefing.

Three of the incidents appeared to be connected, and all the victims appeared to be homeless, it added.

According to a report by U.S. newspaper the Daily News, which cited anonymous law enforcement sources, police have arrested a homeless suspect on Saturday, and recovered the knife believed to be used in the incidents.

New York City's subway system has been one of the places where homeless people prefer to stay overnight or make a living, which is seen as a public safety issue. Enditem
By Yang Sheng

Photo: Screenshot from US President Joe Biden's twitter account

Many leaders worldwide sent Lunar New Year greetings to people around the world celebrating the Chinese New Year, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with Chinese analysts saying this is a positive signal for greater unity and friendship.

This is the first time for Biden to share a Chinese Lunar New Year greeting as the US president. Biden and his wife First Lady Jill Biden wished Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year. They said on Friday via video that "racism, harassment, hate crimes" against this group of people is "simply wrong" and called for greater unity in the country.

On Wednesday, before the Lunar New Year's Eve, he sent the greetings to all Chinese people and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call with Xi.

Chinese analysts said that by criticizing racism, Biden has made a firm determination to end the destructive legacy of the previous administration led by Donald Trump, which played up racism and blamed Chinese for the pandemic by calling the novel coronavirus "China virus." That harmed not only Chinese people but also Asians from other countries.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Biden's greetings show that US elites want the country return to a more rational political posture, and the US would also agree that in order to overcome so many shared challenges, there is no reason for the US to wield hatred and racism against other countries, including China.

However, according to the readout released by the White House, the US has stressed divergence more than cooperation, especially on domestic affairs and issues of core interest to China including Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan, with Chinese experts saying that there are still challenges for the recovery of China-US ties, and the key is how to manage the fraught subjects.

French President Macron sent his greetings in four languages on his tweeter - French, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. He said, "To all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, I send my best wishes for health, success and happiness!"

Asian countries' leaders like Japan, South Korea and the Philippines also delivered the greetings. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wished that both countries will enjoy better ties this year. "I would like to greet President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people a Happy Lunar New Year celebration," he said. "May this new year find us all working together to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between our governments and people," he noted, according to the Manila Times on Saturday.

Although some Western countries' ties with China have been harmed by anti-China sentiment or Sinophobia due to the pandemic and other issues, national leaders displayed a friendly attitude toward Chinese and Asian immigrants in their countries by marking the Lunar New Year.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday has sent his "best wishes to everyone celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend," and said during the Year of the Ox, "we have many shared challenges with the Chinese people, from defeating COVID-19, to tackling climate change and supporting a worldwide economic recovery."

These leaders' remarks have proved that anti-China sentiment which has become increasingly common among some conservative and extreme political forces in the past are not welcomed, and the Trump administration had created huge uncertainty to the world and created friction which has been unhelpful to the international cooperation, so now the world leaders sent messages to vow for unity and certainty, Li said.

Some leaders also demonstrated their knowledge on Chinese culture. UN Secretary-General Guterres said in his greetings that "the Ox symbolizes energy, strength and courage. These qualities are the world needs now."

Chinese people worldwide have exerted huge influence for the Chinese culture, and the Lunar New Year is also becoming a global festival that get celebrated worldwide rather than a specific cultural symbol in Asia, said analysts.

An ever growing group of countries have realized that in dealing with shared challenges like the pandemic, climate change and economic recovery, China will play greater role and they have no choice but to cooperate with China, and China also shows great sincerity and effort to prove it is a responsible major power, said Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University. Zhang noted that "more and more people worldwide will realize China's contribution amid this difficult time, and China's role as a responsible international actor will become increasingly important."
Last week, Chrissy Teigen joined TikTok, and within a matter of hours she had 34,000 followers. Her first posts were characteristically endearing. "Am I doing this right?" asked Teigen in her second clip. "Does anyone use this like a normal thing, just like talking?" she asked in her third.

It's a stretch to believe that Teigen was really that clueless about TikTok before she joined.

For one thing, as she has previously been very forthcoming about, Teigen has plenty of staff. She has 13 million Twitter followers, so she knows social media.

Most of all, Teigen is a savvy entrepreneur, a model, TV presenter, cookbook writer, and has her own range of cookware that this month expanded hugely and is on sale in Target, where it reaches maximum shoppers at an affordable price.

Teigen is far from just John Legend's wife, though she happily plays that role, too. Teigen is the celebrity whom others must look upon and wonder just what she's doing right.

Read More

She doesn't hide her privilege and yet she gets away with it.

For example, earlier this month she asked her Twitter followers to share the "most expensive thing you've eaten that you thought sucked".

Her example was a bottle of 10,000 wine, recommended to her and Legend in a restaurant, which was so horrible they didn't even finish it.

There was a ripple of backlash, but nothing that could pierce her popularity.

Remarkably, in this time of Covid, where celebrity is suffering an emperor's-new-clothes-style savaging, Teigen is holding firm.

Actors are losing their grip on our interest as few new films are produced, giving them little opportunity to remind us of their existence and elevated value.

There's no way to stay on a pedestal if you're out of view, and they're all too scared to moan about their lot for fear of being cancelled as spoilt brats.

The problem for them has been that the Covid message of us all being in it together doesn't work when it comes out of a celebrity's mouth. This was evident right at the start of the pandemic, when Gal Gadot gathered up her celebrity friends for a montage rendition of Imagine.

It was a poorly chosen song, with its lyrics about 'no possessions' and celebs positing as everyone's-equal dreamers from the comfort of their mansions.

When Ellen DeGeneres soon after compared her plush surroundings to being in prison, she too felt the wrath of a world where 2m, 5km, WFH and simultaneously homeschooling left us far more confined than she was.

Since then celebrities such as Pharrell Williams have been promptly told to check their privilege when they've publicly exhorted people to donate to fund medical efforts.

'Go look in the mirror,' is the frequent response to any celebrity who dares imagine they're in the same boat as the general masses.

Long before Covid, however, there was a general bemoaning of the modern age making celebrities of people who had no traditional talent, but were possessed of a massive ability to self-promote.

It was widely lamented that we lavished attention on the likes of the Kardashians, whose star quality was pitching a chasm between their ostentatious wealth and consumerism, and the dead-ordinary lives of their followers.

The Kardashians were the leaders of the pack, but trailing in their wake were tiers of other celebs whose 'talent' was to influence (or boast) and encourage people to emulate their lifestyle and buy the products they promoted.

What Covid did to a lot of these people, the Kardashians included, was to cut off the flow of product-pushing.

In the absence of boasting about your excessive lifestyle and peddling products, what had they left?

Social media is littered with influencers great and small who have nothing left in their arsenal thanks to Covid.

On a micro, local level, there were many influencers whose status was driven by attendance at events and launches and whose content was hugely driven by products they received. Without the events, a whole arena of influence is gone.

Of course, many of the bigger celebrities have done themselves no favours with their behaviour through the pandemic.

Kim Kardashian's celebrations last October caused a stir when she headed to an exotic location for her 40th birthday.

"I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal," she told her 67 million followers, assuring them that quarantine and "multiple health screens" had been undertaken in advance. That made it OK. Not really.

Them and us doesn't really wash right now, as the Christmas sun-holiday set discovered to their cost. It's hard to know why the likes of Zara Holland, Chloe Ferry, Georgia Harrison and other reality TV stars thought anyone would applaud their holidays last month

Most ordinary people were not only trapped at home in the current lockdown, but probably didn't get a summer holiday last summer either.

The celebrity blind spot in spotting the difference between entertaining people with your privilege and making them feel bad by comparison was clearly in evidence and many of those celebs will find their currency lost, post-Covid.

Last week, as The New York Times documentary Framing Britney Spears caught fire, there was a hint at the kind of celebrity we're willing to get behind now and, possibly, in future.

Telling of Britney's rise to fame as a child and a young woman, the film charts how her adolescence and sexuality were considered fair game, how she spiralled into a very public breakdown and how, for the past 13 years, she has been under the legal control of her father.

It is, in some ways, a sad and sorry tale, but Britney is still standing, relatively unbroken by adversity, sassy on social media, making sure the show goes on.

She's a trouper and troupers are the kind of celebs we need right now.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Myanmars major cities for a ninth day of anti-coup demonstrations on Sunday, after a fearful night as residents formed patrols and the army rolled back laws protecting freedoms.

Engineering students marched through downtown Yangon, the biggest city, wearing white and carrying placards demanding the release of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since Myanmars military overthrew her elected government on Feb. 1.

Part of the biggest street protests in more than a decade, a fleet of highway buses rolled slowly through the city, honking their horns in protest.

A convoy on motorbikes and in cars drove through the capital Naypyitaw. In the southeastern coastal town of Dawei, a band played drums in shadows cast by awnings as crowds marched under the hot sun. In Waimaw, in the far northern Kachin state on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, crowds carried flags and sang revolutionary songs.

Many of the protesters nationwide held up images of Suu Kyi's face.

Her detention, on charges of importing walkie-talkies, is due to expire on Monday. Her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, could not be reached for comment on what was set to happen.

More than 384 people have been detained since the coup, the monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said, in a wave of mostly nightly arrests.

"While the international community is condemning the coup, Min Aung Hlaing is using every tool he has to instigate fears and instabilities," activist Wai Hnin Pwint Thon from the UK-based rights group Burma Campaign UK said on Twitter, referring to the army chief.

'STOP KIDNAPPING PEOPLE'

Many protesters in Yangon carried signs calling to authorities to stop kidnapping people at night".

Residents banded together late on Saturday to patrol streets in Yangon and the country's second-largest city Mandalay, fearing arrest raids as well as common crime after the junta ordered the release of thousands of prisoners.

In different neighbourhoods, groups of mostly young men banged on pots and pans to sound the alarm as they chased down what they believed to be suspicious characters.

Worries about criminal activity have soared since Friday, when the junta announced it would free 23,000 prisoners, saying the move was consistent with establishing a new democratic state with peace, development and discipline" and would please the public".

Unverified pictures on social media have fuelled rumours that criminals are trying to stir unrest by setting fires or poisoning water supplies.

Tin Myint, a resident of Sanchaung township in Yangon, was among the crowds who detained a group of four people suspected of carrying out an attack in the neighbourhood.

"We think the military intends to cause violence with these criminals by infiltrating them into peaceful protests," he said.

He cited pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988, when the military was widely accused of releasing criminals into the population to stage attacks, later citing the unrest as a justification for extending their own power.

Three people in different parts of Yangon said they had seen drones hovering above the crowds. "It was flying up and down and filming the crowd chasing after thieves," said 30-year-old Htet, who asked to be identified by only one name.

The government and army could not be reached for comment.

Also late on Saturday, the army reinstated a law requiring people to report overnight visitors to their homes, allowed security forces to detain suspects and search private property without court approval, and ordered the arrest of well-known backers of mass protests.

The coup has been denounced by Western countries, with the United States announcing some sanctions on the ruling generals and other countries also considering measures.

(Writing by Poppy McPherson; Editing by William Mallard)

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The Kent coronavirus variant is up to 70 per cent more infectious and 30 per cent more deadly than the original strain, scientists fear.

Concerns about the new strain follows reports that more than 50 countries have cases of the mutant B.1.1.7 strain.

Professor Sharon Peacock, head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium, said the variant 'is going to sweep the world, in all probability'.

She also said the increased transmissibility of the virus will likely cause scientists difficulties for years to come.

The variant - which is already the dominant strain across the UK - is also understood to be 30 per cent more deadly than previous strains, as well as 70 per cent more infectious.

Reports have revealed that more than 50 countries have cases of the mutant B.1.1.7 strain

The Kent Covid variant (top left) could become the most dominant strain of the virus in the world, according to the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme

A paper published by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the 'variant of concern' increased the risk of mortality by 30 per cent.

This applies regardless of the age and ethnicity of the patient.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month said B.1.1.7 may be 'associated with a higher degree of mortality.'

Professor Peacock told the BBC's Newscast podcast this week: 'Once we get on top of it [Covid-19] or it mutates itself out of being virulent  causing disease  then we can stop worrying about it.

'But I think, looking in the future, we're going to be doing this for years. We're still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view.'

The Kent variant was first detected in in September 2020 and its rapid spread across the country spooked No10 into tougher action in December.

There are fears that the variant has now started to mutate further to become more like the one that evolved in South Africa, which is better able to resist immunity developed by past infection or from the current vaccines.

Professor Peacock said her work sequencing variants could be needed for at least 10 years.

Professor Sharon Peacock from the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium said the variant has been detected in more than 50 countries and 'it's going to sweep the world'

What do we know about the Kent variant? Name: B.1.1.7, formerly VUI-202012/01 Where did it come from? The variant was first found in Kent and can be traced back to September 2020. Scientists noticed that it was spreading in November and it was revealed to the public in December. What makes it new? The variant, which is a version of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19, has a series of mutations that change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main one is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. How did that happen? Viruses, particularly ones spreading so fast and in such huge numbers, mutate all the time. To reproduce they basically force living cells to copy and paste the viral genetic code, and this can contain errors that lead to slightly different versions of the virus. Often these mutations make no difference but, if they make the virus stronger, they can stick around for further generations and become the norm. What can we do about it? Nothing much. People who catch the virus won't know which type they have, and it will still cause the same symptoms and illness. Officials can try to contain it by locking down the areas where it is most prevalent, but if it is stronger than other versions of the virus it will eventually spread everywhere and become dominant as long as people continue to travel. Will our vaccines still work? Yes, it's very likely they will. Scientists on SAGE are fairly sure the mutations the Kent variant carries do not significantly affect how well the immune system can handle it. People who have a vaccine modelled on an older version of the virus, or who have been infected with Covid-19 before, are likely to be immune to it. This is because the main mutations are only on one part of the spike protein, whereas the immune system is able to target various other parts of the virus. Advertisement

The network of public health bodies and laboratories Professor Peacock is in charge of currently analyses nearly 20,000 positive tests a week.

Up to 10 per cent of positive tests across the country are selected randomly to be sent on for genomic sequencing, which investigates the exact make-up of each virus.

The Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium says it aims to screen every positive coronavirus test in the future.

It is already screening every positive test from areas undergoing surge testing where the South African variant has been found.

Professor Peacock explained that while it is common to see mutations in the virus in genome analysis, very few cases have 'special features' which make them more transmissible or affect vaccination.

She described mutations that make the virus more deadly as 'vanishingly rare' but said that 'we have to be on the look for it'.

Professor Peacock added that all UK-approved vaccines appear to work against the existing variants of the virus in the country.

But the Kent variant does appear to have mutated even further, in what has been described as a worrying development by scientists.

An extra mutation been found at least 21 times in different cases of people infected with the Kent variant. It has raised fears it could become a permanent feature of the British strain.

Both the Kent and South African variants already share one mutation, named N501Y, which makes the virus spread faster.

But the 21 cases of the Kent variant  including 14 in Bristol  also have the E484K mutation, which is found in the South Africa strain.

Experts say it can help the virus partially evade immunity.

SAGE adviser Professor Calum Semple suggested the risk of the Kent variant  and other versions of the virus  continuing to evolve was 'inevitable' and 'will occur in time', and this mutation would likely be part of that.

Speaking about the threat, Professor Ravi Gupta, an infectious diseases expert at Cambridge University, said: 'The number of sequences is low at present, though enhanced surveillance is being undertaken by PHE.

'There may be more cases out there given how high transmission has been. We need to continue vaccinating and drive down transmission.'

Despite data suggesting the Kent variant may be more deadly, there is no evidence to indicate existing treatments, such as dexamethasone, will not be effective against it in its current form.

There are now four 'variants of concern' of the virus that causes Covid identified by government advisers. Three of these have been found in the UK, and the fourth is the Brazil variant identified in people who had travelled to Japan.

It comes after the World Health Organization yesterday officially recommended the Oxford vaccine for people over the age of 65 and said it should be used 'without an upper age limit'.

WHO experts reviewed all the evidence from studies of the jab and said there was 'no reason' it shouldn't be used against the South African variant because it should still prevent severe illness and death even if it was less effective.

There are concerns the vaccine will not work against that mutated strain of the virus after a study in South Africa found it offered only 'minimal protection' against mild disease in young people  but WHO scientists said it was 'inconclusive'.

And they backed up the UK's strategy of spacing the first and second dose by three months, saying between eight and 12 weeks was ideal for maximum protection.

Dr Alejandro Cravioto, a director at the WHO, yesterday said in a briefing that the jab could be given 'without an upper age limit'.

And Dr Katherine O'Brien added: 'Even with a hypothetical drop in efficacy, it's still the right thing to do to vaccinate.'

Dr Cravioto added there was 'no reason' that places with the South African variant of the virus should not use the vaccine to keep down hospital admissions and deaths with the virus.

No10's top scientific advisers insist it should still prevent vaccinated people from being hospitalised or dying  which is their main purpose.

Boris Johnson welcomed the WHO's support for the UK's strategy of delivering the Oxford vaccine in over-65s, saying it was 'good to see' in tonight's Downing Street press conference.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr recently celebrated its 5 year anniversary after first opening its doors in September 2015. The school was initially established by the Department of Education in September 2015 after a local Irish language campaign led by 'Biorra le Gaeilge' members, Sean O Cearbhaill, Stella Ni Mhaille and Rosalind Fanning. It was the first new school founded in the area in over 100 years and still remains the only multi-denominational school in the town.

In the last number of years, the school has gone from strength to strength and now caters for students from Naionain Shoisearacha (Junior Infants) to Rang 6 (6th Class). During the early years of its foundation, the school community decided on the seanfhocal 'Doras Feasa Fiafrai' as the school's motto, meaning 'the door to knowledge is to question'. This motto is very much reflected in the school's ethos and vision to this day, which places a strong emphasis on the development of critical thinking and creativity amongst its pupils.

Ailbhe Ni Churraoin, who has been a teacher at the school since it first opened, recently reflected on the school's initial establishment and the vision of the founding committee of the school. 'There was very much a sense that everyone in the school community wanted something a little bit different from the norm here and there was collective agreement that the development of imagination and creativity along with a celebration of Irish language and culture would be to the fore in the school's educational vision.' Over the last number of years, the school has explored a variety of ways in which to develop the children's creative skills across different disciplines. For example, in drama the pupils have been involved in co-creating a piece of theatre for young audiences with leading drama practitioners based in Mary Immaculate College and later this year will work with renowned Irish-language theatre group, Branar, to explore theatre design, drama and puppetry in response to a work of art. The pupils are also developing their photography skills as the school works towards their first 'Positive Primaries' award. The school's pupil-led Creative Wellbeing Committee helps the school to explore ways in which they can use the arts and other subjects to support student wellbeing. The school's emphasis on the arts, STEM and creativity has been recognised in recent years having had finalists in both the 'Someone Like Me' and 'Doodle for Google' national art competitions.

Colm O hAnluain, the founder of 'Cog & Axle' which develops interactive and practical STEM resources for teachers, is the school's Junior Class Teacher and has a particular input into the school's STEM Education programme which includes helping the pupils prepare for and participate at the ESB Science Blast, delivered by the RDS, one of the highlights of the school year. The school has participated at the exhibition since its inception. Great emphasis is put on exploring practical solutions to everyday challenges the pupils encounter  to this end, the pupils engage in lots of designing and making, using appropriate hand tools (hand drills etc.) and construction materials. Each day, time is given to freely explore these materials and to engage in construction projects. The school hopes to further investment in purchasing resources that encourage hands-on problem solving and developing the use of construction tools on a larger scale. Outside of school, Colm is currently working on a television series in conjunction with TG4 and Abu Media about engineering aimed at a younger audience; this will air in September 2021.

In terms of digital technologies, school principal, Tomas O Cadhain, believes that it is important to develop pupils digital, collaborative and problem-solving skills through the use of content creation tools, apps and robotics. In Gaelscoil na Laochra, pupils have access to an individual iPad or Chromebook which they can use to explore and create content for their learning. These devices have been shared with families during periods of school closure to ensure that teaching, learning and assessment can be facilitated in an online capacity. In terms of distance learning, Tomas explains that our pupils are engaging in daily learning activities and uploading evidence of their work for correction and feedback. We have also recently partnered with Glor na nGael to promote the use of the Irish language in the childs home. This partnership has provided us with the opportunity to participate in fun, online fitness and art classes as Gaeilge. We are passionate about promoting the Irish language in our school community and look forward to engaging in quizzes, bingo and many more online, interactive activities to encourage whole family engagement over the coming weeks. Beatha teanga i a labhairt.

In October 2020, thanks to the excellent application submitted by deputy principal, Ailbhe Ni Churraoin, the school was awarded over 5,000 euro by Creative Ireland in recognition of its commitment to creative approaches to teaching and learning and was accepted for inclusion in the national Creative Schools programme. Following the award, the principal, Tomas O Cadhain explained, This grant will mean that we can continue to enhance the pupils' creative skills and competencies. Involvement in the programme will also support us in developing a structured plan which will ensure that the school's vision to promote innovation continues well into the future. He added that the school hopes to organise a larger event to celebrate the school's 5-year anniversary later in the year when it is safe to do so.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
After the shooting of six people in the Bayview neighborhood Saturday night, and three others in the Tenderloin, San Francisco police are investigating possible links among a series of violent incidents.

Six men were reported hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the Bayview violence Saturday night. Police said officers responding about 6 p.m. to ShotSpotter alerts and 911 calls found spent shell casings near Third Street and Quesada Avenue. The victims names, cities of residence and additional details were not released.

This area of the shooting has had a number of violent incidents that we are investigating and seeing if these are related, police spokesman Robert Rueca said Sunday.

He said it has not been determined whether the gunfire was related to another shooting early Sunday at Turk and Hyde streets where police found three wounded men at about 2 a.m. All three were hospitalized, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.

No suspects were in custody in either shooting. Police said they deployed more patrol officers to the Bayview neighborhood and were mobilizing added resources to investigate the incident there.

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney on Sunday blamed drug trafficking for at least some of the violence and voiced displeasure with policing.

The street drug trade on Turk & Hyde clearly contributing to violence & death, he tweeted Sunday. Dangerous & entirely unacceptable. I've spoken to Chief Scott about it again, & residents, community leaders. Haney said he was at Turk and Hyde on Sunday morning and saw no presence. No changes. No nothing. Same situation. You wouldn't even know there was a shooting. Just entirely unacceptable.

The gunfire was part of a bloody weekend in the Bay Area. A double shooting at a hotel near San Franciscos Embarcadero on Friday night led to an arrest by Merced police of a man on suspicion of attempted murder. Two men were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

In Oakland, police were searching for suspects and offering a $30,000 reward for information after six men were injured by gunfire in the early hours Saturday. The shooting occurred near Ninth and Washington streets  just a short walk from Police Department headquarters  at about 1:05 a.m, police said. Officers found the six victims with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

San Francisco police investigating the Bayview shooting asked people with information to call the Police Department at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and start the message with SFPD.

Lauren Hernandez and Vanessa Arredondo are a San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com, vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez, @V_anana

Itanagar, Feb 14 : Army troops successfully doused a major forest fire in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley district along the China border, officials said on Sunday.

Defence spokesman Lt Col P. Khongsai said that troops of the Spear Corps extended immediate and critical help to the civil administration in dousing the major forest fire near Anini in Dibang Valley.

"The forest fire broke out at Koylabasti and Anini on Thursday night and soon engulfed the surrounding mountain ridges. In a quick response to the developing situation, the units of the local formation quickly deployed three response columns and immediately took charge of the situation. It took the Army and local administration almost 11 hours to douse the forest fires," he said.

Khongsai said the well-coordinated and timely response by the Army averted a major disaster and saved lives and property. The local authorities and members of civil administration lauded the Indian Army's effort in averting a major tragedy in the area.

Last month, the Army, Indian Air Force, National and State Disaster Response Force, local volunteers and administration jointly doused a major wildfire in the famous Dzukou Valley on Nagaland-Manipur borders after two weeks of battle.

The forest fire caused huge damage to the flora and fauna, forest and environment of the Dzukou Valley, which is one of the 10 most beautiful places in the mountainous northeast India. The Dzukou valley, situated at an altitude of 2,452 metres above the sea level and 30 km from Nagaland capital Kohima, is also a sanctuary for the endangered Blyth's tragopan - Nagaland's state bird - and other species of birds and animals.
WASHINGTON - The end of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial opens a new chapter for his successor in the White House.

President Joe Biden walks on the Colonnade to Marine One for departure from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Washington. Biden is en route to Camp David. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON - The end of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial opens a new chapter for his successor in the White House.

But while President Joe Biden and his team are eager to move past the impeachment, the bitterly partisan tone of the proceedings underscores the deep challenges ahead as the president and his party try to push forward their agenda and address historic crises.

Biden, who was at the Camp David presidential retreat when the Senate voted Saturday to acquit Trump, had acknowledged that Democrats needed to hold the former president responsible for the siege of the U.S. Capitol but did not welcome the way it distracted from his agenda.

The trial ended with every Democrat and seven Republicans voting to convict Trump, but the 57-43 vote was far from the two-third threshold required for conviction. Whether the seven GOP votes against Trump offered Biden any new hope for bipartisan co-operation within Congress remained an open question.

In a statement, Biden referenced those GOP votes in favour of convicting the former president  and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's own indictment of Trump's actions  as evidence that "the substance of the charge," that Trump was responsible for inciting violence at the Capitol, is "not in dispute."

But he quickly moved on to the work ahead, sounding a note of unity and declaring that "this sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile" and that "each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies."

"It's a task we must undertake together. As the United States of America," Biden said.

Biden made a point of not watching the trial live, choosing to comment only briefly on the searing images of the riot that gripped the nation. Though his White House publicly argued that the trial did not hinder their plans, aides privately worried that a lengthy proceeding could bog down the Senate and slow the passage of his massive COVID-19 relief bill. That $1.9 trillion proposal is just the first part of a sweeping legislative agenda Biden hopes to pass as he battles the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 480,000 Americans and rattled the nations economy.

"The No. 1 priority for Democrats and the Biden administration is going to be to deliver on the promises that have been made on the pandemic, both on the vaccine front and the economic front," said Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin.

The end of the impeachment trial frees the party to focus on less divisive and more broadly popular issues and policies, like the coronavirus relief package, which polls show has significant support among Americans.

Throughout his campaign, Biden worked to avoid being defined by Trump and his controversies and instead sought to draw a contrast on policy and competence, a guiding principle that he and his aides have carried over into the White House.

His team kept up a steady drumbeat of events during the trial, including an update on vaccine development and Biden's first visit to the Pentagon as commander in chief. With the proceedings on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue now over, the White House plans to increase its efforts to spotlight the fight against the pandemic and push past Trump's chaos.

Former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota predicted that in a state like hers, where Trump won 65% of the vote, focusing on those urgent issues would make more headway with average voters now.

"What we have to be talking about is the economy  getting the economy back working, and turning the page" on the last administration, she said. "Good policy is good politics. We need to get back to that."

Democrats have a decision to make in how to deal with Trump going forward. While the end of the impeachment trial offers a clear opportunity for the party to focus squarely on its own agenda, Trump can also be a potent political weapon for Democrats, not to mention a big driver of campaign cash.

After Saturday's vote, American Bridge 21st Century, the Democratic Party's opposition research arm, issued a statement calling out senators from Ohio and Florida, two states that Democrats are targeting in the 2022 election, for voting against convicting Trump.

"Ron Johnson, Marco Rubio, and nearly every other Senate Republican put their loyalty to Donald Trump ahead of the rule of law, the Capitol police officers who protect them every day, and the oaths they swore to uphold the Constitution," said Bradley Beychock, the group's president, calling the senators "spineless sycophants."

Still, Schwerin cautioned that Trump can't be Democrats' "primary focus."

"We shouldnt ignore the fact that a lot of the problems that the country is dealing with are because of Trumps failures, but he shouldnt be the focus of every fundraising email and press release. We should be looking forward," he said.

Biden plans to keep up a busy schedule focused on the coronavirus pandemic in the coming week.

The president will make his first official domestic trips this week: a TV town hall in Wisconsin on Tuesday to talk to Americans impacted by the coronavirus and a visit to a Pfizer vaccine facility in Michigan on Thursday.

White House legislative affairs staffers were poised to work with House committees on crafting details of the COVID-19 relief bill, which Democrats hope to vote on next month.

Still, some within the party aren't finished with Trump. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a leading progressive advocacy group, issued a petition Saturday night encouraging supporters to call on attorney general nominee Merrick Garland to "investigate and prosecute Trump and his entire criminal network for law breaking."

Biden is likely to continue to face questions about how his Justice Department will handle a number of ongoing federal and criminal probes into Trump's businesses and his conduct as president.

And his aides will be watching for Trump's next moves, particularly if he claims exoneration and heats up his political activity and even points toward a 2024 campaign. The plan, for now, is to try to ignore the former president.

Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile warned that Trump won't make it easy but Democrats need to avoid getting sucked back into his orbit.

"I dont think Donald Trump is going to disappear from anyones lips any day soon, and thats because Donald Trump will always seek to find ways to inject himself and serve himself," she said.

"While Donald Trump is figuring out who he is going to go after next, Democrats are going to figure out how theyre going to lift people up and how theyre going to protect and help the American people."
HUNTSVILLE  An arraignment date has been set for a teenager accused of killing five members of his family, setting the case on a trajectory for trial.

A judge on Thursday set the April 7 court date for Mason Sisk, whos charged as an adult with capital murder in the deaths of his father, mother and three siblings in Elkmont in 2019, WAAY-TV reported.

Sisk was 14 at the time of the slayings. The now-16-year-old is being held in the Limestone County Jail without bond.

Limestone County Circuit Judge Bob Baker, meanwhile, is considering a request to let him be transferred back to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center, WHNT-TV reported. The teen was placed in the county jail after he was charged in November as an adult in the case. His attorneys, Michael Sizemore and Lucas Beaty, said the law requires Sisk to be separated from adult inmates but they argue solitary confinement is not appropriate for him.

Sizemore and Beaty also noted that Sisk was working to get his GED in the juvenile center  something they said he cant do in the county jail. Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones opposed the request, saying virtual school options are available. But the defense attorneys say Sisk, under the law, cant even share a common space with an adult inmate.

Sisk is accused of fatally shooting his father, 38-year-old John Sisk; his mother, 35-year-old Mary Sisk; and their three children, 6-year-old Kane, 5-year-old Rorrie and 6-month-old Colson. All died from gunshot wounds while they slept.

Investigators said the teenager called 911 to report the shooting and later admitted to killing all of them.

Authorities have not publicly released a motive in the slayings.
Linda Ellis, 73, was shot in the leg by home intruders in North Carolina on Saturday before her 12-year-old grandson rushed to her defense at shot at the men

A North Carolina man died on Saturday after he broke into the home of a 73-year-old woman and was fatally shot by her 12-year-old grandson who was trying to defend her.

Two masked robbers entered the home of Linda Ellis in Goldsboro at around 1am on Saturday, where they demanded money and shot the grandmother in the leg.

Ellis' grandson fired back at the two intruders in self-defense and they fled.

Khalil Herring, 19, was later found at an intersection a half block from the apartment.

He was taken to Wayne UNC Health Care where he later died of his injuries.

Police say they found evidence that Herring was one of the two masked men in the apartment.

'Preliminary evidence suggest Khalil Herring was one of the two masked intruders and was shot during the robbery,' officials said in a statement.

'A 12-year-old juvenile occupant of the residence shot at the suspects with a firearm in self-defense, causing them to flee the area'.

Two masked men broke into Ellis' home in Goldsboro, North Carolina, at around 1am Saturday

Ellis and suspect Khalil Herring were injured. Herring, 19, died of his injuries

Ellis was also taken to the hospital where her family say she is in a good condition and expected to be released on Monday.

'They came in the house, I open the door, I open it, and they came in there,' Randolph Bunn, who is Ellis' son and the boy's grand-uncle, told ABC 11.

'One guy had a gun. They just put me down on the ground... [Ellis] was in the kitchen, I don't know why they shot her.

'[The intruder] just shot his grandma... He would have shot him too, he would've shot me too, he would've killed us all,' Bunn added of the 12-year-old boy's actions.

Cops revealed in a statement that charges against the 12-year-old are not anticipated

Ellis' great niece Chiquita Coley said the 12-year-old boy in 'holding up' after the shooting

Ellis' great niece Chiquita Coley added that she couldn't believe it when she received a call about the attempted robbery.

'My phone was constantly ringing, and ringing and ringing,' Coley said. 'I just couldn't believe she been shot because she's a good person.'

'Why would somebody come into her house and do this? It's got to stop,' she continued, adding that her aunt was much loved in the community.

'I don't know what they're thinking around here in Goldsboro, but it's got to stop.'

Charges are not expected to be brought against the 12-year-old, cops say, but the investigation is ongoing.

Coley said that the young boy and the rest of the family is 'holding it together'.

Police say they have yet to make any other arrests regarding the second suspect in the home invasion.

Anyone with information about this crime, or any other crime in the Wayne County area is asked to call or text Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255.
Pennsylvania movie theaters ditch mask mandate

Three chain movie theaters have announced that masks are no longer mandatory for moviegoers who have been vaccinated against coronavirus.
Setting the stage for a positive campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, likely in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday latched on to Tamil culture and justice for people and backed the aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Signalling a united fight against the background of the belligerence of expelled AIADMK leaders T T V Dhinakaran and his aunt V K Sasikala, Modi gestured to Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on the dias to join and lift hands with him.

All smiles, the three leaders quickly interlocked their hands amid applause and the unmistakable political subtext of the event that saw the launch of completed infra projects and laying the foundation for new initiatives was not lost on anyone.

Also read: PM Modi launches several crores worth projects in Tamil Nadu, says these are symbols of innovation

"It is our honour to work towards preserving and celebrating the culture of Tamil Nadu. The culture of Tamil Nadu is popular globally," said Modi,who had quoted from Tamil texts, including classic 'Thirukkural' several times in the past during different occasions.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had during his recent campaign in Tamil Nadu accused the BJP and Modi of showing 'no respect' to Tamil culture. While AIADMK and BJP have already announced that they would fight the assembly elections together, Sasikala's camp, steered by Dhinakaran, have been staking claim to the party and harping on its retrieval.

Quoting verses of Tamil poet of yore, 'Avvaiyar', Modi said it was also an inspiration to the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-reliant India) goals. The popular lines underscore that water is the basic element that could lead to the nation's prosperity. Stressing water conservation, the PM urged the people to do work towards that goal and underlined that it was not only a national issue, but also had global implications.

Also read: Narendra Modi assures equality and justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka

"Always remember the mantra of per drop more crop, this will help future generations." Laying the foundation stone for modernisation of 636 kilometres long Grand Anicut Canal System in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta region, he said the Anicut "is a living testimony to our glorious past."

The plan would have a big impact and improve irrigation facilities for 2.27 lakh acres in the delta region and Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts shall gain specially, he said.

"I want to appreciate the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and good use of water resources." Hailing Tamil as the oldest language in the world, he quoted nationalist Tamil poet Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathi's famous lines that stressed on manufacturing domestically.

Modi said the nation was inspired by the vision of the freedom fighter and has undertaken a massive effort to become self-reliant in the defence sector. One of the two defence corridors is in Tamil Nadu and it has already received investment commitments exceeding Rs 8,100 crore, he noted.

"Today, I am proud to dedicate to the country one more warrior to protect our frontiers. I am proud to hand over the indigenously designed and manufactured Main Battle Tank Arjun Mark 1A. It also uses indigenous ammunition."

Tamil Nadu, already a leading automobile manufacturing hub, has now evolved as the 'Tank manufacturing hub' of the nation. "A tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used in our northern borders to keep the nation safe. This showcases India's united spirit Bharat's Ekta Darshan."

Modi said the Centre has accepted the Devendrakula Vellalar community's demand to be listed only by their collective, traditional name of 'Devendrakula Vellalar (DVR)' and not by the names of seven sub-sects.

Also read: PM Modi hands over indigenous Arjun tank to Army in Tamil Nadu

Identifying himself with the community's aspirations, he said their name 'Devender' rhymed with his name 'Narendra,' adding, "I understand their emotions."

The ruling AIADMK has backed and recommended the move. "Colonial rulers took away their pride and dignity. For decades nothing happened."

It was beyond change of name and it was about, "justice, dignity and opportunity," for them. Praising the community, he said they celebrated harmony, friendship and brotherhood. "Theirs was a civilisational movement. It shows their self-confidence and self pride, Aatma Gaurav."

The Puthiya Thamizhagam had for a long time been demanding renaming the seven sects under a single heritage name of DVR and also had wanted delisting the caste from the list of Scheduled Castes.

Asserting that his government had always taken care of the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, Modi said, "it is my honour to have been the only Indian PM to visit Jaffna."

Listing several development and welfare initiatives facilitated by the Centre for Tamils in Lanka, he said the issue of rights of Tamils have also been taken up by India with Sri Lanka. "We are always committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice peace and dignity."

The projects he listed include 50,000 houses for displaced Tamils in North eastern Lanka, 4,000 tenements in plantation areas, a hospital, free ambulance services, and rebuilding the rail network there.

"I feel happy to share that India has built the Jaffna Cultural Centre which we hope to open soon." On the travails of Tamil Nadu fishermen, vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister assured that his government always protected their rightful interests.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi affirms India's support for Sri Lankan Tamils

The Centre has ensured early release, whenever fishermen were apprehended in Sri Lanka, he said. More than 1,600 fishermen have been released during the BJP-led government's tenure and currently, there is no Indian fisherman in Sri Lankan custody.

Also, 313 boats have also been released and "we are working for the return of the rest of the boats," he said. Earlier, he began and ended his address with 'Vankakkam' and praised Chennai as a city full of energy and enthusiasm and a centre of knowledge and creativity.

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Mpilo Hospital acting chief executive officer, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, suggests that Zimbabwe's borders should remain closed in the wake of the new COVID-19 variant. He said this on VOA Livetalk. Should Zimbabwe open its borders like what is being planned by South Africa?
Jorge Morel, an influential Argentine classical guitarist and composer who added a vast repertoire to his instrument and performed to packed concerts around the world, died Feb. 10 at a hospital in Orlando, Fla. He was 89.

His daughter, Francesca Scibona, attributed the death to an apparent cardiac arrest. He had been living in Florida for about the past 10 years, having moved from his longtime home in the New York borough of Queens.

In addition to converting piano sonatas to guitar, Morel looked beyond a purist approach to classical composition. His songs - including "Pampero," "Sonatina," "Romance Criollo" and "Guitar Concerto" - reflected his roots, with Latin melodies, harmonies and rhythms from tango to samba. But they were also influenced by the jazz and other forms of music he embraced in his adopted hometown of New York.

Morel's 1978 appearance at Manhattan's Town Hall performance space dazzled New York Times music critic Joseph Horowitz, who called him an "extraordinarily suave guitarist (who) stylishly applies a broad range of color and dynamics, and scampers up and down the fingerboard with dazzling assurance."

Horowitz highlighted Morel's arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's score to "West Side Story," and said his take on the huapango rhythm of "America" was "ingeniously embroidered, and Morel's performance was scintillating."

In between classical concerts, Morel paid his bills by performing nightly at the New York jazz nightclub the Village Gate. At various times, he shared stages with pianist Erroll Garner, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and even country guitarist Chet Atkins, who helped promote Morel's recording career, played some of his arrangements and became a lifelong friend. In return, Morel wrote a choro he dedicated to Atkins.

His early recitals - starting with his 1960s debut at Manhattan's Carnegie Hall, on a bill with the Kingston Trio - offered compelling hybrids of jazz and classical pieces. They featured compositions by George Gershwin and Dave Brubeck as often as Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia and Argentine pianist Fernando Bustamante. Morel arranged and played his own guitar version of Bustamante's piano piece "La Misionera," which has become a favorite of many younger guitarists.

His work had been recorded by countless guitarists, among them eminences such as David Russell and Pepe Romero.

Morel latterly became as noteworthy as a music educator as he was a performer and recording artist. He was an adjunct professor of music and classical guitar at the City University of New York's Lehman College. During his annual European concert tour, his itinerary was specifically designed to emphasize his role as a musical mentor.

One British classical guitarist he helped inspire was Alexandra Whittingham, now 23, who was named young guitarist of the year in 2015 at the Gregynog Young Musician Competition in Wales. She often plays one of Morel's best-known compositions, "Danza Brasilera" (Brazilian Dance), which he wrote in the 1970s. The piece combines rhythmic chords with dazzling arpeggio patterns and snatches of catchy melody, giving the essence of Brazilian music with its echoes of sambas and choros.

"Jorge Morel brought so much to the world of guitar," Whittingham said. "His contributions to our instrument's repertoire are unique in their compositional style and character, and will continue to inspire many generations of guitarists to come."

Morel was born Jorge Scibona in Buenos Aires on May 9, 1931, to a family of Sicilian heritage. His father, a musician and stage actor, taught him the fundamentals of guitar. At 14, he became a pupil of guitarist and composer Pablo Escobar at the University of Musical Studies in Buenos Aires. Two years later, he gave his first professional performance on the radio, alongside Escobar.

Amid a hectic early musical career, he spent a few years living and playing in Puerto Rico, and at one of his engagements, he found an admirer in Vladimir Bobri, president of the New York Society of the Classic Guitar. It was at Bobri's invitation that Morel came to perform and then settle in the United States. (He took the stage name of Morel at the suggestion of a friend, who said it would be easier for American audiences to remember.)

At his peak, Morel gave about 70 concerts a year on both sides of the Atlantic. As a soloist, he premiered his "Suite del Sur," a concerto for guitar and orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta. The suite included "Prelude in Memory of My Wife," dedicated to his wife, Olga Alvarez, a Puerto Rican model and dancer.

They were married from 1962 until her death in 1973. In addition to their daughter, of Orlando, survivors include a son from a previous relationship, Jorge Scibona of Buenos Aires; a grandson; and two great-grandchildren.

One of Morel's greatest supporters, publishers, producers and promoters was Maurice Summerfield, a classical guitarist, author and businessman from Newcastle, England, who founded Classical Guitar magazine in 1982 and produced three recordings and 15 volumes of guitar arrangements by the Argentine.

"In 1979, I had never heard of Jorge Morel. All that changed after hearing Jorge play in concert for around 30 minutes at the 1979 National Association of Music Merchants in Chicago," Summerfield said. "The half-hour concert spot before Jorge's solo guitar recital was played by a 16-piece excellent big band in the style of Count Basie.

"I remember commenting what 'bad' programming it was to put a solo guitarist on after such a great big band," he continued. "Well, I was wrong. I was privileged to hear some of the most amazing guitar playing and wonderful guitar arrangements that I have ever heard."
The father of George Nkencho, who was shot and killed by gardai in December, has broken his silence to say that while the family has "many doubts" they will get justice, he "hates no garda".

George (27), who had no previous criminal convictions, sustained six gunshot wounds - including two wounds in the back - outside his Clonee, Dublin home at around 12.35pm on December 30, 2020.

George's father, Frank Nosike Nkencho, speaking for the first time about the killing of his son, said the family wants "an independent and open inquiry" and that they are "less than happy" with GSOC".

"The family was told by GSOC that the garda that killed George, and all other gardai that were involved, more than 10 of them, were not suspended but were still actively working," said Frank.

He also revealed that the family are seeking to move away from their Clonee home as they feel under threat.

"We have received racist and hate mails in the aftermath of the killing.

"The family needs to relocate...the garda bullets holes in our front windows are still there," he said.

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Family solicitor Phelim O'Neill has expressed his "extreme concerns" at the pace of the investigation while welcoming it being given the status of a criminal investigation by GSOC.

"I hate no garda - all I need is unbiased justice," added Frank.

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George Nkencho (27), who had no previous criminal convictions, was shot dead outside his Clonee home at around 12.35pm on December 30.

Mr Nkencho, who suffered mental health problems, had been involved in an incident at a Spar shop in nearby Hartstown where he attacked a shop assistant with a knife.

A second incident also occurred at the nearby post office. He was reported to local gardai who followed him as he carried the knife on his walk back to his house at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Dublin 15.

Mr Nkencho was engaged with by gardai, in stages, as he travelled on foot and instructed to drop the knife but did not.

The Garda Armed Support Unit then attempted to restrain Mr Nkencho, using pepper spray and deploying Tasers while his family were inside. He was fatally wounded by gardai.

Following the first shot, he appeared to lunge at gardai with the knife.

An Garda Siochana said that it cannot comment on matters subject to a Gsoc investigation.
A DOG has died after a garda firearm was discharged twice today during a raid targeting a 'active' criminal figure.

A garda spokesman said officers were attacked by a dog inside a house while they were carrying out a search under a warrant.

A source has told the Sunday World that the target of the raid was notorious criminal in his late 40s.

He previously served a lengthy prison sentence for a violent stabbing in the inner-city.

It is believed the dog - described as Pit Bull/Bull Mastiff breed - was shot twice in the hallway of the home by gardai.

The dog received veterinary treatment but didnt survive the injuries sustained.

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The incident occurred in Coburg Place, Dublin which was being searched as part of an ongoing drugs investigation.



The search was carried out under warrant by the Dublin Metropolitan Region Armed Support Unit with assistance from the Coolock Detective Unit.



A search of the premises uncovered a quantity of controlled drugs with an approximate street value of 5,000. A source has said the drugs seized are believed to be mostly cannabis herb.

The man was arrested at the scene and conveyed to Coolock Garda Station where he is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act (1984).



A garda spokesman said: "During the operation an official firearm was discharged when Gardai were attacked by a dog inside the house.

"Scenes of Crime Unit have attended the premises to carry out an examination.

"As an official firearm was discharged the incident has been notified to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission."

The man in his 40s, who was arrested, is set to appear at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am today, February 15.
JOHANNESBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2021) As Air Namibia announced ceasing operations and recalling the fleet earlier this week, aviation experts explained to Sputnik the reasons behind yet another African airline going out of business amid COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Air Namibia announced on Twitter that, effective February 11, all operations would be suspended, aircraft would return to base and no new reservations would be taken. The airline also pledged refunds to all affected passengers.

Unions have been at loggerheads following the announcement. But to experts, the news on Air Namibia's wreckage came as no surprise. The company was greatly indebted to European lenders despite numerous government bailouts. Namibia's flagship carrier still owes more than 104 million Namibian Dollars ($7.1 million) to Germany alone.

Aviation expert Phuthego Mojapele told Sputnik that the bulk of the money used to service Air Namibia comes from the public. This came as a byproduct of government interference.

"board members have been resigning citing government interference," Mojapele said, adding that the time for the government's intervention came now.

"This is where government should step up and find its own lucrative routes. They must be able to sustain the current routes," the expert said.

Air Namibia has been operating at loss since the government took it over as the 100-percent shareholder in 2013. From then on, it has not made profit. Air Namibia ran up debts month after month. In the ten years to 2019, the government invested 477 million Namibian dollars to keep the loss-making airline afloat.

"Air Namibia is in a predicament. It has no return on investment. If the Namibian government wants to compete with those with power they must be willing to go pound for pound.

They are swimming in debt," Mojapele said.

Lats summer, the Namibian Ministry of Finance said it no longer had the funds to save Air Namibia from its doldrums. Similar to South African Airways, which is currently under business rescue, Air Namibia may soon have to come up with a strategy.

AIRLINES TO KEEP CHOKING ON COVID-19

According to aviation expert Desmond Latham, Air Namibia's debt before European lenders amounted to 8 million Euros ($9.7 million) last June, bringing it to the brink of collapse.

"So it is an established fact that Air Namibia had not been operating properly for at least seven years prior to the pandemic. The second reason is that COVID-19 caused the drop to zero of international travelers into Namibia. We have been told that about 600 workers are going to lose their jobs," Latham told Sputnik.

The expert voiced hope that market laws kick in  "because if there is a demand somebody will supply"  and an alternative carrier picks up the abandoned flight routes. But overall, Latham appeared rather pessimistic about the prospects of global civil aviation in the foreseeable future.

"Generally speaking, we are looking at least at another year of this catastrophic effect of the pandemic on aviation," the expert said.

Latham proposed that airlines reconsider the prevailing operations model and choose leasing plans over ownership, as well as renegotiate the routes so that to preserve international tourism.

According to the expert, some airlines went "badly wrong" with their risk analysis of the pandemic-era operations  all to please the shareholders who, he said, "don't want to hear the bad news." The cases he referenced in point were the United States' Delta and Australia's Qantas, as well as the Qatari and Chinese air industry.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trend reports.

"We were shocked by the news of the brutal killing of 13 innocent Turkish civilians as a result of a treacherous terrorist act," President Aliyev said in his message. "We are extremely outraged by this horrific act of terrorism against civilians and strongly condemn all manifestations of terrorism."

"On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families and the loved ones of those who were killed and the brotherly people of Turkey," President Aliyev said.
'Mx' should be used as a gender-neutral alternative to titles such as Mr and Mrs on forms, a member of Keir Starmer's team has suggested.

Alex Sobel, a shadow Culture, Media and Sport Minister, wants the Government to tell public bodies and private companies to start using 'Mx' on forms and documents.

Mr Sobel has also supported contentious trans-rights reforms including the abolition of single-sex changing rooms, toilets and prisons.

Women who object are bigots who should not vote Labour, the MP declared.

But some Labour MPs worry that issues such as this show that Sir Keir, a former human rights lawyer, is unable to connect with the many working-class voters the party lost in the last Election.

abour MPs worry that issues such as this show that Sir Keir (pictured at Heathrow last week), a former human rights lawyer, is unable to connect with the many working-class voters the party lost in the last Election

Labour HQ has already embraced 'Mx'. A form used for job applicants since last year offers titles including 'Mx', 'Ind' and 'Misc'.

However, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch indicated that the Government had no plans to push for the compulsory use of 'Mx'.

'Individuals can decide what title they want to use on forms, without a formal process, and organisations are free to decide the best way of collecting titles for their needs,' she told The Mail on Sunday.

Alex Sobel, a shadow Culture, Media and Sport Minister

It comes as Sir Keir was faced with an official party report that said a Labour Government should make 'woke' payments to countries once ruled by the British Empire to apologise for colonialism.

Allies of the Labour leader immediately sought to distance him from the proposals, blaming them on rogue hard-Left followers of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

The report, Remaking Of The British State: For The Many, Not The Few, argues the UK should make reparation payments and 'an unreserved apology to all of the countries of the world that the Empire invaded and negatively impacted'.

The 234-page policy document, which was published last week by Sean Patrick Griffin, the party's external governance officer, threatens Sir Keir's plans to rebrand the party around a patriotic agenda.

Yet the report carries a foreword signed 'Leader of the Opposition's Office, London' and is subtitled 'Produced on behalf of the Labour Party'.

The 234-page policy document was published last week by Sean Patrick Griffin, the partys external governance officer

It also calls for:

The abolition of trade union laws, which would lead to the return of flying pickets and general strikes;

The disestablishment of the Church of England;

The House of Lords to be abolished and replaced by 'the Senate of Nations and Regions';

Restrictions on Britain's ability to declare war by requiring military activity to pass a vote in both houses of Parliament;

Abolition of 'all of the trappings and add-ons of the Monarchy'.

It was previously reported that the document also seeks to scrap knighthoods and other honours in favour of a 'civic award'.

The document says: 'Socialists should seek to reorder the British state and hardwire the constitution in favour of socialist objectives.

'This must be a central plank of the Labour Party's vision to transform the UK.'

The paper comes ahead of a UK-wide constitutional commission which Sir Keir has already announced.

Last night, one of his allies said: 'The last leadership were always getting reports like this written in order to keep their friends happy.

'Fortunately, that's not Labour's approach any more.'

The document caps a torrid fortnight for the Labour leader.

His poll ratings have slumped, he has had to apologise to Boris Johnson for making false accusations in the Commons, and has had to deal with the fallout after The Mail on Sunday revealed that Shadow Attorney General had described Covid as a 'gift that keeps on giving' for lawyers.

The reparations proposal follows mounting campaigns from the Left to revisit Britain's past, including the toppling of the statue of slave trader Sir Edward Colston in Bristol and the National Trust review of its properties' links to slavery.

Arguing that British taxpayers' money should be sent abroad to atone for colonialism, the report says: 'In recognition of the past wrongdoings of the British state, the new constitution should make an unreserved apology to all of the countries of the world that the Empire invaded and negatively impacted.

'In addition, the British state should set up a reparations fund as part of the constitution, which offers financial assistance to communities across the world that can show loss and detriment as a result of the actions of the British state.'

It adds that payments would come if 'the British state owed the claimants in question a duty of care' and if a failure of that duty could directly be shown to have caused a demonstrable loss.

A Labour source said last night: 'This report was commissioned by the previous Labour leadership. It does not reflect party policy.'
Alessandra Ambrosio managed to evoke a throwback glamour goddess even while relaxing at a hotel this weekend.

The 39-year-old bombshell posed up a storm in a backless floral sundress as she leaned against the railing of her balcony for an Instagram album.

She geo-tagged the post to the Pousada Maria Bonita, a hotel on the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando De Noronha.

Looking fab: Alessandra Ambrosio managed to evoke a throwback glamour goddess even while relaxing at a hotel this weekend

The former Victoria's Secret Angel swept her hair up into a tight bun and tucked a flower behind one ear in a fashionable touch.

Accentuating her screen siren features with makeup, she added a splash of glitz to the look by stringing on a couple of necklaces.

Although she is originally from Brazil she has lived in America for years and last year she reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship.

Sensational: The 39-year-old bombshell posed up a storm in a backless floral sundress as she leaned against the railing of her balcony for an Instagram album

However in recent months she has been back in Brazil and spending time with friends and family including her children Anja, 12, and Noah, eight.

She shares Noah and Anja with RE/DONE co-founder Jamie Mazur whom she was involved with from 2005 until 2018.

Ale is now dating the dashing Italian businessman Nicolo Oddi who started a fashion brand called Alanui with his sister Carlotta.

What a look: The former Victoria's Secret Angel swept her hair up into a tight bun and tucked a flower behind one ear in a fashionable touch

Meanwhile Alessandra herself went into the clothing business after giving up her title as a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2017.

She, her sister Aline and their friend Gisele Coria launched a swimwear line in 2019 called GAL Floripa which Alessandra frequently plugs on Instagram.

The name of their company was inspired by the Brazilian city Florianopolis, where Alessandra gave birth to both of her children.
Whatever your Valentines Day looks like -- binge-watching "Bling Empire" or fancy takeout and flowers -- you owe it to yourself and your partner to nurture your relationship beyond V-Day. Fall in love or remind each other why you fell in love with daily acts of affection in the form of playfulness, flirting, emotional intimacy, and sexy time. Heres a cheat sheet of ideas that range from small gestures to darling date nights to unbridled passion to help keep your creative (cough *and other* cough) juices flowing long after February.

Knock Knock What I Love About You Today Checklist

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Keep it playful with this cheeky checklist -- fill it out and give to your loved one to let them know you appreciate them in a really cute way.

Heart-Shaped Post-it Notes

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Let them know youre thinking of them with a sticky note on their mirror, laptop, or windshield. Sweet handwritten notes are the easiest way to make any love feel like young love.

The Adventure Challenge, Couples Edition

The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition is for couples who want to inject spontaneity and playfulness into date nights -- think body paint, blanket forts, recreating the famous scene from "Ghost." There are three ways to experience: A date night scrapbook with 50 scratch-off date plans; a set that includes the scrapbook and a very cool LomoInstant Automat Camera; and a subscription box with the date night supplies so you can skip a trip to the store.

Polaroid Now iType Instant Camera

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Whether you want to capture PG or naughty moments, let your imaginations run wild with the vintage-inspired Polaroid Now i-Type Instant Camera.

Framebridge Heartstagram

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The Framebridge Heartstagram will send hearts racing with its sweet sentiment and modern style. Choose a photo, maybe it was your first date or your last vacation together, and simply upload, choose the style, and youre done.

Glamping Tent

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For a fraction of the price of an actual glamping outing, you can have your own dreamy getaway just outside your door. The large natural canvas tent is easy to set up and only requires you, your boo, and a blanket for a romantic departure from a Groundhog Day-like new normal.

Two-Person Hammock

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Relax side by side in a two-person hammock that wont fold you up into a taco; the sturdy, quilted fabric and hardwood spreader bar allows for maximum room and comfort.

Custom Constellation Star Chart

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Do you remember when and where you first said you loved each other? Customize this artsy star chart with the location and date that means the most as a reminder of your journey together. Heres one with a simpler design that looks equally chic.

Picnic Cooler Tote

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Turn a trip to the park into an opportunity for quality time with an insulated picnic tote thatll keep drinks and snacks chilled. Dont forget the blanket!

Vinyl Moon: Deluxe Vinyl Discovery

Relationship experts say that discovering new things with your significant other can keep things fresh, so why not ditch the phones and discover music together? With a Vinyl Moon Deluxe Vinyl Discovery subscription, youll get a monthly, themed mixtape featuring expertly curated music pressed onto the most gorgeous vibrantly-hued vinyl youve ever seen.

Magnetic Poetry - Poet Edition

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You may remember magnetic poetry from your dorm days but the fridge artform is also a cute way to communicate with and entertain your person with romantic, silly, and just-plain-weird poems and phrases.

Love Language: 150 Conversation Starter Questions for Couples

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Emotional intimacy and vulnerability are vital to a strong and lasting relationship. This deck of romantic, personal, and thought-provoking conversation starters will help couples connect and reconnect. Once you roll through those questions, check out the Intimacy Deck by BestSelf.

Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose Exfoliating Scrub

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Exfoliate your way to touchably-soft skin with Herbivore Botanical Coco Rose Exfoliating Scrub. Sugar and pink clay slough away rough, dry skin while coconut oil and shea butter moisturize. Get a head-to-toe glow with their entire line while its on sale!

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

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Its been said that warm, gourmand scents like vanilla, caramel, and pumpkin pie are an aphrodisiac for men. Not only does cult-favorite Brazilian Bum Bum Cream have a light salted-caramel, pistachio, vanilla scent that both men and women find irresistible, but its also one of the best moisturizers out there with a fluffy texture and ingredients that tighten and smooth skin.

Fur Oil

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Care for your most sensitive skin with Fur Oil, it softens hair and soothes skin pre- and post-shaving/waxing, and clears pores for fewer ingrown hairs while being free of yucky ingredients. And while this luxe oil was designed for public hair and skin it can be used on cuticles, scars, and as a bath oil. Try the ingrown concentrate spot treatment, too!

Lunya Washable Silk Slip Dress

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Its easy to get comfortable with your S.O., especially with so many couples working from home together. But, you can treat both yourself and your partner by swapping cozy pants for Lunyas effortlessly sexy slip dress, the ultra-flattering silk loungewear is both ridiculously chic and machine washable.

Maude Burn No. 1 Massage Candle

Maudes best-selling Burn No. 1 Massage Candle, a blend of amber, cedar leaf, lemongrass, tonka bean, and medjool date, is heavenly as a home scent but doubles as a massage oil. Its made with jojoba and soybean oil -- both have a low melting point -- so the lightweight, moisturizing oil can be safely poured onto skin.

Maude Shine Organic Lubricant

Finally, a bottle of lubricant you wont have to hide! Maudes Shine Organic Lubricant is pH-balanced, made with moisturizing aloe, and is fertility-friendly for those who are TTC.

Lelo Gigi 2 Vibrator

With a curved shape and flattened head for both G-spot and clitoral stimulation, The Lelo Gigi 2 is one of the best-selling pleasure products out there. The rechargeable vibe has four vibration modes so you can experiment to your hearts desire, with a partner or solo.



Its Trolls World A journey of Trolls from a toy created by A poor Danish woodcutter to the silver screen View(s): View(s):

Troll the World Tour, the newest Trolls movie, a musical comedy is now being screened at theatres in Colombo and island wide. This much awaited children and family movie is the directorial debut of Walt Dohrn based on the screenplay by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Elizabeth Tippet, Maya Forbes, and Wallace Wolodarsky.

When the Queen of the Hard Rock Trolls tries to take over all the Troll kingdoms, Queen Poppy and her friends try different ways to save all the Trolls.

Poppy and Branch discover that they are but one of six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands devoted to six different kinds of music: Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and Rock. Their world is about to get a lot bigger and a whole lot louder. A member of hard-rock royalty, Queen Barb, aided by her father King Thrash, wants to destroy all other kinds of music to let rock reign supreme. With the fate of the world at stake, Poppy and Branch, along with their friends, set out to visit all the other lands to unify the Trolls in harmony against Barb, whos looking to upstage them all.

Created by Danish woodcutter Thomas Dam who could not afford a Christmas gift for his daughter Lila and carved first Trolls doll from his imagination in 1959, Trolls became world renowned as toys, cartoon, video game characters and animated movie stars. Demanded by the other children in the Danish town of Gjl who saw Dams Troll Doll also known as Dam Doll. By 1960 under the name Good Luck Trolls, Trolls were popular throughout a number of European countries by 1960.

Trolls hit the toy markets in the United States becoming the biggest toy fads from 1963 to 1965. The original Dam Trolls with higher quality featured sheep wool hair and glass eyes. However the popularity of Trolls went down with an error in the copyright notice of Thomas Dams original product and there were cheaper imitations too.

Trolls became briefly popular again during the 1970s through the 1990s and were copied by several manufacturers under different names. In the 1990s, several video games and a video show were created based on troll dolls and in 2003, the Dam company restored the United States copyrights blocking unlicensed production. In 2005, the Dam company modernized the brand under the name Trollz, but it failed in the marketplace.

In 2013, the brand was bought by DreamWorks Animation, with an animated feature film called Trolls being released in 2016 and Troll the World Tour is the second sequel in the series.

Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, the

film features the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden, Ron Funches, Kelly Clarkson, Anderson Paak, Sam Rockwell, George Clinton, and Mary J. Blige.

TROLL THE WORLD TOUR; is now being screened at Liberty by Scope Cinemas, Colombo City Centre, Empire, PVR cinemas, Majestic Ultra Cinema, Savoy Colombo and Rajagiriya, and a number of other cinemas around the country.
In Alabama, 175 people lost unemployment benefits for refusing to return to work during the pandemic, some out of concerns for their safety. The state is investigating 1,090 such cases, according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

Yet those investigations may soon be dropped under executive orders signed by President Biden last month, aimed at enhancing COVID-19 safety protections and worker rights.

(The) responsibility for workplace safety, particularly during a pandemic, is not purely with workers, it is (now) also with employers, said University of Alabama Law Professor Deepa Das Acevedo, calling the orders a shift in tone.

Under one order, people who lost work due to pandemic-related safety concerns last year may become eligible for unemployment.

In a second order, Biden called on OSHA, the federal agency responsible for worker safety, to put in place key protections for Americans on the job.

No one should have to choose between their livelihoods and their own health or the health of their loved ones in the middle of a deadly pandemic, Biden said last month.

The specifics of Bidens orders will be determined by the federal agencies whose purview they fall under, but the general intention is to help employees.

The President is trying to provide more security for workers, said Acevedo.

Since the start of the pandemic, 739,616 unemployment claims have been filed in Alabama, representing $4.3 billion state and federal dollars. As of December, Alabama had a 3.6 percent unemployment rate.

On January 29, OSHA announced new protections for employees such as requiring masks, sending home potentially infected employees and putting in place social distancing and barriers.

The agency noted that employers are not required to follow the guidance.

The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm, OSHA stated.

OSHA could go a step further and create emergency temporary standards for COVID-19 that would give its guidance teeth.

Under the Obama Administration, OSHA had begun to create an infectious disease standard that could have been used to regulate workplace safety during COVID-19. Those efforts were dropped by the Trump Administration.

As a result, there have been few hard and fast federal safety rules for the pandemic and few OSHA workplace investigations in states like Alabama.

As to Bidens order calling for a right to refuse unsafe work, the U.S. Department of Labor has not yet issued guidelines for how this will play out.

The Alabama Department of Labor said it could not comment on how the changes might be implemented until it receives federal guidance.

Acevedo, the law professor, said its often a challenge for workers to prove claims about workplace safety, but overall, the administration is placing more responsibility on employers.

The orders (are) laying the groundworkto send a more general signal to employers that it is their general responsibility too to make it possible for people come to work safely, she said.

Myanmar security forces fired on a protest and arrested journalists in the country's north on Sunday as reports of troop movements suggested an impending crackdown on demonstrations against a recent military coup.

The junta has recently escalated efforts to quell a burgeoning civil disobedience campaign demanding a return of the country's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Soldiers fired tear gas then shot at a crowd who gathered in Myitkyina to stop a rumoured shutdown of the northern city's electricity grid.A journalist at the scene said it was unclear how many had been injured in the incident.

"We don't know if police had used rubber bullets or live rounds," the reporter added.

Police later arrested at least five journalists reporting from the scene, according to a media outlet based in the city.

Armoured vehicles were briefly seen on the streets of commercial hub Yangon late in the afternoon, and social media footage has since shown other troop deployments.

A joint statement from the US, British and European Union ambassadors urged security forces not to harm civilians.

"We call on security forces to refrain from violence against demonstrators, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government," said a statement signed by the European Union and Britain.

The US embassy advised American citizens to shelter in place and warned of another potential nationwide internet blackout.

"There are indications of military movements in Yangon and the possibility of telecommunications interruptions overnight," the mission's consular section said in a statement.

- National uproar -

Much of the country has been in uproar since soldiers detained Aung San Suu Kyi and her top political allies, ending a decade-old fledgling democracy after generations of junta rule.

The Nobel laureate, who spent years under house arrest under an earlier dictatorship, has not been seen in public since she was detained on February 1 alongside top aides.

Security forces have arrested some people joining a civil disobedience movement that has seen huge crowds throng big urban centres and isolated frontier villages alike.

At least 400 people have been detained since the coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group said.

But fear of arrest did not deter big crowds from returning to streets around the country for a ninth straight day of street protests on Sunday.

In the southern city of Dawei, seven police officers broke ranks to join anti-coup protesters, mirroring local media reports of isolated defections from the force in recent days.

Parts of the country had in recent days formed neighbourhood watch brigades to monitor their communities overnight -- in defiance of a junta curfew -- and to prevent the arrests of residents joining the civil disobedience movement.

"We don't trust anyone at this time, especially those with uniforms," said Myo Ko Ko, a member of a street patrol in Yangon.

Near the city's central train station, residents rolled tree trunks onto a road to block police vehicles and escorted away officers who were attempting to return striking railway employees to work.

The country's new military leadership has so far been unmoved by a torrent of international condemnation.

An emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday called for the new regime to release all "arbitrarily detained" people and for the military to hand power back to Suu Kyi's administration.

The junta insists it took power lawfully and has instructed journalists in the country not to refer to itself as a government that took power in a coup.

It also instructed reporters in Myanmar not to write to cause public unrest while reporting events in the country.
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The death toll has reached 1,996 in Northern Ireland. (Steve Parsons/PA)

Another 11 Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland have been reported by the Department of Health.

Ten of those deaths occurred in the 24 hours up to 10am on Sunday and one happened previously.

The death toll has now risen to 1,996.

Another 176 new Covid cases were also identified in testing.

There have been 2,137 positive cases in the last week, down from 3,019 in the previous seven days.

Read More

Hospital occupancy is at 89% with 2,720 people in beds - 476 are Covid-19 confirmed inpatients.

A total of 58 patients with Covid-19 are in intensive care - 51 of those are ventilated.

And 78 care homes are dealing with an outbreak of the virus.

It comes after the chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland Dr Tom Black said it is hoped that primary schools can reopen on March 8.

I think primary schools is what we would hope for because we know transmission of infection in younger children is much lower, he told BBC Northern Irelands Sunday Politics programme.

Secondary schools would be a big ask. The Chief Medical Officer [Dr Michael McBride] and the Department of Health will look carefully at that.

Theyll look at the R number, which is 0.8 at the moment. Opening schools has an increase of between 0.3 and 0.6 on the R number so we couldn't afford to do that at the moment.

Maybe in March we can open primary schools, see what effect it has and then decide.

Dr Black also backed the Chief Medical Officers positive comments regarding the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions this summer.

I think it is realistic but lets not lose our nerve here, he stated.

Lets maintain the restrictions and as much of the lockdown as we can because we want this to be the last lockdown and then hopefully get something close to normal for the summer.

This past year, we all have had enough time to reminisce about the good old days. We have scouted through albums filled with childhood memories and dug through our Facebook profiles to find some priceless moments spent with friends. And the one thing that stood out the most was, of course, the time we spent in college.

Every working millennial can attest to the fact that there is nothing that can come close to the fun we had in college. So, for every single teenager who started college last year and spent his first year at home doing online classes, we truly sympathise. But, what if there was a way to see a beautiful story come to life during these tough times?

MX Player in collaboration with AXE and Mindshare is releasing an interactive short film The Right Click that will help you experience all the emotions of a young college romance. Plus, this is also a great way to spend some time reminiscing with your partner on Valentines Day. Why? Well, here are the reasons:

1. Experiencing College In The New Normal:

MX Player

This short film is a tale of two college-going students, set against the backdrop of the new normal in 2020 with online lectures and a budding digital college romance. It will help you experience what it would be like to miss out on your college experience and have to spend it online instead. It will definitely make you miss your college days!

2. Timeless Formula of Romance:





The story revolves around a young couple who is going through new feelings and navigating a relationship which makes it a perfect watch for Valentines Day. This film will make you reminisce about the start of your relationship and help relieve fond memories which is an added bonus to an already romantic day.

3. Stellar Cast:

MX Player

This short film stars Yashaswini Dayama & Prit Kamani as Dia & Ajay. We all know Yashaswini from the multiple YouTube videos she has been in or from her roles in Bollywood movies like Phobia, Dear Zindagi, What Are The Odds? & many more. Prit Kamani is also a stellar actor who was in the recent Netflix release Maska and has been a YouTube personality as well. They both together make a super-cute millennial couple who will melt your heart.

4. Interactive Format Makes It Addictive:

MX Player

If you have been living under a rock and dont know what an interactive film is then here is a quick summary: An interactive film is a format where the viewer gets to make decisions for the characters using the prompts that appear on the screen. Sounds fun, right?

This story allows viewers to decide the progression of the film by giving them a series of incidents and options from a young college boys daily life and his journey of getting to know his crush. From when Ajay wakes up, to his thoughts and to his date plans, every few minutes, the film gives viewers two options to choose from. This product feature also guides viewers back to the story, giving them a chance of a do-over.

This interactive short film is now live on MX Player and this love story has no wrong answers. So, grab your partner and start your Valentines Day with AXE presents The Right Click, NOW.
PRISTINA  Kosovo's leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party appeared set to win the country's early parliamentary elections by a massive margin, according to partial official results, which could further complicate efforts to resolve the country's decades-long dispute with neighboring Serbia.



With more than 56 percent of ballots counted in the February 14 elections, Vetevendosje had 48 percent of the vote, far ahead of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 18 percent, the now-ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 14 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with 8 percent.



Vevendosje would have to join forces with at least one other party to govern the Balkan country if it does not secure a majority of 61 seats in parliament.



The party has won support on pledges by its leader Albin Kurti, who served as prime minister for less than two months last year, to fight widespread corruption and on a stance that there should be no compromise in a dialogue with Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed its forces.



"Kosovo as an independent state, this Sunday, is turning to its people as the source of sovereignty. We should vote with love for the country," Kurti said after casting his ballot in Pristina.

At a press conference late in the day, Albulena Haxhiu of Vetevendosje called upon party supporters to celebrate at home instead of going to the streets because of the coronavirus pandemic and cold weather.

AAK head Ramush Haradinaj expressed readiness to form a coalition with Vetevendosje.



"We have declared that we have no red lines, neither for Vetevendosje nor for any political entity," Haradinaj said.

Some 1.8 million eligible voters are being asked to choose 120 lawmakers among more than 1,000 candidates from 28 political groupings.

Election authorities put the turnout at about 47.08 percent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than during the 2019 parliamentary elections. Vetevendosje won 26 percent of the vote in the 2019 polls.

Amid the pandemic, voters were required to wear masks and keep at least a 2-meter distance in polling stations. Election officials said that those infected by the coronavirus will be able to vote through mobile polling teams.



Some 100,000 Kosovars living abroad were also eligible to vote by post. Some 43,000 votes from the diaspora have already arrived in Kosovo.

The national elections are the fifth since independence. They were called on short notice by acting President Vjosa Osmani after the Constitutional Court ruled that the parliamentary vote electing a new government in June was unconstitutional.

The court ruled on December 21 that the election of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of the LDK was illegal because one member of parliament who voted for the government had previously served time in prison.



Since then, the campaign has featured disqualifications of Kurti and other senior politicians based on the same law.

'Multiple Reforms' On Agenda



A coalition government led by Kurti lasted only 51 days last year before it was toppled by a no-confidence vote based on its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.



In a televised address on February 12, Kurti said dialogue with Serbia was "not one of the first priorities."

He has also said that multiple reforms would be on the new government's agenda.



"We plan to focus on the strengthening of our state, and two key concerns of the citizens of Kosovo are jobs and justice," Kurti said in an interview last week with the Associated Press.



Nearly one-quarter of Kosovo's workers were unemployed at one point last year, according to the national statistics agency. The World Bank says the coronavirus pandemic slowed the countrys growth by 4.5 percent in 2020.



Most Western nations have recognized Kosovos 2008 declaration of independence, but Serbia, backed by Russia, does not, and normalization talks have stalled. The situation has blocked Kosovo from joining international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Africa has seen a 40% increase in Covid-19 deaths over the past month compared to the previous 30 days, and is now approaching the 100,000 mark.



The spike in deaths comes as some countries begin to receive their first vaccines, but are faced with growing skepticism among the population over the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.



The increasing deaths from COVID-19 we are seeing are tragic, but are also disturbing warning signs that health workers and health systems in Africa are dangerously overstretched. This grim milestone must refocus everyone on stamping out the virus, says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.



Earlier this week, South Africa announced that it will pause the roll-out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine because of a study indicating that the vaccine is less effective in preventing mild and moderate infection with the 501Y.V2 variant that is dominant in the country.



But in February, the WHO strategic advisory group of experts on immunisation, also known as a SAGE had recommended that countries use the astrazeneca vaccine for priority groups even if variants are present in a country, while further research is conducted.



A view shared by and reinforced by microbiology Professor Peter Piot at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.



"The key issue for me is acting now, and then the production will come more and more and then there will be more choice of vaccines that are more, let's say, affordable, because of the price of AstraZeneca and JJ (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine is much lower than the other, the messenger arn vaccines, but particularly the logistics, the logistics often determine the success of a program" says Professor Piot.



Africa's overall fatality rates were lower than those elsewhere in the world during the first stage of the pandemic.



But now the alarms are on and the Africa CDC has warned about rising fatality rates in the continent, saying that of the 55 countries they monitor, 20 are now reporting fatality rates above the current global average of 2.2%.

Source: africanews.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New Delhi: A Special cell of the Delhi Police on Sunday (February 14, 2021) arrested a 21-year-old climate activist from Bengaluru in the Greta Thunberg toolkit case. The police claims that the toolkit was edited by her and sent ahead.

Delhi Police had sought Googles help to trace the IP address of the authors who uploaded the toolkit on the ongoing farmers protest in Delhi.

The Delhi Police wrote a letter to the internet search giant to get the IP address or the location from where the toolkit was made and uploaded on the social media platform, as per a report by ANI.

The teen Swedish climate and environmental activist had shared the toolkit on Twitter. Her tweet had evoked a strong response from international celebrities and activists like Rihanna, who also voiced support for the farmers agitation.

It was reported on Thursday that the Delhi Police had registered an FIR against Thunberg over her tweets on farmers protest.
PM Modi tells state BJP leaders to fight polls on Central govt's development planks

India

oi-Deepika S

Kochi, Feb 14: Amid the state BJP''s preparations for the coming Assembly polls in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met party leaders and exhorted them to fight the crucial election on his government''s development plank.

After launching a slew of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 6,000 crore, Modi interacted with the top state BJP leaders at a hall near the venue for 10 to 15 minutes, party sources said. Talking to reporters after the meeting, BJP state president K Surendran said Modi directed them to make efforts to expand the party''s mass base ahead of the polls.

Nation proud of Indian diaspora in the Gulf: PM Modi

Emphasising the need of winning the crucial polls, Modi urged them to reach out to different sections of society to win their support, party leaders said. He also emphasised the need for attracting new people into the party fold, they said.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the party can win the elections, party leaders said. He directed the party leaders to dwell on the good works being undertaken by his government at the Centre.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 21:29 [IST]
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has led a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Pre-Election Mission to Benin.



The visit is in line with ECOWAS Preventive Diplomacy mandate and electoral assistance to Member States, ahead of presidential elections scheduled to take place on 11th April 2021.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey, who is also the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers was accompanied by Dr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission; Mrs Halima Ahmed, Commissioner in-charge of Finance at the ECOWAS Commission; Mr Blaise Diplo-Djomand, the Resident Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in Benin, as well as ECOWAS technical staff.



A statement issued by the ECOWAS Commission, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Pre-Election Mission was in accordance with ECOWAS mandate to promote peace, stability and the consolidation of democracy in West Africa.



It said the Mission was in line with the ECOWAS Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of 2001, particularly with regard to the provisions related to conflict prevention.



It said the objective of the Mission was to exchange views with the main Beninese electoral stakeholders to assess the level of preparation of the institutions and socio-political actors to ensure the conduct of an inclusive, free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful presidential election.



The statement said the Mission met with key stakeholders, including the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Minister of Interior and Security, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (CENA) and the Chairman of the Supervision and Orientation Council for the Permanent electronic voting list (COS-LEPI).



It said the Mission also met a delegation of the ruling Party and its affiliate, a delegation of political parties from the opposition and representatives of civil society.



It noted that the Mission further met members of the diplomatic corps and the representatives of the international community accredited to Benin.



It said the Mission took note of the political reforms undertaken by the Government of Benin to facilitate the electoral process and welcomed the overall progress made in that regard.



This included, in particular, the publication of the electoral calendar, the registration of candidates, the transmission of the electoral list to the COS-LEPI by the CENA and the publication in the coming days of a provisional shortlist of candidates at CENA level.



The statement said the Mission was informed of the attempted assassination of one of the presumed candidates in the presidential election and also on the ongoing investigations.



It said the Mission encouraged the authorities to continue with the investigations, in order to shed light on the conditions of the attack and sanction the perpetrators.



The Mission calls on all parties to avoid hate speech that incite violence and create a climate of tension, it said.



The Mission urges all socio-political actors to engage in dialogue in order to create conducive conditions for the conduct of credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthen the climate of peace in the country.



The statement said the Mission renewed the support of ECOWAS to the people and authorities of Benin and announced the deployment of an electoral observation mission for the presidential election of April 11.

Source: GNA









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Source: Reuters

A $150-billion investing arm of Morgan Stanley may make a bet on Bitcoin amid the recent surge in the price of the cryptocurrency. Counterpoint Global, a unit of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, is assessing if Bitcoin is a viable option for investors, Bloomberg reported.

Such a move would require approval by the firm and regulators, the report said.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

A spokeswoman for Morgan Stanley declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg.

The renewed interest in Bitcoin comes after the volatile digital currency's price surged roughly 1,200 percent since mid-March 2020. Bitcoin is the world's largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalisation.

Announcements by major US corporations in the past week may help Bitcoin enter the mainstream and be accepted as a form of payment.

Automaker Tesla said it had bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin, and might start accepting it as a form of payment for its products in the "near future".

Investment bank BNY Mellon said it would create a unit to help clients hold, transfer, and issue digital assets.

Mastercard said it was planning to offer support for some cryptocurrencies on its network this year.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty

Several world despots will miss President Donald Trump but none more than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump provided Putin with an unimaginable gift, an American president who would attack the foundations of our Democracy and ignore the crimes of the Russian government.

As president, Trump often cast doubt on the integrity of our media, our intelligence agencies, our public health experts, our military and our election process. Had such attacks come directly from the Kremlin, Americans would have summarily dismissed them as propaganda. However, they came from a sitting U.S. president.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.

US-based Capital Power has ordered two Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines to repower its Genesee Units 1 and 2 in Alberta, Canada, from coal to natural gas.



The units will combine best-in-class Mitsubishi Power air-cooled combustion turbines and heat recovery steam generators with the existing steam turbine generators. With greater than 64 percent efficiency, the Genesee units will be the most efficient combined cycle plants in Canada.



The plant will provide 1,360 megawatts (MW) of net capacity, and carbon emissions intensity will decrease by approximately 60 percent to a level below the Alberta Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation benchmark.



The M501JAC gas turbines are hydrogen-capable to support future decarbonization. They will be able to operate on a mixture of natural gas and up to 30 percent hydrogen. The units can be converted in the future to operate on 100 percent hydrogen for zero carbon emissions, enhancing Capital Powers standing as among the cleanest large-scale power generators in Canada.



Capital Power is following a strategy toward a low-carbon future with a target to be net carbon neutral before 2050, said Brian Vaasjo, President and CEO of Capital Power. The repowering of Genesee Units 1 and 2 with Mitsubishi Power technology will position the Genesee station to be off-coal in 2023, delivering 3.4 megatonnes of annual carbon emission reductions, and will position it for additional carbon emission reductions in the future.



The repowering project timeline calls for the units to operate in natural gas simple cycle mode during construction, allowing the Genesee station to be off-coal in 2023, with expected repowering completion of Unit 1 in 2023 and Unit 2 in 2024. The project is expected to employ up to 500 workers during peak construction phases.



The M501JAC gas turbines flexibility and efficiency will enable Capital Power to balance even more intermittent renewable energy resources in Alberta. Capital Power is adding roughly 260 MW of solar and wind energy with delivery between now and 2022.



Paul Browning, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, said: Mitsubishi Power is pleased to support Capital Powers repowering project to convert from coal to natural gas, and eventually to hydrogen with zero carbon emissions. The station will become a model for reliability, availability, efficiency and sustainability. Capital Power is building for a decarbonized future with the reliable and efficient hydrogen-ready M501JAC. Together with Capital Power, we are achieving a Change in Power.  TradeArabia News Service




The Ukrainian president is paying an official visit to the UAE.

CEO of Ukraine's state-run Ukroboronprom Concern Yuriy Husyev and representatives of the UAE-based Tawazun Economic Council and EDGE Group have signed agreements and contracts totaling more than US$1 billion to expand military-technical cooperation.

Read alsoUkraine, UAE to intensify bilateral cooperation in defense industryThe documents were signed during the official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United Arab Emirates, the press service of the President's Office wrote on its website on February 14.

The agreement with EDGE on military and technical cooperation will allow the exchange and development of advanced technologies, the report said.

"EDGE places a strong emphasis on joint development and collaboration. Signing this tripartite agreement demonstrates our intent to cooperate with leading international companies within the defense industry," CEO and Managing Director of EDGE Group His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai said.

"We are excited about the opportunities that present themselves for the UAE and Ukraine to collaborate, exchange, and mutually benefit from one another's military and technical capabilities," he added.

Zelensky's visit to the UAE

The Ukrainian president is paying a two-day official visit to the UAE.

On February 14, Zelensky met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the prospects for boosting bilateral trade by several times.

Also, the two countries' delegations signed a number of bilateral documents, in particular, a memorandum on mutual recognition and exchange of national driver's licenses.

Reporting by UNIAN

The former E! Australia host never puts a foot wrong in the fashion stakes.

And even while pregnant, Ksenija Lukich has remained as chic as ever.

The TV presenter, 31, spoke to Body+Soul on Sunday to reveal her secret styling tips for the challenging task of 'dressing her bump'.

'These items will work after the bub arrives, too': Pregnant Ksenija Lukich (pictured) has revealed her secret styling tips for dressing her baby bump without maternity clothing

Ksenija, who is eight months pregnant, is expecting her fist child - a daughter - with lawyer husband Dan Bragg on March 25.

'Rather than maternity clothes, I've bought my favourite designs in bigger sizes, and have been wearing over-sized shirts, stretchy knitted fabrics and flowy dresses,' she told the publication of her style choices during pregnancy.

Kesinja added: 'I've tried only to buy items that will work after the bub arrives, too.'

'Rather than maternity clothes, I've bought my favourite designs in bigger sizes': Ksenija, who is now eight months pregnant, has embraced her baby bump during her pregnancy

The model and beauty blogger has embraced her burgeoning baby bump during her pregnancy journey.

In January she hit the beach with her husband Dan in a stylish cut-out swimsuit.

She's also been wearing summer frocks, high-waisted skirts and high belted dresses to accentuate her clanging frame.

'I have been wearing over-sized shirts, stretchy knitted fabrics and flowy dresses': To accentuate her clanging frame, Ksenija has worn high-waisted ensembles and dresses with high belts above her bump

Ksenija announced her pregnancy on Instagram in September, alongside two sweet pictures of herself and Dan.

The brunette beauty explained it took them 'two years' and 'dozens of doctors appointments', but their baby was 'worth the wait'.

'After almost two years, dozens of doctors appointments, painful procedures and a lot of tears our little buddy is finally on the way. We can't wait to meet you #worththewait.'

Ksenija and Dan, who have been together 12 years, tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Sydney's centennial park in 2016. This will be their first child.

Impeachment Trial: Trump Is Acquitted by the Senate All 50 Democrats and seven Republicans voted guilty, falling 10 votes short of the two-thirds necessary for conviction. Senator Mitch McConnell followed his own vote to acquit with a surprisingly harsh speech calling Donald J. Trump practically and morally responsible for provoking the Capitol riot. This briefing has ended. Follow our latest coverage of Trumps acquittal here.

7 Senate Republicans vote guilty, the most bipartisan margin in favor of conviction in history. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 3:50 - 0:00 transcript Trump Acquitted of Inciting Insurrection The Senate voted to acquit former president Donald J. Trump of the incitement of insurrection charge in the deadly riot at the Capitol, with 57 guilty votes, 10 shy of the number necessary to convict the former president. Trump supported the actions of the mob, and so he must be convicted. Its that simple. When he took the stage on Jan. 6, he knew exactly how combustible the situation was. He knew there were many people in the crowd who were ready to jump into action, to engage in violence at any signal that he needed them to fight like hell to stop the steal, and thats exactly what he told them to do. Then he aimed them straight here, right down Pennsylvania, at the Capitol, where he told them the steal was occurring. That is the counting of the Electoral College votes. And we all know what happened next. They attacked this building. They disrupted the peaceful transfer of power. They injured and killed people, convinced that they were acting on his instructions and with his approval and protection. And while that happened, he further incited them while failing to defend us. If thats not ground for conviction, if thats not a high crime and misdemeanor against the republic in the United States of America, then nothing is. President Trump must be convicted for the safety and security of our democracy and our people. The stakes could not be higher. Because the cold, hard truth is that what happened on Jan. 6 can happen again. I fear, like many of you do, that the violence we saw on that terrible day may be just the beginning. Weve shown you the ongoing risks, the extremist groups, who grow more emboldened every day. Senators this cannot be the beginning. It cant be the new normal. It has to be the end. And that decision is in your hands. This trial is about whether Mr. Trump willfully engaged in incitement of violence and even insurrection against the United States, and that question they have posed in their article of impeachment has to be set up against the law of this country. No matter how much truly horrifying footage we see of the conduct of the rioters and how much emotion has been injected into this trial, that does not change the fact that Mr. Trump is innocent of the charges against him. Despite all of the video played, at no point in their presentation did you hear the house managers play a single example of Mr. Trump urging anyone to engage in violence of any kind. At no point did you hear anything that could ever possibly be construed as Mr. Trump encouraging or sanctioning an insurrection. Senators, you did not hear those tapes because they do not exist. The question is on the article of impeachment. Senators: How say you? Is the respondent Donald John Trump guilty or not guilty? The yays are 57. The nays are 43. Two-thirds of the senators present not having voted guilty, the Senate judges that the respondent, Donald John Trump, former president of the United States, is not guilty as charged in the articles of impeachment. The Senate voted to acquit former president Donald J. Trump of the incitement of insurrection charge in the deadly riot at the Capitol, with 57 guilty votes, 10 shy of the number necessary to convict the former president. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times The United States Senate voted on Saturday to acquit Donald J. Trump in his second impeachment trial, as Republicans in a Senate still bruised from the most violent attack on the Capitol in two centuries banded together to reject the charge that he incited the Jan. 6 attack. Voting 57-43, the Senate fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds necessary for conviction. Seven Republicans voted to find the former president guilty of incitement of insurrection, with all 50 Democrats, the most bipartisan support for conviction in any of the four presidential impeachments in U.S. history. That outcome reflected the widespread outrage about Mr. Trumps conduct among senators who experienced the violence of the attack firsthand, fleeing for safety as marauders overwhelmed the Capitol Police and swarmed the Capitol during the attack. It came after Democrats built a case that the former president had undertaken a monthslong effort to overturn the election, and then provoked the assault on the Capitol in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power. If that is not ground for conviction, if that is not a high crime and misdemeanor against the Republic and the United States of America, then nothing is, Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland and the lead manager, pleaded with senators before the vote. President Trump must be convicted, for the safety and democracy of our people. Minutes after the verdict was announced, Mr. Trump sent out a statement thanking his legal team and decrying, as he did for most of his presidency, the witch hunt he says is being waged upon him by his enemies. It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree, he wrote, echoing the final arguments of his lawyers in the Senate on Saturday. I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate. He also suggested that the Democrats attempt to end his political career had also failed, telling his supporters, our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. The verdict brought an abrupt end to the fourth presidential impeachment trial in American history, and the only one in which the accused had left office before being tried. The senators were voting on a question with no precedent in American history: whether to convict a former president accused of seeking to violently thwart the peaceful transfer of power  and putting at risk the lives of hundreds of lawmakers and his own vice president. The trial ended after just five days, partly because Republicans and Democrats alike had little appetite for a prolonged proceeding, and partly because Mr. Trumps allies had made clear before it even began they were not prepared to hold him responsible. So ends a 39-day stretch unlike any in the nations history. Dispensing with the customary investigations and hearings, the House moved directly to impeach Mr. Trump seven days after the attack, citing an urgent need to remove him from office. Ten Republicans joined Democrats to adopt the charge, more than had ever supported the impeachment of a president of their party. In a surprise twist on Saturday, the House managers made an abrupt demand to hear from witnesses who could testify to what Mr. Trump was doing and saying during the rampage. The Senate voted to allow it, but the prospect threatened to prolong the trial by days or weeks without changing the outcome, and in a head-spinning move, the prosecutors quickly dropped it. After a flurry of closed-door haggling with Republicans, they agreed with Mr. Trumps lawyers to admit as evidence a written statement by a Republican congresswoman, Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, who has said she was told that the former president sided with the mob as rioters were attacking the Capitol. Nicholas Fandos and

These criminals were carrying his banners. McConnell castigates Trump for provoking the Capitol riot minutes after voting to acquit him. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 2:24 - 0:00 transcript McConnell Votes to Acquit but Rebukes Trump Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, said that former President Donald J. Trump was practically and morally responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol but that he was not technically eligible to be impeached. Former President Trumps actions preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty. Theres no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole, which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth. These criminals were carrying his banners, hanging his flags and screaming their loyalty to him. It was obvious that only President Trump could end this. He was the only one who could. Former aides publicly begged him to do so. Loyal allies frantically called the administration. The president did not act swiftly. He did not do his job. He didnt take steps so federal law could be faithfully executed and order restored. No, instead, according to public reports, he watched television happily. Happily. If President Trump were still in office, I would have carefully considered whether the House managers proved their specific charge. But in this case, the question is moot because former President Trump is constitutionally not eligible for conviction. Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, said that former President Donald J. Trump was practically and morally responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol but that he was not technically eligible to be impeached. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Minutes after voting to acquit Donald J. Trump on Saturday, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, castigated the former president for what he called a disgraceful dereliction of duty, pinning responsibility for last months Capitol assault directly on Mr. Trump. In a speech more blistering than many of those in favor of conviction, Mr. McConnell said the former president had shouted wild myths about election fraud into the the largest megaphone on planet earth with foreseeable consequences. Congress and the American public paid the price, he added. It was a stunning statement from a leader who has defended Senate prerogatives zealously, in which he effectively argued that Mr. Trump was guilty as charged, but the Senate could do nothing about it. There is no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, he said. The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole. But even as he condemned Mr. Trump, Mr. McConnell said his reading of the Constitution was that the Senate should not try a former president. He called impeachment a narrow tool meant to remove an official from office, not pursue them afterward. Democrats were furious, pointing out that their vote to impeach came while Mr. Trump remained in office and that it was Mr. McConnell who refused to call the Senate back into session to start the trial before he left office. But Mr. McConnell said that even if he had, there would not have been time to reach a verdict in the final days of Mr. Trumps term. The harshly worded speech appeared to be something of a compromise for Mr. McConnell, the most powerful Republican in Washington, who has come to despise the 45th president he aided and accommodated for four years and now regards Mr. Trump as a danger to his party. Mr. McConnell had considered voting to convict the former president as a means of purging him from the party, but allies said he concluded he could not practically, as leader, side with a minority of his colleagues rather than the overwhelming number who said the trial was invalid and voted to acquit. Instead, he used every ounce of his rhetorical strength to try to damage Mr. Trumps credibility with his own party. When the Capitol attack was underway, Mr. McConnell said, Mr. Trump abdicated his responsibility as commander in chief, and afterward, he refused to drop his baseless election lies. Whatever reaction he says he meant to produce by the afternoon, we know he was watching the same live television as the rest of us, Mr. McConnell said. A mob was assaulting a Capitol in his name. These criminals were carrying his banners, hanging his flags and screaming their loyalty to him. He added: He did not do his job. He did not take steps so federal law could be faithfully executed and order restored. No, instead, according to public reports, he watched television happily  happily  as the chaos unfolded. Mr. McConnell also rejected one of Mr. Trumps lawyers most explicit defenses: that his words had been no different from those of any other politician advocating a cause. That is different from what we saw, he said. Notably, he argued that it was up to the criminal justice system to hold former presidents to account for their conduct in office. Mr. Trump, he said, didnt get away with anything yet.

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Biden, responsible for moving the country past crisis, emphasizes unity after the verdict. President Biden boarding Air Force One on Friday as he left Washington for a weekend at Camp David. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times President Biden said late Saturday that while former President Donald J. Trump had been acquitted of inciting last months riot at the Capitol, the substance of the charge is not in dispute. He pointed out that even Republicans who did not vote to convict Mr. Trump had criticized his behavior, including Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, who said after the vote on Saturday that the former president was guilty of a disgraceful dereliction of duty. Mr. Biden went on to express gratitude for those who bravely stood guard that January day as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, as well as Democrats and Republicans who demonstrated the courage to protect the integrity of our democracy. Election officials from both parties strongly disputed Mr. Trumps baseless claims of fraud, and judges  some of them appointed by Mr. Trump  rejected warrantless legal challenges. This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile, Mr. Biden said. That it must always be defended. That violence and extremism has no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. Other leading Democrats turned their ire toward their Republican counterparts. Speaker Nancy Pelosi quickly batted down the idea of a bipartisan censure resolution, saying it would let cowardly senators off the hook and constitute a slap in the face of the Constitution. Five years ago, Republican senators lamented what might become of their party if Donald Trump became their presidential nominee and standard-bearer, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said moments after the vote. Just look at what has happened. Look at what Republicans have been forced to defend. Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive. Mr. Biden had mostly distanced himself from the particulars of the trial, with a notable exception on Thursday, when he declared that a graphic video of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol that was shown during the trial might have changed some minds. As Congress was consumed by the trial this weekend, Mr. Biden was at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Aides said that Mr. Bidens plan next week was to return the countrys focus to fighting the coronavirus and its economic fallout. They have scheduled a televised town hall in Wisconsin on Wednesday focusing on his pandemic response, followed by a trip to Michigan on Thursday to tour a vaccine production facility. On Sunday, the third anniversary of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., Mr. Biden issued a statement honoring the young victims and their loved ones, who like far too many families  and, indeed, like our nation  theyve been left to wonder whether things would ever be OK. He added: We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer. Today, I am calling on Congress to enact common-sense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets. We owe it to all those weve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change. Glenn Thrush, Michael D. Shear and

Here are the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Alyssa Schukar for The New York Times Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Doug Mills/The New York Times Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Sen. Mitt Romney, Utah Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Sen. Ben Sasse, Nebraska Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania Erin Schaff/The New York Times slide 1 slide 2 slide 3 slide 4 slide 5 slide 6 slide 7 Seven Republican senators voted on Saturday to convict former President Donald J. Trump in the most bipartisan vote for a presidential impeachment conviction in United States history. The margin still fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds needed to find him guilty. Who are the seven senators? Only one  Lisa Murkowski  is up for re-election next year, and she has survived attacks from the right before. Two are retiring, and three won new terms in November, so they will not face voters until 2026. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina Mr. Burr, 65, a senator since 2005, is not seeking re-election in 2022. Despite holding Mr. Trump immediately responsible for the Capitol riot, he had voted against moving forward with the impeachment trial, and his decision to convict came as a surprise. As I said on Jan. 6, the president bears responsibility for these tragic events, Mr. Burr said in a statement on Saturday. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. Therefore, I have voted to convict. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana Mr. Cassidy, 63, a senator since 2015, was just re-elected. Weeks ago, he voted against moving forward with the trial, but said he was persuaded by the House impeachment managers. Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person, Mr. Cassidy said. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty. Susan Collins of Maine Ms. Collins, 68, a senator since 1997, was just re-elected to a fifth term. She has long been critical of Mr. Trumps actions, extending to the Capitol riot. That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence, Ms. Collins said on the Senate floor after the vote. Rather it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump that were aimed at overturning the results of the presidential election. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska Ms. Murkowski, 63, a senator since 2002, is up for re-election in 2022. She has appeal for both Democrats and independents and won a write-in campaign in 2010 after losing the Republican primary. She has harshly criticized Mr. Trumps actions before and during the Capitol rampage, calling his conduct unlawful. Its not about me and my life and my job, Ms. Murkowski told a Politico reporter who asked about the political risk she took with her vote. This is really about what we stand for. If I cant say what I believe that our president should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me? Mitt Romney of Utah Mr. Romney, 73, a senator since 2019, is the only Republican to have voted to convict Mr. Trump in his first impeachment trial. A former presidential candidate, he made clear after the Capitol attack that he held Mr. Trump responsible. President Trump attempted to corrupt the election by pressuring the secretary of state of Georgia to falsify the election results in his state, Mr. Romney said in a statement on Saturday. President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well-known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the Capitol, the vice president and others in the Capitol. Each and every one of these conclusions compels me to support conviction. Ben Sasse of Nebraska Mr. Sasse, 48, a senator since 2015, was just re-elected. He has been a frequent critic of Mr. Trump and had signaled that he was open to convicting the former president. On election night 2014, I promised Nebraskans Id always vote my conscience even if it was against the partisan stream, Mr. Sasse said in a statement. In my first speech here in the Senate in November 2015, I promised to speak out when a president  even of my own party  exceeds his or her powers. I cannot go back on my word, and Congress cannot lower our standards on such a grave matter, simply because it is politically convenient. Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania Mr. Toomey, 59, a senator since 2011, is not seeking re-election in 2022. He had denounced Mr. Trumps conduct; in a statement on Saturday, he said had decided during the trial that the former president deserved to be found guilty. I listened to the arguments on both sides, Mr. Toomey said, and I thought the arguments in favor of conviction were much stronger.

Democrats cited Trumps failure to halt the rioters in their summation. His lawyers accused them of impeachment lust. Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado, a House impeachment manager, preparing for the fifth day of former President Donald J. Trumps trial on Saturday. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times After days of calling out former President Donald J. Trump actions, House Democrats summed up their case by accusing him of impeachable inaction  his unwillingness to stop the mob that killed, maimed and clawed at the heart of American democracy in his name. Think for a moment, just a moment, of the lives lost that day  of the more than 140 wounded, said Representative Joe Neguse, Democrat of Colorado and one of the House impeachment managers. Ask yourself if, as soon as this had started, President Trump had simply gone onto TV, just logged onto Twitter, and said stop the attack. How many lives would we have saved? The Democrats tone throughout the accelerated trial, soft-spoken and emotional, represented a striking contrast with the angry, high-volume riposte of Mr. Trumps defense team whose fiery final argument was inspired, and perhaps instigated by, the former president. Senators, do not let House Democrats take this maniacal crusade any further, said Michael T. van der Veen, who emerged as the most outspoken member of Mr. Trumps legal team. You do not have to indulge the impeachment lust, the dishonesty, and the hypocrisy, added Mr. van der Veen, whose earlier statements prompted Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont, who presided over the trial, to call for civility on both sides. It is time to bring this unconstitutional political theater to an end. Even if acquittal seemed preordained throughout the long closing arguments on Saturday, exoneration did not; Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, called his not-guilty vote a close call, and many Republicans, while ultimately siding with Mr. Trumps arguments, seemed impressed by the evidence and empathy of the Democratic impeachment managers. Representative Jamie Raskin, who was grieving the recent suicide of his son Tommy, 25, at the time of attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, offered sympathy to the families of those hurt or killed as a result of the attack, a toll that includes the suicides of two police officers in the aftermath. We must recognize and exercise these crimes against our nation and then we must take care of our people and our children, their hearts and their minds, he said. As Tommy Raskin used to say, its hard to be human. Many of the Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers and guardsmen and women who were beaten up by the mob also have kids. The Democrats seemed to have a far more sophisticated understanding of the senatorial mind-set than Mr. Trumps team. In his summation, Mr. van der Veen implored senators, a group that prides itself on being steeped in history and conversant with the nations great documents, to read the Constitution. Mr. Neguse offered a barbed lecture of his own. But his was hidden in a reference to Mr. McConnells hero, a fellow Kentuckian, Representative John Sherman Cooper, who braved a political backlash to support civil rights legislation in the 1960s. Weve always risen to the occasion when it mattered the most, not by ignoring injustice or cowering to bullies and threats, but by doing the right thing, he said of Mr. Cooper. Glenn Thrush and

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After acquitting Trump, the Republican Party moves forward in his image. Despite being defeated in the election and impeached twice by the House, Donald J. Trump remains a potent political force in the Republican Party. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times During the first trial of Donald J. Trump, the former president commanded near-total fealty from his party. His conservative defenders were ardent and numerous, and Republican votes to convict him  for pressuring Ukraine to help him smear Joseph R. Biden Jr.  were virtually nonexistent. But this time, seven Republican senators voted with Democrats to convict Mr. Trump  the most bipartisan rebuke ever delivered in an impeachment process. Several others, including Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, intimated that Mr. Trump might deserve to face criminal prosecution. Mr. McConnell, speaking from the Senate floor after the vote, denounced Mr. Trumps unconscionable behavior and held him responsible for having given inspiration to lawlessness and violence. Yet Mr. McConnell had joined with the great majority of Republicans just minutes earlier to find Mr. Trump not guilty. The vote stands as a determinative moment for the party Mr. Trump molded into a cult of personality, one likely to leave a deep blemish in the historical record. Now that Republicans have passed up an opportunity to banish him through impeachment, it is not clear when  or how  they might go about transforming their party into something other than a vessel for a semiretired demagogue who was repudiated by a majority of voters. Yet Mr. Trump remains the dominant force in right-wing politics. Indeed, in a statement celebrating the Senate vote on Saturday, Mr. Trump declared that his political movement has only just begun. The lineup of Republicans who voted for conviction was, on its own, a statement on Mr. Trumps political grip on the party. Only Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is up for re-election next year, and she has survived grueling attacks from the right before. The remainder of the group included two lawmakers who are retiring  Senator Richard M. Burr of North Carolina and Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania  and three more who just won new terms in November and will not face voters again until the second half of the decade. In Washington, a quiet majority of Republican officials appears to be embracing the kind of wishful thinking that guided them throughout Mr. Trumps first campaign in 2016, and then through much of his presidency, insisting that he would soon be marginalized by his own outrageous conduct or that he would lack the discipline to make himself a durable political leader. Several seemed to be looking to the criminal justice system as a means of sidelining Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump is facing multiple investigations by the local authorities in Georgia and New York into his political and business dealings. Even in places where Mr. Trump retains a powerful following, there is a growing recognition that the partys loss of the White House and the Senate in 2020, and the House two years before that, did not come about by accident  and that simply campaigning as the Party of Trump is not likely to be sufficiently appealing to win back control of Congress next year.

Impeachment has provided the most comprehensive account to date of what happened on Jan. 6. Members of the pro-Trump mob swarm the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Credit... Jason Andrew for The New York Times The pure savagery of the mob that rampaged through the Capitol that day was breathtaking. One police officer lost an eye, another the tip of his finger. Still another was shocked so many times with a Taser gun that he had a heart attack. They suffered cracked ribs and multiple concussions. At least 81 members of the Capitol force and 65 members of the Metropolitan Police Department were injured, not even counting the officer killed that day or two others who later died by suicide. Some officers described it as worse than when they served in combat in Iraq. And through it all, President Donald J. Trump served as the inspiration if not the catalyst. Even as he addressed a rally beforehand, supporters could be heard on the video responding to him by shouting, Take the Capitol! Then they talked about calling the president at the White House to report on what they had done. If nothing else, the Senate impeachment trial has served at least one purpose: It stitched together the most comprehensive and chilling account to date of last months deadly assault on the Capitol. Yet for all the heart-pounding narrative of that day and the weeks leading up to it presented on the Senate floor, what was also striking after it was all over was how many questions remained unanswered on issues like the financing and leadership of the mob, the extent of the coordination with extremist groups, the breakdown in security and the failure in various quarters of the government to heed intelligence warnings of pending violence. And then, most especially, what the president was doing in the hours that the Capitol was being ransacked. The Trump camp has never provided a definitive and official account of the former presidents knowledge or actions during the attack. But advisers speaking on the condition of anonymity have told reporters that he was initially pleased, not disturbed, that his supporters had disrupted the election count and that he never reached out to Vice President Mike Pence to check on his safety even after Mr. Pence was evacuated from the Senate chamber. What really struck some senators, particularly the handful of Republicans open to conviction, is what Mr. Trump did next  or what he did not do. Despite pleas from Mr. McCarthy, other allies, key aides and his daughter Ivanka Trump, the president was still more focused on pressing his effort to block the election than coming to the aid of his vice president and Congress. Matthew Rosenberg , Mark Mazzetti and Michael S. Schmidt contributed reporting. Peter Baker and

A federal inquiry into the Capitol riot may keep damning details in the headlines for months. While the impeachment trial may be over, its hardly the last word on Trumps culpability in the assault on the Capitol. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times The Senates acquittal of former President Donald J. Trump at his second impeachment trial will hardly be the last or decisive word on his level of culpability in the assault on the Capitol last month. While the Justice Department officials examining the rash of crimes committed during the riot have signaled that they do not plan to make Mr. Trump a focus of the investigation, the volumes of evidence they are compiling may eventually give a clearer  and possibly more damning  picture of his role in the attack. Case files in the investigation have offered signs that many of the rioters believed, that they were answering Mr. Trumps call on Jan. 6. The inquiry has also offered evidence that some pro-Trump extremist groups, concerned about fraud in the election, may have conspired together to plan the insurrection. If this was a conspiracy, Trump was the leader, said Jonathan Zucker, the lawyer for Dominic Pezzola, a member of the far-right Proud Boys group who has been charged with obstructing police officers guarding the Capitol. As the sprawling investigation goes on  quite likely for months or even years  and newly unearthed evidence brings continual reminders of the riot, Mr. Trump may suffer further harm to his battered reputation, complicating any post-presidential ventures. Already, about a dozen suspects have explicitly blamed him for their part in the rampage  a number that will most likely rise as more arrests are made and legal strategies develop. Some defendants, court papers show, said they went to Washington because Mr. Trump encouraged them to do so, while others said they stormed the Capitol largely because of Mr. Trumps appeal to fight like hell to overturn the election. One man  charged with assaulting the police  accused the former president of being his accomplice: In recent court papers, he described Mr. Trump as a de facto unindicted co-conspirator in his case. Legal scholars have questioned the viability of faulting Mr. Trump in cases connected to the Capitol attack, noting that defendants would have to prove not only that they believed he authorized their actions, but also that such a belief was reasonable. The efforts to blame Mr. Trump are, of course, a calculated legal defense and may not work to exonerate them of crimes committed at the Capitol, even if they were inspired by Mr. Trumps words. Alan Feuer and

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What we know about Trumps calls to Republicans as rioters marauded through the Capitol. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaking at a news conference earlier this month. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times The back-and-forth in the Senate on Saturday over calling witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump put a spotlight on the former presidents calls to Republican allies as the rampage unfolded, leaving his vice president, Mike Pence, scrambling for safety. Republicans and Democrats have sparred over the details. Heres what we know so far: Mr. Trump sided with protesters in a call to Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the minority leader, according to a Republican congresswoman. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, Republican of Washington, confirmed late Friday evening that Mr. McCarthy told her that Mr. Trump said in a phone call during the rampage that the rioters were more upset about the election than Mr. McCarthy was. Why it matters: If her account, which the prosecutors and defense team agreed on Saturday to admit as evidence, is accurate, the call would disprove the core of Mr. Trumps defense  that he pleaded for peaceful protest. It would also suggest that Mr. Trumps failure to stop the violence was a calculated choice, and a result of his belief that the rioters were aiding in his effort to overturn the election. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said he told Mr. Trump that Mr. Pence was in danger. Mr. Tuberville, a staunch Trump supporter elected to represent Alabama in 2020, told reporters last week that Mr. Trump called him at the height of the riot, and that he informed the president that the Secret Service had just taken the vice president out of the Capitol to save him from the mob. When asked how Mr. Trump reacted to the news, the former Auburn football coach told reporters on Friday, I dont remember. Why it matters: Mr. Trumps defense team has claimed the president did not know Mr. Pence was in danger, without specifying a timeline of when he found out. On Friday, one of Mr. Trump lawyers, Michael T. van der Veen, called the account of Mr. Tuberville  one of Mr. Trumps most dogged defenders  hearsay, likening it to a rumor overheard the night before at a bar somewhere. Senator Mike Lee of Utah turned over evidence establishing the exact time of Mr. Trumps call to Mr. Tuberville at 2:26 p.m. Mr. Trump mistakenly called Mr. Lee, a Trump ally from Utah, when he was trying to track down Mr. Tuberville. On Saturday, Mr. Lee gave lawyers on both sides a copy of a log of his cellphone calls  and forcefully repeated his claim that Mr. Trump was calling Mr. Tuberville and not him. Why it matters: Two minutes before the call, at 2:24 p.m., Mr. Trump attacked Mr. Pence on Twitter for not having the courage to do what should have been done. At 2:39 p.m.  about 10 minutes after Mr. Tuberville told him of the dire plight of Mr. Pence and lawmakers  Mr. Trump finally asked his followers to behave in a peaceful way. He did not explicitly ask them to leave the building until he posted a video doing so at 4:17 p.m.

Georgia prosecutors will scrutinize Trump allies like Graham and Giuliani. Anything that is relevant to attempts to interfere with the Georgia election will be subject to review, said Fani T. Willis, the top prosecutor in Fulton County, Ga. Credit... Nicole Craine for The New York Times Fani T. Willis, the top prosecutor in Fulton County, Ga., is targeting former President Donald J. Trump and a range of his allies in her newly announced investigation into election interference. Ms. Willis and her office have indicated that the investigation, which she revealed this week, will include Senator Lindsey Grahams November phone call to Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state, about mail-in ballots; the abrupt removal last month of Byung J. Pak, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, who earned Mr. Trumps enmity for not advancing his debunked assertions about election fraud; and the false claims that Rudolph W. Giuliani, the presidents personal lawyer, made before state legislative committees. An investigation is like an onion, Ms. Willis told The New York Times in an interview. You never know. You pull something back, and then you find something else. She added, Anything that is relevant to attempts to interfere with the Georgia election will be subject to review. Kevin Bishop, a spokesman for Mr. Graham, said that he had not had any contact with Ms. Williss office. The Washington Post first reported that the probe would include Mr. Grahams phone call. Mr. Giuliani did not respond to a request for comment. Jason Miller, a spokesman for Mr. Trump, has called the Georgia investigation the Democrats latest attempt to score political points. The activity of Mr. Trump is central to the Georgia inquiry, particularly his call last month to Mr. Raffensperger, during which Mr. Trump asked him to find votes to erase the former presidents loss in the state. Ms. Willis, whose jurisdiction encompasses much of Atlanta, laid out an array of possible criminal charges in recent letters to state officials and agencies asking them to preserve documents, providing a partial map of the potential exposure of Mr. Trump and his allies. Mr. Trumps calls to state officials urging them to subvert the election, for instance, could run afoul of a Georgia statute dealing with criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, one of the charges outlined in the letters. If that charge is prosecuted as a felony, it is punishable by at least a year in prison. Ms. Willis, 49, is a veteran prosecutor who has carved out a centrist record. She said in the interview that her decision to proceed with the investigation is really not a choice  to me, its an obligation. Each D.A. in the country has a certain jurisdiction that theyre responsible for, she added. If an alleged crime happens within their jurisdiction, I think they have a duty to investigate it.

Van der Veen, a Trump lawyer, erupts at Democrats, drawing a call for civil discourse. Michael van der Veen, one of former President Donald Trumps defense lawyers, has taken an aggressive tack during the impeachment trial. Credit... Brandon Bell for The New York Times On Saturday morning, the Senate echoed with what had become, by Day 5 of former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial, a familiar sound: the raised voice of Mr. Trumps most combative and animated defense lawyer, Michael T. van der Veen. Mr. van der Veen erupted after House impeachment managers made a last-minute request to call a Republican congresswoman, Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, as a witness  via video call  after she claimed knowledge of statements by Mr. Trump in which he sided with the mob that attacked the Capitol. The exchange became so heated that the trials presiding officer, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, admonished Mr. van der Veen and others to observe the chambers rules of decorum. The scolding came shortly after Mr. Leahy had issued a similar warning when Democrats laughed at the defense lawyer. The testy back-and-forth on Saturday came when Mr. van der Veen argued  in a tone that at times neared shouting  that Democrats had broken a pledge to wrap up the trial, followed by a threat to call top figures in the party to testify in person. There are a lot of depositions that need to happen, he said. Nancy Pelosis deposition needs to be taken. Vice President Harriss deposition absolutely needs to be taken. And not by Zoom. None of these depositions should be done by Zoom. These depositions should be done in person, in my office, in Philadelphia, added Mr. van der Veen, a personal injury lawyer, who pronounced the name of his hometown with a distinct Philadelphia accent. At that point, several senators began snickering audibly. I would remind everybody that we will have order in the chamber during these proceedings, Mr. Leahy said. I havent laughed at any of you, and theres nothing laughable here, Mr. van der Veen interjected angrily. A few moments later, he accused Democrats of cutting a back-room deal and went on to question their integrity. They have completely violated and ignored and stepped on the Constitution of the United States, he said. They have trampled on it like people who have no respect for it. At that point, Mr. Leahy leaned into the microphone at the presiding officers desk, with its commanding view of the Senate floor, and said, All parties in this chamber must refrain from using language that is not conducive to civil discourse. It was not the first time Mr. Leahy had to intervene to rein in Mr. van der Veen. On Friday, he called for order after a testy exchange between the lawyer and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont nearly devolved into a shouting match. On Saturday, after the Senate voted to allow witnesses, Mr. van der Veen got worked up again. That time, however, he reached for calm. Let me take my own advice, he said, and cool the temperature in the room a little bit.

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As many as one crore Indians shifted to OTTs last year.

The video streaming space has a new trend--platforms offering content in just one language. Interestingly, these platforms also have many takers.

Take the example of Telugu over the top (OTT) aha which completed one year of launch on February 8. In a year, the platform got on board as many as 10 lakh paid subscribers.

"Digital media is all about personalisation and language is one sharp edge," Ajit Thakur, CEO, aha, told Moneycontrol.

Despite being priced at par with other platforms that are offering more languages and catchup content, aha which is offering content in just one language has got strong traction, he said.

"Every parameter we thought of we are 2-3x of that. It's telling us the power of extreme localisation when it comes to content," added Thakur.

It's not just aha's success that shows the growth of platforms offering content in one language. Hoichoi, a Bengali OTT which was launched in 2017 is doing wonders in this space.

In three years of its launch, the platform has amassed a subscriber base of 1.3 crore.

Compare this with other national players, Disney+Hotstar has around 86.3 lakh paid subscribers, Amazon Prime Video is estimated to have 44 lakh paid users and Netflix has around 40 lakh subscribers in India.

Be it Hoichoi or aha, users have shown interest because of the content these platforms are offering. Aha for example has plans to add more than 50 originals this year.

"We have launched three original films in December, two films in January. We have big shows from Tamannaah (Bhatia), Rana Daggubati coming soon on the platform. We plan to lunch one original film or show every week," said Thakur.

Last year, aha had also launched a talk show hosted by actress Samantha Akkineni which received a lot of traction among viewers.

"Sam Jam recorded 100 million minutes plus viewing and 10 million play," pointed out Thakur.

In addition to shows, the platform will focus on acquiring films.

"Focus on acquisition will not go away. What changes here is that we were earlier saying that we were getting small to medium size films now we will get big films as well. We can afford to buy bigger films. There are three big announcements which are expected soon. One such announcement is the release of Sai Pallavi's Love Story is coming on aha after theatrical release," shared Thakur.

Aha has also acquired Ravi Teja's Krack.

Along with viewers in India, both Hoichoi and aha are finding strong traction in international markets.

For Hoichoi, big markets include Bangladesh, the UK, the US and even the Middle East, Australia and Canada.

Even aha, which is available in more than 90 countries, is seeing good growth internationally especially in the US market.

"We started focusing on the US since last Diwali. From 1,000 subscribers, we are now seeing 15,000 subscribers in three months since we launched in the US. After that we are now focusing on Canada, Australia and the UK," said. Thakur.

Aha and Hoichoi's growth is setting the stage for OTTs that are offering content in a single language like Planet Marathi, a Marathi OTT.

Egypts Judges Club was founded in 1939, but it was 70 years ago, in 1951, that the club opened its present headquarters in downtown Cairo in a celebration attended by Egypts former King Farouk.

Chancellor Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen presides over Egypts Judges Club.

This is the second tenure for Abdel-Mohsen after he was re-elected for the position by his fellow judges.

Abdel-Mohsen, who is also one of the deputies to the head of Egypts Court of Cassation, speaks to Ahram Online about the independence of the judiciary, judicial immunity, and attacks orchestrated by channels of evil on the platforms of justice, given that it is one of the countrys institutional pillars.

Ahram Online: How did the Judges Club come into being?

Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen: On 10 February 1939, a meeting was held to convene a Constituent General Assembly. Judges present at the meeting agreed to establish a club to bolster the bond of brotherhood and solidarity between judges.

The bylaws of the clubs statute were drafted and a board was formed with the chairmanship of Mahmoud Fahmy Youssef Pasha, the head of the Egyptian Court of Appeals at the time. The club was officially inaugurated by King Farouk on 10 February 1951.

AO: Is the Egyptian judiciary independent enough?

MA: The independence of the judiciary and judicial immunity, as stated in international covenants, are not a gift to judges. They are rather two basic guarantees to ensure the submission of every individual and entity, including the state, to the rule of law and to protect rights and freedoms.

The basic principle is that the judiciary is independent, and any violation of this principle, every interference in the work of the judiciary on the part of the other two government authorities or public opinion, or compromising its integrity, inevitably breaches the balance of justice and undermines the foundations of judgement.

That the judge carries on his mission freely, independently, reassured, and feeling safe about his fate is the greatest guarantee for both the ruler and the layman.

The true independence of the judiciary requires that all its affairs be managed in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and by the judges themselves.

AO: Where does the Judges Club stand on criticisms directed to the Egyptian judicial system by some international organisations over certain issues?

MA: Criticisms directed by some organisations and countries are focused on two types of cases: those related to the death penalty; and others concerning freedoms. If we assume these parties have good intentions  which is debatable in some cases  we refer it back to differing concepts or false or incomplete information.

As far as the death penalties are concerned, most of the objections to death sentences stem from the fact that this punishment is not acknowledged in the legislation of some of these countries. In Egypt, the death penalty is approved by Sharia and the law. In some instances, the international organisations are not aware of the guarantees in Egyptian law that are implemented before the penalty is executed.

The judje's chamber has to unanimously approve the death sentence. Then the grand mufti is consulted on the legality of the ruling. After that, the prosecution is mandated to appeal the ruling, which is then reviewed by the Court of Cassation. These are all sufficient steps before such a heavy punishment is enforced.

The second type is concerned with freedoms. In addition to the fact that they [some countries and international organisations] are accustomed to double standards in this matter, Egypt is targeted by domestic and foreign terrorism.

Egypt prioritises their security and stability in a manner that does not violate the rights and freedoms of their citizens.

Egypts constitution and laws include many guarantees of human rights, while judicial rulings established many of them and have distinguished between what is a right and what is not.

However, Egypt, like other countries, still needs more regulations and practices that ensure greater activation of these guarantees in a civilised manner and under acceptable conditions that do not harm the stability of the nation.

In all cases, the Egyptian state should respond to these criticisms. The Judges Club also responds with a detailed statement in a timely manner.

However, we hope that the response will be institutionalised and in coordination between all concerned parties in order to achieve the goal of clarifying the image and refuting claims.

AO: What do you think about media outlets that debate judicial rulings?

MA: According to the law, there should not be any comments on judicial rulings. Provisions can be criticised through appeals or through legal analysis after they have become final with the aim of study and research. Other than that, debating judgments is considered an attempt to affect the proper course of justice, which is criminalised by law.

AO: Do judges get upset when they or the judicial system is criticised?

MA: We are never upset when we hear constructive criticism. After all, we are human beings and we may err. But what truly makes us upset is the criticism that maliciously targets the judges and the judiciary.

AO: Some people believe that judges are a privileged group in society, for whom the state provides many benefits, such as immunity, salaries that reach or exceed the maximum wage, medical treatment at the state's expense at home and abroad, and free transportation.

MA: This is not true. It is because judges commit to silence that these rumours are fabricated about them. I challenge anyone to prove a judge has ever benefited from immunity. On the contrary, immunity is a basic guarantee to the litigants, not the judges, because it is a judges guarantor to administer justice without fearing anyone but God.

As for the judges salaries, which are frequently discussed [in the media], they do not in any way exceed half of the maximum wage in Egypt. The judges pay from their salaries for their transportation and residence and buy legal books and references.

It is also not true that judges are medically treated at the states expense, although naturally they should be, being a stratum of the social fabric after all. But in fact, judges receive medical treatment through the Ministry of Justices Healthcare Services Fund, which is based on subscriptions made by judges. However, due to the lack of finances in this fund, the Judges Club set up an additional fund to cover the treatment of cases the Healthcare Services Fund cannot afford to pay for.

Furthermore, based on the nature of their occupation, judges travel a lot and the majority of them work in a city different than where they reside. In transportation, judges either use their private vehicles or public transport, which are paid for in advance from the budget of the judicial authority.

AO: The general public believe positions in the judiciary are passed on like an inheritance. Is this true?

MA: I have frequently heard this question. Maybe people do not know that according to the law, there are certain conditions that should be met before the appointment of a judge. If a judges son meets all the conditions, should he be banned from working in the judiciary? I challenge anyone to prove that the appointed sons of judges do not meet all the criteria. The majority of sons of judges have earned high scores to be qualified to work in the judiciary.

In addition, it is the Supreme Judicial Council that selects the judges to be appointed based on several criteria, including university score and place of residence.

AO: What do you think is the Egyptian publics perception of the judiciary?

MA: We believe the majority of Egyptians trust the judicial system, and we endeavour to boost this trust. It is also not true that judges keep away from the people. The truth is, a host of judicial traditions and values govern the life of a judge, including not getting involved in many social relationships lest they one day they affect a judges impartiality, which is a basic element to achieve justice.

AO: Are judges held accountable?

MA: Of course, there is accountability for judges and it is even more severe than for any other party. Suspicion, not proof, can condemn judges. They are held accountable according to standards set by the judicial inspection for accountability, whether from a professional or behavioural point of view.

AO: What is the relationship between the Judges Club and the state?

MA: The judiciary has always been respected by the state. Channels of communication are open with the state and the relationship is governed by amicability and mutual respect, with all state institutions, to achieve public interests and help judges on their mission in a manner that preserves their dignity.

AO: When do the judges rise up in anger?

MA: Egypts judges have never demanded more than legitimate rights to achieve the independence of the judiciary, preserve their dignity, and receive the things that guarantee them a decent life that help them fulfil their noble mission of achieving justice. In making their demands, judges always abide by the law and prioritise public interest. They follow legitimate means to defend their rights, and they only speak out loud when the official channels turn a deaf ear.

AO: Some media outlets and news websites reported recently on a conflict between judges regarding laws governing the judiciary. Do judges sometimes refrain from applying the law?

MA: Egypt is a state of institutions and it is governed by the rule of law, and no authority can violate the law or object to its implementation. These malicious websites aimed to slander and undermine the judiciary.

These are the channels of evil that hate Egypt and its judiciary. As is their habit, they misuse some situations and take sentences out of their context to stir public opinion.

In a timely fashion, we respond to these evil voices. It is important to reiterate that these channels lies will not discourage the honourable people of this great nation from serious and purposeful dialogue for what is in the public good of the nation.

AO: What is the relationship between the Judges Club, the Supreme Judicial Council and the justice minister?

MA: The esteemed Supreme Judicial Council regulates the affairs of the judiciary in Egypt. The minister of justice is a distinguished judicial authority and has an honourable history in the judiciary, and is a competent statesman. He is a young man with a developed intellect and an enlightened vision. The Judges Club is supported by the council and the minister, and there is constant effective coordination between the three bodies to serve the nation and the judiciary.

AO: But you have always demanded the necessity to amend the Judicial Authority Law, and to transfer the judicial inspection subordination from the Ministry of Justice to the Supreme Judicial Council.

MA: Indeed, we have, and we will keep on requesting that this demand be fulfilled. We will insist on amending several articles in the Judicial Authority Law to ensure swift justice and the independence of the judiciary. This matter has nothing to do with our confidence in the minister of justice and our colleagues in judicial inspection. However, these are guarantees stipulated in international conventions for the independence of the judiciary.

AO: When will the Judicial Authority Law be amended?

MA: When all parties are fully convinced of the importance of amending the law for the sake of the independence of the judiciary and for the proper functioning of justice, preserving the international status of the Egyptian judiciary and advancing economic development. We hope the bill will see the light of day in the new parliament.

AO: Demands abound to achieve prompt justice. Who is responsible for achieving it, and when and how can it be achieved?

MA: Prompt justice means issuing judgements quickly without breaching the guarantees of litigation. Unfortunately, we have not yet reached this stage in Egypt. Putting the responsibility for the slow litigation completely on the shoulders of the judiciary is not fair. There are many factors that result in the slow issuing of judgements, factors in which all state institutions take part.

Honestly, we do need prompt justice, because slow justice is close to injustice. The options suggested so far, such as amending some articles, have not been studied well and will not achieve the purpose.

The solution, from our point of view, is for the political leadership to order that every authority bears its responsibility within the framework of a strategic plan sponsored by the state, and we, on our part, have an integrated strategic plan for the development of the justice system that deserves to be taken into account when preparing any future plans in this regard.

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News Of The World

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Notwithstanding his iconic voice performance as Woody, the cowboy doll in the Toy Story films, Tom Hanks has never made a western. Nor has Paul Greengrass, come to that; less surprising given that the British director was born in Surrey.

But now the two have joined forces to put that right, and the result is very good indeed. Despite the presence of at least one excellent chase and shoot-out and some well-maintained tension (both Greengrass trademarks), News Of The World feels like a film in which Hanks had the upper creative hand.

In other words, a good mans gotta do what a good mans gotta do.

Tom Hanks is as watchable as ever and Helena Zengel (above, with Hanks) terrific as the girl. Highly recommended

Here that good man is Captain Jefferson Kidd, a Civil War veteran who travels from Texan town to Texan town, reading items from the newspapers to townsfolk too poor, busy or illiterate to do it for themselves.

Until one day he stumbles across a racist lynching, which has left a black cavalryman dead and a small blonde girl frightened and alone. Turns out she was kidnapped by Kiowa Native Americans, raised by them and doesnt speak a word of English.

The dead cavalryman was supposed to be taking her to her aunt and uncle, but now someone else is clearly going to have to do it. Cant think who that might be...

Hanks is as watchable as ever and Helena Zengel terrific as the girl. Highly recommended.

Kristen Wiig had an unexpected recent success as Diana Princes main adversary in Wonder Woman 1984. Now the Bridesmaids star is returning to her comic roots with Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, which feels like a spin-off from a Saturday Night Live sketch but is, in fact, an original piece of writing by Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who co-wrote Bridesmaids together and co-star here.

Its shrill, loud and pretty bonkers, with two recently redundant, middle-aged saleswomen arriving in the Florida resort of the title... just as an evil female megalomaniac attempts to wipe out the town with the help of radio-controlled mosquitoes.

Thankfully, it gets funnier as it gets both ruder and sillier.
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.

One male was killed and another was injured in a double shooting Saturday afternoon in Central City, the New Orleans Police Department said.

The gunfire was reported at 5:08 p.m. near Washington and Loyola avenues, an intersection cornered by two cemeteries. One male died at the scene, and the other was taken to a hospital in stable condition with a gunshot wound in what police described as the "lower extremity."

Police had initially said three people were shot, but they changed the number at 6:16 p.m.

The Police Department did not immediately release information on the victim's ages, the motive for the shooting or suspects.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect number of cemeteries at Washington and Loyola avenues.
For years, crappie have been a mainstay for anglers heading to this popular 18,900-acre Southern Illinois lake. Phenomenal catches of quality crappie have been reported throughout the entire year.

This year, anglers will find their crappie fishing much the same. According to reservoirs biologist Shawn Hirst, he says the size structure of the crappie population has stayed the same over the last two years.

The percentage of crappie greater than ten inches in length is at a high level since pre-regulation (23 years ago), he said. The fishing prospects for crappie remain excellent for the coming year.

The 2020 catch rate for crappie, according to Hirst, was just below the five-year average catch rate of 73 fish/net. Thirty percent of the crappie collected during the netting survey were over ten-inches in length during the same time period.

He says data from the 2020 trap net survey show another 10 percent of crappie population was comprised of fish nine to ten-inches in length.

Hirst feels the length and creel regulations enacted in 2002 have had a significant impact on the size structure of the population. In the 20-or-so years since the regulations went into effect, the crappie population improved dramatically and remained stable.

In spite of this, Hirst says crappie measuring ten-to-12-inches will still be abundant enough to provide some quality angling opportunities. Slightly smaller crappie are also abundant, and will also contribute to the creel.

But, the news regarding other species is not all that bad either. The fishing prospects for channel catfish remain excellent for the coming year. Natural reproduction and recruitment continue to be very strong, and are responsible for maintaining the large population of fish in the lake.

And, the number of white bass collected in the fall 2020 electrofishing survey rose, It was the highest catch rate ever. He says reproduction was good and the remaining years, and white bass fishing was very good in the fall of 2020.

He feels this trend should continue into 2021 and for the next few years

Bluegill anglers will find this population has stabilized and remains almost identical to last year. Hirsts says bluegill will remain abundant in the coming year.

Bass anglers, too, should find good action this year. While the size structure of the bass population has remained the same the past year, data from the most recent population survey show all population indices still remained within the target goals and the condition of all sizes of fish is excellent

Currently most of the adult bass population exceeds the 14-inch minimum length limit, he added. Bass fishing in the coming year should be similar to 2020.
Hundreds of Thousands Without Power in Northwest Ice Storm

LAKE OSWEGOA winter storm blanketed the Pacific Northwest with ice and snow Saturday, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power and disrupting travel across the region.

Freezing rain left roads, power lines and trees coated in ice in the Portland, Oregon, region, and by Saturday morning more than 270,000 people were without power. The extreme conditions, loss of power and transportation problems prompted Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to declare a state of emergency Saturday afternoon.

Crews are out in full force now and are coordinating with local emergency response teams on communications for emergency services, such as warming centers, Brown said in a statement. Im committed to making state resources available to ensure crews have the resources they need on the ground.

People walk by a collapsed tree in Lake Oswego, Ore. on Feb. 13, 2021. (Gillian Flaccus/ AP Photo)

Winter storms and extreme cold affected much of the western U.S., particularly endangering homeless communities. Volunteers and shelter staffers were trying to ensure homeless residents in Casper, Wyoming, were indoors as the National Weather Service warned of wind chill reaching as much as 35 degrees below zero over the weekend. Authorities in western Washington and western Oregon opened warming shelters in an effort to protect homeless residents from the wet and cold.

The power outages in the Portland region could extend throughout the weekend for some, said Elizabeth Lattanner, a spokeswoman for PGE, one of the major electricity providers in the region.

In storms like these, restoration takes time given all of the challenges our crews face in getting to restoration sites and repairing those outages, Lattanner said. We have more than 600 PGE and contract personnel responding to the storm  its all hands on deck.

Many ice-laden trees snapped under the weight, falling on power lines and causing transformers to blow out in showers of blue and orange sparks. By noon Saturday, more than 1,200 PGE power lines were down, Lattanner said.

Brian Zevenbergen watched Saturday as a crew sawed up two large, ice-covered trees that had crashed across his driveway overnight, narrowly missing two cars parked there. His house in Lake Owego had also lost power overnight. Just around the corner, another massive tree blocked the street in the suburb south of Portland and had taken out a city street light.

Last night, everything was standing, and this morning the two trees had me blocked in the driveway and were blocking at least half the street, he said. Friends on the lower levels have power so I have invites to go hang out there.

The ice and lost power didnt stop children from rejoicing at a second straight day of sledding in a place that rarely sees sustained snowfall. Residents blocked streets with cones and shooed snowplows away so kids could sled down ice-slicked hills.

Samuel Braun, 6, let his dad, Dave, take the brunt of the frozen powder while sledding in the snowfall in Walla Walla, Wash. on Feb. 12, 2021. (Greg Lehman/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin via AP)

The ice and snowfall caused treacherous driving conditions, forcing Oregon transportation officials to close Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge, and the regional transit agency TriMet suspended all bus and train service in the region.

TriMet spokesperson Tia York asked people to avoid all travel unless its an emergency. It is too dangerous out there, York wrote in a statement.

Police in Salem, Oregon, also warned residents in Marion and Polk counties to watch for downed power lines and falling tree limbs, and the Oregon State Police said fallen trees blocked several roads across the region.

Some Washington state residents were also socked in by the weather, with snow falling throughout the Seattle region on Saturday morning and freezing rain falling along the coast in Grays Harbor County. The city of Seattle activated its Emergency Operations Center Saturday morning to coordinate the citys winter storm response.

Heavy snowfall also led to dangerous driving conditions in parts of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho, with Malheur County, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho, expected to get as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow by Saturday afternoon.

The National Weather Service said all three states should brace for another surge of winter moisture to hit the Northwest Sunday night, potentially leading to more heavy snowfall through Monday. The unsettled winter conditions would likely continue throughout the week, the National Weather Service said Saturday morning.

Western Washington was expected to get an additional 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) of snow on Saturday, with another 2 inches (5 cm) possible on Sunday and Monday. Rain falling on accumulated snow raised the possibility of urban flooding happening Sunday night or Monday in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Traffic makes its way down a snow-covered stretch of East Front Street near downtown Port Angeles, Wash., on Feb. 13, 2021. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News/AP)

The heavy snow made for dangerous avalanche conditions in the many areas across the Olympics and Cascades mountain ranges, with large avalanches possible. Officials with the Payette Avalanche Center in west-central Idaho also warned of increasing avalanche risk in the days ahead.

Idahos neighbors to the east were blasted by brutally frigid weather, with the National Weather Service warning of dangerous wind chills in Montana and Wyoming. The wind chills were expected to reach as low as 50 degrees below zero in Billings and near Missoula, Montana, and nearly as low across parts of Wyoming.

Wind chills that low can cause frostbite on exposed skin in just a few minutes. The bitter cold was expected to last throughout the weekend.

The National Weather Service warned that the wind chill could be dangerous for pets and young livestock, at a time when calving season is beginning for many cattle ranchers.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center also warned of dangerous avalanche conditions in zones around Apsen, Steamboat and Flat Tops, Grand Mesa and Gunnison. Frigid temperatures with lows below zero were expected to last through Monday morning in Denver and across the Colorado plains, according to the the National Weather Service.

By Gillian Flaccus and Rebecca Boone
According to information published by the U.S. Navy on February 13, 2021, the Italian Navy flagship, the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550), arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. on February 13, 2021, for a series of operations alongside U.S. military assets to attain the Italian Navys Ready for Operations certification to safely land and launch F-35B aircraft.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on February 13, 2021, the Italian Navy flagship, the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550), arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. on February 13, 2021, for a series of operations alongside U.S. military assets to attain the Italian Navys Ready for Operations certification to safely land and launch F-35B aircraft.

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U.S. Sailors, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), greet the Italian Navy flagship, aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550), as it arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, February 13, 2021. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

While in the Western Atlantic, Cavour will be embarked by an F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) test team to conduct sea trials, a series of tests and functional activities to create a safe flight operating envelope for the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the 5th generation aircraft aboard the recently upgraded ship.

This carrier-based flight test and other actions with U.S. 2nd Fleet ships and aircraft improve interoperability and strengthen the relationship between the two NATO Allies.



While crossing the Atlantic from Italy, ITS Cavour was met by the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) and conducted a three-day interoperability exercise with support from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 and Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) 11. Specific events included integrated ship maneuvering, low-slow-flyer detect-to-engage, anti-surface warfare serials with P-8 participation, air defense/air intercept control event with F/A-18 participation, and C5I interoperability events in the Western Atlantic 10-12 February 2021.



In January 2021, U.S. pilots with the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO THREE (VX-23), have conducted day-into-night training in an F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant aircraft from the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Wednesday. These workup testing and training flights were integral to preparing pilots for the ITF test teams detachment to the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Cavour scheduled between February and March 2021.



The F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) team from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (NAS PAX River) comprises almost 200 people with the engineering and test pilot expertise and experience to conduct F-35B envelope expansion flight test, two specially instrumented developmental flight test aircraft, and support equipment.



The Cavour is an aircraft carrier in service with the Italian Navy launched in 2004. The ship was laid down by the Italian company Fincantieri in June 2001 and launched on July 2004. The ship was designed to combine fixed wing V/STOL (Vertical and/or Short Take-Off and Landing) and helicopter air operations, command and control operations, and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy vehicles. In December 2018, the Italian aircraft carrier undergoes a modernization plan including a metallic reinforcement of the flight deck to withstand the thermodynamic impact of the F-35B aircraft. The ship is able to carry ten F-35Bs in the hangar, and six more parked on deck.



Italy plans to buy a total of 90 f-35 fighter jets. Since June 2020, Italy has currently taken delivery of 15 F-35 aircraft including 12 F-35As and three F-35Bs. The F-35B Lightning II is the Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter F-35 and features a vertical lift fan and pivoting engine nozzle to deliver vertical landing and short takeoff capability to expeditionary airfields. The fighter can be used on an aircraft carrier as well as landing helicopter assault (LHA) type amphibious assault ships.
A periodical devoted to the study of a long-dead European music theorist is an unlikely suspect to spark an explosive battle over race and free speech.

But the tiny Journal of Schenkerian Studies, with a paid circulation of about 30 copies an issue per year, has ignited a fiery reckoning over race and the limits of academic free speech, along with whiffs of a generational struggle. The battle threatens to consume the career of Timothy Jackson, a 62-year-old music theory professor at the University of North Texas, and led to calls to dissolve the journal.

It also prompted Professor Jackson to file an unusual lawsuit charging the university with violating his First Amendment rights  while accusing his critics of defamation.

This tale began in the autumn of 2019 when Philip Ewell, a Black music theory professor at Hunter College, addressed the Society for Music Theory in Columbus, Ohio. He described music theory as dominated by white males and beset by racism. He held up the theorist Heinrich Schenker, who died in Austria in 1935, as an exemplar of that flawed world, a virulent racist who wrote of primitive and inferior races  views, he argued, that suffused his theories of music.
Bexar County Sheriffs deputies and a local wildlife shelter rescued a tiger Saturday that was being held in a makeshift cage in Southwest Bexar County.

Deputies found the tiger outside a home in the 18200 block of Primo Street around 5:41 p.m. after a neighbor reported that they were hearing what sounded like a crying tiger, Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

The tiger had been declawed and was wearing a harness inside the small cage, he said. Temperatures Saturday evening were below freezing with blistering windchill.

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It goes without saying that possessing an exotic animal like that is dangerous in and of itself, but then further exposing that animal to freezing temperatures, thats just as inhumane as it gets, Salazar said at news conference Sunday.

Whether your animal is a dog, a cat, a rabbit, or a tiger in this case, they need to be cared for properly, and as we saw it, that tiger was not being cared for properly, he added.

Salazar said there are state and county ordinances that prohibit possession of large exotic animals like tigers. Deputies arrested the owner of the tiger, who was charged with a Class C misdemeanor. The owner could also be charged for animal cruelty, Salazar said.

The tiger, which appeared to be no more than 2 years old, was picked up by a wildlife shelter. It is not clear how the owner got the tiger, Salazar said.

Last week, Animal Care Services was investigating a report of a tiger cub in San Antonio. Salazar said the tiger rescued Saturday appeared to be larger than the cub and did not think it was the same one.

This was a pretty decent-sized cat, Salazar said. An animal like that just doesnt belong in a neighborhood or in a makeshift cage somebody made in their backyard.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon
Photo: (Photo : kat wilcox from Pexels)

A San Antonio mom looks for answers after her son got shot to death.

Teresa Gutierrez is still trying to figure out how his son died. Rudy Soto and his friend were found with gunshot wounds on an East Side Street.

According to reports, the son of the San Antonio mom was found last January 21, face down by police officers. Soto was only twenty years old.

ALSO READ: Orlando Mom Whose Toddler Was Killed in a Car Crash Creates a Foundation





The son was found dead.

Bases on a report by the San Antonio Express-News, a police officer was on his usual patrol at the 300 block of Fredonia Street when Rudy was found with his friend, Rudy Lopez, on the other side of the road.

The police officer who saw the two thought that Soto and Lopez only passed out or sustained injuries. However, after honking on the two many times, they did not budge and stayed lying on the street.

According to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office, Soto and Lopez died due to gunshot wounds.

Authorities also ruled the death of the two men as homicides.

Also, in the report made by the police, a resident told the cops that there are drug deals made in the area and that there are instances when possessions are stolen from back yards of households there.

According to family members of Soto, the car of the 20-year-old man was nowhere to be found. Soto purchased this car a few days ago.

ALSO READ: Mother and Baby Found Dead in Texas; Mom's Womb Was Cut Open

The San Antonio mom looks for answers.

The police report was released last Wednesday, but authorities have not yet identified who the suspects are.

Although the cause of death was listed on the police report, there were no details why Soto and Lopez were on that street.

The San Antonio mom said, "We really don't know why he was over there."

Gutierrez does not speak English and only communicates through Spanish. During the interview with San Antonio Express-News, she cried while narrating how she felt when she heard the news about her son.

It was the San Antonio mom's two daughters who told her about what happened to Soto.

ALSO READ: 3 Family Members Found Dead Near Edmonton: A Possible Murder-Suicide Case





The son's previous life

According to the family, Soto is a hardworking person. The San Antonio mom said, "He was a good person, and he was always attached to me."

However, last year, Soto ran into trouble with family members. There was also an instance when Soto and his ex-girlfriend had an argument that became physical.

Despite these instances, Gutierrez does not think this is connected to his son's death.

The San Antonio mom also does believe that her son is connected to any gang activity.

The death of Soto is still very painful to the family, especially because they do not know what happened to him.

ALSO READ: Mother Cannot See Her Sons Who Are in Death Row
(CNN)  Amazon is waging a legal battle with New York's attorney general over the company's Covid-19 protections for workers, filing a federal lawsuit to preempt the state's demands for more safety measures.

In a complaint Friday, Amazon rejected an earlier conclusion by New York Attorney General Letitia James finding that the company had fallen short of health and safety standards at the company's warehouses and calling for additional redress. The complaint asks a judge to block James from using state law to enforce her requests, which include calls for Amazon to subsidize public transit and hire a health and safety consultant.

Describing James's requests as "exorbitant demands," Amazon argued in the filing that its existing protections for workers "far exceed what is required under the law" and "go well beyond measures that the Office of the New York Attorney General (OAG') has deemed comprehensive."

Amazon cited the company's temperature screening policy, signs advising social distancing, and staggering employee shifts at its Staten Island facility as some examples of how it has gone above and beyond. An inspection by the city's own sheriff's office, Amazon said, found "absolutely no areas of concern."

Critics of the company, including a number of its own employees, have said Amazon was slow to address the risks the coronavirus posed to frontline workers. Amazon did not announce temperature screenings, for example, until after numerous reports of illnesses and outbreaks at Amazon facilities nationwide.

Amazon has faced several employee lawsuits over its Covid response. Christian Smalls, an employee at the Staten Island facility who was fired after organizing a protest over the plant's Covid-19 response, has worked with James on her investigation, and filed his own lawsuit against the company last year. (Amazon has said Smalls was fired for violating the terms of a Covid quarantine.) Another suit on similar issues has been tossed out by a judge.

Now, Amazon's lawsuit reflects how the company is going on the offensive.

"The OAG has now threatened to sue Amazon if it does not immediately agree to a list of demands, many of which have no connection to health and safety and have no factual or legal basis," Friday's complaint said. "Among other things, the OAG has demanded that Amazon 'disgorge' profits, subsidize public bus service, reduce its production speeds and performance requirements, reinstate Mr. Smalls and pay large sums to Mr. Smalls and Mr. Palmer for 'emotional distress,' retain a health and safety consultant to oversee safety and production, and adopt safety-related policies it already implemented."

Amazon also alleged that federal workplace safety law should preempt James's invocation of state law.

In response to the lawsuit on Friday, James accused Amazon of making "a sad attempt to distract from the facts and shirk accountability for its failures to protect hardworking employees from a deadly virus."

"We will not be intimidated by anyone, especially corporate bullies that put profits over the health and safety of working people," she said in a statement. "We remain undeterred in our efforts to protect workers from exploitation and will continue to review all of our legal options."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Amazon wages legal battle with New York attorney general over pandemic safety response".
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has reacted sharply to the arrest of Disha Ravi, the 21-year-old activist from Bengaluru, for her alleged involvement in sharing the 'toolkit' related to the farmers' protests.

Tharoor shared a picture of disgraced J&K DSP Davinder Singh who is out on bail, saying, "Activists in jail while accused terrorists are on bail. Wondering how our authorities would commemorate this case on the anniversary of Pulwama attack? You have the answer in this pair of headlines," as he shared the news of arrest of the climate activist.

Disha Ravi is one of the founders of the 'Friday for Future' campaign and allegedly edited the 'toolkit' and forwarded it on social media. She was picked up from her house in Soladevanahalli area of Bengaluru on Saturday.

The Delhi Police had registered an FIR on February 4 on charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy and promoting hatred among groups under Sections 124-A, 120-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code against the "creators" of the 'toolkit', which was later shared by global climate activist Greta Thunberg.

According to the police, the unfolding of events during the farmers' protest on January 26, including the violence at the Red Fort, allegedly revealed copycat execution of the 'action plan' detailed in the 'toolkit'.

The police said that the intention of the creators appeared to create disharmony among various social, religious and cultural groups and encourage disaffection and ill-will against the central government and aimed at waging social, cultural and economic war against India.
United Nations : A 34-year-old Indian-origin employee at the UN has announced that she is running to be its next Secretary General, throwing her hat in the ring against the world organisations current chief Antonio Guterres, saying she refuses to be a bystander and it is now time for a new UN.

Arora Akanksha, whose work includes managing audits at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said she will run for the post of the worlds top diplomat.

People in my position arent supposed to stand up to the ones in charge. We are supposed to wait our turn, hop on the hamster wheel, go to work, keep our heads down and accept that the world is the way it is," Akanksha said in a two-and-a-half minute campaign video posted online.

The #AroraForSG campaign video shows Akanksha walking inside the sprawling UN headquarters, as her voice-over says that people who have come before her have failed to hold the UN accountable.

For 75 years, the UN has not fulfilled its promise to the world - refugees havent been protected, humanitarian aid has been minimal, and technology and innovation has been on the back-burner. We deserve a UN that leads progress," she said.

That is why I am running for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I refuse to be a bystander. I will not accept this is the best the UN can do," she said in the video.

Akanksha posted another video on Twitter in which she thanked people for supporting her campaign.

I am so humbled at the support I've received from everyone and thrilled that you're with me on this journey together. I know it's a David and Goliath story and I know we are the little guys here, but we have to remember, we the people, are more powerful than any system," she said, adding that once we realise that we can change the system, we can influence the system."

She urged people to vote on her website to send a message that they support change and support a new UN.

Last month Guterres, 71 had confirmed that he will seek a second five-year term as chief of the world organisation.

Guterress first term ends on December 31 this year and the term of the next Secretary-General will begin on January 1, 2022.

Guterres assumed office on January 1, 2017 after a reformed selection process that included a public informal dialogue session in the General Assembly.

Guterres is the 9th Secretary-General of the United Nations and no woman has held the position of the worlds top diplomat in the 75-year history of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council, making the Secretary-General's selection subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Council.

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, responding to a question at the daily briefing on the UNDP staffer announcing her candidacy for Secretary-General, said "Antonio Guterres is a candidate for the selection process. It's not for him to comment on other people who may want to come forward.

"This is a process run by Member States. So, I'm not aware of any issues or problems with that I speak for the incumbent candidate, but we have no comment on anyone else who may wish to put their hat in the proverbial ring," Dujarric said.

The spokesperson for UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, Brenden Varma was asked at the press briefing whether Akanksha had written to the President on her candidacy.

Varma said the Presidents office had not received any formal communications on this matter.

Varma had earlier said that so far the General Assembly President had not received any notifications of candidacies for the position of Secretary-General from Member States.

He added that candidates have traditionally been presented by Member States.

In the video, Akanksha adds that it is time that the UN stop serving politicians and start serving people.

It is time for a new UN - a UN that is a guardian for refugees, takes humanitarian crises through to completion and gets technology and education in the hands of all."

She said these ideas are not impossible and dont need another 75 years to accomplish.

It takes someone being bold, being a first - first to speak up, first to take action, first to make a difference and now first to challenge the UN. Im no longer waiting for the torch to be passed down, Im taking it because I am part of the generation of change where we dont just talk about change, we cause change," she said.

According to her profile on her website UNOW.org, Akanksha graduated from York University, Toronto with a Bachelor of Administrative Studies.

She received her Master in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Her profile states that she was recruited at the UN to help with the financial reforms of the organisation" and her work included updating financial regulations and rules of the UN and managing the internal and external audits at UNDP.

A report in news site PassBlue said India-born Akanksha has an Overseas Citizenship of India and a Canadian passport.

She hasnt asked either country for an official endorsement. She is nevertheless hopeful that her candidacy could shake up the selection process," the PassBlue report added.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Seldom has Mitch McConnell signaled so little about such a consequential vote

While many expect the Senate s top Republican to back acquitting former President Donald Trump of inciting rioters who assaulted the Capitol last month, no one is really sure. The Washington political universe and the world beyond will collectively hold its breath when the Senate impeachment trial roll call reaches the Kentuckian's name.

Over 36 years in the Senate, the measured McConnell has earned a reputation for inexpressiveness in the service of caution. This time, the suspense over how he'll vote underscores how much is at stake for McConnell and his party, though it seems extremely unlikely that 17 GOP senators will join all 50 Democrats to convict Trump.

The overwhelming number of Republican voters dont want Trump convicted, so that means any political leader has to tread carefully, said John Feehery, a former top congressional GOP aide. While Feehery noted that McConnell was clearly outraged over the attack, he said, Hes trying to keep his party together.

A vote to acquit by McConnell  the chamber's most influential Republican and longest-serving GOP leader ever  would leave the GOP's factions locked in their struggle to define itself in the post-Trump presidency. A guilty vote could do more to roil GOP waters by signaling an attempt to yank the party away from a figure still revered by most of its voters.

Either way, McConnell's decision could influence the party's short- and long-term election prospects and affect the political clout and legacy of both Trump and the Senate minority leader.

Just minutes after the Democratic-led House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 for inciting insurrection, McConnell flashed a blinking yellow light. He wrote to his GOP colleagues that hed not made a final decision about how hed vote at the Senate trial.

It was an eye-opening departure from the opposition McConnell expressed rapidly when the House impeached Trump in December 2019 for trying to force Ukraine to send him political dirt on now-President Joe Biden and other Democrats.

In addition, McConnell told associates he thought Trump perpetrated impeachable offenses and saw the moment as a chance to distance the GOP from the damage the tumultuous Trump could inflict on it, a Republican strategist told The Associated Press at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

Yet as the trial began this week, McConnell was among the 44 GOP senators who voted against proceeding at all on the grounds that Trump was no longer president. Just six Republicans voted to back a trial, suggesting little prospect of 17 of them joining Democrats and supporting conviction.

By all accounts, McConnell has not lobbied senators on impeachment, instead telling them to vote their consciences. His public words and demeanor have been equally unrevealing. Were all going to listen to what the lawyers have to say and making the arguments and work our way through it, he said two weeks ago.

McConnell has spent the trials first week in his seat in the Senate chamber, staring straight ahead. A pool report from a reporter watching from the press gallery Friday said, McConnell was as stoic as ever, looking like a wax statue of himself in Madame Tussauds with his hands clasped in his lap.

A McConnell vote to convict could give cover to wavering Republicans to join him. Even if Trump is acquitted, a substantial number of Republicans voting guilty would cement for history that there was bipartisan support for repudiating him over the riot at the Capitol.

That could tar Trump's political appeal should he seek office again and further dull the impact his endorsements of other GOP candidates might have with moderate voters, whom he's already largely alienated.

Yet a McConnell vote against the former president would also enrage many of the 74 million voters who backed Trump in November, a record for a GOP presidential candidate. That could expose Republican senators seeking reelection in 2022 to primaries from conservatives seeking revenge, potentially giving the GOP less appealing general election candidates as they try winning Senate control.

It would also no doubt color the legacy of McConnell, a GOP loyalist who turns 79 next Saturday and doesn't face reelection for almost six years. Even critics say McConnell likes to play the long game.

For McConnell, it's always strategy, it's always about how he can live to fight another day," said Colmon Elridge, chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

McConnell maneuvered through Trump's four years in office like a ship steering through a rocky strait on stormy seas. Battered at times by vindictive presidential tweets, McConnell made a habit of saying nothing about many of Trump's outrageous comments. He ended up steering the Senate to victories like the 2017 tax cuts and the confirmations of three Supreme Court justices and over 200 other federal judges.

Their relationship plummeted after Trump's denial of his Nov. 3 defeat and relentless efforts to reverse the voters' verdict with his baseless insistence that Democrats fraudulently stole the election.

It withered completely last month, after Republicans lost Senate control with two Georgia runoff defeats they blamed on Trump, and the savage Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. The day of that riot, McConnell railed against thugs, mobs, or threats and described the attack as this failed insurrection.

A week later, the Democratic-controlled House impeached Trump for inciting insurrection. Six days after that, McConnell said, The mob was fed lies and added, They were provoked by the president and other powerful people."

___

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
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Alabama Sen. Tommy Tubervilles office reiterated Saturday his story that he informed then-President Trump of then-Vice President Mike Pences evacuation in a phone call during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The phone call became a key and disputed piece of evidence in the impeachment trial as House managers attempted to show that Trump knowingly incited the Capitol insurrection, putting his vice president, among others, in danger.

As the Senator has repeatedly said, he has shared his best recollection of the call and has done so publicly numerous times, a spokesperson for the senator said in a statement Saturday afternoon.

Tuberville was among the 43 senators who voted Saturday to acquit Trump of impeachment charges. Tuberville said in a statement Saturday that he voted against impeachment because he does not believe it is constitutional to impeach a private citizen.

Tension over the Jan. 6 phone call escalated Friday when one of President Trumps attorneys, Michael van der Veen, challenged Sen. Tubervilles account of the phone call as hearsay.

Tuberville said that he had spoken with then-President Trump on the afternoon of Jan. 6 and told him that Mike Pence was being escorted out of the Capitol as rioters stormed the building.

The Washington Post reports Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, gave lawyers for both sides of the impeachment trial a cellphone log showing calls from the White House on Jan. 6 at 2:26 p.m. Pence was evacuated at 2:15 p.m.

Sen. Lee said the former president called his phone by mistake, thinking he was calling Sen. Tuberville.

Earlier that afternoon, Trump tweeted that Pence did not have the courage to delay certification of the 2020 election.

House managers cited the phone call as evidence that Trump knew Pence was in harms way when he tweeted to his supporters.

This story was updated at 8:00 Saturday to clarify the timeline of events and of Tubervilles statement
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Week 6 in review: Xiaomi Mi 11 goes global, Redmi K40 and OnePlus 9 phones leak

The past seven days were filled to the brim with Xiaomi-related news. The week began with the Mi 11's global unveiling, alongside the MIUI 12.5 release roadmap. The Chinese company also revealed it had become the third biggest smartphone brand globally, and it boasted with shipping 200 million Redmi Note phones.

We also saw a bunch of upcoming phones on certification websites - Geekbench revealed the Asus ROG Phone 5 would have a 16GB RAM option, the Redmi K40 flagship, officially scheduled for February 25, shined on TENAA, as did a phone looking similar to the Mi 10 Ultra.

The week was eventful for Samsung as well - the Korean giant has confirmed setting a new record in pre-orders for Galaxy S devices in the United Kingdom and South Korea, while Apple was under fire for keeping mega cookies even after users deleted their apps.

You can find the complete list of our most popular stories from the past week below. See you in seven days!



Xiaomi Mi 11 makes its global debut It will start at 749, but exact availability date wasn't revealed.





Xiaomi announces global MIUI 12.5 release time frame Here's when you can expect the update, and which global devices to expect it on.





Samsung Galaxy A52 4G full specs and price surface It's said to go on sale in the last week of March.





Xiaomi is #3 smartphone brand globally, Redmi Note series reaches 200 million units shipped Xiaomi is the fastest growing brand in the high-end segment. The company invested $1.3 billion in R&D between Q4 2019 and Q3 2020





Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Enterprise Edition appears on company website The device is listed on the Support page of the Samsung Ireland website.





Asus ROG Phone 5 appears on Geekbench with 16GB RAM There's an 8GB RAM variant as well that was spotted on Geekbench last December.





Samsung Galaxy A52 5G passes through the FCC with 4,500 mAh battery and 15W charging The phone will have both a single and a dual-SIM version, both are identical beyond the card tray. There will be an A52 4G model as well.





Huawei's MatePad Pro 2 5G gets 3C certification with 40W charging The MatePad Pro 2 5G is expected to be powered by a Kirin 9000 chipset and run PadOS, based on the company's Harmony OS.





Xiaomi Mi 11 in for review The Xiaomi Mi 11 stepped into the office ahead of its global release.





Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 75 announced It starts at 1,299 in Europe (999 for early birds) and goes on sale next month.





Sony Xperia 1 II received the External monitor app from the Xperia Pro with the Android 11 update This app allows the phone to serve as an external monitor for your digital camera. It's not clear whether the Xperia 5 II will get the app as well.





ASUS announces cheap MeMO Pad 10 (ME103K) The latest MeMO Pad 10 brings a 10" 1280x800px IPS display, dual speakers, Snapdragon S4 Pro.





Vivo may be working on a 3.8mm thin smartphone The Chinese company could soon unveil an insanely thin handset, according to a leak.





Microsoft details Lumia Denim update, coming this year Microsoft has detailed the WP 8.1 Update 1 with Lumia Denim, coming in Q4 this year.


Screenshot from Tessica Brown/Instagram

Tessica Brownyou might know her as the Gorilla Glue Womanrejoiced when she was able to finally run her fingers through her hair again. And now shes giving back.

The Louisiana woman who became famous on TikTok for using Gorilla Glue as a substitute for hairspray (locking her hair in place for more than a month) set up a GoFundMe to help free her follicles, which has raised more than $23,000 to date.


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Republicans are turning on the seven GOP senators who chose to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial on Saturday.

Trump was ultimately acquitted 57- 43, with Democrats falling 10 votes short of the 67 needed to convict the former President of inciting insurrection before the January 6 siege of the US Capitol.

While 43 Republican senators chose to support the former President, seven ultimately agreed that Trump violated his oath of office by stirring MAGA fans into a frenzy before they took part in the siege of the building.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy was one of the GOP senators who broke ranks with his party, declaring: 'Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.'

However, he has been quickly been rebuked by GOP officials in his home state for his scathing assessment of Trump.

The executive committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously voted on Saturday evening to censure Cassidy.

The group released a statement on Twitter which read: 'We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.'

The executive committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously voted on Saturday evening to censure Cassidy

Hundreds of President Trump's supporters stormed into the Capitol attacking police, smashing windows and sending lawmakers into hiding on January 6

The other six GOP senators who voted to convict Trump have now been labelled 'RINO traitors' and are also being savagely attacked by supporters of the former POTUS.

RINO is a term meaning 'Republicans In Name Only', and is often used by the right of the party to describe those they perceive as not real conservatives.

The six other senators are Richard Burr of North Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Conservative commentator and staunch Trump supporter Brigitte Gabriel trolled Romney and Murkowski on Twitter.

'RT if you want @SarahPalin to primary Lisa Murkowski!!' she wrote, referring to the former Vice Presidential nominee, who also hails from Alaska.

She then wrote: 'Mitt Romney should be required to #LeaveTheGOP'.

Gabriel also tweeted directly at the Utah Senator stating: 'We are counting down the days until you lose your next primary.'

The other six GOP senators who voted to convict Trump have now been labelled 'RINO traitors' and are also being savagely attacked by supporters of the former POTUS

'RINO Traitors': Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (left) and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (right) were both attacked by members of their own party on social media after voting to convict Trump

The senators have been branded 'traitors' by furious Republicans, who are now pushing for them to resign or be primaried by other conservatives

Others also lashed out at Romney, with one writing: 'You should really think of becoming a democrat. You're disloyal, have no integrity, have no honor or sense of loyalty, just like a democrat. You're a traitor. RINO!!'

Other described him as a 'piece of garbage' and wished him a 'swift trip to hell'.

Maine senator Susan Collins was also not immune from criticism.

She was described as a 'Satanist traitor' who needed to be pushed out of office.

Collins, Murkowski and Romney are all moderates who were frequently seen as the three Republican senators most likely to clash with President Trump. However, of the three, only Romney voted to convict Trump during his first impeachment trial last year.

Maine senator Susan Collins was also not immune from criticism. She was described as a 'Satanist traitor' who needed to be pushed out of office
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By JAY REEVES Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM Arrested for leading a march against racial segregation in 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spent days in solitary confinement writing his Letter From Birmingham Jail, which was smuggled out and stirred the world by explaining why Black people couldnt keep waiting for fair treatment. Meanwhile, items also were arriving at the jail for King.

A special delivery letter showed up at the jailhouse addressed to King, then a Western Union telegram, and then another and another. A jailer would log each new item in a bound ledger book, which King would then sign. Pages of the old jail log with Kings signature are now going up for auction, with a minimum price of $10,000.

Reportedly saved by an employee at the old jail, which was demolished in 1986, the pages offered by Hakes Auctions are a previously unknown reminder of Kings time in Birmingham, which the civil rights leader once called the most segregated city in America.

The King signatures, a dozen in all in ink, are contained on four yellowed pages that have been removed from the original book. The pages also bear the signature of King friend and aide Ralph D. Abernathy, who was arrested during the same march as King on April 12, 1963, for violating a court order banning the demonstration.

Scott Mussell, who works for the Pennsylvania-based auction company, said a worker might have been instructed to clean out the old building and, realizing what the log book contained, saved it instead.

We really owe a debt of gratitude to this person, in my opinion, said Mussell, an Americana specialist with the Pennsylvania-based company.

Jim Baggett, the head of archives at the city library, said he was unfamiliar with the jail log, but it was entirely possible a worker saved it from being destroyed.

We have stuff here that survived because someone pulled it out of the trash, he said.

Will Seippels Atlanta-based WorthPoint, which values collectibles and other items online, lined up document experts and signature authenticators to verify that the pages are genuine after being contacted by the current owners, the relatives of a person who was given the sheets by the person who initially saved them.

They were trying to figure out what they had and whether it was real and what it was worth, he said. The online auction will end on Feb. 24.

King and his Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference joined with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, led by the Rev. Fred L. Shuttleworth, in 1963 in a campaign meant to pressure the citys white leadership to end legalized racial segregation. The city was soon the scene of pickets, mass meetings, a boycott of downtown businesses and lunch counter sit-ins.

The city obtained a court order blocking further demonstrations, but King and Abernathy led a march that ended in their arrest. Held in isolation in the city jail, King wrote his almost 7,000-word treatise in response to a statement published by seven white ministers and a rabbi who called the demonstrations unwise and untimely.

Writing in the margins of a newspaper, King penned a defense of the civil rights movement that included the line: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Carried out of the jail by his lawyers and transcribed, the letter initially was distributed on mimeographed sheets before being reprinted in its entirety in pamphlets, magazines, Kings 1964 memoir and newspapers. It is now regarded as one of the greatest defenses of nonviolent protest ever written.

The old jail logs dont indicate the contents of telegrams and letters King received while incarcerated, and only a historical marker stands now at the site of the building. Metal bars from the cell where King was held were preserved and are now on display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Baggett, the city archivist, said the jail pages should wind up somewhere people can see them.

I hope somebody buys this that will put it on display, he said.
Professor Nguyen Tai Thu, Vietnam's top acupuncturist, passed away on Sunday morning in Hanoi.

Thu was awarded the titles "People's Doctor" and "Vietnam Labor Hero" by the State President in 1995 and 2000, respectively.

The professor was born in 1931 and started his acupuncture career in 1952 in China. In 1967, he founded the Vietnam Acupuncture Association, which laid the foundation for the Central Acupuncture Hospital in Hanoi.

Thu worked as director of the hospital from 1980 until 2007. He organized more than 500 training classes for medics across the country.

Author of dozens of books on acupuncture and Oriental medicines, Thu greatly contributed to the development of Vietnam's acupuncture and traditional medicine sectors. His studies and researches serve as guidelines for a myriad of medical practitioners.

Professor Nguyen Tai Thu. Photo courtesy of VOV.

Thu's acupuncture methods, especially his techniques used to substitute or supplement anesthetic in surgery and detoxification for drug addicts, have been successfully applied in Vietnam and introduced to nearly 50 countries.

His technique of analgesia acupuncture has been employed during more than 100,000 operations.

Thu is also a master of New Acupuncture, a technique using long and big needles to connect acupuncture points and body meridians. The New Acupuncture has proven effective in treating diseases such as paralysis, strokes, obesity, cerebra vascular accidents, etc.

"Acupuncture is a traditional and low-priced medical treatment that does not require modern equipment. It ensures efficiency and treats many acute and chronic diseases," Thu said.

In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Degree by the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ) in Mexico in recognition of his contribution to the development of acupuncture in health treatment in this country.

He was also Vice President of the World Federation of Acupuncture Societies, President of Vietnam National Acupuncture Association, and President of Vietnam Relief Association for Disabled Children.

His funeral will be held at the National Funeral Home at 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, according to his family.
Read this story in simplified Chinese. 

Read this story in traditional Chinese. 

On a Saturday afternoon in late December, Bill Lee walks through his empty restaurant in Chinatown. Though the tables are draped with white tablecloths, the dining room functions more as a storage space. Wedged between tables are stacks of red-cushioned dining chairs. Signage, featuring large photos of the restaurants dishes, leans against a wall. A lone bottle of hand sanitizer sits on a dining table. A year ago, the scene looked very different  the chatter of locals and tourists filled the room as they feasted on Cantonese and Chinese American dishes.

Opened in 1920 at 631 Grant Ave., Far East Cafe is one of San Francisco Chinatowns oldest restaurants. Much of its decor remains unchanged from its early days: oil paintings depicting historical scenes from Guangdong (where many early Chinese immigrants hailed from), large hanging lanterns from the province, and a set of dark wood-paneled private booths behind red curtains. Buttons for summoning wait staff remain on the walls, though the bell system no longer works.

Far East Cafe is also one of Chinatowns last remaining large-scale banquet halls, serving as a gathering space for the neighborhoods many family associations and civic organizations. The dwindling number of Chinatown banquet halls worries community leaders, who fear their loss could devastate the culture and traditions of a community already threatened by gentrification. Ten years ago, there were five: Empress of China, Far East Cafe, Four Seas, Gold Mountain, and New Asia Restaurant. Now, only Far East and New Asia remain.

Lee, 77, who took over Far East in 1999 and added the second floor for banquets, is only the third owner  along with nine other shareholders  in its history. Over the years, thousands of banquets have taken place there. Lee had planned to throw his own event: a 100th anniversary celebration of the restaurant in the fall of 2020. But that was before the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdowns that began in March. Now, instead, sitting in the dim dining room, he contemplates shutting down Far East for good.

I tell you, I love this restaurant. I have never spent so much time in one place, Lee says. I spent 20 years for this restaurant.

While the entire restaurant industry is struggling for survival, the pandemic has hit especially hard in Chinatown, which saw business drop months before shelter-in-place began. Lee is down to four employees from the 50 or so full- and part-time staff he once employed. He has tried to make a go at outdoor dining. Volunteers had been putting finishing touches on a new parklet structure, painted red and trimmed in yellow to match the restaurant. But then the city halted outdoor dining on Dec. 6 in the midst of a coronavirus surge. Lee felt defeated. He didnt want to close, but he was operating at a deep loss, even after he and his daughter Kathy Lee, the manager, stopped taking their salaries.

A few days later, on Dec. 22, news broke that Far East would close permanently on Dec. 31. The next day Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents Chinatown, held a press conference in front of the restaurant, telling Lee that help was on the way. The week before, nine community organizations had written to Mayor London Breed, warning that the situation in Chinatown was dire and asking the city to provide millions in financial aid, as it had done for the Latino community. Peskin and Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer introduced legislation proposing $1.9 million in relief for Chinatown restaurants. Peskin urged Lee to hang on. Lee shrugged his shoulders and seemed to laugh, perhaps wearily, from behind his face mask.

But the speed of government bureaucracy is too slow for Lee. Nearly a month passed before the Board of Supervisors approved the legislation on Jan. 19, another month where he owed tens of thousands more dollars in rent, utilities and more. The city funds will help Chinatown restaurants, including Lees Far East, survive for a few months. But then what? Will enough people be vaccinated by then that COVID-19 infections slow sufficiently for businesses to reopen? Or will the situation worsen again?

And there is a larger question: If the banquet halls go, what will become of Chinatown?

Hundreds of banquets take place in San Francisco Chinatown every year  family association gatherings, weddings, red egg and ginger parties, political fundraisers and galas for nonprofits. More modest events might book a smaller banquet hall like Imperial Palace. But the big ones can fill up all 680 seats at Far East Cafe or the 1,000 at New Asia. (Back in the day, some banquets were so large that they filled multiple locations.) A Chinatown banquet, much like Chinatown itself, is a crowded affair, with guests seated snugly at 10-tops as waiters in white shirts and vests deploy platters upon platters across the dining room. The dishes are abundant; there is always food left over.

The first quarter of the year is an especially busy time because of Chinese New Year, which typically occurs in late January or early February. Because there arent enough bookings available close to the holiday to accommodate everyone, New Year banquets can stretch into April and May. Reservations need to be made a year in advance, sometimes two.

A Chinatown banquet is not just a party with a parade of family-style dishes. For a community that has endured segregation, racist immigration exclusion that kept families apart and threats of displacement, banquets are loud, bountiful, collective affirmations of community resilience.

This is a community that traditionally has been very close, very networked, and very organized in certain senses and I think that that connection has been one of the critical elements of why this community has been a successful immigrant gateway for so long, says Malcolm Yeung, executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center, one of the organizations that penned the letter to the city asking for help.

Forced to fend for itself, Chinatown long ago established an ecosystem of mutual aid through its family and district associations and its social service and advocacy organizations  a network that still exists today. New immigrants know they can come to Chinatown for resources and opportunities. All of that is based on the connection and cultural fabric that weve been able to weave in this community, Yeung said. And community banquets are the primary mechanism for celebrating and maintaining those connections, he says.

And while food is always important  each dish in a banquet is imbued with meaning  its not about the meal, but the whole experience of Chinatown. About being reminded, even if on a subconscious level, that this is where the community began.

Chinatown banquets also showcase political empowerment. Laurene Wu McClain, 77, an attorney who grew up in Chinatown, attended banquets in the 1950s and 60s with her father, the head of their family association and a co-founder of San Franciscos Chinese Historical Society. She remembers fondly the sound of hundreds of people cracking open watermelon seeds with their teeth at the start of banquets, and the bottles of Belfast Sparkling Cider on every table.

She also remembers how, against the backdrop of the Cold War, when relations between the U.S. and a newly communist China were antagonistic, the community courted politicians and government officials. Though most Chinese Americans were anti-communist, they feared theyd be viewed as the enemy and incarcerated, as Japanese Americans had been during World War II. They made outreach efforts to the wider American society through events like the Chinese New Year Parade and banquets.

Sometimes it was the first time anyone would have seen the Caucasian mayor of San Francisco or seen in person one of the members of the Board of Supervisors, she says of guests at banquets. That was part of the assimilation process, that, yes, we are our own ethnic group, but we do belong here. We belong here and we invite you to join us in our celebrations.

Today, many working-class families who started out in Chinatown have advanced to the middle class and live in the avenues or suburbs of the East Bay and Peninsula where there are newer, more spacious Chinese restaurants and 99 Ranch Markets with well-stocked aisles and hot deli counters. Theres less reason to come to Chinatown and hassle with parking just to buy groceries and a roast duck. Younger generations often prefer getting married in Napa rather than throwing a traditional Chinese wedding banquet.

Yet banquets remain critical to the culture and plexus of Chinatown, connecting community members to the power brokers of the city  and to each other.

Chinatown is the social-political capital of the Chinese community, says David Ho, 43, a political consultant. People dont go book tables in Cupertino and expect 1,000 Chinese to show up. Thats just not going to happen. First, they dont have the facilities for it. Second, only Chinatown can get that kind of audience and attention from politicians.

Ho would know. As a Chinatown activist and a political consultant, he has thrown his share of banquets over the years.

Its really about community coming together. Its about seeing old friends and new friends, and a tie to where we came from, to the immigrant legacy, says Mabel Teng, a community advocate and former San Francisco supervisor. Some of us crossed the ocean five decades ago, but some crossed the Pacific five years ago, and we are a community of intergenerational legacy, and also intergenerational leadership.

New Asia Restaurant, established in 1987 at 772 Pacific Ave., is a newcomer compared to Far East Cafe, and looks it with its high ceiling, shiny gold pillars and multicolor strip lights. A pushcart-style dim sum parlor by day, it is Chinatowns largest banquet hall. When banquets began being canceled over coronavirus concerns in January 2020, Hon So, the owner since 2000, grew so anxious he couldnt sleep.

So, 61, canceled any supply orders he could and stored what had already arrived in freezers. It would just be for a few months, he thought. In July, though, he had to throw it all out, trashing cases of shrimp, beef, chicken, an estimated $100,000 worth of food. Insurance would not cover the loss.

When I was throwing things out, I was thinking, what will I do in the immediate future? What do I do with a big place like this? So says in Cantonese. You have no income, but you still have your bills. The income is not just for me, but for my family, my workers. What can I do to yield income for everyone?

He thought about how in this new reality of the pandemic, people were lining up to buy groceries and cook at home.

Over two weeks in July, with the help of friends, he cleared tables to make way for shelving and freezers. The next month, New Asia reopened as a grocery store, which allowed So to retain 10 to 15 jobs, a fraction of the 40- to 50-member staff he had before. New Asias proximity to Stockton Street, where many neighborhood markets are located, helped bring in foot traffic.

On a recent Saturday, shoppers browsed the selection of produce, snacks and frozen foods. On the stage, two steps up from the dance floor, packages of toilet paper and rice noodles were stacked on repurposed dining tables. The character for double happiness, a symbol of marriage, was on the wall above them.

This is the only market with crystal lights, So said wryly, referring to New Asias chandeliers.

Even if his market brings in enough to survive the pandemic, New Asia will be displaced for several years. In 2017, after much advocacy by the late Chinatown activist Rose Pak, the city bought the property to develop it into affordable housing. The plan is for the restaurant to return to the ground floor of a new building, but construction will take at least three years, and the process has barely begun. Proposals from developers were due to the city last month.

Still, New Asia is the rare Chinatown banquet hall granted a possibility of return. Down the street, Meriwa is now medical offices. In 2016, Mister Jius replaced Four Seas, a popular venue since the 1960s. A year later the food emporium China Live, which contains two restaurants (one with a $185 tasting menu), retail and a bar, opened in what was once Gold Mountain. Empress by Boon was slated to open in 2020 in the iconic Empress of China space, but the pandemic has put a pause on that.

While these new upscale restaurants with Michelin stars and modern takes on Chinese cuisines add a culinary sheen to the neighborhood, they attract a different clientele: a monied crowd from outside who Uber in, eat and leave. They are out of range for residents and for community groups used to paying $40 to $80 a head for an eight-course banquet.

To be sure, Chinatown has long courted visitors. In a segregated San Francisco, attracting visitors to the neighborhood was key for economic survival and tourism remains important. But a healthy Chinatown maintains a balance between businesses for visitors and its immigrant residents.

Theres room for Mister Jius and China Live, says Vincent Pan, 48, the co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. I know Pan well. We have collaborated on several projects, including on some work for his organization. We support having a mix of high-end and hole-in-the wall mom-and-pops, Pan says. But the real risk is you lose this one piece and its hard to bring it back.

When the civil rights nonprofit learned that the Empress of China was closing in 2014, it hosted one last banquet that December just for the sake of it. It was one of the last, if not the very last, banquets at the Empress, says Pan.

We know from other North American Chinatowns, whether its Philadelphia or Manhattan, that theres always a risk of being subsumed by the neighboring financial districts, Pan says. And one of the key anti-displacement strategies that has been effective is to have the Chinatowns serve as cultural anchors that bring in a diverse mix of economic support. Banquets are a flagship of that.

Banquet halls have played a core role in the Chinatown economy, from providing new immigrants with starter jobs to sourcing from local vendors. Far East Cafe partners with Charity Cultural Services Center to train and employ restaurant workers. Banquets summon the diaspora, whose members tend to make the most of their stop in Chinatown by doing some shopping.

Thats why Chinatown leaders want to preserve the landmark Empress of China building for community access. When John Yee, a real estate investor, bought the six-story building in 2017, he alarmed many with his initial plans for tech offices. Though Yee grew up in Chinatown, he angered many in the community in 1999 when he tried to evict a building full of low-income tenants. Malcolm Yeung filed an appeal with the San Francisco Planning Department in an attempt to pressure Yee into discussions over the Empress. Yeung would like to see affordable community banquets return to the space, but Yee says the banquet prices Yeung wants are not feasible.

On Jan. 27, Yeungs appeal was denied in a 3-2 vote, resulting in another banquet hall lost to the community.

The Year of the Ox is upon us. Another Lunar New Year in a pandemic, another season of no banquets. Organizations like Chinese for Affirmative Action have held their annual galas on Zoom instead, delivering catered meals to re-create the experience of eating together. Without its usual gatherings, Chinatown has been eerily quiet for the past year. Even with sections of Grant Avenue closed to traffic on the weekends to encourage shopping, the streets are mostly empty, a whisper of the usual hustle.

The question on the minds of many in Chinatown is what will be left when the pandemic finally ends and people come out of isolation clamoring to socialize?

After Chinatown leaders asked the mayor for $11.5 million in financial aid, they met with city officials about reviving the Chinatown Community Development Centers Feed + Fuel program in partnership with SF New Deal. The program, which ran in spring 2020, paid 34 Chinatown restaurants to cook meals for the neighborhoods most vulnerable residents living in public housing and single-room occupancy hotels. These SRO residents share communal kitchens and bathrooms, which makes social distancing impossible.

The center hopes that the $1.9 million relief ordinance, plus $500,000 from the Human Services Agency and $100,000 of the centers own funds can eventually help 70 restaurants over an eight-week period. If the nonprofit can raise an additional $1 million from individuals and foundations, it will extend the program to 15 weeks.

People dont go book tables in Cupertino and expect 1,000 Chinese to show up. Thats just not going to happen. First, they dont have the facilities for it. Second, only Chinatown can get that kind of audience and attention from politicians.

David Ho, 43, a political consultant

Feed + Fuel 2.0 launched Jan. 18 with 10 restaurants. Far East Cafe, which participated in the first iteration, joined the new program on Jan. 25, cooking 300 meals a week for $3,000. Far East also participates in similar programs, but the money it receives from these programs doesnt cover costs  not even close. Lee says he needs to bring in $4,000 a day to keep a restaurant as large as his afloat. One reason hes been able to last this long is because of an understanding landlord, the Ying On Benevolent Association, of which he is a member.

The family associations that own buildings in Chinatown are not interested in selling them, says Doug Mei, 40, a paramedic firefighter who grew up in a Chinatown SRO and who now works in the neighborhood fire station.

The reason why they keep them is so they can continue to take care of the new immigrants that come here and continue to carry on the legacy of all those who worked so hard to build this community for us, he says.

The citys help is too little, too late, and Asian Americans have been forgotten, he says, a sentiment that many in Chinatown share. Where are the loan programs for Asian-owned small businesses, like those the city established for other minority communities, he asks. We take so much pride as a city in how diverse we are. But we need to take action to preserve that diversity. Its important that we protect every community and we give every community fair resources all around, Mei says.

Leaders worry about the elders who rely on dim sum parlors and banquets to stay active with friends. They worry that these restaurants will fade away like the neighborhoods once-vibrant theaters.

Theres got to be some adverse impact on the psychology and well-being of the community, says David Ho, the political consultant.

On the last Saturday in January, after a week of stormy rains, the sun came out, bringing with it more foot traffic in Chinatown. Outdoor dining reopened and waitstaff wove through pedestrians on narrow sidewalks to take orders. Outside Far East Cafe, Mei and another volunteer worked on the restaurants parklet, cutting wood with a circular saw. Lee and his daughter Kathy, who is the restaurants manager, carted produce through the dining room into the kitchen.

During a late lunch break, Lee recounted how Far East Cafe has given many new immigrants who didnt know English their first jobs in the U.S. Back in 1967, he was that new immigrant. Closing the restaurant would hurt those who arrive in the future, but he wasnt sure how long he could stay open. What was the point of working just to keep losing money?

Its very difficult, Lee said in a mix of Cantonese and English. We really dont want to close, but a fact is a fact. We dont have money.

Melissa Hung is a Bay Area writer from Texas with ties to San Francisco Chinatown. Email: culture@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @melissahungtx

This story was translated into Chinese for The Chronicle by Joyce Chen.
For generations to come, it will simply be known as Jan. 6. Much like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor Day  foreign attacks on this nation  it will need no further explanation.

To mention Jan. 6 is, and will be, to acknowledge in shorthand the day Americans attacked their own nation, seeking to violently overturn an election, prodded by the lies of a losing president.

Jan. 6, a sorrowful day entrenched in the American conscience and story. A day still coming into focus, even with the end of former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial, even after the foregone acquittal of a former president who deserved to be unanimously convicted for inciting a mob.

While House impeachment managers fell short of the 67 votes needed for conviction, and while this is tragic, simply because cowardice is tragic, there is also solace and uplift in this vote. House managers won on the merits with a powerful and chilling account of the Jan. 6 siege, which left five dead and hundreds injured.

The 57-43 vote is the most bipartisan in support of convicting a president  and history will look favorably on the seven Republicans who joined their Democratic colleagues: Sens. Richard Burr, North Carolina; Bill Cassidy, Louisiana; Susan Collins, Maine; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; Mitt Romney, Utah; Ben Sasse, Nebraska; and Patrick J. Toomey, Pennsylvania.

No Texans on that list  a shameful point we will return to momentarily. But first, lets dwell on the words of U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, one of the House impeachment managers and a Colorado Democrat.

Think for a moment, just a moment, of the lives lost that day  of the more than 140 (officers) wounded, he said. Ask yourself if, as soon as this had started, President Trump had simply gone onto TV, just logged onto Twitter, and said stop the attack. How many lives would we have saved?

This is true. Just as it is true Joe Biden won the presidential election. Just as it is true, as Collins said in her floor remarks: That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence. Rather, it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump that were aimed at overturning the results of the presidential election.

This is exactly why Texas Sen. Ted Cruz should be expelled for his forceful and servile enabling of the voter fraud lie.

Most Republicans have argued it was unconstitutional to pursue impeachment and conviction of a former president  and they worried about the precedent such an action might take. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, for example, said in a statement: This practice would, I fear, make impeachments a routine part of our political competition as a tool of the majority party to exact political revenge over the minority party.

This strikes us an argument of convenience  an escape hatch to avoid responsibility. There should be no January exception for presidential behavior. Leaving office does not make one less accountable for actions while in office. And there was precedent for a trial in the 1876 case of former Secretary of War William Belknap, who resigned hours before the House impeached him. The Senate tried him but failed to convict.

Through this lens, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells condemnation of Trump was rhetorically powerful  again, a striking rebuke  it nevertheless falls short on substance.

There is no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, McConnell said. The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole.

Welcome and important words, but ones without action.

Going forward, there will be a 9/11-style commission and Trump faces the prospect of criminal liability. We also, at long last, can fully focus on Bidens presidency. Impeachment and conviction had nothing to do with Biden, who has rightfully been all about COVID-19 relief to end this pandemic, and foster economic recovery and healing.

But for those concerned about the enduring threat to democracy that Trumpism represents, the greatest guardrail is to vote in 2022 and 2024 to reject the persistent forces that fueled Jan. 6.
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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
In coordination with San Francisco police, Merced police officers arrested a Fresno man on suspicion of attempted murder of two men on Friday night at a hotel near the Embarcadero, authorities announced Saturday.

Tyler Gangell, 25, was arrested in Merced after San Francisco police were contacted by a person who knew the suspect and stated that the suspect wanted to turn himself into police custody, police said Saturday night.

On Friday night, police responded to a hotel on Drumm Street at 8:17 p.m. found two men with gunshot wounds inside the hotel.

Both men were taken to the hospital for treatment, one man with life-threatening injuries and the other with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police officers put hotel patrons under a shelter-in-place order while officers searched for a suspect in the shooting. They did not arrest anyone during that search.

San Francisco police said they were contacted by the person who knew Gangell, but did not say when authorities were contacted. Detectives were told Gangell was more than 100 miles away in Merced (Merced County).

San Francisco police went to Merced to bring Gangell to San Francisco Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of: two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in a public place/vehicle, prohibited person in possession of a loaded firearm, carrying a loaded firearm not listed as the registered owner, prohibited person carrying a concealed firearm, using a firearm in the commission of a felony or attempted felony, and shooting a firearm causing great bodily injury.

Police also towed the mans vehicle for further investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident should call San Francisco polices 24-hour tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez

Editors note: This story was updated late on Feb. 13 with information about the arrest.


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[February 14, 2021]

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit off Fukushima, Japan last night; HGC's international telecom services remain normal

HONG KONG, Feb. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit off the coast of Fukushima, Japan at 10:08pm (HKT) last night. HGC's international network and various telecom services including international voice and messaging services remain normal.

HGC has been closely monitoring the situation since the incident last night to ensure that the international telecommunications services operate as normal.

In March 2011, a major earthquake occurred on the north-east coast of Japan and disrupted international telecommunications. HGC took immediate contingency measures and quickly restored the services to normal within 4 hours.

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides a broad range of advaned telecommunications and ICT services. Headquartered in Hong Kong and operating 23 overseas offices on five continents, it provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and adding the latest technologies and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.







To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-magnitude-7-1-earthquake-hit-off-fukushima-japan-last-night-hgcs-international-telecom-services-remain-normal-301227988.html

SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)
New Delhi: The government of India, with the arrest of 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, sent a strong message to the opponents of the Modi government indicating anyone who dared to slight the BJP administration will be dealt with an iron hand.

Ravi, a student Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, was arrested late Saturday and brought to Delhi where she was produced before a court on Sunday.

She is charged with conspiring with Khalistani activists after she edited the so-called Toolkit that was disseminated by Swedish activist Greta Thune in support of the farmers agitation against the governments Farmers Bill.

Police say the so-called Toolkit was a Khalistani conspiracy to destabilize the Indian government.

I did not create the Toolkit; I just edited two lines of it on February 3, Ravi told the court, a claim disputed by the police saying she edited and added more than just two lines of the Toolkit making her an accomplice in a conspiracy against the nation.

The court has sent Ravi to police custody for five days.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 16:11:49|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it only received 7 percent of the 323.1 million U.S. dollars it wants to meet the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Ethiopia.

The UNHCR is working to meet the needs of refugees and IDPs despite the funding gap and incidence of armed conflicts in some of the areas it operates, the refugee agency said in its monthly fact sheet on Saturday.

It is engaged in the training of health personnel and the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medicines and materials to strengthen health services in refugee camps in Ethiopia, the UNHCR said.

The UNHCR is also supporting the inter-agency COVID-19 response to the IDP situation by providing PPE and sanitation materials, equipping isolation and quarantine centers and providing community sensitization, it said.

Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 145,704 on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said.

Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, sheltering 801,349 registered refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, as of Jan. 31, 2021.

The country also has several million IDPs, including 2.2 million who were forced to flee the conflict that broke out last November in the northern Tigray regional state. Enditem
He said 'wrong meaning' was given to his statements

Chandigarh: In a controversial remark over farmers' death at various protest sites, Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal on Saturday said they would have died even if they had stayed back home.

Dalal made the remark in Bhiwani in response to a reporter's query over the death of 200 farmers. Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also, Dalal said.

Listen to me, out of one to two lakh, do not 200 people die in six months? he asked in response.

Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill, he added.

Several Punjab and Haryana farmers, participating in farmers' agitation against the Centre's three farm laws at various Delhi border points, have died of different reasons including cardiac arrest.

Hours after making the statement, the Haryana agriculture minister said he has seen twisted statements, attributed to him, on social media.

He said wrong meaning was given to his statements.

If anybody is hurt by it, I tender my apology, he said, adding he would continue to work for farmers' welfare.

He said it is painful if anyone dies.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala attacked Dalal over his remarks and said such a statement can only be made by an insensitive person.

These words can only be used by an insensitive man for agitating 'annadatas', said Surjewala in a tweet.

Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja too slammed Dalal for his statement.

This reaction and laughter of the Haryana agriculture minister on the sacrifice of our farmer brothers are very sad, she said in a tweet.

Punjab Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka also demanded Dalal's ouster from the Haryana Cabinet over huis insensitive remarks.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have been expressing fear that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporate houses.

The Centre, however, has been insisting that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.
The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against seeking a "continuation of war", as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan

Kabul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2021 ) :The Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against seeking a "continuation of war", as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Defence ministers from the Washington-backed allies are to meet next week to discuss whether NATO's 10,000-strong mission -- mostly carrying out support roles -- should stay or go, as Taliban violence rages.

"Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people," the Taliban said in a statement.

"Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for it just like the previous two decades." Former US president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last year under which the United States agreed foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in return for conditions including cutting ties with Al-Qaeda and opening peace talks with the Kabul government.

Joe Biden's administration has said it would review the deal, with the Pentagon accusing the Afghan insurgent group of not meeting their commitment to reduce violence.

The Taliban in turn has accused the US of breaching the agreement and insisted it will continue its "fight and jihad" if foreign troops do not leave by May.

In his final days in office Trump unilaterally reduced US forces in Afghanistan to just 2,500 -- the lowest since the start of the war in 2001.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly insisted that NATO members must decide "together" on the future of their mission and he hopes Biden will coordinate more closely with allies.

"If we decide to leave we risk to jeopardise the peace process, we risk to lose the gains we have made in the fight against international terrorism over the last years," the NATO chief said earlier this month.

"If we decide to stay we risk to continue to be in a difficult military operation in Afghanistan and we risk increased violence also against NATO troops." The Taliban on Saturday said it was "seriously committed" to the US deal, claiming it had "significantly decreased the level of operations".

Insurgents have launched a string of offensives threatening at least two strategic provincial capitals in southern Afghanistan in recent months.

They have also been blamed by the US and the Afghan government for a wave of assassinations on journalists, politicians, judges and activists.

The warring sides launched peace talks in September year, but progress has been slow and overshadowed by the violence.

A 40-year-old man dubbed wicked and cowardly has been convicted of raping a woman in London more than 23 years ago.

Gulzar Hussain attacked the stranded woman in a park after promising to help her find a taxi.

The victim, a woman then in her early 30s, had been making her way home after a night out with colleagues in Canary Wharf in October 1997.

Gulzar Hussain has been convicted of a rape from 1997 after forensic evidence tracked him down

Hussain attacked a stranded woman whose DLR train terminated early and left to find a taxi home

When the DLR train she was on terminated at Shadwell rather than Bank she left the station in search of a taxi.

She was approached by two males, Hussain and a friend, who told her of a nearby taxi rank.

The pair led her to the King Edward Memorial Park in Wapping, where they raped her.

Police at the time were unable to identify any suspects but the case was reopened in 2007 when new forensic evidence helped identify leads.

Officers were able to identify Hussain in 2017 and he was convicted of one count of rape at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Thursday.

He is set to be sentenced at the same court on May 13.

Detective Constable Mark Crane said: "Twenty three years have passed since this wicked and cowardly attack was carried out by two males who were both aged just 17 at the time.

Gulzar Hussain was found guilty last week and will be sentenced in May this year

"They took advantage of the victim's trust and subjected her to a horrific assault as she tried to make her way home after enjoying a night out with her colleagues.

"Though one man was convicted and jailed, the victim had to live her life knowing an outstanding suspect was still out there. At times it must have felt like justice would never be fully achieved.

"I am glad that a jury has seen through Hussain's lies in court that it could not have been him. I hope now he will receive a substantial sentence, and the victim can achieve some peace of mind knowing both her attackers have been caught."

His accomplice, Noor Hussain, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2008.
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(CNN)  A lot of critics of former President Donald Trump want GOP senators to "show some spine." They think the big reason they have stayed with Trump through impeachment is because they're scared of him.

There's good reason to be worried about going against Trump, given how popular he is among the Republican base. But I'd argue this explanation is at least somewhat incomplete.

A lot of GOP senators may be willing to vote with Trump because they aren't against him. They, like their voters, may really like him and his policies or believe he didn't commit an impeachable offense.

This theory is probably hard for a lot of Trump critics to take, but it does make sense. Trump retrospective approval ratings remain in the 80s with Republicans. A lot of Republican lawmakers are likely reflected in that high approval rating.

And by voting against conviction, these senators are ensuring that Trump is with the Republican Party for the foreseeable future.

Besides, if Republican senators were really worried about their future electoral ambitions, there are reasons to think many of them could survive a primary challenge even if they voted to convict.

Most Republican senators are either retiring or aren't up for reelection until at least 2024. In fact, at least 34 of 50 GOP senators are not running for reelection in 2022 at this point. (It could be more based on retirements.)

That means there would be at least three years until the senators who don't retire would face electoral consequences for any votes against Trump.

Three years is an eternity in politics. Don't believe me? Ask Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

McConnell's favorable ratings with Republicans nationwide plummeted from the 50s to the low 30s in 2017, after Trump and the Kentucky Republican tussled over their efforts to end the Affordable Care Act. After a little more than a year, McConnell's favorable ratings jumped back up into the 50s. He benefited from pushing through the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018.

Other Republican members of Congress have shown you can repair seemingly broken relationships with Trump. Others have demonstrated that you don't need to be Trump's biggest fan to win primaries.

There are likely to be many more battles in President Joe Biden's administration. Politics isn't static. There's no guarantee that votes on impeachment will be the determinative factor in primaries well down the road.

Keep in mind that most Republican senators voted against objections to the Electoral College results in January. They did so even as their voters believe, falsely, that there was wide-scale election fraud.

Republican senators have shown a willingness to go against Trump. So the idea that they aren't willing to in this situation just because they fear him seems a little hard to swallow.

So, to me, a plausible possibility remains what I posited at the top: Maybe many GOP senators actually really like Trump or at least buy his arguments on impeachment.

Either way, Republican senators realize that Trump remains a powerful force within the party.

Trump's actually the favorite for the 2024 presidential nomination. He is easily leading all primary polls. As I previously noted, Trump is in the best position of any former one-term president in the polling era looking to reclaim his party's presidential nomination.

There is little reason to believe Trump won't try to take advantage of these numbers. He loves the limelight and the adoring crowds. Soon enough, Trump will probably be on the campaign trail.

The only lesson Trump is going to learn from this impeachment saga is that he controls the Republican Party. Republicans basically passed up their best opportunity to rid themselves of him.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Why most GOP senators are standing by Trump'
Experts say that the storage in these reservoirs, among others, is receding at a far faster rate than anticipated, resulting in dire consequences in the future (DC Image)

Hyderabad: Live storage capacity in dams across the country and the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has taken a major hit, according to the Centre's report on 'Sedimentation of Reservoirs in India 2020'.

The report says that the major reservoirs in these states were in the list of reservoirs that have lost more than 50 per cent of its gross water holding capacity, dead storage and live capacity.

The Nizamsagar Dam in Telangana reported a 60.47 percent loss in its gross capacity upto the last survey conducted in 1992. The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam that was last surveyed in the year 2009, had recorded a 40.73% loss of dead storage. Whereas, Andhra's Vamsadhara Dam has had a 60.43 percent loss of live storage capacity, upto 2004.

As a result, experts say that the storage in these reservoirs, among others, is receding at a far faster rate than anticipated, resulting in dire consequences in the future. Several reservoirs may already be choked, given the data from surveys conducted decades ago for most dams, the report warns.

The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in its report from August 2020 had said that India can currently store 257 billion cubic metres (BCM) of surface water in its reservoirs, and that the quantity of water held in reservoirs or live storage could be extended to a maximum of 385 BCM in the near future.

The report also said that the Southern region, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with 36 reservoirs that are monitored by the Central Water Commission have a total live storage capacity of 52.81 BCM. As per the Ministry's last 'Reservoir Storage Bulletin' dated 13.08.2020, the total live storage available in these reservoirs was 32.08 BCM, that represents only a 61% of thier total live storage capacity.

The average rate of siltation in these reservoirs, for instance at the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and the reservoir it forms, has been observed to be more than what was designated as an acceptable rate of siltation. While the designed rate of silitation of thousand cubic metres per square km per year in Nagarjuna Sagar Reserovir was 0.22, the average observed rate of silitation came out to be 0.30.

Dead storage loss in Nagarjuna Sagar (40.73 %) is also a cause of concern. Dead storage is the total storage below the invert level of the lowest discharge outlet from the reservoir. It may be available to contain sedimentation, provided the sediment does not affect the lowest discharge.

Telangana is now planning to create vegetative cover along the catchment area, and also looking into the option of artificial reservoirs, construction of check dams on small streams to arrest sedimentation as much as possible, said Sridhar Rao Deshpande, OSD to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. "It is a big task to desilt these huge reservoirs. This issue is not just limited to India, but is a problem world over. However, the southern states of India are much more affected than the north, due to the Himalayan rivers there", he said. The way ahead to prevent these reservoirs from dying is only to work towards preventing further damage through sedimentation, he said.


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Two-time O'Brien Award of Horsemanship winner Kelly Hoerdt knows one thing for sure: success is truly a team effort.

Despite having driven 163 winners and achieving a 28.3 per cent strike rate as a trainer in 2020  impressive numbers in a normal season let alone one shortened by three months  Hoerdt truly believes his second O'Brien Award of Horsemanship is not an achievement he could have attained entirely on his own.

"I don't look at it as a personal achievement," Hoerdt said in a recent interview with Standardbred Canada's Rachel Oenema. "There's lots of people involved behind the scenes that contribute to this all the time. I'm very proud of it. I'm very proud of my team, and very proud of my partners on the horses, as well, for sticking with me."

Hoerdt enjoyed stakes wins with Go Nine O in the Cloverdale at Fraser and Criminal Record in the Brad Gunn at Century Mile. But the majority of his success in 2020 came as a result of consistent performance from his entire stable  including a four-race win streak from now 6-year-old pacing mare Cusdmagicdragon against mixed company in Open events at Fraser Downs. For the Beaumont, Alta.-based Hoerdt  who topped the 2020 driver and trainer standings at Fraser in addition to being among the most elite performers in Alberta, balance is the key to success, especially with a fairly large stable.

"I'm sitting around 35 or 36 horses right now," he said. I've got three broodmares, I've got some foals, the mares are in foal ... I've got about 10 two-year-olds, another half a dozen three-year-olds, and then some aged horses as well. I try to keep balanced  not just the horses themselves, but the ownership groups so that perhaps some of the older racing horses can help contribute to the training costs of the younger horses."

From his staff and partners to his knack for stable management, Hoerdt believes that horsemanship goes beyond the rigging and care and management of an equine athlete. A lot of it, he feels, is "having the right people in the right place" to enable an operation to achieve its highest heights week in and week out.

"There's a lot of really, really good trainers out there, and I know a lot of really good trainers in Alberta that are fantastic horsemen, but maybe they haven't put the whole package together," Hoerdt explained. "Really, it's about the people you surround yourself with, that's No. 1 for sure. Getting some good partners, the hard work, passion and ethic is something everybody has. Beyond that, you really have to have the people  your support group  to make you successful. There's no doubt about that, whether it starts at the bottom with the people that work with the horses and work for me  or, like I like to say, work with me or instead of me, sometimes  that's what the horsemanship is about."

Frankly speaking, there isn't much room for improvement for someone like Hoerdt, whose stable is at the top of its game with alarming consistency. Still, he maintains a mantra of striving to be the best he can be.

"I haven't really set numbers or anything along those lines like I'm sure a lot of people do," Hoerdt said about his goals for 2021. "I just try to do better. That's the main goal. Whether it be business or life in general or family or whatever it is, try to do better."

Speaking of trying to do better, Hoerdt has more than done his part to give back to the community at large  notably through the Family Picnic Fundraiser he hosted in partnership with Edmonton restaurateur Peter Giannakopoulos at Bedrock Training Centre. And, if the global climate should be more agreeable this year than the last, he hopes to be able to revive the benefit event, which, over the years, has raised nearly $200,000 to benefit Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton:

"It's been a fantastic experience. So many great people and so many great kids have come out and enjoyed the facility over that time.... As far as the future goes, for sure I'd love to host it out at Bedrock Farms again some time. We'll see  with the state the world is in right now and getting back to some kind of a normal, but I would definitely be up for hosting that again."

The full interview with Hoerdt appears below.

This is the third of a series of post-event video interviews with O'Brien Award winners, sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta. The 2020 O'Brien Awards gala was covered live on the SC website, with a photo gallery of winners and a virtual photo album as part of the coverage. The official list of winners is available here, with official vote totals posted here.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that the Opposition leaders were alleging that the TRS government has taken up massive irrigation project like Kaleshwaram only to earn money. (Photo: Twitter @Gandraofficial)

WARANGAL: The allegations made by Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka regarding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), that it has not provided water to even a single acre of land, were ridiculous, said Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Venkataramana Reddy.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said that the Opposition leaders were alleging that the TRS government has taken up massive irrigation project like Kaleshwaram only to earn money. When the Congress was in power, they too took up irrigation projects. Were those too intended to earn money for them, Venkataramana Reddy asked.

Because of the construction of Kaleshwaram project, drought-prone areas also received water. Farmers got the confidence that they could pursue agriculture and make a living.

Congress leaders are unable to digest the fact that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao would garner more public patronage because of the project. Opposition leaders must appreciate the good work done by the government but making such comments just to make their presence felt is not welcome, the TRS legislator said.

The MLA noted that the Kaleshwaram project also supported the Sriramsagar Project and is helping in irrigating till the last ayacut. Because of the availability of the copious amounts of water, there was good yield in maize and paddy crops. Even the Mid-Manair and the Lower Manair dams are receiving water because of the KLIP and water bodies in places like Nalgonda are also brimming with water.

Even the prices of agriculture lands have gone up considerably. The Telangana state is competing with states like Punjab in the production of food. However, Congress leaders are only criticising the good work. If they are really dedicated to the welfare of the farmers, they must fight in New Delhi against the new farm laws. Such behaviour will not be accepted by the farmers and people of Telangana. Venkataramana Reddy said.
has told millions of his supporters that he is ready for yet another phase of active public life after the US Senate acquitted him in his second trial.

Following four days of the trial, the 100-member Senate voted to impeach the former US president by 57-43 votes, 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

Trump, a Republican, is the first-ever president to have been impeached twice and the first president to have faced after leaving office.

Trump, 74, faced the charge of incitement of insurrection over the deadly January 6 assault of the US Capitol by his supporters.

Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people. There has never been anything like it! Trump said in a statement.

We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future, Trump, who received 74 million votes in the November 3 presidential election, higher than that of any president before him.

While Trump has remained quiet on his post-presidency life, speculation has been rife that he might run for the presidency in 2024 or encourage someone from his family to fight out a battle for the White House.

There is also some talk that the former president might part ways with the to form his own party. However, there has been no statement on this from Trump.

Our cherished Constitutional Republic was founded on the impartial rule of law, the indispensable safeguard for our liberties, our rights and our freedoms, Trump said.

After the end of his term on January 20, Trump flew to his resort in Palm Beach Florida, where he has been staying since then.

Trump has been banned from almost all the major social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook.

Meanwhile, several Republican leaders slammed the party's Senators who voted against Trump.

The seven Senators are Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey.

The Louisiana GOP immediately censured Sen. Bill Cassidy, while state party officials in North Carolina and Pennsylvania issued sharp statements expressing disappointment over the votes cast Saturday by Sens. Richard Burr and Pat Toomey, Politico reported.

The moves are the latest in a series of censures and disciplinary actions doled out to lawmakers deemed to be critical of the former president in the wake of the Capitol riot, it added.

Republican Senator John Cornyn said that he had concerns about this snap impeachment from the start.

The arguments of the House Impeachment Managers that the Constitution permits the impeachment of a private citizen, the free speech protections of the First Amendment don't apply, the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment is optional, and that the trial may include a presiding officer who also serves as a juror all were a bridge too far, 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.)
SAINT-ALPHONSE-RODRIGUEZ, Que. - Quebec provincial police say a two-time convicted murderer who escaped a minimum security facility north of Montreal last week has been found.

SAINT-ALPHONSE-RODRIGUEZ, Que. - Quebec provincial police say a two-time convicted murderer who escaped a minimum security facility north of Montreal last week has been found.

Police say David Everett Alexson was arrested early this morning in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, about 95 kilometres north of Montreal.

The 51-year-old had been last seen leaving the Waseskun Healing Lodge, a community residential and detention centre, around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

He is serving an indeterminate sentence for two counts of second-degree murder and for arson, escape from lawful custody, prison breach with intent, assault against a peace officer and break and enter with intent.

Provincial police Sgt. Claude Denis said Alexson could face additional charges of break and enter and escape from legal custody stemming from his flight.

He added that the inmate was found safe and sound, and that nobody was hurt as a result of the escape.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2021
February 14, 2021 / 11:23 PM IST

Support Price (MSP) system being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming. The 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 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 81st 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, 2020. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum
DULUTH, Ga., Feb. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pandemic has been hard on the hospitality industry and event promoters but now that Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens are now offering COVID-19 vaccines, the future of events and promoters is beginning to look positively different, says Ismail Sirdah.

Traditionally, the greater Atlanta area has hosted some of the finest live music events in the Southeastern United States and will keep doing it as usual now that the COVID-19 vaccines have been publicly released.

The State of Live Music

In August 2020, NPR noted that live music "currently sits, like so many, on the brink of catastrophe."

Dedicated musicians and organizers work around the challenges using virtual tools to deliver music to the masses and squeeze in meager wages to stay in business. Others temporarily change careers to pay the bills and hope to return to their "calling" once the COVID-19 threat has passed.

But the big question remains, "Will concerts and live events ever be the same?" Economists and industry experts disagree. As vaccines trickle into local communities, the immediate future of live music remains to be seen, notes Ismail Sirdah.

Music and Social Media

That said, listeners depend greatly on musical artists to cope with the current crisis. Media streaming is up significantly, especially with the proliferation of 5G mobile data.

Many musicians have turned to social media, acting as influencers to bring joy to fans and monetize their talents, says Ismail Sirdah.

Ismail Sirdah on Supporting Artists and Live Music in 2021

As North America emerges from this pandemic, listeners are likely to flock to live concerts once again. The "pent up demand" is very high, even though media streaming has provided much-needed emotional relief for the greater population.



But struggling artists will need the support from fans more than ever. Event planners like Ismail Sirdah will need to think carefully about how to make concerts sustainable in 2021. So on his support to artist he is promoting Grupo Firme a Mexican band playing in Nash Farm, Hampton GA.



Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12858073



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Ismail Sirdah Marketing & Event Promotion
An additional 15 fatalities have pushed Ghanas COVID-19 death toll to alarming 533, per the latest figures released by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).



The 10 February 2021 figures show that 718 new cases took the countrys caseload to 75,836 out of which 67,087 have recovered.



The West African nation is now battling with 8,216 active cases despite putting a ban on large social gatherings such as funerals, weddings and parties.



Airport situation



A total of 1,172 cases have been detected at the Kotoka International Airport since it was reopened in September. According to the GHS, 945 international travellers have so far recovered.



A total of 832, 760 tests have since been conducted through routine surveillance, enhanced contact tracing and international travellers.



None of the active cases is on a ventilator, however, the GHS is reporting 101 severe and 33 critical cases.



Regional distribution of cases:



Greater Accra Region  42,209



Ashanti Region  13,593



Western Region  4,442



Eastern Region  3,252



Central Region  2,550



Volta Region  1,323



Bono East Region  951



Northern Region  827



Bono Region  767



Upper East Region  755



Western North Region  747



Ahafo Region  624



Oti Region  257



Upper West Region  257



Savannah Region  68



North East Region  42









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A subway stabber who killed two homeless people and slashed two others during a violent 14-hour spree has been charged with murder after he was arrested while covered in blood.

Rigoberto Lopez, 21, was taken into custody Saturday night at W. 186th St and Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights, according to the New York Daily News.

Police sources said Lopez, who is mentally ill, was charged on Sunday with murder and attempted murder after confessing to all of the attacks.

Lopez was reportedly arrested in Upper Manhattan, just blocks from where the bloody rampage began and taken into custody at the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights.

Police released an image of the knife on Twitter, saying: 'The suspect was found with this knife at the time of arrest which he used on the vulnerable.'

The fatal stabbings took place on opposite ends of the A subway line, which connects the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan with Rockaway, Queens.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Saturday that a 'surge' of 500 additional cops for the department's Transit Bureau would be immediately deployed across the city.

Scroll down for video

Rigoberto Lopez (pictured), 21, who is mentally ill, was charged on Sunday with murder and attempted murder after confessing to all of the attacks

Police released an image of the knife, saying: 'The suspect was found with this knife at the time of arrest which he used on the vulnerable.'

Lopez is accused of killing two homeless people and slashing two others during a violent 14-hour spree has been charged with murder after he was arrested while covered in blood. Police are seen patrolling a subway station in Brooklyn

During a news conference on Saturday, police told reporters that the violent stabbing spree started at around 11:20am on Friday.

That's when a 67-year-old man was stabbed by an assailant at the 181st Street A-line subway station.

The victim is expected to survive, according to police.

He told cops that his attacker had shouted 'I am going to kill you', before he was stabbed in the right knee and left buttock, New York Post reported.

The next attack took place before midnight, when authorities found a man stabbed to death in his seat on the A train at the Mott Avenue station in Far Rockaway, Queens.

The victim died of stab wounds to his neck and torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just two hours later, a 44-year-old was found unconscious after she was stabbed while riding the A train at the 207th Street Station in Upper Manhattan.

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Just a few minutes later, a 43-year-old man was randomly stabbed at the A subway station on West 181st Street in Manhattan.

The man was rushed to hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Police patrol the A line subway train bound to Inwood on Saturday, after NYPD deployed an additional 500 officers into the subway system

Police are seen on the A line subway train bound to Inwood on Saturday looking for the subway slasher

A man was found stabbed to death before midnight on Friday at the Mott Avenue Beach subway station in the Far Rockaway section of Queens - the southernmost tip of the A subway line. The station was closed as police investigate

The slashing spree sparked a massive manhunt and an outcry for safer subways.

Officers were seen patrolling subway stations across the city looking for Lopez before he was arrested.

The NYPD plans to deploy an additional 865 officers to patrol the subway system on Monday.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an uptick in violent incidents inside the largely desolate subway stations as ridership has plummeted due to fears of getting infected.

Transit workers have been demanding that the 24-hour subway schedule be resumed after several reported being assaulted during the overnight hours when trains are shut down for COVID-19 cleanings.

The union representing Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers who operate the city's public buses and subways are assaulted, harassed, spit upon, and in severe cases nearly killed by assailants in largely empty stations.

In November, the New York Police Department said that it would add around 200 cops on its patrols of subway stations after a series of disturbing incidents.

Noel Quintana, 61, was on a Manhattan subway that was taking him to work in Harlem last Wednesday when an unknown attacker kicked his bag and then whipped out a box cutter and slashed him across the face from ear to ear.

Last Thursday morning, another woman was pushed in front of a train at Union Station in Lower Manhattan.

The woman, in her 40s, miraculously survived by rolling between the tracks as the train passed over her.

Officers with the NYPD patrol the Jay Street Metro Tech station in Brooklyn on Saturday, looking for the suspected subway slasher

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea addresses the media about the recent crimes within the subway system at NYPD headquarters in New York on Saturday

A suspect, Aditya Vemulapati, was held at the scene by transit workers and is charged with attempted murder, felony assault, and reckless endangerment. His last known address is in Michigan and he is believed to be homeless.

According to the NYPD, there were 16 subway pushing incidents in all of 2019. So far this year, there have been just as many.

On Christmas Eve, Narinder Kumar, 70, an MTA station agent, was pushed onto the subway tracks at the Nassau Avenue G subway stop in Brooklyn at around 3am.

Kumar was lucky to be alive though he suffered a fractured spine and head injuries. Fortunately, he missed the electrified third rail.

The alleged assailant, Jhonathan Martinez, 27, was trying to get onto one of the trains, which are only available for first responders and transit workers during the overnight hours.

Martinez was charged with assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.

On August 5, Reggie Frazier, a father of three who lost his 21-year-old daughter last year to COVID-19, was sweeping up at the Dyckman Street subway stop in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan at around 2:15am - more than an hour after the last trains stopped running for the day.

'Yo, man, no trains after 1am,' Frazier, 61, told a man who wandered into the station, according to THE CITY.

According to Frazier, the man responded: 'Shut the f*** up, I'll punch you in the face.'

'I said, 'I don't want to fight you, man, I'm at work',' Frazier told The City. 'But he grabbed a crate and started swinging.'

The man attacked Frazier with a milk crate. As Frazier tried to escape, he tore a tendon in his right knee. Since that day, he has not returned to work.

'I wasn't sworn into this job to take beatdowns,' he said.

The man identified as Frazier's assailant, 36-year-old Ramon Garrido, was arrested and charged.

Alexander Jaiserie, a 23-year-old MTA train operator, told THE CITY that he and a conductor were assaulted in the early morning hours of July 10 after their empty No. 7 train pulled into the Flushing-Main Street station in Queens.

'Leaving Willets Point, we heard of a disturbed person causing problems at Flushing Main and a request for police to come to the station,' he said.

'So we knew there was somebody causing issues and to be aware of that.'

According to Jaiserie, a man on the platform blocked him and the conduct from leaving the train's first car.

As they tried to walk between subway cars, the man pounced. He then lunged once again at the two transit workers as they emerged onto the platform.

The man fled and no one has been charged.

Subway crimes are down more than 50 per cent so far in 2021 from the same period last year - but ridership is down roughly 70 per cent in the pandemic, suggesting the crime rate per passenger may have actually increased.
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Amid pandemic Goethe gives life to cinema View(s):

Jai Bhim Comrade- Indian Documentary film on Ramabai Killings

While Covid-19 pandemic has hit everything including cinema and theatre performances, Goethe Institute in Colombo continues with its cultural programme and presents online film screenings. Internationally awarded Hindi documentary film Jai Bhim Comrade directed by Anand Patwardhan will be screened online at 5 pm on February 17.

This 2011 film begins with a description of police violence in the 1997 Ramabai killings won rave reviews and won a multiple awards at a number of film festivals including the Best Film, at Film South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal, the Best Film at Mumbai International Film Festival, the Best Documentary at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Bartok Prize at Jean Rouch International Film Festival, Paris, France, the Special Jury Award at the National Awards, India and the Golden Camel award at the Jaipur International Film Festival.

For thousands of years Indias Dalits were abhorred as untouchables, denied education and treated as bonded labour. By 1923 Bhimrao Ambedkar broke the taboo, won doctorates abroad and fought for the emancipation of his people. He drafted Indias Constitution, led his followers to discard Hinduism for Buddhism. His legend still spreads through poetry and song. In 1997 a statue of Dr. Ambedkar in a Dalit colony in Mumbai was desecrated with footwear. As angry residents gathered, police opened fire killing 10. Vilas Ghogre, a leftist poet, hung himself in protest. Jai Bhim Comrade shot over 14 years, follows the poetry and music of people like Vilas and marks a subaltern tradition of reason that, from the days of the Buddha, has fought superstition and religious bigotry.

Anand Patwardhan has been making political documentaries for over four decades pursuing diverse and controversial issues that are at the crux of social and political life in India. Many of his films were at one time or another banned by state television channels in India and became the subject of litigation by Anand who successfully challenged the censorship rulings in court.

A BA Graduate in English Literature from Bombay University in 1970, Ananda earned his Masters degree in Communications from McGill University in 1982.Anand has been an activist ever since he was a student  having participated in the anti-Vietnam War movement; being a volunteer in Caesar Chavezs United Farm Workers Union; working in Kishore Bharati, a rural development and education project in central India; and participating in the Bihar anti-corruption movement in 1974-75 and in the civil liberties and democratic rights movement during and after the 1975-77 Emergency. Since then he has been active in movements for housing rights of the urban poor, for communal harmony and participated in movements against unjust, unsustainable development, miltarism and nuclear nationalism.

The film could be watched by a Vimeo live link which will be available on Sri Lanka Goethe Institute website on February 17 at 5:00 p.m.




Groups: The Fight for $15 & CA Poor People's Campaign



Date: Tuesday 2/16, 11:30 AM - 1 PM PT



Location: McDonald's - 1249 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, 95035

(Decorate cars 11:30 AM - noon, Action starts at noon)



Two worker leaders are going on strike because management at McDonald's at the Great Mall Milpitas is not providing PPE or paid sick leave. There have already been 3-4 positive cases of COVID at this McDonald's. One of the work leaders and her husband both tested positive for COVID.



This protest is part of a nationwide Fast food workers strike for $15 an hour, COVID-safe workplaces, and respect on the job. #FightFor15 workers have been fighting too long

for higher wages.



If you have questions or want more info, you can contact Kaela

at



MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED!



Twitter post here:



_____________



SAFETY DURING COVID-19



Masks & Social Distancing is Required at All Times



If you have the following symptoms, please DO NOT participate in person. Even if you test negative for COVID-19 but have these symptoms, please refrain from in-person actions:

--Fever

--Shortness of breath

--Cough

--Headache

--Loss of smell or taste



CDC: Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness.



CDC COVID-19 link:

_____________

Car Caravan Protest at McDonald's Great Mall Milpitas for Lack of PPE & Sick Leave for Workers During the Pandemic!Groups: The Fight for $15 & CA Poor People's CampaignDate: Tuesday 2/16, 11:30 AM - 1 PM PTLocation: McDonald's - 1249 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, 95035(Decorate cars 11:30 AM - noon, Action starts at noon)Two worker leaders are going on strike because management at McDonald's at the Great Mall Milpitas is not providing PPE or paid sick leave. There have already been 3-4 positive cases of COVID at this McDonald's. One of the work leaders and her husband both tested positive for COVID.This protest is part of a nationwide Fast food workers strike for $15 an hour, COVID-safe workplaces, and respect on the job. #FightFor15 workers have been fighting too longfor higher wages.If you have questions or want more info, you can contact Kaelaat kaela.sh [at] thefightfor15.org MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED!Twitter post here: https://twitter.com/fightfor15/status/1360229591197966339 _____________SAFETY DURING COVID-19Masks & Social Distancing is Required at All TimesIf you have the following symptoms, please DO NOT participate in person. Even if you test negative for COVID-19 but have these symptoms, please refrain from in-person actions:--Fever--Shortness of breath--Cough--Headache--Loss of smell or tasteCDC: Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness.CDC COVID-19 link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html _____________ For more event information: https://twitter.com/fightfor15/status/1360...

Added to the calendar on Saturday Feb 13th, 2021 9:03 AM
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Vietnam records 53 more Covid-19 infection cases, total tally reaches 2,195

53 more people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Vietnam, raising the total number of patients in the country to 2,195, the Ministry of Health reported on Saturday evening.













Illustrative photo





According to the ministry's report, 49 of the new patients are infected in the community including two in Ho Chi Minh City and 47 in Hai Duong Province.



The four imported patients include a 55-year-old Vietnamese woman, a 39-year-old American man, a 39-year-old Taiwanese woman, and an eight-year-old South Korean girl who recently arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.



The patients are now being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital for Covid-19 patients.



With these new infection cases, the number of imported Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 2,195, including 1,297 locally-transmitted cases with 604 cases reported since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 28.



As of 6 pm on February 13, a total of 1,531 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 129,098 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.

(Natural News) Google-owned YouTube has banned LifeSite News, one of the leading sources of pro-life news and commentary on the web.

(Article by Allum Bokhari republished from Breitbart.com)

Gualberto Garcia Jones, VP of LifeSite News, told Breitbart News that the site had anticipated censorship from Big Tech companies, and has already established a presence on alternative platforms including Gab, Rumble, MeWe, and Telegram, and encouraged readers to follow them there.

The truth is, weve been anticipating this for some time, said Garcia Jones. YouTube, along with other Big Tech corporations, are simply not interested in allowing anyone to dissent from their state-approved, liberal ideology.

Fortunately, weve already taken preemptive measures to ensure the truth will continue to reach the ears of those most in need of it in these dictatorial times.

In a comment to Breitbart News, a YouTube spokeswoman, said that LifeSite was banned from the platform due to violations of its COVID-19 misinformation policy.

In accordance with our long standing strikes system, we terminated the channel LifeSite News Media for repeatedly violating our COVID-19 misinformation policy, which prohibits content that promotes prevention methods that contradict local health authorities or WHO, said the spokeswoman.

Any channel that violates our COVID-19 misinformation policy will receive a strike, which temporarily restricts uploading or live-streaming. Channels that receive three strikes in the same 90-day period will be permanently removed from YouTube.

Google is becoming increasingly aggressive in its censorship policies. As Breitbart News recently reported, the market-dominating tech giant recently rolled out a new censorship regime for its main search engine, along with a list of new policy violations that could see websites suppressed in search results:

The list, published in full on Googles support website, includes the following: Discover policy violation: Adult-themed content

News and Discover policy violation: Dangerous content

News and Discover policy violation: Harassing content

News and Discover policy violation: Hateful content

News and Discover policy violation: Manipulated media

News and Discover policy violation: Medical content

Discover policy violation: Misleading content

News and Discover policy violation: Sexually explicit content

News and Discover policy violation: Terrorist content

News policy violation: Transparency

News and Discover policy violation: Violence and gore content

News and Discover policy violation: Vulgar language and profanity Publishers who have been hit with a manual action by Google will be able to appeal the decision by fixing whatever issue violated the policy and then submitting their website to Google for a review. Google states that it could take several days or a week for the tech giant to reach a final decision.

Garcia Jones said that LifeSite will not be demoralized by Big Techs crackdown, and will rise to the occasion.

Like Christ, we will never tire nor waver in bringing His teachings to a world in need, said Garcia Jones. If that means getting banned completely from social media, so be it. We rejoice at being persecuted for His sake.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
New Delhi, Feb 14 : With Delhi Police continuing with its investigations in the January 26 violence during the 'tractor march' in Delhi, it has announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of another key accused Lakhbir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana.

Delhi Police Crime Branch and Special Cell are conducting raids in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi-NCR in search of the gangster turned activist Sidhana, who has been in hiding since the violence on January 26. However, he has been posting videos on the social media.

Following the violence, Delhi Police had announced cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each for the arrest of Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh, and Rs 50,000 each for Jagbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Ikbal Singh for their alleged involvement in the violence that saw at least one death and injuries to scores of persons, including policemen.

Deep Sidhu and Ikbal Singh were later arrested in connection with the Red Fort violence and taken to the spot on Saturday by Crime Branch to recreate the crime scene.
WASHINGTON: The Democrats who prosecuted Donald Trumps impeachment trial faced puzzlement and criticism from senators on Saturday as they surprised most everyone Trumps lawyers and Senate Democrats included with an attempt to call witnesses, only to abandon it as lawmakers balked at the possibility of an extended trial.

The House impeachment managers opened the final day of the trial by announcing they would seek to depose Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., who had shared her account of a call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The House Democrats charged that Trump incited the violent insurrection, which left five dead, and the former president appeared to side with the rioters on the call.

Senators in both parties reacted with shock and frustration to the gambit, with many arguing that witnesses wouldnt change any votes and could extend the trial for weeks. Still, 55 senators voted to allow the testimony, with Senate Democrats saying they would support whatever the impeachment managers thought would be best.

But Trumps lawyers quickly threatened to seek votes on at least 100 witnesses on their own side, making clear the process would be both protracted and partisan. The standoff lasted more than two hours, with frustrated senators milling about on the Senate floor and questioning what they had even just voted to do.

After negotiations, Democrats agreed to read Herrera Beutlers statement into the record and forego witnesses completely moving the Senate to a final vote. A few hours later, the Senate voted to acquit Trump, 57-43, the majority falling short of the two-thirds needed for conviction.

The momentary chaos, and the House Democrats eventual retreat on witnesses, was emblematic of the prosecutors challenge throughout the trial. Most minds were made up before it even began, and the facts of the case were unlikely to sway Republicans who were defending Trumps actions. Still, the Democrats faced pressure from within their own party to present the fullest case possible for incitement of insurrection, with at least one Senate Democrat tweeting on Friday night that they should call witnesses.

What did Trump know, and when did he know it? tweeted Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, encouraging Democrats to suspend the trial and seek answers to questions that had come up.

But once the managers did say they wanted to call testimony and once the Senate endorsed the move the realization set in among all parties that calling witnesses would prolong the trial for weeks, open up the Republican defense to try to call dozens of their own and put off lawmakers work on COVID-19 relief and other legislation that is a priority for President Joe Biden. And, most importantly, Democrats were unlikely to win the two-thirds of the Senate they needed to convict under any scenario.

Senators endorsed the eventual deal. The House managers proved their case, said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. And when lawyers prove their case, you sit down. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said he didnt think anything would have made a difference with the folks on the other side.

Still, there was frustration behind the scenes, and even among the House Democrats, about what they should do. After a late night of discussions about how to address Herrera Beutlers claims, and an early morning meeting, the impeachment managers informed Senate Democrats five minutes before the trial began that they had decided to call witnesses, according to a person familiar with the discussions. After the vote, it was clear the managers had no plan, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.

White House officials, meanwhile, watched the drama over witnesses unfold but did not get involved in the decision-making, according to a senior administration official not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. Biden was spending the weekend at Camp David.

Democrats wanted to use the claims of Herrera Beutler, who had told the story before but issued a new statement Friday evening, that Trump defended the rioters in a call to McCarthy as they were breaking into the building on Jan. 6. There was also confusion over a call Trump made to senators as Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated from the Senate, and the House managers agreed to enter a log of the phone call into the formal trial record. The call log made clear that Trump sent a tweet attacking Pence two minutes before being told by a senator that Pence was being evacuated.

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager for the House, vented frustration over the back and forth on witnesses at a news conference after Trumps acquittal.

I made the call," Raskin said, throwing up his hands. If you want to blame somebody.

He said if they had needed witnesses to prove their case, then we would have gone all the way, he said. But we overwhelmingly proved our case.

Several senators agreed three of the seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump had voted not to call witnesses. One of those Republicans, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, said after the vote that he didnt think witnesses would provide information that would determine my final vote.

And Whitehouse appeared unfazed.

The House managers did a masterful job, he said after the final vote. They presented a complete and vivid case that spanned Donald Trumps cultivation of his stolen election lie, the incitement of his mob, and the deadly harm his mob perpetrated.

___

Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
UN urges to investigate escalation of violence in Colombia

Malaysia to open mega-centers for vaccination against coronavirus

Police find  5 million in cash in London apartment

French citizen to face trial in Iran on spaying charges

Over 60 children in UK undergo surgery due to TikTok challenge

Iranian Central Bank governor dismissed

Armenian opposition: The one who liberated Artsakh will not go to debates with the one who sold it

Iranian energy ministry: Iraq to allocate $ 125 million of frozen funds for vaccines

No new COVID-19 cases reported in Artsakh

Iran and Iraq to intensify cooperation and are ready for joint investment projects

Armenia ex-PM says at least 2 more secret documents signed but not published yet

Indonesia frees Iranian tanker 4 months later

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Second President of Armenia meets with residents of Ararat province

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

Armenian acting PM invites ex-presidents for debates

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: 4 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
Kathmandu, February 14

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 272,718 as of Sunday afternoon.

The ministry says 104 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 3,501 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 117,050 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 1,604 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 269,060 people have achieved recovery whereas 2,054 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 131 people have recovered whereas no deaths have been reported.

Over 50 people are quarantined across the country.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 87F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 55F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Kitty, my 18-year-old daughter, is a type 1 diabetic, an incurable but manageable affliction from which she has suffered since she was four.

It also means her immune system, like tens of thousands of other Australians, is significantly compromised, making her more vulnerable than the rest of us to COVID-19. She recently completed her VCE and is about to start studying at the University of Melbourne.

Melbourne has been plunged back into a five-day lockdown. Credit:Luis Ascui

Shortly after Christmas, she caught a throat infection. Because of the vulnerability of her immune system, that soon became a chest infection.

Last Thursday, hours before she was due to take a job interview, she woke up with a bad hypo; a condition to which all type 1 diabetics are vulnerable where their blood sugars drop to a life-threatening level. She could not remember her name, let alone the date or the name of the Prime Minister.
Rafe Swan/Getty Image

Three Bay Area men were arrested Thursday and more than $150,000 in merchandise was seized following the investigation of a large retail theft in Reno, the Golden Gate Division of the California Highway Patrol said.

When clothing worth an estimated $50,000 was stolen recently from a Lululemon store in Reno, some of the five suspects were recognized by store loss prevention investigators as repeat offenders with ties to the Bay Area, the CHP said.
Prime Minister on Sunday expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in a road mishap in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district and wished a speedy recovery for the people injured in the accident.

"The in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district is saddening. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I hope that the injured recover at the earliest," the Prime Minister tweeted today.

In a major road accident, 13 persons were killed and four were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck in the district on Sunday.

The incident took place at 3.30 am near Madarpur village in Veldurti Mandal of Kurnool district.

Earlier today, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had expressed deep sorrow for the loss of human life in the road mishap.

The Chief Minister instructed the concerned officials to expedite relief work and medical help, conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Kurnool Government General Hospital, the police had 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.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 06:43:50|Editor: huaxia

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Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2021. U.S. Senate voted on Saturday and acquitted former President Donald Trump, concluding his second impeachment trial which is the shortest one in the U.S. history. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate voted on Saturday and acquitted former President Donald Trump, concluding his second impeachment trial which is the shortest one in the U.S. history.

Seven Republican senators joined all the Democrats to vote "guilty," failing to reach two-thirds majority required for Trump conviction on the article of impeachment for inciting insurrection leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The 57-43 vote in the currently evenly split Senate yielded the most bipartisan margin in favor of impeachment conviction in the U.S. history.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer lamented Trump's acquittal, calling the Senate vote "un-American" and insulting to people who love the country.

"The former President inspired, directed, and propelled a mob to violently prevent the peaceful transfer of power, subvert the will of the people, and illegally keep that President in power," said Schumer moments after the upper chamber voted to acquit Trump.

Trump declared victory after surviving the impeachment trial for a second time, saying that his political movement has "only just begun."

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," the former president said in a statement.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump but sharply criticized the former president on Saturday for inciting the Capitol riot.

In a speech on the Senate floor shortly after the vote, McConnell said the rioters had been "fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth. Because he was angry he'd lost an election. Former President Trump's actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty."

"There's no question - none - that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their President," the top Senate republican added.

Trump was impeached on Jan. 13 by the Democrat-led House on one article of inciting insurrection leading to the Capitol riot which interrupted Congress' electoral vote count of Biden's victory. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the riot.

Trump is the first ever U.S. president to have been impeached and tried twice. Enditem
A Garda checkpoint on the Irish border at Lifford bridge in Co-Donegal

Donegal County Council is collaborating with Catalyst, formerly known as the Northern Ireland Science Park, to develop a potential cross-border enterprise space in Letterkenny and Derry.

The council issued a request for tender-seeking submissions to carry out an economic appraisal of the proposed project.

The cross-border enterprise space project would see the development of a 4,000 sqm building, known as the Beta building, in Letterkenny, and a similar size building at Fort George in Derry's centre.

According to documents, Donegal County Council hopes the buildings will help create new employment opportunities by providing "state of the art workspace/enterprise facilities".

It is expected the economic appraisal will investigate the need for each proposal element, including the Beta building and Fort George.

In a section regarding the project's background, Donegal County Council wrote the region is positioning itself as an "attractive alternative location for investment and growth". It added that Brexit had a significant impact on business confidence in the area, exacerbating its "already low levels of international competitiveness and innovation".

Donegal County Council added the development would contribute significantly to investment in Letterkenny and Derry City if successful. It said it would also help to stabilise employment opportunities "as we continue to evolve in a post-conflict/post-Covid society and region and identify the outcomes of the Brexit agreement".

Tenders must be in on February 26 and the successful company carrying out the appraisal is to complete the commission by April 16.

Chennai, Feb 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over the indigenously developed Arjun Main Battle Tank Mark 1A to the Army here.

Modi, who arrived here Sunday morning to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several key projects, handed over the tank to Army Chief General MM Naravane.

He accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO).

The Defence Ministry had recently cleared the induction of 118 Arjun Mark 1A tanks into the Indian Army, costing around Rs 8,400 crore.

The Prime Minister later proceeded to the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium to launch several projects in the poll bound state. He inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of 3,770 crore rupees.

He also flagged off passenger services from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. This 9.05 km long extension links North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.

Modi also inaugurated 22 km long fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. It will be an additional track to Thiruvallur districts meant to ease out traffic from Chennai Port.

Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthurai - Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur completed at a cost of Rs 423 crore is also being launched.

The electrification of this 228 km route will enable free flow of traffic without the need for a change of traction between Chennai Egmore and Kanyakumari.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras.

The Campus is to be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh sqm.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System, which is an important source of irrigation in the delta districts.

The modernisation of this canal will be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,640 crore.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Foreign Secretary has dismissed the idea of a blanket ban on travel into the UK ahead of the hotel quarantine plan kicking in.

UK nationals or residents returning to England from 33 countries will be required to spend 10 days in Government-designated accommodation from Monday.

Dominic Raab was asked if it is time for a blanket ban due to the South Africa variant of Covid-19 being detected in Austria for example which is not on the Governments red list.

Novotel Heathrow T1 T2 T3 hotel, which is being prepared for use as a Government-designated quarantine hotel when the scheme comes into effect on Monday (Steve Parsons/PA)

He told Sophy Ridge On Sunday on Sky News: Im not sure thats proportionate, and of course having blanket bans on any, for example, air travel into the UK would be very difficult for the supply chains, things like freight.

Mr Raab said the data is assessed very carefully and they want to make sure the measures are as targeted as possible.

He said: We think weve got the right balance  robust measures, but targeted measures.

Mr Raab said it is not yet possible to put forward a workable proposition regarding a vaccine passport.

Former prime minister Tony Blair had reiterated his calls for a global coronavirus vaccine passport scheme, writing in the Mail On Sunday: We have the technology which allows us to do this securely and effectively. The need is obvious. The world is moving in this direction. We should plan for an agreed passport now. The arguments against it really dont add up.

Asked if it will be put on the agenda at the G7, Mr Raab told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show: We can certainly discuss those things both internationally and domestically, but the reality is youve got to have a workable system, so its not something that I think yet is in a place where we can put forward a workable proposition that countries around the world would be able to rely on.

And the risk of course with anything like that is if you create something which isnt workable, that isnt dependable, it creates a false sense of security and no-one wants to do that.

Andrew Marr, right, interviewing Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (Jeff Overs)

On Swarbrick On Sunday on LBC, Mr Raab was asked about the idea of a domestic vaccine passport which people would need to show to go into a supermarket for example, and he said: Its something that hasnt been ruled out. Its under consideration, but of course youve got to make it workable.

He added: Im not sure theres a foolproof answer in the way that sometimes its presented, but of course well look at all the options.

Meanwhile, First Minister Mark Drakeford said there will be no quarantine hotels in Wales for the time being.

Speaking to Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mr Drakeford said there were no flights from red list countries coming into Wales, or from abroad, until March.

For several weeks to come, that will not affect us here in Wales, he said.

Mr Drakeford said he would have done the opposite to the UK Government in regard to its approach to overseas travellers coming to the UK.

He said: Their approach is to say that everybody can come in, other than the people on the red list.

I would have said nobody can come in other than a list of countries where we are absolutely sure that it is safe for people to come without the self-quarantine arrangements that have been suggested.

I just think we need to build the wall higher to make sure we are not vulnerable to new variants that could appear in any part of the world.

On Saturday, Heathrow Airport said significant gaps remained in the hotel quarantine plan and a spokeswoman said it is yet to receive the necessary reassurances from the Government.

On Sunday, the Heathrow spokeswoman said good progress had been made to address a number of issues.

Our key concern remains the ability of Border Force to cope, she said.

Queues at the border in recent days of almost five hours are totally unacceptable.

Ministers need to ensure there is adequate resource and effective processes at the border to avoid compromising the safety of passengers and those working at the airport, which could necessitate the suspension of some arriving flights.

One of the Heathrow Airport hotels taking part in the scheme is Novotel London Heathrow T1 T2 T3.

The hotel was charging 65 for members of the public staying on Sunday night, while travellers using it to quarantine from Monday must pay 1,750 for 10 days.

The PA news agency understands that the Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel is also participating in the programme.

Outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants have killed 13 Turkish hostages, identified mostly as servicemen and policemen, in a cave complex in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regions mountainous Gare area where the militants are known to have multiple bases, Turkish officials said Feb. 14.

The news has had a bombshell effect and risks escalating ethnic tensions between Turks and the countrys large Kurdish minority. The hashtag Kahrolsun PKK"  which is Turkish for May the PKK be damned  was trending on Turkish Twitter as Al-Monitor went to press.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu vowed to avenge the victims, saying all efforts would be made to capture Murat Karayilan, the head of the PKKs armed wing known as the Peoples Defense Forces (HPG), and to cut him into a thousand pieces.

If not may our faces be spat upon, Soylu said via Twitter.

Devlet Bahceli, the head of the far right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans top political ally, said, Nothing will be the same as before after this. Everyone should pick their side. Either treason or guidance. Either damnation or the people.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement that 48 PKK fighters were killed during Turkeys latest offensive against the group in Gare that was launched on Feb. 10. Three Turkish soldiers were killed during the operation. Akar said that 12 of the hostages had been fatally shot in the head and one other in the shoulder.

Akar said Turkey had launched the operation in self-defense and to verify intelligence concerning the whereabouts of the Turkish captives.

He said the operation had been completed and that all forces had returned to their bases.

The governor of Malatya province, where the bodies were taken for autopsies, named six soldiers and two police officers believed to have been taken by the militants around five to six years ago. Three of the victims remain unidentified. Turkey has been lobbying Baghdad to greenlight an operation against the PKK in Yazidi-dominated Sinjar. It may use the deaths as justification to launch such an attack, though the presence of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Sinjar complicates such plans.

President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, a close ally of Erdogan, has yet to comment on the carnage in Gare. Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has not commented either. KRG officials speaking off the record to Al-Monitor said they still dont know what happened exactly. Gare provides strategic access for PKK militants infiltrating Turkey from Iraq.

The HPG has denied killing the hostages. In a statement on its website, the group blamed Turkey and Akar for the deaths. The HPG claimed that Turkish war planes had bombed the camp where the hostage were being held on Feb. 10. It said some of the Turkish soldiers, policemen and members of the national intelligence agency MIT being held there were killed as a result of the bombings and during clashes when ground forces attacked the camp.

Turkish officials refute this version of events. But Akars words about verifying intelligence about where the hostages were being held, coupled with the HPGs Feb. 11 statement claiming that the camp had been struck, prompted speculation of a botched rescue operation. The authorities acted swiftly to snuff it out.

The Ankara chief prosecutors office launched criminal investigations against an unspecified number of individuals Sunday for sharing content deemed to be terrorist propaganda. This included what appears to be drone footage published by the HPG which allegedly shows before and after shots of the Turkish attacks on the camp in Gare as well as a video previously shared by the HPG in which one of the slain abductees, non-comissioned gendarmerie officer Semih Ozbey, appeals for help to secure his release.

Those being investigated over their tweets include lawmakers Huda Kaya and Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP). Gergerlioglu, who has made his mark championing the cause of the thousands of prisoners of conscience in Turkey, showed no signs of being cowed. So what if you launch an investigation into the truth. So what if you launch an investigation into demands for life, for peace. Decrying death, saying there could have been a solution, is this what is worthy of an investigation? he asked.

The HDP faces unremitting pressure with hundreds of its members, including elected officials and lawmakers jailed on charges of cooperating with the PKK. Bahceli is demanding its closure and will likely seize on what he called cave terror to that end.The HDP in a statement took aim at the government for spurning opportunities to secure the hostages freedom through diplomacy and undertaking military operations with unclear objectives instead.

Erdogan, whose poll numbers are wilting in the face of rising poverty and unemployment, may continue to resist Bahceli's demands. But he may well exploit public fury over the deaths to drive a further wedge in the oppositions continued efforts to unite against him and paint their collaboration with the HDP as more terror coddling.

The PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, has targeted civilians. But it does not have a history of killing hostages. Rather, it sees them as bargaining chips to relaunch peace talks with the government and to fend off attacks. It has freed captive Turkish soldiers in the past through the mediation of Kurdish politicians and rights activists.

It remains unclear how many Turkish nationals are still being held by the PKK. The last known abductions of Turkish officials took place in August 2017 when the militants nabbed two MIT officials in a sting operation near Sulaiymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Bhiwani: After stoking controversy with his they died of their own will remark against agitating farmers, Haryana Agriculture Minister Jai Prakash Dalal on Saturday (February 13) clarified that his statement was "twisted" and "wrong meaning" was given to it. He issued an apology to those who were hurt by his words.

During a press conference in Haryanas Bhiwani on Saturday, Dalal said that farmers would have died even if they had stayed back home.

"Would not they have died if they were at home? Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also. Out of one to two lakh, do 200 people not die in six months? Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill... They died of their own will. I have my deepest sympathies for them," Dalal said on being asked about the death of "200 farmers'' during the ongoing stir against farm laws.

Soon after the video of the Haryana Agriculture Ministers remark went viral on social media, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed Dalal, stating that such a statement can only be made by an "insensitive" person.

"These words can only be used by an insensitive man for agitating annadatas," Surjewala on Twitter. He also demanded Dalals resignation letter.

While giving clarification over his remarks, Dalal in a video said: "During the press conference, I condoled the demise of farmers who died during the protest. Even if a person dies unnaturally, it is painful. As far as the matter of giving the status of martyred is considered, the Jawans are given this status as the government has made policy for it."

"My statement was twisted and the wrong meaning was given to it. I saw the video on social media. I tender my apologies if somebody was hurt by my statement. As Haryana`s Agriculture Minister, I am working for the welfare of the farmers," he added.

Reportedly, several farmers who have been protesting against the Centres three farm laws on Delhi borders since November 26 have died of various reasons including cardiac arrest. The central government has offered to put the farm laws "on hold" for 12-18 months, an offer rejected by the farmers unions protesting against the laws. Several rounds of talks have been held with farmers over their demand for the repeal of three new laws.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,125 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 17 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Sunday.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by 126 , and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by nine.

There are also 56,905 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Sunday:

Total confirmed cases: 362,986

Total "probable" cases: 56,905

Total confirmed deaths: 8,663

Currently hospitalized: 875

Currently on ventilators: 142

Vaccine series initiated: 448,122 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 189,239

Presumed recovered: 380,673 as of Feb. 8 (updated weekly)

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Sunday report:

Avoyelles Parish: 213

Jefferson Parish: 116

St. Tammany Parish: 109

Orleans Parish: 73

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.
Trump's acquittal creates aftershocks for both parties; the DEMS will invariably face backlash as the trial goes sideways is bad for them. These developments come as the new administration is perceived as incapable and not in the Trump administration league.

On February 13, Donald Trump was proven innocent by his lead lawyers in the second impeachment. The Democrats failed to convict him and open up options for him; the DEMS and Biden administration face an unknown future.

What is next for U.S. politics

The U.S. is at its crossroads as ex-president Trump once again handed a defeat to the DEMS. More importantly, what happens to the GOP, and how the Biden administration frame it? Trump has become a shadow casting over Biden, reported MSN.

There exists a sharp contrast like how Trump treated U.S.'s interests better and had consistently improved international relations with allies adopting what he began. Many allies like French President Emmanuel Macron is getting fed up with the Biden administration as well.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump's acquittal in the impeachment trial sponsored by the DEMs, desperate to stop him, was more or less expected. But even then, there was always a chance of the Democrats pulling a fast one on the defense.

Trump denounced Pelosi and the House Democrats, who based the articles of impeachment over a false charge. He added the DEMS have embarked on the biggest "witch hunt." Not dwelling on his Democrat critics, Trump's acquittal created aftershocks to what comes next for the Make America Great Again.

Also read: Trump Defense Triumph: Ex-President Acquitted in Second Impeachment Trial, Conservatives Hail Victory

Unlike the dark America that is happening now in the new administration, the 45th president has plans. He said hard work will be done and this will be the vision for a pleasant future that will create unlimited possibilities for America.

Businessman Donald Trump is not done with the White House; in 2024, he teases another run that terrifies the DEMS. But, he was acquitted during the impeachment, and Democrat's loss only made him more compelling.

He left the White House on January 20 and has been staying at his posh Mar-a-Lago resort. Twitter decided to ban him as it sides with DEMS and Big Tech, cutting him off strategically from his numerous supports. Twitter lost a lot by trying to be woke, so did Facebook in cutting off the president.

The Republican party

According to Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, most of the GOP back him up. Only seven of the Republicans turned on Trump including Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney. Mitch McConnel voted against impeachment despite blaming Trump for the Capitol incident.

Trump's acquittal created aftershocks for all of American politics as the most influential politians. His next moves reveal how GOP and DEMS align to his influence.

Related article: Defense Attorney David Schoen Says Democrats Cannot Tie Capitol Breach to Trump

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Marie Nangle, a GP from Tullamore, receives her second dose of the Moderna vaccine from Kayte Gamble, a GP registrar, at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (PA)

Almost 5,000 Covid-19 vaccines are being administered to doctors and practice nurses at mass vaccination centres across the country this weekend.

The HSE is hoping that the vast majority of them will have had at least their first dose of the vaccine over the next two days.

The Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are being given at centres in Dublin, Portlaoise and Galway, with 1,800 expected to receive their second dose.

It comes as Taoiseach Micheal Martin urged the public to keep their guard up and protect the hard won progress as those vaccines are rolled out.

Mr Martin said: The recent spike in cases has pushed our frontline healthcare workers to the limit. But they have persevered.

There is hope of better times to come. Cases are falling and vaccines are here.

Over the next few months we must protect the hard won progress as those vaccines are rolled out, starting with our most vulnerable citizens.

Now is not the time to drop our guard. Now is the time to stick to the basics.

Among those helping to administer vaccines at the Portlaoise centre was Defence Forces doctor, Captain Fiachra Lambe.

He told the PA news agency: Its really positive. Lots of relief, lots of happiness, lots of people saying that it gives them a bit of hope for the future. Its a really nice thing to be involved in these days.

Expand Close Captain Dr Fiachra Lambe prepares to administer the Moderna vaccine at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Captain Dr Fiachra Lambe prepares to administer the Moderna vaccine at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (Brian Lawless/PA)

Its positive, its people seeing change in progress and seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Dr Lambe said the centre was running quickly and smoothly, and that lessons have been learned about the logistical approach from previous operations.

He said: Its been busy. But theres been lots of good admin and logistics. I think everybody learned how things did and didnt work from our last time out.

Speaking to all the people coming through, theres no time wasting. Theyre not getting any time to sit down or wait around before they get a vaccine. Its very productive, very slick.

People have nominated times from their first dose. So the logistical operation has really improved.

Dr Lambe was among eight Defence Forces doctors administering vaccines this weekend.

Six medical officers were deployed to the centres in Galway, Dublin and Laois to assist with the mass vaccination of GPs.

Another two were deployed to assist with vaccinations in nursing homes in Dublin and Kildare.

Tullamore GP Dr Marie Nangle was there to receive her second dose of the vaccine. She said the centre at Portlaoise was very efficient and well run.

Expand Close Dr Marie Nangle, a GP from Tullamore, receives her second dose of the Moderna vaccine from Dr Kayte Gamble, at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dr Marie Nangle, a GP from Tullamore, receives her second dose of the Moderna vaccine from Dr Kayte Gamble, at the GP vaccination clinic in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise (Brian Lawless/PA)

She said: Its great, its really good to have it. I thought it was so efficient. Im really grateful to everyone who organised it, it was really well run.

She added: I didnt actually have to wait around at all to receive my vaccine.

We went into a cubicle with another health care professional and got the dose.

Then theres a waiting areas being provided by the National Ambulance Service. You wait a prescribed amount of time to make sure theres no reactions. It was very quick, it was great.

She said having the vaccine will make a huge difference to her work.

She said: Its that reassurance, that youre kind of protected against it. It just makes things a lot easier.

I know we still have to wear masks, because theyre a bit unsure about whether you can still transmit it or not.

But you definitely feel a lot more confident, dealing with patients on a daily basis when youve been vaccinated.

Dr Katye Gamble received her second dose of the vaccine and was also on hand to administer it to the public.

She said: I think you feel far more reassured going into work yourself, when youre dealing with patients face to face. Its reassuring to know that youre protected.

I think the IT side of it, and the fact they had similar vaccinators to the last rollout in Portlaoise, the system was flawless today.

It moved very, very quickly and smoothly and there were no waiting times, which was great for the patients.

This weekend sees nearly 5000 vaccines for frontline workers in General Practices. Huge collaboration and meitheal spirit in Phoenix Park where Drs. Philip Crowley and David Hanlon join vaccinators volunteering their time to protect others. Ar scAth a chAile a mhaireann na daoine pic.twitter.com/9duqdUiPuz  Dr Colm Henry, CCO HSE Ireland (@CcoHse) February 13, 2021

Regina Leonard, a care worker at St Michaels House in Dublin, said she would now feel much more confident about going to work.

She said: It means that I feel more confident and safer in myself, going into my work. I also look after my dad, who has dementia.

After work I didnt feel confident going in to him, but hopefully now I wont be passing on anything. And its reassuring for my own safety as well.

I just feel so grateful that I was given the opportunity to get it today.

Saturday saw 66 further deaths related to Covid-19, the Department of Health said.

There were also an additional 1,078 confirmed cases of the disease notified in the past 24 hours.

Of the deaths recorded on Saturday, 41 occurred in February, eight were in January and another nine took place in November or earlier.

There has been a total of 3,931 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to date.

The number of people in intensive care units is down by two, to 171.
As Carnival celebrations were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, members of a samba school danced at Sao Paulo's Anhembi Sambadrome Saturday to support a vaccination campaign.

Dancers Paula Penteada and Reginaldo Pingo have been part of Vai Vai Samba school for the last 14 years.

This time they performed - without an audience - to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

"We are representing this hope that there will be vaccines for all," said Penteada.

A giant painting supporting the campaign has been made by dozens of samba school volunteers.

Luiz Alvaro, president of the company that runs Anhembi sambodrome, said he was sorry the avenue was empty this year but made clear it was time to "preserve health".

"Sambodrome presents itself as an awareness tool so we save lives, so next year we can celebrate freely," Alvaro 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)
FRANKFURT -- The European Union will fast track approvals of coronavirus vaccines adapted to combat mutations, the blocs Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

We have now decided that a vaccine that has been improved by the manufacturer on the basis of the previous vaccine to combat new mutations no longer has to go through the entire approval process, she told Bavarias Augsburger Allgemeine.

So it will be faster to have suitable vaccines available without compromising on safety.

The European Commission has come under fire from EU member states over delays to deliveries of vaccines which has seen the bloc lag behind countries such as Britain, a former member, and the United States.

Kyriakides is a member of a new task force, led by Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton, to eliminate bottlenecks in production plants and adjust output to new variants.

European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine export transparency, in Brussels, Belgium January 29, 2021. Photo: Reuters

While vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021 have started slowly, the second quarter would see a pick-up and by the end of September the EU expects to have received sufficient doses from licenced producers to cover over 70% of its population, Kyriakides said.

She also reiterated the Commission view that closing borders was not an effective weapon against infections.

I think it is wrong for us to return to a Europe with closed borders, as in March 2020, she said.

Germany will enforce entry bans on travellers from the Czech Republic and Austrias Tyrol region from Sunday to prevent the spread of new variants.
Boris Johnson says he has had some fantastic talks with President Biden on climate change (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Boris Johnson has said he has formed a good relationship with new US president Joe Biden, saying they have had some fantastic conversations on climate change.

In an interview with the American CBS network, the Prime Minister said that UK and US thinking had been coming together on a range of issues in recent weeks.

Im very delighted, to have a good relationship with the White House, which is an important part of any UK prime ministers mission, he said.

Expand Close Mr Johnson says the messages coming from President Biden are incredibly encouraging (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Johnson says the messages coming from President Biden are incredibly encouraging (Niall Carson/PA)

Ive had some good conversations already with President Biden  fantastic conversations about the way he sees things.

Theres been some important developments in the way the UK- US thinking has been coming together in the last few weeks, and particularly on issues like climate change, on Nato, on Iran, but above all, on the ways that the US and the UK are going to work together to deal with the environmental challenge that faces our planet.

I think some of the stuff were now hearing from the new American administration and from the new White House is incredibly encouraging and we want to work with the the president on that.

Mr Johnson, who hosts a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Friday, said that he also wanted to work with countries like the United States to ensure coronavirus vaccines were made available around the world.

After all the toings and froings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong and the American Constitution is strong and robust Boris Johnson

Theres no point in great countries like the United States, the UK, vaccinating our own populations if we dont ensure that everybody gets a vaccine, he said.

The Prime Minister sought to play down Mr Bidens past description of him as a physical and emotional clone of Donald Trump and the former presidents acquittal by the Senate on impeachment charges.

I think the clear message that we get from the proceedings in America is that after all the toings and froings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong and the American Constitution is strong and robust, he said.

Mr Johnson sought to reassure Mr Biden  who is fiercely proud of his Irish roots  that he remained firmly committed to the Northern Ireland peace process.

This is fundamental for us, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the peace agreement, the Good Friday process, the Belfast Agreement, these agreements are absolutely crucial, he said.

Pressed on his support for the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal agreement following the recent row with the EU over vaccines, he replied: We want to make sure that theres free movement, north-south, free movement east-west, and we guarantee the rights of the people of Northern Ireland, of course.
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Children who study our era a century from now will watch the videos we all saw of the Capitol attack, the unleashed barbarity of it, the mob searching for the politicians President Trump blamed most for his demise, starting with Mike Pence, the former vice-president, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Hang Pence, they chanted. Wheres Nancy?

For the lead attackers, this was an assassination attempt. And they came closer than we had dared to imagine.

Democratic prosecutors showed that Trump has blood on his hands, that he urged them on, that he let them rampage for hours without lifting a finger, and thanked them afterward, telling them he loved them.

But no evidence, no matter how strong, could produce a conviction in this case. And there is one reason for that: Jury intimidation.

In effect, this trial was fixed from the start. Not because of conspiracy; because of cowardice.

The Republican jurors know that Trump commands the partys base, and that the candidate he picks in Republican primaries have won 86 percent of their primary contests. Faced with a choice between protecting our democracy and protecting their careers, all but a handful chose their careers.

The threat to those careers is real. When Gov. Brian Kemp refused to help Trump steal Georgias vote, Trump vowed that Kemp would pay a price: Ill be here in about a year and a half campaigning against your governor, he said at a rally.

Some Republicans have retired rather than soil themselves with obedience, including Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee. Many more, though, have traded in their integrity in order to survive, none more shamelessly than Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

In 2016 he called Trump a xenophobic, race-baiting, religious bigot. But in 2017, when Graham criticized Trump over his comments sympathizing with the white supremacists in Charlotte, Trump lashed out at him, calling the criticism a disgusting lie and warning that the people of South Carolina will remember.

Graham flipped and became Trumps chief advocate and defender, changing his moral convictions as if he were changing clothes.

This craven behavior invites Trump to run for president again in 2024 and threaten our democracy again. The nightmare is not over. And for that, these cowards will live in infamy.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
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Zimbabweans will join millions of people this weekend in celebrating Valentines Day. VOA's Heather Maxwell gives us more in this top 5 music special. #voavalentinesday2021

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Entertainment Tonight correspondent Lauren Zima broke her silence over her boyfriend Chris Harrisons controversial comments about racism that led to him temporarily stepping down as the host of The Bachelor.

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What Chris said was wrong and disappointing, Zima, 33, wrote in an Instagram Story post on Saturday, February 13. Defending racism can never happen. Accountability comes first, whats next is learning and growth.

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Her comments about her boyfriend of more than two years came hours after the Bachelor Nation host, 49, announced via Instagram that he is stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the After the Final Rose special, which is set to air soon as part of Matt James Bachelor season.

Courtesy of Lauren Zima/Instagram

My ignorance did damage to my friends, my colleagues and strangers alike, Harrison wrote on Saturday. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke. I set standards for myself and I have not met them. I feel that with every fiber of my being.

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The TV personality got backlash earlier this week for telling Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay in an interview for Extra that we all need to have a little grace, a little compassion, a little understanding for James Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell amid claims that she previously liked racially charged posts and bullied a high school pal for liking Black men.

Fans and members of Bachelor Nation slammed him for his comments, prompting the Texas native to publicly apologize on Instagram on Wednesday, February 10.

I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology, he wrote. I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday, I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed. While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf.

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He continued, What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has first hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.

Kirkconnell spoke out on Thursday, February 11, after photos surfaced of her at an antebellum-themed party at a Georgia plantation in 2018.

While there have been rumors circulating, there have also been truths that have come to light that I need to address. I hear you, and Im here to say I was wrong, she wrote on Instagram. At one point, I didnt recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesnt excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Josephine County Rural Metro Fire reports a good Samaritan pulled a driver from a burning vehicle, after it left the road and hit a tree along Interstate 5 near milepost 66.

The impact caused the vehicle to catch fire, and the driver was able to react quickly and pull the driver to safety.

Rural Metro Engine 7502 and Battalion 5 from the Monument Drive Station arrived and handled patient care and suppression of the fully-involved vehicle.

Upon arrival of an ambulance from American Medical Response, the driver was transported to Three Rivers Hospital with serious injuries.

Police report a RM firefighter assisted with the transport, an investigation for the cause of the crash is being handled by OSP.
Milly Dowler's killer Levi Bellfield is set to be charged with a string of attacks on other women, it has been reported

Milly Dowler's killer Levi Bellfield is set to be charged with a string of attacks on other women, it has been reported.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police are said to have written to the brutal killer to tell him about their investigation and are set to question him, according to The Sun.

Bellfield, 52, was found guilty of the murder of 13-year-old Milly in 2011.

He was also convicted of the murders of French student Amelie Delagrange, 22, in 2004, and Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2008.

He is one of around 50 British prisoners serving a whole life sentence, meaning he will never be released.

When he was initially convicted, Bellfield was suspected of dozens of other assaults.

Women who have survived attacks which have remained unsolved include Sarah Spurrell, Edel Harbison, Dawn Brunton and Jessie Wilson.

Ms Spurrell was 23 when she hit over the head in Hastings, East Sussex, in 2004.

She has previously called for her case to be reopened, stating she was '100 per cent sure' Bellfield was her attacker.

Bellfield, 52, was found guilty of the murder of 13-year-old Milly in 2011

He was also convicted of the murders of French student Amelie Delagrange (left), 22, in 2004, and Marsha McDonnell (right), 19, in 2003

By then, Bellfield, who is imprisoned at HMP Frankland, had already killed Milly, in 2002, and Ms McDonnell in 2003.

In 2004, Bellfield tried to murder Kate Sheedy, then aged 18, by running her over. He went on to kill Amelie Delagrange that same year.

Also in 2004, Edel Harbison, then aged 34, was left with multiple skull fractures after being injured in a hammer attack.

Police reportedly want to quiz Bellfield over the attack on Ms Harbison.

Also attacked was Jessie Wilson, who was bludgeoned near her home in South-West London in 2003.

Later that year, in November, Dawn Brunton was attacked in West London and suffered a fractured skull.

Police also think he could have assaulted Corrine McGregor in 1994 and is suspected of the murder of Judith Gold, 51, in 1990.

The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.

Milly was snatched from the street while on her way from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.

Bellfield was found guilty of abducting and killing the 13-year-old following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2011.

He was already serving a whole life term for the murder of Ms McDonnell and Ms Delagrange and attempting to murder Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2004, when he went on trial for killing Milly.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police are said to have written to the brutal killer to tell him about their investigation and are set to question him. In 2004, Bellfield tried to murder Kate Sheedy (pictured), then aged 18, by running her over. He went on to kill Amelie Delagrange that same year

Last month, there were reports that Bellfield had been offered the coronavirus jab, even as millions of law-abiding Britons waited for theirs.

He was said to have received a letter saying he will be vaccinated in the coming weeks, the Sun reported.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett told the newspaper that it 'beggars belief' that a 'child murderer' could have the vaccine 'early'.

But the Ministry of Justice insisted in a statement posted on Twitter that prisoners were not getting preferential treatment for a coronavirus jab.

Priority for the vaccines has been determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, with everyone over 70 and clinically extremely vulnerable people all planned to get a first dose by February 15.

It means prisoners in those categories will get the vaccine before ordinary Britons who do not have health conditions or are not elderly.

Bellfield reportedly complained that he should have 'already' had the jab because it 'can spread like wildfire and we are in danger'.
At least 60 people have been injured in Afghanistans Herat province after a fuel tanker exploded on Saturday, February 13. The twin explosions resulted into a massive fire that consumed more than 500 trucks loaded with natural gas and fuel according to Afghan officials. The first explosion erupted around 1:10 pm Afghanistan time while the second occurred nearly half an hour later at 1:42 pm Afghanistan time. The number of potential casualties is not yet confirmed. "For the time being, we cant even talk about the casualties," Wahid Qatali, Herats provincial governor told the Associated Press.

Observed by NASA

The reason behind the blast has yet not been confirmed. However, both the blasts which jolted Islam Qala, a town located on the Afghanistan Iran border, were powerful enough to be observed by the NASA satellites from the outer space. The fire continued after nightfall and forced Afghanistan to shut down its electrical supply from Iran, leaving Herat in the dark, said Wahidullah Tawhidi, spokesman for the Ministry of Power Supply. The blazes were eventually brought down the next morning with the help of resue forces n firefighters from Iran, The Guardian reported citing Herats governor.

Read: Donald Trump's Lawyers Blast 2nd Impeachment Case

Read: Beirut Victims Want The Truth 6 Months After Blast

Image: AP

The Herat border crossing is a major transit point between both the country and stretches as far as 120 kilometers. The United States allows Afghanistan to import fuel and oil from Iran as part of a special concession that exempts Kabul from US sanctions against Iran. Satellite photos were taken Saturday and assessed by the AP, before the explosion showed dozens of tankers parked at the border crossing.

Image: AP

Read: CWC Conducting Simulation Studies On New Glacial Lake; Examining Possibility Of Controlled Blast

Read: Somalia: Explosion Near Presidential Palace In Mogadishu Leaves 6 Injured
Seven Senate Republicans voted to convict Trump, the most senators of a presidents own party to turn against him in an impeachment trial in American history

Once again, former president Donald Trump beat the rap and once again he wasted no time claiming victory. He released a statement one minute before the presiding officer in the Senate even officially declared that he had been acquitted Saturday, denouncing his impeachment as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country.

But this one was still different. This one will come with an asterisk in the history books if not a dark stain. This time Trump did not have the East Room of the White House to summon allies for a celebration to crow about eluding conviction. This was the most bipartisan impeachment in history, and even the Republican leader castigated him.

This was an escape, not an exoneration.

The president, who emerged from last years impeachment trial feeling emboldened and used his office to take revenge against those he blamed for the charges against him, emerges from this one defeated after one term and secluded behind closed doors in Florida with no government power and an uncertain political and legal future.

He forced most Republican senators to stick with him in the trial, but few of them defended his actions, citing constitutional reasons for their votes.

No one condemned him in more forceful terms Saturday than one of those who voted to acquit him, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader who for four years held his tongue and worked in tandem with Trump but has since washed his hands of him.

McConnell accused Trump of a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty in trying to overturn an election and setting a mob loose on Congress to block the formalisation of his defeat, and he methodically demolished the former presidents defence point by point.

Theres no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, McConnell said. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president. And having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth.

But the sting of his rebuke was tempered by his vote, which McConnell explained as an unavoidable consequence of his belief that a Senate cannot put a president on trial after he leaves office.

Democrats excoriated him for trying to have it both ways, stiff-arming a toxic leader of his own party only when he was out of office without actually holding him accountable. But he also validated the Democrats case against Trump.

Nor was he the only Republican to do so. Seven Senate Republicans voted to convict Trump, the most senators of a presidents own party to turn against him in an impeachment trial in American history, following the 10 House Republicans who did so in the original vote a month ago.

And some of the other Republicans who voted for acquittal Saturday echoed McConnells reproval. The actions and reactions of President Trump were disgraceful, and history will judge him harshly, said Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio added, President Trump said and did things that were reckless and encouraged the mob.

Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager, pointed out that the 57-43 vote was the highest total for conviction of a president since Andrew Johnson was acquitted by a single vote in 1868 even if it did not reach the two-thirds required for conviction.

And Raskin argued that if only 10 of the Republican senators who voted for acquittal justified their decisions strictly on the same constitutional grounds that McConnell did, that would mean functionally two-thirds of the Senate concluded that Trump was guilty on the facts.

The defendant, Donald John Trump, was let off on a technicality, declared Representative Joaquin Castro, Texas, another manager.

But Democrats were not entirely sure whether to emphasize the result as a moral victory or condemn it as a shameful betrayal by Republicans.

Even as Raskin was citing McConnells comments as vindication of the managers case, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unexpectedly showed up at the managers post-trial news conference to upbraid McConnell for a very disingenuous speech in which he tried to have it every which way, presumably to assuage Republican donors.

Wary of losing McConnell, who almost certainly could have brought several votes with him and perhaps even enough to secure conviction, Trump uncharacteristically avoided antagonising Republican senators during the trial.

While he was forced to scramble to find lawyers willing to defend him and ended up putting his case in the hands of a personal injury lawyer from Philadelphia, Trump knew going in that he most likely had the votes for acquittal as long as he kept quiet.

His lawyers misstated facts and at times aggravated Republicans and Trump himself with their presentations, but they focused on rallying the partys senators to stick with him by characterising the trial as a hypocritical scam by Democrats out to get a political opponent: an argument that some Republicans were willing to embrace even if they did not want to defend Trumps specific actions.

The Democrats vindictive and divisive political impeachment is over, Senator Ron Johnson, Wisconsin, wrote on Twitter afterward. While there are still many questions that remain unanswered, I do know neither the Capitol breach nor this trial should have ever occurred. Hopefully, true healing can now begin.

Trump, of course, has rarely if ever been in the healing business. Now that he is off the hook in the Senate, he presumably will shed his reticence to speak out. His statement Saturday was another hint about a return to public life. We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant and limitless American future, he wrote.

Having failed to convict, Democrats hope that the trial nonetheless made it implausible if not impossible for Trump to ever run for president again as he has hinted he might do and that the images of the riot he encouraged will be seared into the pages of posterity.

He deserves to be permanently discredited  and I believe he has been discredited  in the eyes of the American people and in the judgment of history, said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic majority leader.

But the final judgments on the events of 6 January and his presidency have yet to be issued. Trump retains powerful support among the Republican base, as demonstrated when state party organs condemned and even censured their own representatives and senators who have broken with him since.

For many in the core Republican constituency, personal loyalty to Trump clearly matters more than party loyalty.

On the other hand, while he is free of the impeachment threat, Trump still faces possible legal jeopardy stemming from his efforts to subvert the election through false claims of fraud. Among other things, there are criminal investigations in Washington about the riot and in Georgia about Trumps efforts to pressure state election officials to overturn the results of the states vote.

Legal experts said the former president could likewise be exposed to civil litigation from victims of the Capitol rampage. And there are continuing investigations of his finances in New York.

McConnell seemed to encourage the authorities to pursue Trump with criminal prosecution, which he said was the constitutionally appropriate means for holding a former president responsible for his actions. Accountability, he said, was still possible.

He didnt get away with anything  yet, McConnell said. Yet.

Peter Baker c.2021 The New York Times Company
The spikes that adorn the outer surface of the coronavirus, which impart the look of a corona, when viewed through an electron microscope. CDC photo
Paris, Feb13, 2021 (SPS) - The Sahrawi community in Europe has denounced the brutal and systematic repression against Sahrawi human rights defenders in the occupied areas of Western Sahara, on the ground of their peaceful advocacy for enabling the Sahrawi people of their right In self-determination and independence.

In a statement, a copy of which obtained by SPS Monday, The Sahrawi community has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross, to protect the Sahrawi civilians by dispatching a mission to the occupied territories of Western Sahara to view the situation on the ground.

It has also appealed all HR NGOs to urgently intervene in order to open the region to international observers and press to find out what is really going on and put an end to the brutality and intimidation that our people are subject to at the hands of the occupation forces.SPS

125/090/TRA


Ships from mainland China, called sand dredgers, have been appearing around Taiwanese islands, worrying Taiwans coast guard.

The ships have been entering waters near Taiwans Matsu Islands since June of 2020. They are pulling up sand from the sea bottom for building projects in China. But, the activity is interfering with marine life and underwater communication lines near the islands.

Some experts believe the activities show that mainland China has begun a campaign of gray-zone warfare against Taiwan. Gray-zone warfare means causing problems for an opponent without fighting them in battle. To stop the Chinese, Taiwans coast guard now patrols the islands 24 hours a day, every day.

The dredging is a gray-zone strategy said Su Tzu-yun. He is an associate researcher at Taiwans military research center, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research. You dredge for sand on the one hand, but if you can also put pressure on Taiwan, then thats great, too. he added.

The Matsu islands are not the only places where the Chinese are dredging. Taiwans coast guard says China has also been dredging in waters that are not deep near the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Strait separates mainland China and Taiwan.



A grey-zone campaign

Last year, Taiwan forced nearly 4,000 Chinese dredgers and sand-transporting ships to leave their waters. That is a 560 percent increase in activity from 2019. Taiwans coast guard said most of the ships were close to the median line.

The fight over sand is just part of the campaign. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory. It has been using other gray-zone actions to wear down the island of 23 million people, some officials say.

In recent months, Chinas military has been sending warplanes toward the island. Almost every day, Taiwan has been forced to deploy military aircraft to meet the threat. The additional action is pushing its small air force beyond its normal ability.

Taiwanese military officials and Western experts say Chinas gray-zone activities are meant to exhaust the will of the islands military. The Chinese want the world to become used to their campaign against Taiwan, they believe. Chinas dredging, said one Taiwanese security official, is part of their psychological warfare against Taiwan.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement to Reuters that Taiwans claims that mainland China is permitting sand-dredging boats near Matsu and the median line are untrue. The office said it has taken steps to stop illegal sand-dredging.

The office also said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. It accused Taiwanese officials of using their claims of control over the waters to detain mainland boats.

The Matsu Islands are almost an hour by plane from Taipei, Taiwans capital. They are one of several island groups close to Chinas coast that Taiwan has governed since 1949, when the Chinese civil war ended.

Some of the Matsu Islands are only nine kilometers from mainland China. They are protected by just nine coast guard ships. Taiwanese officials say that on some days the coast guard faces hundreds of Chinese ships in and around the islands waters. Taiwan claims its waters extend six kilometers from the Matsu Islands. China does not recognize any claims of sovereignty by Taiwan.

At one time last year, more than 200 Chinese sand-dredging and sand moving ships were seen operating south of Nangan, the main Matsu island, three Taiwanese officials told Reuters.

Taiwan seized four Chinese ships and detained 37 crew members last year, the coast guard said. Ten of those arrested were given sentences of six to seven months in prison. Others are still on trial, the coast guard said.

Taiwan is in the process of building up its coast guard, partly because of the dredging threat from China. In December, President Tsai Ing-wen said more than 100 new coast guard ships will be built in the next 10 years. She promised to stop Chinese dredging in Taiwans waters.

Recently, larger patrol boats were sent to temporarily reinforce the Matsu coast guard, whose 117 members are now carrying out 24-hour patrols.



Economic cost to the islands

The dredging is also hurting the islands economy. The Matsu Islands are popular with vacationers and 13,300 people live on them.

Local people say Chinas dredging is hurting their businesses. Chen Kuo-chiang has a seafood restaurant on Nangan. He says the dredging has led to a big decrease in the number of fish he catches off the island.

He also fears a Chinese invasion. We dont want to be ruled by mainland China, he said. We have freedom, which is limited over there.

The coast guard said most of the Chinese ships that transport the sand go to the Chinese city of Wenzhou. There is a large land reclaiming project for a new 66 square kilometer economic zone.

Wang Chien-hua is head of economic development for the Matsu islands. Wang said Taiwan asked for a meeting with officials at the Chinese port city of Fuzhou to discuss the dredging, but it was postponed indefinitely by the officials without an explanation.

Im Susan Shand.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

dredge v. to remove mud from the bottom of a river, lake or the sea to deepen a waterway or build up land

marine adj. related to the sea

patrol v. to go through an area to guard it and to make sure it is safe

median n. the middle

strategy n. a careful plan or method for reaching a goal over a long period of time

exhaust v. to use up someones mental or physical energy

psychological adj. of or related to the mind

indefinitely adv. for a period that might not end

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Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah. (Image: PTI)

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on February 14 accused the administration of "locking up" his whole family at their residence without any explanation.

In a series of tweets, Abdullah lashed out at the Centre with the "new J&K" jibe, claiming that he, his father and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, his sister and her children were barred from leaving their houses.



This is the naya/new J&K after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. Its bad enough theyve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, theyve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well. pic.twitter.com/89vOgjD5WM

 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

"This is the 'naya/new J&K' after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. Its bad enough theyve locked my father (a sitting MP) and me in our home, theyve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well," he tweeted.

"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house arent being allowed in and then you are surprised that Im still angry & bitter (sic)," Abdullah said on Twitter.

Also read: Article 370 repeal would never be reversed, says Amit Shah



Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house arent being allowed in and then you are surprised that Im still angry & bitter.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 14, 2021

Abdullah, Farooq and most of the other J&K leaders were either detained or placed under house arrest for several months after the abrogation of Article 370. The latest to be freed was former chief minister and Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) chairperson Mehbooba Mufti - who was released in October 2020.

Abdullah's tirade against the Centre came a day after Mufti levelled a similar charge against the administration.

Mufti claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq, one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.

Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic), Mehbooba said on Twitter.
The U.S. Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday in his second impeachment trial in a year, with fellow Republicans blocking conviction over the former president's role in the deadly assault by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

The Senate vote of 57-43 fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection after a five-day trial in the same building ransacked by his followers on January 6, shortly after they heard him deliver a fiery speech.

In the vote, seven of the 50 Senate Republicans joined the chamber's unified Democrats in favoring conviction.

Trump left office on January 20, so impeachment could not be used to remove him from power. But Democrats had hoped to secure a conviction to hold him responsible for a siege that left a police officer and four other people dead and to set the stage for a vote to bar him from ever serving in public office again. Given the chance to hold office in the future, they argued, Trump would not hesitate to encourage political violence again.

Trump's attorneys argued that his words at the rally were protected by his constitutional right to free speech and said he was not given due process in the proceedings.

Earlier, the Senate reached an agreement to avoid witness testimony in the trial. Five Republican senators had voted with all 50 Democrats to hear testimony from witnesses  a surprising development, as the Senate was expected to hear closing arguments from each side, followed by a vote later in the day.

The vote to call witnesses came after Congressman Jamie Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager, announced Saturday that he wanted to subpoena Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state.

Beutler issued a statement late Friday that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told her Trump had expressed sympathy and admiration for the mob during a heated phone call between the two amid the unfolding attack on the Capitol.

"When McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the Capitol," the statement read. "McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters. That's when, according to McCarthy, the president said: 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

After taking a midday break, senators returned and announced they had reached an agreement that includes admitting Beutler's statement as evidence in the trial.

The move to call witnesses would likely have resulted in the trial continuing at least into next week.

McConnell tips hand on vote

Earlier Saturday, several U.S. news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had told his Republican colleagues he planned to vote to acquit the former president in the vote previously expected Saturday. Shortly after Trump was impeached a second time in January, McConnell wrote to his colleagues saying he had not made a decision about how he would vote at the Senate trial.

The Republican leaders' final vote in the trial could be crucial to the outcome. At least 17 Republican votes are needed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for a conviction, assuming all 50 Democrats vote to find Trump guilty.

Trump defense concludes

On Friday, Trumps lawyers wrapped up their defense of the former U.S. leader, denying he helped incite a deadly mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Trumps lawyers described the trial as a politically inspired and illegal witch hunt.

Like every other politically motivated witch hunt the left has engaged in over the past four years, this impeachment is completely divorced from the facts, the evidence and the interests of the American people, said Trump attorney Michael van der Veen.

He told senators that the former president had every right to dispute his election loss to President Joe Biden and that Trumps 70-minute speech just minutes before the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol did not amount to inciting the violence.

When Trump urged thousands of supporters on the Ellipse to fight like hell, the defense said it was no different from Democrats using similar rhetoric that could spark violence.

Trumps lawyers played a lengthy video montage featuring prominent Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, using the word fight without any context.

The video included many of the Democratic lawmakers who are the impeachment managers prosecuting the former president.

The defense presentation followed a powerful two-day prosecution by House Democrats linking Trumps rhetoric at a rally on January 6 to the actions of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol shortly afterward in an attempt to block certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

Impeachment prosecutors contended Thursday there is clear and overwhelming evidence that Trump incited insurrection by sending a mob of his supporters to the Capitol last month to confront lawmakers as they were certifying that he had lost the November election to Democrat Joe Biden.

In wrapping up his presentation, lead impeachment manager Raskin told the 100 members of the Senate acting as jurors they should use common sense on what happened here.

Raskin argued that Trump urged hundreds of his supporters to march to the Capitol on January 6 and then, when they stormed the building, smashed windows, ransacked offices and scuffled with police, did nothing for at least two hours to end the mayhem that left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Almost overnight, faculty created instruction models enabling students to complete their studies and receive a rich, comprehensive experience and continued their important research during the shutdown, including development of a COVID-19 saliva test by the RNA Institute.

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SC had said occupation of public ways in the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh locality here was not acceptable

Observing that democracy and dissent go hand in hand, the apex court had said constitutional scheme comes with the right to protest and express dissent, but with an obligation towards certain duties. (Photo:AP)

New Delhi: The right to protest cannot be anytime and everywhere, the Supreme Court said as it dismissed a plea seeking review of its verdict passed last year in which it had held the occupation of public ways during the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh here was not acceptable.

The top court said there may be some spontaneous protests but in case of prolonged dissent or protest, there cannot be continued occupation of public place affecting the rights of others. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Aniruddha Bose and Kirshna Murari said, We have perused the review petition and record of the civil appeal and are convinced that the order of which review has been sought, does not suffer from any error apparent warranting its reconsideration.

The bench, which has passed the order recently, said it has considered the earlier judicial pronouncements and recorded its opinion that the Constitutional scheme comes with a right to protest and express dissent but with an obligation to have certain duties. The right to protest cannot be anytime and everywhere. There may be some spontaneous protests but in case of prolonged dissent or protest, there cannot be continued occupation of public place affecting rights of others, the bench said, while dismissing a plea by one Shaheen Bagh resident Kaniz Fatima and others for review of last year's verdict of October 7.

The top court, which considered the matter in the judges' chambers also rejected the prayer for open court hearing in the matter.

The apex court had on October 7, last year held that public spaces cannot be occupied indefinitely and demonstrations expressing dissent have to be in designated places alone.

It had said occupation of public ways in the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh locality here was not acceptable.

Observing that democracy and dissent go hand in hand, the apex court had said constitutional scheme comes with the right to protest and express dissent, but with an obligation towards certain duties.
A 65-year-old Pakistani woman, who had managed to become an interim head of a village panchayat in Jalesar police station area, was arrested on Saturday, police said.

Bano Begum had become the interim head of Gadau village panchayat and was absconding since the registration of an FIR against her in January, Etah's SSP Sunil Kumar Singh said.

The FIR against Bano Begum had been lodged on the complaints of villagers who had said despite being a Pakistani national, she had contested the village panchayat elections and after the death of the elected panchayat pradhan, she had also become the interim panchayat head.

During the investigation, Police found that Bano Begum was a Pakistan native, who had married one Ashrat Ali of Etah on June 8, 1980. Since her marriage, she had been staying in India by repeatedly extending her long term visa, the SSP said.

Also read: 2 Years of Pulwama Terror Attack: What Happened and How India Responded to Killing of 40 CRPF Men

Officials said though her long-term visa was found to be valid, she had managed to get Ration and Aadhaar cards by providing false in formation. She had been elected the in terim head of Gudau village in Jalesar tehsil of Etah in January 2020 following the death of in cumbent Shahnaz Begum.

After getting an Aadhaar card, she got elected as a member of the village panchayat in 2015.

"On the complaints of Kuvaida Khan of the same village, it came to light that Bano Begum is living in the village under a long-term visa. She is not a citizen of India, and without being a citizen of India, one cannot contest any election," said Police.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Jalesar SP Verma said that Bano Begum was the interim village head for six months.

"The documents used in making the ration card and voter ID card are being examined. Her name has been removed from the voter list of the village panchayat. Her name is not on the voter list for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls," the SDM said.

The publicity-shy nightclub/hotel owner and gym pioneer Philip Smyth, who died in 2019, has left more than 23m in his will. Smyth, born in Longford, ran the Blinkers/Club 92 disco at Leopardstown Racecourse, Sachs Hotel - now rebranded the Hampton in Donnybrook, and the West Wood gyms.

He also engaged in a 30-year bitter feud with the late meat baron Hugh Tunney, his landlord at Sachs Hotel, which spilled over into accusations of drug dealing, money laundering for the IRA, clandestine meetings with the criminal known as The General and irregularities in the meat business.

Among those caught in the crossfire of untrue accusations levelled against Smyth were Brenda Flood, his personal assistant, and his brother Paul Smyth, a garda chief superintendent.

Flood is named as one of the two executors of Smyth's will, according to documents lodged in the Probate Office last week.

Smyth, who grew up in Longford, came to Dublin in the late 1960s and among his business ventures he acquired the leasehold to Sachs Hotel in Donnybrook from businessman Tunney, who had made his fortune in the meat business and was then the owner of the Gresham Hotel in O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Tyrone-born businessman Tunney was also friendly with the British royal family through his connection with Lord Louis Mountbatten, from whom he rented Classiebawn Castle in Co Sligo.

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Within a few years, relations between the two Irish businessmen soured and on September 12, 1988, two gardai obtained a warrant to search Sachs Hotel and the home of Brenda Flood - Philip Smyth's manager and personal assistant - then living in Sycamore Drive, Cabinteely, Co Dublin.

In the course of the searches, during which nothing was found, the gardai accused her of "selling and supplying" cocaine.

Flood sued the gardai involved, the Garda Commissioner as well as the Justice Minister for "false imprisonment".

The proceedings were settled in 1997 after the State "publicly and unreservedly acknowledged the good name and integrity of Ms Flood and the falsity of the information upon which the search warrants were obtained".

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Faced with dismissal, the gardai involved identified the source of their information as a 'Mr K'.

It turned out that he was residing in Spain at the time he was supposed to have given them the information at Harcourt Street garda station in Dublin.

In the meantime, between June 1992 and May 1995, more than 150 phone calls were made to detectives in the Metropolitan Police and the Dorchester Hotel in London from Irish telephone numbers, alleging that a 'Mr S' was part of a money-laundering operation for the IRA.

A female caller claimed the funds were laundered through a company called Princeton Ltd, owned by Smyth and the parent company of Genport Ltd, which owned the leasehold to Sachs Hotel.

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The caller also claimed Chief Superintendent Paul Smyth - Philip Smyth's brother - had "inhibited any inquiries about Mr S and his associates and others by misusing his own authority as head of personnel of An Garda Siochana by transferring 'troublesome' officers".

Outlining the background to the dispute in Smyth v Church & Others (2018), Judge Paul McDermott said Philip Smyth alleged that the gardai had not carried out a proper investigation into the malicious phone calls.

Had they done, they would have discovered the calls were made by Caroline Devine from telephones in Classiebawn Castle, near Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, which Tunney was then renting, and from the penthouse suite in the Gresham Hotel, where Tunney stayed when he was in Dublin on business.

"The High Court was satisfied, despite her denials", that Devine, Tunney's partner, made the calls. A Supreme Court judgment in 2002 found Crofter Properties Ltd, Tunney's company, was liable for Devine's actions.

On another front, Philip Smyth turned up at the Beef Tribunal alleging irregularities at Tunney's meat plants. However, he was the only witness at the tribunal not to be awarded his costs by Judge Liam Hamilton.

In further litigation, Chief Supt Paul Smyth, suing the Garda Commissioner, alleged that because the "entirely groundless" allegations made against him were not properly investigated he was denied various promotions within An Garda Siochana, including to the position of Assistant Commissioner.

In the same case, Philip Smyth said he placed himself in "considerable personal danger" helping gardai to recover a collection of paintings stolen from the home of Judge James Murnaghan in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin.

As a result, he was asked to help them again following the Beit art heist at Russborough House in Co Wicklow in May 1986.

He conducted a number of meetings with Martin Cahill, the criminal known as The General.

He then travelled to Antwerp to inspect the paintings, which were recovered afterwards.

His long-time adversary Tunney died in 2011. Devine, a former PR executive with EMI, still lives at Classiebawn, close to where Lord Mountbatten was murdered in 1979 and which Tunney subsequently bought from his heirs in 1991.

Philip Smyth was born in Dublin Street, Longford, where his parents owned the Star Bar.

He eventually took over the running of the pub and turned it into a large cabaret venue known as The Nashville Rooms, which attracted top Irish and international acts.

Although he often mingled with customers in his night clubs, he was almost totally unknown outside a small circle of friends and the courts.

Flood was "front of house" in his various ventures and a director of his companies.

According to company documents, they shared the same address in Foxrock for many years.

According to documents recently lodged in the Probate Office, Philip Smyth, businessman, of Clyde Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin, who died on October 31, 2019, left an estate valued at 23,298,257.

His executors were Flood of Gordon Ave, Foxrock, and Karla Fox of Fairview Close, both Dublin.
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There was confusion and jostling between Electoral Commission (EC) officials and representatives of candidates in the Ashanti-regional Council of State election over the use of smartphones to take pictures of ballots.



The eight candidates and their representatives had insisted on using smartphone cameras to capture images of thumb printed ballots as had been allegedly agreed between the candidates and members of the 86-member electoral college.





The candidates feared that they could be deceived by delegates who had assured them of their votes.



This led to a fierce confrontation between the various contesting groups and the EC officials drawing the attention of the security officers at the venue of the election.



In the process, there was a total disregard for the COVID-19 safety protocols despite the provision of Veronica Buckets and the insistence on the use of nose masks.



But the EC, led by the returning officer Benjamin Bano Bio stood its grounds and insisted that the use of smartphones was against the country's electoral laws.



Contestants



Eight persons including two journalists in the Ashanti region are contesting for a single slot to represent the region in the next Council of State.



The list includes the incumbent, Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, 67, a self-employed.



Other contestants are the incumbent are James Nana Prempeh, 45, self-employed, Emmanuel Boateng, 41, investment/business consultant, Adams Boakye-Yiadom, 64, a journalist, James Adusei-Sarkodie, 74, a teacher, Nana Bobie Ansah II, 59, a financial/ business consultant, Justice Baffour Awuah, 36, a journalist and Sulemana Seidu, 36, a teacher.



Delegates



Eighty-six persons, two from each assembly in the region constitutes the Electoral College for the poll. The results are yet to be and

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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Q: Do you miss Sunday open houses as a way of promoting listings?

A: The lack of open houses have not hurt sellers of single family dwellings one bit, with online photos and videos taking the place of open houses. In San Francisco the median sold single-family residence price increased $131,000 between 2019 and 2020, in Alameda county $178,500. But the poor buyers.

They have spent hours pouring over photos and videos, analyzing disclosure packages, and with no open houses have finally landed a 30-minute appointment to actually walk through the property. Only to be told by their realtor they will need to pay $200,000 to 300,000 above list if they want it. Ouch.

The condo market has not fared as well, particularly units in high-rises where waits for elevators due to social distancing can be annoying, many amenities are closed. But that too is starting to change as those out-priced from single-family residences are taking a second look.

Astrid Lacitis, Vanguard Properties, 415-860-0765, astrid@vanguardsf.com.

A: This is such a people business that not being able to meet face-to-face with buyers and sellers is difficult.

Open houses have been a staple in our business for years and good agents are able to meet new clients at Sunday open houses.

I believe a lot of people just liked going out on a Sunday afternoon for pleasure, even if they were not in the market for a home. Through the years, the same people would come to all my open houses, I called them my Sunday friends because I wouldnt see them, except for Sunday opens.

It is a way to really connect with your community in an easy, non-pressured way. Many times I would talk with guests at my open house about everything except real estate.

The virtual viewing of homes today does not give you the textured experience of the property and how it feels, but we are all doing the best we can in this environment.

I know many agents really miss that Sunday afternoon experience, I know I do, and cannot wait to start them again.

Anian Pettit Tunney, the Grubb Co., 510-928-7447, tunney@grubbco.com.

A: Open houses are the most efficient way for buyers and interested parties to check out multiple properties. Just as test driving is the best way to get a feel for a car, open houses allow the buyer to evaluate homes, one after the other.

Photos and videos may misrepresent how a home really is.

An in-person visit allows the buyer to evaluate the home with all their senses. The buyer can see the interplay of light and shadow in each room and the surrounding outdoor space. They can hear if the floorboards squeak and whether street noise enters the home. When there is no fear of virus transmission, a buyer can touch the surfaces and feel the solidity of the doors and latches. If a home is maintained and cleaned, it can either smell fresh or it can have an old house odor.

Buyers who are on the fence about whether to make an offer can gauge interest and educate themselves about what they like and dont like in a home, before making an appointment.

Open houses are also a great way for agents to demonstrate how they work and connect with new buyers.

Open houses are still allowed in some other states because they facilitate real estate, which is deemed an essential service. We cant wait for open houses to be allowed in California once again.

John Solaegui, Compass, 415-999-0673, john@havengroupsf.com.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during a press conference in Washington on Feb. 11, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelosi Furious About Impeachment Trial Results, Rules Out Censuring Trump

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said shes not interested in censuring former President Donald Trump after the Senate acquitted Trump in his second impeachment trial.

She implied that censuring Trump would be similar to giving a little slap on the wrist.

We censure people for using stationaries for the wrong purpose. You dont censure people for inciting insurrection that kills people in the Capitol, she added.

Pelosi made the remarks during a surprise visit to the House impeachment managers during a press conference after the Senate acquitted the former president.

She seemed furious about the result of the impeachment trials. She slapped on the table several times and criticized the senators who voted against the conviction as a cowardly group of Republicans.

The Senate voted to acquit Trump in a 57:43 vote. All Democrats and seven Republicans voted to convict him. The Republicans who voted across the party line include Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).

Trump said in a statement after his acquittal that he will uphold the rule of law.

I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate, he said.

Meanwhile, he stated again that the Make America Great Again movement has only just begun.

In the months ahead, I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, read the statement.

The Senate was able to move forward in the impeachment trial after an unexpected call for witnesses from the House impeachment managers.

Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) stated earlier in the day that they wanted to call witnesses because of an alleged phone call between House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Trump on Jan. 6.

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) alleged in a statement that Trump hesitated to call off the riots at the request of McCarthy during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Trump allegedly believed it was Antifa that had breached the Capitol in the first place.

Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are, he reportedly told McCarthy after McCarthy reportedly refuted the Antifa narrative.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify Beutlers statement.

Trump and McCarthys offices didnt respond to requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

The Senate had initially approved the call for witnesses with a 55:45 vote but was able to reach a deal to avoid a potential extended trial.

The Senate, House impeachment managers, and former Trumps counsels then agreed to enter Beutlers statement into the record of Trumps impeachment trial as evidence without subpoenaing witnesses for the trial.

The trial moved to the closing arguments phase after the deal was reached.

Tom Ozimek contributed to the report.

Hotels will have to provide private security to police guests forced into mandatory quarantine, with An Garda Siochana called in only if rules are broken, according to plans being considered by the Government.

It will publish legislation this week requiring passengers travelling from "high-risk" countries to quarantine for 14 days in designated hotels at their own cost.

The measures are in response to international concern over the emergence of new, more contagious Covid-19 variants and apply to 20 nations designated as high-risk.

An Garda Siochana is liaising with the Government via the Department of Justice, but security sources said members of the force will not "police" hotels; rather they will be called in only if an alleged breach of the law has occurred.

It is expected hotels will employ private security guards to monitor breaches of quarantine rules.

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New figures show 832 people arrived into Dublin Airport from government-designated high-risk countries over a five-day period last week.

Department of Justice figures show that 621 passengers came from the United Arab Emirates; 163 from Brazil; and 48 who came from South Africa in the period between last Sunday and Thursday.

The figures are indicative of the number of passengers who may be forced into quarantine once the new legislation is passed.

On Friday, Brazil and South Africa were joined on the list of Schedule 2 high-risk countries by 18 other states - Angola, Austria, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Eswatini, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Minister of State Peter Burke confirmed yesterday that incoming travellers will foot the full cost of their 14-day hotel stays.

He told RTE's Saturday with Katie Hannon that incoming passengers will book a slot in a quarantine facility online and pay for it in advance.

However, while the pass-enger will pay, the cost of the stay is likely to be agreed by the Government in a contract with hotels participating in the scheme, sources said.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) is currently working with Failte Ireland to update a list of hotels offering to provide quarantine.

A statement from the IHF yesterday said: "While we have had initial discussions with the Government in relation to the use of hotels, it is our understanding that the specific details and requirements are still under consideration.

"Once the legislation is in place and requirements finalised, we believe a system can be up and running fairly quickly."

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told parliamentary party members last week that measures will apply regardless of the reason for travel and will lead to "hard cases".

Britain's stringent new quarantine rules come into effect from tomorrow.

Passengers travelling to the UK from 33 "red list" countries must quarantine in a hotel at a cost of 1,750 (2,000) for a 10-day stay, with fines of up to 10,000 (11,420) and prison sentences of up to 10 years for breaches.

Passengers must book their own accommodation slot at a designated hotel through an online booking system that went live last week.

Once in a hotel, food will be delivered to their rooms, and those going outside to smoke must be accompanied by a security guard.

The Irish Government passed new regulations two weeks ago to enforce mandatory quarantine of all passengers arriving in Ireland.

They will be required by law to stay at home or at a specified address, with fines of up to 2,500 and a six-month prison sentence for non-compliance.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 2018 arrive at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, April 12, 2018. MRF-D was established by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2011 to build and strengthen partnerships in the Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

US Marine in Australias Darwin Infected With COVID-19

A U.S. military serviceman in Australias Northern Territory has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving to join the Marine Rotational Force in Darwin.

The 21-year-old was diagnosed with the virus on Saturday after arriving on an international flight on Thursday with the first deployment of Marines to the Top End for 2021.

The Marine has been placed in quarantine at Royal Darwin Hospital and remains asymptomatic, an NT Health spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday.

Due to strict quarantine measures in place for all arriving Marines, this case of COVID-19 was promptly detected and the Marine had no direct contact with the general community, the department said in a statement.

About 2,200 marines will arrive in Darwin by June in batches of 200-500 servicemen and women.

Its the 10th Marine Rotational Force to train with the Australian Defence Force.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has previously said all US personnel would undergo COVID-19 testing within 72 hours of departure for Australia and must present a negative result before boarding their flight.

They are also required to complete mandatory 14-day quarantine with virus testing on arrival in Australia and again before exiting the quarantine facility.

The Marine force has rented a secure facility outside Darwinunderstood to be Bladin Point, about 20km south of Darwinfor the majority of personnel to complete their quarantining.

However, the first two groups will stay in isolated accommodation on an ADF base, understood to be RAAF Base Darwin.

Meanwhile, a young woman has copped a $5,000 fine after she ducked out for some takeaway while she was meant to be isolating in Darwin.

The 20-year-old arrived in the NT on Thursday and was required to self-isolate because she had been in Melbourne.

Officers did a check-up on Saturday but found she was not home.

When authorities called her, she said she was at home but later arrived in a friends car, NT Police said.

She admitted she had travelled to get takeaway.

Police issued an infringement notice for breaching a Chief Health Officer Direction.

The NT has recorded 104 COVID-19 cases. All have been quarantine facilities.

By Aaron Bunch
A new study has identified early risk factors that predicted heightened anxiety in young adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The findings from the study, supported by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, could help predict who is at greatest risk of developing anxiety during stressful life events in early adulthood and inform prevention and intervention efforts.

The investigators examined data from 291 participants who had been followed from toddlerhood to young adulthood as part of a larger study on temperament and socioemotional development. The researchers found that participants who continued to show a temperament characteristic called behavioral inhibition in childhood were more likely to experience worry dysregulation in adolescence (age 15), which in turn predicted elevated anxiety during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic when the participants were in young adulthood (around age 18).

People differ greatly in how they handle stress. This study shows that children's level of fearfulness predicts how much stress they experience later in life when they confront difficult circumstances, such as the pandemic." Daniel Pine, M.D., Study Author, Chief, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience

Behavioral inhibition is a childhood temperament characterized by high levels of cautious, fearful, and avoidant responses to unfamiliar people, objects, and situations. Previous studies have established that children who display behavioral inhibition are at increased risk of developing anxiety disorders later. However, less research has investigated the specific mechanisms by which a stable pattern of behavioral inhibition in childhood is linked to anxiety in young adulthood.

The authors of this study hypothesized that children who demonstrate a stable pattern of behavioral inhibition may be at greater risk for worry dysregulation in adolescence--that is, difficulties managing worry and displaying inappropriate expressions of worry--and this would put them at greater risk for later heightened anxiety during stressful events like the pandemic.

In the larger study, behavioral inhibition was measured at ages 2 and 3 using observations of children's responses to novel toys and interaction with unfamiliar adults. When the children were 7 years old, they were observed for social wariness during an unstructured free play task with an unfamiliar peer. Worry dysregulation was assessed at age 15 through a self-report survey. For the current study, the participants, at an average age of 18, were assessed for anxiety twice during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic after stay-at-home orders had been issued (first between April 20 and May 15 and approximately a month later).

At the first assessment, 20% of the participants reported moderate levels of anxiety symptoms considered to be in the clinical range. At the second assessment, 18.3% of participants reported clinical levels of anxiety. As expected, the researchers found that individuals with high behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood who continued to display high levels of social wariness in childhood reported experiencing dysregulated worry in adolescence, and this ultimately predicted increased anxiety in young adulthood during a critical stage of the pandemic. This developmental pathway was not significant for children who showed behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood but displayed low levels of social wariness later in childhood.

"This study provides further evidence of the continuing impact of early life temperament on the mental health of individuals," said Nathan A. Fox, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor and director of the Child Development Lab at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an author of the study. "Young children with stable behavioral inhibition are at heightened risk for increased worry and anxiety, and the context of the pandemic only heightened these effects."

The findings suggest that targeting social wariness in childhood and worry dysregulation in adolescence may be a viable strategy for the prevention of anxiety disorders. The findings also suggest that targeting dysregulated worry in adolescence may be particularly important for identifying those who might be at risk for heightened anxiety during stressful life events like the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing that heightened anxiety.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank Mark-1A (MK-1A) to the Indian Army in Chennai today. At a function, he also accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment.

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane pic.twitter.com/XpYrM2ZLXB  ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2021

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were also present there.

Arjun Mark 1A has 71 major and user-driven upgrades that make it world-class and will immensely benefit the Indian Army. Features like increased mobility, fighting capabilities are added in the MK-1A.

PM Modi is set to launch numerous development works in Tamil Nadu and Kerala that would add speed to fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension; the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu; the Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthurai - Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur.

He will lay the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System. The canal is important for irrigation in the delta districts. The modernization of this canal will be taken up at a cost of 2,640 crores and will lead to an improvement in the water carrying capacity of the canals.PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. The Campus will be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of 1000 crore in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh sqm.

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) points to her a Batman mask as she departs after House impeachment managers rested their case in impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, on Capitol Hill in Washington on 11, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

7 Republican Senators Who Voted to Convict Trump Face Backlash From Within Party

The seven Republican senators who called former President Donald Trump guilty of inciting an insurrection are already facing backlash from within the GOP, where Trump remains a popular figure.

The Louisiana GOPs Executive Committee unanimously voted to censure Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) over his vote, the party said in a brief statement.

The state party had said earlier this week that it was profoundly disappointed when Cassidy sided with five other Republicans and all Democrats in the upper chamber to declare the trial constitutional.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), another guilty vote, was condemned by the North Carolina Republican Party.

North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to uphold the Constitution and his vote today to convict in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing, North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) walks in the Capitol as the Senate proceeds in a rare weekend session for final arguments in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) talks to reporters in the U.S. Senate subway as Cassidy heads to the Senate Chamber to attend the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington on 11, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Pennsylvania GOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas noted how Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) voted to convict Trump. I share the disappointment of many of our grassroots leaders and volunteers over Senator Toomeys vote today, Tabas said in a statement. The vote to acquit was the constitutionally correct outcome.

The other four Republicans who sided with Democrats were Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).

The Utah, Maine, Alaska, and Nebraska Republican parties had not issued statements regarding the votes as of early Sunday. The Maine GOP couldnt be reached. The other parties didnt respond to requests for comment. Sasse has faced mounting opposition for his anti-Trump statements and votes in recent weeks.

The group of Republicans who called Trump guilty were praised by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Speaking on the Senate floor following the vote, he described them as Republican patriots.

The votes could have repercussions in 2022 for Murkowski, who is up for re-election.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) leaves the chamber as the Senate voted to consider hearing from witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) walks through the Senate subway at the conclusion of former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial, in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Its not about me and my life, my job, this is really about what we stand for. And [if] I cant say what I believe that our president should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me? Murkowski told reporters on Capitol Hill.

So theres consequences, I guess, with every vote, and this was this was consequential on many levels, but I cannot allow my vote, the significance of my vote, to be devalued by whether or not I feel that this is helpful for my political ambitions.

The terms of Toomey and Burr are also slated to end in two years, but both are planning to retire.

Romney was elected in 2018. Sasse, Collins, and Cassidy were re-elected in 2020.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In this image from video, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) speaks after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 13, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Cassidy said in a short video statement that he voted to convict Trump because he is guilty.

Burr said Trump directed his supporters to go to the Capitol to disrupt the lawful proceedings required by the Constitution on Jan. 6, adding: When the crowd became violent, the President used his office to first inflame the situation instead of immediately calling for an end to the assault.

President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes, Romney said.

Sasse said in a statement that he promised Nebraskans when elected in 2014 that hed always vote his conscience.

In my first speech here in the Senate in November 2015, I promised to speak out when a presidenteven of my own partyexceeds his or her powers. I cannot go back on my word, and Congress cannot lower our standards on such a grave matter, simply because it is politically convenient. I must vote to convict, he said.

Collins, delivering a speech on the Senate floor, told colleagues: This impeachment trial is not about any single word uttered by President Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. It is instead about President Trumps failure to obey the oath he swore on Jan. 20, 2017. His actions to interfere with the peaceful transition of powerthe hallmark of our Constitution and our American democracywere an abuse of power and constitute grounds for conviction.
House Democrats push for taxpayer funding of abortion industry in COVID-19 relief bill

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A pro-life group is slamming congressional Democrats for working to include abortion-related provisions in the forthcoming coronavirus relief package.

The Susan B. Anthony List said in a press release Wednesday that Democrats in the United States House of Representatives planned on using the reconciliation process to force taxpayers to fund abortion businesses in the COVID-19 relief bill.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Mallory Quigley, the SBA Lists vice president of communications, explained that the way that reconciliation works is, theyve got a funding bill in the Senate and then a funding bill in the House and then theyll have to come together and agree.

Unlike most legislation, which requires 60 votes to pass in the Senate, the reconciliation process, which is supposed to be specifically for appropriations and for funding, allows legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority. Democrats now control the Senate with a narrow 50-50 majority, as Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the tie-breaking vote. The reconciliation process can only be used once per year.

Proposals introduced by Democrats include: $750 million for global health activities and billions in funding for community health centers without applying the Hyde Amendment which forbids the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions  and a $50 million increase in funding for the Title X program.

The pro-life group warned that On the heels of President Bidens order rolling back President Trumps Protect Life Rule, Title X would once again become a slush fund for abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.

In addition to the aforementioned proposals and a push to grant small business funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates, Democrats plan to include expansions of taxpayer-funded abortion via Obamacare and a new initiative that would fund abortion-covering COBRA insurance in the coronavirus relief bill.

According to Quigley, the fight to keep Democrats from including pro-abortion provisions in the coronavirus relief package is ongoing.

The battle is now taking place inside committees in the House. Should the provisions make it out of committee and onto the House floor, they will likely pass, given the Democrats narrow majority in the lower chamber. Unlike in the Senate, bills can pass the House with a simple majority.

Efforts to include pro-abortion provisions as part of a coronavirus relief package could stall in the Senate.

When the committee markups finish and the final House bill goes back to the Senate, the Senate committees will also have a markup period, Quigley told CP.

Then, the parliamentarian will need to rule on if everything in the bill is germane under the reconciliation process (the Byrd Rule). So there will be a chance at that point that anything the House added that relates to policy and is not budgetary could be taken out.

At that point, Democrats would then have the option to go nuclear, break their own Senate rules and ignore the parliamentarian, she added.

The Susan B. Anthony List has already launched a campaign thanking Joe Manchin, a pro-life Democrat who represents West Virginia in the Senate, for vowing to oppose his partys efforts to invoke the nuclear option by abolishing the filibuster. An attempt to pass a coronavirus package with the pro-abortion provisions or abolish the filibuster will likely require Manchins support.

Should Democrats find a way to keep the pro-abortion provisions in the coronavirus relief package using the reconciliation process, the bill's fate would depend on the votes of a few key senators.

While Joe Manchin has promised to stand in line on anything that would directly attack Hyde, I dont know what that would mean for how he would vote on a bill that did not directly have to do with the Hyde Amendment, Quigley said.

Complicating the Senate math further is the fact that There are pro-abortion Republicans from Maine and Alaska who arent generally concerned about the taxpayer funding of abortion, she added. The senators Quigley was referring to were Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Emboldened by [President] Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Democrats in Congress want to force taxpayers to bail out the abortion industry, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, in a statement. House Democrats are shamefully pushing a massive expansion of abortion on demand, paid for with tax dollars, in the guise of COVID-19 relief  including payouts to abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

We at Susan B. Anthony List remain vigilant. Together with our congressional allies, we will work tirelessly to expose the Democrats abortion extremism and win back the House in 2022, she added.

Months before the 2020 presidential election, Dannenfelser warned that Biden and Harris constitute the most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history.

A week after taking office, Biden reversed the Mexico City Policy, which prevented the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund abortions overseas.

Funneling U.S. tax dollars to abortion groups overseas is an abhorrent practice that flies in the face of the unity Joe Biden and Kamala Harris promised to inspire, Dannenfelser said at the time.
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West Haven Police Department / Contributed photo

WEST HAVEN  Police said they have arrested a New Haven man in connection with a months-long investigation of narcotic sales.

Trea Fraser, 26, has been charged with three counts of narcotics sales and three counts of possessing a controlled substance, West Haven police said.

March school re-opening in Western Province uncertain By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):

Resuming classes at schools will remain in the hands of health officials, although March 15 had been proposed by education authorities.

Education Ministry, Secretary, Prof Kapila Perera, said March 15 had been proposed to health officials.

School resumption in the Western Province has been postponed several times because the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, had refused approval.

But provincial schools resume on February 15.

A March 15 resumption was scheduled for all schools, including private schools and government-approved schools, with the recommendation of the health authorities.

Also, Grade 1 classes for 2021 was to resume.

But, once again, the education ministry said it is awaiting the go ahead from health authorities.

The Ceylon Teachers Union said that the governments indecision is not going down well with parents.

They are getting mixed signals and are confused about whether schools are safe for their children, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin, said.

There is no proper planning and this comes from not consulting with the unions representing teachers and principals, he said.

Meanwhile, the Examinations Department is preparing for the Ordinary Level exams from March 1, for about 621,000 candidates.

Commissioner, Sanath Pujitha, said that consultations are needed with the Ministry of Health and the tri-forces.

Everything is being set up under the Ministry of Health guidelines, he said.

Special centres will be set up in every district and in some provinces, for children who are sick with the coronavirus disease, and for those in quarantine. Transport will be made available to them.

More principals and deputy principals will be assigned to the 4,513 centres for supervision.

Regional medical officers of health and public health officials will also be at the centres.

Practicals for O/L subjects are to be held after the exams end on March 10. But there is no time table, yet, and education unions have criticised this.

The examination department plans to assess students on their performance throughout the year. But, teachers say this is impractical because schools have been closed for the most part of 2o2o.

Mr Pujitha said such a system is in use in several countries.

We will include this system in our education reforms we are planning to introduce soon.
After recently finishing a demolition and structural repair project involving a historic building in downtown Springfield, Wonderlyn Murphy, president of City Enterprise Inc., is turning her attention to affordable housing in restored homes.

I am a Springfield native. I have been here my whole life except for when I got my education, and I look around and see all the wonderful architecture, the buildings that are just boarded up that have so much potential, Murphy says. I happen to be in an industry where I can possibly do something about it.

Murphy founded City Enterprise, with offices on Berkshire Avenue, in 2006. Nearly 15 years later and two decades since she first got into the industry, Murphy remains one of the few women who owns and operates a construction company.

She credits hard work, honesty, integrity and follow-through as the reasons her business has continued to grow throughout the years.

The fundamentals of business are the same across the board, Murphy explains. You have to have honesty, integrity, communication, focus, follow-up and follow-through. You can get to the door, but then you have to get through the door as well. I think honesty is not discussed in business at all, and many people seem to think that successful people cut corners to get where they are, but that has not been the case for me.

Murphys credentials are many. She is a licensed construction supervisor with a degree in architectural design technology from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. She also earned a masters degree in management from Cambridge College and a certification from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in program process management.

City Enterprise has grown to the point where Murphy can pick and choose what contracts to bid.

We work mostly on government contracts with commercial properties, and we will take on almost any challenge as long as we know its something we can successfully complete, she says.

Currently, her team is working on renovating a veterans facility in Pittsfield as well as some projects on the Lowell and Amherst campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

Her most recent hometown project was the $3.4 million demolition, structural repair and environmental remediation of the former Court Square Hotel property at 13-31 Elm St. The customer was the city of Springfield.

12 Congressman Neal, Mayor Sarno tour renovations at 31 Elm St. project

Peter Garvey, director of capital asset management for the city of Springfield, says Murphys company took on a challenging project with a quick turn-around period and was able to execute it well.

We were under pretty rigorous time constraints, and they came through, Garvey says. They finished on time, on budget and did a good job.

While Garvey dealt primarily with City Enterprises staff, he says Murphy was always monitoring the progress being made. I was dealing more with her team, but she called in quite a bit to make sure everything was going fine. Its important to have that communication, he says.

The work done by City Enterprise preserved the historical character of the building so that it can be a key feature in the next phase of the project where the WinnCompanies, of Boston, and co-developer Peter Picknellys Opal Real Estate, of Springfield, will fully renovate and restore the entire site.

Murphy remembers first walking into the former hotel, which was built in 1892, as an amazing experience.

When we first walked in there were murals of the history of Springfield that were on the walls. The architecture and the lights were incredible, she says. It was a very difficult project because the building sat there empty for many years and it was dilapidated. We were able to get it to the point where they can build what they want to build there.

As part of the next phase of the project, the street level will be restored for retail and restaurant use, while the upper floors and its original hotel rooms will be converted to one- and two-bedroom housing units. The full project is on target to be completed 2022.

As 2021 brings new projects and a new branch of the business, which will expand into the residential space, Murphy reflects on 2020 and how it affected her business and her team.

It was honestly our busiest year, she says. I hired people during this COVID experience, we got contract after contract and we just kept going. We didnt miss a beat.

Although no one on her staff came down with COVID-19, she did recently have to shut down a construction site on Cape Cod when the entire sub-contracted construction team tested positive for the virus.

We had to shut the job down for their team and for anyone on my team who could have been exposed, so we lost about two weeks of work because of that, Murphy explains. We have had little sprinkles of exposure in my team, so they have had to quarantine, but nothing serious and no one on my team or their families have come down with COVID, thank God.

Murphy hired two assistant project managers as well as an operations manager in 2020, bringing her staffing to a total of 15 employees.

We got so busy, and it got to be too much for me to do everything on my own, she says. I knew that in order to be effective and grow well I had to delegate and hire new staff.

She credits the establishment of an estimating team for the success the business has had in securing contracts.

We have an estimating department that includes my senior estimator with over 40 years of experience, and in the past year we put a system in place for how we were going to reach out and do our sourcing, Murphy says. I really spent time shoring out the department so we had a specific way of going after bids and going after pricing for our subcontractors. We really got that department solid.

In the months ahead, she is looking forward to expanding the residential side of the business and creating opportunities for first-time homebuyers and people looking for beautiful, affordable homes.

One of the things that sparked an interest in me is that we did a food drive and a gloves and hats drive for kids over the holidays. I reached out to my employees, and we came up with a lot of food that we took down to the Open Pantry. I delivered it myself and when I got there I saw that there is a serious need, she says. It got me thinking a lot about how much need there is in the community, not only for food, but for affordable housing for people who want to own homes. We are in that industry, this is something I can do and Im very excited about it.

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New Delhi: Amid disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops in Pangong Tso area, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Sunday alleged that the Central Government has surrendered Indian territory to China in Eastern Ladakh.

Addressing a press conference here, Surjewala said, "Why has the Modi government surrendered Indian territory to China? The Modi government has altered the Line of Actual Control (LAC) till Finger 8 and created a buffer zone within our territory between Finger 8 and Finger 3. They stepped back from Finger 4 on the northern bank of Pangong Tso where there is a post of Indian armed forces. None of the governments in India has stepped back from Finger 4 to Finger 3."



He also alleged that the Central Government has created a buffer zone in Indian territory in the Galwan Valley.

"In Galwan Valley where our soldiers were martyred, we consider our LAC beyond patrol point 14. China also accepted that. And now, the government has created a buffer zone in Galwan Valley within Indian territory," said the Congress leader.

Surjewala accused the Central Government of compromising on the national security and territorial integrity of India.

"Why has the Modi Government moved our army from the strategically important Kailash Range on the southern bank of Pangong Tso under this new agreement? When will the Modi government establish the status quo ante April 2020 by pushing back Chinese troops? What is their plan and point of view? The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister must answer in this regard," added Surjewala.

The statement by the Congress leader comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced the disengagement agreement on the north and west bank of Pangong Lake.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on the present situation in Eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister had said that as per the agreement, both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.

"The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to the east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3," Rajnath Singh had said.
One of the big contributors to climate change is right beneath your feet, and transforming it could be a powerful solution for keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

The production of cement, the binding element in concrete, accounted for 7% of total global carbon dioxide emissions in 2018. Concrete is one of the most-used resources on Earth, with an estimated 26 billion tons produced annually worldwide. That production isnt expected to slow down for at least two more decades.

Given the scale of the industry and its greenhouse gas emissions, technologies that can reinvent concrete could have profound impacts on climate change.

As engineers working on issues involving infrastructure and construction, we have been designing the next generation of concrete technology that can reduce infrastructures carbon footprint and increase durability. That includes CO2-infused concrete that locks up the greenhouse gas and can be stronger and even bendable.

The industry is ripe for dramatic change, particularly with the Biden administration promising to invest big in infrastructure projects and cut U.S. emissions at the same time. However, to put CO2 to work in concrete on a wide scale in a way that drastically cuts emissions, all of its related emissions must be taken into account.

Rethinking concrete

Concrete is made up of aggregate materials  primarily rocks and sand  along with cement and water.

Because about 80% of concretes carbon footprint comes from cement, researchers have been working to find substitute materials.

Industrial byproducts such as iron slag and coal fly ash are now frequently used to reduce the amount of cement needed. The resulting concrete can have significantly lower emissions because of that change. Alternative binders, such as limestone calcined clay, can also reduce cement use. One study found that using limestone and calcinated clay could reduce emissions by at least 20% while also cutting production costs.

Story continues

Apart from developing blended cements, researchers and companies are focusing on ways to use captured CO2 as an ingredient in the concrete itself, locking it away and preventing it from entering the atmosphere. CO2 can be added in the form of aggregates  or injected during mixing. Carbonation curing, also known as CO2 curing, can also be used after concrete has been cast.

These processes turn CO2 from a gas to a mineral, creating solid carbonates that may also improve the strength of concrete. That means structures may need less cement, reducing the amount of related emissions. Companies such as CarbonCure and Solidia have developed technologies to use these processes for concrete poured at construction sites and in precast concrete, such as cinder blocks and other construction materials.

MC681/Wikimedia Commons

At the University of Michigan, we are working on composites that produce a bendable concrete material that allows thinner, less brittle structures that require less steel reinforcement, further reducing related carbon emissions. The material can be engineered to maximize the amount of CO2 it can store by using smaller particles that readily react with CO2, turning it to mineral.

The CO2-based bendable concrete can be used for general buildings, water and energy infrastructure, as well as transportation infrastructure. Bendable concrete was used in the 61-story Kitahama tower in Osaka, Japan, and roadway bridge slabs in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The challenge of lifecycle emissions

These cutting-edge technologies can start addressing concrete infrastructures carbon footprint, but barriers still exist.

In a study published Feb. 8, three of us looked at the lifecycle emissions from infusing CO2 into concrete and found that estimates did not always account for emissions from CO2 capture, transportation and use. With colleagues, we came up with strategies for ensuring that carbon curing has a strong emissions benefit.

Overall, we recommend developing a standard CO2 curing protocol. Lab experiments show that CO2 curing can improve concretes strength and durability, but results vary with specific curing procedures and concrete mixes. Research can improve the conditions and the timing of steps in the curing process to increase concretes performance. Electricity use  the largest emissions source during curing  can also be reduced by streamlining the process and possibly by using waste heat.

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Advanced concrete mixes, bendable concrete in particular, already begin to address these issues by increasing durability.

Merging infrastructure and climate policy

In 2020, a wide range of companies announced steps to reduce their emissions. However, government investment and procurement policies are still needed to transform the construction industry.

Local governments are taking the first steps. Low embodied carbon concrete rules and projects to reduce the amount of cement in concrete have cropped up around the country, including in Marin County, California; Hastings-on-Hudson, New York; and a sidewalk pilot in Portland, Oregon.

In New York and New Jersey, lawmakers have proposed state-level policies that would provide price discounts in the bidding process to proposals with the lowest emissions from concrete. These policies could serve as a blueprint for reducing carbon emissions from concrete production and other building materials.

Nationally, the crumbling of federally managed infrastructure has been a steadily growing crisis. The Biden administration could start to address those problems, as well as climate change, and create jobs through a strategic infrastructure program.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg recently declared that there were enormous opportunities for job creation, equity and climate achievement when it comes to advancing Americas infrastructure. Policies that elevate low-carbon concrete to a nationwide climate solution could follow.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Lucca Henrion, University of Michigan; Duo Zhang, University of Michigan; Victor C. Li, University of Michigan, and Volker Sick, University of Michigan

Read more:



Lucca Henrion works as a research fellow in the Global CO2 Initiative at the University of Michigan. He is a volunteer with the Open Air Collective.

Victor C. Li receives research funding from the Department of Energy (ARPA-E) and the Aramco Company. He is the James R. Rice Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Professor Li directs the Center for Low Carbon Built Environment (CLCBE) at the University of Michigan.

Volker Sick receives funding from the US Department of Energy and the Global CO2 Initiative at the University of Michigan.

Duo Zhang does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial on Saturday but for the vast majority of Americans theres no question that the former president is at least partially responsible for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Seventy-one percent of Americans say Trump was at least partially responsible for the riot, according to an Ipsos/Reuters poll.

That number is divided up among 30% who say the former president is fully responsible for the violent riot, 25% who say he was largely responsible, and 16% who say he was partially responsible. Only 29% of Americans say Trump holds no responsibility. Although the numbers are clearly divided along party lines, almost half of all Republicans agreed Trump was at least partially responsible for the riot. Fifty-three percent of Americans also believe Trump should not be allowed to run for public office again. And 50% say they would have voted to convict Trump In the impeachment trial.

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The numbers are in line with a recent Economist/YouGov poll that found 61 percent of Americans believe Trump was at least a little responsible for the riot. In that same poll, 53 percent of Americans said they didnt think Trump should be allowed to run for president again.

Even though a majority of Americans want Trump to stay out of politics, a majority of Republicans still see him as the leader of the party. A recent CNBC survey found that while 54% of Americans want Trump to remove himself from politics, 74% of Republicans say he should stay active. And almost half of Republicans, or 48%, say he should stay as the head of the party. If were talking about Donald Trumps future, at the moment, the survey shows he still has this strong core support within his own party who really want him to continue to be their leader, said Jay Campbell, who was the Democratic pollster for the survey.
21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi , who was arrested on Saturday, has been sent to police custody for five days by a Delhi Court for further questioning on her alleged role in sharing a 'toolkit' related to farmers protest.

According to the Delhi police, Ravi is an editor of the document and key conspirator in its "formulation and dissemination". "She started a WhatsApp Group and collaborated to make the Toolkit document," the police said in a statement on Sunday.

They have also accused her of collaborating with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread "disaffection against the Indian State".

"She (Disha Ravi) was the one who shared the Toolkit Doc with Greta Thunberg," the police said.

"Later, she (Disha Ravi) asked Greta to remove the main Doc after its incriminating details accidentally got into the public domain. This is many times more than the two lines editing that she claims," they added.

Ravi had told the court earlier on Sunday that she did not make the "toolkit" but only edited two lines of it. "We wanted to support the farmers," she said.

The Delhi Police earlier had said the creator of the "toolkit" was made by a Khalistani organization calling itself the Poetic Justice Foundation.

Claiming it was found on a social media handle ahead of violence during the farmers' tractor rally, the police said it indicates a conspiracy behind the events of 26 January.

What did the document say?

The Delhi police had earlier this month filed an FIR against the creators of a toolkit" tweeted by climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg in her messages expressing support for the farmers protests.

The document in question had briefly explained the cause of the ongoing farmers' protest and said that it is meant to enable anyone unfamiliar with the ongoing farmers protests in India to better understand the situation and make decisions on how to support the farmers based on their own analysis".

"Instead of being supported to become self-reliant and prosperous, a majority of farmers are increasingly being subjected to the control of large corporations and international institutions whose sole focus is profits, and necessarily involves increased exploitation of nature," the document read.

"The same destructive forces that are destroying the planet are the ones taking over the lives of our countrys most populous and important demographic, subjecting them to increasing hegemony and repeating similar patterns of privatization being seen across the globe  from the Philippines to Colombia," it added.

What is a toolkit?

According to a social media campaigner, "A toolkit is a booklet or document created to explain a cause or issue. It identifies approaches to address the issue from the grassroots level."









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The "working class" monologue delivered by Duncan Smith in the Dail last week leads to a pressing conclusion: the need to reform the Leaving Cert and CAO points race madness.

The Dublin Fingal Labour TD's attack on the Healy-Rae brothers was welcomed as an overdue takedown of the Kerry deputies, but Smith implicitly raised a more urgent question - the good that will flow from a repurposed education system.

The expansion of Ireland's third-level and university education was intended to augment life chances and social mobility.

Yet universities here have become another means for the existing middle class to perpetuate their ascendancy.

That is changing. The young middle class today are losing their footing in society. Hence we have what Smith calls the "revolution".

It is hard to disagree with his argument as presented: Michael Healy-Rae is said to be worth 5.4m and Danny Healy-Rae around 1.6m. So much for working-class heroes? Up to a point.

Smith's attack was motivated as much by what he called the brothers' "regressive" views on issues: drink-driving, abortion and the climate crisis.

However, it was couched in the language of social class, which opens a debate touched on by President Higgins in an article on imperialism published in the UK last week.

"In Britain," he wrote, "the imperialist experience was transmitted down through the classes."

Then he added: "But anti-imperialist struggles weren't free of the traits of empire either.

"They also at times lacked a consciousness of class exploitation."

That takes us back to Ireland of the 1950s, the 1980s and of today, and to the Healy-Raes and Duncan Smith's father, the carpenter.

In my view, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are, or were, as much if not more working class than Duncan Smith. Not that it matters. The point is, none of them is working class now.

Social class was once defined by occupation and income. In recent decades, it has become more defined by education: the higher your education, the better your prospects, the more middle class you were or became.

Now that is changing too. There are too many young people with master's degrees and PhDs on welfare and not enough plumbers or carpenters to meet demand. Something has gone awry.

It is, as the OECD has said, that the Leaving Cert has become too narrow and rigid to match Ireland's aspirations.

Both the Healy-Raes and Smith - their generations - managed to slip under the bar. They are the middle class. For today's young, the pathways are more unsure.

All three men may feel working class; we all do, those of us one generation on from the same roots, but our relative modern comforts tell a different story.

Ireland has changed a lot since Smith's father was hanging doors in Finglas, or since the patriarch of the Healy-Raes, the late Jackie Healy-Rae, established a plant hire business in the 1950s with money earned when an emigrant.

It is changing again, this time regressing since the days when the Healy-Rae brothers were driving diggers as young lads and Smith was filling skips with his auld fella.

The different pathways open to the Healy-Raes and Smith to the same middle-class end are more closed today, and this is what, to use Smith's term, is fomenting "revolution".

Reform of the education system is a good place to start.

The late Jackie Healy-Rae was born one of six children on his family's farm at the foot of a mountain near Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, where he had little or no education beyond national school.

He left for the US at the age of 22 and returned home to establish the now success- ful plant hire business referred to, disparagingly, by Duncan Smith last week.

The patriarch worked hard for 10 years before he had enough to buy a closed-down pub in run-down Kilgarvan in 1960s Ireland.

Whatever about his Fianna Fail connections, this was no life of privilege.

There was also a fair deal of hard work put into those businesses in the decades before he was first elected in 1996 to the Dail, where there has been a Healy-Rae ever since.

Both the Healy-Rae brothers and Duncan Smith took different routes from their working-class roots to middle-class status. The thing is, they had the opportunity to do so.

The Healy-Raes, through hard work, native cunning and, no doubt, the patriarch's connections back in the day.

Smith took a different route to the same end, through education, a pathway opened in his father's time by Fianna Fail's Donogh O'Malley.

No doubt the young Duncan was also informed by a solid upbringing and work ethic instilled by his parents.

He studied at Dublin City University, completing a bachelor's degree in business and a master's in international security and conflict resolution, and is currently studying for a PhD in nuclear disarmament. So fair play to him too.

Neither of the Healy-Raes relied on an extensive education to make their way in the world. I don't think Danny did any time at third level, and Michael spent a few years at Limerick Institute of Technology. Instead, they were thrown into the family business started from scratch by their father.

Ireland has changed since the 1980s when the three TDs set out in life. Back then, the working class were people who "made stuff", like Smith's father, the carpenter. These days, carpenters earn 300 a day - or 1,500 a week - on building sites in Dublin because there are too few of them.

In the past decade or two, more emphasis and prestige has been attached to third-level education as the route to achieve or maintain middle-class status and stability.

The OECD suggests Ireland needs an education system that gives student assessment a much broader purpose. In short, we need fewer master's degree and PhD students and more carpenters. Or, as Fine Gael's Richard Bruton said last week, the CAO points race "has stifled the equal esteem for apprenticeship models which have been so successful in other countries".

Today's new working class, rather than "making things", can be said to "serve and care" for people.

They are on the frontline in this pandemic: retail workers, nursing home carers - the people Duncan Smith also had in mind when advocating a Zero- Covid approach last week.

The question is, will the young Duncans filling skips today be earning 6,000 a month caring for the elderly in 30 years' time?

Who knows. But after the pandemic, you would like to think more emphasis and prestige - and earnings - will be attached to the noble endeavour of serving and caring for others lest the ladder be pulled up behind the Healy-Raes and Duncan Smiths of this world.

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It is unimaginable that a nationalist Indian government will concede Chinese hegemony

The Ladakh de-escalation may just be both sides stepping back, having tested each others red lines, to try rebuilding trust and resume the usual path of cooperation, competition and calibrated friction. (Representational Photo: AFP)

Former Army Chief and now Union minister V.K. Singhs rash comment on the Line of Actual Control having often been breached by both India and China caused an uproar, with Beijing seizing on it as proof that India was the aggressor. But when news emerged of a likely coordinated de-escalation in Ladakh, after the nine-month standoff between Indian and Chinese forces, Gen. Singhs downgrading of the LAC acquired an intent. It was to ensure any withdrawal deal would not draw attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modis assertion last year that no one had intruded into India.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Thursday that a mutual and calibrated withdrawal of forces, north and south of Pangong Tso, was underway, but unwisely refused to share details, pleading their sensitive and operational nature. This naturally raised questions whether the likely buffer-zones ceded space historically and traditionally patrolled by Indian soldiers. Some speculated whether China had managed by subterfuge to push the LAC closer to its 1959 claim-line.

The defence ministry decried the next day misinformed and misleading comments. It reasserted Indias old claims, including the illegal occupation by China of 43,000 sq km in Aksai Chin, as shown in Indian maps. The LAC passes through Finger 8, north of Pangong. Mutual withdrawal will create a buffer-zone between Fingers 4 and 8. India will retain its Dhan Singh Thapa outpost near Finger 3, while Chinese troops shall stay beyond Finger 8. The intrusions at Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang Plains will be tackled after current withdrawals are completed. The 255-km Durbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road runs at places alongside the LAC, giving connectivity to the Karakoram Pass. At Depsang plains, the flat terrain allowed China to make deep intrusions, threatening the highway.

Multiple questions on about the timing and depth of the Chinese intrusions from April-May 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic it caused. Also, why the flexibility now after months of sabre-rattling. China may have had multiple motives for the sudden, heavily armed and wide-fronted intrusion, under the subterfuge of spring military exercises in Tibet. It had strongly objected in August 2019 to the unilateral revocation of Article 370, affecting the status of a disputed territory, where China had a stake. In September, the Howdy Modi Houston rally with President Donald Trump signalled a growing India-US proximity. Meanwhile, US-China relations mired in trade sanctions. Then came Mr Trumps return visit to India in February 2020, in an US election year, indicating a deeper Trump-Modi connect. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 epidemic began swirling as Wuhan was locked down. In mid-March 2020 President Trump termed the new pandemic China Virus. All these would have heightened Chinese paranoia. China also saw a chance for strategic gain by repositioning as the world was distracted by the pandemic.

Thus, China also began ratcheting up its aggressive behaviour towards US allies Australia and Japan, that along with the US and India are part of the Quad. In May 2020, as the Ladakh LAC heated up, China hit Australian barley and beef exports. In August, Australian wine faced anti-dumping duties. By September, China fully suspended barley imports, ordering stricter controls on wheat. The next month, the squeeze was extended to Australian coal. Similarly, regarding Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands held by Japan, in the 17-month period from April 2019 to August 2020, Chinese vessels were inside contiguous zone 456 days out of 519, as against half that in the previous period. Chinese President Xi Jinpings Japan visit, due for early April 2020, was postponed, ostensibly due to the pandemic. In July, Japans ruling party cancelled it over Chinas imposition of a new national security law on Hong Kong.

Initially surprised, the Indian Army quickly mirrored Chinese deployments, by inducting armour, drones, etc backed by air power and artillery. It upped the ante by seizing heights overlooking Spanggur Gap, south of Pangong, stymieing any Chinese thrust towards Chushul, besides dominating Chinese deployments in the sector. India, despite the financial cost, also dug in for the winter, demonstrating resolve. India also began raising the economic and reputational cost for China by banning several apps and tightening trade.

China in May 2020 imposed draconian controls over Hong Kong, in breach of its international commitment to Britain. China also sharpened its tone on Taiwan, as the US began upgrading its Taiwan ties. The US-China verbal exchanges exacerbated as US presidential elections neared. After Mr Trumps defeat, outgoing secretary of state Mike Pompeo directly alleged genocide by China in Xinjiang against the Uighurs.

Having opened multiple flashpoints against its continental and maritime neighbours, China awaited the outcome of US presidential elections before reassessing tactics. The Biden administrations endorsement of the Trump approach to China, but with smarter tactics like outreach to key allies for building an alliance of democracies, put China on notice. Indias success in handling the Covid pandemic and its economy recovering rapidly also showed that the Chinese browbeating had faltered. China, in any case, had succeeding in underscoring Indian vulnerability to determined Chinese pressure at the LAC, especially with an irate Pakistan acting in tandem. India also needed to buy peace abroad, with farmers agitating at home and a Biden administration murmuring nervously about human rights and democracy breaches in India.

Will buffer zones be a precursor to a mutually acceptable delineation of the LAC or just a Band-Aid solution to a deeper problem of China seeking Asian hegemony and bipolarity with the US globally? Are there some unwritten understandings on India scaling back its border infrastructure upgrade, handling of the Dalai Lama, non-militarisation of the Quad? It is unlikely China will curb its South Asian ingress, using the Belt and Road projects. It is unimaginable that a nationalist Indian government will concede Chinese hegemony. Thus, the Ladakh de-escalation may just be both sides stepping back, having tested each others red lines, to try rebuilding trust and resume the usual path of cooperation, competition and calibrated friction.
KOCHI : India is giving topmost importance to develop its blue economy, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday while inaugurating several projects in Kochi.

He said, "Our vision and work in this sector include improving infrastructure on current ports, more ports, offshore energy, sustainable coastal development and coastal connectivity."

PM Modi further said, "The Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical complex of Kochi Refinery will help strengthen our journey towards being Atmanirbhar," adding that a wide range of industries would gain employment opportunities with the help of the project.

Tourists come to Kochi not only as a transit point to go to other parts of Kerala and the spiritual, market, historical and other such places are widely known, he remarked.

"The central government is undertaking several efforts to improve tourism here. The inauguration of Sagarika - the International Cruise Terminal in Kochi - is an example of this," he added.

Sagarika Cruise Terminal brings both comfort and convenience for tourists and will cater to over 1 lakh cruise guests, he said.

He also commented that local tourism has facilitated added livelihood to people in the local tourism industry and also connects our youth and culture stronger. "I urge our young start-up friends to think about innovative tourism-related products," he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the tourism sector in India has grown well in the last five years, adding that India's ranking has jumped from 65th to 34th in the World Tourism Index.

"VIGYAN Sagar is the new knowledge campus of the Cochin Shipyard. Through this, we are expanding our human resource development capital," he mentioned.

"This campus is a reflection of the importance of skill development. It would particularly help those wanting to study marine engineering. In the times to come, I see a prime place for this sector. Youngsters who have knowledge in this domain will have several opportunities," he added.

He asserted that the definition and scope of infrastructure have changed today and is beyond good roads, development works and connectivity between a few urban centres. "We are looking at the quantity and top-quality infrastructure for coming generations," he stated.

Mentioning that 110 lakh crores being invested through the national infrastructure pipeline, he said that a special focus is being given to coastal areas, the Northeast and mountain areas and that India today is embarking on an ambitious programme of broadband connectivity to every village.

He also pointed that this year's budget has devoted significant resources and schemes that will benefit Kerala. "This includes the next phase of Kochi metro. This metro network has come successfully and has set a good example of progressive work practices and professionalism," he added.

During his tour to Kerala, the Prime Minister had inaugurated the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL); Ro-Ro Vessels at Willingdon Islands, Cochin; International Cruise Terminal "Sagarika" at Cochin Port; Marine Engineering Training Institute, Vigyana Sagar, Cochin Shipyard Limited and laid the foundation stone of Reconstruction of South Coal Berth at Cochin Port.

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ISTANBUL - Turkey said Sunday that 13 Turkish hostages, including soldiers and police officers, held by a Kurdish militant group had been found executed in a cave in northern Iraq.

The bodies were found during a Turkish military operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, that began last week, according to a Defense Ministry statement. The ministry did not say exactly when the bodies were discovered or whether the executions had occurred during a rescue attempt. All but one of the victims was killed with a bullet to the head, the ministry said.

Many of the hostages had been kidnapped in Turkey in the summer or spring of 2015, after the breakdown of a cease-fire between the government and the PKK, which has fought a decades-long insurgency against Turkey, according to a statement by the governor of Turkey's Malatya province that was carried by the state-run Anadolu news agency. It was the worst loss suffered by Turkey's security services since last February, when 36 Turkish troops were killed in a suspected airstrike in Syria's Idlib province.

A statement Sunday by the PKK did not deny that the group was holding Turkish prisoners but blamed the deaths on Turkey, saying its attack on a prisoner camp resulted in clashes that killed captives who belonged to Turkey's intelligence service, along with soldiers and police officers.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has carried out large-scale military operations against the PKK in Iraq and Syria over the past few years that it says are aimed at protecting Turkey from cross-border attacks. They included a major incursion into northern Syria in 2019 that targeted Kurdish-Syrian fighters who were allied with the United States.

The latest Turkish operation, which began Wednesday, has focused on a region north of the Iraqi city of Dahuk. The Defense Ministry said three Turkish soldiers have died and dozens of Kurdish fighters killed or captured during the campaign.

The military campaigns have coincided with a crackdown on pro-Kurdish voices inside Turkey, including on media outlets and politicians whom the government has accused of supporting the PKK, which Turkey and the United States have designated a terrorist group. Human rights groups have accused the Turkish government of using its fight against the PKK to silence dissenters, including members of a pro-Kurdish opposition party.

Fahrettin Altun, a spokesman for Erdogan, said in a statement on Twitter that Turkey would "continue its fight against terrorism with unwavering determination" and would "take necessary steps against individuals and groups glorifying and encouraging terrorism at home and abroad."
Ethiopian forces crossed into Sudanese territory in an act of "aggression", Sudan's foreign ministry said on Sunday, marking the latest flare-up in a long-standing border dispute.

"Ethiopia's trespass into Sudanese land is an unfortunate and unacceptable escalation, which could have dangerous repercussions on security and stability in the region," the Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ethiopian foreign ministry official spokesman Dina Mufti and state minister of foreign affairs Redwan Hussein could not immediately be reached for comment and did not return messages.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry said on its Facebook page on Saturday that "Ambassador Dina called on the government of Sudan to stop plundering and displacing Ethiopian citizens that it has started as of November 6."

Dina said third party mediation was unneccesary once "the Sudanese army evacuates the area that it has forcefully occupied," the Ethiopian foreign ministry Facebook post added.

Ethiopia has also accused Sudan of crossing into its territory.

Clashes erupted late last year between Sudanese and Ethiopian forces over Al-Fashqa, an area of fertile land settled by Ethiopian farmers that Sudan says lies on the Sudanese side of a border demarcated at the start of the 20th century.

Sudan said last month that an Ethiopian aircraft had crossed the border, an allegation that Ethiopia denies.

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The Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Oti Boateng, has called on various communities in the country to support the government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the government alone could not cope with the pandemic challenge, therefore, it needed the support of all to succeed.



"There is the need for effective education on how to clean the environment as well as prevention methods in order to break the pathway of transmission," he added.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Oti Boateng said as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19, the New Juaben Traditional Council has adopted the use of a virtual meeting system, which was in line with the COVID-19 protocols.



ICT



He said the council had also been using information and communications and technology (ICT) to facilitate its work without necessarily coming into contact with members.



He urged other traditional rulers to adopt similar preventive measures in order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.



Daasebre Oti Boateng said the traditional council had introduced a programme dubbed "operation clean communities", which was aimed at educating communities in the New Juaben Traditional Area on the need to clean their environment regularly to avoid contracting avoidable diseases.



Development model



He said together with chiefs in the traditional area, an approach of development (root-based model) covering six thematic areas was being introduced to facilitate the rapid development of the traditional area.



These he said, were education, community engagement with stakeholders, economic and infrastructure, health, agriculture and demographic characteristics.



"We are doing this to support the government as part of our community development efforts," he said.



He explained that the project focused on the development of the communities to supplement the existing public and private sectors, by utilising indigenous community governance systems to build self-secure economies based on a citizen-community-chiefs partnership.



Daasebre Oti Boateng told the Daily Graphic that with a functional development model replicated in all communities, poverty, inequalities and insecurity would be significantly reduced.



He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to embrace the model and chart a new development order for Ghana.

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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Iveri Melashvili never expected to be famous. Nearing retirement after a modest government career in cartography, the 62-year-olds name has suddenly made national headlines and led TV broadcasts  vilified as a traitor or honored as a political martyr. As Eurasianet reports, he stands accused of literally selling out his homeland, 14 square kilometers of it. In the authorities telling, he deliberately gave bad cartographic advice to the government that all but resulted in the handover of a little bit of the countrys territory to Azerbaijan. They have charged him with treason.

This is like a bad dream, Melashvili told Eurasianet while sitting at his desk, maps strewn in front of him. Everything is so absurd and terrible that I dont even know where to start. After spending four months in jail with another cartographer colleague, Natalia Ilychova, Melashvili was released on bail on January 28. The verdict in the case is still pending but he remains the subject of a fierce public-shaming campaign by the ruling Georgian Dream party, affiliated media outlets, and an army of online bots and trolls.They spread all sort of ugly lies about me and my family, Melashvili said. The online abuse occasionally spills over into real-life insults; a stranger recently accosted him while he was shopping.

At issue is a rocky sliver of land along the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the Soviet era, the border between the two republics was repeatedly, and imprecisely, redrawn, leaving the two countries with only a vague international border when they gained independence in 1991. Even after three decades of negotiations, about 35 percent of the border remains undelineated. The most sensitive section lies next to the medieval monasteries of Davit Gareja.There have been occasional tensions in that particular area between Georgian monks and nationalist activists on one side, and Azerbaijani border guards on the other. The Georgian authorities have tried to solve the issue by offering Azerbaijan land along another part of the border, but to no avail.

The only map to which both Soviet republics leadership agreed was drawn in 1938, and it became the basis for the border negotiations between independent Georgia and Azerbaijan. That map placed a small section of Davit Gareja in Azerbaijan, but also left room for interpretation along other segments of the border. The problem with old maps [drawn] at a large scale is that even the tiniest dot you make on them signifies an area of many square kilometers on the ground, Melashvili said.The two countries sought more precise maps from later periods and guidance from cartographers; Melashvili and Ilychova were giving technical assistance to the Georgian side. Serving on the delimitation commission for 25 years, Melashvili watched a series of Georgian governments attempt, and fail, to solve the Davit Gareja issue.

Then last fall, out of the blue, Georgian prosecutors announced that they had discovered hidden maps from the 1930s that would resolve the Davit Gareja dispute in Tbilisis favor, and that Melashvili and Ilychova knew of these maps but kept them quiet. They were arrested on October 7, on charges of committing an act against Georgia directed at transferring all of Georgian territory to a foreign state.Melashvili and Ilychova insist that the maps were never hidden, but had been reviewed by the border commission and dismissed as unusable. Points on those maps were off by anywhere from 300 to 700 meters, which is something that would be obvious to the Azerbaijani side, Melashvili said. It would be like us trying to buy things with obviously fake money.

The charges were announced the month before pivotal parliamentary elections, and the ruling party used the case to attack the main opposition United National Movement party, which was in power when the alleged cartographic skullduggery took place.UNM deserves to be banned because of the treasonous surrender of Davit Gareja, Defense Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, the political secretary of Georgian Dream, said a month before the election. The voters faced a simple choice between treason and [] patriotism, he said. Broadcasts of the governments main mouthpiece, Imedi TV, were emblazoned with a message Davit Gareja is Georgia.The charges appalled Georgias liberals and intellectuals, who have rallied in support of the cartographers, even holding demonstrations. Georgian Dream had difficulty securing a third term and began a witch hunt, said prominent sociologist Iago Kachkachishvili in a February 3 television interview. He said that an imaginary story of treason roused patriotic feelings and helped the party connect to nationalist voters.

Melashvili himself blames Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, who he says forced party officials, prosecutors, and courts to do his bidding. I have every reason to believe this was an election trick by Ivanishvili, Melashvili said.Even two months after the election  which resulted in a decisive, if controversial, Georgian Dream victory  the government continues to press the case against the cartographers.

Georgian Dream officials have dropped hints that additional charges might be brought, and that they could be against high-ranking former officials. Broadcasts on the governments top mouthpiece, Imedi TV, have been emblazoned with a message Davit Gareja is Georgia a slogan that also is being used as a hashtag in social media campaigns. In fact, the Davit Gareja segment of the border doesnt directly figure into the charges against the cartographers. Prosecutors instead hold the two responsible for decisions made regarding other sections of the border that were agreed between Azerbaijan and Georgia between 2004 and 2007. The Georgian government has said it will try to reverse these agreements.

But in the public discourse, distinctions between different segments and the actual charges are as blurry as the disputed border. The framing around the monasteries made it especially sensitive to the faithful, and at a time when tensions in the region were already high as a result of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While the narrative is that cartographers sold Georgias land, the buyer is never explicitly named. By implication, though, its obviously Azerbaijan  a strategic partner of Georgia. In the hoopla, some Georgians adopted the hashtag #AzerbaijanisanOccupier, or called for boycotts against the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR. To many Georgians, the case amounts to a political show trial. One commentator, Jaba Devdariani, called it Georgias Dreyfus Affair.

Melashvili, meanwhile, sees it as a struggle of emotion against expertise. Since the case began, a variety of nationalists, armchair cartographers, and priests have been holding forth about how they think the border should be drawn. That all of Davit Gareja is Georgian is an emotional and cultural truth, he said. But the key is to make it a cartographic reality, accepted by international law.
Ahead of West Bengal polls, another BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar's car was attacked while he was going from Kolkata Airport to his parliamentary constituency Ranaghat on Saturday midnight. According to sources, an unknown truck driver hit the car of the BJP MP near Barasat. Sources further informed that the major accident was averted by the understanding of the driver and security personnel.

West Bengal: BJP MP attacked

After interrogation, local police informed that the driver of the truck which had hit the car of Jagannath Sarkar neither had a license, identity card nor the vehicle's document. However, the driver had revealed that he is from Murshidabad. Calling the attack murderous, Sarkar said, "This sponsored attack has been carried out at the behest of Trinamool Congress (TMC)".

READ | 'Anarchists Trying To Create A Civil War': BJP MP Lekhi Hits Out At Global Conspiracy

Political violence has been making headlines as polls near in the state. Earlier on Saturday, a group of unidentified miscreants attacked BJP leader Babu Master on Basanti Highway. According to the BJP, Babu's car was attacked with bombs by 10-12 miscreants near Lauhati Police post on Basanti Highway. Babu and his driver were grievously injured and his car was damaged.

READ | West Bengal Polls: Congress, Left To Discuss Seat-sharing In Kolkata On Feb 7

The BJP leader and his driver have been admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata. Police are investigating the matter. Babu Master, a former Trinamool Congress leader joined the BJP in December last year.

West Bengal assembly elections

Meanwhile, the BJP has claimed it will win 200 seats in the elections, while the TMC, via poll strategist Prashant Kishor, has contended that the saffron party won't cross 99. West Bengal assembly with 294 seats will go to polls in April-May 2021, Trinamool holds 222 seats.

READ | Amid Bengal Polls Campaign, Derek O'Brien Slams BJP 'tourist Gang' Over Railway Allocation

BJP has made major inroads in the state in the Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and establishing itself as the major opposition force in the state. Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will contest polls from Nandigram, the place that paved way for her rule in the state, and her ex-aide Suvendu Adhikari - who is now in BJP - has vowed to defeat her.

READ | Congress Adds Warning To ISF Courtship For Bengal Polls; 'BJP & TMC Communal; Avoid AIMIM'
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Theyre derided as faceless men, they make and break Labor leaders and they determine the policy decisions the ALP takes. Amid recent chatter about Anthony Albaneses leadership, there has been speculation about whether he still has the backing of a particular faction or state group. Factions play a crucial role in deciding the leader of the ALP (though the party membership now also gets a vote), in allocating frontbench portfolios, in choosing who gets to run for parliament, and in deciding the partys policy positions. But if factional divisions run too deep and the party is divided, its that much harder for Labor to form government. So where did these factions come from? What do they do and why do they matter? And just how powerful are they? In 2010, Julia Gillard emerged victorious after a leadership ballot toppled prime minister Kevin Rudd, a move made possible by the Right. Her removal and Rudds re-instatement three years later was also made possible by a significant group in the Right deserting her. Credit:Andrew Meares Whats a Labor faction? Factions are as old as parliamentary democracy. While the Liberal Party has groupings of interests around policy positions or personalities  social conservatives and moderates, wets and dries and, in NSW for example, three groups (the Hard Right, the Centre Right and the Moderates)  historically they are nowhere near as highly structured or formalised as in the ALP.

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There are two major factions in the ALP  the Right and the Left. Traditionally, the Left has been more progressive, focused on social issues and more supportive of intervening in the private sector, whereas the Right has been more economically dry, more supportive of the US alliance and in some cases, more socially conservative. Though Labor people have leaned towards, or been grouped as, left or right for decades, the factional system in the party began to be formalised in the 1970s. By the time theyve entered Parliament, MPs will have been in a faction for years, as rank-and-file members. Sometimes they will have been invited to join a faction at some point along the way, sometimes they might request to join a faction, but the actual process remains opaque. While the majority of rank-and-file members are Left-leaning, once in Parliament, the Right usually has more MPs  though the number of Left MPs has grown in the past decade. As Nick Dyrenfurth, a former Bill Shorten staffer and executive director of the Labor-aligned John Curtin Research Centre points out in an essay in The Write Stuff, every single federal Labor leader to have taken Labor from opposition into government  dating back to Andrew Fisher in 1910  has been from the Right. Julia Gillard (notionally from the Left, but close to the Right) and Albanese are the only two Labor leaders since 1967 to have come from the Left faction.

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What do factions do and why do they matter? In the Australian Labor Party, factions gather like-minded rank-and-file members and MPs into cohesive groups to advance policy positions  for example, to argue for more ambitious climate change policies or for a change in refugee policy. In Canberra, factional conveners manage the egos and ambitions of MPs seeking entry to the ministry and help parcel out promotions on the basis of merit and quotas (see below). Factions are also used to manage internal policy fights, from those over the privatisation of Qantas and the Commonwealth Bank in the 1980s and 1990s through to same-sex marriage and refugee policy in the 2000s. They bring order and organisation to the caucus (which is the parliamentary Labor Party) and, as one senior Left figure puts it, the faction conveners are the people who put the bomb vest on and represent the Lefts views in the caucus, and take the heat for the collective. Factions play a key role in choosing candidates for safe seats and newly created seats.The Left, for example, will run a more progressive candidate in the Greens-held seat of Melbourne, whereas the Right might get to stand a candidate in an outer-suburban seat in Sydney that Labor wants to win back from the Liberal Party. Factions also play a role in deciding the order of candidates on the Senate ballot at an election, where the difference between being first, second and third position can mean a place in Canberra or not.

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As Dyrenfurth puts it: Factions worked efficiently in the Hawke-Keating years and thats why they won elections  they were coherent and organised and could deal with each other. Dyrenfurth warns about the growth in sub-factions of Labor factions (known as fractions) as being a recipe for disaster. He warns about the Balkanisation, or growth in sub-factions of Labor factions (known as fractions) as being a recipe for disaster as it invites the prospect of an extended period in the electoral wilderness federally. Its bad in terms of a proper, vibrant contest of ideas, its bad for party stability and discipline, and its bad in terms of not getting the best possible MPs into parliament to win government and implement Labor policies. After retaking the leadership in 2013, Kevin Rudd brought in sweeping changes to democratise the ALP and reduce the power of factions, including giving members a 50 per cent say in the leadership vote and making it harder for the caucus to replace the leader. That move came after Rudds removal in 2010, when the NSW Right (which considers itself the king-making faction) along with the Right in Victoria, SA and Queensland shifted to Julia Gillard and removed Rudd as prime minister. Similarly, in 2013, it was a shift by enough people in these factions that helped get Rudd back into the top job. In theory, that cant happen anymore because of Rudds changes  but thats never been tested in practice.

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Whats the current state of play in federal Labor? At the moment, of the 94 Labor MPs in the House of Representatives and the Senate, 49 belong to the Right, 43 are in the Left and two are not factionally aligned. The Left is currently allocated 14 of the 30 seats in the shadow ministry on a proportional basis and the Right receives 16, though they allocate those spots differently. The Left chooses its 14 frontbenchers from a national list of MPs, whereas the Right hands out frontbench spots using a state-based quota formula. The NSW Right gets six spots in the shadow cabinet, the Victorian Right gets four, the Queensland Right receives two places and WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT are treated as one bloc  and take the final four frontbench spots. The Lefts national conveners are Victorian MP Julian Hill, NSW Senator Tim Ayres and MP Sharon Claydon, while MP Matt Thistlethwaite is the national convener of the Right along with South Australian Senator Don Farrell. Both factions have national meetings, usually on a Monday before parliament sits. As one Right MP puts it: The National Left tends to meet for about 90 minutes and the Right meets for about six minutes. The Left has much more formal procedures, whereas in the Right its more like, Does anyone have any problems? OK, thanks.

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Romanian Orthodox Church's full-immersion baptism ritual under fire after infant dies

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The death of an infant during a christening ceremony in Romania has prompted tens of thousands of Christians to call on the countrys Orthodox Church to end the ancient practice of full-immersion baptism of babies.

We do not demand the [end] of the practice of baptism but its modification so [babies] are prevented from unnecessary and even absurd risks! reads an online petition that had gathered over 64,000 names as of Sunday

The petition was launched by teacher Vladimir Dumitru, who argues that the tradition involves brutality and should be abolished.

On Feb. 1, a baby died after suffering cardiac arrest while being baptized in a church in the northern town of Suceava.

The priest fully immersed the six-week baby in the water three times in the baptismal font, DW reports.

The child first cried, then became still, then the infants lips turned blue. The baby was taken to a hospital, where he died a few hours later.

Especially when the children are newborn, a minor amount of water can provoke a cardiorespiratory arrest and, if there is not a rapid intervention, even the death of the baby, Maria Stamatin, a doctor from the intensive care unit at the maternity hospital in the town of Iasi, in north-eastern Romania, told The Telegraph.

A spokesperson for the Orthodox Church, Vasile Banescu, suggested the churches could sprinkle holy water over babies instead of immersing them.

It is, without a doubt, a tragic case, a case that will have to be investigated. Let's not imagine that a child can be put in water without covering his nose, mouth and ears," Banescu told Antena 3. "There is a technique that an experienced priest always uses. This is how a baptism is celebrated with the utmost care.

Teodosie Petrescu, the archbishop of Tomis in the countrys southeast, rejected calls for babies to be sprinkled with water instead of immersed in water. He was quoted as saying that the tradition of immersing a child three times during baptism has carried on for two millennia and will continue.

Theres no way for the ritual to change. These canons of faith will be available for another 1,000 years. That is why we will not change. Were not intimidated, Petrescu said.

The archbishop added that babies should be immersed in cold water, which not only sharpens their spirituality, but is also suitable for their health.

But Eminence Calinic, the archbishop of Arges, is open to change.

In other icons, Jesus stands in the water up to his neck, and with his head bowed he receives baptism by pouring water over the top of his head, BBC quoted him as saying.

Over 80% of Romanians are Orthodox Christians.
The government was facing more confusion over 'vaccine passports' today after Dominic Raab suggested they could be needed to get into pubs and supermarkets in the UK.

The Foreign Secretary appeared to contradict a series of other government statements as he said the idea was 'under consideration'.

The comments risked provoking anger from Tories who are already deeply alarmed about the way the pandemic has hammered civil liberties.

Aides scrambled to clarify that Mr Raab had been responding to a 'hypothetical' question and while 'vaccine passports' are being looked at for international travel, they are 'not being considered domestically'.

Ministers have revealed that work is under way on a system that could allow foreign travel to resume, with Spain the latest country to say it is ready to welcome Brits who have had jabs.

But the government has repeatedly said such documents will not be introduced in the UK, suggesting it would be 'discriminatory'. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said just last week that the move is 'not on the cards'.

The dramatically different position from Mr Raab came in an interview on LBC radio this morning.

Dominic Raab contradicted a series of other government statements as he said the idea was 'under consideration'

Spain says Brits could be visiting this summer Spain's tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with 'vaccine passports'. Fernando Valdes has reportedly raised the prospect that travel could resume within months due to the success of the UK's rollout. He also played down the idea that holidaymakers would have to quarantine when they arrived in Spain, saying there are 'other means' of limiting spread. The optimistic comments emerged as the government steps up work on a system of 'vaccine passports' that could free those who have had jabs from the draconian restrictions on travel. UK ministers have refused to be drawn on when holidays might be back on the agenda, amid mixed messages on whether anyone should be looking to book at this stage. Advertisement

Pressed repeatedly on whether 'vaccine passports' could be needed to get into pubs and supermarkets in this country, he said: 'It is something that hasn't been ruled out. It is under consideration. But of course you've got to make it workable.'

Mr Raab said the 'modalities and mechanisms' of how people could prove they have been vaccinated were all being looked at.

'You've got to know that the document that is being presented is something that you can rely on,' he said.

The comments came amid claims major City firms are expecting to start using digital health passports from next month to help get staff back to offices.

Covid-19 testing firm Prenetics has signed deals with around 100 companies  including investment banks based at Canary Wharf in London  to help get staff back to work safely.

Employees using its Digital Health Passport will download an app onto their mobile phone, which will store results of their Covid tests and vaccine certificates when they have had their jabs.

Meanwhile, Spain's tourism minister has fuelled hopes Britons could go on holiday this summer with 'vaccine passports'.

Fernando Valdes has reportedly raised the prospect that travel could resume within months due to the success of the UK's rollout.

He also played down the idea that holidaymakers would have to quarantine when they arrived in Spain, saying there are 'other means' of limiting spread.

The optimistic comments emerged as the government steps up work on a system of 'vaccine passports' that could free those who have had jabs from the draconian restrictions on travel.

UK ministers have refused to be drawn on when holidays might be back on the agenda, amid mixed messages on whether anyone should be looking to book at this stage.
A woman infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) carries her baby at the maternity ward for mothers infected with the coronavirus, at the Maternal Perinatal Hospital 'Monica Pretelini Saenz', in Toluca, Mexico February 4. (Image: Reuters)

Mexico received a shipment of 870,000 doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine from India on Sunday, the government said, as the country prepares to prioritize older adults in the next phase of its vaccination campaign.

Mexico is also expecting shipments of Pfizer's vaccine to resume, with 494,000 doses due to arrive on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference.

Tiny patients fight COVID-19 in Mexico neonatal ward

Sunday's shipment amounts to about 42% of the two million doses of the AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine the country plans to import from India, in addition to packaging it locally, the government said.

Mexico and Argentina have an agreement with AstraZeneca to produce the vaccine for eventual distribution of 250 million doses in Latin America, with financial support from the foundation of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

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

Mexico, which has one of the world's highest coronavirus death tolls, started vaccinating healthcare workers in December but struggled to hit its targets amid global shortages and delays of Pfizer's vaccine.

Mexico will next vaccinate adults over the age of 60, a group representing 12% of Mexico's 126 million people, between February and April.

"The vaccines are already available. and they will not stop arriving so that the national vaccination plan does not stop," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at the news conference in the southwestern state of Oaxaca.

Latin America's no. 2 economy has so far received just 1,636,350 vaccine doses, according to government data, but has agreements for millions more, including for China's CanSino and the Russian Sputnik V. Mexico received the active ingredient for 2 million doses of the CanSino vaccine on Thursday.

Additionally, Mexico has secured enough vaccines to cover 20% of its population through the global COVAX facility, led by the GAVI vaccines alliance and the World Health Organization, though shipments have yet to begin.
Islamabad: Pakistan will use drones to monitor motorways and highways of the country and provide a record of round the clock movement on roads, according to a media report on Sunday.

The technology would help in not only controlling and managing the traffic volume across the motorways and highways for its smooth and safe flow but also provide for effective and timely interception of crimes, The News reported.

The information gathered by the drones could be used in nabbing the criminals.

The system will be in place in a couple of weeks, the paper reported. The use of drones technology would be displayed towards the end of this month at few points on the motorways.

The project was discussed at the National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) headquarters on Friday during a virtual conference attended by officers of the force from across the country.

The meeting also discussed a five-year plan for catering to future requirements and demands of the motorway police for its modernisation.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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A glamorous social media influencer has revealed what life was really like before starting a lucrative career on OnlyFans.

Anna Paul now lives in the lap of luxury in her waterfront mansion with an in-built elevator on the Gold Coast in Queensland - complete a spectacular kitchen, swimming pool, jacuzzi, a private cinema, a $100,000 rock wall and a 10-car garage.

The 21-year-old has since built a legion of 1.2 million followers on TikTok, and she's one of Australia's highest earners on OnlyFans where she charges fans a fee in exchange for raunchy, nude pictures and saucy strip videos.

But long before she found fame and fortune on social media, Anna led a very different life growing up.

She has never been shy to talk openly about her family's struggle to make ends meet, in which previously revealed they once owned an old van with 'milk crates' used as seats and lived off just $30 a week to feed a family of four.

Glamorous social media influencer Anna Paul (pictured) has revealed what life was really like before starting a lucrative career on OnlyFans

The 21-year-old has since built a legion of 1.2 million followers on TikTok, and she's one of Australia's highest earners on OnlyFans where she charges fans a fee in exchange for raunchy, nude pictures and saucy strip videos

Anna pictured now with her mother

'We grew up not having a lot of money,' she told 10 Studio.

'But our family life was always so amazing so it didn't matter that much. We couldn't do a lot of stuff because we didn't have the money.'

When she turned about 15 years old, Anna said she got a job at Woolworths just so she could use the money to treat her mother to a pair of shoes.

'I went to her in the kitchen, and said, "Mum, I want to get a job because I want to start buying you gifts" and she said "okay, you can do that",' she recalled.

After saving enough money, Anna took her mother shopping.

'I said "ok mamma, I'm going to buy you a pair of Birkenstocks". She started crying in the shopping centre because she did not expect that at all.'

Long before she found fame and fortune on social media, Anna led a different life growing up

The 21-year-old social media influencer in top 0.2 per cent of OnlyFans earners in the world

Since then, Anna - who's in the top 0.2 per cent of OnlyFans earners in the world - has been able to sustain her luxurious lifestyle via the subscription service where she charges a fee of $19.48 for three months, $35.96 for six or $59.94 for one year.

Speaking about her huge social media fanbase, Anna said it was all 'random'.

'You just post a lot and all of a sudden, the followers start to come in, and it just starts growing and growing. And that's how it happened,' she explained.

Anna revealed she gets bombarded with nasty remarks every single day, which includes 'get a real job' or 'that's not a real job'.

'But you know what? If that's not a real job, then where's the money coming from? The money is real so the job is real,' she said.

When asked if she pays her tax, Anna said: '100 per cent. We have to pay our taxes and we have to see our accountant just like a regular job. Just because we're not hired by an employer, doesn't mean it's any less real. It's still a lot of work.'

She now lives in the spectacular mansion with her boyfriend Glen Thomson, her brother Atis Paul, 19, and his OnlyFans star girlfriend Mikaela Testa, 20.

Anna revealed she gets bombarded with nasty remarks every single day, which includes 'get a real job' or 'that's not a real job'. 'But you know what? If that's not a real job, then where's the money coming from? The money is real so the job is real,' she said

And it isn't the first time Anna has spoke about her tough upbringing.

In a TikTok video last August, she shared the truth behind pictures of her 'wealthy' lifestyle taken during her teenage years - including a picture of herself enjoying first class and getting expensive gifts from her family.

'A girl tried to expose me for lying about being broke,' Anna said in her TikTok video.

Long before she made a living selling pictures and videos of herself, Anna shared snaps of herself in first class and a Louis Vuitton wallet gifted on her 16th birthday.

'My Instagram pictures are fake. Instagram is fake, Instagram is not real,' she said.

Sharing a picture of herself flying first class to Dubai, Anna said she was only upgraded to the seat after her brother vomited all over her in economy class.

'This is me in 2014. First class, right, rich. No,' she said.

'My whole family lives in Germany and we went to go visit them, but of course we couldn't afford plane tickets for everyone so my uncle bought two plane tickets - one for my brother, one for me in economy.

'And during the last 30 minutes of the trip, my brother vomited on me. He vomited all over the seats, and he vomited all over me.

'So they put us in first class in the last 20 minutes because we were minors and I flexed it. Instagram is fake.'

Sharing a picture of herself flying first class (pictured) to Dubai in 2014, Anna said she was only upgraded to the seat after her brother vomited all over her in economy class

For her 16th birthday, Anna said her mother set aside some money from her welfare benefits over one year just so she could surprise her with an expensive Louis Vuitton wallet (picture)

Anna shared a picture of a YSL purchase after she decided to spoil herself with the last $50 to her name. She couldn't afford a train ticket home that day so she 'illegally' took the train home without paying

For her 16th birthday, Anna said her mother set aside some money from her welfare benefits over an entire year just so she could surprise her with an expensive gift.

'My mother bought me a Louis Vuitton wallet. It cost $500... she got $250 on Centrelink a week and she saved up for a year,' she explained.

Anna shared a picture of a YSL purchase after she decided to spoil herself with the last $50 to her name.

'This is a $50 YSL lipstick. I bought this and I couldn't afford the train ticket home, I had to illegally jump on the train,' she admitted.

Anna said her Tiffany and Co jewellery was gifted to her from her younger brother Atis who found a lucrative way to save up for her birthday.

'When Atis was 13 he used to buy hookahs online for really cheap and then sell them at school for $10 each. For my 16th birthday he saved up for these for me,' she said.

She revealed her love for designer labels, saying she used to put $10 away a week just so she could save up money to treat herself with expensive products.

In 2019, Anna shared a YouTube video revealing how she purchased herself her dream car after her family struggled to buy a 'modern' vehicle when she was young.

'I don't mean it as an ungrateful way. I'm very grateful that we were even able to afford a car,' she explained.

'The car that we then had was a white van that don't have any windows in the back and guess what, it didn't have any seats in the back either, it had milk crates on the ground at the back of the van we sat on as chairs.

'That's the car we had because that's all we can afford because we had no money.'
An Garda Siochana have issued a warning ahead of St Valentine's Day to warn members of the public to be aware of 'romance fraud'.

With Valentines Day fast approaching this Sunday, gardai are warning that romance scams are on the rise.

This particular fraud is enabled via online dating sites or other social media by fraudsters who will provide the victims with well-prepared stories designed to deceive. The victims develop online relationships with the fraudsters, who use fake identities, photographs and life stories.

Inevitably, the fraudster will ask their victim for money. The fraudster will continue to ask for money until the victim has no more money to give or realise they are being conned. This crime often leaves vulnerable people with a feeling of hurt and mistrust in addition to their financial loss.

The warning signs include:

 The fraudster asking the victim to communicate by instant messaging, text or phone calls rather than messaging through the dating website

 The fraudster will start asking for money for various reasons, starting with low amounts:

- to pay for travel to meet the victim

- to pay moving expenses (ship furniture and pay customs)

- to pay medical expenses for a sick child or relative

- to invest in a guaranteed business opportunity

- to pay a tax bill or other spurious reason

 No meetings in person take place. The fraudster will present reasons for not meeting, or may arrange to meet and then cancel

 The fraudster will avoid personal questions, but will ask plenty

 They will ask for money to be transferred to bank accounts abroad or via money transfer agencies to locations outside of Ireland

 Phone calls from Irish numbers or lodgements to Irish bank accounts should not be considered as evidence that the person is genuine.

Gardai have issued the following advice to the public:

 STOP AND THINK! ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS PERSON REAL? - If you are asked for money by a person with whom you are in an on-line relationship

 NEVER share personal or banking details with unknown persons online.

 NEVER receive money from, or send money to persons unknown.

 THINK twice before using a webcam (intimate images can be used for blackmail).

 TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS  if it sounds like it is too good to be true, it is probably not true.

 IF IN DOUBT, talk to a family member or a friend.

 If you have been the victim of this type of crime, please report it in confidence to your local Garda station.
PM undermined; Lanka grappling with issues of governance amidst uncertain leadership View(s):

One of the criticisms of the Yahapalana Government particularly during the latter part of its tenure was its inability to act decisively when the situation demanded.

Hamstrung by policy differences between the two segments of Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP), the Yahapalana Government struggled to keep the country on track causing concern among the people, including those who worked to bring the Government to power in 2015, to bring about a system change.

The dissatisfaction among the people at the ineptness of the post-2015 administration was so great, even the qualitative change brought about by the 19th Amendment in terms of strengthening the institutions of governance and opening up the democratic space was lost. Consequently the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) administration was catapulted to power on a platform that was highly communal and racist.

The SLPP-led Opposition projected Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the saviour and answer to all the ills of the country with a campaign that exploited the insecurity among the majority community. New organisations like Viyath Maga and Eliya comprising professionals were touted as the engine that would transform the country, while Gotabaya Rajapaksas lack of political experience was made out as a virtue that would enable him to take decisions that would benefit in the country.

Experienced politicians particularly, those with an SLFP background as well as the left, did not see the inherent dangers in vesting the task of governance with a leadership that lacked political experience. Today the amateurish efforts at governance are visible to all, with the people paying the price.

The more experienced politicians from the SLFP are twiddling their thumbs with little or no responsibilities bestowed on them while important positions have been conferred on those who are not sensitive to the needs of the people. The result is untold suffering faced by the people as well as an economic crisis that has been aggravated by Government bungling.

The recent call by Minister Wimal Weerawansa to bring President Gotabaya Rajapaksa into the leadership of the SLPP without confining him to the Presidential Secretariat is probably a recognition of the latters insularity from the larger polity and its impact on governance. Minister Weerawansa ignored the fact that it is an inevitable result of the centralisation of power in the institution of the Executive Presidency which automatically distances the holder of the office from the pulse of the people.

No amount of choreographed events like the Gama Samaga Pilisandara can make up for lack of interaction with the representatives of the people. This can only be done by a Head of Government who is part of a Parliament in which he will have to participate and be answerable to the representatives of the people.

This was brought out very clearly by the Presidential outburst against Parliamentarian Harin Fernando at the Gama Samaga Pilisandara. In normal circumstances Harin Fernandos criticism could have been countered by the President in Parliament under the Westminister system of Government and the matter would have rested there.

The passage of the 20th Amendment has further contributed to a deterioration in the quality of governance. Apart from weakening the independent institutions of Government, the whole decision making process has raised several questions.

If one takes the case of the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT), the Government continuously said 49 percent of the ownership would be handed over to the Indian Adani group despite opposition from a section of its own supporters and its election promise that it would not sell any national assets.

The Government claimed such a step would not amount to a sale but only an investment. In its defence the Government said it was compelled to do so because of the MoU signed by the previous Government with India.

However, when it came to the Light Rail Project from Kaduwela to Colombo, the Government had no hesitation in unilaterally cancelling the agreement signed by the previous Government with Japan with no reasons stated despite the highly beneficial terms on which it had been agreed.

Finally amidst all the opposition it was left to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to put the matter at rest, by stating that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) would hold 100 percent share of the ownership of the ECT.

The more recent fiasco was the fall out of the statement made in Parliament by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa with regard to burial of COVID-19 victims. Parliamentarian S. M. Marikkar raised the question whether the Government would allow burials for COVID victims, now that State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle had said the COVID-19 virus could not be transmitted by water.

Intervening, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene ruled out the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarians question as being irrelevant. Although the Prime Minster could have taken cover under the Speakers ruling and avoided answering the question, he did not do so. In fact, the Prime Minister went out of the way and addressed Parliamentarian Marikkar by name and said burials would be allowed.

The Prime Ministers statement was welcomed widely by the long suffering Muslim community, as well as diplomats and world leaders including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. In doing so they relied on the plain meaning of the words uttered by the Prime Minister.

However, the next day State Minister Fernandopulle said the Prime Ministers proposal would be put to the Health Ministry experts committee, whom

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem described the committee as comprising pseudo-scientists. By what stretch of imagination the Minister could describe the Prime Ministers announcement as a proposal is difficult to understand when it was clearly an announcement of the Governments position.

In fact it raises fundamental questions whether the experts committee has the power to over rule the Prime Minster. Clearly the Prime Minister was seized of the expert committees recommendations as well as the overwhelming evidence of medical experts in Sri Lanka and abroad, as well as World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Adding insult to injury was the statement of SLPP Parliamentarian Kokila Dharmawerdene at a SLPP Press Conference. He said the Prime Minister had only referred to normal burials and not COVID-19 burials.

Another incident involving the Prime Minister was the issue of a circular involving the import of tiles. Within 24 hours of the Prime Minister issuing the circular, the Imports Director General issued a circular nullifying the Prime Ministers circular.

The unanswered question in the peoples minds is who or which force is undermining the Prime Ministers decisions.

(javidyusuf@gmail.com)
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2021 ) :For the past 11 months, Reign Free has done everything she can think of to keep her catering company open after the pandemic hit -- a fight shared by many Black-owned businesses across the United States.

As her business dried up, Free has taken out loans from the US government and other lenders and searched for new opportunities, but she wonders how much longer Red Door Catering in Oakland, California can survive the slump.

"We're getting crumbs and it's not enough. We're still having hope, and still trying to stay afloat, but really we're getting deeper and deeper into the hole," she told AFP.

Racial minorities have borne the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, with higher rates of death, unemployment and business failure, and less success obtaining federal government assistance intended to provide relief.

President Joe Biden has argued his proposed $1.9 trillion spending package will both pay for an aggressive vaccine campaign to end the virus that has strangled business, while also addressing the longstanding racial inequities that have worsened during the pandemic.

"It is a great effort," Cathy Adams, president and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, said of Biden's plan.

The chamber's members have managed to avoid closure, but only with considerable struggle, and Adams fears for their future.

"This right here has hit us so hard," she said.

- Pre-existing conditions - The world's largest Covid-19 outbreak has exacted an awful toll on the United States, killing more than 480,000 people and leading to mass layoffs, with 20.4 million people unemployed as of January, according to Labor Department data.

But it has been a starkly unequal experience. The unemployment rate was at 5.7 percent for white Americans last month but 9.2 percent for African Americans and 8.6 percent for Hispanics, the Labor Department said.

Government data also shows both groups have higher death rates from the disease than whites, and their businesses are similarly imperiled.

An August study from the New York Federal Reserve said Black-owned small businesses failed at a rate two times above the national average.

Congress has funded two rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offers loans and grants to small businesses and was created last March as part of the $2.

2 trillion CARES Act.

But in the most populous state of California, Black and Hispanic neighborhoods have received less PPP money than white and Asian neighborhoods, and the program supported fewer jobs per resident, according to a study from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, a co-author of the study, said minority-owned businesses tended not to have relationships with banks or lacked experience with such massive government programs, meaning by the time they applied for the PPP, the funds were depleted.

"All those things combined meant that minority-owned businesses had less access to the loans, and it ended up being a program that has the potential to increase racial inequities that were already there before," he said in an interview.

- More than stimulus - Biden's plan would continue the unemployment safety net expanded by the CARES Act and send out stimulus checks of up to $1,400 a person, but he has faced pushback from lawmakers who argue his proposal, particularly the checks, are excessive.

But William Spriggs, chief economist of the AFL-CIO trade union federation, said the package is designed to better cater to the needs of Black workers, who lagged the white community in terms of wealth even before the pandemic.

Federal Reserve data from 2019 showed the average Black family has eight time less wealth than the average white family, while the average Hispanic family has five times less wealth -- and that was before the pandemic.

Providing funds directly is "a key element of racial equity," Spriggs said, noting "the Black duration of unemployment is longer than for any other group other than Asian Americans." For Free, the additional aid can't come soon enough.

Covid-19 vaccines are now being administered nationwide, but Free says her Calendar, normally packed full of events to cater, is bare.

The loans she has received from the PPP are forgivable, but she worries whether Red Door -- and other minority owned businesses -- can overcome the debt they have been forced to take on from other lenders.

"When it has to paid, what's going to happen is another wave of people, especially minorities, closing every day. I can't sleep knowing I have over $500,000 of debt to service," she said.

Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
Record-breaking The Chosen series gathers 2,000 extras to film biblical reenactment amid COVID regulations

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Thousands of fans and actors endured strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines to be featured in a reenactment of the Sermon on the Mount for a scene in The Chosen series.

While many studios in Hollywood have avoided gathering large numbers of extras, thousands endured COVID-19 testing, quarantining, and more testing to be a part of the production that's being filmed in Midlothian, Texas.

At the top of 2019, The Chosen became the No. 1 crowdfunded media project in history. It has since garnered over $20 million in crowdfunding. On Wednesday, the faith-based drama gathered more than 2,000 extras to film a reenactment of the famous biblical account. Many of the extras were people who've invested in the project. Some even flew from outside the U.S. to attend the filming.

According to Hollywood Reporter, Dallas Jenkins, director of The Chosen, revealed that they initially planned to shoot the scene before the novel coronavirus outbreak.

But then when the pandemic hit, we thought, Is it possible for us to do this and do it safely by following all the COVID guidelines? Jenkins, the son of Christian novelist Jerry Jenkins of the Left Behind series, said. We thought, You know, maybe if we literally test everybody we can make this work.'

Reports of the elaborate production revealed that everyone who participated in the scene was required to get a negative PCR test result before traveling to the set. A PCR test is a COVID-19 test that detects the genetic material of the virus. Once on set, they were given a rapid antigen test and had to remain in their cars while awaiting their virus-free test results.

That's the sad reality, he told HR. We told everyone to please, please, please, for your sake, be as careful as humanly possible because if you test positive, not only are you not able to be allowed in, but no one in your car will be allowed in. But were sure it's going to happen to a few people.

Texas COVID-19 filming guidelines do not place a limit on the number of extras allowed on set. They require health screenings before coming onto a production, face coverings and social distancing when possible, and note that productions "should stay informed and take actions based on common sense and wise judgment that will protect health and support economic revitalization."

The eight-episode first season, now available to watch on The Chosen App, takes viewers into the lives of those who were by Jesus side while He walked the Earth.

The first installment of The Chosen has been seen by nearly 50 million people in 180 countries and has been translated into over 50 languages.

Production for season 2 is underway and Jenkins and his team had to raise another $750,000 specifically designated for COVID-19 protocols. The first half of the new season was shot in fall 2020 with safety protocols in place.

While filming the new season, Jenkins revealed they had less than five positive cases, each of whom was isolated to prevent further infections. The filmmaker did, however, acknowledge the large gathering of their latest scene did come with risks involved.

Just the act of being involved in this, it means you're carrying with it a little bit of exposure, he said. We have a track record of now four months of filming and being incredibly safe  but nothing's ever 100 percent.
It is refreshing when a female leader emerges in a market such as Egypt, tackling the challenges and the current pandemic head-on. As part of Egypts 2030 vision, the country aims to increase the participation of women in the workforce to 40 percent by 2030 from the current 22.9 percent as per 2019 study by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

It is important for organisations to create a conducive environment for women in the workplace, and Nokia has been doing exactly this through regular, consistent programs on promoting strong gender equality, says Radwa Hafez, country senior officer at Nokia Egypt. Women can add tremendous value to any organisation, but that value can only be extracted through a nurturing environment where you are encouraged to grow. They need to not overthink things and believe in themselves  anyone can do it.

She says one of her biggest challenges, and accomplishments was the merger between Nokia and Alcatel Lucent. It is always difficult bringing two separate cultures together, while still maintaining customer delivery, says Hafez. Also, working in a market where having a female leader is still unusual makes for quite a challenge. One that I am pleased to have overcome and which I see as one of my big successes. As a leader, I value communication, trust and youth development.

Communication and Trust were two values that Radwa had to rely on when COVID-19 pandemic brokeout. wed never seen anything like this, so we had to ensure business continuity, especially with the critical role that telecom had to play during the pandemic while of course ensuring employees safety and keeping their level of engagement.  says Hafez. We also rallied our peoples support for a donation that Nokia made to a special quarantine hospital, which highlighted the solidarity Nokia Egypt has for the community.

Nokia Egypt has also invested a lot of effort in student outreach across universities through mechanisms such as hackathons and real-life experience sharing. This campaign proved highly successful as it helped address many of the practical questions on students minds, she concludes. Now we get thousands of applications for our summer internship which is also essential to us as we are working together with telecom operators in Egypt towards building cutting edge 5G networks, leveraging our secure and world class products.

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Irish food exporters have been hit with a fresh blow as surging freight costs, container shortages and consumer concerns over Covid-19 affect trade with China.

Several food exporters had seen the Chinese and Asian markets as an opportunity to recoup some sales lost following Brexit.

However, recent developments with transport costs to China for food exporters have hit margins, creating competitiveness issues.

Bord Bia, the State agency for supporting and promoting Irish food at home and abroad, told the Sunday Independent a current shortage of containers was affecting Irish food exporters.

It said costs had almost doubled for European suppliers to China, with the price of reefer containers (refrigerated containers) now being over 5,000.

Conor O'Sullivan, the China manager for Bord Bia, was recently quoted as saying the logistics of shipping to Asia had been a big challenge for Irish seafood exporters over the past year.

Bord Bia's spokeswoman said: "Increased shipping costs to China continue to be an issue for exporters all across Europe, including Irish seafood exporters. Like any business, an increased cost reduces margins and profitability.

"This is particularly challenging at a time when prices are already under pressure due to the impact of Covid-19, and most notably for Irish seafood, the closure of the foodservice sector across many markets in Asia."

According to Bord Bia's recent Export Performance and Prospects report, the value of seafood exports to China fell by 67pc in 2020 to 15m.

The Bord Bia spokeswoman added the shipping situation to China is "very consistent across all commodities". "Containers have been in short supply and slow to return to Europe and Ireland," she said.

Despite concerns over exports, Bord Bia said it believes demand from China for beef and pigmeat would remain strong.

Separately, shipping line DFDS, which operates the Rosslare to Dunkirk service, said the Brexit transition had "caused more than just teething issues". In its quarter four results presentation for 2020, it said the logistics business had been hit by slower transit times, with increased empty runs and more equipment needs raising costs.

DFDS added there had been a high demand for its Ireland to France route. Its long-term viability will be confirmed as "border crossings normalise".
Press Release

February 14, 2021 Hontiveros to job recovery task force: Protect workers, promote healthy, COVID-free workplaces Senator Risa Hontiveros today urged the government's newly-created job recovery task force to help ensure that Filipino workers are protected and that their workplaces are healthy and COVID-free. Malacanang recently announced the creation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS), which is expected to address the record-high unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Dapat siguraduhin na ligtas at hindi magiging COVID-19 hotspots ang mga opisina, pabrika at iba pang lugar ng trabaho sa bansa. Hopefully, more establishments can reopen and get back in business, without causing a spike in COVID-19 infections," Hontiveros said. The senator said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), a member of the NERS, should see to the effective enforcement of guidelines like physical distancing, wearing of masks, and regular disinfection of common equipment in all workplaces. This, as data from the DOLE revealed that 20% or one in five workplaces still fail to comply with occupational safety and health protocols. There must be 100% compliance with COVID-19 protocols in establishments. Filipino employees should feel confident in their return to work, amid this pandemic. They should have the peace of mind that they will not get sick or put their families at risk," Hontiveros said. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), also a member of the NERS, should bolster contact-tracing efforts in the country so workers discovered as contacts of persons infected with COVID-19 should be quarantined to avoid further infections in the workplace, she added. Hontiveros again urged the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1441, otherwise known as the 'Balik Trabahong Ligtas' bill to enable improved measures that will help protect the health of Filipino workers. The bill, which Hontiveros authored and sponsored, mandates several reforms such as full PhilHeath coverage for the hospitalization costs of employees infected with COVID-19 or other infectious diseases during their work, as well as free COVID-19 testing for workers in establishments with 50 or more personnel. Under the said bill, workers will also be provided with additional paid sick leave days if they are unable to report to work due to infection control protocols. In cases where the worker dies from COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, the bill states that his or her surviving family may be qualified for a P1 million benefit. "The better we are able to protect our workplaces, the sooner we will be able to reopen all offices, factories, stores and other establishments. We all want to revive our battered economy. Mas mabilis na aahon ang ating bansa kung iingatan natin ang isa't-isa," Hontiveros concluded.
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CAIRO  Sudan has recently called for broadening the negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to include the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, alongside the African Union (AU) that is currently sponsoring the negotiations process.

In an interview with Reuters Feb. 6, Sudanese Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Yasser Abbas called on these actors to take up the role of mediators, instead of observers.

Yet Egyptian and international observers and analysts who spoke to Al-Monitor believe that this call may not stir up stagnant waters, amid Ethiopias rejection to engage international mediators from outside the AU in the negotiation process.

The tripartite negotiations on the GERD continue to be stalled, with the last round held Jan. 10 failing to achieve any progress.

Hani Raslan, head of the Sudan and Nile Basin Countries Unit at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor, The Sudanese suggestion regarding a new international mediation aims to overcome the hurdles that have been dragging on for months in the AU-brokered negotiations. Ethiopia, however, opposes all these proposals, which maintains the current stumbling block and prevents any progress.

According to Raslan, Ethiopia invokes Article 10 of the 2015 Declaration of Principles on the GERD signed by Addis Ababa, Cairo and Khartoum, to justify its rejection of any mediation.

Article 10, titled The principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, states, The three countries commit to settle any dispute resulting from the interpretation or application of the declaration of principles through talks or negotiations based on the goodwill principle. If the parties involved do not succeed in solving the dispute through talks or negotiations, they can ask for mediation or refer the matter to their heads of states or prime ministers.

On Feb. 2, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti expressed his countrys commitment to resume the AU-brokered tripartite negotiations.

Meanwhile, during a Feb. 7 meeting with Pekka Haavisto, special European envoy and Finnish foreign minister, in Khartoum, Abbas raised the idea of involving the UN as a mediator in the tripartite negotiations. He explained the risks of a unilateral Ethiopian decision to initiate the second filling of the dam's reservoir in July 2021.

Haavisto said at the meeting that he will meet the Ethiopian leadership in Addis Ababa for this purpose, as part of his efforts to defuse the Sudanese-Ethiopian border tension.

Tarek Fahmy, a professor of political sciences at the American University of Cairo, told Al-Monitor over the phone, The Sudanese call for a new mediation came at a critical timing. Yet we fear a vicious circle this time as well, particularly since the US mediation failed last year and the AU role continues to be impeded.

The US mediation failed last year after Ethiopia accused the United States of favoring Egypt.

Fahmy said, The new Sudanese suggestion is linked to the change in the leadership of the AU, as the Democratic Republic of Congo replaces South Africa. In general, we are not that reliant on any AU role. Today, the AU is required to release an official statement declaring failure of negotiations and hold the party behind such failure fully responsible.

He noted, Egypt will resort to the UN Security Council as soon as the AU announces that the three parties failed to reach a deal. This cannot be done unless the regional organization that we are a member of  namely the AU  ends its brokerage.

Fahmy added, Egypt and Sudan have demanded that Ethiopia does not initiate the second filling of the GERD reservoir [in July] and to wait for a binding agreement for all parties.

Riccardo Fabiani, project director on North Africa at the International Crisis Group, told Al-Monitor, Sudan hopes that the international actors mediation will help the parties reach a middle solution. None of these foreign mediators, however, has managed so far to offer a suitable technical solution to the ongoing political dispute between Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa.

He noted, This approach is a reflection of the difficult position Sudan is placed in as a country that has always used a share that is smaller than its theoretical share of the Nile water. In addition, Sudan is going through a complex political transition.

Commenting on Ethiopia's refusal of any international mediation, he added, Ethiopias consent is possible, but that is not the problem. What would this mediator do that has not been done already? What would distinguish this mediation? The problem does not reside in identifying a mediator, but rather in forcing the three parties to make the necessary concessions in order for them to reach a middle solution.

Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, concurred. He told Al-Monitor, The United States had previously served as mediator in the negotiations, and several meetings were held in Washington. Yet they did not achieve any progress. Also, we resorted to the UN Security Council, which supported the AU role. There was nothing new during this entire year that has passed since South Africa presided over the AU. Resolving this crisis requires a political decision that is in Ethiopias hands in the first place.

He said, Ethiopias internal crises are the reason why it is refusing to make any concessions in the GERD negotiations. We are waiting to see what would be the Joe Biden administrations position regarding the crisis.

In a Feb. 9 intervention over the phone with Sada El-Balad, the spokesman for the US State Department, Christiaan James, said that the United States will renew diplomatic efforts to resolve the GERD crisis. We are totally aware that the thorny GERD issue is important to all of the Nile Basin countries  and is taking this dossier seriously, he said.

Hassan concluded, Egypt will continue to hold on to the principle of negotiations and its right to the Nile waters, which is a life or death matter that cannot be overlooked.
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The police in Lagos State on Saturday arrested 76 people at a birthday party in Lavender Court, Jakande Close, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, in violation of COVID-19 protocols.

The arrest is contained in a statement signed by the commands Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Mr Adejobi said those arrested at the party included: Popoola Michael, Adeyemo Opeyemi, Ramon Salami, Kareem Akeem, Balogun Nurudeen, and 71 others.

The Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Division, led his team on enforcement of COVID-19 protocols on the 12 midnight to 4 a.m curfew when he got wind of the party gathering.

This led to the arrest of the party goers at about 1 a.m. on the island, the police spokesperson said.

He said the police division also impounded more than 136 vehicles for breaking the 12 midnight to 4 a.m curfew on the island and some parts of Lekki in the recent past.

The owners of the vehicles have been charged to the Mobile Court, Oshodi and have been fined appropriately, Mr Adejobi said.

Similarly, he said the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, sealed up an event centre at Joel Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja, and arrested the party goers for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

Mr Adejobi said that approval for the party was for 100 guests which was to be held outdoors and not indoors.

However, the party had more than 300 guests in the hall contrary to the safety commissions approval.

The place has been sealed up and the organisers have been arrested, he said.

(NAN)
In a statement after the vote, Trump offered few clues, but was defiant as he told supporters their movement has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people, he said. Im into winning: Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican on Trump. Credit:AP Senator Lindsey Graham, who spoke to Trump on Saturday night, acknowledged that Trump is mad at some folks, but also ready to move on and rebuild the Republican Party and excited about 2022. In their conversations, Graham has stressed to Trump, who has threatened to start his own party to punish disloyal Republicans, that the GOP needs him to win.

I said, Mr. President, this MAGA movement needs to continue. We need to unite the party. Trump-plus is the way back in 2022, Graham, a Republican, told Fox News Sunday. Loading My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda Ive seen coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden. We cant do that without Donald Trump, so hes ready to hit the trail and Im ready to work with him, Graham said. Graham said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who voted to acquit but then delivered a scalding denunciation of Trump, got a load off a chest, obviously. Graham said later in the interview: If you want to get something off your chest, fine, but Im into winning. At his Palm Beach club on Saturday night, Trump was in a joyous mood as he enjoyed dinner on a patio packed with people. After a mellow last several weeks, one member described a party atmosphere not felt since before the election.

Still, Trump isnt in the clear yet. No longer protected by a Justice Department opinion against the prosecution of sitting presidents, he now faces multiple, ongoing criminal investigations. In Georgia, the Fulton County District Attorney has opened a criminal investigation into attempts to influence the election, including Trumps call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger demanding that the official find enough votes to overturn Bidens victory. Loading In New York, Attorney-General Letitia James is investigating whether Trump and his company improperly inflated the value of his assets on annual financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain tax benefits. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance jnr continues his own investigation, which has included grand jury testimony. He didnt get away with anything  yet, McConnell, a Republican said after the vote. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.

McConnell voted to acquit Trump on the grounds the trial was unconstitutional because he is no longer in office, but insisted, Theres no question  none  that president Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. That sharp rebuke from his once-loyal defender underscores how dramatically Trumps stock has fallen in Washington since his first impeachment trial just over a year ago. But the desire to be rid of Trump is not shared across the country, where Republicans who have dared to admonish him have faced swift rebuke. No question of Trumps guilt, said the Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after voting to acquit the former president. Credit:AP Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican, was forced to defend her third-in-line leadership position after she voted in favour of impeachment. On Saturday, Louisianas Republican Party quickly censured Senator Bill Cassidy, one of the seven Republicans senators who voted for Trumps conviction. In an interview with ABCs This Week on Sunday, Cassidy seemed at peace with his decision.

I think his force wanes, he said of Trump. The Republican Party is more than just one person. The Republican Party is about ideas. But how long Trump retains his grip remains an open question, especially with a slew of likely 2024 candidates now trying to take the mantle. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Some, like Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, are advocating a clean break from Trump, who ended his presidency with a record low 34 per cent approval rating according to Gallup polling. Others have stressed the need to keep his voters engaged, perhaps with candidates who trumpet the policies Trump championed, but with a less caustic style that might win back suburban voters.

In a sign of his enduring power, the Republican National Committee and other groups spent the trial sending fundraising appeals urging their followers to Stand with Trump and SAVE President Trumps Legacy in the words of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Oh, time is going to take care of that some way or another, Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, told reporters on Saturday. But remember, in order to be a leader, you got to have followers. So were gonna find out, whoever leads. But everybodys going to be involved. Were a big tent. While the Senate failed to bar Trump from running again for office, many believe he has done too much damage to be a credible candidate himself in 2024. Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who is retiring, said Trumps refusal to accept the results of the election had very badly damaged his reputation eclipsing his accomplishments in office. Instead, Toomey said, hell be remembered throughout history as the president who resorted to nonlegal steps to try to hold on to power.
(CNN)  A powerful earthquake that hit Japan on Saturday was an aftershock of the devastating 9.0 magnitude quake that struck the same area almost 10 years ago, according to the national Meteorological Agency.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the country's east coast at 11:07 p.m. Saturday. At least 48 injuries were reported in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, according to state broadcaster NHK, but there were no major casualties.

The epicenter hit about 46 miles (74 kilometers) northeast of Namie, a coastal town 60 miles from Fukushima, according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake measured about 36 miles in depth. No tsunami warning was issued.

Saturday's quake took place in the same area as the March 11, 2011, earthquake that caused the country's worst nuclear disaster on record, when three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant melted down, releasing radioactive materials into the air.

More than 20,000 people died or went missing in the 2011 quake and tsunami, while hundreds of thousands more lost their homes. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the area.

Authorities have spent the past ten years cleaning up the area -- a massive effort that experts say will take another few decades to complete.

Despite these on going efforts, when Japan hosts the Olympic Games this year the torch relay is scheduled to start its journey in Fukushima on March 25, 2021 -- a symbol of recovery and rebuilding in the area.

"As 2021 will mark the 10th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay will aim to showcase the recovery of the areas worst affected by the disaster," the Olympic committee said on its website.

However, Saturday's earthquake is a reminder that the events are 2011 are not entirely behind the Fukushima region.

Early Sunday morning, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reassured the public that "no abnormalities" have been reported at any of the nuclear plants in the region after Saturday's quake.

Speaking to reporters, Suga said the damage is still being assessed, and asked residents in the affected area to stay indoors and be prepared for aftershocks.

The earthquake triggered landslides and uprooted sections of a major expressway, affecting both prefectures. Embankments along the road collapsed, covering the road and burying guardrails in mud, NHK reported.

About 850,000 households in the Kanto and Tohoku regioins, which include greater Tokyo, lost power after the quake, NHK reported. Power is now gradually being restored.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the time of the earthquake. It happened at 11:07 p.m. local time.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Japan rocked by 'aftershock' from devastating 9.0-magnitude quake that hit in 2011'
The US believes that reaching a "negotiated solution" in the dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is "possible," the Regional Spokesman for the US State Department said on Saturday.

"The United State believes that there is a possible negotiated solution between the [three] countries akin to [the treaties reached] between the United State and [both] Mexico and Canada on the water and rivers," Samuel Warburg, the Regional Spokesman for the US State Department, said in a TV comment with Mehwar Egyptian TV channel.

Warburg's comments on Saturday were the first public statement by a US official on the issue of the GERD dispute since President Joe Biden took office in late January.

In response to a question on what role the Biden administration could play in the long-running stalemate in the negotiations, Warburg said the new administration has first to "understand all details and results of all negotiations and the US efforts over the past years."

He also said the US expects the three countries would find a way out for the stalemate, adding that "from the years I have been in Egypt, I know how Egyptians consider Sudanese and Ethiopians brothers."

The spokesman added that the new administration is looking into the issue in a bid to find out whether there is a chance for the US to play a "positive" role, act as a mediator or coordinator in the talks, or offer technical assistance in this respect.

Under Trump administration, and per Cairo's request, Washington attempted to mediate a negotiated agreement between the three countries, but failed after Addis Ababa refused to sign on a draft deal.

The US Treasury Department and the World Bank hosted more than one round of tripartite talks from November 2019 until February 2020, before Ethiopia's withdrew from the last session of talks and refused to sign on any binding deal.

The US also acted later in the year as observer in African Union (AU) sponsored tripartite negotiations, but that effort also failed also due to Ethiopia's intransigence.

In November 2020, former US President Donald Trump lashed out publicly against Ethiopia for its withdrawal from the final round of the US-brokered negotiations earlier in the year, saying Cairo's concerns in the dispute are legitimate.

Egypt fears the project will significantly cut its crucial water supplies from the River Nile, while Sudan has concerns on how the reservoir will be managed.

Ethiopia says the massive project, which it hopes will make it Africas largest power exporter, is key to its development efforts.

Egypt has stressed on multiple occasions that it supports Ethiopia's development goals, but has insisted all along that a legally binding agreement between the three sides is the only acceptable way to end the dispute and safeguard its water rights.

However, Ethiopia has completed the first filling of the dam last summer, and announced plans to complete the second filing in July without waiting for a deal to be signed.

Short link:


Contrary to expectations, a recent study by IMA Kochi has found that the elderly have reacted with fewer symptoms after taking the vaccine against Covid-19 as compared to people in the 20-40 age group.

The study also found that women are more likely than men to develop symptoms. According to a report by The Times of India, the milder-symptoms-foraged theory has been confirmed by a study of 5,396 healthcare workers put together by the Kochi branch of the Indian Medical Association.

The study, based on an online survey conducted between January 29 and February 4, also found that 66% of those vaccinated reported at least one post-inoculation symptom. The most reported symptoms were tiredness, myalgia and fever.

Over 14,800 people received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on Friday in the fourth week of the inoculation drive. The authorities also provided the second dose of vaccination on Saturday for beneficiaries who were given jabs in the beginning of the exercise. As per doctors, the second dose is to be given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days.

After a sluggish start, since the exercise was kicked off January 16, the inoculation drive had picked up pace in the last several days. "Today, 14,843 people were administered coronavirus vaccine, and AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was reported in seven persons," a senior official of the Delhi Health Department said.

The number of centres where vaccination was carried out on Friday stood at 257, with a turnout of about 57 per cent. At the four North Delhi Municipal Corporation-run hospitals, the vaccinated beneficiaries count stood at over 200 on Friday with the cumulative figures being 1,850.

Besides healthcare workers, frontline workers, who include, police, civil defence staff, DJB and electricity department employees, among others, are also getting jabs in the last several days. Also, the number of scheduled days, from initially being four days - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - have now been extended to six days a week, Monday-Saturday.

Burial issue: Health Minister will decide View(s):

A decision on COVID-19 victims being buried will be made by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaarachchi.

She is still undergoing treatment for COVID-19 infection, Dr Sudharshani Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, told the Sunday Times yesterday.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament that burials of those who died of COVID-19 would be allowed, but he did not give a time frame.

Dr Fernandopulle said it was the Health Minister who initially issued a gazette notification banning the burial of those who died of COVID19 and she would have to give the necessary directives on lifting the ban.

The Director General of Health Services is not empowered to issue a fresh gazette notification and, therefore, the previous system where only cremations are allowed will continue, she said

She said the Health Minister would have to give the directives to the committee which looked into the scientific aspects on issues whether burial should be allowed.

Dr Fernandopulle earlier told Parliament that the committee which looked into the issue ruled that burial was not possible for those who died of COVID-19.

The burial issue figured in Parliament this week after Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar raised it.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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New Delhi, Feb 14 : The account takeover incidents increased by 20 per cent in 2020 compared to previous year and every second, fraudulent transaction in the finance industry was an account takeover last year, a new report said on Sunday.

According to anonymised statistics of events detected by Kaspersky Fraud Prevention from January to December 2020, the share of such incidents increased from 34 per cent in 2019 to 54 percent in 2020.

Two schemes to get access to a bank account -- 'the rescuer' and 'the investor' -- remain among the most common since 2019.

"We believe that solutions for the financial industry should provide a high level of security measures - including protection against fraud - which are seamlessly integrated into the user experience," said Claire Hatcher, Head of Business Development, Kaspersky Fraud Prevention.

"It is worth regularly reminding clients about fraudsters' techniques, so that they are likely to notice something".

The importance of digital financial services and e-commerce increased in 2020 with people spending more time at home as a result of the pandemic.

Kaspersky experts suggested that it caused a spike in social engineering techniques being exploited by cybercriminals.

"In addition to the rise of successful account takeovers, in 12 per cent of fraudulent incidents, legitimate remote administration tools (RAT) such as TeamViewer were misused in an attempt to gain access to user accounts," the findings showed.

The Kaspersky Fraud Prevention team distinguished that there were two common types of approach used by attackers to obtain access to accounts.

The first tactic sees scammers masquerade as 'the rescuer', where they pretend to be security experts and act out scenarios to 'save' users.

The second example is where cybercriminals act as 'the investor'. This scenario involves fraudsters posing as employees of an investment company, or as investment consultants from a bank.

"They call customers offering a quick way to make money by investing in cryptocurrency or shares directly from the client's account, without having to go to a bank branch," the report said.

In presence of Andhra electoral officials, the voting began at 6.00 AM in five villages of Kotia clusters and continued till 3 PM

The voters were seen in a long queue in the morning to cast their votes even after efforts by Potangi block development officer (BDO) and tehsildar to convince the villagers not to participate in the electoral process.

BHUBANESWAR: Despite request by the Odisha government, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday executed its plan amid tight security in the disputed Kotia region in Odishas Koraput district.

In presence of Andhra electoral officials, the voting began at 6.00 AM in five villages of Kotia clusters. The villages include Madkar, Daliamba, Barnapadu, Patusineri and Konadara. The voters were seen in a long queue in the morning to cast their votes even after efforts by Potangi block development officer (BDO) and tehsildar to convince the villagers not to participate in the electoral process.

The Andhra Pradesh government had deployed security personnel at the polling stations. According to sources, the polls began at 6 AM and continued till 3 PM.

On Friday, Koraput collector Abdaal Akhtar had written to his Vizianagaram counterpart appealing not to conduct the elections in the disputed region of Kotia as the matter is currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court.

I am to bring to your attention that in Contempt Petition No. 172/2021 arising out of Original Suit No. 10/1968 (The State of Odisha Vs. M.Hari Jawaharlal and Others), the Honble Supreme Court of India has been pleased to issue notice to the State of Andhra Pradesh and post the case to Friday, the 19th February, 2021. In its oral observations, the Court has also observed that should the State of Andhra Pradesh go ahead with its plans as regards the subject mentioned above, necessary consequences will follow. The same was pronounced in the presence of counsel for the State of Andhra Pradesh. A copy of the associated case documents have been handed over to the counsel for the State of Andhra Pradesh, the Collector wrote in the letter.

However, paying no attention to the request, the Andhra Pradesh government conducted the panchayat polls to claim its jurisdiction rights over Kotia.

Meanwhile, lashing out at the Odisha government for taking lackadaisical approach over the Andhra Pradesh governments panchayat election exercise in Kotia, Odisha state BJP unit president Samir Mohanty on Saturday questioned state governments intent on safeguarding the border.

Mohanty said the border villages not only in Kotia bust also in many other districts like Ganjam, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Gajapati were completely unsafe.

Why has the state government moved the Supreme Court only on the Kotia issue? Why did it file the petition so late? Why does the state government keep the people in the dark? Is it a failure of the state's intelligence system? Mr Mohanty asked.

People residing in border areas have developed weakness towards Andhra Pradesh despite having an emotional bond with Odisha. It is only because of the Odisha governments lack of will for their development, Mohanty observed.

Posted Sunday, February 14, 2021 9:06 am

OLYMPIA  The Washington House of Representatives passed three police accountability bills last week, the first of a number of police reform bills heard this session.

Democrats have made equity and police reform priorities this session. Some bills, like those passed on Wednesday, will have some bipartisan support while other, more controversial ones face a long road ahead to passage.

With five weeks of the session over and Monday's cutoff date looming, here's a look at where police reform bills currently stand:

Accountability bills passed Wednesday

The first police reform bills to pass off the House floor this session dealt with accountability.

One bill was related to impeachment disclosures, a practice set forth in Brady v. Maryland that requires prosecutors to turn over any evidence "impeaching the credibility of a government witness," such as a police officer.

The bill's sponsor Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, said "impeaching an officer" refers to the official determination that engaging in misconduct can affect the credibility of an officer. It's about whether you can rely on these officers to tell the truth, he said.

The bill would require the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys to update its policy addressing impeachment disclosures and develop online training consistent with that policy. It also would require law enforcement agencies to report an officer's misconduct to prosecuting authorities, if it could affect credibility.

Lastly, it would require law enforcement agencies to inquire about an officer's previous impeachment disclosures before hiring them.

"The truth is the best friend of justice," Lovick said.

The bill passed 61-37.

Another bill debated Wednesday authorizes the State Auditor to review deadly force investigations to determine if all applicable rules and procedures were followed. It also allows the auditor to review a law enforcement agency's training, if the Criminal Justice Training Commission requests it.

"The point of this audit is not to judge the decision of the investigation," Rep. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, said on the floor. "It is just to see that they followed the process."

The bill passed 80-18.

The last bill to pass Wednesday would establish a grant program aimed at encouraging a broader diversity of candidates for law enforcement positions.

Under the proposal, sponsored by Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, law enforcement agencies would compete for grant funding by submitting ideas for encouraging people from underrepresented groups to seek careers in law enforcement. The bill does not specify how much state money may be set aside for the program.

The grant program would focus on the future of policing rather than the problems with it, Maycumber told The Spokesman-Review. It could bring a focus on community policing and allow young people in the community to build a trust with law enforcement, she added.

"There's a difference between reactionary policing and community policing," she said. "We can always do more. It's a good thing to talk about the next generation of peace officers and public servants.

The bill passed unanimously. All three bills now head to the Senate for consideration.

Police tactics

One of the more controversial bills this session, the police tactics bill, has yet to make it to the floor for a vote. After some changes, a substitute bill passed through the House Public Safety committee last month.

"This bill is certainly fast track and it is a work in progress," House Public Safety Committee Chairman Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, said in a Jan. 21 hearing.

The bill would prohibit or strictly limit the uses of chokeholds and neck restraints, police dogs, military equipment and no-knock warrants. The original bill prohibited most of those actions, unless specific criteria were met. The new version of the bill, however, loosens those restrictions a bit.

The changes include the following:

* Removing armed vehicles and armored helicopters from the definition of "military equipment," allowing law enforcement agencies to use them.

* Prohibiting the use of police dogs specifically when arresting or apprehending someone.

* Removing the prohibition on concealing badges and instead requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt policies that ensure uniformed officers are reasonably identifiable.

* Allowing officers to fire upon moving vehicles, if it appears the driver is using the vehicle for serious physical harm to another person.

While there is still room for more changes later, Rep. Jesse Johnson, D-Federal Way, told committee members last month this version was about "as close as we're probably going to get" to a comprehensive bill.

"We need to find more efficient alternatives to these police tactics," he said. "It's a great first step."

Republicans on the committee, however, still had concerns with the bill.

"I feel like this bill is not ready yet," Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, ranking Republican on the committee, said. "I feel like it was rushed through, to be honest."

The bill is still in the House, but the Senate also is having discussions about police tactics.

Republican Senators Mike Padden, of Spokane Valley, and Jeff Holy, of Cheney, have proposed a bill that puts restrictions on the use of vascular neck restraints but doesn't prohibit them altogether.

The bill would require the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, the Washington State Patrol, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and other groups to develop a written model policy for the use of vascular neck restraints. The training commission would be required to provide training for officers on its proper uses, and 50% of law enforcement officers would have to receive training and certification for it.

The bill also would require that by June 1, 2022, all law enforcement agencies have implemented a vascular neck restraint policy.

Supporters of the vascular neck restraint say it has distinct differences from chokeholds. While chokeholds are always considered deadly force, neck restraints do not restrict the airway in the same way.

Padden told the Senate Law and Justice committee he worries neck restraints help de-escalate certain situations, and if they are removed, officers may have to resort to worse measures, such as deadly force.

Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl told the committee last week that removing the neck restraint may have the opposite effect and lead to more officer-involved shootings, as officers are left with less options.

"I am seriously concerned if we lose this tool," Meidl said.

Opponents say neck restraints are just chokeholds by another name and are not properly used.

Sakara Remmu, of the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance, told committee members the vascular neck restraint is a deadly tactic by another name. She called the bill "repugnant" to the will of the people in Washington.

"This bill also fails to address the systematic racism within police departments when it comes to the use of unnecessary, excessive and deadly force by police in Washington state," Remmu said.

If the police tactics bill makes it to the floor this session, lawmakers expect a lengthy debate.

Collective bargaining

Another of the more controversial issues being discussed deals with the collective bargaining for police unions.

Two bills related to collective bargaining were heard the first week of the session. One of them, a bill that would establish an arbitrator selection procedure for grievances that would be heard by nine appointed arbitrators, has passed out of committee. It also prohibits a public employer of law enforcement from entering into a collective bargaining agreement that prevents civilian review, if a local ordinance calls for it.

Voters in Spokane enshrined a police oversight process into the city charter in 2013, but city officials have struggled over the years to win agreement from the Spokane Police Guild to fully implement all aspects called for in the charter.

The bill currently is awaiting a debate on the floor.

The second bill, which has less support, has yet to make it past that first hearing.

It would limit what can be included in law enforcement's collective bargaining agreements, such as having a waiting period before an officer is interviewed about a use-of-force incident. It would also establish a list of misconduct practices that would result in firing of an officer and require any appeals for misconduct to go through a civil service commission, hearing examiner or administrative law judge.

Labor and law enforcement groups have argued that the bill goes too far while supporters say it could help bring more transparency to their contracts.

Data collection

Multiple bills regarding data collection on the use of deadly force have been heard and passed out of committee.

In the House, a bill that would require Washington State University to establish and maintain a program to collect and publish information on law enforcement's use-of-force incidents has passed out of committee with minor changes.

The bill, a request by the Attorney General's office, requires the university to collect information on numerous types of use of force, including fatalities or substantial injuries, the discharging of weapons, the use of chokeholds, the use of police dogs and police car pursuits.

The bill would require data collection to begin no later than July 1, 2022.

The bill has passed through Appropriations and is now awaiting a floor vote.

A separate Senate bill would require the Attorney General's Office to establish an advisory group to make recommendations for implementation of the statewide data collection program. That bill is awaiting a hearing in the Ways and Means committee.

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A northern Ontario university seeking creditor protection ran deficits dating back to at least 2014, a government adviser probing the school's financial troubles says in an interim report obtained by The Canadian Press.

A northern Ontario university seeking creditor protection ran deficits dating back to at least 2014, a government adviser probing the school's financial troubles says in an interim report obtained by The Canadian Press.

In a Jan. 29 letter to the province's minister of colleges and universities, Alan Harrison writes that a review of documents and presentations from the school suggests Laurentian University's financial woes are "long-standing".

Harrison, who has 40 years of experience working at post-secondary schools, including 13 years in senior leadership roles, penned the letter a few days before Laurentian, a mid-size university located in Sudbury, Ont., filed for creditor protection.

"Laurentian University cannot even state precisely how long it has been in the zone of insolvency ... (which) does not reflect well on the university," Harrison writes. "I have never seen anything remotely similar to, or as serious as, this state of affairs."

On Feb. 2, university president Robert Hache said the institution was insolvent after a decade of financial strain from issues that predate the pandemic, like population decline in the region.

He said court proceedings under the federal Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act were underway, but they would not affect day-to-day operations at the school.

Harrison, who was appointed on Jan. 22 to probe the matter and provide advice to the government, says the school reported deficit projections of $5.6 million in 2020-2021, which would rise to $22 million by 2025-2026.

The school, Harrison writes, attributed those to "flat revenues and increasing expenses" with a reference to "excessive faculty costs."

"LU was routinely taking deficits budgets to its board, without, it would appear, the board ever instructing (the university) to deal with this issue," he writes.

According to Harrison's report, the school has been using a line of credit, and is $90 million in debt to banks, but its deficits were actually higher than reported because of $38 million in deferred contributions - liabilities in the form of research grants, restricted donations, and other third-party funds.

That money had been spent, but the research and work it was to be put toward had not yet been completed.

Harrison notes the school's board was not aware of this liability until mid-December 2020 and then ordered the funds to be segregated in the budget to address the issue.

"This still leaves the university seeking to find cash of $38 million to cover obligations remaining in respect of these funds that were previously spent inappropriately," writes Harrison.

He also notes that the current president, who was hired in 2019, has taken corrective action to address the financial issues and is not to blame for the situation.

Harrison's report outlines the school's discussions with the province for financial help starting in late 2020.

On Dec. 10, Laurentian asked the province for $100 million, suggesting it would spend half to fund ongoing operations and the other half for "termination and severance payments."

The university said it could accept $30 million to $40 million, but would still need to file for creditor protection.

The government said it could not provide the $100 million in funding without an independent third-party review of the school's finances.

It instead offered the school a $12-million grant to cover operations until the end of March.

"In other words, (Laurentian) and the provincial government were, and are still at, an impasse," Harrison says in his report.

He urged the government to support the school's application for creditor protection while publicly endorsing its long-term importance to the province.

Harrison is expected to file a final report in six to eight weeks. The government has not said if the final report will be made public.

A spokeswoman for Laurentian said the school had not seen Harrison's report.

"Laurentian has been open, transparent and co-operative with the government adviser and welcomed his appointment by the minister," Isabelle Bourgeault-Tasse said in a statement.

Asked to respond to Harrison's letter, a spokesman for the minister of colleges and universities, Ross Romano, said the situation is "deeply concerning and unprecedented."

Laurentian University students remain the government's priority and we are focused on ensuring they can continue their studies without interruption, Cameron Wood said in a statement.

The government has said it is considering introducing legislation to give it greater oversight of all university budgets because of the situation.

NDP legislator Jamie West, who represents a riding in Sudbury and is a Laurentian graduate, said the community has been caught off-guard by the schools' financial woes.

"I think (the letter) reflects how people in the community are feeling," he said. "I think a lot of people just had no idea how rough of shape the school was in. It came out of the blue."

West said while the government needs to address the situation at Laurentian, it must also look at the impact budget cuts to all post-secondary schools have had on the sector.

"The reality across the board when I talk to universities and colleges from across Ontario...I consistently hear from all of those groups, 'we don't have enough money and we're not being funded enough to make ends meet.'"

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2021.
Georgia Support Act reintroduced to US House of Representatives

By Veronika Malinboym

US congressmen and chairmen of the Georgia Caucus Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Conolly reintroduced the Georgia Support Act to the House of Representatives. According to the description provided on the website of Official House of Representatives the proposed document asserts the US' support for the independence and sovereignty of Georgia. According to the proposed act, the United States recognizes Georgias commitment to democratic values such as free and fair elections, and condemns the Russian aggression in the region.The document also notes that in the occupied region of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia is purposely perpetrating civil unrest, aids the local separatist movements, and violates human rights. The document states that Russian forces continue to put pressure on the civil society residing along the border, and prevent the displaced persons from returning back to their homes. Thus, Georgia Support Act would therefore reinstate the US support for the territorial integrity of Georgia by means of introducing sanctions against the individuals who are responsible for the aforementioned violations of human rights and rights of displaced persons.It has been more than 12 years since Russian forces occupied Georgian territories. However, regardless of the violations of the fundamental human rights that Russia has been committing, Georgia continued to work hard to develop democracy and ensure independence for its people. Thats why it is so important to reintroduce this act. As a co-chair of the Georgia Caucus Representatives, I would like to express my strong support towards our Georgian friends in their struggle against the Russian aggression. I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Conolly, for his dedication to a free and independent Georgia," Kinzinger said.According to Congressman Conolly, the proposed Act will further strengthen the US-Georgia partnership:I am proud to reintroduce the Georgia Support Act, which strengthens the vital US-Georgia partnership, a strategically important relationship in a critical part of the world. The document once again proves that the United States of America fully supports Georgia's sovereignty, as well its further democratic development and security, especially while constantly being threatened with the Russian aggression. As president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I am pleased that this bill recognizes that Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country, Congressman Conolly concluded.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has appealed a British judge's ruling against the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a Justice Department official said Friday.

A brief filed late Thursday declared Washington's desire to have Assange stand trial on espionage and hacking-related charges over WikiLeaks' publication of hundreds of thousands of US military and diplomatic documents beginning in 2009.

The Justice Department had until Friday to register its stance on Judge Vanessa Baraitser's January 4 ruling that Assange suffered mental health problems that would raise the risk of suicide if he were sent to the United States for trial.

"Yes, we filed an appeal and we are continuing to pursue extradition," Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi told AFP.

After Baraitser's decision, which did not question the legal grounds for the US extradition request, Donald Trump's administration moved to appeal.

But Biden's stance was not clear, and he was pressured by rights groups to drop the case, which raises sensitive transparency and media freedom issues.

After WikiLeaks began publishing US secrets in 2009, then-president Barack Obama, whose vice president was Biden, declined to pursue the case.

Assange said WikiLeaks was no different than other media constitutionally protected to publish such materials.

Prosecuting him, too, could mean also prosecuting powerful US news organizations for publishing similar material -- legal fights the government would likely lose.

But under Trump, whose 2016 election was helped by WikiLeaks publishing Russian-stolen materials damaging to his rival Hillary Clinton -- the Justice Department built a national security case against Assange.

In 2019 the native Australian was charged under the US Espionage Act and computer crimes laws with multiple counts of conspiring with and directing others, from 2009 to 2019, to illegally obtain and release US secrets.

In doing so he aided and abetted hacking, illegally exposed confidential US sources to danger and used the information to damage the United States, according to the charges.

If convicted on all counts, Assange, 49, could face a prison sentence of 175 years.

"Julian Assange is no journalist," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers at the time.

- Suicide worry -

Assange has remained under detention by British authorities pending the appeal.

Earlier this week 24 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International USA and Reporters Without Borders, urged Biden to drop the case.

"Journalists at major news publications regularly speak with sources, ask for clarification or more documentation, and receive and publish documents the government considers secret," they said in an open letter.

"In our view, such a precedent in this case could effectively criminalize these common journalistic practices."

Assange's fiancee Stella Moris said in a statement that Baraitser's January decision that Assange was a high risk for suicide and that US prison facilities were not safe remained a strong reason to deny extradition.

Baraitser "was given clear advice by medical experts that ordering him to stand trial in the US would put his life at risk," she said.

"Any assurances given by the Department of Justice about trial procedures or the prison regime that Julian might face in the US are not only irrelevant but meaningless because the US has a long history of breaking commitments to extraditing countries," she said.
Larry Flynt, who has died aged 78, was an American pornographer who picked wild legal fights in his efforts to protect freedom of speech - or to attract publicity for his magazines - and built a business empire of publications, strip clubs and "adult" shops worth $400m (330m) in 2015.

Much of his life was spent promoting Hustler, the magazine he founded in 1974. It pioneered a demotic brand of pornography and outsold Playboy and Penthouse. It was not enough for Flynt to shock people with pictorial content. "I wanted to offend everyone on an equal-opportunity basis," he boasted.

It was his muck-raking that got Flynt into the greatest trouble. His first visit to the Supreme Court was to appeal against a libel conviction - he had alleged that Bob Guccione, the founder of Penthouse, had given his girlfriend a venereal disease.

As a result of that hearing, he was charged with contempt of the Supreme Court. In 1988, the court would uphold his right to freedom of speech - in this case, to mock the right-wing Christian campaigner Jerry Falwell. Flynt hailed the ruling as the most important First Amendment victory since the ban on Joyce's Ulysses was overturned in 1933.

"If the First Amendment will protect a scumbag like me, then it will protect all of you," Flynt said, and his words summed up the central theme of Milos Forman's 1996 film, The People vs Larry Flynt.

Flynt actively supported the Democratic party, and in 1998, when Bill Clinton was facing impeachment charges, offered a $1m reward for information that would damage leading Republicans. It worked - the Speaker-elect, Bob Livingston, who had supported the impeachment, had to admit at least one extra-marital affair and to decline the speakership.

In 2017, Flynt took out a full-page ad in The Washington Post offering $10m "for information leading to the impeachment and removal from office" of Donald Trump.

Flynt had briefly stood as an independent candidate for president against Ronald Reagan in 1984. In 2003, he ran for governor of California: his slogan was "Vote for a smut-peddler who cares". Of the 135 candidates, he finished seventh.

Larry Caxton Flynt was born on November 1, 1942, the son of sharecropper Claxton Flynt and Edith, nee Arnett, in Lakeville, Magoffin County, a rural part of eastern Kentucky where alcohol was banned. When his parents separated, he went to Indiana with his mother. After running away from school, he moved to Ohio and, despite being only 15, joined the army using a dodgy birth certificate.

Flynt was still under-age when he joined the navy. He was discharged in 1964, and took his first business initiative, buying the Keewee bar in Dayton. A second venue, Larry's Hangover Tavern, turned a profit. Influenced by the go-go clubs flourishing further west, he opened the Hustler Club. By 1971, there were Hustler clubs all over Ohio.

Hustler first appeared in July 1974. For prose he turned to students at Ohio State University, and for pictures to the dancers at his clubs. Soon the magazine sought inexperienced models, to avoid what Flynt called Playboy's "archetype for the unattainable goddess".

Flynt's shamelessness led to the breakthrough that assured Hustler's future: a paparazzo stationed on Skorpios took 48 photos of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis naked and tried unsuccessfully to sell them to Playboy and Penthouse. This enabled Flynt to buy them for $18,000 and make a handsome profit.

He became a millionaire and bought a mansion, which he shared with a dancer who used the stage name Althea Leasure.

In 1976, Hustler attracted the attention of Charles Keating, the founder of Citizens for Decency through Law (later convicted for accounting fraud), who filed an action against Flynt for obscenity and organised crime.

To counter Keating's movement, Flynt set up Ohioans for a Free Press, but found no newspapers in the state willing to run his ads. His lawyers' arguments about the First Amendment came to little and Flynt was fined $11,000 and sentenced to seven years in prison. The sentence was overturned on appeal.

During a new action, in Georgia in 1978, Flynt and his lawyer, Gene Reeves, were shot and wounded. White supremacist Joseph Paul Franklin later admitted responsibility, saying he had been outraged that Hustler depicted inter-racial sex. Flynt survived, but was left paralysed.

Flynt married, first, Mary, whom he met in an Ohio bar; second, Peggy Vega, with whom he had a daughter, Tonya, who claimed in a 1998 book that her father had sexually abused her as a child (he denied it); third, Kathy Barr, with whom he had another daughter; and fourth, Leasure, who drowned in a bath in 1987 while heavily drugged.

In 2000, Flynt married his nurse, Elizabeth Berrios, who survives him. He also had two children with other women, a daughter who died in a car crash in 2014 and a son.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Eat App, a global leading restaurant reservations platform based in Dubai, has announced the launch of its unique restaurant reservation technology at The Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties PJSC.

The agreement will see the Eat App technology rolled out across the F&B portfolio of Emaar Hospitality Group, and will power the operations and guest management across 50+ restaurants including At.mosphere, Address Downtown, Address Marina Mall, Palace Downtown, Vida Hotels and Resorts, and Armani Hotels Dubai, amongst others.

Nezar Kadhem, Co-founder & CEO of Eat App, said: We are delighted to be working with a sophisticated F&B operator such as Emaar Hospitality Group, who shares our vision of world-class hospitality. In their hands, Eat App can truly be used to its full potential and we are excited to be working together to build the next generation of technology powered hospitality.

Eat App is a cloud-based system that runs natively on iPads in each restaurant and will give Emaar staff access to reservations and guest information across the group. The software will be connected to Emaar Hospitality Group restaurant websites, as well as directly integrated with the U by Emaar loyalty app allowing staff to easily recognise and personalise the service for their most valued customers at any restaurant in the group.

David Feuillard, Co-founder & COO, added: "By implementing Eat App, Emaar Hospitality Group restaurants is building a deeper and digitized understanding of their guests across multiple touchpoints allowing them to further deliver outstanding F&B experiences that naturally build loyalty over time."

The roll out will also give Emaar Hospitality Group staff working across the restaurant portfolio access to a centralised guest database, with enriched guest data, that powers personalised guest experiences and more efficient operations. In addition, the Group will be using Eat App's unique point of sale (POS) integration system which brings an extra layer of guest insight.

Till date, Eat App has raised $7.2 million, including investments from renowned Silicon Valley VC 500 Startups and MEVP, making it one of Forbes 50 Most-Funded Startups in The Middle East. - TradeArabia News Service
A yellow weather warning is in place for some counties in Northern Ireland until midnight on Sunday as strong winds cause disruption.

Counties Antrim and Down as well as parts of Scotland are affected by the weather warning, which has caused some travel disruption over the weekend following snowfall on Saturday.

It follows a weekend of weather warnings after a yellow weather warning for snow ended at 10pm on Saturday.

There were icy stretches and widespread accumulations across Northern Ireland, with NI Direct urging caution on untreated roads, footpaths and cycle paths.

"There could be travel delays and a risk of injuries and accidents," a spokesperson warned.

"Take extra care. Adjust your driving according to the conditions and reduce your speed, even when roads have been gritted."

Coastal locations and causeways have also seen rough conditions caused by spray and large waves on Sunday.

The Met Office advised on Sunday that some delays for high-sided vehicles were likely as well as some delays for other forms of transport due to gusts of 60 to 70 mph into the east of Northern Ireland.

The Ardress Road in Portadown has been closed after a tree fell into electrical wires following a night of strong winds. Local diversions are in place.

A tree also fell outside Moira on the the Hillsborough Road, at its junction with Innisloughlin Road. The road has now reopened.

Motorists were advised that the Portaferry Road between Newtownards and Greyabbey should be avoided due to flooding.



Meanwhile, the Rostrevor Road in Warrenpoint and the South Promenade in Newcastle which were both closed earlier today due to severe flooding have now reopened.

Earlier in the weekend, police in north Down slammed "eejits" who failed to take the necessary precautions driving in snowy and hazardous weather.

Posting on the Police Ards and North Down Facebook page, they said: "The weather out there is horrendous, visibility is poor and the roads are shocking, yet people are driving like eejits.

"Slow down, leave space and leave time. The way some people are driving means it's only a matter of time before we're attending road traffic collisions left, right and centre."

Despite the weather warning, the Met Office has said heavy outbreaks of rain will ease later to make way for sunny or clear spells and showers later on Sunday.

Conditions are also milder on Sunday than they have been of late, with maximum temperatures of 11 degrees.

Sunday night will be dry with clear periods and the odd light shower, with strong southerly winds gradually easing and minimum temperatures of six degrees.

On Monday morning, it will be cloudy with scattered showers followed by dry weather in the afternoon with some sunshine. It will be a mild day with fresh southerly winds and similar temperatures to those seen on Sunday, with a maximum of 11 degrees.

Similar weather will follow throughout the week, with cloudy and windy days featuring bright intervals and scattered showers.
When I came to Vietnam, I realized that spring rolls was a popular dish, both for vegetarian and pescatarian. Tet (Lunar New Year) is coming and this is the dish that almost every Vietnamese family has in their Tet meal.

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Mrs. Nina G. Enger, 1st Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, has a passion for Vietnamese cuisine. She said that this year she and her husband will celebrate Tet in Hanoi. The Norwegian diplomat is quite knowledgeable about the ingredients to make fried spring rolls and does not hesitate to go to the kitchen to make this dish for her guests on the occasion of the coming Tet.

Hello Mrs. Enger, what cuisine are you going to cook?

I'm going to make spring rolls. The first time I tried spring rolls was in Oslo, Norway in the 80's. At that time, Asian restaurants began to appear in Norway. Fried spring rolls became more popular in my country very soon.

When I came to Vietnam, I found that spring rolls are quite popular here, spring rolls and fried spring rolls, both for vegetarian and pescatarian. I want to practice making Vietnamese spring rolls. As Tet is coming, this is a dish that almost every Vietnamese family has in their Tet meal.

Mrs. Nina G. Enger

I use ground pork - this is the traditional ingredient of fried spring rolls, some sliced carrot, a type of bulb Vietnamese call cu dau that Norway does not have and I don't know how to call it in English, wood ear and mushroom. Someone uses onions, but I use Vietnamese onions and some vermicelli  a traditional ingredient as well.

It is very interesting that when making spring rolls, each family has its own recipe. This is similar to our traditional Norwegian dishes. Usually in each family, the mother's food will be the best dish and the children will always tend to cook the same way as their mothers when they grow up.

As for the spring rolls I make today, I added some fresh shrimp. Since Norway is a country of seafood, I want my spring rolls to have the taste of shrimp. Another spice is coriander. This is the taste that I really like. I'll add some pepper. This is the pepper I bought in Phu Quoc which is very flavorful. A little bit of sea salt. I will break 1 egg and mix it well. You can see that I have not mastered this dish. This is the second time I have tried to make spring rolls.

Mrs. Nina G. Enger

This is the second time you have experienced Vietnamese New Year, how do you feel?

This is very interesting to celebrate another New Year since we already celebrated the New Year at the end of December. This is not my first Lunar New Year. Ive been posted to Asian countries before so I have experienced this kind of celebration. But I must say my first Tet here in Vietnam - which was last year  coincided with my 60th birthday, so it was quite special for me. My husband and I, we went down to Phu Quoc and spent some days there in the warm and tropical climate which is my absolute favorite, so last years Tet was very interesting out of Hanoi.

For this Tet I am going to stay in Hanoi and my husband will arrive back from Norway, so close to Tet he will be finished with his quarantine and Im looking forward to spending time with him and we would like to be here at home this time this year.

Last year and the present time, the Covid-19 pandemic has made things upset. Has your embassy been affected?

Well, we were first and foremost very impressed at how the Vietnamese government and authority took charge of this pandemic.

Quickly after the pandemic broke out, they closed the border; they encouraged foreigners to leave the country and go back to their own countries; and they also took charge of bringing Vietnamese citizens back and get them quarantined as well.

This was something that the embassy was very impressed to observe. And of course, we took strict measures at the embassy during this time. For example, we closed the door to the public and implemented strict hand hygiene. We discussed the use of masks inside. We also improved the cleanliness of the office areas, and when the social distancing period started, we split the embassy into two halves so that one half would work from home and the other half would work in the office so as not to risk anything.

Thats what we did in early May. We felt that the situation was good and was under control so we went back to business as usual, slowly open meetings in the embassy, receive counselor visitors, etc. We also declared the embassy to be Covid-19 free.

Photo: Pham Hai

Looking back to 2020, what is the highlight in the Vietnam-Norway relationship? And what do you expect from the bilateral relationship this year?

First and foremost, one of the highlights that we shared together with Vietnam last year was the chairmanship of ASEAN, which was very impressive how Vietnam was able to think anew.

There were so many high-level meetings and other activities related to ASEAN that were going to take place. However, we started postponing them month by month; we didnt really know but then everybody realized that the pandemic has come to stay, so to be able to push through some of the activities they used modern technology to good use.

There were lots of online meetings for all these activities, which was very convenient for our ambassador who was - for most of the time  in Oslo. She could participate without coming here. Also, our ASEAN ambassador  who is normally posted in Jakarta  was able to participate without coming here. So we were really impressed at how Vietnam was able to push this through.

Photo: Pham Hai

Last year Norway celebrated its 5th anniversary as a dialogue partner of ASEAN. We share many different values that ASEAN is highlighting (sustainable development, climate change).

Another highlight that I would like to mention is that last year, Norway was elected as an observant member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). We have been actively trying to get this role for five years and last year (2020) we were elected as an observant member. I was so fortunate to be head of the embassy at the time so I was present at the presentation of the Norwegian seat at the initiation ceremony.

Finally, the last milestone that we shared with Vietnam last year is that Norway was elected as a nonpermanent to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Vietnam was elected the year before so you have been in the Security Council for one year. We will share the seat next to you in 2021. We know that Vietnam was very positive towards our candidacy, so I dare to say Vietnam thank you for their vote. We will work together on important things, for instance peace and security which we will also do together with Vietnam under the ASEAN umbrella. This will be also very important for our work in the UNSC. We look forward to cooperating with Vietnam.

2021 is the year that we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relationship with Vietnam, so its a big year for the two of us. Having high level visits under that kind of umbrella and with that backdrop will be very interesting and very fruitful for all of us, I think.

I wish good health and a prosperous New Year to the audience of VietNamNet and all the Vietnamese people. Let us make sure the 2021 will be a year of play and joy, and maybe not so much hard work as a buffalo. Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Thai An/Xuan Quy/Huy Phuc

US Ambassador describes his addiction to banh chung and four Tet holidays in VN I really love the Tet season, US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink told VietNamNet in an interview on the occasion of the lunar New Year (Tet).
A deadly virus: Governance by Presidential Commissions View(s):

A virus taking the form of Governance by Presidential Commissions of Inquiry, now growing in a virulent form, has replaced Government by Constitution. The virus was coming. Now it has come. Law and order, as could be expected, is infected with this virus.

The problem is that of incoherence between the two, that of Government by Constitution and of Governance by Commissions. The two act differently, the latter sometimes outstripping the regular. Each claiming to stand high as two high-legged stools, each vying with the other as equally important. Law and order has fallen between these two high-legged stools and is yet struggling to find the law and the order within it. The labour and the exertion in the effort of restoration of Law and order, from what it was not so long ago under Government by Constitution is now a great strain with Governance by Commissions. The germ in Governance by Commissions has been surely coming, and the ailment in current Law and order is the net result. The result, today, is that law and Order is a growing concern for Government by Constitution, and so for the people and for their regular procedure. The reasons bear some examination.

The most recent of Governance by Commissions is illustrative. This Commission in its report is a striking example of Interference with the Judiciary. In this instance the Commission has attempted an intrusion and intervention into the judicial process. This is in a case tried and sentence passed by the High Court and affirmed by the Supreme Court. This imposition has cast aspersions on the Judiciary, an exertion covered with a face mask of Governance by Commission. The details of this case are well known and need no repetition here. Law and Order stands thereby high and dry.

In the course of this exposure , much adverse comment, much vituperation and much abuse on the character on the commissioners compiling the report, has grown in a manner unheard of ever before. It seems clear that such character is the very reason for their selection, knowing how they stoop to conquer. This is singularly unfortunate. There is little law and order then to expect from the likes of these. Regretfully though, the observation is that the likes of these should be kept furthest away from the sacred duty of law and order.

As with the personnel appointed so is the criminal administration which presented the case through a Governance by the Commission. Apart from many other faulty procedures engaged by this commission, a fact on report is that some of whom the Commission found fault with were just public officers on their assigned duty, against whom there was yet no charge and from whom no explanation was even called for. It is only Governance by Commissions which would admit such serious misgivings in their process as in this instance, but never from Government by Constitution. These doubts and uncertainties of process cannot augur well for the people.

Much of this dysfunction is possible when there is a mutant through the virus, Governance by Commissions. Such distortion of concepts as political accountability with criminal liability, is possible only through Governance by Commissions.

The Attorney General could have avoided the confusion as concerns his office. The recent commission has perhaps further interrupted the task of the AG. The purpose of the commission may, therefore, have been otherwise than seeking clarity of issues. The AG could have sorted out the non-living proteins from the living organisms in the bacteria or the virus, to use the terms of current currency in order that the worm within the Governance by Commissions could have been extricated. That itself is now a difficult task foisted on the AG, in this instance.

For, on the other hand, however, such experiences of mistrust through instituted means of Governance by Commissions have been for some time legion. Moreover, these have been a recurring problem for law and order over the recent years. Over a long time since Independence, a commission was appointed only for a limited specific purpose. There was then no idea of Governance by Commissions, only instituted inquiries strictly within the framework of the Constitution, to be termed Government by Constitution. Plainly, this feature underscored that Government by Constitution was then and for long, sufficient. The point then is that within the recent years, there was a failure of viable Government by and within the Constitution itself. The emergent trend of Governance by Commissions was but a ploy adopted in the wake of malfunction of the regular constitutional process. The breakdown for law and order persists.

This trick through Governance by Commissions was played in the evolving uncertainties and contrived failure of Governance by Constitution. Various means were therefore deployed, including interference with the Judiciary. Government by Constitution through the due function of the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature was thus substituted by Governance by Commissions. Of late, the process has been a creeping expropriation of the vitality of Government by Constitution, the given order. The dubious practice now goes on. As a result, the virus of Governance by Commissions has now assumed a recurring cyclical trend. The frequent Governance by Commissions has now become chronic. Thus, they developed their own mutants and new strains of the malady, in political accountability intermixed with criminal liability, a transmutation that is handmade, in the laboratory, and does not come from the bats on the trees, or from the snake in the grass.

Law and order can, however, draws some hope from the United States incidents of breakdown of law and order on January 6. Through all that melee on Capitol Hill, law and order stood its ground only because Government by Constitution stood firm; the two Houses of the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive with its law enforcement machinery, and of the media in support, together they contributed to law and order. Governance by Commissions, in the way of Sri Lanka, did not dismantle the constitutional order in the US. Law and Order prevailed. That example also shows that law and order is but a function of a number of authorities working in coherence.

Law and order would surely prevail with the confidence in the regular system. That is the lesson from the US. Law and order would prevail due to public confidence in the given system. In the US, Government by Constitution stood firm in the face of imminent breakdown of law and order. Resilience still remains there, well beyond January 6, with strictness and continuing severity. Does this ring a bell with us in this country? The plea is for concerted contribution of related authorities to the task of law and order in this country.

While the people are straining to cope with the virus, and with all the high and mighty laid low, just one man stands high in his own imagination that he is a colossus among the rest. He reminds of Percy Bysshe Shellys immortal poem: Ozymandias. Excerpts are reproduced to illustrate my comparison:

 Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read.

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!.

If I may guide young English readers a bit, let me just explain in context, that the words, with its frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command signify empire building rulers of the tyrannical kind that was much despised.

(The writer is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at seneviratnetz@gmail.com .TP 077 44 751 44 )
Chris Harrison, the longtime host of The Bachelor, announced on Saturday that he would be stepping aside for a period of time from the flagship reality television show, which he helped develop into a national obsession, after coming under fire for making comments that he acknowledged were dismissive of racism.

In an Instagram post, Mr. Harrison said he had made the decision after consulting with ABC and Warner Bros. and would also not participate in the After the Final Rose Special.

Media representatives for ABC, which broadcasts the show, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not clear what exactly Mr. Harrisons stepping aside would entail.

The move by Mr. Harrison and the controversy surrounding his remarks are likely to send shock waves through Bachelor Nation and dampen a trailblazing season that features the first Black bachelor, Matt James.
Louisiana was expecting great things once a 5-4 majority on the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door in 2018 to levying taxes on sales made over the Internet by out-of-state vendors. But the results exceeded those expectations.

Louisiana pulled in $150.4 million in sales taxes during the first six month the collections system has been fully operational, Renee E. Roberie, executive director of the Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers told her board last week.

It really is a lot, Roberie said, repeating what her board members exclaimed when told during video conference the amount of remote sales tax receipts between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2020.

+2 Charging internet sales tax in Louisiana might be much more complicated than you think... Louisiana is setting itself up for a massive lawsuit if the state, as planned, starts charging sales taxes on internet purchases Jan. 1 and do

Fiscal notes attached to the enabling legislation in 2018 and 2019 couldnt really estimate how much the new system would bring in, coming only as close approximately $1 million per quarter, based on remittances from catalog sales. But that predecessor tax, called the direct marketers tax, collected less than $150 million over a decades time.

Once online sales started to proliferate nationally, Louisiana consumers were supposed to report their purchases and remit their sales taxes. But that rule wasnt closely followed. Vendors with store locations within Louisiana did collect taxes on online sales.

Everything changed once the Supreme Court in 2018 allowed states to collect sales taxes from online vendors without a presence in their state.

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Supreme Court ruling allows Louisiana, other states to collect sales tax from online shoppers Louisiana is one of the states that can begin collecting taxes on retail sales over the internet after a Thursday ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Louisiana legislators passed a string of laws to set up the commission, which came up with the nuts-and-bolts system for tracking purchases, collecting sales taxes, and remitting the proper amounts to the parish where the purchase was made.

In addition to a state sales tax rate of 4.45 cents of every dollar of the purchase price, vendors also have to collect the local sales taxes, which vary from parish to parish. For instance, Jefferson Parish charges 4.75% percent, which when added to the states take means sales tax rate of 9.2% of every dollar purchased is tacked onto the sales price. Just across the 17th Street Canal, Orleans Parish charges a quarter of a penny more for a 9.45% effective sales tax.

The Remote Sales Tax Commission on Wednesday distributed to parish and local governments their portion of the $35.2 million in tax collections on sales made in December. The monies were due from the vendors in January along with the paperwork filed and checked before the commission could release the money locally.

Mark Ballard: Some Louisiana small businesses would be taxed for internet sales if this bill is passed Well-funded battle axes will swing at the State Capitol as Democratic and Republican legislators wage war over tort reform when the Louisiana 

I have no idea what the next six months will bring, Roberie said.
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History is likely to be less forgiving or cowardly than the majority of Senate Republicans in judging the actions of former President Donald Trump in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection by a mob that breached the U.S. Capitol as the House and Senate were about to certify the results of an election he lost.

The House managers who served as prosecutors laid out a compelling case that Trumps perpetuation of the big lie that the election was rigged against him  a drumbeat which began months before the vote, was repeated on election night and continues to this day  fabricated the rage that was whipped into a frenzy by the 45th president at a Jan. 6 rally near that White House. If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore, he railed.

The managers presentation made plain that his incendiary rhetoric that day was part of a pattern, its capacity to result in violence was entirely predictable and his failure to act in the face of an attack that disrupted a constitutional proceeding and that caused death and injury and created a grave threat to elected officials  including his own vice president  breached his oath of office.

Trumps attorneys countered with a weak, rambling defense of false equivalencies, the absurd argument that the presidents words were protected by the First Amendment and a contention (rejected by the Senate at the start of trial) that an ex-president was exempt from conviction. Actually, the trial could have commenced before President Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20, but then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., refused to let it happen.

In the end, the trial evidence made no difference in the ultimate verdict. It was clear that not enough Republicans in the 50-50 Senate would vote guilty to reach the two-thirds threshold for conviction.

But it was significant that seven Republicans did break themselves from Trumps spell. The 57-43 vote was the most bipartisan of the four impeachment trials in U.S. history.

How strong was the case against Trump? Listen to the post-outcome words of McConnell, now minority leader, after his vote for acquittal. The bulk of his speech was every bit as damning of Trumps unconscionable behavior as the closing arguments of the House managers. He noted that the 45th president tried to overturn the voters will or torch our institutions on the way out. He accused Trump of a disgraceful dereliction of duty.

But McConnells vote will forever speak louder. He contended that the Senate lacked the authority to convict and disqualify a former president  a point on which many constitutional scholars disagree  while that does not preclude civil or criminal penalties.

He didnt get away with anything  yet, McConnell said.

Trump sent an email blast right after Saturdays vote that contained neither a word of condemnation of the mob that stormed the Capitol in his name, an ounce of sympathy for its victims and targets, nor a trace of contrition for his contribution to the attack and refusal to exert his influence to stop it early on.

An 11th-hour element of drama erupted with the revelation by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., of Trumps dismissive response to House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthys frantic phone call for help on Jan. 6. Trump told McCarthy the mob appeared to be more upset about the election than you are. CNNs Friday disclosure of that account prompted the Senate to vote, 55-45, to bring in at least her as a witness. Democrats backed down, settling for the inclusion of Herrera Beutlers statement into the trial record.

And so ended the trial of the first American president to be impeached twice. The outcome may have been preordained, but a fuller understanding of Donald J. Trumps shameful betrayal of his country has been etched into the history books.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Leonard Cohen.

When I went to college in the 1980s, I recall how inscrutable the politics of many of my professors was. One day the professor would argue with the class over the virtues of Madison or Marx, Milton or Melville or whomever we may be studying, and then the next day the professor would completely reverse course, arguing with equal ferocity against them. The students could never figure out where the professor stood. Rumors would circulate how all of this was some kind of ploy to teach us how to think. Some would eagerly embrace the rumors, while others would laugh at those who flattered themselves with the belief that all these tiresome exercises would be enough to claim an intellectual advantage. Whatever disagreements there were, everyone agreed that questions and challenges, no matter how silly or odious, were essential to understanding.

That was a time when there was assumed to be a shared human experience that the brilliant masters of the humanities were able to capture, before multiculturalism or university departments whose names ended in studies or microaggressions or safe spaces. This truly was a safe space, for thought. That was a time when universities were sanctuaries for free thought rather than the arsenals against free thought that they have now become.

The current class of intellectuals, whether inside the universities or outside as a product thereof, now flout the principles of logic and reason far more than their relentlessly mocked uneducated rubes ever did. Complex issues requiring thoughtful analysis of probabilistic tradeoffs and consequences are replaced with simplistic models that would have left the intellectuals of yesteryear aghast. Where complicated continuums are warranted, binary scales are substituted in which anything besides absolute purity is considered evil. False analogies, poor pattern recognition, hasty conclusions, misjudging the whole by a part, ascribing false motives and meanings have become the artisan bread and butter of the pontificating patricians. Double standards abound in which moving goalposts of unethical or even criminal behavior are applied to capture political opponents, while flexible extenders are granted to liberate supporters. Political opponents, along with groups they may be associated with, are defined by their worst moments or qualities or members, regardless of how insignificant. Conversely, supporters and their associated groups will be defined by their best moments and qualities and members, no matter how meager. Finally all the abuses of logic and reason are wrapped up in shiny packages called science-data-facts with great big bows called decency so that those who refuse such offerings are taunted, censored, blacklisted, and ultimately criminalized.

This attack on reason is the symptom of a cause that has its origins in the great saboteur of free thought: pride. Without acknowledging the limits and intrinsic instability of the intellect, there is a tendency for our natures to err in favor of self-interest. The intellect takes the back seat to our reptilian passions or, even worse, becomes the servant of the reptile. Confirmation bias takes over as pride, greed, envy, vengeance overpower the intellect. Pride will shift the objective of knowledge-seekers from truth to self-glorification, agendas that often conflict. The intellect is apt to pervert itself not to enlighten and explore, but to deceive and conceal. To achieve virtue, the intellect is dependent on humility  humility to mistrust both the completeness of our own understanding and the purity of our own motives. Humility is necessary to acknowledge how easily we go from rational to rationalizing when our desires are strong enough to sacrifice not only our nobler sensibilities, but also the welfare of others, especially the ones we never cared for to begin with. It is in that humility where we will find the humanity that will save us from destroying the lives of others in our intoxicating prideful pursuit of the knowledge of good and evil.

So it should not be terribly surprising that the gatekeepers of higher learning were unprepared for the arrival of the radicals, circa the cultural earthquake of the 1960s. Emboldened by righteousness from Vietnam and civil rights movements and passions untempered by real-world experience, a young crop of areligious educators with a holy mission of social activism began to enter the university. The pampered products of the baby boom generation sought to throw out the babies of cultural, religious, and political traditions with the bathwater of their imperfections. Everything became politicized so that there was little identity separate from a political one, and once politicized, sides were drawn with the opposition targeted. These professors aimed no longer to teach process, but to teach conclusions. Teaching how to think was replaced with teaching what to think. These professors soon began to change the nature of the institution until, a few decades later, the university is no longer a tool for enlightenment, but rather a weapon of mass deception.

In Orwell's Animal Farm, totalitarianism survives upon a tripod of treacherous tyrants, malleable masses, and police-state propagandists. The authoritarians and their adherents exist in a society as mold spores in the atmosphere do  ubiquitous, needing only the proper conditions and host to embed themselves and proliferate. The Founding Fathers carefully crafted a system to provide the conditions most resistant to such an infestation, a system designed to counter both the failings of the majority and the authority. But in a tragic twist of fate, it is not the backwoods deplorables or bourgeois simpletons or country-club power players or Bible-loving Christians whom the "intellectuals" perpetually warned the citizenry about with countless cautionary tales of horror, but the neo-intellectuals themselves who have come with torches and pitchforks to dismantle that system and its myriad safeguards. As those safeguards are removed, these neo-intellectuals rush into the role of propagandists, demonizing and criminalizing truth-tellers and free thinkers and common sense crusaders, while their bootlickers and backscratchers buttress the other two legs of totalitarianism. By disfiguring all complex challenges to their authority into simplistic paradigms of good versus evil and miscasting challengers into subhuman carriers of hate and violence, these trans-intellectuals are themselves creating the dark comic bookstyle dystopia in which the culminating battles truly are those of good versus evil.

The story will not end here, for just as the well known account of a people who after their temple was destroyed continued to practice their religion, insisting defiantly for next year in Jerusalem, there will be those who, upon seeing the land of the free drift into a police-state dystopia, stand defiantly upon the tripod of humility and honesty and humanity and continue to practice freedom, to pray and preach and struggle and fight for freedom and proclaim next year...until we rebuild that brilliant country conceived in liberty where we are free to think, speak, dream, create, achieve, and prosper. Liberty is in our country's DNA; it is part of our own DNA as human beings. It is powerful and infectious. There will always be hope, even if it is no more than a crack in the rubble.
Tennessee Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn were among those who voted on Saturday to acquit former President Donald Trump in the Senate impeachment trial. There were not enough votes to meet the two-thirds majority requirement for impeachment.

The vote was 57 to 43 to impeach, but 67 votes were needed. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in supporting impeachment.

Senator Hagerty said, Instead of putting the needs of the hardworking men and women of this country first, the Senate has spent this week watching a political performance by the House managers designed to humiliate the former president, discredit his successful policies, and shame the 74 million Americans who voted for him.

But they have failed spectacularly. It has been a wasted week. I voted to acquit President Trump because the article of impeachment was unconstitutional. But it was also unsubstantiated by the House managers complete lack of investigation, smoke-and-mirrors presentation, and distortion of basic First Amendment principles.

"More importantly, it could have paved the way for a dangerous precedent of allowing Congress to punish any former official when control of the legislative branch shifts to a different party. The Senate is not the forum for this, and the time wasted with this political show-trial did nothing to help Tennesseans overcome the ongoing pandemic and resulting recession or put students back in the classroom safely.

Senator Blackburn said, The House Impeachment managers launched an unconstitutional show trial to humiliate the former President and his supporters. The Impeachment managers have accomplished nothing but to extend the pain of the American people. They achieved one thing  Donald J. Trumps acquittal.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, Last month, I voted against impeaching President Donald Trump. Today, the Senate rightly voted to acquit President Donald Trump, finally concluding this unconstitutional impeachment trial. The Senate does not have the Constitutional power to convict a former official and a conviction would have set a dangerous precedent.

The Senate has wasted a week of the 117th Congress on this unconstitutional impeachment trial. Its time for Congress to stop wasting time and do our jobs  we need to focus on getting students back into schools, creating jobs, getting vaccines to all Americans, and restoring the American dream.
Following the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, the Palm Springs Air Museum and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, each receiving retired F-117 Nighthawks in recent months, the Castle Air Museum has had the good fortune to assigned their own example.

According to Air Force officials, the aircraft should be delivered to Castle Air Museum sometime in June. Once restored, it will be the only F-117 Nighthawk on display between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. This Nighthawk was in the air on the first night of Desert Storm over Baghdad, Iraq. The mission was to bomb Command and Control Centers by removing the ability for Iraqi Air Defenses to detect Allied aircraft.

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, though long-since officially retired, still conjures the imagination, given its secretive nature and storied combat history as the worlds first true stealth combat aircraft. While there are persistent rumors, and as recently proven by images, of a handful of the type still serving in secret as test airframes, most surviving examples are still mothballed in semi-dismantled storage, far from public view. Of the four Nighthawks currently on display, all are pre-preoduction YF-117s, which never saw combat.

The Castle Air Museums collection includes vintage military aircraft dating from pre-WWII to the present on approximately 25 acres of the Museums beautifully maintained grounds. For more information about the museum, visit www.castleairmuseum.org
A man films a video in this undated photo. Gettyimagesbank





1 percent of creators earn 21 percent of total







By Park Ji-won







Video content creators, represented by so-called YouTubers, earned 31.52 million won ($28,541) on average in 2019, according to data gathered by a lawmaker.







A report released by Rep. Yang Kyung-sook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Saturday, shows that 2,776 personal content creators reported a combined annual income of 87.5 billion won in 2019, which is the latest data since the country introduced industry codes in September 2019 to tax content creators. The figure translates into a yearly income of 31.52 million won per person on average.







The top 1 percent of that group, or 27 people, account for 21 percent of the reported combined income, earning 18.1 billion won in total or 671 million won per person.







The top 10 percent of that group (277 content creators) account for 68.4 percent of reported incomes or 216 billion won per person. The bottom 50 percent of those earned 1.5 billion won in total or 1.08 million won per person.







Given the fact that there are reportedly more than 4,900 channels in Korea with more than 100,000 subscribers as of August, which could generate more than tens of millions of won a year in earnings, Yang pointed out that there are loopholes in taxing content creators because the reporting of incomes is voluntary.







"Being a YouTuber has been the most-desired job among elementary schoolchildren, and more YouTube channels continue to generate high incomes due to a massive number of views. However, some YouTubers avoided paying taxes and had to pay penalties for doing so.







"Since the introduction of the new tax codes, the country started to grasp the exact size of incomes earned by YouTubers, but this is still difficult since individual YouTubers voluntarily report their earnings. It is necessary for tax authorities to get the creators to pay taxes voluntarily and monitor them so that there will be no tax dodging," Yang said in a press release.


A Crown spokeswoman said while the company believed the employees had made all necessary disclosures, it had still requested an independent external review, with the findings to be reported to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. In managing potential conflicts of interest, Crown recognises how issues are perceived is of critical importance, she said. In a formal response to 6PR and WAtoday, Mr Ord acknowledged the social contact but denied the staff involved were part of Crowns executive or senior level of management or occupied a decision making position. Mr Connolly does not refute socialising with employees of Crown Perth, including taking them fishing on his trailer boat, Mr Ord said. The nature of the relationship is one of being friends for an extended period. This friendship, and any potential or perceived conflict has been declared formally and has been discussed and declared to myself and the former director general Barry Sargeant, as well as the Gaming and Wagering Commission, who have noted the declaration of interest in the minutes of meetings.

In consideration that there should be no perception of a conflict of interest, Mr Connolly is stepping aside from his role as chief casino officer effective immediately. Mark Beecroft has now assumed the role to assist the Commission with its response to the inquiry report. Leading gambling researcher Dr Charles Livingstone from Monashs school of public health said it was noteworthy that Mr Connolly was stood aside only after the nature of his relationship to Crown staff became known to 6PR and WAtoday. The advice that this was not previously perceived as a conflict of interest is staggering, he said. Casinos are magnets for criminal infiltration and money laundering. They require careful and professional regulation, with a significant level of detachment and distance between the casino and those who regulate it.

In my opinion, Mr Connolly has demonstrated little understanding of that principle. The idea that a senior regulator would see nothing wrong with a) hanging out with the casinos staff, and b) take them fishing in his boat is quite remarkable, regardless of whether they are senior management, or the people with whom he liaises when undertaking audits and compliance checks. Either way, the possibility that his judgment and insight would be compromised by such friendly relationships is clear. The perception, and perhaps the reality of serious conflict of interest is obvious, yet apparently that has only now been realised. It is not the first time the spotlight has turned on the closeness between the monopoly casino and its regulator. In 2014, Mr Sargeant, the former director general and chairman of the Gaming and Wagering Commission, accepted a $6475, three-day trip to Macau, paid for by Crown, which was criticised by the then-Labor opposition.

Barnett Government Gaming Minister Terry Waldron said the trip was appropriate so Mr Sargeant could learn about Crowns VIP business. In 2015, the Commission removed full-time casino inspectors from the Crown Perth gaming floor. Mr Ord said that decision was made by Mr Sargeant and endorsed by the Commission, but was not made by Mr Connolly, who did not have that power. WA Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said he was meeting with Mr Ord on Monday and would be discussing the stepping aside of Mr Connolly. He said stepping aside was the right thing to do, to avoid any perception, real or implied, of a conflict of interest.

The Gaming and Wagering Commission would meet on Tuesday after receiving advice from the State Solicitors Office regarding the Bergin inquiry report. Loading The Bergin inquiry report lifted the lid on Crowns so-called junket operations for Asian whale gamblers and also detailed how there were red flags money was being laundered through Crowns Perth and Melbourne casinos as far back as 2014. Melbournes gaming regulator announced it would write to Crown to ask why CEO Ken Barton and director Andrew Demetriou could be considered fit and proper associates of the casino. Both men stood down under pressure late last week. Mr Ord hinted that the Gaming and Wagering Commission and the Department did not have the powers or responsibility for preventing money laundering through Crown Perth.
Stratovolcano 5426 m / 17,802 ftCentral Mexico, 19.02N / -98.62W(4 out of 5)1345-47, 1354, 1363(?), 1488, 1504, 1509(?), 1512, 1518, 1519-23(?), 1528, 1530, 1539-40, 1542, 1548, 1571, 1580, 1590, 1592-94, 1642, 1663-65, 1666-67, 1697, 1720, 1802-04, 1827(?), 1834(?), 1852(?), 1919-22, 1923-24, 1925-27(?), 1933, 1942-43, 1947, 1994-95, 1996-2003, 2004-ongoingDominantly explosive, construction of lava domes. Plinian eruptions at intervals of several centuries or few thousands of years, vulcanian and strombolian activity in intermittent phases.(tour to see the ongoing eruption of Mexico's most active volcano)

If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

Volcan Popocatepetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America's 2nd-highest volcano. The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 250-450 m deep crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano. At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano. The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone. Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatepetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano. Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices, have occurred since precolumbian time.

Armenia is a very photogenic country with a large variety of landscapes showing some very spectacular geology, century-old monasteries and castles, and much more.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial is taking place in the Senate. He faces a single charge of incitement of insurrection over his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The Senate has voted to acquit the former president in a 57-43 vote.

Oregons U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting to convict Donald Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol:

Its impossible to watch the footage presented by the House Managers and not come to the conclusion that Donald Trump was responsible for inciting the deadly attack on our Capitol. The facts speak for themselves: Donald Trump spent years cheerleading violence and intimidation as political tools and months spreading conspiracies and lies about the election being stolen. He stoked the fury of his supporters, repeatedly telling them that they had to fight like hell to overturn the election. He rescheduled his rally to coincide with the electoral vote count, and then sent his mob to the Capitol. He did nothing to stop the attack once it started and reportedly celebrated it at the White House. Since the attack, he has shown absolutely no remorse for the death and destruction it caused."

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden also released a statement following the former President's acquittal:

It was totally inappropriate for the defense to include what were essentially slick Trump campaign videos as evidence in an impeachment trial. My head spun when I heard the defense team lecture about the need for unity after theyd suggested that holding Trump accountable could lead to further violence or even civil war. Holding disgraced politicians accountable for their abuse of power is not divisive. Its the abuse of power itself thats divisive."

Seven Republicans senators -- Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania -- joined Democrats to vote Trump guilty of "incitement of insurrection" -- but they failed to reach the super majority threshold needed for a conviction.

The Senate chamber fell silent as each senator's name was called for the roll call vote.

As required by Senate rules, each senator present had to pronounce Trump "guilty" or "not guilty" while they stood behind their individual desks.

Romney was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump at his last impeachment trial -- in which Trump was also acquitted.

The Senate was ten votes shy of conviction this time around.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A few Northeast Ohio communities have begun implementing parking bans ahead of the winter storm that will hit the area Monday into Tuesday.

Many cities in Northeast Ohio, including the city of Cleveland, typically issue street parking bans once two inches of snow have fallen and more is in the forecast within 24 hours.

Here are the cities that have announced parking bans ahead of the expected winter storm. This list will be updated if cleveland.com learns about more bans Sunday evening.

Akron

Akrons snow parking ban will go into effect 6 a.m. Monday and remain until further notice, according to a news release from the city.

Elyria

The emergency snow parking ban in Elyria will begin at noon Monday and last through noon Wednesday, a news release on the citys website says.

Mogadore

The village of Mogadore has a snow parking ban in effect starting 11 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release shared on Facebook.

Parma

Parmas safety director issued an emergency snow parking ban that goes into effect 2 a.m. Monday, according to an alert from the city. An ending date and time has not yet been established.

Parma Heights

Parma Heights emergency snow parking ban will begin at 3 a.m. Monday and will last through Tuesday evening, though the exact time has not yet been announced, according to the citys police department.

Warrensville Heights

Warrensville Heights will implement its emergency snow parking pan, beginning 1 a.m. Monday, an alert from the city says. Its slated to expire at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather warning, which goes into effect 1 a.m. Monday through 1 a.m. Tuesday. Eight to 10 inches of snow could fall across the region, and some areas could see a foot or more by Tuesday afternoon.

More weather coverage on cleveland.com:

OH weather: Compare forecasts as winter storm warning issued; 8-10 inches of snow predicted for Northeast Ohio

OH weather: Northeast Ohio could see up to 9 inches of snow by Tuesday afternoon, National Weather Service says

OH weather: Buckling of jet stream sending cold and snow to Northeast Ohio next week
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 05:41:19|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday that four more deaths and 888 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were registered in the last 24 hours, as the country continues to battle a severe outbreak.

According to the ministry, the death toll in the country has risen to 261 and the total number of cases has climbed to 37,483.

"The deceased were three elderly people from Havana and a 39-year-old woman from the province of Cienfuegos," the ministry's national director of hygiene and epidemiology, Francisco Duran, said in the report.

Duran said that of the new cases, 866 were from community transmission and 22 were imported from the United States, Russia, Brazil, Panama, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Bolivia and France.

Havana continues to be the epicenter of the disease on the island, with 433 new cases, followed by the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, with 111, and Santiago de Cuba, with 105, although new cases were registered throughout the country.

In Cuba's hospitals, 37 patients are reported to be in critical condition. Enditem
Amid cold weekend, the UISD Federal and State programs department announced that the families and children it oversees have been prepared with portable heaters, jackets and additional resources.

According to Rebecca Morales, the department director, UISD has purchased the heaters and jackets that have already been distributed throughout the time between November and December in preparation for colder months.

She said there are still some heaters available in the office for families that have not received one yet.

In addition to helping children and families during the cold, Morales also highlighted and stressed the importance of a new state program, Texas Rent Relief. Applications will start being accepted starting on Monday at 8 a.m. and both landlords and tenants can apply for emergency funds. Additional information can be found at texasrentrelief.com or at the toll-free number (833) 989-7368.

Renters can pay current and past due rent and utilities, but households must have incomes at or below 80% of the area median income, the program states. It covers costs as far back as March 13, 2020, including:

Past due, current and up to 3 months of expected rent costs

Past due, current and up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses

After the initial 3 moths of forward assistance, residents can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are available

Morales said the program targets families in need living in substandard situations or having been evicted. Regardless of whether its the UISD department or the state, Morales said there is a large need for help to assist families throughout the county.

A lot of principals, a lot of employees from our district have donated to our families, either clothing or money, so that we can help them pay their bills, she said. And we need them to have electricity right now or how are they going to connect their portable heater to keep them warm?

Throughout the pandemic, Morales said she has heard a repeated saying through multiple trainings that focuses on looking out for one another.

Although we are all on the same storm of COVID, we are not all on the same boat, she said. And we dont all have the same struggles in dealing with this pandemic and everything thats come with it.

Throughout the multiple programs by Morales department, including McKinney-Vento and the Migrant Program, UISD takes care of approximately 600 students from both programs. To attend to the needs of these students and their families, multiple avenues of contact have been established for families to reach out to the district.

Biweekly wellness checks are sent out to families and students through email to check up on their mental health and academic status. They also ask if they are in need of additional hygiene kits, food, home items and more.

We are able to regularly communicate with our families and make sure they have everything that they need, Morales said. All their basic needs of course; we need to make sure that their basic needs are being met or the children are not going to be ready to learn.

To assist these students in class, campus counselors and teachers cooperate to identify students who may need help. Teachers are expected to analyze a students body language, things they say during class or their learning environment.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
The state government has further frustrated Sydney property developer Charlie Demians plans to redevelop the heavily contaminated former James Hardie asbestos factory site near Parramatta.

The Department of Planning has refused his companys request for a change to planning rules which would clear the way for a large mixed-use development on the 6.7-hectare site at Camellia, comprising 3200 homes and buildings up to 126 metres tall, or 40 storeys.

Developer Charlie Demian. Credit:Janie Barrett

The refusal is based on the grounds that the department wants to develop a place strategy for Camellia and Rosehill so it can resolve the complexity of re-mediating highly contaminated land, flooding from Parramatta River, and the need for new roads.

The decision to block his companys planning proposal and begin a detailed place strategy plan for Camellia and Rosehill is likely to delay by years his ambitions for the site.
About 89% of children in the US live in a county considered a red zone with high levels of Covid-19 transmission under new school opening guidelines shared by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, according to a CNN analysis of federal data.

More than 65.3 million children -- about 89% of the US population under the age of 18 -- live in such a red or 'high transmission' community, defined by the CDC as a county where there were at least 100 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people or a test positivity rate of at least 10% during the past seven days.

When the CDC guidance was released on Friday, closer to 99% of children lived in red zones, according to CNN's analysis.

The CDC guidelines stress five key mitigation strategies: requiring masks, physical distancing, handwashing, maintaining clean facilities and contract tracing. It also recommends different strategies based on how much transmission there is in the surrounding community, and has a color-coded guide with areas of high transmission colored red; substantial transmission colored orange; moderate transmission coded yellow; and low transmission as blue.

The CDC says school districts should re-assess weekly, noting that transmission levels will change over time.

If schools in 'high transmission' communities cannot 'strictly implement all mitigation strategies,' the CDC says all extracurricular activities should be virtual. Plus middle and high schools should stick with virtual learning in these red zones, and elementary schools should maximize physical distance through hybrid learning or reduced attendance.

About 115,000 children in the US live in a county considered 'low' or 'moderate transmission,' where the CDC recommends K-12 schools open for full in-person instruction.

The CNN analysis used the latest federal data on new case rates and test positivity rates, published Sunday by the US Department of Health and Human Services, to determine each county's risk threshold according to CDC guidelines. Population data is from the US Census Bureau's 5-Year American Community Survey 2019 estimates.
Elementary and middle school students of Thuong Trach and Bo Trach receiving gifts from YDA Viet Nam

Wishing to spread joyous energy for the new year to remote regions, YDA Vietnam, Tay Thien Grand Mandala Stupa, and CME Solar collaborated with local authorities in Thuong Trach, Tan Trach, and Bo Trach in Quang Binh to organise Tet of Love, a charitable programme for students from ethnic groups Ma Coong, Chut, and Bru Van Kieu.

Organisers preparing 570 gift bags to students and teachers

The organisers presented 570 gift bags with the total value of VND500 million ($21,740), to students and teachers at the middle school in Bo Trach and elementary schools in Thuong Trach and Bo Trach.

Necessities and other goods being delivered to Quang Binh for the event. The most remote location, Thuong Trach, is 61km from the Laos border

Gift bags for students included necessities, clothing, school equipment, confectionery, and a VND500,000 ($21.75) new year envelope. 70 gift portions for teachers included necessities, new year confectionery, and VND 400,000 ($17.40) new year envelopes.

Ushering in the 2021 Lunar New Year  students from the Ma Coong, Chut, and Bru Van Kieu ethnic groups were joyful with the New Year presents, and the orgnisers' encouragement and wish for them to do well in school

Pham Khac Ha, a representative of YDA Vietnam, shared that the gift bags were offered to the students and teachers with the encouragement to overcome difficult conditions and to succeed. The organisers also wish to share the message of compassion and share kindness with the community to make life more meaningful.
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A New York state judge tossed out a lawsuit from a group of property and business owners who wanted to stop a homeless facility from opening in the Blue Moon Hotel on Orchard Street. [New York Post]

A 21-year-old driver struck a bicyclist, a pizza deliveryman, and then fled on foot from the scene at Delancey and Columbia streets. He later returned and was arrested. [Channel 7]

Congress moved to help struggling performance venues, but if financial support promised through the Save Our Stages Act doesnt arrive soon, many music halls and studios are doomed. Tony Caffrey of Arlenes Grocery says, For us to survive, we need to get another shot of money quickly, or we wont be here The lag time month by month is catching up. We really need help now. We really need the funds to come through and not talk. Talk wont keep us open. [NY1]

While some young entrepreneurs have turned to social media to boost sales during the pandemic, most Chinatown businesses are suffering and in serious jeopardy if more government help does not arrive soon. [Yahoo]

A look at how three Chinatown businesses are coping as the Year of the Ox begins. [BuzzFeed]

Where to go in Chinatown for a Lunar New Year meal. [Gothamist]

Prominent Asian American chefs, including some on the Lower East Side, have launched Enough is Enough, an initiative to raise awareness about rising hate crimes against Asians nationwide. [Eater]

Katzs Deli has managed to make it through the pandemic without laying off any employees, and leaning into its delivery/shipping business. Now that restaurants are allowed to resume indoor dining at 25% capacity, Katzs is able to accommodate 17 or 18 tables. [CNBC]

In her new book, Beyond the Synagogue: Jewish Nostalgia as Religious Practice Rachel Gross argues that places like the Museum at Eldridge Street show that Judaism may be changing, but it is not withering. [The Jerusalem Post]

During the pandemic, arts organizations are finding a purpose even with their stages dark. At the Abrons Arts Center, the Henry Street Playhouse has been turned into a food pantry. [The New York Times]

Designer Sandy Liang transformed a local Laundromat into her first brick-and-mortar boutique with the help of her dads Chinatown-based contracting firm. [Architects Newspaper]
MUSKEGON, MI  After getting pneumonia twice and COVID-19 once, Bobbie Patton, 56, was in the hospital again.

It felt eerily familiar to have a tracheostomy tube down his throat.

Despite an 11-day fight in the intensive care unit battling COVID-19 and pneumonia, Patton wants nothing more than to regain his strength and get back to the hospital as a volunteer rather than a patient.

The longtime hospital volunteer with Klippel Feil Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting the spine, is looking forward to the time when he can connect with patients who face similar health scares or use a wheelchair like he does.

An 18-year volunteer at Mercy Health in Muskegon, he carved a niche delivering packages and working with patients.

It gave me purpose, Patton said. I like dealing with people, I like helping people, and every once in a while, I could help someone in a wheelchair.

The nurses there knew me, and when they came across a case with some guy just getting in a wheelchair or having (tracheostomy) problems, she would bring them to me. I would console them, talk to them, because its better from someone in a wheelchair than someone standing over you.

The pandemic took volunteering at the hospital away from him. Then came pneumonia, and then COVID-19, forcing him to fight for his life and work through intense physical therapy.

Patton was sitting in a rehabilitation bed when he was at the lowest, weakest point.

Knocked down after his fight with COVID-19, Patton said his aim wasnt just to regain his strength to go home, but to get back to being a volunteer at the hospital.

COVID-19 scared him

The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on everything in his life. He stopped volunteering because Klippel Feil Syndrome made him highly susceptible to serious complications if he got the virus.

He sat down with his kids, Bobbie Jr., 31, and Dyray, 27, as the pandemic began to come to terms with how dangerous COVID-19 was to him.

I told my kids that if I get it, more than likely, Im not going to make it out, Patton said.

But while staying home, Patton developed pneumonia four months ago, putting him right back in the hospital. Treatment cleared things up in the short term, but a week later, it came back. He also tested positive for COVID-19.

Hospital volunteer Bobbie Patton works with staff at Mary Free Bed after an intense battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia. (Contributed photo from Mary Free Bed)

The hard thing was when I had to call my kids and tell them that I did have it, Patton said. I love my kids, you know... I cant lie to my kids. I had to be straight up with them, because they knew I was scared as hell.

The journey to recovery was a long one, and he said he felt weaker than he had ever been before. He said his family helped him with daily tasks, as Patton said he couldnt get in his wheelchair.

I was at the bottom, where I couldnt take care of myself, Patton said. That scared me. That put a fear in me that I never had.

However, it pushed him to want to recover more, he said.

Rehabbing is key after COVID-19

Weakened by the long hospital stay, Patton sought rehabilitation services at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Jess Larson, a physical therapist at Mary Free Bed, said the significance of rehabilitation is often underdiscussed in the recovery from COVID-19. Rehabilitation ranges from sitting up alone to working through difficult daily tasks, Larson said.

We get them out of that medically unstable condition, get them to rehab and hopefully get them at least two to three hours of rehab a day to increase their likelihood of getting home safely with assistance from family as needed, Larson said.

Dr. Sam Ho, medical director of Mary Free Beds Spinor Cord Injury Program, said that COVID-19 has only increased the need for rehab services. The rehabilitation hospital had entire COVID-specific units at times when West Michigan experienced its highest levels of cases.

COVID patients dont just bounce back, Ho said. I would say they have to crawl back because everything you do... you dont have to think about it. But for a lot of these COVID patients, they have to work from scratch to build up the strength before they can bring the spoon to their mouth.

Patton said he set small goals to keep himself motivated, which helped the three-week process go by.

I wasnt going to let nothing stop me, Patton said. I was going to work as hard as possible to get back and even get better.

Now back at home in Muskegon with his mother, Patton said hes been able to cherish sleeping in more in lieu of demanding therapy sessions. He also said he hopes he can return to volunteering at hospitals when the pandemic ends.

I want to get stronger and I do want to go back, Patton said. I like giving back  theres no better feeling than that. If you help somebody that was struggling or has been through something youve been through, theyre never going to be the exact same, but I can offer them something by being similar to someone who is in a wheelchair paralyzed or had a (tracheostomy) in their throat.

So, any way I can help. Thats my calling.

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What we do today and what will count is whether we have the courage associated with our profession to buck the trend, jump off the bandwagon and do what is right instead of getting swept away by the moment, forgotting ourselves and the ethics that should guide us all.

It is with a heavy heart, worry about Nigeria and a sense of impending doom that I am sending this message to my colleagues in the media.

Let me begin with a question: What exactly will we gain if Nigeria descends into war? How does it advance us, if our fellow citizens turn on each other and begin large scale ethnic killings, against each other? Let me even assume that a few of us dont believe in Nigeria anymore and want to see it broken into its constituent parts. How does enabling ethnic strife help achieve this objective in a way that guarantees the outcome you want?

For sometime now, many of us have thrown away the book on ethical reporting; propelled by emotions, we have betrayed every moral consideration that assigns our noble professsion a role so significant we are seen as the last hope of the common man, so much so our jobs are constitutionally protected.

Despite numerous examples that exist which have proved, including not too long ago in Rwamda, that the conduct of the media can help in promoting, starting and perpetuating violence and ethnic strife, we have turned a deaf ear to pleas to not become a tool that enables hate.

But we have failed to heed these warnings.

We have given platforms to the worst among us, the extremists and the blood thirsty. We have turned militia leaders and criminals into champions. Instead of us to lead calm and rational discourse on the existential challenges we face, with a view to promoting actionable solutions, we have succumbed to hysteria and the next exciting click bait headline.

And yet for many of us, especially media owners, this place called Nigeria has been relatively good.

This country has given many of us more opportunity than the majority of our fellow citizens. We have reaped a bountiful havest from this place. We have done so well that if, God forbid, this country is consumed and chaos reigns, many of us will hop on a plane and bugger off to the many different countries abroad where our families live in peace, even though they are not native to those places.

There will be killings in the thousands, limbs will be chopped off with machetes, women and girls will be raped, food will be scarce, fear will reign. The most brutal among us will take charge. And their word will be law. They will not tolerate journalists who try to hold them accountable.

We will run off and leave our foot soldiers, our reporters and headline writers, who we allowed, maybe even ecouraged, to go down this path to navigate a country at war, alone and perhaps without the ability to fully protect their families, both immediate and extended, from the horrors that will follow.

And there is no doubt it will be horrific. The play book is written and tested. We saw it in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, in Rwanda and more recently in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

There will be killings in the thousands, limbs will be chopped off with machetes, women and girls will be raped, food will be scarce, fear will reign. The most brutal among us will take charge. And their word will be law. They will not tolerate journalists who try to hold them accountable.

And these horrors will not always come from the bogeyman we have been at great pains to create and project. It will come from the militia leaders fighting to take control of our neighbourhoods and increasingly scarce resources. This is not a film script. This is the reality of war.

Our job is to hold power accountable and it is exactly what it should be.

The focus on those in charge, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, should be relentless and loud and insistent.

But when the killings happen and they seem to have already begun, it is not the Presidents family, nor that of his Ministers nor indeed anyone with any kind of serious influence that will mostly die.

It is regular folks, people already forced to travel and move in order to eek out a living, settlers, across all of Nigeria.

They will write about us, just as they wrote about our colleagues in Rwanda; that we fanned flames of ethnic hate, to consume our country.

The ignoble role we are now playing in bringing this country to chaos is at odds with most of our history. We have always being the ones Nigerians could rely on to lift our voices, together, for the betterment of this country.

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Our proud history of fighting colonialist masters, carried on with the fight against military dictatorship, to standing up to civilian governments that tried to perpetuate themselves in office.

I dont know at which point we decided that a focus on ethnic profiling, despite the repeated warnings about where this leads, would be a good idea.

So here we are today about to be consumed by the hate we have stoked.

They will write about us, just as they wrote about our colleagues in Rwanda. That we fanned the flames of ethnic hate, and enabled them consume our country.

They will write about us in the first person, because we live in a digital age and the internet never forgets and records last forever. They will identify us individually, and sooner or later a few of us will end up before an international court.

What we do today and what will count is whether we have the courage associated with our profession to buck the trend, jump off the bandwagon and do what is right instead of getting swept away by the moment, forgotting ourselves and the ethics that should guide us all.

In the end, we will all die, but while we live, we write our legacy. It is not too late to make it one that saved our country from the brink.

Kadaria Ahmed is a renowned Nigerian journalist.
Kathmandu, February 14

Two days after the Tatopani border point between Nepal and Tibet of China reopened for trade after a closure of 20 days, it and another major point connecting the two countries have been shut for the next few days.*

The Rasuwagadhi border point has been virtually shut since Thursday (February 11) with all workers at the customs yard on the Chinese side going on leave on the occasion of the Lhosar festival, informs Nepals Rasuwagadhi Customs Office Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.

Likewise, Tatopani Customs Office Chief Lal Bahadur Khatri says the border point there was also closed since Friday due to the same reason.

According to Regmi, his counterpart has told him that the staff will take around 10 days to return to the workstation. But, Khatri says the Tatopani border may come into operation on Tuesday.

After the closure of several months due to the Covid-19 crisis, the border point had reopened for regular one-way trade in late October 2020, but it was with several conditions such as five containers per day, and the mobilisation of Chinese workers to transport the supplies to the Nepal side to control the possible spread of the virus.



* Updated to inform the Tatopani border point is also closed. Earlier it was reported that the Rasuwagadhi border was closed.


COVID wont rob us of the magic!!!

Thats the spirit organizers said drove their Valentines Day event in San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood to ensure children didnt miss out on the traditional valentine exchange as schools remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dozens of families prepared valentines to put outside their homes for kids taking part in the contactless Hearts on the Hill event from 3 to 5 p.m. More than 50 homes prepared window displays with pink, heart-shaped paper for people to write a valentine, goodie bags, chalk drawings on sidewalks and more.

Organizers posted a Google Map for participants to indicate they would have valentines outside their home for collecting. More than 50 locations had been posted by noon Sunday, where families could go around and gather the holiday offerings.

Lets give our local kids something magical to remember today, Jennifer Kuhr Butterfoss, co-organizer of the event, wrote in a Facebook group sharing details about the event.

Butterfoss added: [For your information], this would have been my sons first Valentines exchange in school but he doesnt get to do it because its almost been a full year of school closures. COVID wont rob us of the magic!!!

Butterfoss told The Chronicle the event was inspired by another mom in the Bernal neighborhood who spearheaded a similar effort for Halloween.

[Children] are missing a lot of their school events and all the fun things that come with being part of a school community, said Butterfoss, mother of children ages 5 and 8.

Kristen Jones ran out of valentine cards she clipped on a tree in front of her house 20 minutes after the event began.

The cards were made by her two children, ages 5 and 7. She said events like this have been important for them, especially her son who started kindergarten virtually during the pandemic and has never experienced what school feels like.

It was a lot like being in school and getting to see his community, Jones said. And then we walk around and talk to our neighbors at a safe distance. Since theres so little gathering right now, its been really vital.

Jeanie Chang and Nola Burd walked around the Bernal neighborhood Sunday to collect valentines and to take a break from quarantine.

Nola attends the San Francisco School, a private institution that was one of the first in the city to bring K-5 students back on site. Chang also works there.

Chang says she feels fortunate that Nola is back in a classroom, but that the experience for children is not the same as before.

I miss getting candy and a lot of valentines, said Nola, 11.

The event came as San Francisco public schools have been closed for the past year because of the pandemic. Employee unions recently announced a tentative agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District to safely reopen schools, which the board will consider Tuesday.

District officials have said it will take at least five weeks to reopen after they reach a separate educational agreement with the teachers union, with a goal of six weeks of in-person instruction through the remainder of the school year. Teachers last week proposed a reopening plan that would allow students to be in classrooms two days per week.

Butterfoss said many parents have been frustrated with the school boards reopening plans.

I think the mental health crisis amongst our kids isnt being talked about nearly enough, said Butterfoss, who also works for New Leaders, an organization that focuses on improving education for children, specifically poor students and students of color.

She added: Just not having access to that critical in-person socialization and belonging that comes with being part of a physical school community and having a place to go to every day, I think a lot of families are just getting super frustrated and they've reached their breaking point.

Butterfoss hopes to collect leftover valentines to donate Bernals Learning Hub, an educational assistance program created by San Francisco officials last year.

Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores

DiscoverLitchfieldHills.com, a website that provides travel and tourism information to municipal sites around the state, is expanding its offerings to promote businesses in a big way.

The site is managed by CivicLift, a Litchfield-based software company.

NWCOG Communications Director Jocelyn Ayer said DiscoverLitchfieldHills is a main connection for the coalition of town governments.

Its a way to really support all of our towns businesses, she said. The improvements will help people find and support small businesses. Thats a key goal for the site and our social media marketing.

As part of its promotion of the sites new features, CivicLift designer Evan Dobos talked recently with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments on how the new information can help the state.

The new DiscoverLitchfieldHills.com features are going to make it a lot easier to find content, like places to go and things to do, Dobos said. We built and launched the site more than a year ago, and just recently we released our community website, Ecosystem 2.0, which will help towns and the region.

Most towns and cities have a municipal website of their own, which provides residents with information on local government. Torringtons site, torringtonct.org, for example, posts weather-related information on parking and plowing, meeting minutes and agendas, a way to contact City Hall offices and staff, and links to other departments and Facebook pages that are related to the citys operations.

The site, Dobos said, has been updated because we outgrew it.

We wanted to upgrade the search directory, with business types and location, Dobos said. We had an interactive map, but it left people out who dont have a physical location and still want to be listed.

In addition to the enlarged search directory, with business types and locations, businesses can fill out an online form to be added to the listing. The searches also have been upgraded with filters for type, town and category, Dobos said.

Within that well have a local business highlight, featuring a company and what theyre doing: expanding, improving or offering new services, with a Q&A and photos, he said.

Another new addition is a job hub with improved search and filtering capabilities, as well as rotating featured employers, featured jobs and added links to individual websites to further job searches.

Weve integrated with Indeed.com and cthires.com to put all the job (search information) into one place with the searches and filtering, Dobos said. Weve been updating (the job hub) every two weeks, but were probably going to change that to once or twice a week.

DiscoverLitchfieldHills also is linking to Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted, where there is an employment assistance center for students. Its a way to help students find jobs, Dobos said. Were improving that connection and updating it.

Because the site also focuses heavily on tourism, it offers users an events calendar that includes all 21 towns in the county, with an interactive map.

Now that we have a business directory, were adding a fine arts page, with shopping, local events, art-related events, and listings of galleries and shops, Dobos said. Theres a things-to-do directory. Its kind of nice that we can connect that way.

Another new feature is Eat Local, with features on local restaurants and what theyre doing to stay open during the pandemic. This section also has a listing of restaurants around the county.

Were doing an experiment with a guide of vineyards, breweries and distilleries, as a subset of Eat Local, Dobos said. What Im planning is to have an interactive map and tour, with a Driving Around guide to areas where people can spend an afternoon, for example.

Users can sign up for email blasts, event reminders for Small Business Saturday and a Shop Small Holiday Guide. Those connect with other community sites, Dobos said. It connects with Facebook and other social media. Our content is good and engaging, and it keeps people coming back.

CivicLift is upgrading a number of municipalities websites, Dobos said, which helps improve the communication network DiscoverLitchfieldHills is trying to build. That network ... plays an important role, he said.

Laredo College has been collaborating with the City of Laredo in various ways to provide assistance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an extension of these efforts, LC has launched a partnership with Curative to facilitate COVID-19 testing at its downtown campus.

At Laredo College, keeping our students and employees safe is critical to our mission. We are continuously looking for partnerships and resources to ensure the college remains operational through the pandemic, Vice President of Compliance & Risk Management David Arreazola said. Our partnership with Curative through the City of Laredo will provide critical services to our college and community.

Starting Feb. 12, the community may begin scheduling COVID-19 testing conducted by Curative at the Ft. McIntosh Campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The testing site will be located in Building P-4, and up to 500 tests will be available on a daily basis.

Signage will direct the public to convenient parking available at the rear of the building. Additional signage will direct those seeking testing to the proper building entrance.

To schedule an appointment, the public may visit curative.com and select the Ft. McIntosh location. Upon arrival, those seeking testing will be guided by the provider to complete this reliable and rapid testing completely free of cost.

The Curative shallow nasal PCR COVID-19 test is painless, simple-to-use, self-collected and fast. Curative provides an end-to-end testing solution for patients to provide the support needed to keep the community safe, Curative Marketing Communications Manager Sydney Rosen stated. Patients can view and manage test results via SMS and/or email within 48 hours upon receipt at the lab. With our indoor testing protocol, teams have established efficient collection methods in order to safely facilitate testing for both small and large teams.

In addition to members of the community whom will benefit from this testing, Laredo College students and employees will also greatly benefit. Through the assistance of the LC Health & Safety Operations Center (HSOC) and due to this partnership, testing availability will increase for employees who are referred. This will aid in the effort to stop the spread of the virus and help to alleviate any concerns of exposure to a COVID positive individual.

Our students and employees are our primary concern. LC President Ricardo J. Solis said. Therefore, as we work with local entities to assist in the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, we want to ensure that our students, faculty and staff are also provided with the necessary tools to detect and prevent any possible exposure.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Britain's coronavirus vaccination programme passed the 15 million mark on Sunday, hours after New Zealand, so far largely spared by the pandemic, ordered its largest city into lockdown.

The European Union, facing criticism over the sluggish roll-out of its own programme, meanwhile, confirmed it would fast-track approval of vaccines updated to target variants of the original virus.

Germany partially closed its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol Sunday following a surge in new coronavirus variant cases, drawing a swift rebuke from Brussels.

And Lebanon got its vaccinations campaigns underway, weeks after richer countries were able to launch theirs.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed hitting the "significant milestone" of 15 million jabs just over two months after the country launched what is its biggest-ever vaccination programme.

"This country has achieved an extraordinary feat," he said in a video message posted on Twitter.

The country met its aim of vaccinating everyone in the top four priority groups: those over 70, care home residents and staff, health service workers and those who are extremely clinically vulnerable to the virus.

"The vaccine is our route to freedom," Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday. "We will beat this virus jab by jab."

Fresh lockdown for New Zealand's Auckland

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the country's biggest city Auckland into a snap lockdown for the first time in nearly six months.

The measures came after three members of an Auckland family tested positive, with authorities concerned about the "new and active" infections as there was no obvious source of transmission.

Almost two million residents were told on Sunday to stay at home from midnight, with schools and businesses to close except for essential services.

Arden appealed to all the city's inhabitants to stay at home.

"I know we all feel the same way when this happensnot again," she said.

"But remember, we have been here before, that means we know how to get out of thistogether."

The Pacific island nation has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic, with just 25 deaths in a population of five million.

EU to fast-track vaccine updates

With growing concern over more contagious variants of the original virus, the European Union has agreed to fast-track approval of vaccines updated to target them, health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said Sunday.

"We looked at the process together with the European Medicines Agency (EMA)," Stella Kyriakides told German daily Augsburger Allgemeine.

"And we have now decided that a vaccine, which has been improved by a manufacturer based on its previous vaccine to combat new mutations, no longer has to go through the entire approvals process.

The EU's vaccine rollout has been snagged by delays and controversies, leaving it lagging behind the United States, Britain and Israel in particular.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen last week admitted that mistakes had been made in procuring vaccines on behalf of all 27 member states.

Germany meanwhile mobilised a thousand police officers for strict checks at its border with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol region.

At the Kiefersfelden crossing in southern Bavaria, masked officers in yellow high-visibility jackets were out in sub-zero temperatures, stopping each vehicle from Austria.

The restrictions are aimed at slowing the spread of more transmissible variants first identified in Britain and South Africa, which have created new virus hotspots along the Czech border and in Austria's Tyrol region.

Kyriakides condemned the German measure, in comments to Germany's Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper saying vaccines and following preventative measures were "the only things that work".

Beginning of the end... hopefully

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,395,044 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1800 GMT on Sunday.

More than 172 million vaccine doses have been given in at least 95 countries or territories, according to an AFP tally drawn from official sources.

But most of those doses have gone to the richer countries.

Lebanon kicked off its vaccination campaign Sunday, with healthcare workers and the elderly first in line.

The country has been under lockdown since mid-January after an unprecedented spike in cases blamed on holiday gatherings that forced overwhelmed hospitals to turn away patients.

The first jab was given to Mahmoud Hassoun, head of the intensive care unit at Rafik Hariri Hospital, which has been at the forefront of battling the outbreak.

"Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of this plague in the country," he told AFP.

Japan meanwhile approved its first coronavirus vaccine Sunday, clearing the way for mass inoculations as the nation prepares to host the postponed 2020 Olympics.

Japan is now expected to use the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for between 10,000-20,000 medical workers from as early as Wednesday.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A planned community that was designed before the words iPhone were even uttered received approval to add a Verizon Wireless cell tower to the area, although its height has yet to be determined.

The Santa Fe County Commission last week unanimously voted to allow a proposed 70-foot Verizon wireless cell tower to be constructed in Las Campanas, an upscale community just north of Santa Fes city limits. But hearing officials said the height variance for the tower, which some residents opposed, would be determined at a later date.

The hearing itself centered on an amendment to the Las Campanas master plan, which was originally developed in 1992.

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Amy McKenzie of Verizon Wireless said the proposed site for the tower isnt near any homes and the only people who would be able to see the tower would be those driving by, she said.

McKenzie added that the cell tower would mimic the Pueblo Revival-style architecture of the community, and would have room for a second carrier, such as AT&T, that could use the same structure to expand cell service.

Robert Kiely, speaking on behalf of the Las Campanas community, said the cell tower is a safety issue because the lack of coverage in the area could put people at risk. He said that when he goes hiking on nearby trails, he doesnt get any cell service.

Kiely said he surveyed area residents and got 401 responses from people living in Las Campanas and 150 responses from those living in surrounding areas. The vast majority of them said they had issues with their cell coverage. He said most respondents voiced support of a cell tower. About 69% of them use Verizon Wireless as their carrier, while 22% use AT&T.

Resident Jan Watson said during the public comment portion of the hearing that shes lucky if she had one bar of cell service for most of the day. Other days, she doesnt have service for at least half of the day, she said.

Watson said her home is less than 7 years old, but isnt wired for a land line, so she depends on her wireless service. She said her neighbor has a friend who lives 10 minutes away and they cant even talk to each other on their cellphones because of the poor connection.

Its a safety and security issue, she said. My mother is in assisted living, I need to be on call for her all the time.

Resident Albert Antonez, who is also general manager of the private Club at Las Campanas, said the club has over 200 employees who are unable to communicate with each other from different buildings. Theyre also not able to call for help if they experience an emergency on the property.

A new Thurles-based company that is distributing a rapid antigen test for Covid-19 has sold more than 40,000 of the tests to Irish companies - including Renault Trucks - and professionals such as dentists, opticians and veterinarians since launching in the Irish market at the start of December.

CoviSal was set up by Arthur Griffin, who is managing director of the Cork-based Berkley Group, one of the country's biggest recruiters for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. He led an MBO of Berkley in 2017. Griffin founded CoviSal with Killian Dunphy from KD Surgical, a supplier of surgical products to hospitals.

CoviSal secured the exclusive distribution rights for the tests from Dutch manufacturer Romed Holland. They are used by Lufthansa and Alitalia as well as throughout Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Irish company is in talks to distribute the tests in the UK, at an Irish private hospital, and to members of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation.

Antigen tests are much faster and cheaper than the laboratory-based gold-standard diagnostic tests that detect viral RNA using a technique called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). But they will only give a positive result when a person is at their most infectious. The Romed Rapid Antigen Test used by CoviSal is akin to a pregnancy test in that it can be self-administered and can deliver a result within minutes. The test, which claims to have an efficacy rate of between 96pc and 98pc, is selling for 220 for a box of 20.

Griffin says regular and widespread use of CoviSal's tests could help with the safe re-opening of Ireland's economy and society.

Under a revised Living with Covid plan being examined by the Government, the Level 5 lockdown restrictions are set to be extended until at least April 12.

"This will not reduce Covid to zero but it would help significantly in reducing the spread of the virus," Griffin says. "What else are we going to do - reopen again, have everyone infected again and have a fourth wave?

"The Government, in terms of looking at reopening the country, should look at this as a significant part of its strategy. It could even give companies a tax credit for testing their employees."

Last month, the use of rapid antigen tests was cleared for use in certain hospital settings and 500,000 testing kits have been ordered by the Health Service Executive.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said an independent expert group has been set up to see if it can be used more widely in schools and workplaces. Last week, a group of senior medics criticised the "lack of urgency" being shown by the National Public Health Emergency Team towards antigen testing.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRANFORD  A 22-year-old town resident was killed Saturday when she was struck by an Acela train, an Amtrak spokeswoman said Sunday.

Alexandra Trippodo, 22, was killed in the accident, which occurred east of the New Haven station around 1:10 p.m. Saturday, according Beth Toll, a spokeswoman for Amtrak.
Fallout from Trumps acquittal

Seven Republican senators voted on Saturday with Democrats to convict former President Donald Trump  the most bipartisan rebuke ever delivered in an impeachment process. But the vote of 57 to 43 fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds needed to find him guilty of inciting the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, and to allow the Senate to move to disqualify him from holding future office.

Even some Republicans who voted to acquit  notably the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell  sharply criticized Mr. Trump and held him responsible for the riot. And the seven who supported his conviction began a defiant counteroffensive against the threats thrown at them by Mr. Trumps defenders, a sign that the party divisions exposed in the Senate vote were deepening.

This much is certain: Mr. Trump remains the dominant force in right-wing U.S. politics.

Remaining legal jeopardy: Mr. Trump still faces three investigations, two relating to his business dealings in New York, and a third surrounding his attempts to overturn his election loss to President Biden in the state of Georgia.

Biden administration: The rapid acquittal will allow the new president to refocus attention on the issues that propelled him to victory  dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.
Battles fought and a life well lived View(s):

My dear Dr Neville,

We were saddened to hear that you had reached the Land of Never Return, a victim of the coronavirus that has claimed the lives of millions of others. That your passing shocked many, even though you were 89 years of age indicated the type of person you were, so active and full of life.

What was different about you was that you were one of the few politicians who stood up for what you thought was right, regardless of the consequences. You did face many challenges as a result, and that is probably why your political career did not last that long, though we continued to hear from you.

We first heard of you almost 45 years ago when you were a young doctor in Panadura. JR was looking for someone to take on the mighty leftist, Leslie. He chose you. In the landslide that JR led, they said that even a polpiththa fielded by him would have won, but you won by over 10,000 votes.

There was a time when you had JRs blessings. He wanted you to move a motion of no-confidence against Amirthalingam and you did so. However, if he expected you to always echo His Masters Voice, he was wrong. You were not afraid to criticise him publicly and he didnt like that.

That was the time when JR was the Lord and Master of all he surveyed. Armed with a five-sixth majority, JR expected everyone to do his bidding. When he proposed to take away Mrs Bs civic rights, you dared to be defiant and disagree with him, despite being only a first time MP.

Only a few in the Cabinet  such as Gamini and Thonda  dared to oppose JR on this issue. Thonda was not in the Green party, so JR couldnt do much about him, but Gamini was in the doghouse for months as a result. Among the MPs, only you and Shelton R from Kandy took a courageous stance.

The Old Fox never forgot that. Besides, he was having problems with not just one Neville, but two; the other Neville being the person who JR himself plucked from the Bar and placed on the Bench. He was also being critical of JR. In the end, JR brought motions against both of you in Parliament.

Both those motions never made it to a vote. Of course, had JR done that, you would have been expelled because he had a steamroller majority in Parliament. Proceedings against the other Neville began, but he retired before they could be concluded. You opted to go gracefully and resigned.

Yet, the political animal in you was still alive. So, you teamed up with the Blue party. Mrs B accepted you with open arms. She appointed you as an assistant secretary. The other assistant secretary at the time was Mahinda maama. You returned to Parliament from the Blue party a few years later.

You were an MP for a total of 8 years  a very short time by todays standards. Yet, you did much more than many do in a lifetime for the people of Panadura. The schools, hospitals and industries you began serve your electorate to this day  and you did all that without even being a Cabinet Minister!

When the Blues returned to power, you had left politics. That is when you turned your hand to business. You seem to have had the knack of taking over businesses and turning them around. That way, you acquired hospitals, printing presses and porcelain factories which became household names.

When Mahinda maama became the Boss, you turned to your old friend to support your idea of a private medical school, knowing that a similar experiment at Ragama during JRs time ran into problems. Mahinda maama agreed, maybe because he thought that if anyone could do it, it was you.

It went well for awhile, until the doctors union queried your motives. They said you prioritised profit over the quality of the product. Those who agreed to support you deserted you. Politicians, you learnt, dont have permanent friends, only permanent interests. Finally, your medical school was shut down.

Being the warrior that you are, you didnt go down without a fight. Despite your age, you were ready to do battle, at times in court. You didnt win, but you ensured that the thousands of students who placed their faith in you got a medical degree  some of them being absorbed to a state-run medical school.

At the end of your clash with the doctors trade union, which insulted and obstructed your medical school  the same union which now hardly utters a whimper of protest against how the pandemic is being managed  you had no malice against them, knowing that you had done your duty by the nation.

In what was your final contribution, you donated the hospital bearing your name to the State. At a time when people spend government money and build institutions bearing their name, you gave away what was built with your money to the country. Sadly, we dont see people like you in politics now.

What you have done for the country will linger on for decades. That is because of what you built in Panadura and also because of the thousands of doctors whose futures you refused to barter away at the whim of politicians. You left us in a hurry, Dr Neville, but finally, you can now rest in peace.

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: They say that prophets are rarely honoured in their own country and so it has been with you, especially towards the latter part of your life. Yet, in a land where politicians always put profit before principle, it has been refreshing to have someone who put principle before profit serve us like you did.



Dinesh Trivedi 'allowed' to use House floor for his 'devious political ends': TMC

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday alleged that Dinesh Trivedi, who resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Friday, took the "House for a ride" and was "allowed" to use the floor of the House for his "devious political ends".

Soon after Trivedi announced his resignation, the Trinamool Congress had lashed out at him and called him "ungrateful", while the BJP said he was welcome to join the saffron camp.

Trivedi''s resignation came amidst an exodus from the Mamata Banerjee''s party ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls.

Trivedi, a former railway minister and two-time Lok Sabha MP, was sent to Rajya Sabha last year by the TMC after losing the parliamentary polls in 2019. He is reported to have had some issues with a senior Rajya Sabha member of the party for the past few months.

In a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, party''s chief whip in the House Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said the TMC had recommended only two names as speakers for the discussion on the Union Budget 2021-22, but Trivedi was not among them.

The TMC''s allotted time on the discussion was exhausted after both the speakers spoke on their designated days, Ray said as he questioned why Trivedi was allowed to speak despite this.

"At about 1.25 pm on 12 February 2021, when the Hon''ble Finance Minister was about to give reply to the Budget discussion, one member of AITC, Sri Dinesh Trivedi, since resigned, was allowed to speak for about four minutes from 1.25 pm to 1.29 pm, although his name was not recommended by the AITC as speaker in the Budget discussion and no time was left for the party," he said in the letter which has been accessed by PTI.

Bengal BJP leader Firoze Kamal Gazi attacked on way to Kolkata

Trivedi, had said while resigning that he felt "suffocated" by the violence in West Bengal and his inability to do anything about it.

He further said that Trivedi''s seat was allotted in the Rajya Sabha Gallery, but he came down inside the Council Chamber and started to speak and "rambled" on his personal political motives "from a seat of his choice"

"The Chair did not take any action to stop such unauthorised intervention in Budget discussion, yet he spoke against the party he belonged to and made certain wild allegations against the AITC to substantiate his proposed resignation from the House," Ray charged.

"The incident as narrated hereinabove and the manner in which Sri Trivedi grossly misutilised the floor of the House for his devious political ends and also the way he was allowed to have taken the House for a ride is absolutely unprecedented, unwarranted and is devoid of not only decorum and etiquette as envisaged in ''Rajya Sabha at Work'', but also against all rules, norms and traditions of this august House," Ray said.

It is a matter of great concern that although there were adequate mechanism under the rules to restrain the unruly member, it was not adopted, Ray charged.

He also said that there is a specific rule to use for resigning from Rajya Sabha by a Member, but there doesn''t exist any rule by which a Member is authorised to announce his resignation on the floor of the House.

He said that the development that took place on February 12 was "absolutely beyond the scope of the rules, regulations, practices and traditions of this august House."

"I would urge upon you to immediately constitute an inquiry into the matter and to find out the reasons behind such unprecedented illegality committed through the deplorable action or inaction, as stated and/or any connivance or conspiracy that worked behind the scene to malign the AITC and for taking reasonable decisions at your end in the matter at the earliest," he said.

Trivedi is the fourth senior TMC leader to quit the ruling party in West Bengal in the last two months after Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee, who had switched over to the BJP and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who had expressed his desire to quit politics.

This is not the first time that Trivedi had openly aired his grievances against the party. Earlier in March 2012, he had to step down as Railway Minister after Mamata Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, had opposed the railway budget placed by him.

He was replaced with the then TMC general secretary Mukul Roy.Trivedi was also suspended from the party but was later reinstated.

While resigning from the Rajya Sabha, he had said, "If you sit here quietly and cannot do anything, then it is better that you resign from here and go to the land of Bengal and be with people.

"What I mean to say is the way violence is taking place in our state. Sitting here, I am feeling perplexed as to what should I do," he had added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 15:21 [IST]
Haryana man who lit pyres of over 300 Covid victims succumbs to virus

Black Fungus: 421 cases in Haryana so far; Gurgaon sees max 149 cases

Admin gears up as Hisar farmers get set to protest today

Two held for black-marketing black fungus drug in Haryana

Amid remarks on allopathy, Haryana govt to give 1 lakh Coronil kits among COVID-19 patients

Haryana govt gets HC notice in labour rights activist case

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chandigarh, Feb 14: Taking suo motu notice of the matter pertaining to jailed labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur, the Punjab and Haryana High court has issued a notice of motion to the Haryana government, seeking its reply by February 24.

Kaur, lodged at Karnal jail in Haryana, is facing three cases that include charges of attempt to murder and extortion.

The 23-year-old activist is a member of the Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan and is a resident of Giadarh village in Punjab's Muktsar district.

Along with others, she was arrested for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company in Haryana's Sonipat district on January 12, the Haryana police had earlier said.

While taking up matter through video conference on Friday, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi observed, "Complaints dated 06.02.2021 and 08.02.2021 have been received through e-mail regarding illegal confinement of Nodeep Kaur, Dalit Labour Activist by the Haryana Police ."

Haryana's Additional Advocate General Ranvir Singh Arya accepted the notice of motion.

The next date of the case has been fixed for February 24.

Notably, Punjab Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday had urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to intervene and ensure Kaur's release.

Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Chaudhary had appealed to the NCW that the Punjab government, through the State Women's Commission, would lend legal assistance to Kaur.

The Punjab State Women Commission on Thursday had sought a status report from the Sonipat Senior Police Superintendent by February 15 in Kaur's matter.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:36 [IST]
Multiple reports from last month indicated that GOP senators approved of Donald Trump's impeachment trial as a way to effectively blackmail the president into not pardoning Julian Assange.



As Tucker Carlson reported, Mitch McConnell "sent word over to the White House: 'if you pardon Julian Assange, we are much more likely to convict you in an impeachment trial.'"





Tucker Carlson reports that Mitch McConnell told the White House if you pardon Julian Assange we are much more likely to convict you in an impeachment trial.

pic.twitter.com/RKgykJfCAE  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 20, 2021



CNN reported similar:

Trump is also not expected to pardon Edward Snowden or Julian Assange, whose roles in revealing US secrets infuriated official Washington.



While he had once entertained the idea, Trump decided against it because he did not want to anger Senate Republicans who will soon determine whether he's convicted during his Senate trial. Multiple GOP lawmakers had sent messages through aides that they felt strongly about not granting clemency to Assange or Snowden.



As he departs office, Trump has expressed real concern that Republicans could turn on him. A conviction in the Senate impeachment trial would limit his future political activities and strip him of some of the government perks of being an ex-president.



Trump is less worried about being barred from running from office again, and more concerned with the optics of being convicted by the Senate, people familiar with the matter said.

Though Republicans demanded Trump not pardon Assange or Snowden -- who exposed our corrupt ruling class -- they had no issue with Trump pardoning the Israeli handler of traitor Jonathan Pollard, Israeli colonel Aviem Sella, who fled the US and escaped justice after Pollard was arrested.





President Trump on his last day in office pardoned Israeli colonel Aviem Sella, the convicted handler of US-born Jewish-American intelligence analyst and traitor Jonathan Pollard who stole US military secrets and sold them to Israel. https://t.co/UqtqgSNvnV  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) January 20, 2021



They also had no issue with Trump pardoning criminal mastermind Sholam Weiss, whose looting of a life insurance company for $450 million and defrauding of elderly Americans out of their life savings earned him the longest sentence in US history for a white collar crime and his own episode of CNBC's "American Greed."





Pres. Trump pardoned Sholam Weiss, whose looting of a life insurance company for $450M/defrauding of elderly Americans out of their life savings earned him the longest sentence in US history for a white collar crime and his own episode of "American Greed." https://t.co/IaPRRzz5YS  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) January 20, 2021



Trump pardoning Philip Esformes, the "king of medicare fraud" who looted taxpayers for $1.3 billion to pay for escorts, a $1.6 million Ferrari and much more, was also just fine.





Trump Pardons 'King Of Medicare Fraud' Who Looted $1.3B And Donated to Kushner-Favored Chabad-Lubavitch https://t.co/ixBE5TAPK2  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) December 28, 2020



If our government actually served the American people, they'd have impeached Trump for such despicable pardons -- instead they tried to blame him for the "burning of a church" (which never happened) and multiple police being "impaled" by "insurrectionists" at the Capitol with American flags (which also never happened).





Lead House impeachment manager Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) claimed Wednesday that Trump supporters took part in the "burning of a church" at the second Million MAGA March before they "impaled" police officers at the Capitol protest on Jan 6.



He's full of it. https://t.co/qN2xfXvWBZ  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) February 11, 2021



The Wall Street Journal reported in Jan 2020 that Trump's decision to kill top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was done to appease pro-Israel GOP war hawks who were key to his first impeachment trial.





New evidence is surfacing which further suggests the impeachment trial is just an effort to pressure President Trump to go to war with Iran. https://t.co/lPxHliWeIh  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) January 13, 2020



From Salon, "Trump privately admits he killed Soleimani 'under pressure' from upcoming impeachment trial: report":

President Donald Trump privately told associates that his upcoming impeachment trial factored heavily into his decision to kill top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, The Wall Street Journal reports.



"Trump, after the strike, told associates he was under pressure to deal with Gen. Soleimani from GOP senators he views as important supporters in his coming impeachment trial in the Senate," associates of the president told the outlet.



The revelation, buried deep into a lengthy piece about the strike, follows a similar report from The New York Times.



"Trump pointed out to one person who spoke to him on the phone last week that he had been pressured to take a harder line on Iran by some Republican senators whose support he needs now more than ever amid an impeachment battle," The Times reported Tuesday.

The two GOP senators he allegedly sought to appease were Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham.



The RussiaGate witch hunt, as I said on day one, was another pressure tactic to get Trump to submit to the establishment's will.



As a result of the witch hunt, Trump went from supporting pulling out of NATO and making peace with Russia to bolstering NATO and arming Ukraine to the teeth.



Trump successfully managed to avoid being impeached twice and Robert Mueller elected not to manufacture fake charges in the RussiaGate probe but the deep state succeeded in blocking the bold agenda he ran on and seizing the House, Senate and the presidency.



These endless witch hunts were the ultimate "attack on our democracy."



Everyone involved deserves not only to be expelled from office but put on trial.



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As AC-12's latest recruit in Line of Duty, DC Chloe Bishop will need a fierce intelligence to root out corrupt police officers.

But the British-born actress who plays her in the upcoming sixth series has revealed that she owes her showbusiness success to her inability to do maths.

At school, Shalom Brune-Franklin was told to ditch maths and switch to chemistry, physics or drama.

'I was thinking, "I'll go with drama, sit in the back and play games." But I fell in love with it from then,' she recalled. 'It all came about because I wasn't good enough at maths.'

As AC-12's latest recruit in Line Of Duty, DC Chloe Bishop (centre right) will need a fierce intelligence to root out corrupt police officers. But the British-born actress Shalom Brune-Franklin who plays her in the upcoming sixth series has revealed that she owes her showbusiness success to her inability to do maths

Pictured: Actress Shalom Brune-Franklin

Viewers may recognise Ms Brune-Franklin as 'cocky' Private Maisie Richards in Army drama Our Girl, as an Isis bride in the controversial 2017 Channel 4 show The State or as Sister Igraine in Netflix fantasy drama Cursed.

But as a teenager in St Albans, she dreamed of becoming an athlete and competing in the 800m at the 2012 Olympics. However, her Mauritian mother and Thai-born English father decided to swap life in a Hertfordshire council house for a new start in Australia, concluding that they would 'rather struggle in the sunshine'.

While at high school in Perth, she set her sights on becoming a journalist until fate intervened again.

An administrative error meant she was wrongly classed as an overseas student at her chosen university, landing her with fees she couldn't afford. So she auditioned for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Shalom, 26, recalled: 'I always thought that acting wasn't a real job. It didn't register that I could have a career.'

Andrew Lewis, head of performance at WAAPA, said it was soon clear that Shalom would become a star. 'It's no surprise to witness her rise and her success,' he added. 'She was always attentive and responsive in class. I think she was 19 when she came, and she left as a brilliant young woman.'

In one of her first public performances at drama school, she played Lady Macbeth and critics singled out her 'stunning' and 'beautiful' performance.

On the show's closing night, she was announced as the first winner of the Chris Edmund scholarship, which was set up by WAAPA graduate and Greatest Showman star Hugh Jackman and dedicated to his drama teacher.
Lights are out in the Land of the Pagodas By Gamini Weerakoon Doublespeak View(s): View(s):

Since February 1, the entire world has been shedding tears for Aung Suu Ky.

The International Community shed copious tears for her, though they had been demanding that she be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize for refusing to condemn her own government of which she was the second highest ranking member  State Counsellor  for the massacre of Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar army.

The rest of the world  Non-Aligned, Neutral Non-Aligned, tilted Non-Aligned and Non-Aligned of various assortments  have been crying out aloud but not being able to do anything positive  as has been the long tradition of the Non-Aligned when those of the Third World go under military jackboots.

Suu Kyi, the 75-year-old frail woman who had swept the polls each time free and fair elections were held  three general elections  the last being in November 2020  is now under house arrest with other political leaders while tens of thousands of Burmese have taken to the streets braving water cannon, rubber bullets and even live ammunition of the military junta demanding the withdrawal of the military junta and the restoration of the elected government of the NLD (National League for Democracy) led by Suu Kyi.

Myanmars half century old dictatorship is homegrown. U Nu, its first prime minister handing over power to his Chief of Staff Gen. Ne Win in 1958, temporarily, because of secessionist moves by the minorities that destabilised the country. Gen. Ne Win did bring about political stability, elections were held and U Nu was re-elected as prime minister. But two years later, the General staged a coup dcetat, arrested U Nu, declared a one party secular state under the Burmese way to socialist ideology to be run by the Union of Revolutionary Council of Military Officers. Ne Wins dictatorship lasted from 1962 to 1988 when he was overthrown by another military coup. Military juntas continued and the last succeeding one, on February 1, declared that last November election won by Suu Kyi as being fraudulent and put her and other party leaders under house arrest.

Those Western liberal critics of Suu Kyi for non-condemnation of the Rohingya massacre by the Burmese army should consider the conditioning of Burmese society by Ne Wins military junta and those juntas that followed. Firstly, all Muslims of the armed forces were expelled as were all Muslims on government employment. Those who did not integrate with the majority forfeiting observance of Islamic laws faced great difficulties. The acts of some Muslims elsewhere such as the Taliban blasting Bamiyan Buddha statues were used as a pretext for violence against Muslims in Myanmar by mobs. Accusations of terrorism were made against Muslim organisations such as the All Burma Muslim Union.

Christians too were not exempted. Conversion to Christianity was stopped, restrictions placed on evangelists from America after 1965. In 1966, all foreign missionaries were expelled by the Burmese government.

Rohingyas not lily white

The history of the Rohingya is not all that lily white as a community in an interracial society. According to Tizwan Zeb  Research Fellow of the South Asia Study Group (SASG) of the University of Sydney, Buddhist-Rohingya clashes go back to Doh Bama (We Burma Nationalist Movement)of the 1930s. During the Japanese occupation of Burma (1942-45), the Rohingya sided with the British to the ire of the Buddhists. The Rohingya opposed the independence movement that resulted in a wave of violence and instead of integrating with the state they rebelled against the newly independent government and started a secessionist movement that lasted almost 17 years (1948-65) This movement aimed at creating an independent state that would join the then state of East Pakistan.

The recent wave of violence against the Rohingya Muslims began in 2012 with the rape and murder of a Buddhist woman Ma Thida Hiwe, allegedly by a Rohingya. It sparked off the wave of violence that spread beyond the Rakhine state to Central and North Myanmar. A number of Rohingya militant groups emerged among them  for instance, the Arakam Salvation Army (ARSA)  which carried out attacks on the security forces.

A senior Buddhist monk of the Maoeyeni Mandalay monastery became a key figure behind a movement to boycott Muslim businesses, revived the collective memory of Buddhists that the Rohingya never integrated into the Burmese state and society and were conspiring to make Myanmar into an Islamic country through their high birth rate.

The power of the narrative made Suu Kyi stand firmly on the side of the Buddhist majority, states the researcher from the Sydney University.

A significant factor not brought out in the above analysis is that though Suu Kyi was the second ranking member in the constitution drawn up by the military junta, she stood on very shaky ground while attempting to foster democratic freedoms for all people of Myanmar. Any attempt to oppose a strong nationalist movement sweeping across the country would have been like performing political hara-kiri. The military junta could have pulled the carpet under her feet as they did on February 1 for reasons still not spelled out.

The Rohingya massacre by the armed forces called for severe condemnation but that would have swept away all the tremendous sacrifices made by Suu Kyi  building her party, NLD, to a formidable political force, isolation from her family  even not being able to be with her husband dying of cancer  and 11 years of house arrest and her long struggle for democratic rights of the Burmese people. Sri Lankans need not be told of what the consequences would have been had President J. R. Jayewardene been critical of leaders of mobs and blamed some of those in lower ranks of the armed forces during the dark days of July 1983.

Suu Kyi received tremendous support of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and many notable Western leaders during her long period of incarceration. There was even a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly condemning the human rights situation in Myanmar and calling for Suu Kyis release with 85 states voting for the resolution, 25 against and 46 abstentions. But will the current coup, its military junta and Suu Kyis party the NLD be viewed in the same light after the disappointment of the West with Suu Kyis role in not keeping to their expectations in safeguarding the rights of a minority?

Strong statements condemning the coup and incarceration of the elected leader and her key officials have been made by UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterez, US President Joe Biden, British PM Boris Johnson and the EU. On Thursday, Joe Biden announced that the US would impose sanctions on those involved in the coup and called upon the release of democratic political leaders and activists. But will the sanctions be crippling enough?

Will they apply to countries that have dealings with the Myanmar junta as those imposed by President Donald Trump on Iran?

China appears to be the key factor in the fallout of international reactions on Myanmar. Already China has vetoed a move to have the Myanmar junta condemned in the Security Council. China has been assisting the Myanmar military junta before and during the hybrid government of Suu Kyi and the junta. China has been the second biggest investor in Myanmar after investments commenced following the formation of the hybrid government. The biggest investor is said to be Singapore  most being American and Western investments  coming via the City State.

Chinas interest in Myanmar is obvious considering that it lies under the soft underbelly of the Chinese dragon. Strategically, the Burma Road runs through Myanmar from China to the Bay of Bengal.

Western powers targeting sanctions against China, the Second biggest economic power, is unthinkable in the current geopolitical context.

What does all this mean to those under the jackboot of Burmas military men and SuuKyi? Hard sanctions by the West on the junta would result in driving the junta into the hands of Beijing. If No hard Western sanctions are imposed, the military junta will be sitting pretty and the country receiving economic assistance while those committed to democracy will remain behind bars.

Meanwhile, where are the Non Aligned nations? And where are the Sinhala Buddhists of Lanka? Are they with the military junta?

The Burmese people are on the streets in all cities and villages demanding their fundamental rights. The Burmese Sangha are still in their temples and not come out. Burmas saffron power has rattled previous juntas and were put down with utmost severity. But can they make a difference now?

The prospects for democracy are dim in the land of the glittering pagodas.
At the initiative of Britain, which boasts of having an effective vaccination program, the UN Security Council on Wednesday will debate the problem of global access to Covid-19 vaccines, raising issues likely to underscore sharp differences between council members.

How, for example, can vaccines be distributed fairly -- without, as has been the case, going first to the richest countries in the North while those in the South suffer?

Should blue-helmeted UN peacekeeping troops in some 15 countries, along with other UN employees deployed around the world, be declared essential workers and receive vaccine priority -- including in countries yet to receive vaccine doses?

If so, who should provide the jabs -- the United Nations, the troops' countries of origin or those where they are deployed?

"Vaccine, vaccination is not really the job of the Security Council," said one ambassador, speaking on grounds of anonymity.

The Security Council, with a mission of maintaining peace and security around the world, has no special health expertise, the ambassador noted, adding, "the Security Council can just have a contribution."

He added that no resolution on the matter is likely to come this week.

The Security Council's only direct involvement in the pandemic came in July 2020 when, after long and difficult negotiations to resolve sharp US-Chinese tensions, it passed a resolution encouraging cease-fires in countries in conflict in order to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Britain recently shared with a few other countries a draft resolution on vaccine management, diplomats said.

"There is a draft resolution," one said. "The negotiations have just started. It will take some time."

Vaccination "is the big challenge now," said Olof Skoog, the European Union ambassador to the council. "A long way to go before people are fully vaccinated."

Skoog, who is Swedish, noted that the EU has contributed to creating the global Covax initiative which, under UN auspices, aims to provide at least two billion doses by the end of the year, including at least 1.3 billion doses to 92 lower-income countries.

- 'Vaccine apartheid' -

"What we don't want to see is a kind of vaccine apartheid," with rich Northern countries receiving ample supplies and poorer Southern countries -- as South Africa recently warned -- going without, said the ambassador speaking anonymously.

He said negotiations over a Security Council resolution were likely to be "complicated," with some countries uncomfortable at the "transparency" involved in committing themselves to leave no country wanting for vaccine.

Several countries, including China, Russia and some Gulf nations, have already launched "vaccine diplomacy" initiatives, either showcasing their own production capacity or providing easier access to vaccine doses.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly sounded a warning that as the virus and its multiple variants spread around the world, global security can be assured only if everyone enjoys the same level of protection.

He has repeatedly called for vaccines to be treated as a "global public good," without specifying exactly how that might happen.

Asked recently about the eventual UN role in establishing a sort of counterfeit-proof "vaccination certificate," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that "there needs to be international coordination and standardization of these things moving forward."

Also of concern, he added, "is the criminal element of people falsifying vaccine certificates or, even worse, giving people false... vaccines that are not actual vaccines.

"So, I think the more international cooperation we can get on this, the better it is."

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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They do not behave in a manner befitting their position, This is tit-for-tat, If people do not (behave as they should), Then how can an aircraft (be given to them)?

This poem by poet-satirist Ramdas Phutane in Marathi titled Viman (aircraft) appeared in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna a day after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime denied use of the state governments aircraft to governor BS Koshyari. The poem and its placement on the front-page with reports about the controversy make it clear that the Sena is deriving vicarious pleasure from the governments snub to Koshyari, who has been accused by MVA ministers of politicizing the Raj Bhawan and turning it into a parallel power center.

On Thursday, Koshyari was scheduled to travel to Mussoorie for a function and had sought the use of the Maharashtra governments aircraft. The Governor needs permission from the general administration department (GAD), which is usually vested with the chief minister to use the government aircraft or helicopter. The Governors secretariat had written to the government seeking this approval and also informed the chief ministers office (CMO).

Koshyari reached the Mumbai airport and boarded the state governments eight-seater Cessna Citation 560 XLS aircraft. However, few minutes later, he was told that permissions for the use of the plane had not been given. The Governor then deboarded and travelled by commercial aircraft to his destination. However, the CMO has claimed that the Governors secretariat was informed in advance that permissions for using the plane had not been granted. The state government has asked for the responsibility to be fixed on official concerned in the Raj Bhawan.

Reports suggest that an official in the CMO had suggested to his counterpart in the Governors establishment that the aircraft would be made available if Koshyari spoke to Uddhav personally.

Predictably, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which Koshyari was a leader before taking up his gubernatorial position, has accused the state government of playing petty politics. The BJP has accused the MVA of slighting the constitutional head of government and also indulging in undemocratic acts. On their part, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that the state government has followed the norms in denying the use of the aircraft to the Governor.

That the Governor and the MVA, especially the Shiv Sena, whose party president heads the government, have a bristling and uneasy relationship is one of the worst kept secrets. The MVA has a long list of grievances against Koshyari. The latest trigger in the ongoing cold war between the MVA and Koshyari was the Governor sitting on the list of 12 nominees to the state legislative council from the Governors quota.

These nominations are crucial for the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, which make up the MVA, to strike social and political alliances. However, despite the state cabinet approving the names in October, the Governor is yet to grant his crucial stamp of approval.

The Shiv Sena is still upset at Koshyaris role in the early-morning swearing-in of leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister for a second term with Ajit Pawar as his deputy. Though Ajit returned to the party fold in a matter of days to become Uddhavs deputy chief minister, the anger still lingers.

Even during the swearing in of the Congress minister KC Padvi, who chanted slogans while taking oath of office and secrecy, Koshyari had called him back and asked him to take the oath in the prescribed format.

Since Uddhav was not a member of the legislature when he was sworn in as the chief minister on 28 November 2019, he had to be elected to either house by 27 May 2020, failing which he would have to resign. The Covid-19 pandemic had led to the elections to the nine seats for the legislative council being postponed, and the cabinet recommended that Uddhav be nominated to the upper house from one of the two seats in the Governors quota, which were then vacant.

However, Koshyari held out on technical grounds. Eventually, after much activity that went on beyond the scenes, the Election Commission of India (ECI) finally announced the polls, which took place unopposed, thus averting a brewing constitutional crisis.

Actor Kangana Ranaut, who was locked in a bitter fight with the Shiv Sena over the Sushant Singh Rajput case, and the demolition of her office by the Mumbai civic body, met Koshyari and later said the Governor listened to her like his own daughter. The Governor also summoned former chief secretary and the chief ministers principal advisor Ajoy Mehta and expressed his displeasure at the demolition.

In October last year, Koshyari also wrote to Uddhav suggesting that temples and places that had been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic be reopened for worshippers. In his scathing and sarcastic letter, Koshyari questioned if Uddhav had turned secular. Upset at his Hindutva credentials being questioned, Uddhav wrote back saying he did not need a certificate from anyone.

Union home minister Amit Shah too admitted that Koshyari should have chosen his words carefully in his letter to the chief minister.

The latest confrontation between the government and the Governor was in January during a protest by farmers seeking the repeal of the three farm laws. It was charged that the Governor had left for Goa instead of meeting the delegation that was supposed to call on him. NCP chief Sharad Pawar slammed Koshyari stating that he had the time to meet Ranaut, but not farmers. However, the Governors office later clarified that the farmers had been informed beforehand about his plans to travel to Goa to address the budget session of the state assembly. Koshyari holds additional charge as the Governor of neighboring Goa.

Hence, the snub over the use of the plane is seen as the MVAs attempt at playing tit-for-tat politics.

It must be noted that it is for the first time in recent years that the Maharashtra government and official occupant of the Raj Bhawan on Malabar Hill have clashed so intensely. However, one of Koshyaris predecessors SM Krishna had restrained the erstwhile Congress-NCP government from spending the entire amount of funds earmarked through supplementary demands by the state legislature. In 2014, then Governor K Shankarnarayanan resigned from his position after being transferred to Mizoram soon after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took charge at the Centre.

The state governments move to slight Koshyari has prompted some to draw parallels with a similar tussle between then Madhya Pradesh Governor Bhai Mahavir and Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh of the Congress.

So, while the gloves are already off for a no-holds barred fight between the MVA, and a snubbed BJP, which is still smarting after the Shiv Sena walked off to join hands with erstwhile foes Congress and NCP, another battle between the government and the Governor may soon intensify. And the collateral damage in this war may be the confidence of people in our institutions.
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Everyone who lives here is aware not only of New Mexicos ranking in terms of education, but also other measurements, such as child well-being, poverty and so on. Its easy to get discouraged about these things and feel like our state is not a good place. Its easy to feel not only discouragement about this state, but also that New Mexico will never pull itself out of these problems. These issues are longstanding, complicated and hard to solve.

Of course, COVID made this trickier. Our state has responded well in so many ways to this crisis. It has been painful for many people, but the state response overall has been excellent, thoughtful and serious. Then again, once COVID becomes less of a problem, once were vaccinated and things return to normal, New Mexicans are faced with the same problems again.

Im a teacher. I consider myself lucky to have taught English for three years at Capital High in Santa Fe. When it comes to helping New Mexico improve, thats my area  education. I love what I teach and hope that I can make a difference. I want to give students what I was lucky enough to have access to as a young person: an introduction to the richness of culture, the wisdom inherent in it, and the kind of mind training that comes from reading, writing and so forth.

One of the best things about working in the public education system here is the sense that we can make things better, help others and actually improve the system itself. Thats what I want to talk about. Improving our public schools is not a new idea. In fact, its something that gets repeated so much that its become a cliche or, at least, a debate people come back to again and again. How to improve schools?

There are many factors, funding being perhaps the biggest one. Its a very complicated situation. However, Im not very knowledgeable about that side of education and I wanted to talk about something different, a way to think about education that we dont hear about.

Again, one of the best things about being a teacher in this state is the sense that we can change things, that the system is open to change. Theres a feeling among a lot of educators that we should try different things out and see how it goes. If a technique works, keep it. If not, move on and try something else.

Let me get to the point. I think our schools do good work, but they can improve. Its hard to argue that. People debate and argue endlessly about how to make things better. The trend, right now, is to talk about things such as data, as if teachers were scientists. The trend is to analyze schools as if they were businesses, in terms of efficiency, problem-solving, leveraging, action steps. The core standards are ever-looming, hanging over the heads of educators and supposedly providing a sensible and clear structure for what we teach.

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Does that sound boring? Its extremely boring. But boredom isnt the worst thing  beyond that, its soul deadening, taking the richness and vitality out of what should be fascinating subjects. It makes what should be a journey of discovery, and turns it into a routine and lifeless process. Our culture is so full of life, but what about our schools? Students are suspicious of these places, and for good reason. My suggestion is a move away from the soulless core standards and pseudo-scientific trends in teaching.

As I said, I was lucky enough to get a good education. I want to open that door for my students. I want public schools to become more like private schools. Do you see rich families rushing to enroll their kids in public schools? Theres a reason for that. We have a chance, now, to change things. Lets head in the right direction.

Jake Karlins lives in Santa Fe.
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The head of Guinea's health agency said Sunday that the country was in the midst of an Ebola "epidemic situation" with seven cases confirmed in the West African nation, including three deaths.

"Very early this morning, the Conakry laboratory confirmed the presence of the Ebola virus," Sakoba Keita said after an emergency meeting in the capital.

Health Minister Remy Lamah had earlier spoken of four deaths. It was not immediately clear why the toll had been reduced.

The cases marked the first known resurgence of the virus in West Africa since a 2013-2016 epidemic that began in Guinea and left more than 11,300 dead across the region.

A World Health Organisation representative said it would rapidly send assistance.

Keita, head of the National Agency for Health Security, said one person had died in late January in Gouecke, near the Liberian border.

The funeral took place in Gouecke on February 1 "and some people who took part in this funeral began to have symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, bleeding and fever a few days later," he said.

The first samples tested by a laboratory set up by the European Union in Gueckedou, located in the same region, revealed the presence of the Ebola virus in some of them on Friday, said Keita.

He added that Guinea was now in an "Ebola epidemic situation." At least three people have died from Ebola there, the first cases declared since it was one of three West African nations to fight the worlds deadliest Ebola epidemic that ended five years ago.

Fighting Ebola again will place additional strain on health services in Guinea as they battle the coronavirus. Guinea, a country of around 12 million, has so far recorded 14,895 coronavirus infections and 84 deaths.

The Ebola virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is spread through contact with body fluids. It has a much higher death rate than COVID-19, but unlike coronavirus it is not transmitted by asymptomatic carriers.

The ministry said health workers are working to trace and isolate the contacts of the Ebola cases and will open a treatment centre in Goueke, which is less than an hour's drive from Nzerekore.

The authorities have also asked the World Health Organization (WHO) for Ebola vaccines, it said. The new vaccines have greatly improved survival rates in recent years.

"WHO is ramping up readiness & response efforts to this potential resurgence of #Ebola in West Africa, a region which suffered so much from Ebola in 2014," the WHO's Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said on Twitter.

The vaccines and improved treatments helped efforts to end the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, which was declared over in Democratic Republic of Congo last June after nearly two years and more than 2,200 deaths.

But on Sunday, DRC reported a fourth new case of Ebola in North Kivu province where a resurgence of the virus was announced on Feb. 7.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A closely watched Roundhouse debate over legalizing recreational cannabis for adults began Saturday with a clash over proposed personal production limits.

Members of a House committee heard more than three hours of public testimony and debate over two proposed legalization bills that, while similar in many regards, would set different rules when it comes to home-growing marijuana.

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One of the two bills, House Bill 12, would allow New Mexicans to grow up to six mature cannabis plants, while also setting other personal use limits. It would impose no limit on how many plants licensed producers could grow.

But some argued Saturday that could lead to overproduction of cannabis, which has occurred in some states that have legalized cannabis.

We cannot flood the market with unlimited supply and allow new entrants (to the industry) to survive, said Rachael Speegle, the head of Verdes Foundation, which operates medical cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.

The other bill debated on Saturday, House Bill 17, would impose penalties for personal production of more than three mature cannabis plants.

That approach also faced criticism, with Chad Lozano, a medical cannabis patient advocate, describing it as overly rigid.

Making it a crime doesnt make sense, Lozano said. Were trying to legalize it here.

The two measures debated by the House Health and Human Services are among the five cannabis legalization bills that have been filed during the 60-day legislative session, which ends March 20.

The committee did not vote on either bill Saturday. It plans to resume its debate Monday.

Several lawmakers suggested that the bills  along with other cannabis legalization measures  could end up being fused into a single measure to avoid the possibility of competing bills jockeying for passage during the sessions final days.

Rep. Roger Montoya, D-Velarde, said he plans to propose amendments to both measures aimed at penalties for underage cannabis possession and consumption.

I believe that in the sausage-making the bills will merge into a hybrid at some point, Montoya said.

Nationwide, 15 states have legalized recreational cannabis sales to adult users, or are doing so. Arizona and three other states approved legalization referendums last year.

But Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, the sponsor of House Bill 12, pointed out that just two states  Illinois and Vermont  have legalized cannabis legislatively.

While Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and some lawmakers have touted the job creation and revenue potential that legalizing recreational cannabis might provide, Martinez said social justice concerns are at the forefront of his yearslong push for legalization.

We know that the war on drugs has been an utter failure, Martinez said, citing his upbringing in both Albuquerque and Ciudad Juarez.

The two bills scrutinized Saturday would also take a different approach to taxing cannabis sales for adult users.

House Bill 12 would set a 9% excise tax for cannabis sales, with cities and counties able to enact local excise taxes that could raise the total tax rate to a maximum of 16%.

House Bill 17, by contrast, would impose a 20% gross receipts tax rate on legal marijuana sales. The state would get 65% of the total amount generated, with local governments receiving the remaining 35% of the new revenue.
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In Northern Ireland's centenary year, some in unionism are starting to debate collapsing Stormont in protest at the protocol.

It's the height of irony that the British politician bringing them to the brink is not Jeremy Corbyn - whom they spent the life of an entire parliament denouncing as a republican sympathiser - but the man many of them once praised to high heaven.

Not so long ago, it looked like Boris and Arlene would rule the realm in harmony for years to come as they stood regally on that balcony in Parliament Buildings. There's plenty in her party who would now throw him off it given half a chance.

The DUP leader isn't the first woman he's betrayed, and she likely won't be the last. Ian Paisley famously called Margaret Thatcher "Jezebel" over the Anglo-Irish Agreement. One wonders what damning diatribe he would unleash on Boris Johnson's head were he still around.

The prime minister threw the DUP under a bus, and then reversed over it. Why oh why would any unionist invest an ounce of hope in him now faithfully fighting their corner? There are no votes inside or outside Parliament for him in that.

In typically forensic fashion, Peter Robinson has laid bare the political reality facing unionism.

"One lesson learned after decades of dealing with governments is that they don't yield unless life has become uncomfortable," he wrote in Friday's News Letter. "Statements and speeches will not turn them nor, frankly, will petitions and debates."

That was hardly a vote of confidence in his party's five-point plan to address the Irish Sea border. Robinson was right to sweep away the window-dressing, and get down to brass tacks. The DUP's blueprint is first and foremost an attempt to pacify its own grassroots. It's about creating the illusion of action.

Ultimately, unionists must choose whether to 'suck it up' - the protocol as it is, or slightly amended - or to threaten to bring down Stormont. Loyalists say that, without the pandemic, there would be feet on the streets. That's undoubtedly true, but it would be nowhere near the 100,000 plus that came out against the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Unionist anger now is nowhere near the level that makes for monster rallies. Besides, that massive demonstration outside Belfast City Hall in 1985 changed not one line of the document that Margaret Thatcher and Garret FitzGerald had signed. The flags' protests were on a much more modest scale, and they too fizzled out in failure. Neither did the Drumcree Orangemen win.

The protocol is just six weeks old and, if London and Brussels can resolve some of the trade problems it has created, then much of the heat will be taken out of the situation. That will be the tweaking and "tinkering" to which Peter Robinson referred. It won't satisfy those whose opposition is purely ideological, but it will mollify unionists whose concerns are primarily about products, not principle.

If Brussels doesn't budge enough, then the DUP has a big call. Taking action that would effectively bring down Stormont is high-risk stuff. Would Arlene Foster really chance an early Assembly election?

The Duppers would surely lose a significant chunk of moderate voters to Alliance. The worst of all worlds for Foster would be if such drastic action wasn't enough to stop the haemorrhaging of hardline support to the TUV.

If Michelle O'Neill ended up First Minister - and that may well happen anyway in May 2022 - then it's immediately over for Arlene as leader.

Collapsing the institutions perfectly fits Jim Allister's political outlook. Far from inconveniencing Sinn Fein, it might even suit the party electorally.

The DUP needs devolution to work far more than a republican rival which ultimately has its eyes fixed on a border poll. That's why - whatever course of action Foster takes - she will be mindful of the dangers of choosing the nuclear option and crashing Stormont.
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Harare, Feb 15 : Zimbabwe will receive a donation of 200,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses from China on February 15, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.

China has listed Zimbabwe among the first three African countries that will get free doses of the Chinese vaccine, along with 11 other developing nations, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Mutsvangwa told a post-cabinet media briefing that the country will also take delivery of the first batch of the vaccines it had purchased from China early next month.

"The donation and initial batch purchased are expected in Zimbabwe by 15 February 2021 and the first week of March 2021, respectively," she said.
In this image from video, Michael van der Veen, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, listens as the clerk read a question from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. Senate Television via AP
Multiple Alabama hospitals will close their vaccination clinics Monday due to the winter storm threat, but appointments will be rescheduled.

Twenty-nine county health departments are also closed on Monday, and their vaccine clinics are also being rescheduled.

See the list of vaccine clinics closed Monday below:

DCH Health Systems remote vaccination site in Tuscaloosa will be closed Monday. Anyone who has an appointment will be automatically rescheduled for the same time on Saturday, Feb. 20. DCH says its vaccination team will attempt to send emails to patients with appointments, but because its a manual process, they may not get to everyone in time.

Update for Tuesday, Feb. 16: Due to anticipated severe weather, DCHs remote vaccination site will be closed Tuesday, Feb. 16. Anyone who has a vaccination appointment tomorrow will be automatically rescheduled for the same time on Sunday, Feb. 21. The vaccination team will send emails to those who provided an email during registration. Calls will be attempted to those who do not have an email on file, per DCH.

The Athens-Limestone Hospital COVID vaccine clinic will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Everyone with an appointment will be called and re-scheduled as soon as possible, the hospital press release said.

We request that you avoid calling the hospital so that our scheduling team can dedicate their time to get all appointments rescheduled, the release said. People who are scheduled to receive 2nd doses will receive priority scheduling to ensure they are within their vaccination window.

The Huntsville Hospital Community Vaccination Clinic at John Hunt Park will be closed on Monday. All appointments scheduled for Monday are rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17. There is no need to call the hospital to reschedule, the website says.

Other closures include the Breast Center, Cardiac Rehab, Congestive Heart Failure Clinic, Heart Center, Imaging Services, Laboratory Patient Service Centers and Pediatric Therapy. Check the website for more information.

Cullman Regional Medical Center: Due to the threat of inclement weather, the COVID-19 vaccine clinic scheduled for Monday, February 15 has been cancelled. Anyone scheduled to receive their first dose of the vaccine is moved to Friday, February 19 at the same time as originally scheduled. Anyone scheduled for their second dose of the vaccine, can come Wednesday or Friday from 8 am-2 pm. Our staff is calling all patients with appointments to confirm this schedule. Thank you for your patience. (Facebook)

UAB public relations issued this statement Sunday: UAB continues to monitor weather forecasts and DOES NOT anticipate university or clinical closures Monday. However, due to weather conditions, outdoor vaccination sites at Parker High School and the Hoover Met will be closed Monday (appointments will be rescheduled for later in the week).

USA Health (Mobile): Due to inclement weather predictions for Tuesday, Feb. 16, USA Health is rescheduling those who have appointments to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine on that day at its drive-through clinic at the Mobile Civic Center. Operations will resume on Wednesday, Feb. 17, inside the civic center arena, where approximately 1,000 people a day are receiving the vaccine from USA Health staff members.

Baldwin County Health Department: The COVID-19 vaccination clinic scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at OWA in Foley has been canceled due to inclement weather. They are rescheduling this clinic for Friday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

County Health Departments are also closing in the Northern, West Center and part of the Southwestern Public Health Districts.

The list includes the following counties:

Northern District: Cullman, Colbert, Franklin, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Lauderdale, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston

West Central District: Bibb, Chilton, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, and Walker

Southwestern District: Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Marengo, Washington, and Wilcox

All COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for Monday in counties located in the West Central District will be moved to Saturday. Appointment times will remain the same on the new date. People scheduled for booster doses at the Northern District county locations will be worked in over the next two weeks.

A drive-through vaccine clinic at the Choctaw County Health Department and a walk-in vaccine clinic at the Marengo County Health Department planned for Monday have both been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that if a delay occurs in the normal schedule for receiving a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, that of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can be administered up to six weeks -- or 42 days -- after the first dose.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is assuring the opportunity for people to get their second dose over the next two weeks, including providing extended clinic hours as staffing availability permits.

For more information on Alabamas COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinics, visit the Alabama Department of Public Health website.

This list was updated at 7:19 p.m. on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

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RELATED: Alabama schools closing, delaying due to winter storm: Feb. 15, 2021

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 12:05:37|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Although COVID-19 is still casting a shadow over the Chinese New Year, people across the Asia Pacific region are finding ways to celebrate the special occasion, hoping for a more prosperous Year of the Ox.

"It's really important to focus on something that brings good luck and fortune and all the positivity," British-born Chinese artist Chrissy Lau said about the Spring Festival in Sydney.

Commissioned to create a series of postage stamps for release by Australia Post this year, Lau used a traditional red and gold color scheme in her designs of three main stamps featuring the ox, accompanied by a series with all 12 zodiac animals.

"It's really good that people in Australia do celebrate Lunar New Year as a wider holiday now, not just the Chinese people," Lau said.

Australia Post General Manager Philatelic Michael Zsolt said he hoped the stamps could play a part in making the occasion brighter for those in Australia and abroad.

"Given the present unpredictable nature of gatherings and travel, we hope these beautifully-designed stamps will encourage people to continue the great tradition of gift-giving at this time," Zsolt said.

Also, Year of the Ox stamps were issued by post offices in countries like Japan, Singapore, Fiji and New Zealand, and also by the United Nations (UN) Postal Administration.

Thousands of kilometers away from Sydney, in the Thai capital Bangkok, vibrant red lanterns adorn the streets of Chinatown, but celebrations are subdued following a COVID-19 resurgence, which erupted in mid-December and made the country's total caseload more than quintuple in two months.

At the Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, things looked quite different from previous years -- events were canceled and moved online and bustling crowds of foreign tourists, typically seen in the place during this time of year, have disappeared.

Orawan Anantawongchai, who has been selling steamed sponge cake for 32 years in Chinatown, said last year was hard. "People are tightening their belts because of a bad economy," the seller said.

Sometimes Orawan just sat all day without any customer. Sales may be only 40 percent of what they were before the pandemic, said the 65-year-old woman.

Thailand's consumer spending during the Chinese New Year could drop by more than a fifth to 44.9 billion baht (1.5 billion U.S. dollars) from 2020 as the pandemic dampened consumption, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking of her wish for the new year, Orawan said "to make more money and survive."

To boost consumption and tourism, which accounts for more than 15 percent of the gross domestic product of the Southeastern nation, the Thai government has for the first time added the Chinese New Year to Thailand's 2021 public holiday calendar.

"I'm so happy that the Spring Festival is a holiday this year. It's very rare," said 26-year-old Vannisa Keomany, scouting the Chinatown for new year decorations.

Following the Chinese New Year tradition, Vannisa wore "Chinese red," the color associated with luck and prosperity. "I hope the COVID-19 pandemic will end as soon as possible, wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year."

Colorful Chinese New Year elements also contributed to the festive atmosphere in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, as the Spring Festival is being embraced by more locals.

The city's largest department store David Jones, New Zealand's comprehensive department store chain Farmers, and the national chain supermarket Countdown and other businesses have decorated their storefronts with huge Chinese knots, paper-cuts, lucky characters, big red lanterns, and bilingual celebration posters.

"It's a time to come together and celebrate new beginnings, and all of the opportunities a new year brings," said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her Chinese New Year greetings.

"No matter how you are welcoming the New Year, I wish you and your family all the very best for months ahead, and a happy, safe and prosperous Lunar New Year," she said. Enditem

The highly infectious U.K. variant of COVID-19 is likely spreading in Pauingassi, a remote First Nation 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

The highly infectious U.K. variant of COVID-19 is likely spreading in Pauingassi, a remote First Nation 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Officials announced Saturday evening seven probable cases of the B.1.1.7 variant were detected during COVID-19 testing, which has identified gene markers linked to the U. K. variant. The samples have been sent to the National Microbiology Lab for confirmation, using genomic sequencing.

Manitoba has only confirmed one case of the U.K. variant, a man tested Jan. 21 who officials believe did not infect anyone else.

The military deployed on Feb. 6 to help stem the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the far-flung community, which has no airstrip and has no year-round roads.

Earlier Saturday, Manitoba public health officials announced 100 new COVID-19 cases and the death of a Winnipeg man in his 80s linked to the illness.

Nearly half of those new cases  at least 44  are in the Winnipeg health region, as the entire province moved to newly relaxed restrictions this weekend.

In other areas of the province, 39 new cases are in the Northern health region; 12 in the Southern Health region, three in Prairie Mountain Health; and two in the Interlake-Eastern health region.

According to the Saturday bulletin, there are now 230 patients in hospital in Manitoba with COVID-19. Thats down by 10 from Friday, with 28 of those people in intensive care.

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Selkirks Red River Place Personal Care Home.

Officials also announced Saturday there was a trend of concerning case numbers in Cross Lake First Nation, prompting a new public health order for residents to stay in their homes or immediately adjacent areas.

A statement posted Friday on the communitys website said there were 45 active cases there, including 15 involving children.

The provincial death toll is now 866. Due to a data correction, one death that had been previously reported has been removed from the total, the province said.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is five per cent provincially, and 3.8 per cent in Winnipeg.

The provinces test positivity rate rose slightly after dropping to 4.8 per cent Friday. Meanwhile, Winnipegs test positivity rate has dropped slightly after it was at four per cent heading into the Louis Riel Day long weekend.

 with files from the Canadian Press

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca

Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur

Temur Durrani

Reporter Temur Durrani reports on the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic for the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography

Percy Blackie Trahan, whose son Lex was killed in the 1983 terrorist bombing of a Marine barracks in Lebanon, died early Saturday. He turned 85 last week.

Trahan, who operated a barber shop until he was 80, first at Four Corners, then nearby at University and Cameron, suffered a stroke Thursday but appeared to be recovering, his attorney, Warren Perrin, said Saturday. He was out of the Intensive Care Unit at Oschner Lafayette General and in a room when he was taken for an MRI around 2 a.m. Saturday. Thats when he died, Perrin said.

The Trahan familys court effort against Iran and its terrorist partners, who were held culpable for the fatal attack, began in 2016 and ended recently with an award of $50 million against Iran, money that was being taken from Iran through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism fund, established by the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control. Trahan had received his first payment recently.

Perrin said his client was largely unaffected by the settlement against Iran. He said a family member suggested he buy a new truck, but he said the one he drove was just fine.

Trahan and his wife, Shirley, who died in 2019, lost their only son in the attack. Lex Trahan had joined the Marines in 1982 and planned to attend college after his service was complete. His intention was to work in the energy industry.

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But first the younger Trahan, a combat engineer and lance corporal, was assigned to duty in Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a multinational peacekeeping effort. His room was on the third floor of a four-story dormitory when a terrorist, driving a truck loaded with some 2,500 pounds of explosives, broke through steel fences and sandbags at 6:20 a.m. Oct. 23, 1983, creating an explosion that left a crater 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide. The death toll included 220 Marines, 18 Navy sailors, three Army soldiers and some 60 French peacekeepers.

Vicky Myers, Trahans sister-in-law, said her brother-in-law was alert and appeared to be recovering well Friday from the initial stroke. She described him as a really good husband to her sister.

He was doing wonderful  walking, talking and had a strong mind, she said.

She said arrangements were incomplete Saturday but that Martin&Castille Funeral Home downtown would handle them. Trahan, a Maurice native who served in the National Guard, will be buried between his wife of 57 years and his son.

She said her brother-in-law died 25 months to the day after his wife. She said he enjoyed hunting and especially fishing with friends since his retirement, oftentimes in Henderson.
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Tim Mc Graw had famously said, "Like an old photograph, time can make a feeling fade. But the memory of a first love never fades away." Whenever we think about the time when we first felt the pangs of love, it surely brings a smile on our face along with a warm rush of memories. The same holds true for our Bollywood celebrities as well.

Recently, in an article for TweakIndia, Twinkle Khanna walked down the memory lane and recalled the first time when she fell in love with a boy in her school. The former actress also narrated an interesting anecdote about getting locked with him in the school.

Twinkle described her first love in detail and wrote, "He was, well, beautiful. His face, carefully constructed, like angles had been calibrated, moulds made and recast before arriving at this prototype. I, on the other hand, was in the process of shedding an awkward phase. This entailed an uneasy parting from the coconut oil I used liberally, learning to use a lip balm that came with a roll-on applicator and the discovery of a dent that could almost be mistaken for a waist."

The actress-turned-author revealed that they were once lost in each other that they got locked inside the school. Eventually, they had to jump out of the classroom window.

Recounting the incident, Twinkle wrote, "We hurried out of the classroom. Scuttling down the staircase till we reached the main door. The building had been locked for the night. Calling out to passers-by meant not just disclosure but detention. "We can jump out from the rear first floor windows," he said. I was afraid. My journey towards a life filled with fragile bones and torn ligaments had already begun. Perhaps that is why I find myself gravitating towards a particular type, not just him, but the ones that came along after. Men, all built in the manner of a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Formidably strong, seemingly unbreakable. He climbed out of the window and with a small leap he was standing on the muddy floor. "I can't jump!" I said. "Not difficult. I will catch you."

She further added, "I sat on the window ledge. My legs dangling down were crisscrossed by nicks and bruises. A testament to my inordinate clumsiness. I lowered my hips tentatively, an inch at a time, till he had his arms wrapped around my thighs. I let go. I slid till our foreheads were aligned and he gripped my waist. His straight nose against my slightly crooked one. My feet still six inches above the ground. It was, perhaps, falling in love in the most literal way possible."

The actress further mentioned in the article that a month later that incident, that boy even gifted her a pair of scarlet boots acquired on a school trip to Pune.

I looked him up a few years ago. There was a softness to the edge of his chin, the line of his shoulders. His hairline had receded. Since I hadn't seen it occurring incrementally, it seemed more an effect of the moon than time. Robust waves pulled back to reveal vast stretches during low tide. He looked prosperous and content as he stood with a brood of children, all with their mother's blond hair.I would not have recognised him if we had crossed each other on the street. I am certain he would feel the same way if he saw me today as well. Facebook should not allow first loves on to their platform," the actress concluded.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar's Quirky Birthday Wish For Twinkle Khanna: Here's To Another Year Of Questionable Life Decisions

ALSO READ: Valentine's Week Special: Amrita Rao Recalls Her First Date With RJ Anmol

Digital economy predicted to reach 43 billion USD by 2025

Vietnams digital economy is expected to reach 43 billion USD by 2025, according to the e-Conomy Southeast Asia report from Google, Temasek and new partner Bain & Company.















A customer uses smart phone to scan code on a product (Photo: VNA)



Nguyen Quang Dong, Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Communication Development, said digital service industry is recording the fastest growth and is suitable with Vietnams strengths such as a young population who love technology and social networks.



Digital technology and the digital economy will be key drivers helping Vietnam increase workplace productivity, escape the middle-income trap, and realise the objective of becoming a middle-class developed economy by 2040, Dong said.



Vietnams internet infrastructure and digital payment services remain limited, however, while the country still lacks a legal framework for digital assets, he said, stressing that the legal model of the 20th century no longer suits the digital economy.



Dong also underlined the need to promote international cooperation, especially in joining the building of new regulations and their enforcement through legal frameworks for the region.



A study by the Institute for Global Leadership under the US-based Tufts University revealed that Vietnam ranks 48th out of 60 countries and territories globally in terms of rapidly switching to a digital economy, and 22nd in digitisation development.



In the last five years, with the boom of smartphones, the internet, and social networks, digital technology and digital transformation have developed rapidly in Vietnam, shaping a fledgling, dynamic digital economy with great potential.



Vietnams digital economy is made up of four main groups: e-commerce, online tourism, digital communications, and logistics technology.



The country, together with Indonesia, holds the lead in digital economy growth in Southeast Asia.



The two pacesetters are both posting growth in excess of 40 percent a year.



Vietnams internet economy is also booming, reaching 12 billion USD in 2019 and recording a 38 percent annualised growth rate since 2015.



Another study by Australias Data 61 forecasts that Vietnams GDP may add an additional 162 billion USD in 20 years if the countrys digital transformation is successful.



Experts said Vietnam possesses strengths in human resources and Government support, so the country could create a dynamic wave to further strengthen the development of its digital economy.



The Party and State have outlined orientations for building policies and programmes to actively join the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), focusing on applying and developing science and technology, promoting innovation, and improving the quality of human resources.



Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 30, 2020 issued the National Strategy on the Industry 4.0 by 2030, to fulfil the goals set in Politburo Resolution No 52-NQ/TW, which outlines policies guiding Vietnams active involvement in Industry 4.0.



The strategys objectives are to take full advantage of opportunities presented by the Industry 4.0 and fundamentally master and broadly apply new advanced technologies in different social and economic fields.



Under the strategy, Vietnam expects to be named among the top 40 performers in the Global Innovation Index (GII), the top 30 in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), and the top 50 in the United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI) by 2030.



The country also aims to raise the proportion of the digital economy in national GDP to 30 percent and boost productivity by 7.5 percent annually on average. Other targets is to achieve universal access to fibre-optic internet and 5G services, completion of digital government development, and the establishment of smart cities in key economic zones across the north, central, and southern regions, and connection with regional and global networks of smart cities./.

All of us have become increasingly aware of the practice of differential pricing - the charging of different customers different prices for the same good or service. It exists in a diverse range of sectors, such as supermarket shopping, energy, telecommunications and airline travel, to name but a few.

As consumers we come across it in the course of our daily lives, without ever thinking too much about it. We may, for example, be paying more than other shoppers who have vouchers when doing our weekly shopping. In a market where consumers shop around, this practice can bring benefits as well as encourage competition and innovation among providers. This is a common pricing tactic for many businesses, it is a practice that can also work against consumers who may not be in a position to shop around.

The Irish insurance market is not working as it should be, and care is needed so as not to make matters worse. A single measure such as a blanket ban on differential pricing in Ireland will have major consequences for Irish policy holders. There is a reason why this hasn't been done by the UK or any country in the European Union. It doesn't seem to be the best way to encourage competition in the insurance industry or deliver fairer premiums for customers.

As the Minister of State in the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, I have a keen interest and a growing concern in relation to how this practice is being used to price home and motor cover. The Government's 66-point Action Plan for Insurance Reform, launched in December, contains a wide range of objectives to decrease the cost and increase the supply of insurance. Examining the issue of differential pricing is a key action within this plan and the Central Bank is undertaking a detailed review of the issue and will conclude their work soon.

Before Christmas, the Central Bank published an interim report showing that differential pricing is evident across both the car and home insurance markets. An analysis of the interim report showed the practice may include both benefits and drawbacks to consumers. It also suggested that there appears to be a penalty for some customers who remain with the same company and don't shop around or challenge their renewal premium - a so-called loyalty penalty.

Firm conclusions will be made when the report is finalised and my officials and I continue to engage on this issue and other important insurance matters.

We need to acknowledge that this issue can create both winners and losers.

The banning of this practice could reduce choice for customers as well as leading to an increase in prices generally.

Care is required in terms of a policy response and this is included in the Government's action plan, which was published before Christmas and which has clear timelines for delivery.

One such response is to encourage greater competition - both in terms of providers and in terms of consumer awareness.

I recently established the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market, which I lead.

This office is located within the Department of Finance and will, among other activities, work to increase public awareness of the benefits of shopping around for insurance.

In addition, the office will encourage new entrants to the Irish insurance market.

This process will be made far more difficult if there is an absolute ban on differential pricing, as new providers will be prevented from offering discounts to attract customers and gain market share.

Insurance companies have a duty to treat their customers fairly and honestly while also ensuring that they conduct their businesses in a sustainable manner.

I have recently written to the chief executives of the major insurance companies and I will be meeting with them again individually. Along with this I will be hearing from other interest groups within society on insurance matters over the coming weeks.

Government interventions need to be firm and carefully considered.

The issues are more complex and require a more targeted approach as laid out in the Government's Action Plan for Insurance Reform.

The Government's priority remains implementing this plan - and both Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and I will give this issue the priority it deserves.

Accordingly, the solutions we will bring forward will be evidence-based and seek to protect the ability of policy holders to get the best deal, whatever their circumstances.

Sean Fleming TD is Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance
By Dick Polman





It's so lamentably easy to stew with the ongoing gush of bad news.



Punxsutawney Phil has fled to his hidey hole after glimpsing six more weeks of vaccine chaos. The insurrectionist in exile has hired two new lawyers  one of whom refused to prosecute Bill Cosby, the other was slated to defend Jeffrey Epstein.



"Moderate" Senate Republicans, who suddenly care about fiscal conservatism again, want to give suffering Americans one-third of the COVID-19 relief money proposed by President Biden. House Republicans seem to be fine with a member who thinks that Jewish space lasers cause wildfires and that a plane never hit the Pentagon on 9/11.



All this and more, the usual detritus of our era. But believe it or not, I've found some good news!



Lest we forget, the electorate laid waste to the autocratic MAGA grifters and replaced them with credentialed people who actually embrace enduring American values. The new secretary of state, Antony Blinken, is Exhibit A. I'm still marveling at what he told the press corps on his very first day:



"President Biden said that he wants truth and transparency back in the White House briefing room, that fully applies in this room as well  I know we're not always going to see eye to eye, that's not the point of the enterprise. Sometimes we'll be frustrating to you. I imagine there are a few times when you'll be frustrating to us. But that's to be expected.



That's exactly, in some ways, the point. But you can count on me, you can count on us, to treat all of you with the immense respect you deserve and to give you what you need to do the jobs that you're doing that are so important to our country and to our democracyIt's an adventure. I am really, really glad that we're in it together. Welcome back to the press room. This is your press room."



Pinch me now.



I suppose we shouldn't applaud when an American official defends freedom of the press, but it sure beats "enemy of the people." It's a step up from Mike Pompeo, the back-bench House Republican hack who failed upwards all the way to the State Department, where he trashed the truth and shredded our moral authority worldwide.



Here at home, we're locked in a battle between democracy and incipient grassroots fascism. Ultimately, it's a battle between truth (the lifeblood of democratic self-governance) and lies (the toys of fascists). If lying wins, we will lose our national soul, perhaps forever.



Blinken plays a key role in that battle. A secretary of state's core nonpartisan mission is to tout American values around the world  and press freedom is crucial to that mission. Blinken, by dint of his instincts and experience, understands that America has no business preaching to other nations about freedom unless it sets an example for all to see.



Pompeo, who lashed out at reporters who dared ask him about the impeachable acts of his boss, abolished regular press briefings and assailed journalists as "unhinged," never seemed to grasp the State Department's mission.



One priceless moment came in 2019, when Trump decreed in a tweet that North Korea was no longer a nuclear threat. Shortly thereafter, Pompeo appeared on Jake Tapper's CNN show.



Tapper asked: "Do you think North Korea remains a nuclear threat?"



Pompeo: "Yes."



Tapper: "But the president said he doesn't."



Pompeo: "That's not what he said."



Tapper: "He tweeted, 'There's no longer a nuclear threat from Korea.' That's just a direct quote."



And how embarrassing it was, for a secretary of state, to be lectured by an interviewer in Kazakhstan.



One year ago, on the eve of a trip to that country, Pompeo had unleashed an F-bomb tirade on an NPR reporter who'd sought to ask him inconvenient questions, and had thrown another NPR reporter off his plane.



His foreign interviewer brought up the NPR incidents and asked him: "What kind of message (about America) does it send to countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, whose governments routinely suppress press freedom?"



Pompeo's answer: "It's a perfect message."



Suffice it so say that, on the eve of Antony Blinken's welcome ascent, the world's supposedly top democracy was no longer a champion of press freedom. According to the international rankings posted by Reporters Without Borders, America is currently 45th in the world  trailing nations like Botswana, Latvia, Lithuania, and Namibia.



As Blinken said, "This is a critical moment for protecting and defending democracy, including right here at home." There's not a moment to lose.





Dick Polman (dickpolman7@gmail.com) is a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a writer in residence at the University of Pennsylvania. This article was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc.


A Pakistani lab will soon receive Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine for commercial sale, a company official said on Sunday, making Pakistan one of the first countries to market shots privately as it scrambles to secure supplies.

Despite concerns over fairness and higher prices, Islamabad agreed this week to allow the commercial import and sale of vaccines without price caps, in contrast to most countries, which are importing and administering vaccines through government channels.

"We are told the first shipment is expected within the next week," Chughtai Lab director Omar Chughtai told Reuters, adding it would be receiving several thousand doses.

Pakistan's decision to allow private sales of vaccine without a price cap in a lower-income country of 220 million people faces criticism.

Former health minister Zafar Mirza, while praising government efforts to procure and distribute free vaccine, said that avoiding a price cap for private sales "will deepen inequality in society at a time when there is a need to have widespread coverage."

The government launched a vaccination drive this month with 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine donated by longtime ally China. But aside from the donated Chinese doses, Islamabad has not completed any deals to buy vaccines.

PRICES WILL 'APPEAR INFLATED'

Sputnik V is one of four vaccines approved for emergency use in Pakistan, in addition to those by China's Sinopharm and CanSinoBio, and the AstraZeneca-Oxford University shot.

Chughtai Lab aims to import the others as well, but Sputnik V was the first to become available, Chughtai said.

Health Minister Faisal Sultan told Reuters in a message he was "not directly aware" of the deal.

Chughtai declined to specify import costs or prices but said the price would "appear inflated" compared to what has been reported for Sputnik V globally, given the smaller volume it was planning to sell relative to global procurement.

Sputnik V's developers have said the two-dose vaccine would be sold at $10 per dose.

"Internationally there is very high demand, and I would not be surprised if the price points are higher today," Chughtai said, adding that prices will come down over the next three to four months as more vaccine becomes available.

"The biggest challenge around the vaccines globally right now is allocation to specific countries," he said.

Chughtai said his Lahore-based pathology lab had turned down "grey market" offers from people in various countries who had "extra vaccine" not officially meant for re-export.

The lab is importing Sputnik V through Pakistani firm Ali Gohar Pharmaceuticals Pvt and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is responsible for marketing the vaccine abroad.

Chughtai said he expected an official government decree in the next two days specifying rules on inoculations by the private sector, including on registration of recipients. The company expects to receive shipments every four to five days.

(Reporting by Umar Farooq; Editing by Gibran Peshimam and William Mallard)

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Drivers Admit to Expressing Love for Their Vehicles







Survey uncovers truths between 'man and machine'

HOUSTON - February. 14: As Americans celebrate their love for one another this Valentine's Day, a national survey commissioned by Jiffy Lube International reveals the relationship between driver and vehicle is more similar to that between loved ones than expected.

In an effort to keep their relationships strong, the survey unveils drivers are not shy about expressing their gratitude toward their vehicle for being such a great partner. Forty-eight percent of women and 44 percent of men said they've thanked their vehicle under various circumstances. More specifically, 37 percent of men and 30 percent of women have complimented their cars on their dependability; 27 percent of men and 25 percent of women have praised their vehicles for their appearance; and 30 percent of men and 27 percent of women have complimented their vehicle for performance and handling.

Public Displays of Affection

Today, couples across the country will display public displays of affection. As loved ones exchange hugs and kisses today, many drivers admit they also extend a little tender, loving care to their vehicles. Twenty percent of women and 14 percent of men admit they have given a nice rub to the dashboard or some other sweet spot.

"I'm sorry, so sorry."

The survey also showed people aren't above apologizing to their vehicle to get out of the doghouse. Twenty-eight percent of women and 24 percent of men said they've expressed their regrets for a run-in with a pothole, speed bump, curb or for other driving faux pas.

"Pretty please?"

Just as dependability is critical in relationships, drivers depend heavily on their vehicles for their daily travel needs. However, when things get a bit bumpy, many admit to pleading and gift-giving to get their way. Thirty-two percent of women and 30 percent of men surveyed said they've tried to verbally coax their vehicle to start, speed up, not stall out, stop making a noise and similar pleads. Some went the bribery route, with 20 percent of men and 14 percent of women offering their vehicles rewards such as premium gasoline or a carwash. Taking a more aggressive tack, 20 percent of men and 17 percent of women have resorted to threatening or yelling at their automobiles to pressure them into behaving.

Show your car you really do care

"Valentine's Day is about showing affection for our loved ones, but we shouldn't forget to also think about our vehicles," said Lisa Carlson, global director of marketing for Jiffy Lube International. "For most of us, our vehicles are far more than just another line-item on our list of assets. They are so integral to our daily lives because we constantly count on them to safely and dependably get us where we need to be. They deserve affection and attention too."

The survey results reinforce the strong relationship between driver and vehicle, but drivers don't need to present a ring to show their commitment to the relationship. The best way for drivers to ensure their 'partner' continues to perform is to follow a sound preventive maintenance plan. The car care experts at Jiffy Lube can help give vehicles the love they need before a potentially costly breakdown. To find a nearby Jiffy Lube service center, visit http://www.jiffylube.com/.

An Opinion Research Corporation CARAVAN(R) omnibus study was conducted by telephone among a representative national sample of 509 men and 507 women, ages 18 and older. Data were collected from April 19 - April 22, 2007. The survey has a (3.2 %) margin of error.

About Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube, with more than 2,200 service centers in North America, serves approximately 27.5 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube International is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit http://www.jiffylube.com/ to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of My Arctic journal, by Josephine Diebitsch-Peary

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: My Arctic journal a year among ice-fields and Eskimos

Author: Josephine Diebitsch-Peary

Contributor: Robert E. Peary

Release Date: February 14, 2021 [eBook #64549]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

Produced by: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY ARCTIC JOURNAL ***

Transcribers Note: The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

TAKING ON AN ESKIMO PILOT.

MY ARCTIC JOURNAL

A YEAR AMONG ICE-FIELDS AND ESKIMOS BY JOSEPHINE DIEBITSCH-PEARY WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT WHITE JOURNEY ACROSS GREENLAND BY ROBERT E. PEARY CIVIL ENGINEER, U. S. NAVY LONDON LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 1894 All rights reserved

THE DE VINNE PRESS, NEW YORK, U. S. A.

1 INTRODUCTORY NOTE

On June 6, 1891, the steam-whaler Kite, which was to bear the expedition of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences northward, set sail from the port of New-York, her destination being Whale Sound, on the northwest coast of Greenland, where it had been determined to pass the winter, preliminary to the long traverse of the inland ice which was to solve the question of the extension of Greenland in the direction of the Pole. The members of the expedition numbered but five besides the commander, Mr. Peary, and his wife. They were Dr. F. A. Cook, Messrs. Langdon Gibson, Eivind Astrup, and John T. Verhoeff, and Mr. Pearys faithful colored attendant in his surveying labors in Nicaragua, Matthew Henson. This was the smallest number that had ever been banded together for extended explorations in the high Arctic zone. A year and a quarter after their departure, with the aid of a relief expedition conducted by Professor Angelo Heilprin, Mr. Pearys party, lacking one of its members, the unfortunate Mr. Verhoeff, returned to the American shore. The explorer had traversed northern Greenland from coast to coast, and had added a remarkable chapter to the history of Arctic exploration.

The main results of Mr. Pearys journey were:

The determination of the rapid convergence of the shores of Greenland above the 78th parallel of latitude, and consequently the practical demonstration of the insularity of this great land-mass;

2The discovery of the existence of ice-free land-masses to the northward of Greenland; and

The delineation of the northward extension of the great Greenland ice-cap.

In the following pages Mrs. Peary recounts her experiences of a full twelvemonth spent on the shores of McCormick Bay, midway between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole. The Eskimos with whom she came in contact belong to a little tribe of about three hundred and fifty individuals, completely isolated from the rest of the world. They are separated by hundreds of miles from their nearest neighbors, with whom they have no intercourse whatever. These people had never seen a white woman, and some of them had never beheld a civilized being. The opportunities which Mrs. Peary had of observing their manners and mode of life have enabled her to make a valuable contribution to ethnological learning.

THE PUBLISHERS.

3 PREFACE

This plain and simple narrative of a year spent by a refined woman in the realm of the dreaded Frost King has been written only after persistent and urgent pressure from friends, by one who shrank from publicity, and who reluctantly yielded to the idea that her experiences might be of interest to others besides her immediate friends.

I have been requested to write a few words of introduction; and while there may be some to whom it might occur that I was too much interested to perform this task properly, it must nevertheless be admitted that there is probably no one better fitted than myself to do it. Little, indeed, need be said.

The feeling that led Mrs. Peary through these experiences was first and foremost a desire to be by my side, coupled with the conviction that she was fitted physically as well as otherwise to share with me a portion at least of the fatigues and hardships of the work. I fully concurred in this feeling, and yet, in spite of my oft-expressed view that the dangers of life and work in the Arctic regions have been greatly exaggerated, I cannot but admire her courage. She has been where no white woman has ever been, and where many a man has hesitated to go; and she has seen phases of the life of the most 4northerly tribe of human beings on the globe, and in many ways has been enabled to get a closer insight into their ways and customs than had been obtained before.

I rarely, if ever, take up the thread of our Arctic experiences without reverting to two pictures: one is the first night that we spent on the Greenland shore after the departure of the Kite, when, in a little tent on the rocksa tent which the furious wind threatened every moment to carry away bodilyshe watched by my side as I lay a helpless cripple with a broken leg, our small party the only human beings on that shore, and the little Kite, from which we had landed, drifted far out among the ice by the storm, and invisible through the rain. Long afterward she told me that every unwonted sound of the wind set her heart beating with the thoughts of some hungry bear roaming along the shore and attracted by the unusual sight of the tent; yet she never gave a sign at the time of her fears, lest it should disturb me.

The other picture is that of a scene perhaps a month or two later, whenmyself still a cripple, but not entirely helplessthis same woman sat for an hour beside me in the stern of a boat, calmly reloading our empty firearms while a herd of infuriated walrus about us thrust their savage heads with gleaming tusks and bloodshot eyes out of the water close to the muzzles of our rifles, so that she could have touched them with her hand, in their efforts to get their tusks over the gunwale and capsize the boat. I may perhaps be pardoned for saying that I never think of these 5two experiences without a thrill of pride and admiration for her pluck.

In reading the pages of this narrative it should be remembered that within sixty miles of where Kane and his little party endured such untold sufferings, within eighty miles of where Greelys men one by one starved to death, and within less than fifty miles of where Hayes and his party and one portion of the Polaris party underwent their Arctic trials and tribulations, this tenderly nurtured woman lived for a year in safety and comfort: in the summer-time climbed over the lichen-covered rocks, picking flowers and singing familiar home songs, shot deer, ptarmigan, and ducks in the valleys and lakes, and even tried her hand at seal, walrus, and narwhal in the bays; and through the long, dark winter night, with her nimble fingers and ready womans insight, was of inestimable assistance in devising and perfecting the details of the costumes which enabled Astrup and myself to make our journey across the great ice-cap in actual comfort.

Perhaps no greater or more convincing proof than this could be desired of what great improvements have been made in Arctic methods. That neither Mrs. Peary nor myself regret her Arctic experiences, or consider them ill-advised, may be inferred from the fact that she is once more by my side in my effort to throw more light on the great Arctic mystery.

R. E. Peary , Civil Engineer, U. S. N.

Falcon Harbor, Bowdoin Bay, Greenland , August 20, 1893.

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE Northward Bound 9 In the Melville Bay Pack 18 Establishing Ourselves 31 Hunts and Explorations 41 Boat Journeys and Preparations for Winter 54 Winter Upon Us 65 Eskimo Visitors 74 Arctic Festivities 84 The New Year 101 Sunshine and Storm 112 Sledge Journey into Inglefield Gulf 124 The Sledge Journey (Continued) 139 Off for the Inland Ice 147 Weary Days of Waiting 156 My Camping Experience in Tooktoo Valley 168  Oomiaksoak Tigalay!  ( The Ship has Come! ) 176 Return of the Explorers 182 Boat Journey into Inglefield Gulf 189 Farewell to Greenland 200 Greenland Revisited 211 The Great White Journey 221

9 CHAPTER I

NORTHWARD BOUND

First Sight of GreenlandFrederikshaab GlacierAcross the Arctic CirclePerpetual DaylightSunlit DiskoThe Climb to the Ice-capDinner at Inspector AnderssensA Native DanceFrom Disko to UpernavikUpernavikThe Governor and his WifeThe Duck IslandsGathering Eggs and Eider-down and Shooting Ducks.

Wednesday, June 24. We have sailed and tossed, have broken through the ice-barriers of Belle Isle Straits, and once more ride the rolling swells of the broad Atlantic. Our three days jam in the ice has given us a foretaste of Arctic navigation, but the good little Kite speeds northward with a confidence which inspires a feeling of security that not even the famed greyhounds of the ocean afford. Genial Captain Pike is on the bridge and off the bridge, and his keen eye is casting for the land. When I came on deck to-day I found the bold, wild coast of Greenland on the right. It was a grand sightthe steep, black cliffs, some of them descending almost vertically to the sea, their tops covered with dazzling snow, and the inland ice flowing through the depressions between their summits; at the foot of the cliffs gleamed bergs of various sizes and shapes, some of them a beautiful blue, others white as snow. The feature of the day was the 10Frederikshaab glacier, which comes down to the sea in latitude 62 30. It did not, however, impress me as being very grand, owing perhaps to our being so far from it. Its face is seventeen miles long, and we could see it like a wall of white marble before us. Long after we had passed it, it still appeared to be with us, and it kept us company nearly all day. Just beyond the glacier was disclosed the most beautiful mountain scenery imaginable. The weather was deliciously warm, and revealed to us a new aspect of Arctic climate. It seems strange to be sitting on deck in a light coat, not even buttoned, and only a cap on my head, in the most brilliant sunshine, and gazing on snow-covered mountains.

Out on the Billowy Sea.



The First Fragment of Greenland Ice.

11 Capt. Richard PikeOn Duty.

Thursday, June 25. We were promised another lovely day, but after noon the weather changed and a cool wind sprang up, which helped to push our little craft along at a good rate. To-night we shall have the midnight sun for the first time, and it will be weeks, even months, before he sets for us again. Everything on deck is dripping from the fog which has gathered about us.

Friday, June 26. In spite of the thick fog we have been making good time, and expect to be in Disko, or more properly Godhavn, about noon to-morrow. We saw our first eider-ducks to-day. Numerous bergs again gleam up in the distance, probably the output of the Jakobshavn glacier.

Tuesday, June 30. We have been in a constant state of excitement since Saturday morning, when we first set foot on Greenlands ice-bound shores. The pilot, a half-breed Eskimo, came on board and took us into the harbor of Godhavn shortly after nine oclock. Mr. Peary, Captain Pike, Professor Heilprin, and myself went ashore and paid our respects to Inspector Anderssen and his family. They were very attentive 12to us, and invited Mr. and Mistress Peary to stay with them during their stop in Godhavna pleasure they were, however, compelled to forego. In the afternoon a party of us from the Kite set out on our first Arctic tramp, our objective point being the summit of the lofty basalt cliffs that tower above the harbor. My outfit consisted of a red blanket combination suit reaching to the knee, long knit stockings, a short eider-down flannel skirt reaching to the ankles, and the kamiks, or long-legged moccasins, which I had purchased in Sidney. The day was exceptionally fine and sunny, and we started off in the best of spirits. Never had I seen so many different wild flowers in bloom at once. I could not put my foot down without crushing two or three different varieties. Mr. Gibson, while chasing a butterfly, slipped and strained the cords of his left foot so that he was obliged to return to the ship. Never had I stepped on moss so soft and beautiful, all shades of green and red, some beds of it covered so thickly with tiny pink flowers that you could not put the head of a pin down between them. We gathered and pressed as many flowers as we could conveniently carryanemones, yellow poppies, mountain pinks, various Ericace, etc. Sometimes our path was across snow-drifts, and sometimes we were ankle-deep in flowers and moss. Mountain streams came tumbling down in every little gully, and their water was so delicious that it seemed impossible to cross one of these streams without stooping to drink. Our advance was very slow, as we could not resist the temptation of constantly stopping to look back 13and feast upon the beauties of the view. Disko Bay, blue as sapphire, thickly studded with icebergs of all sizes and beautifully colored by the suns rays, lay at our feet, with the little settlement of Godhavn on one side and the brown cliffs towering over it. As far as the eye could reach, the sea was dotted with icebergs, which looked like a fleet of sail-boats. The scene was simply indescribable. We reached the summit, at an elevation of 2400 feet, and built a cairn, in which we placed a tin box containing a piece of paper with our names written upon it, and some American coins. From the summit of these cliffs we stepped upon the ice-cap, which seemed to roll right down to their tops. The temperature was 91 F. in the sun, and 56 in the shade. As we descended a blue mist seemed to hang over that part of the cliffs that lay in shadow, and the contrast with the white bergs gleaming in the sapphire waters below was very striking. We returned to the foot of the cliff after eight oclock. On Sunday we made another expedition, to the Blaese Dael, or windy valley, where a beautiful double waterfall comes tumbling through the hard rock, into which it has graven a deep channel. We gathered more flowers, and collected some seaweed; the mosquitos, of which we had had a foretaste the day before, were extremely troublesome, and recalled to memory the shores of New Jersey. When we reached the first Eskimo hut, a number of the piccaninnies[1] came to me and presented me 14with bunches of wild flowers. We gave them some hardtack in return, and they were happy.

Mr. Peary, Professor Heilprin, myself, and two other members of our party dined with the inspector in the evening, joining some members of the Danish community, who had also been invited. The course consisted of fresh codfish with caper-sauce, roast ptarmigan, potatoes boiled and then browned; and for dessert, Rudgrud, a dump, almonds, and raisins. There was, following European custom, a varied accompaniment of wines.

After dinner the gentlemen went up-stairs to examine the geological and oological collections of the inspector, while the ladies preferred the parlor with their coffee. Were it not for the outer surroundings, it would have been difficult to realize that we were in the distant Arctic realm, so truly homelike were the scenes of the little household, and so cheerful the little that was necessary to make living here not only comfortable, but pleasant. The entire community numbers barely 120 souls, nine tenths of whom are Eskimos, mainly half-breeds; the remainder are the Danish officials and their families, whose recreation lies almost entirely within the little circle which they themselves constitute.

Toward nine oclock we visited the storehouse, where a native ball was in progress. Several of our boys went the rounds with the Eskimo belles, but for me the odor of the interior was too strong to permit me to say that looking on was an unalloyed pleasure. The steps were made to the 15music of stringed instruments, over which the resident half-breeds have acquired a fair mastery. The participants and onlookers were all in a lively frame of mind, but not uproarious; and at the appointed time of closingten oclockall traces of hilarity had virtually been banished.

The Most Northern Outpost of Civilization on the GlobeUpernavik.

We had hoped to leave early on the following morning, but it was not until near two oclock that the fog began to lift, and that a departure was made possible. Firing the official salute, and dipping our colors, we gave three hearty cheers in honor of our first Greenland hosts, and sailed out of the rock-bound harbor. It soon cleared up, and we were able to make our normal seven knots an hour. This morning it was foggy for a while, but it cleared up beautifully, and now we are just skimming along, and expect to reach Upernavik, the most northern of the Danish settlements in Greenland, about nine oclock in the evening.

16Thursday, July 2. We did not reach Upernavik until 2.30 yesterday morning, owing to a very strong current which was running against us all the way from Godhavn. We remained up all night, and at 1.30 A. M. were enjoying the dazzling brightness of the sunshine. Mr. Peary took a number of photographs between midnight and morning. Upernavik is a very different-looking place from Godhavn. There are four frame-houses and a little church. The natives live in turf huts, very miserable-looking habitations, built right down in the mud. As soon as our ship steamed into the harbor, in which two Danish vessels were at anchor, the governor, Herr Beyer, came on board with his lieutenant-governor, a young fellow who had arrived only three days before. We returned the visit at noon, and were pleasantly received by the governor and his wife, a charming woman of about thirty years, who had been married but a year, and whose fondness for home decoration had expressed itself in the pictures, bric-a-brac, fancy embroideries, and flowering plants which were everywhere scattered about, and helped to make up an extremely cozy home. As in all other houses in the country, the guests were treated to wine immediately on entering, and with a delicate politeness the governor presented me with a corsage bouquet of the flowers of Upernavik, neatly tied up with the colors of Denmark. Our visit was fruitful in the receipt of presents, among which were Eskimo carvings, a dozen bottles of native Greenland beer, and a box of goodies, addressed to Miss Peary, and to be opened, as a reminder, on Christmas eve. The hospitality shown to us could not have been more marked had our friendship extended over many years.

THE SUNSET GLOWBERG OFF SVARTENHOEK.

17Our visit was a brief one, as we were to weigh anchor early in the afternoon. We steamed away from Upernavik and headed north. The fog had cleared away and disclosed a giant mountain towering above us in the harbor. The sun shone brightly, and the sea was smooth as glass and blue as turquoise. The night promised to be a beautiful one, but I resisted the temptation to stay up, having been up the entire night before, and the greater part of the one before that. At 4 A. M. Captain Pike knocked at our door and informed us that in half an hour we would be at the Duck Islands. Here we were to land and all hands shoot eider-ducks and gather their eggs for our winter supply. We were soon on shore, and then began a days sport such as I had often read about, but never expected to see. The ducks flew in thick flocks all about us, and on every side were nests as large as a large hen-nest, made of eider-down and containing from three to six eggs. The nests were not hidden, but right out on the rocks in full sight. Alas! we were too late; the ducks were breeding, and out of 960 eggs we did not get over 150 good ones. As I had not taken my gun, I spent the time in gathering down, and collected forty-three pounds in five hours. After returning to the Kite for breakfast, we visited a second island, and there I bagged a bird, much to my satisfaction. Altogether ninety-six ducks were shot.

18 CHAPTER II

IN THE MELVILLE BAY PACK

Melville BayOn the Edge of the Dreaded Ice-packFourth of JulyButting the IceAccident to the Leader of the ExpeditionGloom on the KiteBlasting the Kite out of a NipA Real Bear and a Bear HuntA Chase on the IceA Phantom ShipFree of the Pack and in the North Water at LastThe Greenland Shore to Barden BayFirst Sight of the Arctic Highlanders.

Thursday, July 2. We are opposite the Devils Thumb, latitude 74 20, and now, at 8 P. M., are slowly making our way through the ice which marks the entrance into the Melville Bay pack.

Friday, July 3. At midnight the engine was stopped, the ice being too thick for the Kite to make any headway. At 6.30 A. M. we started again, and rammed our way along for an hour, but were again forced to stop. At eleven oclock we tried it once more, but after a couple of hours came to a standstill. We remained in this condition until after five oclock, when the engine was again started. For two hours we made fairly good progress, and we thought that we should soon be in open water, but a small neck of very heavy ice stopped us. While we were on deck, the mate in the crows-nest, which was hoisted to-day, sang out, A bear! A bear! Off in the distance we could see an object floating, or rather 19swimming, in the water, and in a minute the boys were climbing helter-skelter over the sides of the Kite, all with guns, although some soon discovered that theirs were not loaded; but the bear turned out to be a seal, and not one of about thirty shots hit him. It is now nearly 11 P. M. The sun is shining beautifully, and it is perfectly calm. I have worn only a gray spring jacket, which I have found sufficient for the balmy temperature. At midnight the cannon was fired, the flags were run up and dipped, and the boys fired their rifles and gave three cheers for the Fourth of July. The thermometer marked 31.

A Bear! A Bear!

Saturday, July 4. The ice remains stubborn, and we are fast bound. All around the eye sees nothing but the immovable pack, here smooth as a table, at other places tossed up into long hummock-ridges which define the individual ice-cakes. Occasional lanes of water appear and disappear, and their presence gives us the one hope of an early disentanglement. The event of the day has been a dinner to Captain Pike, in which most of the members of our party participated. After dinner hunting-parties scoured the ice after seals, with the result of bringing in two specimens, 20one weighing twenty-six pounds, and the other thirty-three pounds.

Sunday, July 5. All night we steamed along slowly, but at 8 A. M. we were forced once more to stop. The day has been very disagreeable, foggy, rainy, and even snowy. We have done nothing but eat and sleep. A lazily hovering ivory-gull, which ventured within near gunshot, has been added to our collections.

Tuesday, July 7. The weather yesterday was dreary and disagreeable, but to-day it seems warmer. The snow has ceased falling, although the sky is still overcast, and the fog prevents us from seeing the horizon. At noon the sun came through the clouds for a few moments, and the fog lifted sufficiently for the captain to make an observation and find that our position was latitude 74 51. During the afternoon the wind died down, and an attempt was made to get through the ice; but after boring and ramming the immovable pack for nearly an hour, and gaining only a ships length, we concluded that we were burning coal for nothing. Mr. Peary, with Gibson, Astrup, Cook, and Matt, has been busy all the afternoon sawing, marking, and fitting the lumber for our Whale Sound cottage. The curing of a large number of drake-skins, intended to be made up into undershirts for winter wear, was a part of the days work.

Thursday, July 9. Yesterday and to-day the fog lifted sufficiently at times to permit us to see the land, about forty miles distant. A good observation places us in latitude 74 2151, and longitude about 60 W. Mr. Peary fixed the points with his pocket sextant and the ships compass, and then made a sketch of the headlands. The ice looks rotten, but yet it holds together too firmly to permit us to force a passage. We measured some of the floes, and found the thickest to be two and a half feet. It has seemed very raw to-day, owing largely to a slight northwest wind; and for the first time the average temperature has been below the freezing-point, being 31 F.

Sailing Through the Pack.

Friday, July 10. This morning the rigging was covered with hoar-frost, making the Kite look like a phantom ship. The fog hung heavily about us, shutting out the land completely. In the forenoon a sounding was made, but no bottom was found at 343 fathoms. While we were at dinner, without any warning the Kite began to move, steam was immediately gotten up, and for an hour and a half we cut our way through the ice, which had become very rotten, large 22floes splitting into several pieces as soon as they were struck by the Kite. We made about three knots, when we were again obliged to halt on account of a lowering fog. Our little move was made just in time to keep up the courage of some of the West Greenland party, who were beginning to believe that we should be nipped and kept here for the winter.

Although we realized that we were still ice-bound in the great and much-dreaded Melville Bay pack, we could not but enjoy at times the peculiar features of our forced imprisonment. Efforts to escape, with full promise of success, followed by a condition of impotency and absolute relaxation, would alternately elevate and depress our spirits to the extent of casting joy and gloom into the little household. The novelty of the situation, however, helped greatly to keep up a good feeling, and all despondency was immediately dispelled by the sound of the order to fire up, and the dull rumbling of the bell-metal propeller. We never tired of watching our little craft cut her way through the unbroken pans of ice. The great masses of ice were thrust aside very readily; sometimes a piece was split from a large floe and wedged under a still larger one, pushing this out of the way, the commotion causing the ice in the immediate vicinity fairly to boil. Then we would run against an unusually hard, solid floe that would not move when the Kite struck it, but let her ride right up on it and then allow her gradually to slide off and along the edge until she struck a weak place, when the floe would be shivered 23just as a sheet of glass is shivered when struck a sharp, hard blow. The pieces were hurled against and on top of other pieces, crashing and splashing about until it seemed as though the ice must be as thick again as it was before the break-up; but the good old Kite pushed them aside, leaving them in the distance groaning and creaking at having been disturbed. The day has been pleasant, in spite of an average temperature of 27.

Tuesday, July 14. How different everything looks to us since I last wrote in this journal! Saturday the weather was, as usual, cold and foggy; and when, at 5.30 P. M., we found ourselves suddenly moving, every one was elated, hoping we would be able to get into the clear water ahead, which the mate said could be seen from the crows-nest. Mr. Peary was particularly pleased, as he said we should then reach Whale Sound by July 15, the limit he had set for getting there. After supper he and I bundled up and went on deck, and watched the Kite cut through the rotten ice like butter. We had been on the bridge for some time, when Mr. Peary left me to warm his feet in the cabin. Coming on deck again, he stepped for a moment behind the wheel-house, and immediately after, I saw the wheel torn from the grasp of the two helmsmen, whirling around so rapidly that the spokes could not be seen. One of the men was thrown completely over it, but on recovering himself he stepped quickly behind the house, and I instantly realized that something must have happened to my husband. How I got to him I do not know, but 24I reached him before any one else, and found him standing on one foot looking pale as death. Dont be frightened, dearest; I have hurt my leg, was all he said. Mr. Gibson and Dr. Sharp helped, or rather carried, him down into the cabin and laid him on the table. He was ice-cold, and while I covered him with blankets, our physicians gave him whisky, cut off his boot, and cut open his trousers. They found that both bones of the right leg had been fractured between the knee and the ankle. The leg was put into a box and padded with cotton. The fracture being what the doctors pronounced a good one, it was not necessary to have the bones pulled into place. Poor Bert suffered agonies in spite of the fact that the doctors handled him as tenderly as they could. We found it impossible to get him into our state-room, so a bed was improvised across the upper end of the cabin, and there my poor sufferer lies. He is as good and patient as it is possible to be under the circumstances. The accident happened in this way. The Kite had been for some time pounding, or, as the whalers say, butting, a passage through the ice, slowly but steadily forging a way through the spongy sheets which had already for upward of a week imprisoned her. To gain strength for every assault it was necessary constantly to reverse, and it was during one of these evolutions, when going astern, that a detached cake of ice struck the rudder, crowding the iron tiller against the wheel-house where Mr. Peary was standing, and against his leg, which it held pinned long enough for him to hear it snap.

25Wednesday, July 15. Mr. Peary passed a fairly comfortable night, and had a good sleep without morphine to-day, consequently he feels better. As for myself, I could not keep up any longer, and at 11 A. M., after Dr. Cook had dressed the leg and made an additional splint, I lay down, and neither moved nor heard a sound until after five oclock. This was the first sleep I have had since Friday night. Dr. Cook, who has been more than attentive, has made a pair of crutches for the poor sufferer, but he will not be able to use them for a month.

We find to-day that our latitude is 75 1, and our longitude 60 9; consequently our headway has been very slow. It seems as if when the ice is loose the fog is too thick for us to travel in safety, and when the fog lifts the ice closes in around us. Once to-day the ice suddenly opened and a crack which visibly widened allowed us to make nearly four miles in one stretch. Throughout much of the night and day we steamed back and forth and hither and thither, trying to get through or around the ice, and to prevent the Kite from getting nipped between two floes. A little after supper the fog suddenly closed in upon us, and before we could complete the passage of a narrow and tortuous lead, through which we were seeking escape from the advancing floes in our rear, we were caught fast between two large pans. The ice was only about fourteen inches thick, and there was but little danger of the Kite being crushed; still, Captain Pike, with the memories of former disasters fresh in his mind, did not 26relish the situation, and blasted our way out with gunpowder at 8.15 P. M. This is our first nip.

Bruin at Rest.

An hour later the captain called down to me to come up at once, as a bear was advancing toward the ship. The boys had been watching and longing for a bear ever since we left New-York, and many false alarms had been given; but here was a real live polar coming straight for the Kite. A very, very pretty sight he was, with black snout, black eyes, and black toes. Against the white snow and ice, he seemed to be of a cream color. His head was thrown up as he loped along toward us, and when, within a short distance of the Kite, a gull flew over his head, he made a playful jump at it, all unconscious of the doom which awaited him. Eleven men with guns were stooping down on the quarter-deck waiting for the captain to give the word to fire. A bullet disabled one of the fore legs, while another struck the animal in the head, instantly dyeing it crimson; the bear stopped short, wheeled round, fell over on his head, and then got up. By this time it was simply raining bullets about the poor beast; still he staggered on toward the water. Gibson, who had jumped on the ice as soon as he fired, was now close to him, and, just as he started to swim away, put a ball in his neck, which stopped him short. A boat was lowered, 27and he was brought alongside the Kite. He measured seven feet one inch in length, and we estimated his weight at from eight to ten hundred pounds.

Friday, July 17. Last night was the worst night my poor husband has had. His leg pained him more than it had done so far, and he begged me to give him a sedative, which, with the doctors consent, I did; but even then his sleep was disturbed to such an extent that it amounted to delirium. He would plead with me to do something for his leg. After doing everything I could think of, I said, Cant you tell me where it hurts you most, and what you think might help you? His answer was, Oh, my dear, pack it in ice until some one can shoot it! In this way he spent the night, and this morning he was thoroughly exhausted. Dr. Cook has succeeded in making his leg more comfortable, and now he sleeps. It seems very hard that I cannot take him away to some place where he can rest in peace.

Tuesday, July 21. Since last writing in my journal, four days ago, we have been steadily nearing Cape York, and we hope soon to clear the ice of Melville Bay, and pass into the open North Water beyond. Our hopes have, however, so often been disappointed that day by day, even when in full view of the land, we become less and less confident of ever being able to disengage ourselves from our confinement. Huge grounded bergs still hold the ice together, and until they show signs of moving there is little prospect of a general break-up.

28On Saturday a bear with two cubs was seen on the ice ahead of us, and immediately every man was over the side of the vessel making for the animals. The mother, with a tender affection for her young, guided an immediate retreat, herself taking the rear, and alternately inciting the one cub and then the other to more rapid movement. Our boys were wholly unacquainted with the art of rapid traveling on the rough and hummocky ice, and before long the race was admitted to be a very unequal one; they were all quickly distanced. One of the men, in the excitement of the moment, joined in the chase without his gun, and, even without this implement, when he returned to the Kite he was so out of breath that he had to be hauled up the sides of the vessel like a dead seal. He lay sprawling and breathless on the deck for at least five minutes, much to the merriment of the crew and the more fortunate members of the party. A round weight of over two hundred pounds was responsible for his discomfiture. Monday morning about two oclock the fog suddenly lifted, and we found ourselves almost upon the land. The visible shore extended from Cape York to Wolstenholme Island, and we could clearly distinguish Capes Dudley Diggs and Atholl. I held a looking-glass over the open skylight in such a way that Mr. Peary could see something of the outline of the coast. Poor fellow! he wanted to go on deck so badly, thinking that if he were strapped to a board he could be moved in safety, but the doctor persuaded him to give up the thought. As the doctors have all agreed that in six months 29his leg will be as good as it ever was, he refuses to consider the idea of returning on the Kite; as for myself, now that we have started, I want to keep on too. The air is almost black with flocks of the little auk, and a party on the ice to-day brought in sixteen birds in a very short time.

Wednesday, July 22. Drs. Hughes and Sharp brought in sixty-four birds as the result of an all-night catch. We are still in the ice, with no signs of our getting out, although the captain says we have drifted twenty miles to the northward since Monday morning. We are now abreast of Conical Rock. Second Mate Dunphy has just reported seeing from the crows-nest a steamer off Cape York, but it is not visible to the naked eye, and we are in doubt as to what it is.

Friday, July 24. The steamer did not materialize; either the mate was mistaken or the vessel drifted away from us. The ice parted early yesterday morning, much to everybodys relief, and we have since been pushing steadily on our course. The long line of table-topped bergs off Cape York, some of which measured not less than two hundred to three hundred feet in height, and perhaps considerably over a mile in length, is visibly moving over to the American waters, and to this disrupting force we are doubtless largely indebted for our liberation. The scenery of this portion of the Greenland coast is surpassingly fine. The steep red-brown cliffs are frequently interrupted by small glaciers reaching down to the waters edge. The entrance to Wolstenholme Sound, guarded as it was by huge bergs, was particularly beautiful. Saunders 30Island in the distance, and Dalrymple Rock immediately in the foreground, stood up like great black giants, contrasting with the snow-white bergs surrounding them and the red cliffs of the mainland on either side. Whenever anything particularly striking or beautiful appears, I am called on deck, and with my hand-glass placed at the open transom over Mr. Pearys head, manage to give him a faint glimpse of our surroundings. At nine oclock this evening we rounded Cape Parry, and about ten oclock stopped at the little Eskimo village of Netchiolumy in Barden Bay, where we hoped to obtain a native house, sledge, kayak, and various native utensils and implements for the Worlds Columbian Exposition. Our search-party found only three houses in the settlement, and the lonely inhabitants numbered six adults and five children; five dogs added life to the solitude. These people had quantities of sealskins and narwhal tusks, many of which were obtained in exchange for knives, saws, files, and tools in general. Wood of any kind, to be used in the construction of sledges, kayak frames, and spear- and harpoon-shafts, was especially in demand; they cared nothing for our woven clothing, nor for articles of simple show and finery. We stopped this morning at Herbert Island, where we had hoped to visit a native graveyard, but no graves were found.

31 CHAPTER III

ESTABLISHING OURSELVES

Arrival at McCormick BaySelecting the Site for the HouseTemporary QuartersHurrying the Erection of the HouseWhite WhalesDeparture of the KiteAlone on the Arctic ShoreA Summer StormArctic PicnickingThe First Birthday and the First DeerBirthday-dinner MenuDeparture of the Boat Party for Hakluyt and Northumberland Islands after Birds and EskimosOccupations during their AbsenceReturn of the Party with an Eskimo Family.

Sunday, July 26. Mr. Peary is getting along nicely. His nights are fairly comfortable, and consequently he feels much better by day; his back now troubles him more than his leg. Yesterday morning at three oclock he was awakened and told that the ice prevented our getting to Cape Acland, and that we were just abreast of McCormick Bay, and could not proceed further into the sound. He accordingly decided to put up our quarters on the shores of this bay. It was now a question as to which side of the bay would be most favorable for a home. At 9 A. M., together with several members of our party, I rowed over to the southeast shore, and walked along the coast for about three miles, prospecting for a site, and made a provisional choice of what seemed a desirable knoll. We returned to the Kite about noon. After dinner Professor Heilprin, Dr. Cook, Astrup, and three others went over to 32the other shore, and toward evening they returned with the report that the place was perfectly desolate and not at all suitable for a camp. After supper we returned to the southeast shore to see if we could improve on the location selected in the morning, but after tramping for miles came back to the old site. While it cannot in truth be said that the spot is a specially attractive one, it would be equally untrue to describe it as being entirely devoid of charm or attraction. Flowers bloom in abundance on all sides, and their varied colors,white, pink, and yellow,scattered through a somewhat somber base of green, picture a carpet of almost surpassing beauty. Rugged cliffs of sandstone, some sixteen hundred to eighteen hundred feet high, in which the volcanic forces have built up long black walls of basalt, rise steeply behind us, and over their tops the eternal ice-cap is plainly visible. Only a few paces from the base of the knoll are the silent and still partially ice-covered waters of the bay, which extends five miles or more over to the opposite shore, and perhaps three times that distance eastward to its termination. A number of lazy icebergs still stand guard between us and the open waters of the western horizon, where the gray and ice-flecked bluffs of Northumberland and Hakluyt Islands disappear from sight.

ON THE BEACH OF McCORMICK BAY.

33This morning the members of our party went ashore with pickaxes and shovels, and they are now digging the foundations of our cottage by the sea. They are also putting up a tent for our disabled commander, whence he can superintend the erection of the structure. The men are working in their undershirts and trousers, and it is quite warm enough for me to stay on deck without a wrap, even when I am not exercising; yet, if we had this temperature at home, we should consider it decidedly cool. I have had oil-stoves taken ashore for the purpose of heating the tent in case it becomes necessary.

Our Cottage by the Sea.

Wednesday, July 29. The last three days have been busy ones for me, being obliged to attend to all the packing and unpacking myself, besides waiting on Mr. Peary. Monday, after dinner, the boys finished digging the foundations. Mr. Peary was then strapped to a board, and four men carried him from the Kite into a boat. After crossing the bay he was carried up to the tent just back of where the house is being erected, and placed on a rough couch. He is near enough to superintend the work, and everything is progressing favorably.

Last night was a queer one for me. All the boys slept on board the Kite, leaving me entirely alone with my crippled 34husband in the little shelter-tent on the south shore of McCormick Bay. I had forgotten to have my rifle brought ashore, and I could not help thinking what would be the best thing for me to do in case an unwelcome visitor in the shape of a bear should take it into his head to poke his nose into the tent. While I was lying awake, imagining all sorts of things, I heard most peculiar grunts and snorts coming from the direction of the beach, and on looking out saw a school of white whale playing in the water just in front of our tent. They seemed to be playing tag, chasing each other and diving and splashing just like children in the water. I was surprised at their graceful movements as they glided along, almost coming up on the beach at times. The night passed uneventfully, but I decided to have Matt sleep on shore to-night, should the others go on board the Kite again. In case of a sudden wind-storm I could not steady the tent alone, and some one ought to be within calling distance.

As the members of the returning party come to bid us good-by it makes me feel very, very homesick; but a year will soon pass, and then we too shall return home. The professor has kindly offered to see mama, and do for her what he can in the way of keeping her posted.

Early Thursday morning, July 30, those of our party who had slept aboard shipthat is, all except Mr. Peary, Matt, and myselfwere aroused and told they must pull for the shore, as the Kite was going to turn her nose toward 35home. Not being accustomed to the duties of housekeeper and nurse, I was so completely tired out that I slept soundly and knew nothing of the cheers and farewell salutes which passed between the little party who were to remain in the far North, and those on board the Kite, who would bring our friends the only tidings of us until our return in 92. Mr. Peary remarked on the cheerfulness of our men. Less than five minutes after the boat grated on the beach he heard the sound of the hammer and the whistling of the boys.

Three or four hours after the Kite left McCormick Bay a furious wind and rain storm swept down upon us from the cliffs back of our house. The boys continued the work on the roof as long as possible, hoping to be able to get the whole house under cover, but the fury of the storm was such as to make it impossible for them to keep their foothold on the rafters, and they were obliged to seek shelter under what there was of the roof. At meal-time they all crowded in our little 7  10 canvas tent, sitting on boxes and buckets, and holding their mess-pans in their laps. These I supplied with baked beans, stewed corn, stewed tomatoes, and corned beef, from the respective pots in which they had been prepared. The rain dashed against the tent, and the wind rocked it to and fro. Every little while one of the guy-ropes would snap with a sound like the report of a pistol, and one of the boys would have to put his dinner on the ground and go out into the storm and refasten it, for these ropes were all that kept our little tent from collapsing. The meal completed, 36the boys returned to the house, where they had more room, even if they were not more comfortable.

I never shall forget this wretched night following the departure of the Kite. The stream which rushed down the sides of the cliffs divided just back of the tent, and one arm of it went round while the other came through our little shelter. The water came with such force that in a few moments it had made a furrow down the middle of the tent floor several inches deep and nearly the entire width of the floor space, through which it rushed and roared. All night long I was perched tailor-fashion on some boxes, expecting every moment to see the tent torn from its fastenings and the disabled man lying by my side exposed to the fury of the storm. Our only comfort, and one for which we were duly thankful, was that during this night of storm we had constant daylight; in other words, it was just as light at two oclock in the morning as it was at two oclock in the afternoon. When it was time for breakfast, I lighted the oil-stove, which I had fished out of the water just as it was about to float away, and made some coffee, and we breakfasted on coffee, biscuit, and corned beef.

This state of affairs continued until the afternoon, when the storm finally abated and the boys began work again on the roof. The water in the tent subsided, and by putting pieces of plank down I could again move about without sinking into the mud, and I at once set to work to get the boys a square meal.

37By Saturday morning our habitation was under cover, the stove put up temporarily, with the stovepipe through one of the spaces left for a window, and a fire made from the blocks and shavings that had escaped the flood. The house was soon comparatively dry,at least it did not seem damp when compared with the interior of the tent,and Mr. Peary was carried in and placed on a bed composed of boxes of provisions covered with blankets. Although we had no doors or windows in place, we felt that it might rain and storm as much as it pleased, and it would not interfere with finishing up the house and getting the meals, two very important items for us just then.

Gradually our home began to have a finished appearance: the inside sheathing was put on, and the doors and windows put in place. We had no more violent wind-storms, but it rained every day for over a week. At last, on August 8, there was no rain; and, as it was Matts birthday, Mr. Peary told the boys after lunch to take their rifles and bring in a deer. One of the rules of our Arctic home was that each members birthday should be celebrated by such a dinner as he might choose from our stock of provisions. Before going out Matt chose his menu, which I was to prepare while the hunters were gone. The plum-duff, however, he mixed himself, as he had taken lessons from the cook on board the Kite. After every one had gone, Mr. Peary surprised me by saying he intended to get up and come into the room where I was preparing the dinner. Only the day before the 38doctor had taken his leg out of the box and put it in splints, and he had been able for the first time since July 11 to turn on his side. I tried to persuade him to lie still for another day, but when I saw that he had set his heart on making the effort, I bandaged up the limb and helped him to dress. Then I brought him the crutches which Dr. Cook had made while we were still on board the ship, and with their aid he came slowly into the other room. Here, through the open door, he could watch the waves as they rose and fell on the beach about one hundred yards distant, while I prepared the feast. The bill of fare that Matt selected was as follows:

Mock-turtle soup. Stew of little auk with green peas. Broiled breasts of eider-duck. Boston baked beans, corn, tomatoes. Apricot pie, plum-duff with brandy sauce. Sliced peaches. Coffee.

With the soup I served a cocktail made by Mr. Peary after a recipe of his own, and henceforth known by our little party as Redcliffe House cocktail; with the stew, two bottles of Liebfrauenmilch; and with the rest of the dinner, Sauterne. About five oclock we heard the shouts of the boys, and on going out I saw them coming down the cliffs heavily laden with some bulky objects. I rushed in and reported the facts in the case to Mr. Peary, who immediately said, They are 39bringing in a deer. Oh, I must get out! So out he hobbled, and to the corner of the house, where he had a good view of the returning hunters. As soon as he saw them he said, Get me my kodak. Quick! and before the boys had recovered from their surprise at seeing Mr. Peary, whom they had left confined to his bed, standing on three legs at the corner of the house, the first hunting-party sent out from Redcliffe had been immortalized by the ever-present camera. The boys were jubilant over their success, and brought back appetites that did justice to the dinner which was now nearly ready. At six oclock we all sat down at the rude table, constructed by the boys out of the rough boards left from the house, and just large enough to accommodate our party of seven. We had not yet had time to make chairs, so boxes were substituted, and we managed very nicely. We had no table-cloth, and all our dishes were of tin, yet a merrier party never sat down to a table anywhere. Three days afterward we repeated the feasting part of the day, with a variation in the bill of fare, in honor of the third anniversary of our marriage, and this time we sampled the venison, which we found so delicious that the boys were more eager than ever to lay in a stock for the winter.

The next day, August 12, Mr. Peary sent all the boys, except Matt, in one of our whale-boats, the Faith, to search Herbert and Northumberland Islands for an Eskimo settlement, and if possible to induce a family to move over and settle down near Redcliffe House. The man could show us 40the best hunting-grounds, and assist in bagging all kinds of game, while the woman could attend to making our skin boots, or kamiks, and keeping them in order. They were also instructed to visit the loomeries, as the breeding places of the birds are called, and bring back as many birds as possible.

During their absence Matt was at work on our protection wall of stone and turf around Redcliffe, and Mr. Peary busied himself as best he could in making observations for time, taking photographs, and pressing flowers and other botanical specimens which I gathered for him. He even ventured part of the way up the cliffs at the back of the house, but this was slow and laborious work. The ground was so soft that his crutches would sink into it sometimes as much as two feet. The weather continued bright and balmy, and I did not feel the necessity of even a light wrap while rambling over the hills. What I did long for was an old-fashioned sunbonnet made of some bright-colored calico, and stiffened with strips of pasteboard, for the sun was burning my face and neck very badly. The boys returned at the end of a week, bringing with them a native man named Ikwa; his wife, Mane; and two children, both little girlsAnadore, aged two years and six months, and a baby of six months, whom we called Noyah (short for Nowyahrtlik).

41 CHAPTER IV

HUNTS AND EXPLORATIONS

Ikwa and his FamilyPresent of a MirrorAugust Walrus HuntPreparations for Sending out the Depot PartyDeparture for Head of McCormick BayFirst Herd of ReindeerExciting Experiences in Tooktoo ValleyPacking the Things up the BluffsThe Inland Ice Party OffReturn to RedcliffeA Foretaste of Winter.

These Eskimos were the queerest, dirtiest-looking individuals I had ever seen. Clad entirely in furs, they reminded me more of monkeys than of human beings. Ikwa, the man, was about five feet two or three inches in height, round as a dumpling, with a large, smooth, fat face, in which two little black eyes, a flat nose, and a large expansive mouth were almost lost. His coarse black hair was allowed to straggle in tangles over his face, ears, and neck, to his shoulders, without any attempt at arrangement or order. His body was covered with a garment made of birdskins, called by the natives ahtee, the feathers worn next the body, and outside of this a garment made of sealskin with the fur on the outside, called netcheh. These garments, patterned exactly alike, were made to fit to the figure, cut short at the hips, and coming to a point back and front; a close-fitting hood was sewed to the neck of each garment, and invariably pulled over his head 42when he was out of doors. His legs were covered with sealskin trousers, or nanookies, reaching just below the knee, where they were met by the tanned sealskin boots, called by the natives kamiks. We learned later that sealskin trousers were worn only by those men who were not fortunate enough or able to kill a bear. In winter these men wear dogskin trousers, which are as warm as those made of bearskin, but not nearly so stylish. Winter and summer the men wear stockings reaching to the knee, made of the fur of the Arctic hare.

Mane and Anadore

At first I thought the womans dress was identical with that of the man, and it puzzled me to tell one from the other; but in a day or two I had made out the many little differences in the costumes. The woman, like the man, wore the ahtee and netcheh made respectively of the birdskins and sealskin. 43They differed in pattern from those of the man only in the back, where an extra width is sewed in, which forms a pouch extending the entire length of the back of the wearer, and fitting tight around the hips. In this pouch or hood the baby is carried: its little body, covered only by a shirt reaching to the waist, made of the skin of a young blue fox, is placed against the bare back of the mother; and the head, covered by a tight-fitting skull-cap made of sealskin, is allowed to rest against the mothers shoulder. In this way the Eskimo child is carried constantly, whether awake or asleep, and without clothing except the shirt and cap, until it can walk, which is usually at the age of two years; then it is clothed in skins, exactly as the father if it is a boy, or like the mother if a girl, and allowed to toddle about. If it is the youngest member of the family, after it has learned to walk it still takes its place in the mothers hood whenever it is sleepy or tired, just as American mothers pick up their little toddlers and rock them.

The womans trousers, or nanookies, are made of foxskin, and are hardly anything more than trunks; these are met by the long-legged boots, or kamiks, made of tanned sealskin, and the long stockings, or allahsy, of reindeer fur. Altogether this family appeared fully as strange to us as we did to them. They had never before seen woven material, and could not seem to understand the texture, insisting that it was the skin of some animal in America.

They brought their dog, a sledge, a tent, a kayak (or canoe), and all their housekeeping utensils and articles of furniture, 44which consisted of two or three deerskins, on which the family slept; a stove made of soapstone and shaped like our dust-pans, in which they burned seal fat, using dried moss as a wick; and a dish or pot made of the same material, which they hung over their stove, and in which they melted the ice for drinking purposes and also heated their seal and walrus meat (I say heated, for we would hardly call it cooked when they take it out of the water). The skin tent put up, and these articles put in place, the house was considered furnished and ready for occupancy. Wood being almost impossible to procure, the tent was put up with narwhal tusks, which are more plentiful and answer the purpose. The tent itself is made of sealskin tanned and sewed together with narwhal sinews. These people were very curious to see the white woman, who, they were given to understand, was in the American igloo (house); and when Mr. Peary and I came out, they looked at both of us, and then Ikwa asked, Soonah koonah? Of course we did not know then what he wanted, but he soon made us understand that he wished to know which one of the two was the woman. I delighted him, and won his lasting favor, by making him a present of a knife. His wife, Mane, was almost overwhelmed by a gift of some needles; while Anadore, the elder of the two children, amused herself by making faces at her image in a small mirror that I had presented to her. It was the first time these people had seen themselves, and the parents were as much amused as the children. They asked many questions, but as we could not understand them any more than they knew what we were talking about, the whole conversation was decidedly more amusing than instructive.

A SUMMER DAY.IKWA AND FAMILY.

45 Ikwa and his Quarry.

Later in the day the boys launched the whale-boat, and Mr. Peary, Gibson, Verhoeff, Matt, and myself, with our new man Ikwa, went down to Cape Cleveland, two and a half miles from Redcliffe, where the boys had beached a walrus killed by them while crossing Murchison Sound. It was very interesting to watch Ikwa cut up this enormous animal, weighing more than 1500 pounds, with an ordinary six-inch pocket-knife. So precisely did he know just where every joint was, that not once did he strike a bone, but cut the entire animal up into pieces which could be easily handled by one man, as though it had been boneless. This done, the pieces were packed in the boat, preparatory to taking them to Redcliffe. Here at Cape Cleveland we found the grass very green, and in places over two feet high. This unusual growth is explained by the 46presence of blubber caches, seal caches, and the ruins of an Eskimo village. We gathered many flowers, among which the yellow Arctic poppy was the most prominent, and also shot a number of little auk and a few gulls and eider-ducks. Mr. Peary hobbled along the beach on his crutches, around the cape, and had his first view up Whale Sound and Inglefield Gulf. On our return to Redcliffe, all the meat was hung up back of the house to be used in the winter for dog-food and as an occasional treat for our Eskimo family. It was a little too strong for our taste, and we decided we would resort to it only in case we were unsuccessful in getting deer.

A few days after this, early in the morning, Ikwa came running into our house, apparently much excited, crying, Awick! Awick! This we had learned was walrus. The boys tumbled out of their beds, and in a very few moments were in the boat with Ikwa, pulling in the direction of a spouting walrus out in McCormick Bay. In a short time they returned with a large mother walrus and her baby in tow. The mother had been killed, but the babya round bundle of fat about four feet longwas alive, and very much so, as we found out a little later. Mr. Peary wanted to get photographs of the little thing before it was shot, and while he was dressing, a task which was of necessity slow, the boys came into the house, leaving the baby walrus about a hundred yards up on the beach. Suddenly we heard cries for help coming from the shore. On stepping to the window, I saw one of the most comical sights I had ever seen. The little walrus was slowly 47but surely making his way to the waters of the bay. Mane with her baby on her back was sitting in the sand, her heels dug into it as far as she could get them, holding on to the line attached to the walrus, without apparently arresting its progress in the least, for she was being dragged through the gravel and sand quite rapidly. While I looked, Matt came rushing to her assistance, and taking hold of the line just ahead of where Mane held it, he gave it one or two turns about his wrists, and evidently thought all he had to do would be to dig his heels into the sand and hold back; but in an instant he was down in the sand too, and both he and Mane were plowing along, the sand flying, and both shouting lustily for help. So strong was this little creature that had not the other boys rushed out and secured him, he would easily have pulled Matt and Mane to the waters edge, where, of course, they would have let him go, and he would have been a free walrus once more. I have always regretted that I did not get a kodak of the scene.

It was now the end of August, and active preparations were in progress for sending a party with provisions to establish an advance depot on the inland ice for the spring sledge journey across the great ice desert to the northern terminus of Greenland. It was decided that Astrup, Gibson, and Verhoeff should go on this trip, while Dr. Cook and Matt remained with Mr. Peary and myself at Redcliffe.

On September 3, all arrangements having been perfected for the inland ice-party, every one in the settlement, except 48Matt and Mane with her children, sailed for the head of McCormick Bay, where it had been decided that the boys should ascend the cliffs and attack the ice. Redcliffe House is about fifteen miles from the head of the bay, and this distance had to be rowed, for we got no favoring breeze. It was late in the evening when we rounded a point of land whence we could see the green valley stretching from the waters edge back to the giant black cliffs, which here form the boundaries of the inland ice. The landscape was a beautiful one. As I looked I beheld moving objects on one of the hillsides, which, seen through the glass, seemed to me to be the size of a cow. We at once knew they were reindeer, and their apparent size was due to mirage. Astrup was landed with a Winchester at a point where he could go round and come upon the grazing herd from behind the hill; it was hoped they would not see him, and that he would bag quite a number. After landing Astrup we kept on until we were opposite the center of the valley; here our boat was run ashore, and we decided to camp.

Mr. Peary told me to take a run over the rocks and down the valley in order to get warm, as I had become chilled from sitting in the boat and not exercising for several hours; so after seeing him safely on the little knoll about twenty feet above the shore-line, where we intended to make camp, I strolled away. Upon climbing the hill, just back of the camping-ground, I came in sight of the herd of deer which we had seen from the boat, and as I watched them I saw the smoke 49and heard the report of Astrups rifle. In an instant they were scampering off in every direction, and although Astrup fired shot upon shot not one dropped. One of the animals, however, after running some distance, stumbled and fell, lay still for an instant, then got up, ran on a few yards, and fell again. As it did not rise I judged it had received one of Astrups bullets, and forgetting how deceptive distances are in the pure, clear air, I started on the run toward the prostrate creature, apparently not more than a mile distant. Happening to look back, I saw Dr. Cook and Ikwa coming in my direction, and waited for them. On reaching me the doctor said they were on their way to help Astrup bring in his game. I called his attention to the little white spot on the green grass, and told him it was a deer, and that I had seen it drop. As we could see nothing of Astrup, we decided to take care of the animal. Dr. Cook had his rifle loaded with twelve cartridges, Ikwa had a muzzle-loader charged, and an extra load for it besides, and I had on my cartridge-belt and revolver (a 38caliber Colt). After walkingor trotting would perhaps express it betterfor some distance, we came to a stream that flowed down the center of the valley throughout its length, which we had to cross in order to reach our destination. Fortunately the doctor had on his long-legged rubber boots, for we soon saw that the only way to get on the other side was to wade the stream. We tried it at different places, and finally the doctor found a place where he could cross. First taking his rifle and my revolver and belt of cartridges 50over, he returned for me and carried me across; then we continued in the direction of the white spot, which all this time had not moved. After traveling for nearly an hour we were near enough to see that beside the prostrate deer stood a tiny black-and-white creature, a fawn. Whether it saw us and whispered to its mother, I do not know; but immediately after we had made out the little one, the mother deer raised her head, looked at us, then rising slowly, started off at a moderate walk. We quickened our steps, and so did she. When within three hundred yards, Dr. Cook discharged his rifle several times, but only succeeded in wounding her in the fore leg, which did not seem to retard her progress in the least. Several times we were near enough to have shot her without any trouble, but we were so exciteda case of buck-fever, I believe the hunters call itthat she escaped every shot. To add to our difficulties the deer made for a neighboring lake, and in the effort to stop her before she reached it, we fired shot after shot until the doctors rifle was empty. There was now nothing for us to do but stand around and crouch behind the boulders in the hope that the poor wounded animal would come ashore within pistol-shot range. It was evident that she was too weak to swim across, and it was very touching to see how the little fawn would support its mother in the water. Once or twice she tried to climb out on the ice-foot, but the ice was not strong enough, and broke beneath her weight. We were thoroughly chilled and hungry by this time, but disliked the idea of returning empty-handed to camp after such a long 51absence. At last, just as we were talking of returning, we saw Astrup in the distance, and called to him to join us. When he came up to us he said he had had no luck. He had a few cartridges left in his rifle, which he expended on our victim without, however, harming her in the least. Astrup then urged us to return, as he, too, was tired out; but we were loath to leave our wounded deer, especially as we now knew it was only a matter of time when we should get her, for she could not hold out much longer. Nearer and nearer she came to the ice, finally leaning against the edge as if to gather strength, when suddenly the doctor darted over the ice-foot into the icy water, and before the startled animal realized his intention, he had her by her short horns, which were still in the velvet, and was pulling her slowly ashore. The little one then left its mother for the first time, ran as fast as it could over the rocks, and disappeared behind the cliffs.

The doctor had some trouble in pulling the wounded animal out on the ice, which kept constantly breaking. All this time he was standing knee-deep in the ice-cold water, and before long he had to call to us to relieve him, his feet and legs being so numb that he could stand it no longer. As Astrup had on low shoes, he did not feel like wading out to the doctor, who was rubbing and pounding his feet, so I went to his relief. My oil-tan boots kept the water out for some time. Although I could not drag the poor creature out on the ice, still I had no difficulty in holding her, as she made no resistance whatever. After the doctor had somewhat restored his circulation, 52he came to me, and together we pulled the wounded animal out. Then I was asked to kill her with my revolver, but I could not force myself to do it, and Astrup took the weapon and put her out of her misery. We placed the body on a large flat rock, piled boulders on it, and left it. Both Dr. Cook and I were thoroughly cold by this time, and we all hurried toward camp. It was now nearing midnight, and I had been away from camp since six oclock. It was hard to realize the time of day, as the sun was shining just as brightly as in the early afternoon. We soon reached the river, and across it the poor doctor had to make three trips: first to carry the rifles over, then to come back for me, and then to go after Astrup. As this last load weighed 183 pounds, and the current was very swift, progress was of necessity slow. The doctor had to feel his way, and did not dare to lift his feet from the bottom. At last we were all safely over. Ikwa, who had taken off his kamiks and stockings and waded the stream, was lying flat on his back on a mossy bank nearly convulsed with laughter at the sight of the doctor carrying Astrup. Once across the river we redoubled our speed, and soon reached camp, where I found Mr. Peary, with Gibson and Verhoeff, anxiously awaiting me.

The next two days the boys spent in packing their provisions and equipment over the bluffs to the edge of the ice, while I stayed in camp and cooked, and Ikwa put in his time hunting. On the fourth day, Monday, September 7, right after lunch, the boys left with their last load, and in spite of the snow, which had been falling lightly all day, determined to keep on to the inland ice. Dr. Cook accompanied them, helping them carry their provisions to the edge of the ice, and on his return we were to start for Redcliffe.

LOOKING DOWN INTO THE SUN GLACIER FJORD FROM THE ICE-CAP.

53 The Crew of the Faith.



Cook. Ikwa. Gibson. Astrup. Verhoeff.

Just as everything had been stowed away in the boat, a wind-storm came down upon us which threatened to blow our little craft upon the rocks. The sea was rough and the wind cold, which made the time of waiting for the doctor seem very long. At last we were joined by our companion, who told us that he had left the inland ice-party ensconced in their sleeping-bags, and that it was snowing furiously upon the ice-cap. When we reached Redcliffe seven hours later, we found everything white and about ten inches of snow on the ground.

54 CHAPTER V

BOAT JOURNEYS AND PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER

Return to Head of McCormick Bay for DeerFootprints on the ShoreSuccessful Deer HuntMeeting with the Returning Inland Ice PartyAstrup and Gibson Make a Second Attempt on the Ice-capAttempted Boat Trip up Whale SoundStopped by the New IceExciting Battle with WalrusDr. Cook and Matt Tramp to NowdingyahsLast of the Boat TripsSetting up the StoveMy Experience with a Snow-slideFinal Return of the Inland Ice PartyPreparing Redcliffe for Winter.

We were all pretty tired the next day, and Mr. Peary decided to wait another day or two before starting on a second hunting-expedition to the head of the bay. It was Thursday morning, September 10, when we nailed up our doors and, out of regard for social custom, tacked a card on the front door, which read: Have gone to Tooktoo Valley for two or three days hunt. Visitors will please leave their cards, and then headed our boat eastward.

In order to avail ourselves of the breeze, we were obliged to cross the bay and then tack. When about half-way it was decided to run ashore and prepare lunch. As soon as the keel of the boat grated on the sand, Ikwa jumped out to make the bow-line fast, but he had hardly touched the ground before he gave utterance to a cry of surprise, and pointed to footprints in the sand. In a moment we were all excitement. 55The footprints were those of two persons walking in the direction of Redcliffe. What a peculiar sensation it is to find signs of human beings in a place where you believe yourself and party to be the only inhabitants! After examining them carefully, Ikwa said Gibson and Verhoeff had passed down the beach that morning. This worried Mr. Peary, for the supposition was that something must have happened to one of the party, and the other two were bringing him to Redcliffe. He was reassured, however, in a few minutes; for on following the footprints a little distance, I found the prints of all three of the boys, and we knew that the inland ice-party had returned. Knowing that they would make themselves comfortable at the house, Mr. Peary decided to keep on to the hunting-grounds, which we reached in the early afternoon. During our three days stay in this lovely valley, Matt and Ikwa bagged nine deer; I myself went hunting once or twice, but without success. Most of my time was devoted to taking photographs of the glaciers in the vicinity, and keeping camp. The sand along the shore was too deep and the hills were too steep for Mr. Peary to take long walks in any direction, and he was glad to have company in camp.

On Monday we loaded our boat with the trophies of the chase, and sailed for home. When within three and a half miles of the house, we saw Astrup and Verhoeff coming up the beach, and we immediately hailed them, and pulled for the shore. They got into the boat, and during our sail home Astrup told of the continued storm on the ice-cap; how the 56deep snow had prevented their making more than one or one and a half miles per day; that Verhoeff had frozen his face, and that they had then decided to return to Redcliffe, report the condition of the traveling, and see if Mr. Peary wished them to keep on. After reaching Redcliffe, Mr. Peary gave the inland ice-party a few days rest, and then sent them in the Faith, our largest whale-boat, back to the head of McCormick Bay to bring home their equipment and place all the provisions in a cache which would be easily accessible. Gibson and Verhoeff were to put in two or three days hunting deer, while Astrup was to make a careful examination of the cliffs and glaciers to ascertain the most practicable route to the ice-cap with dogs and sledges. They returned in four days, and we immediately began work changing the equipment to make it suitable for two persons instead of three, and dried out the sleeping-bags thoroughly. Three days afterward, September 22, Astrup and Gibson again set out for the inland ice.

57 Walrus on Ice-cake.Off Herbert Island.

Wednesday, September 23. This morning at 9.30 Mr. Peary, Matt, Dr. Cook, Ikwa, and myself started in the Mary Peary for a trip up Inglefield Gulf. There was not a breath of air stirring, and the boys had to row from the start. Before we had gone a mile, several burgomasters flew over our heads, and we next came upon a flock of eiders, but did not get within gunshot. When just off Cape Cleveland, we caught sight of several walrus in the middle of the bay, and made for them. A number of shots were fired, and some of the animals were wounded; but as Ikwa said we should be sure to find amis-su-ar (plenty) awick in the gulf, we did not wait for them to come again to the surface. After a two hours rest we proceeded up the gulf, but were stopped by the heavy new ice, which we could almost see forming in our wake. It being certain that we could not make further progress by the boat, Mr. Peary decided to have a walrus-hunt for the purpose of obtaining ivory. We could see the walrus in every direction, and headed the boat for a cake of ice with about fifteen of the creatures asleep on it. The boys were told to pull for all they were worth until the order was given to stop. Mr. Peary then took his camera, and he became so absorbed in getting his photo just right that he forgot to give the order to stop until the boat was so near the cake of ice that before anything could be done she ran on it at least four feet, throwing her bow straight up into the air. The walrus, jumping into the water from under her, careened the boat to port until she shipped water, throwing Matt flat on his back; then with a 58jerk (which proved to come from an animal Ikwa had harpooned) she was righted, and we were skimming over the water, through the new ice, towed by the harpooned walrus. This performance lasted at least twenty minutes, during which time the boys kept up a constant volley at the walrus that besieged us on every side to revenge their wounded companions. There were at least two hundred and fifty around us at one time, and it seemed as if it would be impossible to keep the animals from attacking us; but by steady firing we managed to hold them at oars length. This kept me busy reloading the rifles. I thought it about an even chance whether I would be shot or drowned.

I cannot describe my feelings when these monsters surrounded us, their great tusks almost touching the boat, and the bullets whistling about my ears in every direction. Whenever a volley of shots greeted them, the whole bunch jumped into the air and then plunged under water, leaving us in doubt as to where they would reappear. If they should happen to come up under the boat, we should probably be the ones to take the plunge; this uncertainty was very exciting, especially as the brutes went down and came up in bunches, leaving us seventy-five or a hundred to fight while the rest plunged.

Ikwa had evidently never seen so many awick at one time, and became very much frightened, finally pounding the sides of the boat with his harpoon and yelling at the top of his voice, in which he was joined by Matt. When we finally got out of the turmoil we had four heads with tusks, and would 59have had more, but the bodies sank before we could secure them. As we could not proceed up the gulf in the boat, we camped about three miles southeast of Cape Cleveland. The boat was pulled up on a bit of sandy beach, and with the aid of the boat-hooks and a couple of tarpaulins we fixed up a very comfortable boat-tent.

Thursday, September 24. It was decided last night that Matt and Dr. Cook should set out on foot for Nowdingyahs, an Eskimo camp of which we had been in search; so we had coffee early, and by eight oclock the boys started off with their rifles and some pemmican.[2] About ten oclock the boys came in woefully tired, vowing that they had walked forty miles, and reported finding Nowdingyahs camp, but all four igloos were deserted. Ikwa said that their owners were pehter-ang-ito (far away) hunting; these northern Eskimos are in the habit of leaving their settlements, to which they periodically return.

Friday, September 25. Just before we left camp at eleven oclock, an amusing incident occurred. Ikwa, who had been skirmishing for the past hour, returned in a jubilant frame of 60mind, and announced his discovery of a cached seal. He asked Mr. Peary if he might bring the seal to Redcliffe in the boat, saying it was the finest kind of eating for himself and family. We could not understand why this particular seal should be so much nicer than those he had at Redcliffe; but as he seemed very eager to have it, we gave him the desired permission, and off he started, saying that he would be back very soon. About half an hour later the air became filled with the most horrible stench it has ever been my misfortune to endure, and it grew worse and worse until at last we were forced to make an investigation. Going to the corner of the cliff, we came upon the Eskimo carrying upon his back an immense seal, which had every appearance of having been buried at least two years. Great fat maggots dropped from it at every step that Ikwa made, and the odor was really terrible. Mr. Peary told him that it was out of the question to put that thing in the boat; and, indeed, it was doubtful if we would not be obliged to hang the man himself overboard in order to disinfect and purify him. But this child of nature did not see the point, and was very angry at being obliged to leave his treasure. After he was through pouting, he told us that the more decayed the seal the finer the eating, and he could not understand why we should object. He thought the odor pe-uh-di-och-soah (very good).

At noon we passed Cape Cleveland, homeward bound, and an hour later reached Redcliffe. The house seemed very cold and chilly after the bright sunshine. Verhoeff, who had 61been left in charge, greeted us, and we soon had all the oil-stoves going, bread baking, rice cooking, beans heating, venison broiling, and coffee dripping, and at two oclock all sat down to dinner and then turned in.

Tuesday, September 29. The last three days have been spent in hunting-explorations on the north shore and in preparations for the winter. The stove has been put up, the windows doubled, and the house made generally air-tight. We find the ice in the bay becoming firmer day by day, and in one of our expeditions we found it all but impossible to force the boat through it. Mr. Peary has now left off his splints and bandages, and has even laid aside his crutches. After lunch to-day I started out with a couple of fox-traps, and put them in the gorge about a mile back of the house. The day was fine, and I enjoyed my walk, although I came in for an unpleasant scare. After leaving the traps, I thought I would go over the mountains into the valley beyond, and see if I could find deer. Half-way up, about a thousand feet above sea-level, the snow began to slide under me, taking the shales of sandstone along with it, and of course I went too, down, down, trying to stop myself by digging my heels into the snow and attempting to grasp the stones as they flew by; but I kept on, and a cliff about two hundred feet from the bottom, over which I would surely be hurled if I did not succeed in stopping myself, was the only thing which I could see that could arrest my progress. At last I stopped about half-way down. What saved me I do not know. At first I was afraid to move 62for fear I should begin sliding again; but as I grew more courageous I looked about me, and finally on hands and knees I succeeded in getting on firm ground. I did not continue my climb, but returned to the house in a roundabout way.

Mr. Peary had the fire started in the big stove, and finds that it works admirably. The trouble will be to keep the fire low enough. Ikwa indulged in a regular war-dance at the sight of the blaze, never before having seen so much fire, and for the first few moments kept putting his fingers on the stove to see how warm it was. He soon found it too hot. He has been getting his sledge, dog-harness, spears, etc., in readiness for the winters hunt after seal.

Wednesday, September 30. Toward noon Matt came running in shouting, Here are the boys, sir! and sure enough Astrup and Gibson were here, bringing nothing but their snow-shoes with them. They were on the ice just a week, and estimate the distance traveled inland at thirty miles, and the greatest elevation reached at 4600 feet. They returned because it was too cold and the snow too deep for traveling. At the same time, they admit that they were not cold while on the march, and they do not think the temperature was more than 10 below zero; but as Gibson stepped on and broke the thermometer on the third day, up to which time the lowest had been 2, they had no way of telling for certain. Gibsons feet were blistered, he having forgotten to put excelsior or grass in his kamiks. He believes that with the moral support 63of a large party they can easily make from ten to fifteen miles per day.

Thursday, October 1. The day has been fine; the house is gradually assuming a cozy as well as comfortable appearance under Mr. Pearys supervision. He is about from morning until night, limping a great deal, but he has put aside his crutches for good. At night his foot and leg are swollen very much, but after the nights rest look better, although far from normal. Ikwa went out on the ice to-day for some distance to test its strength. I took my daily walk to the fox-traps, and as usual found no foxes had been near them.

Sunday, October 4. Nothing of any consequence has taken place since the return of the explorers. The boys have been at work on the house, hanging blankets, putting up shelves, etc. Friday I found one of my traps sprung, and a great many tracks around it, but no fox. On Saturday we went down to the point one quarter of a mile below the house, Mr. Peary walking without cane or crutch, and set a fox-trap on the rocks near some tracks. All this time the weather has been perfect. To-day Dr. Cook tried going out on the ice, but it did not hold him. The bunks of the boys have been placed against the east side of the large room and separate curtains furnished. The winter routine of four-hourly watches throughout the twenty-four hours was begun to-day, the boys taking them in turn.

Monday, October 5. It has been cloudy all day long, but with a temperature of about 12. It still seems warm, as 64there is no wind whatever. I went to my fox-traps this forenoon, and found the view from the heights very fine. The clouds hung low, and gave a soft gray background for the blue bergs which gleamed on every side of a long black strip of waterthe open seain the far distance. The light that fell on Northumberland Island decked it in a bright yellow, while the cliffs across the bay were black in the dark shadow.

The boys brought the Mary Peary up and turned her over, supporting her on pillars built of blocks of ice. Here Mr. Peary intends to put such provisions as we may need for our boat journey home next summer, covering the whole thing with snow. The Faith has been turned over against the front wall, and a place fixed under her for the Newfoundland dogs, Jack and Frank. As soon as we have enough snow the house, too, will be banked in with it.

65 CHAPTER VI

WINTER UPON US

McCormick Bay Frozen overFirst Sledge Trip to the Head of the Bay for DeerShaky New IceFirst AuroraThe Strange Light on the Opposite ShoreFirst Visit from the NativesReturn of our Hunting-party with Ten DeerMore NativesSecond Severe Snow-storm of the SeasonStill more Native VisitorsGreat Amusement over the White WomanFarewell to the Sun.

Tuesday, October 6. McCormick Bay is frozen over so as to support the dogs and sledge, and Ikwa has been on several seal-hunts. He finds one of the holes in the ice which the seals keep open all the winter and where they come to breathe. Here he takes up his position, being careful not to make the least noise. Sometimes he waits for hours before the seal comes up, and sometimes the seal skips that hole entirely. When it comes he drives his spear through the hole quick as a flash into the head of the animal. In this way all the seals are caught during the fall and winter. Ikwa went out on his sledge with his mikkie (dog) after pussy (seal) to-day, but did not get any.

The day has been, like yesterday, dark and cloudy, but the temperature has been higher, averaging 20 instead of 12; the wind has been blowing quite fresh from the east. Mr. Peary has set the boys at work building a sledge for a prospective 66journey to the head of the bay, and I have been busy all day getting our room, or rather our bed, in order. All the boxes have been removed from under the bed, to my great delight, and put into the lean-to at the south end of the house. It felt and smelt like a damp cellar under there, but now that the air has a chance to circulate freely, I think it will be better.

I have not been out of the house to-day. It is quite dark at six oclock, and on a cloudy day, as to-day, we lighted the lamp at five oclock.

Matt has started in as lunch-maker; this gives me nearly all day to myself. Our first table-cloth, of unbleached cotton, also made its debut; it is a great improvement on bare boards.

Wednesday, October 7. This morning, at about ten oclock, we started out on our first sledging-trip up the bay in search of tooktoo (reindeer).

Astrup, Gibson, and Matt pulled our sledge, while Jack and Frank, our Newfoundland dogs, and Mikkie, were harnessed to Ikwas. We were delighted to see that our dogs would pull, but Ikwa soon decided that Frank was peeuk nahmee (no good), so the boys put him to their sledge, but he preferred pulling backward to pulling forward; by coaxing they persuaded him to help them somewhat, but it was always hard work to get him started after a stop.

MY CROSS-MATCHED TEAM.McCORMICK BAY.

67After journeying about four miles, our Eskimo suddenly stopped his sledge and explained that he did not want any more deerskins, but needed pussy skins for his kamiks, or boots, kayak, tupic (tent), etc., and he would leave us and watch the seal-holes, walking home at night. He told us how to fasten his mikkie, and then, after I had kodaked him sitting on his seal chair at a hole, we went on. I ran along at the upstanders of Mr. Pearys sledge, he being all alone; but the ice being rather slippery and the dogs traveling along at a run, I soon found it difficult to keep on my feet, and so jumped on the sledge with Mr. Peary, and rode the greater part of the time. The two dogs pulled us easily, the sledge and load weighing about five hundred pounds. The dogs are fastened to the sledge by single traces, and are guided without reins by the driver with a long whip and much shouting. The mikkie not understanding our language, and Mr. Peary not knowing the Eskimo terms, and not understanding the language of the whip, we had no means of guiding our team; besides, in many places the ice had to be tested by a member of the party going ahead with an alpenstock and feeling it. Often detours had to be made, and several times we had to rush over places where the ice buckled under us, and it seemed as though it must let us through; for these reasons we allowed the other sledge to take the lead. This we could do only by stopping and letting the boys get one fourth or one half of a mile ahead; then, giving our dogs the word, they would scud along at the top of their speed, not making any attempt to stop until they had caught up to the other sledge, which they did in a few minutes. In this way we finally 68reached the head of the bay shortly after six. We immediately set about putting up the tent and arranging our sleeping gear, and Mr. Peary got the stove ready and put on ice for tea, and also a can of beans to heat. I was disabled by a sick-headache.

During the next few days the boys made a number of unsuccessful hunting-expeditions, and their failure decided us to return to Redcliffe. The mercury had already descended at nights to 4, yet I did not feel the low temperature, and indeed had not felt uncomfortably cold for more than a few minutes at a time. On the 9th, at noon, just half the disk of the sun appeared over the top of the mountain back of the glacier, and it was evident that we were in the shadow of the Arctic winter. Two days later we saw the first auroranot a good one, however.

Monday, October 12. Back again at Redcliffe. In the evening Matt came in very much excited, saying that there was a moving light on the opposite shore. We all rushed out to see it. How queer it seems to be the only human beings on this coast! Ikwa said Eskimos were eating their supper, and would be here to-morrow. Astrup fired a rifle.

Tuesday, October 13. About three oclock this afternoon Mane came in and said Innuit (Eskimo) was coming with kamutee (sledge) and mikkie (dog). We ran out, and with the aid of the glass saw two Eskimos, one of them Ikwa, and a sledge drawn by three dogs. The strange husky 69turned out to be Nowdingyah, whose deserted camp we visited last month. He is much larger in every way than Ikwa, and seems bright and intelligent. When offered a knife in exchange for one of his dogs, he said the dog we wanted was the leader of his team of bear-dogs, specially trained, but he would come again by and by and then give us three others. We have now little difficulty in understanding the natives, or making ourselves understood by signs.

Saturday, October 17. The weather still continues lovely, although the days are rapidly getting shorter. Late Thursday night Ikwa, who had departed with our visitor, returned, telling us that the natives where Nowdingyah lived would soon come over to see us; he also said that Nowdingyah had seven puppy-dogs, and this is why he was so willing to give us three. Ikwa has been laying in a supply of sealskins for a tupic and kayak, and says he will need fifteen for these articles alone; he will require an additional supply for kamiks for himself and family. The seal is evidently the most valuable animal of the chase to the natives, who utilize every particle of it for food or clothing. About three oclock we discovered the boys, who had gone to Five-Glacier Valley, on the opposite side of the bay, coming across the ice, and about an hour later they arrived jubilant with a load of ten deerskins, one blue fox, and one Arctic hare. Gibson had also shot two seals, which they could not, however, bring with them, as the ice was too thin for the hunters to reach their booty. Still later Ikwa came in, and said Innuits pingersut (Eskimos 70three), kamutee martluk (sledges two), were coming; and in a few minutes Nowdingyah, Arrotochsuah, and Kayunah landed with two sledges and five dogs. Arrotochsuah is an old man with gray hair, but looks exactly like a woman; Kayunah is a young man, stutters badly, and while he has a decidedly idiotic appearance he has a fox-like expression about the eyes and nose, and accordingly he has been dubbed the Fox. Nowdingyah is the only one of the Eskimos who has hair on his face, and he has a little mustache and imperial which give to him something of a Japanese touch.

Arrotochsuah Fashioning a Spear.

Sunday, October 18. Mr. Peary has been on the jump all day, getting odds and ends to trade with the natives. He has secured three very fine seal-spears, one walrus-lanceall with fine lines of walrus-hidean ikkimer (soapstone blubber lamp), a drill, and two dogs and a sledge. The natives left early in the afternoon, the old man being tired, having been obliged to sleep out on the beach on his sledge, with no shelter, as there was no room in Ikwas 71igloo; he walked about the greater part of the night to keep warm.

Monday, October 19. Astrup and Verhoeff went to-day to Cape Cleveland, and put up a flag-pole and signal for use in surveying. Mr. Peary is fixing up my lockers with cardboard, preparatory to putting up the curtains. So far the weather has been fine; we have full moon, and this makes it seem less like night, but at 8 A. M. it is still quite dark. From about eleven until two, the coloring on land, ice, snow, and sky is beautiful, all the delicate shades being brought out to best advantage. We took two short strolls, fixed up the curtains about the range and lockers, and then I did a little sewing. To-night the wind is blowing fiercely from the south.

Wednesday, October 21. Last night we had our first wind-storm since the second night of our encampment here, when I was in the tent alone with Mr. Peary, who was strapped down to a plank. The wind rattled things in a lively manner, and the boys on duty had to go out every fifteen minutes and inspect the premises to see that nothing was loosened or blown away. This wind from the southeast continued until five oclock this morning, when it abated somewhat. The day has been cloudy. The boys have put up a snow-hut for the dogs, and one for their own convenience, in which to experiment with their fur clothing and sleeping-bags.

Thursday, October 22. My brother Henrys birthday. We drank his health and prosperity in a bottle of Haute Sauterne, as we did my brother Emils eleven days before. 72My husband and I are keeping house alone. All the boys have gone on a deer hunting expedition, while Ikwa, with the dogs, is after hares. We have had Mane here all day at work on a pattern deerskin stocking. The day has been dark and cloudy, and it has snowed lightly.

Friday, October 23. Last night it snowed a very little, and this morning it is cloudy and gloomy. We sat up till midnight, then the alarm was set for two oclock, at which time coal had to be put on the firean operation to be repeated at four, and again at six. Mane has been with us all day, with her two piccaninnies, at work on deerskin stockings. The elder child, Anadore, is just at the age (two years) when she is into everything, and she tried our patience to the limit. We cannot allow Mane to take the furs to her igloo to sew, as they would be filled with koomakshuey (parasites), and some one must stay in the room with her to superintend her work. I am doing very little besides getting the meals and fixing up odd jobs about the rooms; reading Greelys work is about the extent of my labor. To-night at nine oclock the thermometer is 10, and the moon is shining brightly.

Sunday, October 25. This morning there was about three inches of new snow on the ground, and the cliffs back of the house are beginning to look white. About 2 P. M. huskies were seen coming across the bay, and a half-hour later they had arrived,Kayunah, his koonah (wife) and three piccaninnies, and Arrotochsuah, his koonah and one piccaninny. Arrotochsuahs koonah was very much amused at me, and 73kept screaming Chimo koonah! (Welcome woman!) until I said Chimo! Chimo! and then she laughed and laughed. The other woman was more quiet. These Eskimos are much cleaner and more presentable people than Ikwa and his family. Later in the evening I gave each woman two needles, a cake of soap, and a box of matches. Arrotochsuahs koonah presented me with a spoon made by herself from a piece of walrus tusk, and used by her piccaninny, Magda, a boy about twelve years old, ever since he could feed himself. In return I gave the boy a looking-glass, and I made a similar present to Kayunahs smallest. Mr. Peary allowed all hands to sleep on the floor in the boys room. It is amusing to listen to the conversation between our men and the huskies. In one instance the boys could not quite make out whether a man had died from eating walrus or the walrus had eaten him, etc.

Monday, October 26. To-day is the last day the sun will be above the horizon until February 13th.

74 CHAPTER VII

ESKIMO V
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $5,000 for information that could lead to the location and arrest of a 29-year-old Massachusetts man named as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Kevin Jiang, a Yale graduate student last weekend in Connecticut.

The man authorities are seeking, Qinxuan Pan, could be staying with friends or family in the Duluth or Brookhaven areas of Georgia, the agency said in a news release. Pan was last seen driving in that area  near Atlanta  with family members early Thursday.

Family members told authorities that Pan was carrying a black backpack and acting strangely, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. The agencys violent fugitive task force has been asked by local police to help locate Pan, who authorities said should be considered armed and dangerous.

On Friday, New Haven Police said they want to speak to any staff at car dealerships who may have had contact with Pan in recent months. They believe Pan may have visited dealerships in Massachusetts or Connecticut before the Feb. 6 killing of Jiang, 26, who was shot multiple times and found lying outside his car on a New Haven street.

Pan is currently charged with one count of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and theft of a vehicle in connection with the Feb. 6 shooting.

Police have said they are looking into whether Jiang, a student at Yales School of the Environment who recently got engaged to be married, was killed in a road rage incident following a car crash.

Pans last known address is in Malden, Massachusetts, and he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Trivia question: Name the first African-American chair of the Republican Party of Texas. If you said Allen West. That would be incorrect.

It was Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston. He led the Republican Party from 1883 to 1897.

However, it doesnt mean that during Black History Month, the current chairmans story wouldnt be a good one to share. He did this week during his appearance at the Midland Republican National Hispanic Assembly event on Thursday.

Think about how great America is that a kid in 60 years, born at a blacks-only hospital, can grow up to become a lieutenant colonel in United States Army, command a battalion in combat, be a member of the United States House of Representatives and stand here before you (the chairman) of the largest Republican Party in the United States of America -- that's the great state of Texas.

West wanted to talk Black history, like that the Republican Party of Texas was founded on Independence Day of 1867  by 150 Black men.

Most folks will say this is all, you know, a fantasy, this is all a dream, this didn't really happen, West said of a Black man from the inner city of Atlanta being the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. But this is a story that we need to get out all across the United States of America, that conservatism, our fundamental principles, beliefs and values. It has everything to do about  coming here and understanding that in America, and especially in Texas, we're not about making people victims. We're about making people victors.

West offered a picture of a young man growing up in the neighborhood that produced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and attending an elementary school that was right across the street from the famed Ebenzer Baptist Church, where King was a co-pastor.

Can you imagine what it was like for a young kid every single day of your life, to walk past Ebenezer Baptist Church, to walk past the final resting spot of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? West said to the audience at the Bush Convention Center.

This led West to talk about his upbringing with two incredible parents in the house  something he said was once common. West said in 1961  when he was born  the Black two-parent household was between 75 and 77 percent in the United States.

And where is it today? West asked the room. Today it is 24 percent.  Because someone came along -- a Texan who was president (Lyndon Baines Johnson) -- he came up with a brilliant idea that said that if the government saw a woman that had a child out of wedlock, the government should provide her a check regardless of how many children she had out of wedlock, except there was a caveat. And that caveat was that there could not be a man, there could not be a working man in the household. So, the strength of the community that I grew up in -- the mother and father in the home  that took a community through slavery, that took the community through segregation, Jim Crow, lynchings, all of these things, was absolutely decimated -- in one fell swoop.

West recalled the small businesses, doctors offices and even Citizens Trust Bank  all the product of Black professionals -- on Sweet Auburn Avenue in Atlanta.

And if you go back to many inner-city, black communities today, you don't see that same amount of small business entrepreneurship that I saw (growing up), West said.

West told those in attendance of his ideological mentor, Booker T. Washington, whose core principles were education, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

Those are conservative principles, West added.

West was setting up how his core principles and those of other conservatives are shared with those of Hispanics and that they cannot allow progressivism do to their neighborhoods what it did to neighborhoods like the one where West grew up.

--

There will be those reading this article who roll their eyes at Wests comments. Those same people, West said, are likely to not talk about Booker T. Washington or Frederick Douglass during Black History Month because of their political leanings. Cancel Culture at work, he implied.

The future of Texas politics might actually depend on whether Hispanics connect with what West said this past week in Midland  about the family, about community building, about setting of goals for the next generation, about party principles.

Right in the midst of Black History Month, a Black man who just turned 60 made a compelling case for conservatism being the key. What will be the response of those who disagree? How will they counter? How will they propose bringing back Sweet Auburn Streets across the nation and in Midland?

I have to admit. I went to the Bush Convention Center expecting to hear a stump speech for a man considering a run for governor. Instead, I heard something much greater  a challenge to strive for something greater.

--

Editors Note: The Texas Democratic Party has contacted the Reporter-Telegram about offering a response to Wests comments in an article Friday. That op-ed is tentatively scheduled to appear next weekend.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  Kalu Ezikpe had 13 points as Old Dominion beat Charlotte 64-45 on Saturday.

A.J. Oliver II added 11 points for the Monarchs (11-5, 7-3 Conference USA), who held the 49ers to 28.6 percent shooting, the lowest mark of the season for an Old Dominion opponent.

Jaylin Hunter had 11 points for Old Dominion. Xavier Green added eight rebounds.

Jhery Matos had 11 points for the 49ers (9-11, 5-7), whose losing streak stretched to four games. Jahmir Young added 10 points. Marvin Cannon had six rebounds.

The Monarchs improve to 2-0 against the 49ers this season. Old Dominion defeated Charlotte 78-76 last Wednesday.

___

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
Love Island's Maura Higgins and Chris Taylor have discussed their unexpected relationship in a new joint candid interview.

The Irish beauty and reality star, both 30, went public with their romance in November during a romantic birthday getaway to Dubai.

Talking about their relationship, Maura and Chris praised their 'great sexual chemistry' and admitted that they never predicted their romance happening.

Candid: Love Island's Maura Higgins and Chris Taylor have discussed their unexpected relationship in a new joint candid interview

The couple, who were best friends prior to being a couple, revealed that they realised there was a spark in November, eight months after her split from ex Curtis Pritchard.

Talking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine, the couple shared that Chris made the first move after he kissed Maura and he was also the first to drop the love bomb.

Maura told the publication that they would 'always cuddle' as friends as they formerly shared the same bed on Love Island so it 'wasn't weird.'

She said: 'We would have a cuddle on the couch or lie in bed watching movies or whatever, and then exactly what he said, our faces were very, very close together. Chris kissed me and I kissed him back.'

Smitten: The Irish beauty and reality star, both 30, went public with their romance in November during a romantic birthday getaway to Dubai (pictured)

Discussing their 'great' sexual chemistry and sex life, Maura admitted that she was worried it would be 'quite awkward' after being friends for so long but that they haven't 'really struggled' with that at all.

Admitting that they are both on the same 'wave length', Chris cheekily revealed: 'We have great sex, and lots of it!'

Maura also shared that she finds Chris' tattoos 'sexy' while he sweetly revealed that the Irish beauty is at her 'sexiest' when she's got 'no make-up, no bra and scruffs on.'

Also during the interview, Maura admitted that she 'wasn't interested like that' initially with Chris after they met on the 2019 series of Love Island, where she left the villa with ex-boyfriend Curtis, 25, and Chris was coupled up with ex Harley Brash.

'Sexual chemistry': Talking about their relationship, Maura and Chris praised their 'great sexual chemistry' and admitted that they never predicted their romance happening

The couple recalled how all their friends kept commenting on their 'chemistry' with the duo insisting they were 'just friends'.

While Maura and Chris both worried about ruining their friendship before becoming romantic, joking that they went 'straight in' with 'no messing'.

Talking about how Chris is 'different' to her past relationships, Maura said: 'This is different. We never thought wed be in a relationship together. Ive had a lot of male friends in my life but nothing has ever happened before.'

The couple said that things have progressed quicker than usual due to their friendship and lockdown, adding that they are taking their future 'one step at a time'.

Ex factor: The couple, who were best friends prior to being a couple, revealed that they realised there was a spark in November, eight months after her split from ex Curtis Pritchard (pictured on Love Island in 2019)

Ending their candid interview, Maura and Chris both sweetly admitted that they think they have found 'The One' with each other.

It comes after Maura's ex Curtis opened up on their 'unhealthy' relationship during Celebs Go Dating.

The Love Island also hinted at his feelings toward her new romance with her best friend Chris, who was their co-star on the 2019 series of the show.

Curtis spoke candidly on the subject of his ex to love gurus Anna Williamson and Paul Carrick Brunson, after sharing a kiss with Kesia.

First move: Talking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine , the couple shared that Chris made the first move after he kissed Maura and he was also the first to drop the love bomb (pictured before going official with their romance)

Goodness! Admitting that they are both on the same 'wave length', Chris cheekily revealed: 'We have great sex, and lots of it!'

Explaining that he has a 'block' in his head, Curtis said: 'I've never ever thought I wanted to say bad things about anybody but my former relationship wasn't the healthiest shall we say.'

He said: 'She wasn't my usual type, dead hot, fiery character and behind closed doors I'm a fiery character - in dance you have to be - and in the bedroom and stuff I am like that a little bit you know.'

Curtis and Maura dated for nine months after meeting on the show but went their separate ways in March last year.

Maura announced her romance with Chris last November, and reflecting on the relationship, Curtis said: 'Then with Maura it started to go downhill a little bit.

Close: Maura told the publication that they would 'always cuddle' as friends as they formerly shared the same bed on Love Island so it 'wasn't weird' (pictured on the show in 2019)

Long-lost love: Chris was coupled up with Harley Brash on the show, but this did not last long

'She is now in a relationship with her 'best friend' who came into Love Island and stated that he fancied Maura.'

Curtis put his hands up in quote marks when he said best friend, hinting at his feelings towards his ex's new romance.

Dating expert Anna Williamson told Curtis: 'This baggage you're carrying, we can see how hurt you have been.'

Open: It comes after Maura's ex Curtis opened up on their 'unhealthy' relationship during Celebs Go Dating

When Maura and Chris revealed their romance, Curtis revealed he felt 'hurt' and 'betrayed' after she shared news that she had moved on with their co-star

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I feel betrayed by them both  two people I was very close to. When I saw the pictures, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel hurt. I was upset. How long has this truly been going on for?'

He explained: 'If you look back on everything  and I am looking back on it now  I'm like, 'Curtis, all the signs were bloomin' there, why didn't you realise then?'

Hurt: When Maura and Chris revealed their romance, Curtis, R, revealed he felt 'hurt' and 'betrayed' after she shared news that she had moved on with their co-star (pictured in 2019)

Maura and Chris confirmed their romance in November after months of speculation.

The erstwhile Love Island stars took to Instagram to post identical loved-up snaps, taken by a swimming pool in Dubai.

Maura and Chris gazed lovingly at each other in the photo, smiling contently, with Maura captioning her post: 'He's mine!'

The secret's out: Maura and Chris confirmed their romance in November after months of speculation, with Maura captioning her post: 'He's mine!'
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  There is no before and after for University of New Mexico professor Eva Encinias.

Theres only always.

Thats how long dance has been a part of her life. Her mother, Clarita Garcia de Aranda Allison, owned a dance studio in the North Valley near Edith and Candelaria.

I was raised in her dance studio, she said. I learned tap, ballroom, and traditional folk dances from different regions in Mexico. But flamenco was her signature and I became immersed.

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Encinias, 67, did more than add her own signature to the traditional Spanish style of dance. She wove it into the cultural fabric of New Mexico.

She built the flamenco program at the UNM, started Festival Flamenco de Alburquerque which draws audiences and dancers from around the world to the state.

In 1992, she opened the nonprofit National Institute of Flamenco studio that provides after-school music and dance classes among other things. Hundreds of students have cycled through her classes, many going on to have their own successful careers. UNM is still the only place in the world to get a flamenco degree in a university setting.

Encinias announced this winter that she is retiring from UNM after 43 years.

I thought it was important for me to retire so the younger blood can get in there, she said. But Im still young enough. I have projects I want to do at my house. Ill have more time to read.

She also plans to stay involved with Tierra Adentro of New Mexico  a sixth-to-12th-grade charter school that her son Joaquin Encinias helped found. The school has a focus on dance and music and Joaquin Encinias is the director of curricular implementation.

Using flamenco and dance is part of our vision in education, she said. We believe dance is a vehicle for students to explore things not familiar to them.

Encinias did not plan on becoming one the states premiere flamenco instructors and educators. She simply wanted to dance.

I realized I wanted to continuing dancing after I graduated from high school, she said. But there were not a lot of options (to learn flamenco). I knew if I wanted to continue studying flamenco, I would have to leave. I didnt want to leave because I love New Mexico.

She had already given birth to Joaquin Encinias and his twin sister Marisol Encinias. She decided to go ahead with a general dance degree at UNM. Instructors knew about her background in flamenco and asked her if she would be willing to teach a course in flamenco. It was enthusiastically embraced by students.

Then it became two courses, she said. Then it became three courses. Then I never left.

The university asked her to develop a program of studies specializing in flamenco. She worked it at it, building on the curriculum each year. She leaves the school with a robust list of course offerings that allows students the opportunity to minor in the subject.

Joaquin Encinias said his mother is a light-hearted person with a great sense of humor who required he and his sister to take two dance classes a week and play a musical instrument when they were growing up. She allowed them to stop when they were 15 and to decide for themselves if they wanted to continue. Both followed in her footsteps, becoming professional dancers. Marisol Encinias is now the director of the National Institute of Flamenco.

Her legacy, I hope people know, is she cares deeply about artistic creativity and vision, Joaquin Encinias said. She knows it deserves a place in our community.

John Truitt, the retired Albuquerque Academy director of bands, met Encinias when she was a teenager dancing in her mothers studio in the late 1960s. Truitt was a young musician just starting out in his career and was wanting to become a flamenco guitar player. His teacher invited him to attend a dance rehearsal at the studio.

I got this big blast of energy from them, but especially from Eva, he said. She was just 16 at the time, but she was amazing and a perfectionist. I thought This is where I really want to be. I love this. 

The two would go on to become colleagues and then lifelong friends. He played for classes at UNM and other events. Her expectations for everyone, he said, are high. She pushes others to be their best.

I took one of her flamenco classes one time, he said laughing. Even as her good friend, she gave me a C. 

He said Encinias is skilled at building support for her ideas. In a class of 50, she will know everyones name and something about each of them.

She has unbounded energy, he said. Shes described as a force of nature. Shes simply a person you cannot say No to. She describes herself as a bulldog.

Truitt recalled the time a performer from Spain tried to change the terms of his contract minutes before going on stage. After hearing the roar of the crowd, he demanded double the pay. Truitt said everyone backstage was stunned but Encinias didnt hesitate.

She told him No. You are going home. Ill call a cab right now,  he said. And she did. Then she went on stage and told the audience verbatim what he had said. Then she told them I am here, my son is here and so is my daughter. We will finish the show. The crowd erupted into cheers and screams.

Although it was recently reported that her family emigrated to the United States after the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, Encinias said her family has been in New Mexico since the 1700s. She said the states ties to Spain have made flamencos rise in popularity no surprise. She said people see it as a ritual practice. A mode of expression that is completely engaging and powerful. It was a feeling she herself channeled, forever cementing her connection to the world of flamenco.

Shes mostly stepped away from performing, but she was a beautiful dancer, Truitt said. She was spectacular. Jaw dropping. She had speed like nobody I had ever seen.
At least 30 militants were killed as their explosive device went off prematurely inside a mosque in Afghanistan's Balkh province, an Army official said.

According to the spokesman, a group of insurgents were receiving training in Qalta village of the restive Dawlatabad district on how to make explosive devices and roadside bombs when an IED went off suddenly, killing the 30 militants on the spot, six of them foreign nationals, reports Xinhua news agency.

The spokesman, however, failed to identify the nationality of the foreign victims.

militants who are active in parts of Balkh province are yet to make comments.

--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.)
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Guinea is fighting a new outbreak of Ebola, health officials in the West African nation said on Sunday, with at least three deaths in a region that was previously the starting point for the worlds worst epidemic of the disease.

The three who died  two women and a man  were among seven people who fell ill with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding after attending the burial of a nurse in the countrys southeast on Feb. 1, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Officials confirmed an outbreak on Sunday after a laboratory found the virus in the first three samples it tested from the patients.

The government reassures the people that all measures are being taken to curb this epidemic as quickly as possible, Guineas Health Ministry said on Sunday in a Facebook post.
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) today said that it will form subsidiary for its gas business.

In a regulatory filing ONGC stated," Board has approved creation of new wholly owned subsidiary company for focusing on Gas & LNG business value chain subject to necessary approvals. "

"The Company is being formed with the objective of sourcing, marketing and trading of natural gas, LNG business, Hydrogen enriched CNG(HCNG), gas to power business, bioenergy/bio-gas/bio methane/other bio fuels business, etc,"it further added.

ONGC said its board has also approved acquisition of 5 per cent equity in Indian Gas Exchange Ltd (IGX) as strategic investment.

IGX is a subsidiary of IEX, India's first and leading power exchange.

IGX Ltd is presently India's first and only authorized gas exchange, which provides an automated platform for trading of natural gas, covering a wide range of products.

"As an important stakeholder in the gas sector, it would be critical for ONGC to participate at the gas exchange for development of the gas sector. ONGC's interests towards realizing maximum value from its gas marketing efforts may be substantiated through this first gas trading platform in the country," it said.

This partnership, ONGC said, is expected to play a role in achieving the Government of India's vision for increasing the share of natural gas from 6 per cent to 15 per cent in India's energy basket.

ONGC declared a total of eight discoveries (3 in onland, 5 in offshore) during FY2020-21 in its operated acreages.

Out of these, 4 are prospects (1 in onland, 3 in offshore) and 4 are pools (2 in onland, 2 in offshore).

The company in December opened the Bengal Basin, the 8th producing basin of India.

With the beginning of production from Asokenagar in West Bengal, ONGC has discovered seven out of eight producing basins of the country, covering 83 per cent of established oil and gas reserves.

"ONGC's exploratory asset in Silchar has monetized the Bhubandar field on December 7, 2020 by connecting the well BU-7 to South Banskandi GCS (Gas Compressor Station). Gas from this project is primarily being supplied to AGCL and additional quantities will be feeder to city gas distribution network and North East (NE) Gas Grid, a part of Urja Ganga Scheme," the statement added

Meanwhile the standalone net profit in October-December quarter at 1,378 crore was 67.4% lower than 4,226 crore net profit in the same quarter of the previous year, the company said in a statement.

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New Delhi, Feb 14 : American writer Kate DiCamillo feels the film adaptation of her book Flora & Ulysses is a better version than the literary work.

Flora & Ulysses is a comedy-adventure based on the award-winning book about 10-year-old Flora, an avid comicbook fan, who saves a squirrel she names Ulysses, only to have its unique superhero powers, and how it wreaks havoc in a series of humorous, antic-filled adventures.

"It is always exciting to watch something that I've written, and it turned into a movie. But this was one of those things where the screenplay is so wonderful and then the actors did such an amazing job," DiCamillo told IANS.

"I think (actress Alyson Hannigan) said it at some point that it is almost better than the book. Yeah...I'll (also) say that. There is something about it that takes the themes of the books and highlights them," she added.

The author feels that the themes of the book resonate with all.

"Because we all long for superpowers, and we all long to connect... It really resonates now when we are so isolated even more than ever, that need to connect is there. The movie taps into that," she said.

The film stars Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deveare Smith, Danny Pudi, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Janeane Garofolo and Kate Micucci. It is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Premium.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 file photo, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., stand with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., as Trump speaks while departing after a Senate Republican Policy luncheon, on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP-Yonhap



Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial that spared him the first-ever conviction of a U.S. president but exposed the fragility of America's democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to terms with the violence sparked by his defeated presidency.



Barely a month since the deadly Jan. 6 riot that stunned the world, the Senate convened for a rare weekend session to deliver its verdict, voting while armed National Guard troops continued to stand their posts outside the iconic building.



The quick trial, the nation's first of a former president, showed how perilously close the invaders had come to destroying the nation's deep tradition of a peaceful transfer of presidential power after Trump had refused to concede the election. Rallying outside the White House, he unleashed a mob of supporters to ''fight like hell'' for him at the Capitol just as Congress was certify Democrat Joe Biden's victory. As hundreds stormed the building, some in tactical gear engaging in bloody combat with police, lawmakers fled for their lives. Five people died.



The verdict, on a vote of 57-43, is all but certain to influence not only the former president's political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats to convict, but it was far from the two-third threshold required.



The outcome after the uprising leaves unresolved the nation's wrenching divisions over Trump's brand of politics that led to the most violent domestic attack on one of America's three branches of government.





Attorney Michael van der Veen, lawyer for former U.S. President Donald Trump, smiles after speaking to members of the media after the Senate voted to acquit former President Trump during his impeachment trial in Washington, U.S. February 13, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap



''Senators, we are in a dialogue with history, a conversation with our past, with a hope for our future,'' said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa.., one of the House prosecutors in closing arguments.



''What we do here, what is being asked of each of us here in this moment will be remembered.''



Trump, unrepentant, welcomed the his second impeachment acquittal and said his movement ''has only just begun.'' He slammed the trial as ''yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country.''



Though he was acquitted of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, it was easily the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanors.



Voting to find Trump guilty were GOP Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.



Even after voting to acquit, the Republican leader Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as 'practically and morally responsible' for the insurrection. Trump could not be convicted because he was out of office, McConnell contended.



The trial had been momentarily thrown into confusion when senators Saturday suddenly wanted to consider potential witnesses, particularly concerning Trump's actions as the mob rioted. Prolonged proceedings could have been especially damaging for Biden's new presidency, significantly delaying his emerging legislative agenda. Coming amid the searing COVID-19 crisis, the Biden White House is trying to rush pandemic relief through Congress.



Biden has hardly weighed in on the proceedings and was spending the weekend with family at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland.





Lead Impeachment Manager Congressman Jamie Raskin speaks at a press conference while surrounded by House impeachment managers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 13, 2021. UPI-Yonhap



The nearly weeklong trial has delivered a grim and graphic narrative of the riot and its consequences in ways that senators, most of whom fled for their own safety that day, acknowledge they are still coming to grips with.



House prosecutors have argued that Trump's was the ''inciter in chief'' stoking a months-long campaign, and orchestrated pattern of violent rhetoric and false claims they called the ''big lie'' that unleashed the mob. Five people died, including a rioter who was shot and a police officer.



Trump's lawyers countered that Trump's words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment is nothing but a ''witch hunt'' designed to prevent him from serving in office again.



The senators, announcing their votes from their desks in the very chamber the mob had ransacked, were not only jurors but also witnesses. Only by watching the graphic videos _ rioters calling out menacingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the January certification tally _ did senators say they began to understand just how perilously close the country came to chaos.



Many senators kept their votes closely held until the final moments on Saturday, particularly the Republicans representing states where the former president remains popular. Most of them ultimately voted to acquit, doubting whether Trump was fully responsible or if impeachment is the appropriate response.



''Just look at what Republicans have been forced to defend,'' said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. ''Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive.''





Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, speaks at a press conference while surrounded by House impeachment managers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 13, 2021. UPI-Yonhap



The second-ranking Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota acknowledged afterward, ''It's an uncomfortable vote. I don't think there was a good outcome there for anybody.''



In closing arguments, lead defense attorney Michael van der Veen fell back on the procedural argument that Republican senators have embraced in their own reasoning of the case what he said is a ''phony impeachment show trial.''



''Mr. Trump is innocent of the charges against him,'' said Michael van der Veen. ''The act of incitement never happened.''



The House impeached Trump on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection one week after the riot, the most bipartisan vote of a presidential impeachment.



The delay Saturday came as senators wanted to hear evidence about Trump's actions during the riot, after prosecutors said he did nothing to stop it.



Fresh stories overnight focused on Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state, who said in a statement late Friday that Trump rebuffed a plea from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to call off the rioters.



Several Republican senators voted to consider witnesses. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina changed his vote to join them on that 55-45 vote.





A shirtless man skates past supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump holding a "Patriot Rally" at Pacific Beach during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in San Diego, California, U.S., February 13, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap
A still from Fire in the Mountains.

In his novel Giovannis Room, James Baldwin wrote, Nothing is more unbearable, once one has it, than freedom.

The same devastating feeling is experienced by Amin Nawabi, the young gay subject of the new documentary Flee (2021), who escaped from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as a child in 1996 and sought asylum in Denmark. He arrives in the new country, having survived the brutality of political upheaval and circuitous human trafficking. It leaves him fast on his feet, slow to trust people, and suspicious of the very safety he had been pursuing.

At 36, the protagonist lowers the guard and shares his story for the first time with his high school friend and filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen. The resulting film, which is masterfully animated with very brief portions of archival and shot footage, won the world documentary competition in the recently concluded Sundance Film Festival. The illustrated visuals, besides protecting Amins identity, evoke his hardship and humiliations with sensitivity.

Gripping tales

Can asylum seekers  their lives labelled legal or illegal, their narratives critiqued as credible or not credible  ever feel truly safe? Like so many others, Amin makes up parts of his statement to immigration officers but his lies come from lived pains. Flee peels layer after layer of Amins secret emotional burdens. Particularly harrowing are sequences of refugees walking nights through shadowy forests in Russia, later stranded in a flooding ship on the way to Sweden.

Lost childhoods are rightly mourned but the film reminds you to feel also for the elderly whose final years are spent in such uncertainty. By contrast, Amins hesitant and eventless coming out to his family is among the bright spots in the journey. As are vignettes from his childhood  running with kites, braiding his sisters hair, crushing on Jean-Claude Van Damme  and the story of how he came to have the gold chain he always wears around his neck.

The first virtual Sundance made it possible to access the best of global independent cinema from an apartment in Thane and to hit pause whenever one was overcome with tears. As doleful as the prolonged separation from big screens has been, this is how we watch films now. Having exactly four hours to finish a movie from the moment you start it did recreate the rushed air of film festivals. The winning entries of the festival will no doubt be some of the most-discussed titles of the year.

There is Hive, written and directed by first-time filmmaker Blerta Basholli, and set in the Balkan town of Krusha e Madhe, where hundreds of men were either massacred or went missing in the Kosovo war. As chances of them returning grow bleak and their families grow poorer, the women who are left behind, led by a stoic protagonist Fahrije Hoti, repair their circumstances by making and selling bottled ajvar, a local red pepper jam. Their co-operative takes off slowly and shakily because the last of the patriarchs in the region still demonise women for working and driving.

Inspirational stories

This kind of inspirational story might have easily ended up being loud, but under Bashollis admirably controlled watch, none of the lines sound unnatural, no moment seems too manipulated, even the touches of humour are as mellow as in life. With very little dialogue, and mainly by walking and simmering, Yllka Gashi (playing Hoti) conveys her characters desperation and determination in this worthy winner of the world dramatic film competition.

The American dramatic film winner CODA is less restrained. Ruby, a teenaged child of deaf adults and the only hearing member in the family, discovers a talent for singing. Her parents and brother must come to terms with her practicing an art they cannot appreciate.

Tropes of the standard high school drama  mean kids, that supportive professor, a stage performance or two  are thoughtfully elevated, but only briefly, by the larger context of disability and inclusion.

The more interesting piece of the story is Rubys familys fight to revolutionise the fishing industry, in which they have toiled for generations and which is reeling under corruption. Through sign and song, the film shows why the balance between leaning on and letting go is so hard to strike among loved ones.

In Summer of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), debutant filmmaker Ahmir Questlove Thompson proves that the Harlem Cultural Festival did indeed happen. Whereas 1969 is popularly associated with the much-documented Woodstock music festival, contemporary performances in Harlem  including Mavis Staples, Stevie Wonder and Sly among others  were infuriatingly forgotten outside of African American circles.

Questlove Thompsons winning documentary, which shows footage from the event for the first time ever and has performers and festival goers recount the zeitgeist of the period, is an important act of resurrection.

It takes us to Harlem at the height of the Black Power movement, a year after Martin Luther King Jrs assassination, where young blacks are pronouncing pride in their blackness, in their African-ness. The fashion, hair, and vocabulary of the community is changing. When Nina Simone, looking like an African Princess as one festival attendee notes in the film, sings Are you ready, black people? over and over again, the viewer has no choice but to be charged by the electricity of meaning, memory and music.

Closer home, one woman struggles against superstitions and systems in Ajitpal Singhs minutely observed, carefully constructed Fire in the Mountains.

She tends to her sons broken legs and runs a homestay in a picturesque yet punishing part of the Kumaon range. The money she has eked out to build a road leading to the hospital is imperilled by her husband who would rather spend it on a religious ritual to rid his son of what he believes is a curse. That such damaging blind faith thrives among us stirs pain and anger, which are echoed in the films staggering conclusion.
Congressman Jim Jordan has doubled down on his claim that cancel culture is the biggest threat facing the United States, as a deadly pandemic which has killed nearly half a million Americans rages on.

The Ohio Republican congressman, a Trump loyalist who has risen to national prominence through his frequent appearances on Fox News, repeated his statements about cancel culture on Sunday, the day after Donald Trump was acquitted at his impeachment trial for inciting the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January.

This is the number one issue for the country to address today, Mr Jordan told Fox News Maria Bartiromo.

If we don't push back on this and stop it and stand up ... for the constitution, the First Amendment, it will only get worse, he said, referring to the constitutional amendment that protects free speech in the US.

Ms Bartiromo chimed in: Its true.

Mr Jordan was discussing the negative public reaction to Mr Trumps defense lawyer Michael van der Veen. The Philadelphia-based personal injury attorneys driveway was vandalised this weekend with the word TRAITOR.

Conservative lawmakers and pundits have latched onto the term cancel culture to describe public, and sometimes official, backlash to controversial words and actions.

During the interview, Mr Jordan gave one example of what he viewed as cancel culture.

The San Francisco Board of Education said that Dianne Feinstein Elementary School will no longer be named after Senator Feinstein, a liberal icon  not good enough because 37 years ago she said something that cancel culture doesnt like. That's how ridiculous, that's how dangerous this is, Mr Jordan said.

The school board cited two controversies during Ms Feinsteins time as mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988.

For six years, Ms Feinstein allowed a Confederate flag that had been flown outside San Franciscos convention centre since 1964 continue to be on display. She ordered the flags removal in 1984.

The re-namers of the school also took issue with the mass evictions of Filipinos living in a hotel in San Francisco in the late 1970s  which happened before Ms Feinstein became mayor.

At Mr Trumps trial, Mr van der Veen took aim at cancel culture, saying that Democrats desire to bar his client from running from public office again in the future was offensive.

This unprecedented effort is not about Democrats opposing political violence, Mr van der Veen said of the trial. It is about Democrats trying to disqualify their political opposition. It is constitutional cancel culture.

Mr Jordan has previously decried cancel culture following the vote in the House of Representatives to strip Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments due to her previous comments and posts on social media endorsing violence against Democratic politicians.

Rep Greene has said that she regrets her social media activity, but she has not apologised for the comments.

She was stripped of her committee assignments on a mostly party-line vote earlier this month.

Once this starts, tell me where it ends, Mr Jordan said in an interview with Fox News last week. Where does it  whos next? Think of the cancel culture.

Mr Jordan added: This will never end. And if we dont stop it now, every single American is at risk, and thats what concerns me.
Justin Trudeau has also promised security for Indian diplomatic missions and personnel in his country against alleged Khalistani and separatist elements in Canada. Previously in two instances, Trudeau had reiterated his support to the farmers and their right to protest.

Taking a U-turn on his initial stance on Farm Protests, Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has now commended India for holding talks with the farmers holding demonstrations against 3 farm laws passed by the Indian government. Last year, Justin Trudeau had raised concerns over the same Farm Protests, which India had called unacceptable interference.

Justin Trudeau has also promised security for Indian diplomatic missions and personnel in his country against alleged Khalistani and separatist elements in Canada. Previously in two instances, Trudeau had iterated his support to the farmers and their right to protest.

Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry on Friday stated that PM Trudeau commended efforts of India to choose the path of dialogue as befitting in democracy. Srivastava added that Trudeau also acknowledged the responsibility of his government in providing protection to Indian personnel and premises in Canada.

Also read: India China border talks: Defence parliamentary panel to visit Galwan valley to review situation

Also read: China-Pak Vaccine CanSinoBIO: Inferior Chinese vaccine approved for emergency use in Pakistan

Also read: China setting up debt trap for Myanmar: Heres how it views Myanmar as an opportunity

This week, Trudeau had dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a supply of Coronavirus Vaccines produced by the Serum Institute. Trudeau also said that Indias tremendous pharmaceutical capacity and PM Modis leadership would be key to the world overcoming the pandemic.
Its an old political trick to make an easily achievable goal sound vauntingly ambitious in order to brag about it when its inevitably met.

It takes another level of chutzpah, though, to set out as a target something that has already happened.

The press has portrayed President Joe Bidens goal of reopening the majority of K-12 schools in his first 100 days as so far-reaching that the timeline might have to be extended.

Enter White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who explained on Tuesday that the administration defines a school as open if it holds in-classroom instruction at least once a week.

By this metric, the goal isnt really having more than half of schools open  its having more than half of schools still 80 percent closed.

Not only is this a ridiculous standard, schools have already cleared the bar. According to Burbio, which runs a school-opening tracker, about two-thirds of K-12 students are attending in-person or hybrid schools.

This goalpost-moving exemplifies how the Biden team isnt pushing nearly hard enough on reopening schools.

The issue has gone from being something of a red vs. blue battle last year to a cross-partisan area of consensus. In intellectual and moral terms, the debate over reopening schools has been won, but political progress has been slow, mainly because powerful teachers unions are standing in the way.

If Biden wanted to add a touch of unity to his governing agenda, hed call out the unions for being an obstacle to educational and economic progress at a challenging time for the country.

The science is clear enough, if that matters.

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association: There has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.

This makes the costs of school closures and remote learning all the harder to bear.

A McKinsey estimate from June concluded that students may have lost three months to a year of learning, depending on their circumstances. Then there are the social costs for children, among them higher rates of depression and anxiety.

School closures have pulled women out of the labor force to bear the brunt of all the juggling that has to go on at home.

Nonetheless, teacher unions have fought reopening and helped stymie reopening in cities and blue states. Most schools in California have been remote. Elementary schools reopened in New York, but not middle schools or high schools.

School districts in the Washington, D.C., region are floating a parodic solution to reopening  have kids return to the classroom so they can gather to watch remote teachers on computer screens.

Somehow private schools have largely managed to stay open, in part, because if they dont, no one gets paid.

In contrast, public school teachers are in a position to make demands even to consider coming back and doing their jobs.

After intense lobbying by the unions, most states have put teachers near the front of the line for vaccines (even though Bidens CDC director has said teacher vaccination isnt necessary for reopening).

As David Zweig points out in a piece at Wired, many union officials still insist that even vaccination wont guarantee a return to the classroom. This would be like surgeons demanding to be vaccinated, then not showing up for operations.

The Biden team contends that more spending is necessary for reopening. Biden is proposing another $130 billion in education funding in his COVID-19 bill, but as Dan Lips of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity notes, states still have tens of billions in unspent funds from last years relief packages.

No, this is a question of political will. Bidens goal should be to exert every ounce of influence that he has to get kids back in the classroom  for their own good and that of the countrys parents.

@RichLowry
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday informed that Mexico has received a consignment of Made-in-India coronavirus vaccine. Earlier, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at a news conference announced that the country would receive around a million doses of AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine sent from India in the early hours of Sunday.

Expressing our Amistad. Mexico receives Made in India vaccines. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/dQlENoHn38  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 14, 2021

Mexico received 'Made In India' covid-19 vaccine

In his tweet, Indian Ambassador to Mexico Manpreet Vohra on Saturday said that 870,000 'Made-in-India' vaccines will reach Mexico on Sunday morning. The tweet read:

India, under the 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, has dispatched shipment to neighbouring countries including Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, Barbados and Dominica, Afghanistan. Earlier this week, Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing 35,000 'Made In India coronavirus vaccines to the Caribbean nation.

Also Read: Dominican PM Raising 'faith In Bible' To Thank India For Vaccines Gets Health Min's Reply

Also Read: 'Thank You India': Dominica PM Extends Gratitude For 70,000 Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine

India's Neighbourhood First policy

India on Thursday handed over one million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Nepal under its Neighbourhood First policy. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the consignment to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. Nepal PM shared his gratitude towards India and wrote, "I thank Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji as well as the Government and people of India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine to Nepal at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for its own people."

India also dispatched coronavirus vaccine to Myanmar and Seychelles last month. A consignment of 1,00,000 doses of the Covishield vaccines was sent to Mauritius and a consignment of 50,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine was dispatched to Seychelles. India's other neighbourning country Sri Lanka received the shipment of the coronavirus vaccine on January 27. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa congratulated PM Modi, on the successful roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine and his generosity towards friendly neighbouring countries.

Also Read: No Death Or Severe Case Has Been Attributable To Covid Vaccine Till Date: Health Ministry

Also Read: India Inoculated Near 80 Lakh Beneficiaries Against COVID-19 In 28 Days: Health Ministry
Voddie Baucham asks for prayers as he battles 'full-blown' heart failure

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Christian author and preacher Voddie Baucham is soliciting prayers, sharing that his family is walking through the darkest valley we have ever faced as he battles a full-blown heart failure.

Brethren, if you have ever considered supporting us in prayer, please do so now, the U.S.-based preacher who is the dean of theology at African Christian University in Zambia, wrote in a post on Facebook Friday.

We are walking through the darkest valley we have ever faced. Not only have we experienced a great deal of loss in recent weeks, but we are also facing a family health crisis.

Baucham, who serves as a board member of Founders Ministries and founding faculty member of the Institute of Public Theology, is on his way to the U.S. for tests and treatment.

The founder of Voddie Baucham Ministries said he felt unwell at the end of a preaching tour this winter in Zambia.

I thought I had just worked too hard (17 preaching dates in 18 days, 7 sessions the last 3 days, etc.). However, as it turns out, I was experiencing heart failure! he shared.

I had first noticed the symptoms at the end of December when Bridget and I returned to Dallas to bury her mother. I experienced fatigue, and shortness of breath, among other things. However, I chalked it up to traveling with heavy bags and restrictive masks (not the trifecta of a hereditary heart defect, last Februarys mysterious pneumonia, and untreated sleep apnea).

One day, Baucham said, he felt what I could only describe as being waterboarded every two or three minutes.

The next morning I was at a medical center doing a series of labs and tests that revealed the worst, he shared. I was experiencing full-blown heart failure.

Baucham shared seven points to pray for, one of which reads, in part: Please pray for our children. They are terrified. May the Lord use this to teach them to trust in the Father who never gets weak or sick.

Another point reads, Please pray for our witness as we endure this trial.

We often think our faith shines brightest when we are on mountain tops when in fact, it is the dark valley that offers the sharpest relief and clearest contours, Baucham explained.

Tom Ascol, the senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida and the president of Founders Ministries, launched an online fundraiser for Baucham. Over $555,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page to support the Baucham family in just over a day.

Voddie Baucham is a faithful servant of Christ. He has been a dear friend for nearly twenty years  he is facing a serious medical trial, Ascol stressed on the fundraising page.

Christians around the world are praying for him and his family. Many would also like to help out financially, realizing that as he, Bridget, and their family walk this path, they will face significant expenses.

Baucham responded to the fundraiser with gratitude.

We have no idea how much all of this will cost and every bit helps, he wrote on Facebook Saturday.
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An unrepentant Donald Trump was acquitted at his impeachment trial on Saturday (Alex Brandon/AP)

Donald Trump was acquitted on Saturday of inciting the horrific attack on the US Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial that spared him the first-ever conviction of a current or former US president.

The trial also, however, exposed the fragility of Americas democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to terms with the violence sparked by his defeated presidency.

Barely a month since the deadly January 6 riot that stunned the world, the Senate convened for a rare weekend session to deliver its verdict, voting while armed National Guard troops continued to stand their posts outside the iconic building.

The quick trial, the nations first of a former president, showed in raw detail how close the invaders had come to destroying the nations deep tradition of a peaceful transfer of presidential power after Mr Trump had refused to concede the election.

Rallying outside the White House, he unleashed a mob of supporters to fight like hell for him at the Capitol just as Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Bidens victory.

As hundreds stormed the building, some in tactical gear engaging in bloody combat with police, lawmakers fled for their lives. Five people died.

The verdict, on a vote of 57-43, is all but certain to influence not only the former presidents political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats to convict, but it was far from the two-third threshold required.

The outcome after the uprising leaves unresolved the nations wrenching divisions over Mr Trumps brand of politics that led to the most violent domestic attack on one of Americas three branches of government.

Mr Trump, unrepentant, welcomed his second impeachment acquittal and said his movement has only just begun. He slammed the trial as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country.

Though he was acquitted of the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, it was easily the largest number of senators to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty of an impeachment count of high crimes and misdemeanours.

Voting to find Mr Trump guilty were GOP senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Even after voting to acquit, the Republican leader Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as practically and morally responsible for the insurrection. Mr McConnell contended Mr Trump could not be convicted because he was gone from the White House.

In a statement issued several hours after the verdict, Mr Biden highlighted the bipartisan nature of the vote to convict as well as Mr McConnells strong criticism of Mr Trump.

In keeping with his stated desire to see the country overcome its divisions, Mr Biden said everyone, especially the nations leaders, had a duty to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

That is how we end this uncivil war and heal the very soul of our nation. That is the task ahead. And its a task we must undertake together, said Mr Biden, who had hardly weighed in on the proceedings during the week.

The trial had been momentarily thrown into confusion when senators on Saturday suddenly wanted to consider potential witnesses, particularly concerning Mr Trumps actions as the mob rioted.

Prolonged proceedings could have been especially damaging for Mr Bidens new presidency, significantly delaying his emerging legislative agenda. Coming amid the searing Covid-19 crisis, the Biden White House is trying to rush pandemic relief through Congress.

Expand Close President Joe Biden, seen arriving for a trip to Camp David on Saturday night, called for Americans to defend the truth and to defeat the lies following the trial result (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Joe Biden, seen arriving for a trip to Camp David on Saturday night, called for Americans to defend the truth and to defeat the lies following the trial result (Evan Vucci/AP)

The nearly week-long trial delivered a grim and graphic narrative of the riot and its consequences in ways that senators, most of whom fled for their own safety that day, acknowledge they are still coming to grips with.

House prosecutors have argued that Mr Trump was the inciter in chief, stoking a months-long campaign with an orchestrated pattern of violent rhetoric and false claims they called the big lie that unleashed the mob. Five people died, including a rioter who was shot and a police officer.

Mr Trumps lawyers countered that his words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment was nothing but a witch hunt designed to prevent him from serving in office again.

The senators, announcing their votes from their desks in the very chamber the mob had ransacked, were not only jurors but also witnesses.

Only by watching the graphic videos  rioters calling out menacingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the January certification tally  did senators say they began to understand just how perilously close the country came to chaos.

Expand Close Mitch McConnell said Mr Trump was practically and morally responsible for the January 6 riot (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mitch McConnell said Mr Trump was practically and morally responsible for the January 6 riot (AP)

Many senators kept their votes closely held until the final moments on Saturday, particularly the Republicans representing states where the former president remains popular. Most of them ultimately voted to acquit, doubting whether Mr Trump was fully responsible or if impeachment was the appropriate response.

Just look at what Republicans have been forced to defend, said Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer. Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive.

The second-ranking Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, acknowledged, Its an uncomfortable vote, adding: I dont think there was a good outcome there for anybody.
DUBAI : A Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said it destroyed two explosives fired into Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon in an attack the Houthis said hit Abha airport in the kingdom's south.

A spokesman for the coalition said the drones had been fired by the Houthis towards civilian targets in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia, close to Abha.

A military spokesman for the Iran-aligned Houthi group said two drones launched on Sunday afternoon by its forces had struck Saudi Arabia's Abha airport.

This is the fifth such attack in four days, all of which the Houthis say struck an airfield or base in southern Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday Riyadh said an attack caused a fire in a civilian aircraft at Abha airport.

The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Houthis. UN officials are trying to revive peace talks to end the war which the UN says has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

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When will your next stimulus check go out? Congress has a deadline

Legislation to give you a third COVID stimulus check  for up to $1,400 this time  is sprinting through Congress, clearing hurdles like an Olympian. And the finish line is in sight.

A powerful committee in the House gave its approval last week, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer) has revealed that lawmakers have a looming deadline that they're trying to beat.

Congressional leaders already have the new round of direct payments moving along a fast track, but there's a report the process may be kicked into an even speedier gear.

Relief could be just weeks away if you need the money to help deal with bills or pay down debt. Here's the latest on when to expect your next stimulus check.

Where things stand on the new stimulus checks

Stratos Brilakis / Shutterstock

The new, $1,400 payments are part of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue package. It's packed with a wide variety of other aid, including $400 a week in bonus unemployment benefits.

The Democrats who control Congress have Biden's plan zooming in the fast lane using a special process that would allow it to pass with simple majorities  meaning with no Republican support, if it comes to that.

But one possible roadblock under that scenario is West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who has said only the neediest Americans should get the full $1,400. Democrats hold the Senate by a razor-thin margin and will need every vote from their side, including Manchin's.

The current legislation would phase out payments for Americans making over $75,000 a year, same as with the earlier stimulus checks. Manchin has preferred a $50,000 threshold and says he wants proof that people making $75,000 are truly in need.

Last spring, most recipients spent their first $1,200 stimulus check on essential needs, including groceries and rent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has said.

A portion of the cash also was used for saving and investing, a bureau survey found, or for other, unspecified things  possibly to buy affordable life insurance. Demand for life insurance policies has surged amid COVID.

Story continues

So, when are you likely to get another stimulus check?

A bill including the fresh stimulus checks was passed last week by the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, one of the panels that control the government's purse strings. A vote by the full House is expected next week.

After the House, the action shifts to the Senate. If Democratic leaders can keep Manchin on board, they may try to throttle up even further by sending the legislation directly to the Senate floor, with no committee votes, according to the Washington newsletter Punchbowl News.

Speaker Pelosi says the goal is to have a bill on the president's desk in time to keep millions of Americans from losing unemployment money on March 14. That's when an existing round of bonus benefits is due to expire.

If everything goes according to plan  and Biden signs the bill during the first part of March  the IRS may need just a few days to start pumping out stimulus check payments again. And that means you could receive your next infusion of cash as soon as the middle part of March.

What if you need more stimulus check money right away?

GreenMiles / Shutterstock

Of course, that timing is still at least a month away. If you can't wait and need more money immediately, here are a few ways you might find cash in the meantime.

Cut the cost of your debt. Have you been leaning hard on your credit cards to get through the COVID crisis? If so, the interest is probably costing you a ton. Get a better handle on your debt  and make it disappear sooner  by sweeping your balances into a single debt consolidation loan at lower interest.

Shrink your insurance bills. Because many people have been driving less during the pandemic, car insurance companies have doled out discounts. But what if yours isn't giving you a break? That's easy  just shop around for a better deal. You also might save hundreds on your homeowners insurance by comparing rates to find a lower price on that coverage.

Refinance your mortgage (if you've got one) and slash your payments. If you own a home and haven't refinanced your mortgage in the last year, you're overdue. Rates have been the lowest ever, so refinance your existing home loan and reap big savings. An estimated 16.7 million U.S. homeowners could reduce their monthly house payments by an average $303 through a refi, according to mortgage tech and data provider Black Knight.

What if you're at risk of missing out on a stimulus check this time?

Congress is moving ahead with the same income limits on stimulus checks as before  meaning if you got a full payment last time, you'll get one again. But that could change.

If it turns out your income may disqualify you from receiving a $1,400 check, there are a couple of things you can do:

After reports emerged that the Judicial Department and Colorados former chief justice awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to an employee to prevent her from disclosing incidents of workplace misconduct and sex discrimination, multiple legal associations and judges are now urging an inquiry.
A Cork man who raped his partner's semi-comatose teenage niece when she was sleeping over at their home after a night out has been jailed for seven years.

The 27-year-old man, who can not be named to protect the victim's identity, was convicted of raping the 17-year-old girl at his Co Cork home on August 27, 2017 by a jury following a trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork last year. He has no previous convictions.

Mr Justice Alex Owens noted that during the trial the accused man had given evidence that the young woman had been a willing participant but that the reality was different.

He said she had been drinking and was in a comatose condition on the bed when the accused man had pulled down her jeans and raped her, before telling her not to tell anyone.

Mr Justice Owens said it had been a gross breech of trust and he had known full well she was in no condition to resist. He noted the accused man had then tried to cover his tracks and was fully aware he had taken advantage of a semi comatose girl.

He noted that in the probation report the man said the girl had not been intoxicated enough not to know what she was doing and on his account he was the victim of a seduction.

He noted the substantial harm caused to the victim and the seriously damaged relationships within her family. He noted in mitigation the man's previous good character and the testimonials handed into court.

Mr Justice Owens imposed a sentence of seven years imprisonment and ordered four years post release supervision.

In her victim impact statement, the now 21 year old woman, said the offence had left her feeling vulnerable, as well as dirty and violated. She said she had spent a long three years trying to heal only to have to come to court and tell her story again.

She said everyone around her has been effected by the offence and a hole has been left in her family after she had not been believed by her aunt, whom she had grown up admiring.

She said she now hopes to put the offence behind her and hopes that he will never be able to do this to anyone again.

Siobhan Lankford SC, defending, said the accused man is still in a relationship with the girl's aunt and his family is supportive of him.

She outlined he had a good work history but has lost his career as a consequence of his actions. She said he has not come to any garda attention while on bail.

Additional Evidence

A local garda told Thomas Creed SC, prosecuting, that the girl had been socialising with family members including her aunt and the accused that evening and had ended up sleeping in a bedroom in her aunts home.

During the night the accused man left his bedroom, went to where the girl was sleeping, kissed her and asked her if she will on the pill. He then raped her and went back to his own bedroom.

The following day the accused man drove her home and she pretended not to remember anything.

When she got home she told her mother she had woken up during the night to the accused man having sex with her. Garda were alerted and she was examined at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.

The accused man told gardai that he and the girl had been kissing and she had not given verbal agreement but discussed if she was on the pill and it happened.

The investigation found the accused man had searched the internet about rape and 'what is rape' before gardai arrived at his home.
The morning after Donald J. Trumps stunning presidential electoral victory in 2016 my very smart lawyer-daughter observed, Abbie, I think we simply underestimated the level of white rage in the country following the Obama years.

I believe she was absolutely correct. My daughter, her husband and their 9-year-old daughter had stumped for Bernie Sanders in their hometown of Worcester and in New Hampshire. Her younger brother, though, a hip-hop artist with a degree in political science, had toured the Tea Party Midwest the year before, noticed a marked, compelling sense of reactionary white alienation in the region and had warned of an upset for the Democrat shoo-in liberals. He, too, was correct, of course.

Past IS prelude. The storming of the nations Capitol on Jan. 6, just like Trumps 2016 storming of our nations historically fickle experiment in democracy, was telegraphed, forewarned. Many Americans of conscience could feel it, they just couldnt see it. Or, they didnt want to.

Like many social upheavals in our nations relatively brief history, the role of white supremacy, that demonic vice originally engineered by the American 1% and their minions to be as destructive as it is deniable by our ardent, white working classes, is seminal.

Denial is racisms heartless enabler, a practiced self-defense to make the uncomfortable comfortable, most often through gross distortions of real life, of reality. Our best chance at national racial redemption is to truthfully tell the stories and histories of American racism and white supremacy.

Kamal Ali, Associate Professor of Ethnic & Gender Studies at Westfield State University, left, organized a rally outside of West Springfield High School Wednesday to protest alleged abuse of Muslim sisters by fellow students over a period of years. They were joined by students from Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. April 30. 2014 (Michael S. Gordon/The Republican) Staff-ShotThe Republican file

If were going to live under one roof as an indivisible American people, with liberty and justice for all of us, it is absolutely essential that we educate ourselves on certain undeniable contradictions and distortions that have, over time, assumed the mantel of truth.

The back story of white racism is part of the apocryphal story of race and our nations ruling class obsession to create a scientific rationale for imperial slavery on one hand, while maintaining the equally dangerous, galling hypocrisy of a totally false Christian respectability on the other.

The truth about race is there IS no race. There are no genetic markers, or visible ones for that matter, that we find in one so-called race that we dont find in another race.

All anatomically modern humans, homo sapiens, are descendants from a common Black biological ancestor from Africa, most likely East Africa. For most of us this truth is like learning the Earth is not flat, so addicted are we to the European illusion that race is science, and a determiner of ability, performance and culture. That belief did not develop by happenstance or coincidence.

The slave system established in the Americas and the Caribbean delivered unimaginable profits in the United States and Europe. Resultantly, the contest to portray enslaved or oppressed people as pagans or subhuman heathens whose subjugation by superior white cultures was not only normal, but the decree of almighty God, began in earnest.

Beginning in the early 18th century highly motivated clergymen, physicians, philosophers, jurists and lay scientists were hard at work attempting to classify what they supposed were different racial groups along a hierarchical ladder, with whites and other western Europeans at the top, and darker races at the bottom. These were men, by the way, who represented the intellectual elite of Europe and America, not a bevy of charlatans and conspiracy theorists of the type we know and love today.

The idea was to prove, empirically, the superiority of whiteness as justification for the continued exploitation, globally, of inferior races. In short, early 18th century anthropologists, as they came to be known, tended to follow a biblical or monogenetic view of humankind that implied all humans were of one species but varied in appearance and capabilities.

But even the Bible thumpers were patently racist, describing folk who looked like my family as not the white mans equal, who were meant to be servants of servants, and who believed slavery is justifiable. Thomas Jefferson, slave holder and father of four surviving children with half-caste Sally Hemmings, the Beyonce of her time, suspicioned Blacks were a distinct race, but was absolutely convinced of their dulltasteless inferiority to white folk.

By the 19th century the science had devolved to the point where blacks and other racial minorities were seen as different species altogether, and were summarily, in their view, written out of the human family. What these anthropologists were really up to, their smoke-and-mirror experiments with cranial capacity, head shape, hair texture and brain color notwithstanding, was affirming their own preconceived prejudices and formally justifying the racial inequality, oppression and immorality of their world.

In 1859, a year or so before the Civil War, Charles Darwin published his work of authentically scientific, biological literature popularly known as The Origin of Species. However, the formal title of his work, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, is clear in its intent to label a publication that would, in part, underscore and affirm the glaring inequities in the prevailing racial landscape, which it did.

Pseudo-scientists like Herber Spencer and Francis Galton (Darwins British cousin) used Darwins work to usher in a more sophisticated strain of racism known Social Darwinism, which then metastasized into Eugenics  a huge tent that offers cover for a variety of the not-so-subtle racist incarnations of today.

This photo from 2018 shows James F. Hennessey Award recipients Kamal H. Ali, left, and John Bracey, right, with their wives, Ayesha Ali and Ingrid Bracey, at the Greater Springfield NAACP Centennial Freedom Fund Banquet. The Hennessey award is the highest honor given by the organization and recognizes individuals for their efforts in eliminating racial discrimination and promoting civil right.The Republican file

The corrupting strands of racism and racial supremacy, bigotry and intolerance braided into American law and governance, public and private policies and practices before and since our nations inception, must be targeted, isolated and done away with. How else can our national home be a comfortable home, an equitable home, a loving home to everyone living there?

The historical complicity of the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts in the establishment and maintenance of slavery, segregation, voter suppression; the Congressional denial of Black and brown folk access to Social Security, and Black veterans to G.I. Bill grants supporting housing and education; the banks red-lining of urban neighborhoods while exposing Blacks to predatory mortgage practices; the criminal justice systems collusion with state courts to unleash the scourge of mass incarceration on urban poor communities, then deny released inmates civil and legal status: these malevolent practices, among a litany of other abridgments of colored folks human rights are reprehensible. So, too, are the innumerable racist affronts to the ability of Black, white, yellow and brown people to enjoy, with dignity, the full array of opportunities that are integral to the America their labor and extreme sacrifice has produced.

We can and must do better. And, I suggest we do it sooner rather than later. The barbarians arent at the gate, theyre in our House!

Kamal H. Ali, who grew up in Springfield, retired in 2016 from Westfield State University, where he holds the position of professor emeritus in the Department of Ethnic and Gender Studies. He is the former director of the universitys Office of Minority Affairs and the universitys Urban Education and Student Support Services programs. Ali is also a founder and trustee of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts and an imam-chaplain for Muslim inmates at the Hampden County House of Correction.

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As a result of the UK leaving the EU in recent weeks, online shopping from the UK has changed a lot for consumers in Ireland and it is more important than ever for online shoppers to know where they are buying from.

There has been a major increase in shopping local since before Christmas as businesses figh to stay open while the pandemic rages on.

Local store, Spirit Clothing, has been adapting to the changes in business operation and quietly building itself into one of Ireland's leading online retailers.

Along with its Main Street store in Longford, renowned for its customer service and award winning wedding services, spiritclothing.ie have become a major online player in the online business and find their central location in Longford gives the retailer a great advantage in the online fashion industry.

Offering a wide range of menswear, as well as kids and ladies stock, spiritclothing.ie has seen a surge in recent weeks as Irish customers search for trusted Irish websites amid the changes effected by Brexit.

The website has seen a surge in recent weeks from Irish customers and we are putting it down to the uncertainty relating to unknown charges but we always were confident that there was better value buying from irish sites rather than buying from foreign suppliers, said Joe Flynn of Spirit Clothing.

In the recent past Irish people simply bypassed the Irish companies in favour of the UK multiples but we in Spirit are seeing a change in the way people are considering future purchases, not only on the uncertainty with potential extra charges but also in the event of having to return an item - people dont know where they stand.

Along with many local retailers the guys in Spirit in Longford have been busy doing local deliveries, which have been especially popular with the kids clothes, which are delivered free on a local basis. Spirit also have free UK and Ireland delivery on sales over 50 and with next day delivery to anywhere in Ireland.

Prices are actually generally cheaper, Joe explained,  and we have fast delivery - usually next day delivery. Also, with spirit clothing, its easier and more transparent when returning items, with no hidden custom charges.

The Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has recently advised Irish consumers to be cautious when shopping online, warning that a .ie domain does not necessarily mean items will be shopped from Ireland. Checking the businesss registered address in the terms and conditions (T&Cs) section of the website will reveal where they are registered.

Checking a websites terms and conditions section is also important to learn about VAT an import charges, and returns policy.

More information on VAT is available via www.revenue.ie.
It has been almost five years since my aunt Papiya Ghosh and Malti Devi were brutally murdered in our familys home in Patna. Though several years have passed, the pain and injustice of their murders remain raw. Every time a birthday or holiday passes without hearing Bumbles voice, the harsh reality that she is gone sets in.

Though some progress has been made in finding the killers, the facts behind who plotted the murder and why remains a mystery to us. I have resigned myself to the fact that true justice is not attainable on this Earth. Even if we somehow were able to find the killers and the mastermind and sentence them to life in prison, that still would not bring Bumble back. Nothing will ever bring Bumble backthis is the cruelest realization of all.

In all likelihood, we may never know why this happened and who the true perpetrators of this crime are. To this day, I cannot reconcile the facts of what occurred and how little information the investigation unearthed. How is it possible that two people were brutally stabbed to death, a house was completely ransacked, a washer and a refrigerator were moved out of a house that had two ferociously protective dogs without anyone noticing that something was amiss? How is it possible that no one heard a scream, a cry for help, the dogs barking incessantly or the sounds of furniture and machines being moved in the middle of the night? These questions may never be answered, so our family chosen to channel our energy into finding ways to honor Bumbles life. Some of the things developed in her honor include the book, A Toast to Bumble, a scholarship fund for female students at Patna University, and a website with detailed information about her life, www.papiyaghosh.com.

In addition to being an outstanding professor and passionate historical researcher, she was also a tremendous and loving person. I will always remember her warmth, how she loved to give long hugs, and her thoughtfulness. Visits to India are not the same without a trip to Patna and catching up with Bumble. She was the consummate hostess. She knew all of your favorite meals and desserts and was sure to have them ready upon your arrival. She would even rent movies or select a few books for you from her vast collection to ensure that you were entertained. It is sad to think about how much she has missed in the years since her death and how much more she could have accomplished. She did not even have the chance to see her first book be published, which was something she had worked on for much of her lifetime. For these reasons and more, the injustice of her death never seems to lessen. For some, things continue as they were before but the world of those who knew and loved her has changed indelibly. Her loss continues to color our lives.

I could write endlessly about all her great attributes and how much she meant to us but how could I ever convey all that she was? Her absence has left a void that can never be filled but we do our best to honor her legacy. Though she is not with us physically, Bumbles spirit is always present. As trite as it sounds, every time I see a beautiful sunset, the ocean, or a sweet dog, it brings me some comfort because I know how much she enjoyed these simple pleasures. Perhaps the most productive thing we can do now is work to ensure that her horrific murder does not overshadow the wonderfully rich life she led.

WASHINGTON: Donald Trumps first impeachment trial centered on a phone call Americans never heard with the leader of a country very far away. The trial went on for two weeks of he-said-she-said. There was a mountain of evidence to pore over but not one drop of blood to see.

Trumps second impeachment trial was a steroidal sequel centered on the rage, violence and anguish of one day in Washington. There was nothing foreign or far away about it. There was blood.

Together these trials a year apart spoke to one presidents singular capacity to get into, and out of, trouble the story of Trumps life. The only president to be impeached twice has once again evaded consequences, though this time as an election loser shunted off the field of play to the jeering section, at least for now.

In a broadside against Trump every bit as brutal as that leveled by Democrats, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declared the ex-president practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day with his unconscionable behavior" and disgraceful dereliction of duty.

The leader of the free world cannot spend two weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe them and do reckless things," McConnell said.

But this was after he gave Trump an escape hatch for the ages, voting to acquit him on the grounds that the Senate, in his view, cannot legitimately try a president out of office.

Until the conclusion of the five-day trial, the noisiest man in America stayed silent, down in Florida. But the panic, terrified whispers of officials hiding from their attackers and the crack of a fatal gunshot played out on a big screen in the Senate chamber penetrated less than six weeks earlier by the Trump-flag-waving insurrectionists.

This time the case did not hang on a whistleblower in the bowels of the national security bureaucracy.

This was an impeachment driven by what people saw happen and by Trumps voluminous public rhetoric, heard that day, for weeks before, and after until Twitter exiled him and he let his lawyers and supporters do the talking while the trial played out.

We saw it, we heard it, we lived it," said the Democratic majority leader, Sen. Chuck Schumer. This was the first presidential impeachment trial in history in which all senators were not only jurors and judges but were witnesses to the constitutional crime that was committed.

Trumps fanciful boast five years ago that he could shoot someone in the middle of New Yorks Fifth Avenue and still be loved by his followers was never, of course, put to the test in his presidency. But something like it was, on Pennsylvania Avenue.

On Jan. 6, he sent his followers down that street to the Capitol, where they committed their mayhem. And in the end, that did not cost him the loyalty of enough supporters in Congress to convict him on the charge of inciting an insurrection.

The Senate acquitted Trump on a 57-43 vote Saturday, well short of the 67 needed to convict him.

___

2020

Sorry haters, Im not going anywhere," Trump declared after his Senate acquittal Feb. 5, 2020, on charges of abusing power and obstructing justice. The Senate, then under narrow Republican control, voted 52-48 to clear him of abuse of power and 53-47 to clear him of obstruction.

It had taken Democrats some four months to get to that point, grinding through congressional inquiries into Trumps effort to persuade Ukraine to investigate Hunter Bidens business dealings there. The goal was to tarnish Joe Biden, the father, as he sought the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid needed by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia were hanging in the balance. The power and resources of the U.S. government had been put in service of Trumps personal political benefit, said the Democrats.

To many Republicans in Congress, Democrats were merely impeaching Trump for being Trump. For others, Trumps behavior, while troubling, didnt rise to the extraordinary level they said was required to try to remove a president between elections.

I would like you to do us a favor, Trump told Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, uttering the sentence that emerged from a rough transcript of their phone call and came to symbolize the heavy-handed lobbying by the president and his aides.

Trump unleashed over 270 tweets when his fate was in the Senates hands, many attacking the process and the participants. Our case against lyin, cheatin, liddle Adam Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer, Nervous Nancy Pelosi, their leader, dumb as a rock AOC, & the entire Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrat Party, starts today," said one.

The verdict came strictly along partisan lines, with one exception. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah voted with Democrats to convict Trump of abusing power.

McConnell, fully with the president on this one, was ready to move on. As far as Im concerned, its in the rearview mirror," he said in response to Trumps acquittal.

So it was for nearly everyone, quite suddenly. In the trials final days, the U.S. declared a public health emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak, already spreading, and the first COVID-19 death was recorded in the country by the end of the month.

___

2021

Trump went tweetless during impeachment No. 2, blocked from his main social media platforms for his history of false statements and conspiracy theories about the election. He stayed low, no longer popping up for his once-frequent interviews with conservatives on TV, either.

As in the first impeachment, no witnesses were called.

The House Democratic impeachment managers came forward with new and graphic video from the assault and a clearer picture of how close the lawmakers trapped at the Capitol had been to the attackers hunting for them. The peril to Trumps vice president, Mike Pence, who was presiding in the Senate during the days election certification, also came into sharper relief.

If there was anything like a smoking gun, it had been fired in plain sight.

But there was little more suspense about the outcome than there had been for the Ukraine affair. Democrats never expected to win the necessary two-thirds of the vote. Seven Republicans voted with the Democrats in the end, more than anticipated but not enough. Romney was among them.

It was known on the final day that McConnell would vote to acquit.

It was not known that he would denounce Trump with such scorching words even while passing the hot potato to the Biden Justice Department or state attorneys general, with the observation that Trump the private citizen now is exposed to criminal and civil laws.

He didnt get away with anything, McConnell said. Yet.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 18:05:08|Editor: huaxia

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Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama (3rd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo (2nd L) attend an event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Yat Sen School in Suva, Fiji, Feb. 14, 2021. Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama attended Sunday the celebrations by the Chinese community in Fiji for the Lunar New Year which fell on Feb. 12 this year. During the celebrations held at the Yat Sen School in Suva, capital of Fiji, Bainimarama congratulated local Chinese on the Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

SUVA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama attended Sunday the celebrations by the Chinese community in Fiji for the Lunar New Year which fell on Feb. 12 this year.

During the celebrations held at the Yat Sen School in Suva, capital of Fiji, Bainimarama congratulated local Chinese on the Lunar New Year, saying that "Chinese New Year is a time to reflect on the events of the past year and it is an opportunity to look forward to a better future. I wish health, happiness and prosperity for 2021 to you, your family and your friends."

The prime minister also hoped that the spirit of ox will help Fiji work together to rebuild its economy which contracted by 19 percent last year due to COVID-19.

"This is a year that will be marked by those qualities we associate with the ox--steadfastness, strength, hard work and perseverance. Most importantly, oxen work best in teams, and we will all need to pull together and work together as we rebuild our economy."

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said that the animal "Ox" in Chinese culture symbolizes diligence, bravery and perseverance. It also represents for pioneering, enterprising and success. Therefore, the Year of Ox will be a year of both cultivation and harvest.

"As we celebrate the lunar new year, I wish China-Fiji relations a harmonious, prosperous, and bright future, and wish both Chinese and Fijian people good luck and happiness in the Year of Ox," he said.

The year 2020 is special in the history of China-Fiji relations as the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations together, the ambassador said, adding that China looks forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation with Fiji in various fields in 2021 to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The ambassador also praised local Chinese for the role of bridges they have played in helping maintain and improve the China-Fiji relations over the past years, especially during the extraordinary time of COVID-19.

The Chinese community in Fiji also entertained people by holding art performances and a Chinese food fair. Enditem
Aspen, CO (81611)

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Republican Senator Bill Cassidy defended his vote to convict Donald Trump at his impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol, saying that it was clear that he wished that lawmakers be intimidated as they convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

The Louisiana senator told ABCs This Week on Sunday that the former president continued to basically sanction the mob of his supporters as they launched an assault inside the halls of Congress.

Not until later did he did he ask them to leave, Mr Cassidy said. All of that points to a motive and a method. That is wrong, and he should be held accountable.

The senator was among only seven Republicans to vote to convict the former president; he was acquitted by a vote of 57-43, short of a two-thirds majority vote to secure a conviction.

Read more: Live updates following Trumps acquittal

In retaliation for breaking from the GOP, the Louisiana Republican Partys executive committee unanimously voted to censure the senator.

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen Cassidy to convict former President Trump, the group said on Saturday. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.

Louisianas other senator, Republican John Neely Kennedy, voted against convicting Mr Trump.

In a brief statement following his vote, Senator Cassidy said: Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.

Democratic House impeachment managers acting as prosecutors in the trial outlined the former presidents months-long campaign to undermine election results with a big lie that the election was stolen from his supporters as he courted political violence, fuelling an attack on the Capitol bolstered by his conspiracy theories.

Despite voting against the former presidents conviction, GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the former president was practically and morally responsible for provoking the attacks and condemned Mr Trump for his disgraceful dereliction of duty in the face of the attacks.

Story continues

They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth, he told the Senate following the vote. Because he was angry. He had lost an election.

Asked whether he believes Mr Trump can run a credible campaign in 2024, Senator Cassidy said I think his force wanes in the party.

Americans want a leader who is accountable, and a leader who they could trust, he said.

Read More

Trump impeachment trial: The seven Republican senators who voted to convict ex-president

Pelosi condemns cowardly group of Republicans after Trump acquitted over Capitol riot

McConnell says Trump practically and morally to blame for riot in stunning rebuke despite acquittal

Trump impeachment: What happened at the trial?

Can Trump run again in 2024 election?


By Mark S. Singel

The quality I admire most in politicians is courage. We dont expect the stunning bravery of troops facing German guns on the ramparts of Omaha Beach. Their line of work doesnt usually require running into fires or rescuing children from disasters. But voters are entitled to courage from their elected officials.

As of this writing, it appears that the U.S. Senate does not have the votes to render a guilty verdict in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Too many Republicans are affected by amnesia when it comes to what happened on Jan. 6. They are turning a blind eye to the worst crime ever committed by a sitting president.

They are willingly violating their oaths to exercise fair and impartial justice because they are afraid of the lunatic right wing of their party that has fallen for the big lie that, somehow, Trump won the election.

Make no mistake about it: voting not guilty ignores a mountain of evidence that the former president incited an insurrection. His words and actions before, during, and after Jan. 6 sent a bloodthirsty mob into the Capitol with murder and mayhem on their minds.

It appears that our own Senator, Pat Toomey, is an exception to the pandering Republicans. He has spoken out forcefully against the big lie and strongly in support of a peaceful transition of power. He told the truth to the fringe elements of his party.

Some suggest that Toomeys announced retirement gives him this freedom. Hes not running so he doesnt need to grovel at the feet of the muddled MAGA masses. Maybe, but lets credit our senator with standing his ground.

And lets call out the others who turn a blind eye to insurrection and a betrayal of our electoral processes. They are cowards.

So, as we prepare for another crucial election in 2022, who will rise to the level of leadership that we deserve in a U.S. Senator?

An early entrant in the U.S. Senate race is Lt. Governor John Fetterman. At six-foot-eight with a practiced, gruff disposition, he has attracted national media coverage for his outspoken views on the presidential election, gender equality, and legalizing marijuana.

He has also irritated colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate for, in their view, wielding the gavel in a partisan fashion. Within days of floating his candidacy, Fetterman raised nearly $2 million in small amounts from every part of the state. It is too early to declare front-runnership, but he is on that track  especially since Attorney General Josh Shapiro is widely considered to be headed for a run at the governors seat.

Other Democrats being mentioned come mostly from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area. Connor Lamb from Pittsburgh has carefully carved out a moderate position that reflects his blue-collar district. The question is: does that sell in the liberal suburban counties around Philadelphia?

Joe Torsella, from Philadelphia has some state-wide name recognition as the former State Treasurer but maybe not enough to burst into the top tier of candidates.

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean from Montgomery County performed well as a manager of the impeachment trial and has impressed many with her poise and leadership skills. She may face a local battle for the nomination if Montgomery County Commission Chair Valerie Arkoosh gets into the race.

It is likely that more than a few other Democrats will emerge.

On the Republican side, several Congressmen have shown some interest including: Guy Reschenthaler, Allegheny County; Glenn Thompson, Centre County; and Dan Muesser, Schuylkill County. Note that all of these candidates endorsed efforts to challenge the Presidential vote count. Just saying.

Two other names of note: Paul Mango lost a primary donnybrook for governor in 2018 but went on to help lead Operation Warp Speed at the federal level. His personal wealth could, once again, propel him to top-tier status in the field. Another dark horse could be Jeff Bartos from Montgomery County. Bartos ran as Scott Wagners Lt. Governor candidate in 2018 and impressed leaders of both parties with his political skills.

A U.S. Senate seat is one of the most desirable prizes in politics. Look for a crowded field in 2022.

Spare us from candidates who, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, spout loony lies and conspiracy theories. Do not give us candidates who will use Jan. 6 as a rallying cry to stir up extremists.

Avoid any candidate who tried to tamper with the results of a safe and secure presidential election.

Above all, look for courage in any candidate who asks for our vote.

Mark S. Singel is a former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. He and Republican Charlie Gerow can be seen at 8:30 a.m. each Sunday on CBS21s Face the State.
A series of blunders in Melbourne's Covid-19 contact tracing system have been exposed despite the state premier claiming it was one of the best in the country.

At least three flaws have been identified as authorities try to contain the latest outbreak at Melbourne Airport's Holiday Inn, which has grown to 14 cases.

They include a patient in intensive care receiving a delayed phone call from contact tracers, the wrong passengers at Melbourne Airport being told to isolate, and close contacts failing to receive isolation clearance because contact tracers had incorrect contact details, Sun Herald reported.

This comes despite Daniel Andrews declaring on Tuesday there are 'higher standards' with safety procedures at Victoria's quarantine hotels when compared with neighbouring states.

At least three flaws have been identified as authorities try to contain the latest outbreak at Melbourne Airport's Holiday Inn (pictured), which has grown to 14 cases

This comes despite Daniel Andrews declaring on Tuesday there are 'higher standards' with safety procedures at Victoria's quarantine hotels when compared with neighbouring states

One person claims they had been playing a game of phone tag with contact tracers who repeatedly contacted one of her relatives because they had the wrong phone number.

The woman, who is a relative of a hotel quarantine worker, says she was warned by authorities she could be a secondary contact of a person potentially infected with Covid-19.

She isolated for 48 hours while waiting for the test result of a Covid-19 test.

When it came back negative she stopped isolating and went shopping and visited a kindergarten.

The woman had no idea authorities were trying to get in contact with her and that authorities had mistakenly called her relative because of an incorrect phone number.

The woman tried to contact authorities, before they responded by once again calling her relative.

When she received her isolation clearance, it was under her relative's address.

'I honestly lost all faith of getting out of this (lockdown) situation in Victoria,' she said.

'We are reaching out and trying to do the right thing and you are telling us your system is gold class or whatever you said, but quite clearly it isn't.'

A number of passengers at Melbourne Airport have also claimed they were told to isolate even though they were nowhere near a Covid-19 exposure site

One person claims they had been playing a game of phone tag with contact tracers who repeatedly contacted one of her relatives because they had the wrong phone number (pictured, cleaners at the Holiday Inn Hotel at Melbourne Airport)

A 38-year-old father also claims authorities were slow to contact him and only reached out nine days after he had been placed into intensive care for Covid-19.

He said he received an email with a misspelt name and a delayed phone call notifying him he had Covid-19. He also says the person on the other end of the line had no idea he had already done contact tracing as well.

'I said to the guy I am aware I have Covid-19 I'm the guy who's been in ICU,' he said.

'They were asking me about my close contacts, and I said the only people I've been around are nurses and doctors who are in full PPE.'

The man was placed into intensive care after staying at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport.

He had been partly blamed for sparking the outbreak after the state government said his nebuliser device could have helped to spread the virus.

A text message was sent to passengers throughout Melbourne Airport telling them to isolate for 14 days

Victoria has been placed into a five-day lockdown as the state attempts to curb the spread of a Covid-19 outbreak in hotel quarantine

A nebuliser is a drug delivery device that turns medication into a mist and sprays it it in aerosol form, which is inhaled into the lungs.

The man says he was given permission by health authorities to use the medical device.

A number of passengers at Melbourne Airport have also claimed they were told to isolate even though they were nowhere near a Covid-19 exposure site.

The Brunetti Cafe at Terminal 4 was blacklisted after a Covid-19 positive person visited the site on February 9.

A text message was sent to passengers throughout Melbourne Airport telling them to isolate for 14 days.

One passenger said they were at Terminal 1, and had tried to call authorities using the number provided in the message.

Though they say they were unable to reach anyone and it wasn't until the following day they received another message to retract the first one.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the Department of Human Health and Services for comment.

On Sunday, a three-year-old child was identified as one of two new local cases in Melbourne while authorities say her potentially infectious mother has been tested three times with completely different results.

Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said the child and an unrelated hotel quarantine worker had attended a private dinner on Sydney Road, in Coburg, on February 6.

LATEST COVID EXPOSURE SITES: Authorities identified on Sunday four more exposure sites in Melbourne. Broadmeadows: Woolworths, Broadmeadows Central, 12.15pm to 12.30pm on 9/2/2021. Broadmeadows: Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, 12.30pm to 12.45pm on 9/2/2021 Pascoe Vale: Elite Swimming Pascoe Vale, from 5pm to 6pm on 8/2/2021 Pascoe Vale: Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre, from 4pm to 7.30pm 10/2/2021 Advertisement

'They are from separate households,' Mr Foley said. 'Both have been in isolation since February 12 and both tested and returned a positive sample in isolation on February 13.'

He added the two new cases were linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak at Melbourne Airport, taking the total to 16 cases.

Testing commander Jeroen Weimar revealed the mother of the three-year-old child has also been tested three times for Covid-19, but returned a different result each time.

Authorities have also identified four more exposure sights after the three-year-old child and quarantine worker visited several venues while infected.

One of the cases visited a Woolworths at Broadmeadows Central, in Melbourne's north, between 12.15pm and 12.30pm on February 2.

The person then visited Pascoe Vale Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre between 4pm and 7.30pm on February 10.

They also went to Elite Swimming in Pascoe Vale between 5pm and 6pm on February 8.

Another positive Covid-19 case visited Broadmeadows Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse on Pascoe Vale Road between 12.30pm and 12.45pm on February 9.

'If you have been to these sites you will need to isolate, to get tested and to stay isolated for 14 days,' Mr Foley said.

'That goes above and beyond the general circuit maker that we are currently in.'
ALBANY  She calls him the worst governor in America. His right-hand man calls her the worst member of Congress in America. It didnt used to be this way.

The vitriol between Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, and their staffers, began escalating after the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, with Cuomo and his staff criticizing Stefanik for her support of then-President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The incendiary rhetoric surged again last week as the details were leaked of a closed-door meeting in which the secretary to the governor, Melissa DeRosa, admitted stonewalling the release of data on Cuomo's nursing home policies in the face of a U.S. Justice Department investigation. Many believe those policy decisions increased fatalities in the facilities. Stefanik seized on DeRosa's startling revelation and, along with many other lawmakers, demanded a federal investigation of the governor's administration.

For Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, and DeRosa, a longtime confidante of Cuomo's, the politically charged discourse is a dramatic departure from the friendly rapport the pair had enjoyed as classmates at the esteemed Albany Academy for Girls.

We may not agree on everything, but I will never stop being in awe of my little sister and middle school student council running-mate, DeRosa said in January 2019 of Stefanik. She has also frequently told a story of how the two worked together as kids to bring a vending machine to their school.

But the view of them from others was not always as adoring; or as one former classmate described them both, "overly ambitious and ruthless ... not well-liked."

Now, the language used by the political adversaries is spiked with insults, including: toxic and rightfully despised throughout the North Country, emperor with no clothes, QAnon Trump puppet, and member of the treason caucus.

The Times Union interviewed more than a dozen individuals  Republicans and Democrats  all familiar with Cuomo, Stefanik and New York politics. Many requested anonymity to share candid observations that could otherwise jeopardize their jobs.

The battle of words stands out even in an era when heated insults have become more common in politics. It also contrasts sharply with the moderate, bipartisan-focused image cultivated by Stefanik when she first came up in politics.

In Cuomos office, a former staffer once said: We operate at two speeds here: Get along and kill." Richard Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo, used to advertise himself on Twitter as the governors hatchetman.

Alex DeGrasse, a Republican strategist and Stefanik's campaign advisor, regularly blasts Cuomo's team as "sycophant hacks" in statements.

Pragmatically, Stefaniks diction toward Cuomo is striking considering her Adirondack district is heavily reliant on state and federal funding for everything from community health centers to wastewater infrastructure. Cuomo also wields enormous power over how the states money is spent and where.

Still, the bitter exchanges also distinguish Stefanik from most other Republican members of the New York congressional delegation, who have largely declined to engage in the same level of venom.

Stefanik's heightened national profile and her acrimonious exchanges with Cuomo have fueled a growing suspicion among some Republicans that she is contemplating a run against Cuomo for governor next year  although others dismiss that notion because the state GOP is struggling with its ground game and running low on funds, especially in comparison to Cuomo's enormous campaign war chest.

Yet Stefanik pledged during her inaugural 2014 congressional campaign that she would serve no more than five terms; she's now in her fourth. Meanwhile, Cuomo will be running for his fourth term in 2022, during a presidential midterm election with a first-term Democrat on the ballot, typically an equation that is challenging for Democrats at the polls.

Stefanik and Cuomo  and their staff members  declined to respond to multiple requests for interviews for this story; nor did they provide answers to specific questions that were emailed to them.

Some of those sources who believe Stefanik is considering challenging Cuomo also doubt she could win a statewide office, due to her allegiance to Trump as well as the strength of the state's Democratic Party.

I think Elise Stefanik is likely giving good consideration for statewide office, said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the 2018 Republican nominee for governor, who is also considering running for the office again in 2022.

I know people who know her family pretty well, and a couple of them have told me that she wants to run for governor, said another longtime Republican political operative from Stefaniks district. Stefanik has gone out of her way throughout her career to help down ballot candidates both in and outside of her district, the person added, which is consistent with someone who wants to build a statewide political base. Her wide fundraising base also gives her a more solid platform to launch a gubernatorial campaign than other state Republicans.



Stefanik was included in a speculative poll last week of popular political figures in the state who could theoretically run against Cuomo in 2022, garnering 37 percent support to his 49 percent. She fared better than Democratic figures, including state Attorney General Letitia James and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who were buried in the poll with Cuomo outpacing them by more than 40 points.



Another source, a Republican who has known Stefanik for years, noted that, as a minority House member, punching up to challenge Cuomo is good for her brand. When Cuomo pushes back, it elevates her.

I think she read the tea leaves and looked at where the district was and it caused her pivot, said another New York Republican. She looked at polling and Trump was most popular and Cuomo was least popular. Its easy political math to do here. That guys bad and this guys good.

That person said that he expect Stefanik to run for reelection to her House seat, as its so safely in her hands and she may want to ascend to a leadership position. But the person added: "In the minds of a lot of Republican voters in this state, theyre salivating, saying, 'Oh great, shes going to run for governor.'"

Several Republicans said Stefaniks attacks are likely designed to maintain her fundraising base and political profile now that Trump does not occupy the center of the political stage. In a co-dependent dynamic, that can be politically useful for Cuomo, too  as knocking Stefaniks Trumpism scores points with the left and could neutralize a budding rival.

Their back and forth has escalated over the past year as Cuomo led the states response to the coronavirus pandemic and Stefanik firmly supported Trump throughout his campaign, including efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.

Cuomo called on the New York congressional delegation to ask Trump to resign after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Congresswoman Stefanik, you believe he should resign? Cuomo said to reporters. And if they say they dont think he should resign, then yeah, you are complicit, youre part of it, youve condoned it. Youre part of the mob.

Stefaniks press release issued in response claimed that Cuomo personally called for her resignation, so she called for his.

Gov. Cuomo is responsible for the deaths of thousands of seniors in nursing homes, the crippling of our small business economy in New York, the states population mass exodus, and the abysmal vaccination rollout disaster, Stefanik said. He is the Emperor with No Clothes and he should resign and end his disgraceful reign of corruption and failed leadership.

Stefaniks lambasting again heated up after a report from the state attorney generals office concluded that Cuomo and his state health commissioner had for months underreported the number of nursing home resident deaths from COVID-19 by as much as 50 percent.

That same day, Stefanik blasted a fundraising call-out to her supporters, asking them to text WorstGovernor to contribute to her. (For many in the North Country, its a familiar turn of phrase from Stefanik: She also called her 2018 and 2020 congressional challenger Democrat Tedra Cobb, the worst candidate in America.)

Stefanik and other New York Republican representatives demanded a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the attorney general's findings.

Then, late last week, a report from the New York Post showed DeRosa told a group of Democratic New York lawmakers in a closed-door meeting that she could not provide data on nursing home deaths to them immediately last year because the administration wasn't sure it would be used against them by federal investigators.

"Gov. Cuomo, the secretary to the governor and his senior team must be prosecuted immediately," Stefanik said in a statement in response to that revelation. "I have said from the beginning this is more than a nursing home scandal, this is a massive corruption and coverup scandal at the highest level of New York state government."

Stefanik is paying for a website Cuomocorruption.com, collecting signatures on a petition stating Cuomo should be prosecuted for corruption.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford, also called for Cuomo's immediate resignation on Twitter.

The Times Union asked other New York Republican members of the House if they agreed with Stefaniks dismal estimation of Cuomos skill as governor.

John Katko of Syracuse, Andrew Garbarino of Sayville, and Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island, declined to label Cuomo worst in America.

Im not going to get into that, Katko said. Ill let history be the judge of that.

I think his handling on the nursing home issue, he mishandled that. I dont think he did it maliciously, Garbarino said. But I work with his office on other issues and his office did help me with unemployment when I was still in the state Legislature. When I needed him, they did help when they could.

I dont know if there are any worse, but I know there are better, Malliotakis said.

Staffers for New York congressional members, who have worked with both Cuomo and Stefaniks offices, described Cuomos team as bullying, mean and vindictive. Another, in turn, complained that Stefanik took legitimate policy criticisms of Cuomo and delivered them with partisan, belligerent and out of line rhetoric.

Stefanik has touted that her self-described bipartisan approach and close relationships across the aisle have allowed her to deliver results for the Adirondack Region, which is heavily reliant on state and federal funds. Yet it's unclear whether the escalating tensions between the two power poles steering funding to the district will disrupt or otherwise jeopardize that track record.

Several economic development agencies serving the Adirondack Park, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and North Country Chamber of Commerce, declined to share their perspective for this story.

I don't comment on politics, said Garry Douglas, head of the North Country Chamber of Commerce.

Yet politics has already bled into the ordinarily apolitical firmament of the clubby chamber crowd where local officials and business leaders lobbying state and federal representatives at legislative breakfasts is an annual ritual.

The Glens Falls-based Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce found itself in the spotlight last month, when a petition circulated by a member who urged the organization to disinvite Stefanik from addressing their annual legislative forum had garnered over 1,900 signatures. The non-profits president and CEO, Michael Bittel, didnt respond for comment.

Albany and Washington also work closely on environmental issues, from efforts to combat invasive species and ensuring funding for agencies like the Lake Champlain Basin Program, a joint effort between New York, Vermont and Quebec which coordinates watershed protection efforts.

The public would best be served if politicians speak truth, support the rule of law, including laws that protect the people and wilderness of the Adirondack Park, and work with their perceived adversaries to serve higher purposes than politics, said Willie Janeway, executive director of the Adirondack Council, which has both praised and criticized the congresswoman's environmental record, as well as Cuomo's. We can all succeed in addressing the threats that face the Adirondack Park and its people, when our leaders embrace truth, compromise and common ground. Those who won't move us backwards.

Protect the Adirondacks slammed the fourth-term congresswoman and wondered if her increasingly bellicose tone would jeopardize her ability to work with Democrats in Albany or Washington.

Executive Director Peter Bauer said Stefanik started her career in Congress as an exciting new voice who preached moderation and working across the aisle.

In the last year, she has shifted to where she is now one of the most dishonest and partisan hacks in Congress  and thats saying something, Bauer said. Given that she is now in the political minority, where shes likely to remain for some time, the Adirondacks and North Country will be short-changed as far as major federal programming.

Bauer was quick to point out he also believes that Cuomo has been the worst governor for the Adirondack Park in the past century, a tenure he characterized as repeated squandered opportunities and poor long-term investments, but added he doesnt agree that Cuomos the worst in the nation.

And he has been watching the back-and-forth tweets between the Cuomo and Stefanik camps, noting DeRosa and Stefanik are part of those exchanges.

I understand they went to a private high school together but their tweets are straight out of the movie 'Mean Girls,'" Bauer said. Then again, much of the Cuomo administration and Elise Stefanik's campaigns, with her rabid campaign staffers, are straight out of 'Mean Girls,' too."
Private Patrick Rodgers of Britains Anglian Regiment, 2nd Battalion, maintains the perimeter as a Chinook helicopter carries out a medical evacuation during a military exercise on Salisbury Plains near Warminster, England, on July 23, 2020. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

China Must Be Banned From Investing in UK Defence Supply Chain, Lawmakers Say

Investments from China and other hostile states pose a risk to Britains national security and should be banned from the UKs defence supply chain, a British parliamentary committee said on Sunday.

The cross-party Defence Select Committee warned that Britains defence supply chain has been open to potentially hostile foreign involvement as a result of the Ministry of Defences country-agnostic handling of inward investment.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Defence publish a list of approved countries from whom investment should continue. It said all those countries falling outside of this list should be barred from investing in the UKs defence supply chain, including China and Russia.

The warning was issued in a report published on Sunday following an inquiry into the vulnerabilities of the UKs defence supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The committee found that foreign involvement is widespread within the UKs defence supply chain as a result of the Ministry of Defences approach of encouraging inward investment as one of its primary means for delivering value for money.

Whilst the evidence suggested that most investments are from close allies and are to be welcomed, there were a number of investments which were concerning, said the report (pdf).

The Ministry of Defences open and country-agnostic approach has meant that the defence supply chain has been open to potentially hostile foreign involvement, with reports of companies being owned and influenced by foreign governments whose values and behaviours are at odds with our own and who are known to engage in intellectual property theft.

The committee expressed concerns that the involvement of companies linked to states such as China could result in British high-technology and equipment featuring in foreign military technology.

The report lists nine companies operating in the UK defence industry that have been acquired by Chinese companies in recent years.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II lands at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 25, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Franklin R. Ramos)

One of the firms, eXception PCB, produced plastic components used in circuit boards for the F-35 fighter jet.

In another case, British semiconductor technology may have ended up in a Chinese naval railgun after the acquisition of Dynex Semiconductor by Chinese railway firm CRRC Zhouzhou in 2008, the report said.

The committee of MPs urged the Ministry of Defence to urgently assess the implications of Chinese ownership of the companies listed within this report.

The lawmakers also expressed concerns over the Ministry of Defences purchase of second-hand Chinese equipment.

The British government recently purchased two second-hand Chinese 737 airliners to convert into E-7 Wedgetail planes to deliver the UKs Airborne Early Warning and Control Capacity, the report said.

The committee said this is deeply concerning, and that the purchase of equipment from China for use by the Armed Forces should not be considered a viable option by the Ministry of Defence.

The report quoted commentators as saying that the equipment could have security problems, as they may have been defective or actively sabotaged before transfer.
chief on Sunday hit out at the ruling BJP over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that criminals are coming crime under its patronage.

In a statement issued here, Yadav also accused the government of disrupting the harmony in society, instead of punishing those involved in criminal activities.

"The criminals are openly committing crime in the state under the patronage of the ruling party. The confidence of the criminals is high because of the working style of the government. The height of poor law and order is that even policemen are being attacked," the SP chief alleged.

"The aim of the government should be to punish those indulging in crime and anarchy. But when the agenda of the BJP government is to disrupt the harmony in society, then how will the rule of law be established," he added.

Yadav also claimed that the anger among the public against the BJP is building and people are ready for a change.

(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.)
Melvin E. Banks, founder of the largest black Christian publishing house in the United States, died on February 13 at age 86.

Banks started Urban Ministries Inc. in the basement of his home in Chicago in 1970, focusing on Sunday school curriculum and Bible study materials for African American Christians. The ministry grew to serve more than 50,000 black churches.

Banks contextualized Scripture to show its relevance to contemporary African American life and shocked many Christians, black and white, with depictions of Bible characters as people of color. Banks insisted the images were accurate, since the world of the biblical narrative included Middle Easterners as well as many North Africans, and also argued it was important. Black people needed to know they were part of Bible history.

When I grew up, all the Sunday school literature was produced by white people and all the writing was done from a white perspective, he said. All the biblical characters were portrayed as white people. It dawned on me that the material as published did not connect.

White evangelicals sometimes accused Banks of being a black separatist or even supporting segregation and racism by focusing his ministry on black Christians and black churches. Banks, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College, rejected the idea, saying it was just clear that black Christians couldnt count on white Christians to help them understand the Bible.

The bottom line is Jesus, he said, and his supremacy.

Moved to make his own commitment to Christ

Banks was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1934. He was largely raised by his sister, who was two years older than him, while his mother worked for a white family from Monday to Friday.

When Banks was 9, a black church planter from a Brethren Assembly in Detroit told him how to accept Jesus with a lesson about the Apostle Pauls answer to the Phillippian jailer in Acts 16. Banks was moved to make his own commitment to Christ.

The next week, on my own, I thought about what he said and I prayed, Lord Jesus, come into my life and save me, Banks recalled during an oral history interview in 2004.

When Banks turned 12, the church planter started taking him to tell his testimony around Birmingham. Once, when Banks finished explaining how to really get into the family of God  by believing in Jesus Christ, and not just running to church, an elderly man gave him an encouraging word and a Bible quote.

He had gray hair, and he was just sort ofhands behind his back, Banks recalled. He said, You know, Hosea said it a long time ago, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. I had never heard of that verse before, but when he quoted it, it suddenly became a very important verse for me.

Banks went to Moody in 1952 to study the Bible. Coming in from the South by train, he was first overwhelmed by the citys large buildings, and gawked up at the men and women leaning out of the windows in the late summer heat. But the greater shock came at Moody, where Banks was one of about 10 black people at a school with 1,000 students. Some of his fellow students had never seen a black person and gawked at him as he went to and from classes. He wasnt assigned a roommate, which he only later realized was because the school wouldnt house a white student with a black student.

While they were accepting a few black people, they really were not accepting them in the fullest sense of the word, Banks said. They were permitted to come and stay there.

He didnt need to escape his blackness

Banks didnt leave campus to find a black church until a Bahamian chapel speaker from the Brethren Assemblies pulled him aside and said, Melvin, you need to be finding some people, some of your kinfolks. The visitor sent the young man to a Brethren church on the South Side of Chicago.

It was a critical moment for Banks. He realized he didnt need to escape his blackness, and that acceptance by white people was not enough for him. He needed to understand his identity as a person and a Christian independent of what white people thought.

Banks met his wife, Olive Perkins, at the Brethren church. They married in 1956, one month after Banks turned 21. They helped plant a new church, Westlawn Gospel Chapel and Banks commuted from the city to Wheaton to study biblical archaeology.

When he graduated from Wheaton with an M.A. in 1960, he took a job at Scripture Press Publishers. He was hired to sell the companys Sunday school material to black churches, but soon began to push the publisher to make changes to its curriculum.

They had a desire to get literaturegood stuffinto black churches, but they didn't know how to do it. So, I went out with the idea that I was going to do that, but then I ran into difficulty trying to persuade black churches to take literature that was white, Banks explained.

At the same time, Banks was starting to think differently about race. He was provoked by the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammed, who said black people didnt know their own history because it was stolen from them like their fathers and mothers had been stolen from Africa. While the black nationalist was just talking off the wall, according to Banks, he also had a point. Banks realized that, apart from the time someone gave him a copy of Booker T. Washingtons Up From Slavery, hed never been taught black history.

Banks then discovered The Black Man in the Old Testament and Its World, by Alfred G. Dunston Jr., a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He realized hed never been taught the black history of the Bible. In fact, though most of the biblical stories are located in the Middle East and the people in the stories are from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, he personally imagined every character in the Bible as a Northern European.

Banks pitched the idea of Sunday school curriculum depicting black people to his bosses at Scripture Press Publishers, but they werent interested. Then he got a new white colleague who worked in marketing to pitch the idea, using the terminology of niche marketing. The plan was approved.

Banks, however, decided he needed to do it himself. He left Scripture Press Publishers with a blessing and a little financial backing, and started his own business.

I decided that if this company is going to really go, it cant be a part of a white company, Banks recalled. It needed to be independent, so that we could make our own decisions and do what we think is necessary to make it go.

I thought you would stick with it

The company almost didnt survive the first few years. Banks struggled financially, running the business in the red. He thought about quitting all the time. In fact, there were more than 40 black-owned publishers launched in the US around 1970, and all but four or five of them went out of business within a few years. Banks, however, kept getting divine assurance that he should continue.

Why did you ask me to take on this job? he once asked God. You know I am not a great business person.

Then he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit like a physical vibration. He felt God say, Melvin, I did not ask you to do this because I thought you were so smart . I asked you because I thought you would stick with it.

So Banks stuck with it.

Still, for a number of years he assumed he would be forced to close when he couldnt pay the printers bills. But the white-owned company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dickinson Press, kept filling his new orders, even though he was delinquent on his past payments. When Banks later asked why, the Christian owners told him they could afford to support his new ministry, so they did.

Urban Ministries Inc. broke even for the first time in 1976 and then continued to grow and flourish. Banks identified 70 to 80 black-owned bookstores around the country to sell his publications, along with 400 to 500 white-owned Christian bookstores that served black churches. He established direct connections with churches around the country, and supplied them with new educational material every quarter for more than four decades.

Wheaton recognized Banks with an honorary doctorate in 1992; Moody named him Alumnus of the Year in 2008; and he received a lifetime achievement award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in 2017.

Banks said that when he died, though, he just wanted to be remembered as someone who was faithful.

If it could be said, he told a historian in 2004, that here was a man who had a dream of seeking to communicate the truth of God's Word to people, and he was able to make some contribution along that line, then I think I would be pleased.

Banks is survived by his wife Olive and his three children Melvin Jr., Patrice Lee, and Reginald. Details about funeral arrangements will be announced soon.
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When William Burns's candidacy for head of the CIA was announced in February, Director Sergei Naryshkin of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, had this to say: "William Burns is a person with quite a deep knowledge and experience in the field of international relations, international politics, and he has a very worthy CV. There are no odious moments in his resume  [unlike] his predecessor." In January, when Burns emerged as the likely successor to Gina Haspel, TASS published a detailed biography of William Burns by reporter Igor Gashkov, focusing on his language skills, distinguished diplomatic career, and writings in order to assess what his appointment might mean for Russia. In the article, TASS also hinted that the actual motivation for his selection was likely the fact that over the past four years, Burns has been a firm and indefatigable critic of Donald Trump.

TASS identifies one major point of disagreement between Burns and Trump as their attitudes toward Russia. Literate Russians are quite familiar with William Burns's view of American diplomacy vis-a-vis the Russian Federation. His January 2017 opinion piece for the New York Times, "How We Fool Ourselves on Russia," was widely read and discussed in Russia. At present, Russians are reading and discussing Burns's memoirs as well. His 2019 book The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal, was translated into Russian by one Valeria Bashkirova. In 2020, it was released as Uil'yam Byorns's (an awkward attempt to render the untransliterable "William Burns" into Cyrillic) Nevidimaya Sila: Kak Rabotayet Amerikanskaya Diplomatiya (Invisible Power: How American Diplomacy Works), unmistakable for its identical cover art. Several chapters of The Back Channel are dedicated to Russia.

TASS's biography clearly establishes William Burns's consummate background regarding Russia. He is fluent in Russian as well as Arabic, unusual for the American State Department. Beginning his career as the U.S. ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001, he turned his focus on the nascent Russian Federation upon his return to the United States. He served as U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008. Burns was an undersecretary of state in George W. Bush's administration. In 2009, he became the acting secretary of state for a single day, from January 20 to 21, before Hillary Clinton took office, whereupon Burns served as her deputy secretary of state. Biden is the fifth U.S. president under whom he has served.

In his memoirs, Burns describes the "hard lessons" of working at the American Mission to Russia in the shadow of the Kremlin. The Russians see Burns's message as based upon confrontation. During his stay in Moscow, according TASS reporter Igor Gashkov, he gained the conviction that the Kremlin intends to restore Russian prestige "at the expense of the American-led world order." TASS quotes Burns's 2017 NYT editorial as follows: "Our relationship with Russia will remain competitive and often hostile  for the foreseeable future. At the heart of this is a fundamental divergence of both countries over what role each should play in the modern world." Gashkov interprets this to mean that Burns considers rapprochement between Russia and the United States unlikely and that Burns maintains that the American elites should not consider it. According to TASS, Burns's picture is that Russia and the United States have almost nothing to offer each other, except for cardinal concessions, which Burns maintains must be made by Moscow, not Washington.

The TASS article also mentions the leaked U.S. intelligence communique published in the Washington Post in summer 2020, according to which Russia offered money to the Taliban in exchange for the murder of U.S. soldiers. "Since then, Moscow has denied this information as entirely unreliable." TASS observes that the NSA found the report untrue, while "the CIA, on the other hand, backed the press." Congress's investigation into the alleged Russian bounty program is said to be ongoing. TASS is apparently waiting on its outcome as a reflection of the new CIA director. "When its results are announced, the CIA will have to say its word as America's main intelligence agency, and therefore Burns." TASS adds, "Biden has no doubts that the Russian-Taliban conspiracy is a reality and threatens Moscow with sanctions. In this, the Democrat is supported by the speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. If the loud accusations sound again, the president will wait for the CIA to confirm his words with facts in hand. How ready is Burns for this?"

The TASS article segues in predictable fashion to accusations of CIA torture conducted "in territories where U.S. law does not apply," notably at the Thai "Cat's Eye" prison complex, identified as under Washington's control. The author speculates that Gina Haspel's personal involvement in the approval of this torture explains her "tarnished reputation."

The Russian take on Biden's selection of William Burns to be his CIA director is that it represents "a positive signal to Beijing." Though well versed in Russia and the Middle East, TASS observes, "Burns did not ever deal with China." Therefore, concludes TASS, Burns's appointment reflects the "prioritization" of the new White House administration.

Lynn Corum is a translator of Russian who studies developments in the Russian press that affect America's national interests. She has been researching and writing on Putin's stated plans since 2009 and is a world expert on Project Russia, the Kremlin's published state ideology.

Image: azazelok via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
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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

By Hannan Hussain

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting of his ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey, July 26, 2019. /Reuters

Editor's note: Hannan Hussain is a foreign affairs commentator and author. He is a Fulbright recipient at the University of Maryland in the U.S., and a former assistant researcher at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Days after Turkey's defense minister Hulusi Akar sought to advance strategic reconciliation with Washington on the deployment of Russian-manufactured S-400 air defense systems, both parties are set to fall short of a strategic compromise. The Joe Biden administration centers its critique on the S-400 posing a threat to NATO's technological interests, while Turkey considers its defense autonomy with Moscow a sovereign pursuit, devoid of any immediate concessions.

Note that both zero-sum choices emerge in the absence of the U.S-Turkey S-400 joint working group, a proposed mechanism for high level diplomacy that could cede unexploited bargaining space, including important counter-terrorism leverage.

Turkish defense minister Akar and government officials have already suggested a limited S-400 deployment if Washington ended its collaboration with Syrian Kurdish forces, viewed by Ankara as a mortal security threat. Given that Biden is in the process of leading a differentiated Syria policy, Turkish motivations to muster an additional S-400 defense layer is part of its own restructuring of regional security priorities, indicating possible convergence.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue to serve U.S. interests against a fragmented ISIL umbrella in the region, at a time when punishing Damascus with economic sanctions is no longer a fit U.S. counter-terrorism tact. The U.S.-SDF partnership also peaked once the ISIL's clandestine network of cross-border insurgency operations remained heavily concentrated on the Iraq-Syria territorial split.

Today, the reality is different. The successes of the U.S.-SDF cooperation have outnumbered the ISIL challenge, supporting Turkey's expectation that the U.S.-SDF partnership could be re-calibrated.

As a result, the uninitiated S-400 working group framework is critical to determining whether Turkey's S-400 deployment would actually "endanger the integrity" of U.S.-backed multilateral alliances, or whether Washington's denial of sanctions relief would serve its best national security interests. Both parameters enjoy legal precedent in Capitol Hill under the 2018 Modified Waiver Authority, Section 231 of CAATSA.

CAATSA  the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act  was the tool used by the Donald Trump administration to sanction Turkey for its S-400 acquisitions late last year. Recent events show that Washington has engaged the likes of New Delhi through inter-ministerial dialogue, in a bid to evaluate similar CAATSA sanctions and eligibility criteria.

Turkey is also correct to argue that it is not a NATO exception in acquiring sensitive air defense technologies. Over the years, several member states have procured similar technologies from foreign states, but have not been forced to bite the bullet on deployment.

A Russian Antonov military cargo plane, carrying S-400 missile defense system from Russia, lands at the Murted military airbase in Ankara, Turkey, July 12, 2019. /VCG

Precisely for this reason, the Biden administration should distinguish its reservations to dialogue from that of the Trump administration, where a broader anti-Ankara hardline deepened diplomatic fractures within NATO. In effect, these fractures empowered Turkey to consolidate more ground on autonomous defenses, explaining Ankara's limited enthusiasm to retreat on the S-400 issues.

In a welcome sign, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan's scheduled exchange with Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin gathered steam this week, and a parallel negotiation track from Ankara is set to usher an added layer of foreign ministerial correspondence.

"When we read the strategic picture the right way, we think we can make advances," said Kalin in a recent interview. "By proposing solution ways, we [Washington and Ankara] will be in negotiations."

In terms of leverage, there is little doubt that U.S.-Turkey ties have witnessed significant strain in recent years. But the broader takeaway is this: overdrawn Congress skepticism towards S-400 systems was as much a factor in complicating relations, as was the conflict landscape in Syria  supporting Turkey's claim that a Kurdish-led SDF condition could test the waters on defense system concessions. As both counter-terrorism and defense security priorities enjoy equal footing in recent history, it makes sense to revisit the centrality of U.S. support to the People's Protection Units and sidestep long-term fissures.

This leaves one fundamental question unanswered: how to consolidate U.S.-Turkey trust on sensitive negotiations?

Look no further than Greece, a powerful NATO ally. It procured Russia's older S-300 defense system in the 1990s, only to reach a compromise on the grounds that Ankara periodically envisioned. Turkey has also repeatedly argued that the autonomously acquired systems would serve a preemptive purpose, not an assertive one. This includes the specific "state of threats" in the region  a common security posture for any responsible state.

As a result, building on the Greek model is likely to gain more traction within NATO ranks, satisfying part of U.S. security apprehensions towards the S-400 deployment. At the same time, Turkey can contemplate branching off into counter-terrorism concessions with the Biden administration, once the S-400 joint working group gets some teeth.
The former FBI agent serving a 40-year prison sentence for alerting Boston mobster Whitey Bulger that he could be implicated in a murder is seeking to be released from prison on medical grounds.

The Florida Commission on Offender Review will hear the request Wednesday from John Zip Connolly, who is being held at the Reception and Medical Center in Lake Butler, Florida.

Its on the docket for the 17th and hes seeking a conditional medical release, said commission spokesperson Angela Meredith. A majority vote would lead to Connollys release, she said.

Connollys Cambridge lawyer, Peter Mullane, confirmed to the Boston Herald Friday that Connolly, who is 80, is seeking to be released.

He has multiple melanomas and pretty bad diabetes. Two serious illnesses, Mullane said.

Connolly, who was James Whitey Bulgers FBI handler, was convicted in 2008 of second-degree murder after a mob hitman killed World Jai Alai President John Callahan in Fort Lauderdale in 1982. Trial evidence showed Connolly tipped Bulger that Callahan was about to implicate the gang in another killing.

Separately, Connolly served nearly 10 years in prison after being convicted in 2002 of racketeering and obstruction of justice for protecting members of Bulgers Winter Hill Gang from prosecution and tipping them about informants in their ranks.

Bulger, who spent 16 years as one of Americas most wanted men before being arrested in California in 2011, was killed in federal prison in West Virginia in 2018.

Connollys wife and three grown children are still living in the Boston area, Mullane said, and they hope he will be allowed to return to Massachusetts.

This has been a punishment for the whole family, and they have suffered, Mullane said.

Callahans wife, Mary, also 80, said she just celebrated what would have been her 61st wedding anniversary.

For me, this is never over. My daughter said that to me recently, Mary Callahan said Friday. I remember the last time we celebrated my anniversary, John told me you get me for another year. Thats an Irish joke. He actually gave me a string of pearls.


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Pennsylvania movie theaters ditch mask mandate

Three chain movie theaters have announced that masks are no longer mandatory for moviegoers who have been vaccinated against coronavirus.
The Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity Alliance (USR PLUS) co-president Dacian Ciolos on Sunday rejected the hypothesis that the 2021 budget would be an austerity one, noting that pensions and salaries will increase based on previous decisions, and investments will go up as well.

"It has already been decided to increase the pensions, which will apply from 2021, so the pension in 2021 will be higher than the pension in 2020. The basic salary will increase as well. (...) We have bigger investments than projected last year. And then, how can we talk about an austerity budget," Ciolos said on Prima TV.

He stressed that the budget is not an austerity one, but it no longer brings "populist measures" and emphasizes the relaunch of economic activity."Pensions are rising, salaries are going up, investments that will create jobs increase as well. So where is the austerity? (...) That is the Government's goal - to relaunch the economy without affecting the socio-professional categories that need resources," he added.On the other hand, Ciolos showed that he would discuss with the Prime Minister Florin Citu about the financing for healthcare."We will see what the final budget for both education and healthcare will be. (...) These vaccines have to be paid for. It is the whole part of the vaccination campaign that needs to be covered, I even talked to Minister Vlad Voiculescu and in these sectors, we need to find solutions", added Dacian Ciolos.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Insuring your vehicle can be costly; especially if youre living in New York.

WalletHub, an online financial advisory site, recently released its 2021 Best & Worst States for Cheap Car Insurance report, finding that New York is the second-most expensive state in the nation to insure a vehicle.

The average yearly premium for New York drivers is $1,828, second only to Michigan, which boasted the highest average yearly auto insurance premium at $1,908, according to the report.

New Jersey, Louisiana and Delaware were found to be the third, fourth and fifth most expensive states, in order, with average yearly premiums of $1,287, $1,263 and $1,133, respectively, research showed.

Meanwhile, the reported stated that the cheapest car insurance rates can be found in Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Vermont and North Dakota, with average yearly premiums of $274, $326, $326, $341 and $370, respectively.

ABOUT NEW YORK CAR INSURANCE

While New York was found to have the second-most expensive car insurance prices in the country, how much each driver pays is dependent on a number of factors, such as coverage type, age, gender and prior driving violations.

Those seeking full-coverage car insurance in New York will pay, on average, 143% more than those content with the minimum required coverage, the data showed. And younger drivers will pay significantly more than their more experienced counterparts, with 16-year-olds paying, on average, 314% more for coverage than 55-year-olds.

Despite studies that show that men typically exhibit more aggressive and dangerous driving behavior than women, female drivers tend to pay 6% more, on average, than male drivers for coverage in New York.

Additionally, drivers with a prior DUI can expect to pay, on average, 85% more for car insurance in New York than those without a prior charge.

According to the report, the cheapest car insurance rates in the state are currently being offered by Main Street America, Progressive, Sterling Insurance, Geico and Utica Group.

WalletHubs financial experts encourage New Yorkers to regularly compare rates across various insurance companies, with the potential savings in the thousands.

One common car insurance mistake that drivers should avoid is failing to even consider switching insurers. More than four in 10 people think that switching car insurance companies will be hard, according to WalletHubs new survey, but it can actually be pretty straightforward and produce significant savings. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive car insurance companies in New York is about $6,576 per year, said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst.
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Ed. Ministry requests teacher training colleges to be released View(s):

The Education Ministry has asked the Defence and Health Ministries to look into the possibility of releasing teacher training colleges presently in use as quarantine and COVID treatment centres.

All 19 teacher training colleges in the country were taken for quarantine and COVID centres, following instructions given by the Defence and Health Ministries, during the first few weeks of the second wave of COVID-19, Education Ministry Commissioner (Teacher Education) E. M. S. Ekanayake said.

Even though we thought they will be released soon, at present only about two colleges have been released. We have sent written requests to the secretaries of both ministries to find alternative spaces for COVID treatment and quarantine centres as thousands of to-be teachers are waiting to be trained and a new batch of students has to be enrolled, he said.

He also said even though online teaching was being conducted, it had not been successful.

State run teacher training colleges produce the best trained teachers in the country. Therefore teacher training in a classroom atmosphere is essential, Mr. Ekanayake said.

If the training colleges need to be released by March, the intake of COVID patients should be stopped by now, giving two weeks time for the patients and those quarantined to be released. Otherwise reopening the college will be further delayed, he added.

According to him, currently there are 7000 students training to be teachers, including 4000 from the internship batch. Interviews for the new batch of 4,253 students would begin tomorrow (February 15).

Teacher unions too had been pressing the Education Ministry to resume teacher training before the present teacher shortage worsens.

Every year about 4000 trained teachers are added to the cadre. We have written to the Education Ministry Secretary to discuss with health authorities and make arrangements to begin studies at teacher training colleges as soon as possible. As most schools have begun studies, teachers too need to be trained, said the Ceylon Teacher Services Union President Dhammika Alahapperuma.

He said the union had pointed out that online training of teachers would have a negative impact on the quality of previously given in-house teacher training.

- Nadia Fazlulhaq
This handout picture taken and released on February 12, 2021 by World Health Organization shows Wuhan mission leader Peter Ben Embarek delivering remarks during a press conference on February 12, 2021 in Geneva. AFP-Yonhap



The White House on Saturday called on China to make available data from the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, saying it has "deep concerns" about the way the findings of the World Health Organization's COVID-19 report were communicated.



White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that it is imperative that the report be independent and free from "alteration by the Chinese government", echoing concerns raised by the administration of former President Donald Trump, who also moved to quit the WHO over the issue.



A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy fired back with a strongly-worded statement, saying the United States had damaged multilateral cooperation and the WHO in recent years, and should not be "pointing fingers" at China and other countries that supported the WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic.



China welcomed the U.S. decision to reengage with the WHO, but Washington should hold itself to the "highest standards" instead of taking aim at other countries, the spokesperson said.



WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday said all hypotheses were still open about the origins of COVID-19, after Washington said it wanted to review data from a WHO-led mission to China, where the virus first emerged.





A security guard stops a photographer from taking pictures at a hotel where members of the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease are accommodated, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China Feb. 6, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap



A WHO-led mission, which spent four weeks in China probing the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak, said this week that it was not looking further into the question of whether the virus escaped from a lab, which it considered highly unlikely.



The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing strongly denies.









Sullivan noted that U.S. President Joe Biden had quickly reversed the decision to disengage from the WHO, but said it was imperative to protect the organization's credibility.



"Re-engaging the WHO also means holding it to the highest standards," Sullivan said. "We have deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them."



Biden, who is spending his first weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, was due to meet with his national security advisers on Saturday, a White House official said.



China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team's investigators, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began.





A worker wearing a face mask watches from inside a hospital across the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention after the World Health Organization team arrive to make a field visit in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. AP

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

As an inmate, people are at the mercy of their jailers. Everything from when they eat to when they sleep is controlled.

For women incarcerated at the Springer Correctional Center, this also means being at the mercy of sexual assault.

Several attorneys have filed multiple lawsuits against Springer Correctional Center and the New Mexico Department of Corrections for sexual assault at the facility. These lawsuits occur often enough that it shows a pattern of sexual assault at the prison.

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Attorney Ryan Villa, who recently settled a sexual assault case out of Springer for $75,000, said that until the New Mexico Risk Management Division takes responsibility for these cases, it prevents meaningful changes that would stop the sexual assaults from happening.

But Risk Management, by saying were not going to pay for this, is basically saying were not going to stop this in my opinion, Villa said. Because when Risk Management is on the hook, they will then generally take steps to try to stop this stuff from happening.

It basically sends a message to the prisons that Risk Management isnt going to do anything to stop the assaults, Villa said.

In one of his cases, Villa represented a woman at Springer who was working as a barber. A mail room worker soon took an interest in her. He started sending her inappropriate letters and going to her for haircuts.

The woman never responded to the letters and feared that, if she reported them, she would be retaliated against, the lawsuit stated.

Villa said these fears of retaliation are not unwarranted. If an inmate makes a Prison Rape Elimination Act complaint and the Corrections Department doesnt believe the complaint, they would punish the inmate, he said.

This could be by taking away their good time earned, their prison job, commissary access and more, he said.

Soon after the letters started, the worker cornered the woman in a supply closet and sexually assaulted her. She didnt report it, again out of fear of retaliation. The letters were eventually found by prison officials and the woman told officials what happened. But, as far as she and Villa knew, nothing was really ever done.

Instead of the staff going, lets investigate this, lets treat it as true until proven otherwise, their position is somebodys lying, we need to disprove this, we need to punish the person thats making the complaint,' Villa said. If Risk Management got involved, because theyve got the power of the purse, they could change the culture  thats really what it needs is a culture change.

Eric Harrison, public information officer with the Corrections Department, said the department has a zero tolerance policy for all forms of sexual abuse and harassment. Harrison said each facility has a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance manager to ensure these complaints are immediately and thoroughly investigated.

These compliance managers are also in charge of making sure inmates and staff do not face retaliation after a claim is made, he said. All staff, volunteers and contractors are required to go through PREA background checks, attend PREA training and have annual PREA refresher training.

He said the Corrections Department has free confidential rape crisis hotlines and inmates can even report PREA violations to an outside agency  the Colorado Department of Corrections  if they wish.

Retaliation for reporting

Lalita Moskowitz, an American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico attorney, also represented three clients sexually assaulted while in prison  one at Springer and two at Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants.

Moskowitz said there is definitely a pattern of sexual assault at correctional facilities. For her client incarcerated at Springer, she, along with four other women, made multiple complaints about the correctional officer who allegedly sexually assaulted them. However, the officer was never disciplined, and worked at Springer for three more years, she said.

We have seen that sexual assault complaints are not taken seriously by the facilities, Moskowitz said. And investigations are not done thoroughly.

Moskowitz also said there was a lot of retaliation against women who report sexual assault, which was the case with one of her clients incarcerated at the Grants facility. After she reported her assault, the woman was disciplined for attempting to engage in, or engaging in, an unauthorized or inappropriate relationship and had a year of good time earned taken away from her.

This even though the two officers were later criminally charged with sexual assault and one pleaded guilty per a plea agreement to the charges, according to court records. Her civil lawsuit in First Judicial District Court recently settled for $135,000.

Moskowitz said this isnt necessarily a training issue, but a culture issue in the Corrections Department. She said a lot of it is a culture of ignoring the rules and staff not doing what they were trained to do.

I think more outside oversight, particularly, would be really beneficial, Moskowitz said. Folks who are not just completely mired in the system itself.

Taking advantage of addiction

Attorney Justine Fox-Young is currently representing four women in separate lawsuits who claim they were sexually assaulted at Springer. In one of those lawsuits, a correctional officer from Moskowitzs Springer lawsuit is also listed as a perpetrator.

A correctional officer in one of her lawsuits has also been criminally charged with sexual assault against one of her clients. The officer initially approached the woman and placed Suboxone, a medication to treat opioid addiction, in her eye.

She soon became dependent on Suboxone and the officer started to demand sex in exchange for the drugs, according to the criminal complaint.

There has been longstanding and widespread abuse of women at the Springer Correctional Facility, and we hope to put an end to that, and to vindicate the rights of a number of victims, Fox-Young said.

Fox-Young said that the women who she and co-counsel Erlinda Johnson represent have undergone terrible abuses and very inhumane treatment during their time at Springer. She said the public deserves to know whats happening at Springer and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham needs to put a stop to it.

What needs to be done

Attorney Paul Kennedy said hes been suing jails and prisons since the 1980s and that the situation at Springer is beyond the pale. He said nobody seems to want to do anything about it and the government resists the lawsuits instead of cleaning up the facility.

He said abuse at Springer is just so blatant and rampant that the U.S. Department of Justice needs to take over the facility.

Kennedy recently filed a lawsuit against the Corrections Department on behalf of a client who was also sexually assaulted at Springer.

He said his client was taken to an area of the facility without cameras and sexually assaulted twice in a holding cell by a correctional officer.

This occurred after the New Mexico State Police investigated allegations against that corrections officer and his case was referred to the 8th Judicial District Attorneys Office for criminal prosecution. But his supervisors did nothing and the correctional officer continues to work at the facility, according to the lawsuit.

Harrison said there are currently 283 cameras at the Springer facility, 160 of which have been replaced in the past two years. He said the department intends to continue upgrading cameras until all 283 are replaced. He said the cameras are monitored 24/7 by staff.

I just think they are so used to getting away with it, that they just dont care, said Kennedy.
ASHFIELD  Thomas Leue knows there are skeptics. With almost every invention or new concept, a little snickering in the background shares space with curiosity, optimism and hope.

He is undeterred. Working from his Ashfield shop, Leue is convinced hes found an energy source that will help the environment, bring small business costs under control and add value to a substance now usually tossed in the dump.

Through Yellow Heat, Leue guarantees a savings of $1 per gallon or more compared to conventional heating oil by burning vegetable oil  also known as yellow grease. No messy filtering or preheating required! his website proclaims.

It sounds almost too good to be true, which may be one reason Leue has had to work so hard for broader acceptance.

Vegetable oil as an energy source may sound radical to some. But Leue, whose company, Homestead Inc., is the producer of Yellow Heat, says hes proven it works.

Its non-toxic and non-flammable. There is no fear of a toxic spill in the basement, he said.

Vegetable oil is rated as a noncombustible liquid, so it is fire safe and safer than heating oil. Our system is continuously monitored by the internet with an app that shows system status on your phone.

Leue said his burner makes use of a waste product.

Every restaurant throws away 5 to 10 gallons of vegetable oil a week, Leue said. I worked in the biodiesel field, and I got to know about vegetable oil. I looked to see if it had any value, and it does. We can use it as we use heating oil in a lot of cases.

Leue, who has been working on his idea for 20 years, recently had help from Valley Venture Mentors, a Springfield nonprofit. Leue said he appreciates what help he received, but says the agency was not overwhelmed by his idea.

I dont think they realized the incentives of (this type of) green energy. They thought it was a far-out idea, he said.

Valley Venture Mentors thought enough of the Yellow Heat oil burner to provide a $5,000 Clean Tech award, in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, in June of 2018.

VVM and MassCEC have partnered to offer Yellow Heat this grant, as we recognize that using local waste resources to replace fossil fuels is both good for our local economy and the earth. Were excited to see Yellow Heat expand his business and wish him the best of luck, said Dorota Glosowitz of Valley Venture Mentors, which posted a sizable story about Leues product to its website.

Did Valley Venture Mentors consider the idea far out? Interim CEO Chris Bignell, who met Leue at the Springfield Innovation Festival in 2019, acknowledged its easy to think that way.

But then I got to thinking, those are the people (with such ideas) who often strike gold. Hes very well-intentioned, its a really great concept, and hes a perfect example of (independent) people who follow their goals, Bignell said. Its tough for any entrepreneur to do a startup on his or her own. But hes still plugging away, and those are the people VVM likes to help.

Yellow Heats assets are similar to those of products of Greasecar Inc., an Oregon-based firm that also has Western Massachusetts roots.

Created in 2000 by Hampshire College graduate Justin Carven, Greasecar produces vegetable oil conversion kits for diesel vehicles.

They started out right down the street from me, and their idea worked, said Leue, who said Yellow Heats process is simplified because, unlike some other uses of vegetable oil, it does not require filtering.

Promoting a new idea involves selling it as much as creating it. Thomas Edison was a marketing genius. Leue confesses he is not.

Im not very good at marketing. And Im certainly not the biggest company in the world, he admits.

Even so, he says vegetable oil has advantages that science cannot deny.

Yellow Heat is the worlds only heating system that can be carbon neutral. It could be popular, especially with some restaurants, he said.

Thats probably Leues best target audience. If a restaurant serving fried foods throws out, say, 10 gallons of oil a week, it adds up to more than 500 gallons per year.

Vegetable oil goes for about one-tenth the cost of heating oil. ... Waste oil is much cheaper, Leue said. Heating oil has lately been about $2.35 per gallon with vegetable oil hovering around 25 cents, he said.

On the surface, it sounds as if Leue has come up with the right idea at just the right time. Clean energy is all the rage, notably in Massachusetts, where Charlie Baker says he wants to be remembered as the environmental governor.

Small businesses are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants have been hit especially hard. Around the United States, its estimated at least 100,000 have closed for good, and the survivors must cut overhead to ride out the scourge.

Leue wants people to know hes the salesman of a burner for vegetable oil, not snake oil. Any inventor wants to make a buck, but he sounds much more devoted to providing a heat source he says takes the checklist of traditional energy drawbacks and crosses them off, one by one.

There is almost no sulfur in vegetable oil, so it smells better and does not add this to local pollution and acid rain. Carbon monoxide and fine particulates are greatly reduced. ... (Environmental Protection Agency) calculations show a 98% reduction in net climate impact as compared to regular heating oil, he says.

In the gigantic field of energy, Leue is the quintessential underdog. But then, nobody believed Edison at first, either.

Related Content:
Ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of Rs 3770 crore and flagged off the 9.05 km long extension that will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station. While addressing the event, PM Modi highlighted the human rights issues faced by Tamilians living in Sri Lanka, especially the fishermen. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were also present at the event and spoke there.

"Our govt has taken care of interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka. I have had the chance to even visit Jaffna. 50,000 houses have been built for displaced Tamils in north eastern Sri Lanka. Infrastructure is being rebuilt in Jaffna to improve connectivity. Cultural centre in Jaffna is being built by India. Problems faced by fishermen has been long-standing. We have ensured early release whenever fishermen were apprehended in Sri Lanka," said PM Modi.

The PM further said, "The issue of Tamil rights has been taken up by us consistently with Sri Lanka. We are committed to ensuring that they live with equality, justice, peace, and dignity."

"Currently, there are no Indian fishermen in Sri lankan custody. Similarly, 313 boats have also been released and we are working on the release of the rest of the boats," he added.

At the event, he remembered the Pulwama attack that happened two years ago and paid tribute to the martyrs. PM Modi said, "No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs we lost in that attack. We are proud of our security forces. Their bravery will continue to inspire generations."

A day after Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami handed over the farm loan waiver receipts to beneficiaries on Saturday, PM Modi appreciated the farmers of the state by saying, "I want to appreciate the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and good use of water resources. We have to do whatever we can do to conserve water. Always remember the mantra of 'Per drop, more crop'"

READ | PM Modi's Chennai Visit Plan Out; Big Valentine's Day For Poll-bound Tamil Nadu & Kerala

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During the event, PM Modi dedicated the Chennai Beach-Attipattu fourth line and the Railway electrification of Villupuram Cuddalore-Mayiladuturai Thanjavur-Mayiladuturai-Tiruvarur Single Line Sections to the nation and laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras, which will be built at nearby Thaiyur at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase over an area of 2 lakh sqm and the extension, renovation, and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System.

The Prime Minister formally handed over the DRDO developed Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy.

Meanwhile, the venue, the sprawling Nehru Stadium premises, and the entire Periamet neighborhood in the heart of the city came under a three-layered security blanket. Traffic diversions and heavy deployment of police personnel were made as part of security measures for the Prime Minister's brief visit. Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the airport and then flew in a chopper to INS Adyar from where he drove to the function venue. All along the way, a good number of supporters and the public turned up to greet the Prime Minister as artists played traditional musical instruments to welcome him. Modi waved at the people who waited to have a glimpse of him.

Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are due in April-May 2021 and the political parties have started their campaigns. While DMK's MK Stalin is eyeing becoming Chief Minister for the first time, CM E Palaniswami (EPS) is fighting for his re-election. The BJP is allied with the AIADMK and is said to be in talks with Stalin's estranged brother MK Alagiri. On the other side, AIADMK has said that they are the big-brother within the NDA alliance though the party faces its own split on account of the release of Sasikala from jail. Meanwhile, Kamal Hassan has put a halt to his campaign trail due to leg surgery. Superstar Rajinikanth who was about to launch his party this year has backed out due to health reasons. Puducherry will also go to polls at the same time and there is trouble in the Congress-DMK alliance as the Stalin-led party has announced its own CM face.

READ | PM Modi Fires 'G-23' Jibe At Cong While Thanking Ghulam Nabi Azad: 'Take In Right Spirit'

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Flood Plains Valley Protection Peoples Movement fears flood gates will open Text and pix by Wasantha Ramanayake If squatters are allowed to cultivate in the National Park View(s): View(s):

If squatters are allowed to cultivate lands inside Flood Plains National Park, it will open flood gates for people who live close to national parks in Polonnaruwa and elsewhere to claim their so-called traditional paddy fields inside national parks and disturb its fauna and flora, an environmentalist has warned.

A Flood Plains Valley Protection Peoples Movement spokesman said Flood Plains, Somawathiya, Kaudulla, Minneriya, Angamedilla and Wasgamuwa National Parks formed a ring around Polonnaruwa, and illegal cultivation inside those parks would destroy them.

It would also disrupt the movement of hundreds of wild elephants and compel them to invade thousands of hectares of cultivations, rice fields or villages and intensify the human-elephant conflict, he warned.

Parakarama Samudraya United Farmer Association President Jagath Amarakeerthi said that on behalf of the villagers who were already affected by wild elephant attacks, he had made submissions before a committee, along with representatives of the claimants.

The committee appointed to make recommendations to the Wildlife Conservation Ministry to look into claims of squatters cultivating paddy inside the Flood Plains National Park, made inquiries in Polonaruwa on February 9.

Wildlife Director General M G C Sooriyabandara said the committee would hold more inquires before it made its recommendations to the Parliamentary consultative committee. We are compiling information and would have a few more such meetings with the parties concerned, he said.

On behalf of claimants, the squatters who lost their appeal in the High Court against the Magistrate Court order, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna District Organiser Mohamed Casim Abdul Samad said traditional paddy fields inside the National Park should be given back to the farmers. Those who vandalise archaeological sites and illegally fell trees inside the park should be arrested, he said.

Mr Samad said there were 218 people claiming to have cultivated about 580 acres of land inside the Park. He said that in the 1970s maps had been drawn to show these traditional paddy cultivations.

When the Wildlife Department acquired the lands for the park in 1984, those who were cultivating inside the lands were not given alternative lands. They continued to cultivate the lands until 2015. They were prevented from entering the Park only in 2019 after they lost their appeal in the High Court Mr Samad said.

However, the Peoples Movement spokesperson contradicted Mr Samads claims. Those 218 people who claimed to have cultivated lands inside the National Park lost the case against them, first in the Magistrates Court and then they lost their appeal in the High Court, as they did not have title deeds or any valid evidence.

These are not traditional paddy lands; majority of those who claimed they inherit traditional lands started cultivating there only after 2000, during the war, the Peoples Movement spokesman said. He added that only a few of them had illegally cultivated lands inside the Park.

He also pointed out the 1:50000 Survey Department map of the area did not depict any paddy lands inside the park.

Friends have paid tribute to a 'kind and loving,' murder victim who was stabbed in the chest on a Reading street today.

Police were called out to Managua Close in Caversham just before 1am after 24-year-old Yannick Cupido was stabbed in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A close friend of Mr Cupido said this afternoon: 'Everyone in the area knew and loved him. He loved making everyone laugh and he would always make sure that everyone was fine.

'He was more of a brother than a friend to everyone around here.'

The death came just hours after Thames Valley Police had issued a Section 60 order for the area, giving officers extra powers to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons.

Neighbours have said Mr Cupido was a 'very good boy,' who was 'polite and kind'.

Police were seen storming a property at nearby Honeymeadow Close in four squad cars just before 3pm today.

At least 10 specialist police, some armed and all dressed in black, were carrying an enforcer to batter down the door to the semi-detached home, which is around 100 yards from the scene of the murder.

Officers left the property empty handed shortly after.

A murder victim who died after being stabbed in the chest in Caversham has been named locally as Yannick Cupido

Police remain at the scene of a murder in Managua Close, Caversham, this morning after a 24-year-old man was stabbed to death

The close friend of Mr Cupido added: 'He was a kind and loving young man and who was the life and soul of everything. We all grew up together and now they have to get justice for him.'

Locals have raised concern over their safety and called for greater policing as last night's followed the alleged murder of another man in nearby Tilehurst last week.

One woman said today: 'This murder has made me want to move out of the area with the kids growing up now.

'Everywhere in Reading seems to be getting worse. Three murders so far this year, it really makes me worry about bringing up my kids here.'

One local resident, who knew the victim well, said: 'He was from this estate where he grew up with his mum. He had recently moved in with his girlfriend but he would come back to visit his mother. He used to work in the local shop and was a hard worker.

'He was a very good boy. He had a steady girlfriend for the last year. They were supposed to have a good life together.

A close friend of Mr Cupido, 24, said: 'He was more of a brother than a friend to everyone around here'

Forensic officers are searching for evidence in Managua Close this morning as neighbours say the death could be related to 'turf wars,' in Reading

'He worked 12 or 13-hour night shifts in the food industry and I know he was finding that tough. He was always so polite and kind, it is so sad that this has happened.'

One neighbour said today: 'It is frightening and a bit close for comfort. Everyone is just locked up with nothing to do, that's why it is happening. This estate is known for drugs but I don't think it is any different from the murder last week in Tilehurst.

'Reading does seem to be in the spotlight. There needs to be more police, we hardly ever see them anywhere. We need more police and they need to be out and about more.'

Another neighbour added: 'We have lived here for 20 years. When we first moved in there were lots of police here but there is not enough now.

'There might be one police officer here a day, back then we would get four or five a day. We just need something for us.

Locals also expressed concern about police enforcing lockdown regulations.

One said: 'Lockdown should mean lockdown, so why are we letting gangs get together?

'They are not being dispersed. Why are we letting them get together. They should not be out on the streets at all. We need the law to be enforced.'

The murder happened just hours after police had issued a Section 60 order, giving officers additional powers to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons

Police were called out to the residential street at around 1am this morning after a man was stabbed in the chest

Another long-time resident of the estate said: 'We have been concerned a lot about the amount of drug activity around here. It has been bad but it has never changed.

'We need more police presence. They used to be around quite often but now we never see them. It is really concerning for us and our children, it worries us a lot.'

The victim's next of kin have been informed and a murder investigation launched.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Nicola Douglas, said: 'Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the man who has sadly lost his life.'

'We are in the very early stages of this investigation and we will be working quickly and thoroughly in the community to find those responsible.

'There will be a cordon in place and additional officers in the area and we will be starting house-to-house enquiries as part of this investigation.'

The 24-year-old victim was stabbed in the street in Managua Close at around 1am on Sunday

Police have asked the public to leave speculation off social media and instead speak to officers at the scene if they have any questions relating to the death

Det Insp Douglas added officers would be conducting house-to-house enquiries as part of the investigation.

She said: 'If you have any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area around Managua Close, Nire Road or Ian Mikardo Way between 11pm yesterday and 1am today, please take a look at the footage and, if it captures anything unusual, please share that with us.

'I can assure the community, we will be doing everything we can to find out exactly what has led to the death of the victim.

Det Insp Nicola Douglas added officers would be conducting house-to-house enquiries as part of the investigation.

Today's murder comes just over a week after a 26-year-old man was stabbed to death in nearby Tilehurst, the two deaths are not being linked at this stage. Police remain at Malagua Close today

'If you have concerns, there will be officers in the area so please feel free to approach them and they should be able to reassure you.

'We would ask that speculation is kept off of social media, instead please report any information to police to help this investigation'.

Today's death comes after 'quiet only son,' Raheem Hanif was allegedly murdered in nearby Tilehurst last Saturday.

Raheem, aged 26 years, was found slumped in a pool of blood in a car park in Dulnan Close, last Saturday evening. He had been stabbed in the upper chest.

The two deaths have not been linked at this stage.

Four people have been charged with murder and remanded in custody in connection with Raheem's death.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
The coffins of three Turkish military personnel killed in action arrive in military vehicles at the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque during their funeral in Ankara on Feb. 12, 2021. (Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey Says Terrorists Executed 13, Including Soldiers, Police, in Iraq

ISTANBULTerrorists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have executed 13 kidnapped Turks, including military and police personnel, in a cave in northern Iraq, Turkish officials said on Sunday, amid a military operation against the group.

Forty eight PKK terrorists were killed during the military operation, while three Turkish soldiers were killed and three wounded, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement. Twelve of the kidnapped Turks had been shot in the head and one in the shoulder, he said.

Turkey launched the military operation against the PKK in northern Iraqs Gara region, some 35 km (22 miles) south of the Turkish border, on Feb. 10 to secure its frontier and find citizens who had been kidnapped previously, he said.

The governor of Malatya province in southeast Turkey named six soldiers and two police officers, kidnapped in separate incidents in 2015 and 2016, as being among those killed in the cave. Three of the dead have yet to be identified in autopsies being carried out in Malatya.

One senior security source told Reuters that Turkish intelligence personnel were among the dead.

According to initial information given by two terrorists captured alive, our citizens were martyred at the start of the operation by the terrorist responsible for the cave, Akar said at the operations control centre near the Iraq border.

A statement on a PKK website said some prisoners it was holding, including Turkish intelligence, police and military personnel, had died during clashes in the area. The group denied it had ever hurt prisoners.

Revenge

The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union, launched its armed insurgency in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey in 1984 and more than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

In the last two years Turkeys fight against the PKK has increasingly focused on northern Iraq, where the group has its stronghold in the Qandil mountains on the Iranian border.

The presidencys communications director Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that as Turkey mourns it dead it also reiterates its commitment to chase down every last terrorist hiding in their caves and safe houses.

Our revenge will be painful. Our justice will be swift, he said, slamming the Wests deafening silence in the face of PKK attacks and pledging steps against individuals and groups glorifying and encouraging terrorism at home and abroad.

In 2017, Turkeys foreign minister said Ankara was working to bring back citizens he said had been kidnapped by the PKK, after Turkish media reported two Turkish intelligence officers had been captured by the PKK in Iraq.
The frosty fingertipped folk of Russia have always been known as hard-living, hard-drinking people. And no drink moreso than vodka, booze that runs so concentrated through the blood of its culture they'll gladly follow leaders that are only half-Russian if the other half is made up of vodka. But recently, Russians have started to lose their taste for the potato-based liquor in favor of an even more traditionalist approach to hooch hounding: moonshine.

As if their political attacks on gay rights wasn't enough to cement its status as the Alabama of regional powers, moonshine or samogon (meaning "self-distilled) has taken over as the Russian poison of choice. Dating back to the 14th-century, samogon was always a Russian rural favorite because it's as easy to make as it's hard it is to keep down. Russian moonshine follows no recipes or restrictions and can be made from just about anything: table sugar, barley, beetroots, tea, and even particularly thick fruit jams. One old Soviet practice was to pour sugar, yeast, milk, and water directly into your washing machine, put it on tumble for two hours, and distill whatever fresh lavender hell came sludging out of it.

Aaronstj, Wikimedia Commons Hard liquor has never tasted so soft.

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Yet, its popularity in Russian culture was held back on account that samogon was illegal to make or consume for most of its existence. Starting with Peter the Great, it wasn't until 1997 that the Russian federation decreed the making of samogon legal for personal consumption. Another part of samogon's yeast-barrel boom has to be Russia's semi-regular bursts of semi-Prohibition. Since the late aughts, the Russian government has once again tried to curtail Russians from drinking themselves into an even earlier grave by restricting access to and raising the prices of vodka. Between that and the country's struggling economy, this has led many Russian heavy drinkers to switch to more cost-effective ways of getting loaded -- like self-distilled moonshine, VAT-free black-market booze, or drinking industrial-grade bath cleaner straight from the squeezy bottle.

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Samogan drinkers have the highest survival rate of those, so their numbers have been skyrocketing for the past two decades. To the point that, in some rural areas, it's believed that for every shot of vodka, four shots of samogon are drunk -- and that's just for breakfast. Even when the Russian government cut the price of vodka after realizing it made up most of its gross domestic product, many are resisting the switch back to that newfangled fancy-pantsy drink. Meanwhile, samogon is breaking into new markets as well, with Russian hipsters (who are like American hipsters but have actually read Marx and wear their ushankas unironically) opting in on its microbrewing scene. And with our bars still closed, what better way to stay in the drinking game than by purchasing an old washing machine on Russian eBay, pouring in whatever moldy fruit, potatoes, and leftover gasoline you have lying around, weathering the long lonely winter like a Russian.

For more weird tangents and his recipe for toilet-moonshine, do follow Cedric on Twitter.

Top Image: olga9177/Pixabay, TCRDarbnica/Wikimedia Commons
A demonstrator shines his cellphone flashlight as an other waves a poster reads "I'm not afraid, Freedom for Navalny" during a protest against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Russia on January 23, 2021. (Evgeny Feldman/Meduza via AP)

Moscow: Supporters of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny plan to hold candle-lit gatherings in residential courtyards across Russia on Sunday despite warnings that they could be arrested.

Navalnys allies have declared a moratorium on street rallies until the spring after police detained thousands of people at protests in the past few weeks against the opposition politicians arrest and imprisonment.

But they want Russians to show solidarity with Navalny by gathering outside their homes for 15 minutes on Valentines Day evening, shining their mobile phone torches and arranging candles in the shape of a heart.

(President Vladimir) Putin is fear. Navalny is love. Thats why we will win, Leonid Volkov, one of Navalnys close allies, wrote on Twitter when calling on people to gather.

Navalny was arrested last month on his return from Germany following treatment for poisoning, in Siberia, with what many Western countries say was a nerve agent. He was jailed on Feb. 2 for violating parole on what he said were trumped-up charges.

He blames Putin for the poisoning, and Western countries are considering new sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin denies any involvement and questions whether Navalny was poisoned.

Volkov, who is based in Lithuania, is one of several Navalny allies now abroad or under house arrest in Russia.

He urged people to flood social media with pictures of Sundays gatherings - a new venture for the opposition that resembles political actions in neighbouring Belarus - using the hashtag #loveisstrongerthanfear in Russian.

Another activist has called on women to form a human chain on a pedestrian street in Moscow on Sunday afternoon in support of Navalnys wife Yulia, who according to media reports flew to Germany this week, and other women affected by the police crackdown against protesters.

Russian law enforcement agencies said on Thursday that people taking part in unsanctioned rallies could face criminal charges.

Some rights groups accuse police of using disproportionate force against protesters in recent weeks. The Kremlin has denied repression by police and says the protests were illegal as they were not approved and risk spreading COVID-19.
Like other cities where elected officials have condoned or even encouraged lawlessness, Minneapolis has seen a sharp increase in violent crime. This was entirely foreseeable, yet the Minneapolis City Council voted to put defunding the police on the ballot at the next election, a move that was quietly tabled by the City Charter Commission.

This, too, was predictablecrime makes a city unlivable, and Minneapolis is in trouble. So a swing back to sanity is under way: Minneapolis to spend $6.4M recruiting MORE officers following sharp rise in crime.

The city says it is looking for officers with degrees in criminology, social work, psychology or counseling. It occurs to me that the average police officer knows more about social work, psychology and counseling than most degree holders in those fields, but that is a topic for another day.
The Republican Party was born on March 20, 1854, the green shoots of a political spring. Unlike Americas other parties that were often shotgun weddings of convenience, the Republicans burst forth around moral ideas that were so powerful  ending slavery and making America a world industrial power  that the tail of this supernova lasted for more than 166 years and inspired its eventual nickname, the Grand Old Party.

That GOP died  morally, if not officially  in the late afternoon gloaming of a grey and bitterly cold winters day, Feb. 13, 2021. After 43 Republican senators whod been given a green light to vote their conscience on Donald Trumps impeachment still managed to come up empty  thus enshrining the notion that an end-of-term president can foment a deadly insurrection to thwart a peaceful transition of power and not face any consequences  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell strolled to the well of the Senate. He was presumably holding the bloody knife with which hed repeatedly stabbed American democracy for a dozen years hidden behind his back.

It turns out that McConnells past moments of political shamelessness  the years of hurting Americas recovery just to electorally thwart our first Black president, the theft of a Supreme Court pick from Barack Obama so it could be made by a dangerous demagogue whom the Kentuckian then helped pack the judiciary  were just an audition for Saturdays GOP eulogy.

Theres no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day, said McConnell, referring to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol that had endangered McConnells colleagues, his staffers and himself. No question about it. But his faux moment of moral clarity was all a sham, as shown by leading the Feckless 43 in acquitting Trump as well as his pretzel logic to justify his vote, a lie-based misreading of the U.S. Constitution that hed already shredded into 10,000 pieces as he turned the Party of Lincoln into an authoritarian cult with no moral standing and no ideology beyond realpolitick to protect white identity politics.

But McConnells effort to obfuscate was in fact one of the most revelatory moments in the long, muddled history of American politics. The unbearable nothingness of his failure  and that of most of his party  to hold Trump to account for a full-frontal assault on Americas core ideals was the final flatlining in the long slow death of a political party that is no longer grand, just old. On paper, the Republican Party may live on  but the GOP as an idea and a moral force is deader than a parrot in a Monty Python sketch, nailed to its perch in a gross caricature of what it once was.

And its time for the rest of us  the 57%, the rough number who support the launch of the President Biden era, equal to the percentage of senators who voted to convict Trump  to act accordingly. There is no place for bipartisanship when half of that proposed arrangement is no longer a functioning political party within a working democracy.

I think our country needs a strong Republican party  its very important, a visibly shaken House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Saturday, crashing a news conference of House impeachment managers to rebut McConnell and his intentionally misleading account of how the process went down. But Pelosi was only partially right. America will indeed need a vigorous two-party (if not multiparty) system to have real, honest debates about how to defend democracy and advance the interests of a forgotten working class. But todays Republican Party jumped the guardrails of that highway a long time ago.

In many ways, the buffoonery, corruption, and incitements to mob violence that was Donald Trump was just a gross symptom, a massive tumor that resulted from the disease that has been coursing through the Republican Party for decades. In the Nixon and Reagan eras, the GOP abandoned any and all former principles for a self-preservation ethos of tax breaks for a wealthy donor class and stirring up the social resentments of the white working class  an Ed Sullivan Show-level plate-spinning act called the Southern strategy that barely hid its white-supremacist roots.

The energy that was needed to keep spinning those plates  including a lie-based media infrastructure of talk radio and Fox News that eroded trust in fact-based journalism and eventually even the science needed to fight pandemics or climate change  was a road map to first demagoguery and, when unchecked, dictatorship.

Ironically, one of the last nails in the GOPs coffin came last week not from Trump or his weak-kneed enablers on Capitol Hill but from a Page 2 story about the implosion of the supposed anti-Trump elite of the Republican Party, the deep-pocketed Lincoln Project. This network of GOP consultants and higher-ups  who, after decades of implanting right-wing toxicity in the body politic, felt revulsion over the crudity of POTUS 45  argued they were true conservatives with a conscience in raising $90 million to defeat Trump in 2020. Instead, revelations are showing the Lincoln Project was largely a grift of big-bucks self-dealing and covering up the sexual harassment of one of its founders. In hindsight, maybe the Lincoln Project embodied the actual Republican Party more than it realized.

Is it any wonder, then, to see the mainstream of such a Republican Party come up morally bankrupt, as in the acquittal votes by the likes of McConnell or Ohio Sen. Rob Portman? Portman is the epitome of the last era of serious Republicans as a former acolyte of George W. Bush (who, as Bushs budget chief, presumably at least believes in math) and yet the kind of politician who ultimately cant see past himself  famously supporting gay marriage only after his own son came out. Today, Portman is walking away from the Senate but is still too fearful of the angry mob that he helped create to vote his own conscience on Trump. His cowardice is typical of the Feckless 43.

 READ MORE: Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and the criminal conspiracy case of U.S. v. Donald Trump | Will Bunch

To be clear, I have nothing but praise for the moral integrity of the 17 Republicans (10 in the House, and seven Saturday in the Senate, including Pennsylvanias own Sen. Pat Toomey) who voted to impeach or convict Trump for the most heinous high crime ever committed by a president. But in todays climate they are islands in the stream, not the makings of a new or revived Republican Party, whose implosion matches the slavery-tied collapse of the Whig Party in the 1850s. There is, arguably, a large opening for a completely new second political party  one that actually promotes the economic interests of a multiracial working class and some of its social conservatism, but embraces ethics and eschews racism  but the stench of the GOPs corpse may have to get worse before that can happen.

In 2021, the only hope for American salvation is not bipartisanship with a dead body but instead a Democratic Party that is every bit as bold as the Republicans are cowardly. That is easier said than done, as we saw again on Saturday when Democrats briefly won, with help from the GOPs last ethical holdouts, the right to call witnesses against Trump, only to give it up for fear that theyd hurt Bidens agenda, or miss their Valentines Day flights, or ... something.

But lets look at this glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Since Biden took office, the push to use the controversial 51-Senate-votes reconciliation process to move full steam ahead on coronavirus relief for everyday Americans, and Democrats bold move to strip GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments over her dangerous pro-QAnon statements, are signs that the Democrats know they must govern for the 57%.

Now, in the wake of the Republicans blocking of accountability for Trump. Democrats must see the light and go even deeper. The failure to get 60 votes, let alone 67, in the open-and-shut case of the ex-presidents insurrection incitement, should not only be the death knell for the GOP but also for the filibuster. Without the ability to represent the 57% of Americans who believe in a morally good and progressive nation on a straight up-or-down vote, Republicans will block voting rights reforms  which is their best hope for gaming the elections of 2022 and 2024.

Whats more, a failure to enact laws backed by a majority of the public  most notably, the $15 minimum wage  will open the door to the ultimate nightmare enabled on Saturday by the Feckless 43, the return of Donald Trump. Beyond Capitol Hill, Saturdays vote  and McConnells acknowledgement of likely criminal conduct by the ex-president  should be a green light for incoming Attorney General Merrick Garland to finally bring Trump to justice in our criminal courts.

That truth may be a hard pill for the likes of President Biden, who was raised on the quasi-sacred altar of bipartisanship. But the only way to save the country from the American carnage of 2021 is for the Democrats to use their narrow majority to push for what is right  politically, economically, morally  and invite any principled Republicans like Sen. Mitt Romney or Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler to join them. Real aid for struggling, regular folks, and the bloody shirt of Jan. 6, could help Democrats defy the political wisdom and gain more seats in 2022. And that would speed the inevitable  to declare the Republican Party legally dead, and move on with our lives.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on former President Donald Trump's second Senate impeachment trial (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

Enough senators have cast not guilty votes to acquit Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The vote will give the former president an historic second acquittal in an impeachment trial.

House Democrats, who voted a month ago to charge Trump with incitement of insurrection, needed two thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, to convict him.

The Democrats argued in the short trial that Trump caused the violent attack by repeating for months the false claims that the election was stolen from him, and then telling his supporters gathered near the White House that morning to fight like hell to overturn his defeat. Five people died when they then laid siege to the Capitol.

Trumps lawyers argued that the rioters acted on their own accord and that he was protected by freedom of speech, an argument that resonated with most Republicans. They said the case was brought on by Democrats hatred of Trump.

___

3:40 p.m.

The White House was not involved in the discussion on Capitol Hill about calling witnesses for former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial. That's according to a senior administration official not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations and speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official says White House officials were watching the drama over witnesses play out in the Senate, but were not involved in brokering the agreement that ultimately allowed the trial to proceed to closing arguments and a vote Saturday.

President Joe Biden spent the weekend with family at Camp David, the traditional presidential retreat in Maryland, and had plans to meet with his national security advisers on Saturday.

___

HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SECOND SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL:

The Senate met in a rare weekend session to wrap up Donald Trumps second impeachment trial. An unexpected morning vote in favor of hearing witnesses threw the trial into confusion, but both sides ultimately reached a deal that allowed the trial to proceed with no witness testimony. The trial ended with closing arguments, followed by a vote on whether the former president incited the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol.

Read more:

 Republican leader McConnell tells colleagues he will vote to acquit.

 Which GOP senators are seen as possible votes against Trump?

 Rep. Herrera Beutler urges patriots to talk about Trump call

___

HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

3:15 p.m.

A lawyer for Donald Trump says everyone acknowledges the horror of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol last month but that the former president wasnt responsible for it.

Michael van der Veen gave his closing arguments on the Senate floor on Saturday in the impeachment trial of Trump.

He says there is no evidence that Trump incited an armed insurrection to overthrow the U.S. government and to think that Trump would have wanted that is absurd. He says the event on Jan. 6 was supposed to be peaceful but that a small group hijacked it for their own purposes.

He also repeated the arguments from Friday that other politicians have engaged in incendiary rhetoric, though impeachment managers noted that none of those speeches precipitated an attack on the U.S. government.

___

3:10 p.m.

As a vote in Donald Trumps impeachment trial nears a close, lead Democratic impeachment manager Jamie Raskin told the Senate that this is almost certainly how you will be remembered by history.

Raskin said that none of us can escape the demands of history and destiny right now as the House managers argue that Trump incited the violent Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the Senate decides whether to convict him.

He said the trial is not about Trump, but about who we are.

Trumps lawyers, and many Senate Republicans, have argued that the trial is unconstitutional. They also say Trump did not intentionally incite the riot when he told a mob of his supporters to fight like hell to overturn his election defeat and march to the Capitol as Congress was counting the electoral votes.

The House managers laid out video evidence of the violent assault, in which five people died. Raskin said they proved that Trump betrayed his country and betrayed his oath of office.

___

3 p.m.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told senators in an email obtained by The Associated Press that his decision to vote to acquit former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial was a close call.

McConnell says he believes presidents can be prosecuted for criminal misconduct after they leave office. He says that eases the otherwise troubling argument House prosecutors have made that not convicting Trump would create a January exception for trying impeached presidents whove already left office.

McConnell says he thinks impeachment is chiefly to remove an official and we therefore lack jurisdiction.

___

1 p.m.

Senators have resumed Donald Trumps impeachment trial without calling witnesses after agreeing to accept new information from a Republican congresswoman about his actions on the day of the deadly Capitol siege.

After a delay of several hours, the trial is back on track with closing arguments and Saturdays session heading toward a vote on the verdict.

Under the deal, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutlers statement on a phone call between Trump and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy as rioters stormed the Capitol was entered into the trial record as evidence. No further witnesses were called.

Senators brought the proceedings to a standstill when a majority voted Saturday morning to consider potential witnesses.

The information from Herrera Beutler sparked fresh interest on Trumps actions that day.

___

12:45 p.m.

Senate leaders are working on an agreement that could end a standoff over calling witnesses in Donald Trumps impeachment trial and allow it to proceed with closing arguments and a vote on whether he incited the deadly Capitol siege.

Under the agreement being discussed, the information that a Republican congresswoman has made public about Trumps actions on the day of the riot would be entered into the record of the trial in exchange for Democrats dropping plans to deposition testimony from the congresswoman, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington No witnesses would be called to testify.

That would allow the trial to resume Saturday with closing arguments and a vote on the verdict.

A Democrat granted anonymity to discuss the private talks confirmed the pending agreement.

The Senate came to a standstill shortly after convening for the rare Saturday session when a majority voted to consider calling witnesses.

Herrera Beutlers account of Trumps call with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy as rioters were breaking into the Capitol on Jan. 6 sparked fresh interest in Trumps actions that day.

 Lisa Mascaro.

___

12:30 p.m.

Republican senators are warning that any vote to allow witnesses at the impeachment trial of Donald Trump will significantly prolong the case, and that they have their own lists of people they would want to hear from.

Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters that if there are witnesses called by Democrats, the process wont be one-sided and the former president will be able to have his own witnesses, too.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was among five Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to consider witnesses, said that although hed like to see the case go to trial, hell insist on multiple witnesses if Democrats get to have theirs. He says he would want to hear from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

A Trump adviser was seen holding a sheet of paper showing that Trumps lawyers are prepared to call more than 300 witnesses.

The vote Saturday to consider witnesses upended the trial, which had been racing toward closing arguments and a vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump.

___

11:15 a.m.

Former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial came to an abrupt standstill after a majority of senators voted to consider calling witnesses about the deadly storming of the Capitol.

Even senators seemed confused by the sudden turn of events Saturday. The quick trial had been racing toward closing arguments and a vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump.

Under Senate rules for the trial, it appears debate and votes on potential witnesses could be allowed, potentially delaying the final vote.

House prosecutors want to hear from a Republican congresswoman who has said she was aware of a conversation Trump had with the House GOP leader as rioters were ransacking the Capitol over the election results.

Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington has widely discussed her reported conversation with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who had called on Trump to stop the attack by his supporters.

Five Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting 55-45 on a motion to consider witnesses and testimony.

Trumps defense attorneys blasted the late action. Attorney Michael van der Veen said its time to close this case out.

Senators are in a brief recess as leaders confer on next steps.

___

10:50 a.m.

The proceedings in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial have come to an abrupt halt, with senators seemingly confused about the next steps.

Senators were huddling on the floor of the chamber as leaders spoke to the clerks at the dais.

Impeachment trials are rare, especially for a president, and the rules are negotiated for each one at the outset.

For Trumps trial, the agreement said if senators agree to hear witnesses, votes to hear additional testimony would be allowed.

Its unclear if there will be support in the evenly split Senate for calling witnesses.

___

10:35 a.m.

Senators have voted to consider witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

Closing arguments were expected Saturday with no witnesses called. But lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland asked for a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information.

She has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions on Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

Raskin said it was necessary to determine Trumps role in inciting the deadly Jan. 6 riot. There were 55 senators who voted to debate the motion to subpoena, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who changed his vote in the middle of the count.

Trumps attorney Michael van der Veen balked at the request, saying hed then call 100 witnesses and said it was not necessary.

___

10:30 a.m.

Trump impeachment lawyer Michael van der Veen is telling senators that if Democrats wish to call a witness, he will ask for at least 100 witnesses and will insist they give depositions in person in his office in Philadelphia.

His animated statement was met with laughter from the chamber, which visibly angered van der Veen.

Theres nothing laughable here, he said. The trial is being held in person, but lawmakers are wearing masks and the coronavirus pandemic has halted most normal activity, including close contact in offices for depositions. In many civil and criminal cases, such work is handled via conference call.

Closing arguments are expected Saturday in the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump. But lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland has asked for a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information.

She has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions on Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

___

10:20 a.m.

House impeachment prosecutors say they will be preparing a deposition of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler over fresh information in Donald Trumps trial over the deadly attack at the Capitol.

Lead Democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin of Maryland said Saturday he would seek to hear from the Republican congresswoman, who has widely shared a conversation she had with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy over Trumps actions Jan. 6 as the mob was rioting over the presidential election results.

Its unclear if she or any other witnesses will be called.

Raskin said he would pursue a virtual interview with the Washington lawmaker.

Senators are meeting in a rare Saturday session in what is expected to be the final day in Trumps historic trial.

___
SALEM, Ore --- Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency Saturday due to severe winter weather that has resulted in heavy snow and ice accumulation, high winds, critical transportation failures, and loss of power and communications capabilities.

The declaration applies to Benton, Clackamas, Hood River, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill Counties

"The weather that set in yesterday and continued overnight has left extensive damage with hundreds of thousands of Oregonians without power," Governor Brown said. "Because of windstorms, utility crews were not able to safely start work on restoring power until this morning. Crews are out in full force now and are coordinating with local emergency response teams on communications for emergency services, such as warming centers. I'm committed to making state resources available to ensure crews have the resources they need on the ground."

The Governor's declaration authorizes the Oregon Office of Emergency Management to activate the state's emergency operations plan.

That means the OEM will use the personnel, equipment, and facilities from other state agencies to respond to and mitigate effects of the weather emergency.

Other state agencies including the Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Oregon Public Utility Commission are also directed to provide necessary assistance as requested by the OEM.

Stay with KEZI 9 News for updates.
She's a big animal lover and regularly shares snaps of her two adorable dogs.

And Michelle Keegan ensured her beloved chihuahua Pip and dachshund Phoebe were centre stage as she wished fans a 'happy Galentine's Day' on Sunday.

The actress, 33, cut a casual figure in grey sweatpants and a matching comfortable jumper while enjoying a quiet weekend at home with her pets.

Casual: Michelle Keegan ensured her beloved chihuahua Pip and dachshund Phoebe were centre stage as she wished fans a 'happy Galentine's Day' on Sunday

Michelle looked relaxed as she sported her loungewear and some warm fluffy socks for a snap on the stairs.

She tied her brunette locks up into a messy bun and rocked a full face of makeup, including a slick of blusher and highlighted to accentuate her pretty features.

The Brassic star cuddled her cute dachshund for the laid-back image while her sweet chihuahua rested her face on Michelle's knee.

Michelle, who is married to former TOWIE star Mark Wright, 34, decided to leave him out of her post on Valentine's and instead focus on the women in her life.

Sharing the adorable snap with Phoebe and Pip, Michelle penned: 'Happy Galentines day from me and the girls!'

Traditionally, Galentines Day is celebrated the day before Valentines and became popular after being featured on season two of comedy show Parks and Recreation.

In the show, Amy Poehlers character Leslie Knope tells viewers that February 13 is all about celebrating lady friends and should be a national holiday.

It comes after Michelle gave fans a glimpse of what to expect from her affordable new clothing range as it goes on sale to the general public.

The former Coronation Street star has teamed up with online brand Very for another collection of comfortable co-ords, sweaters and sweeping winter coats.

Couple: Michelle, who is married to former TOWIE star Mark Wright, 34, decided to leave him out of her post on Valentine's and instead focus on the women in her life (pictured in 2018)

Taking to Instagram as it officially launched on Thursday, Michelle showed off the new autumnal range in a series of short videos and photos.

In the first she wears casual tan brown lounge-wear while relaxing at home with her pet Chihuahua Pip, one of two dogs owned by Michelle and husband Mark.

While a second image captures the star as she wears a comfortable cream sweater with contrasting sleeves while relaxing in the passenger seat of her car.

Michelle is currently back at work on the Manchester set of Sky One show Brassic, but she was forced to stop filming last year after she was exposed to COVID-19.

While she had come into contact with the virus, she had not contracted it.

A source told MailOnline: 'Michelle had to take time away from the Brassic set once again and has been laying low in Essex with her husband Mark Wright.

'She only missed one day of filming. But she needed to isolate after she came into contact with someone in Manchester who had it.

'Luckily it all happened very quickly and Michelle did not return to the Brassic set before isolating. So it didn't affect filming too much.

'She has spent last two weeks in total isolation. She will go back to filming at the end of this week.'

Watch Parks and Recreation on Stan in Australia.
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Patna, Feb 14 : Bihar Vigilance Bureau on Sunday raided the house of a director of the Agriculture Land Conservation Department in a case of owning disproportionate assets and made seizures.

A team led by DSP-rank officer Satnarayan Ram raided at the house of Ganesh Ram in Magistrate Colony area near Aashiyana Nagar here, and seized Rs 5 lakh cash, documents of fixed deposits, life insurance policies, properties and large amount of jewellery.

Satnarayan Ram said that an FIR has been registered in the vigilance police station under relevant IPC sections against Ganesh Ram.

"During the raid, Ram cooperated with us. We have asked him to disclose the source of income," Satnarayan Ram said.

He said that government officials should disclose their movable and immovable assets to their department every year. The FIR was registered against the official after he didn't reveal the same.
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From his front porch earlier this month, Clarence Braud, 81, a retired contractor, supervised friends and relatives as they hung Mardi Gras season decorations outside his New Orleans home. If its not exactly a float house, it certainly qualifies as a float fence.

Hed say, You didnt need that big zip tie there, said his daughter Charlene Braud-Phillips, who is trying to help her father enjoy his first Carnival since the loss of his two sisters to COVID-19 last spring.

For Brauds fence in the 4900 block of Tchoupitoulas Street, the family chose the theme Dont Forget to Second Line, a line from trumpeter Kermit Ruffins song, When I Die, You Better Second Line. In this respect, the familys creation illustrates how New Orleanians find ways to celebrate even amid death  and to overcome it.

On the black wrought-iron fence, the family hung a row of purple, green and gold figures, fashioning a grand Mardi Gras second-line parade with oversized medallions painted with eighth notes, silhouettes of parade grand marshals, dancers, umbrellas, sousaphones labeled with the names of local brass bands, the crest for the Braud clans Carnival club (the Family Fanatics) and a cutout portrait of Carnival baby doll Carol Kit Harris, who is Brauds niece.

The theme isnt about death, Braud-Phillips said. Its more about finding the silver lining every day. Its about remembering that there is always something to be thankful for, that theres always a reason to break out into a second-line.

Before the pandemic descended on New Orleans in early 2020, Braud backed his vehicle out of his driveway every morning and took a right on Robert Street for six blocks to his childhood home on Coliseum Street. There, hed eat lunch and spend the afternoon with the golden girls, his two sisters, Mary and Reecie. They were crazy about each other. His sisters fawned all over their brother, who was the dutiful driver taking them on outings to the pharmacy or to stores such as Zaras Lil Giant Supermarket for French bread.

Then they would return to Coliseum Street to talk until dark. Because all three of them were hard of hearing, those conversations are part of family lore, riddled with hilarious levels of misunderstood phrases followed by corrections, followed by more misunderstandings and more corrections.

On Sundays, the three siblings would attend Mass at Blessed Sacrament - St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church with their grandchildren then eat lunch. In the fall, that was followed by watching the New Orleans Saints play, sometimes with a few dozen members of immediate family. Its that kind of family.

In April, all of that changed. Within three weeks, the sprawling Braud family lost its two matriarchs to the coronavirus: Mary Braud Grams Harris, 84, on April 7, and Clarice Ann Braud Reecie Willis, 83, on April 28.

That was around the time, Louisiana had a per capita death rate that topped the United States. So it wasnt safe for Clarence Braud to attend the double funeral ceremony in May. Braud-Phillips didnt attend either, because she is his caretaker; if she got sick, there would be no one to care for him. So the two of them watched the funerals livestream on Facebook from his house.

Since then, hes left the house only to go to the doctor. My father has not set foot outside the yard, said Braud-Phillips, who delivers him groceries and supplies, as does her sister. Weve been trying to fill his days with as much as possible.

Everyone in her extended family knows that Uncle Clarence is feeling a little stir crazy. But even if he visited the Coliseum Street house, his sisters wouldnt be there.

So he talks by phone every day with his last remaining sibling, his youngest sister, who lives in California. And he has frequent sidewalk visitors, relatives who stand in front of the fence. Harris, his niece, brings her grandson to play the drum for him. He celebrated his 81st birthday in May from inside his fence, with a few brass instruments playing outside and baby dolls dancing.

Usually at this time of year, on this section of Tchoupitoulas, the Carnival parades line up in front of Brauds door. He would watch them get ready. Sometimes float riders who are friends would come sit on his porch and drink a beer with him.

On Ash Wednesday this year, Braud will leave his house to get his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But until everyone in New Orleans can safely mingle again, he will mostly stay in the yard. In the meantime, his family hopes to give him a little taste of pre-pandemic life in the city vis his own float fence.

So far, its working, Braud-Phillips said. Sometimes he calls her to tell her people are outside taking pictures. And on nice days, he sits on the porch, and they wave at him and he waves at them, she said.

Hes used to the floats passing him and waving. We are going for that same feeling, his daughter said. He can look outside. He can see that people are happy and smiling, that its Mardi Gras.

The General Overseer(GO) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, has narrated how he emerged the overall head of the church forty years ago.

Mr Adeboye recently celebrated his 40th anniversary as the GO of one of the largest Pentecostal churches in the country.

Mr Adeboye, 78, said although he had initially rejected his nomination to be the GO, the way and manner the Founder of the church, Josiah Akindayomi, reacted to his initial rejection, made him reconsider his earlier position.

Mr Akindayomi, founder of RCCG, had chosen Mr Adeboye, then a university lecturer, to succeed him, but the latter declined the nomination through a rejection letter he wrote back to Mr Akindayomi whom he called My Father- in-the Lord.

Mr Adeboye, speaking at the February Thanksgiving Service of the church held at its headquarters Ebute Metta, Lagos, recently, disclosed that it was David Kuo , then a young pastor, who read the rejection letter to Mr Akindayomi, who could only read the Bible in Yoruba.

Mr Kuo is now the Assistant General Overseer of the church in charge of affairs of Elders of the church.

Nomination accepted

Speaking on how he finally accepted the nomination in spite of his initial rejection, Mr Adeboye said it was Mr Akindayomis response to his letter of rejection that broke his resistance to be the General Overseer

He said although Mr Akindayomi told him that he had no objection to his refusal to succeed him, Mr Adeboye, however, said that Mr Akindayomi told him to remember that he(Akindayomi) loved him.

Mr Adeboye, popularly called Daddy GO, said the Founder truly loved him and he did it so openly that it was an open secret in the church.

The chronicle of events leading to his acceptance of the nomination suggests that the making of the new GO was by some divine arrangement, according to the church.

God himself had tied Pastor Adeboye up and no amount of fasting, praying and letters could stop it, the church said.

From reports, Mr Adeboye had earlier ridiculed the church as a small dog with a big name because he felt the sign post of the church was bigger than its status then.

The RCCG was founded in 1952 by Mr Akindayomi at 9 Willoughby Street and remained there until they were able to acquire a piece of land at the present site of the Headquarters at 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos (formerly 1a, Cemetery Street).

In the early 1970s,Mr Akindayomi, now late, started looking for an educated successor, who had been spiritually revealed to him, but who was at that time not a member of the church.

The man was Enoch Adejare Adeboye, a lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos, who was forced by circumstances to join the church in 1973.

His ultimate encounter with God

Mr Adeboye explained the circumstance that led him to God

Mr Adeboye recalled that July 29, 1973 was the day he had the ultimate encounter with God that completely changed my life.

At the time, I was a senior lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos. My wife, Folu, delivered all our children by caesarean operation and doctors advised us to stop having children.

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Soon after that, our new baby, the third, was afflicted with a strange disease. Sleepless nights and days of consulting orthodox and traditional medical practitioners, as well as spiritual healers yielded no relief, he said.

Mr Adeboye narrated further that his uncle, Fajemirokun, a reverend, then suggested he should try The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

There, he said the rather rowdy mode of worship, noisy prayers and the derelict environment were all strange to a man used to controlled worship of the Orthodox Church, saying But because I needed a miracle, I endured.

Although he said he liked that sermon, he could not understand why the bunch of illiterate preachers felt he had to surrender his life to Jesus Christ for the recovery of his child.

Finally, the word of God touched me and sobbing like a baby, I ran to the altar to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.

Before his new encounter with God, Mr Adeboye had, at various times, been a member of the Anglican Church and the Christ Apostolic Church, where he said he was taught to fast.

His journey to becoming pastor, GO

Narrating how he had rejected to be a pastor, Mr Adeboye said, One eventful day in 1975, my Father-in-the-Lord called me to his office and said, God has told me to ordain you as a pastor.

I said, What kind of problem is this? I didnt come to church to become a pastor, I came to church to have problems solved and in the process my soul was saved. Beautiful!

For fourteen days and fourteen nights, Mr Adeboye said he and his wife, Folu, fasted and prayed that he would never become a pastor.

This is one of the prayers God didnt answer, Mr Adeboye said.

Mr Adeboye stated that a few years after becoming a pastor, Mr Akindayomi called him and said, You are going to succeed me.

Haa! Being a pastor was bad enough. General Overseer, no way!

I couldnt say no to him in his presence. So I made sure I got to Ilorin where I was lecturing before I wrote him a beautiful letter.

Please sir, get somebody else. I will support that fellow to the best of my ability, Mr Adeboye said.

Mr Adeboye said he didnt want to be General Overseer but God compelled him, saying it was the most challenging aspect of my Christian life, especially with so much opposition in the church from those who felt that I was too young.

Opposition within

His becoming Mr Akindayomis successor came with its own opposition, especially from some members of the church who felt he was too young to be their overall head.

 I joined the church only in 1973, even though it had been in existence since 1952. Some foundation members had been pastors even before I was born again.

They regarded my promotion as too rapid! Some of them had become very influential because they had been pastors for a long time, Mr Adeboye narrated.

Fortunately, according to the GO, majority of the members, particularly the youth, supported him because they realised that it was not what he wanted himself.

God also helped me in many ways. My Father-in-the-Lord couldnt read anything other than the Bible, so he had to ask somebody to read the letter to him. The young man (Pastor Kuo), who read the letter told everybody about it but the older pastors thought I was manipulating the old man. However, it soon became clear that the situation was the exact opposite, he said.

A very senior member of the church recalled last week that although some members of the church opposed his choice of successor, others believed that the Founder was always spirit-led in his decisions.

But even after he became the General Overseer, Mr Adeboye said there were people who believed that he was not chosen by God and that he might have manipulated the old man who couldnt read or write.

The GO, however, said the Almighty God soon began to give them a sign. Every month in those days, we used to hold a seminar. And on the first day of every seminar, a child was born and it was always a boy. They knew that it was something that could not be manipulated.

The journey, so far, as GO.

Summing up the journey so far as the GO, Mr Adeboye revealed last Sunday that the past 40 years have been tough; not easy.

The church was a poor one and so they had to struggle to pay salaries. At a point he had to sell his car.

He also had to deal with the persistent problems of the churchs 39 parishes.

According to him, the challenges were so much that he grew grey hair prematurely until God assured him that the church and its problems were His.

Although the new position was a promotion, it was physically a demotion of some sorts. For example, from the mansion he lived in as a teacher of the University of Ilorin, he had to move in a single room in Mushin, then a rough suburb in Lagos.

The accommodation problem became acute when his family was relocating from Ilorin to join him, but he said when he prayed for a bigger place, God promised him a city, which is todays Redemption Camp.

When they eventually relocated to the Camp, there were days they could not afford to buy meat and had to rely on panmo ( from cow hide).

However, from the growth of the church and its recorded achievements, it is clear that the past 40 good years have been good for the church.

From 40 parishes, including the Headquarters parish, in 1981, RCCG has spread to over 198 countries, with over 32,000 parishes in Nigeria alone.

There are at least 732 branches in the UK and Ireland, where it is the fastest growing Pentecostal church.

Although, the General Overseer, noted for humility and holiness, doesnt take personal credit, his worldwide status looms far larger than that of the youngest Vice Chancellor of Africa, he was striving to be before the call to the service of God.

Activities to mark his 40th anniversary as GO

As part of the activities marking his 40 years as General Overseer of the church, a Praise Walk, starting from the Redemption Camp, was organised on January 23.

For four hours, over 2,000 people walked joyously, with Mr Adeboye showing no sign of tiredness.

The four-hour walk was voluntary, but the walk into the position as General Overseer, wasnt.

A multitude of people moving down a road like a river is a strange sight, even if one knows it is a walking exercise. But it is quickly understood when it is known that the leader of the group is Mr Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Walking is his favourite exercise, done on a regular basis. And many people like to join him out of the belief that they can benefit from the special anointing he carries.

Interestingly, it is said that many participants, including younger ones, soon run out of breath, while the 78-year-old cleric keeps walking at a steady pace.

Forget his age and humility, that man is full of inexhaustible energy that challenges younger members of the church, a member said last week.
The notion of a barrier along parts of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border did not, of course, begin with Donald J. Trump, but his quest for a "big, beautiful wall" to be paid for by Mexico made the border barricade both a hallmark and a benchmark of his presidency.



In the end, Trump spent about $15 billion in U.S. taxpayers' money to extend the wall 47 miles, while adding a second layer along an additional 33 miles (plus replacing about 370 miles of existing barriers), calling it "a great achievement, the extraordinarily successful building of the wall on the southern border." The emperor not only had no clothes, he apparently had pretty lousy eyesight, too.



President Joe Biden has rightly ordered a freeze on further wall construction until his administration can sort things out; among other steps, it will review contracts and eminent domain actions to seize private land (mostly in Texas) to build the wall on. That pause ought to go even deeper to reassess not only the wall Trump built but also its predecessors, and to determine whether there might be smarter, more effective and more humane ways to secure the border and deter illegal immigration.



That reckoning must begin by recognizing that, generally speaking, most border walls aren't very good at what they're supposed to do  stopping people  but can be very good at what they shouldn't do  interfering with the natural movement of wildlife, streams and rivers.



Though it's true that a border barrier might temporarily thwart or slow illicit crossers, where there is a will, there is a way. Ladders. Ropes. Tunnels. Cutting torches. People will persevere, even if it means traveling deep into the desert to unbarricaded stretches, a decision that often has disastrous results  the hundreds of migrants' bodies found each year in the desert border region hint at the scale of the circumvention.



People crossing the southern border without permission aren't always trying to sneak in. In recent years, a large portion of them have been families seeking to turn themselves in and ask for asylum. And broadly, most people who wind up living in the U.S. without permission came in legally, with visas, but then didn't leave when they were supposed to.



What about contraband? The vast majority of it comes through legal points of entry hidden in motor vehicles. Besides, walls don't stop drones, planes and boats.



The Trump administration rushed through its fence-replacement and wall-building program by using a section of the 2005 Real ID Act that empowers the head of the Department of Homeland Security "to waive all legal requirements" the secretary "determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads" at the border.



That allowed the administration to suspend 84 separate laws and regulations and proceed without considering the damage it was causing to the environment, to sacred tribal lands, to habitats for endangered species  or to the species themselves.



An analysis by the Sierra Club and other conservation groups details specific areas in which walls have damaged or threatened the environment and affected the movement of Peninsular bighorn sheep, jaguars and Mexican wolves, as well as the flow of water to sensitive seasonal habitats and feeding areas for both permanent and migratory birds.



Biden took the right initial steps in unscrambling the complicated factors that lead tens of thousands of people to flee Central America, many of them hoping to land in the U.S. He has announced plans to work with Congress on sweeping federal aid programs aimed at shoring up civil institutions in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, stabilizing their economies and giving people reason to dream of a better future for themselves in their home countries.



But the headwinds are strong, including powerful gangs that control and terrorize neighborhoods with impunity, corruption within the governments the U.S. hopes to help, and the effects of climate change on agriculture, leaving people jobless and starving.



And many people seek to slip in without permission because, under complicated formulas and rules, the numbers of visas granted each year per country are limited. Globally, the U.S. will make available 226,000 visas under a range of family-reunification categories; there are more than 3.7 million people on the waiting list. Figuring out a better way to allocate and issue such visas would reduce one of the motivations for trying to enter illegally.



But those are separate issues from the border wall and what ought to be done with it. The nation needs a balanced assessment of where barriers serve a practical purpose and where they don't, where they are environmentally safe and where they are not, and whether compensation is due to people damaged by Trump's foolishness.





This editorial appeared at the Los Angeles Times and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


Today, the working group of the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan on inter-parliamentary relations with the US Congress published a statement, which contains a response to a letter from several American senators who demanded that President Joseph Biden take measures against Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Recall that the letter was sent to Biden on February 9. The Milli Mejlis noted that the letter caused regret among the Azerbaijani deputies, and drew attention to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the signatories of this document have never engaged in constructive mediation of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

"Most US senators have never expressed concern about the policy of ethnic cleansing conducted by Armenia against the Azerbaijani people, the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of people from their native lands, gross violations of human rights, the destruction and plundering of villages, cities, the ancient and rich cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people during the occupation. ", - said the Azerbaijani MPs, adding that many American senators also did not condemn the massacres of Azerbaijanis and the war crimes of the Armenian Armed Forces.

At the same time, official Washington signed in due time under the requirements of observing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and ending the occupation of its lands by the Armenian troops, which is contained in the UN Security Council resolutions No. 822, No. 853, No. 874 and No. 884 of 1993. These resolutions were executed by Azerbaijan itself during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, and the operation to force Armenia to peace was carried out exclusively within the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"It is unacceptable for US senators to blame Azerbaijan for the settlement of the conflict, which has restored its territorial integrity. Such statements do not serve peace and security in the South Caucasus region, but can push the existing radical and revanchist forces in Armenia to a new escalation of the situation," the Azerbaijani parliament stressed ...

"It is unfair to criticize Turkey for its political and moral support for Azerbaijan's just struggle based on the norms and principles of international law. The growing politicization of human rights is a matter of serious concern. Senators' attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, such as Turkey, are unacceptable," Azerbaijani MPs added.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 18:05:08|Editor: huaxia

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Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama (3rd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo (2nd L) attend an event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Yat Sen School in Suva, Fiji, Feb. 14, 2021. Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama attended Sunday the celebrations by the Chinese community in Fiji for the Lunar New Year which fell on Feb. 12 this year. During the celebrations held at the Yat Sen School in Suva, capital of Fiji, Bainimarama congratulated local Chinese on the Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

SUVA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama attended Sunday the celebrations by the Chinese community in Fiji for the Lunar New Year which fell on Feb. 12 this year.

During the celebrations held at the Yat Sen School in Suva, capital of Fiji, Bainimarama congratulated local Chinese on the Lunar New Year, saying that "Chinese New Year is a time to reflect on the events of the past year and it is an opportunity to look forward to a better future. I wish health, happiness and prosperity for 2021 to you, your family and your friends."

The prime minister also hoped that the spirit of ox will help Fiji work together to rebuild its economy which contracted by 19 percent last year due to COVID-19.

"This is a year that will be marked by those qualities we associate with the ox--steadfastness, strength, hard work and perseverance. Most importantly, oxen work best in teams, and we will all need to pull together and work together as we rebuild our economy."

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said that the animal "Ox" in Chinese culture symbolizes diligence, bravery and perseverance. It also represents for pioneering, enterprising and success. Therefore, the Year of Ox will be a year of both cultivation and harvest.

"As we celebrate the lunar new year, I wish China-Fiji relations a harmonious, prosperous, and bright future, and wish both Chinese and Fijian people good luck and happiness in the Year of Ox," he said.

The year 2020 is special in the history of China-Fiji relations as the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations together, the ambassador said, adding that China looks forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation with Fiji in various fields in 2021 to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The ambassador also praised local Chinese for the role of bridges they have played in helping maintain and improve the China-Fiji relations over the past years, especially during the extraordinary time of COVID-19.

The Chinese community in Fiji also entertained people by holding art performances and a Chinese food fair. Enditem
Source: Reuters

A total of 80,52,454 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 1,69,215 sessions held till the evening of February 13, the 29th day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry.

On February 13, 84,807 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 4,434 sessions, the ministry said. Of these, 50,837 were healthcare workers, while the other 2,10,472 beneficiaries were frontline workers.

The second dose of COVID-19 vaccination started from the day for those beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after receipt of the first dose. The approval provided by DCGI accords a window of four weeks to six weeks for the second dose. A total of 7,668 healthcare workers received the second dose of vaccine on the day.

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.

Also Read: At present vaccination rate, India will take several years to reach its goal

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:

> The administering of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine for government healthcare personnel was taken up in Telangana on February 13. The total number of healthcare workers planned to be vaccinated for the day was 3,752 of which 3,196 got the shots, according to an an official press release. No serious/severe or even minor case of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was reported during the day, the release said.

> The vaccination drive against COVID-19 picked up the pace in Delhi on the day as 1,856 healthcare workers, who had received their first shots on day one of the exercise four weeks ago, turned up to get their second dose. However, the turnout for the second dose was about 43 percent only.

> The University of Oxford has launched the first study to assess the safety and immune responses in children and young adults of its coronavirus vaccine.

> The Goa government started administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to the healthcare workers in the state on the day, an official said. Those healthcare workers who had taken the first dose of the vaccine 28 days ago were given the second shot on theday, state immunisation officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said.

> Odisha has so far vaccinated 4,16,317 health workers and frontline personnel, including 16,647 on the day.

States Total Beneficiaries Andhra Pradesh 3,58,302 Arunachal Pradesh 15,116 Assam 1,25,458 Bihar 4,76,076 Chandigarh 8,803 Chhattisgarh 2,48,021 Delhi 1,80,066 Goa 12,949 Gujarat 6,76,453 Haryana 1,96,290 Himachal Pradesh 79,166 Jharkhand 1,96,211 Karnataka 4,95,980 Kerala 3,47,776 Madhya Pradesh 5,26,783 Maharashtra 6,49,966 Odisha 4,01,021 Punjab 1,03,744 Rajasthan 6,06,942 Tamil Nadu 2,27,542 Telangana 2,78,288 Uttar Pradesh 8,58,602 Uttarakhand 1,08,349 West Bengal 4,96,481

Here is the state-wise vaccination in the country:

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
George and Amal Clooney will have been married for 7 years on Sept. 27, 2021. The actor-director and human rights lawyer tied the knot in 2014. But a wedding wasnt part of their plan when they first started dating. Neither were kids and now theyre parents to 3-year-old twins.

George Clooney proposed to Amal Clooney outta the blue

George Clooney and Amal Clooney | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner

Marriage wasnt something Clooney or Amal expected. During a November 2020 interview with CBS This Morning the Oceans 11 star shared that it wasnt something they discussed prior to his proposal.

We never talked about marriage when we were dating, he said. And I asked her outta the blue. Took her a long time to say yes. I was on my knee for like 20 minutes. I finally said, Look, Im gonna throw my hip out.

Theres a 17-year age difference between Clooney and Amal. At the time of publication, hes 59 and shes 43.

The actor decided to propose after going on a safari in Kenya with Amal. Clooney began planning every detail down to the music. He put the ring in a drawer, made dinner, and popped the question over champagne while Why Shouldnt I, a song by his late aunt Rosemary Clooney, played in the background.

The two got married in Venice, Italy on Sept. 27, 2014. They spared no expense. The bride and groom spent millions on hotel accommodations and hundreds of thousands on alcohol and flowers.

RELATED: Why George and Amal Clooney Wont Have Any More Kids

George Clooney and Amal Clooney never talked about having kids

In 2017, Clooney and Amal became parents when they welcomed now-3-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander. Like getting married, having children wasnt something they planned or even discussed.

We never talked about having kids, and then one day we just said, What do you think? Clooney said. He continued, recounting the day they learned they were going to have twins.

We go to the doctor and you do the ultrasound. Theyre like, You got a baby boy! and I was like, Baby boy, fantastic! And they go, And you got another one there. I was up for one. Again, Im old. All of a sudden, its two, he said. Its hard to get me to not talk and I just stood there for like 10 minutes just staring at this piece of paper going, What? Two?'

And then we had these two knuckleheads, and it is very fulfilling, and its something I wasnt at all  didnt see coming, he added.

Not only are Alex and Ella are fluent in Italian but theyve changed Clooneys perspective on life.

RELATED: George Clooney Sews His Kids Clothes and Mends Amals Dresses

George Clooney met his future wife at his Lake Como home

Clooney didnt have to leave his house to meet his wife. During an appearance on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, Clooney recounted how he and Amal met. She showed up at a dinner party at his house on Italys Lake Como with a mutual friend of theirs. They met, talked, and hit it off. There to witness it all were Clooneys parents.

After talking all night, the future husband and wife kept in touch via email as buddies. They didnt start dating for months because the movie star wasnt sure Amal liked him. Eventually, they went on a date in London, England, where Clooney was working on a movie, and the rest is history.

RELATED: Why George Clooney Gave up the Lead Role in an Oscar-Winning Movie To Ben Affleck

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Raja Ram Mohan Roy, known as the "Maker of Modern India" and "Father of the Bengal Renaissance", advocated the study of English, Science, Western Medicine and Technology. For this objective he established the Hindu College in Kolkata in 1817.

His progressive views were bitterly opposed by the orthodox Hindus. However, after some years his unorthodox views of advocating Westernized education prevailed and helped India and Bengal become modernized.

Syed Ahmad Khan, born on 17th October, 1817 (the year of the establishment of Hindu College), founded the Muslim School in 1875 with the same ideas and objectives as that of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Sir Syed was also bitterly opposed by orthodox Muslims. Both Syed and Roy, the great reformers of their times, were abused by religious bigots but undeterred, they did not surrender to them. Fortunately, Hindu opposition died down after sometime but Muslim opposition continued for a long time. The result was obvious. Muslims lagged behind to their Hindu brothers in modern education.

According to Hunter Survey Report released in 1878, the total number of Graduates (Arts, Science, Law, Engineering and Medicine) produced in North India during ten years (between 1855 to 1875) were counted as 3155 out of which only 57 were Muslims. With a population of about 30%, Muslim representation in modern education was hardly 1.6%. (The Aligarh Movement, Tariq Khan, 2006).

Sir Syed Ahmed championed the cause of modern education at a time when all the Indians in general and Indian Muslims in particular, considered it a sin to get modern education through English language. It was in this context that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru described Sir Syed as "an ardent reformer who wanted to reconcile modern scientific thought with religion by rationalistic interpretations and not by attacking the basic belief. He was anxious to push new education. He was in no way communally separatist. Repeatedly he emphasized that religious differences should have no political and national significance."(Discovery of India).

Similar views were expressed by Mr. I.K. Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, when he stated "Sir Syed's vision and his laborious efforts to meet the demands of challenging times are highly commendable. The dark post-1857 era was indeed hopeless and only men like Raja Mohan Roy and Sir Syed could penetrate through its thick veil to visualize the Nation's destinies. They rightly believed that the past had its merits and its legacies were valuable but it was the future that a society was called upon to cope with. I offer my homage to Sir Syed for his vision and courage that withstood all obstructions both from the friends and the foes". (Message to Sir Syed Scientific Society, Lucknow).

The great visionary Iqbal expressed his opinion that "the real greatness of the man (Sir Syed) consists in the fact that he was the first Indian Muslim who felt the need of a fresh orientation of Islam and worked for it".

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad expressed similar views 'Sir Syed had established at Aligarh not only a college but an intellectual and cultural centre in tune with the progressive spirit of the times'.

Mr. Somnath Chatterjee also made the observation that "He wanted the College (now transformed into this University), to act as a bridge between the old and the new and the East and the West. He actively advocated the necessity of modern and scientific education. He wanted that the students of the college should preach the gospel of free enquiry, of large-hearted toleration and of pure morality. (Address to Aligarh students, 2001).

India was passing through a very difficult period after the failure of so-called 1857 Mutiny. British Rulers became more confident of their Raj over the country as they had planned meticulously to divide the Indians on the basis of their religion. But Sir Syed cautioned people, particularly Muslims, against the designs of their Masters. He declared ''Remember the words Hindu and Muslim are only meant for religious distinction: otherwise all persons who reside in this country belong to one and the same nation.'' He considered Hindus and Muslims as the two eyes of a bride who would look miserable if one is lost or weakened. Thus highly secular in his approach, he pleaded to Muslims to be more practical, rational and aware of the changing society. Old values of education had become outdated in his opinion. He wanted Muslims to have scientific temper and modern attitude in life and for this he asked them to learn Science and Engineering, the subjects which unfortunately became alien to them.

He founded the School Aligarh for this purpose in May 1875 with barely fifty students on role. He left his government job and settled in Aligarh to fight for the battle against those who were deadly against the English 'Talim' (education). In the process, Sir Syed had to swallow insults and decrees of some misguided Muslims who denounced and called him atheist, an enemy of Islam, slave of English masters and what not. In one such decree (Fatwa) he was declared the agent of Devil.

Undaunted and unconcerned with titles like atheist, Naturi, etc., Sir Syed dedicated himself still more towards the cause of education. His voice ultimately made a dent in the Indian social structure and Hindus and Muslims of the country helped him in large numbers to further his cause.

It is very important to note that amongst the first 120 people who gave valuable donations for the construction of the school building were several Hindus like Choudhary Sher Singh, Kunwar Lekhraj Singh, Raja Shiv Narain Singh, Raja Ghanshyam Singh, Raja Uday Pratap Singh, Lala Phul Chand, Lala Vasudeo Sahai and others. Their names still decorate the old buildings of the Aligarh Muslim University.

Sir Syed firmly believed that ''acquisition of knowledge of science and technology is the only solution for the problems of Muslims.'' Through Aligarh Institute Gazette, Sir Syed succeeded in agitating the minds in the traditional Muslim Society. Dream of Sir Syed, i.e., the Aligarh Muslim University, produced intellectuals in large numbers who served the country in various capacities. It is a tribute to Sir Syed that the first graduate of Aligarh University was the great revolutionary Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh. No one can forget persons like Dr. Zakir Husain and Dr. Syed Mahmood, the products of Aligarh, who adorned the high offices of the country.

Sir Syed felt the necessity to harmonize Islam with modern science and rationalism. He wanted Muslims to develop a spirit of enquiry and research because in his opinion Islam was no barrier to scientific inquiry and social progress. In the opinion of Sir Syed, superstitious beliefs and the aversion to Western education were the main causes for the backwardness of the Indian Muslims. In all his actions and beliefs, Sir Syed was a true follower of Raja Ram Mohan Rai.
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MEXICO CITY: Mexico received a shipment of 870,000 doses of AstraZeneca 's COVID-19 vaccine from India on Sunday, the government said, as the country prepares to prioritize older adults in the next phase of its vaccination campaign.

Mexico is also expecting shipments of Pfizer's vaccine to resume, with 494,000 doses due to arrive on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference.

Sunday's shipment amounts to about 42% of the two million doses of the AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine the country plans to import from India, in addition to packaging it locally, the government said.

Mexico and Argentina have an agreement with AstraZeneca to produce the vaccine for eventual distribution of 250 million doses in Latin America, with financial support from the foundation of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

Mexico, which has one of the world's highest coronavirus death tolls, started vaccinating healthcare workers in December but struggled to hit its targets amid global shortages and delays of Pfizer's vaccine.

Mexico will next vaccinate adults over the age of 60, a group representing 12% of Mexico's 126 million people, between February and April.

"The vaccines are already available.... and they will not stop arriving so that the national vaccination plan does not stop," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at the news conference in the southwestern state of Oaxaca.

Latin America's no. 2 economy has so far received just 1,636,350 vaccine doses, according to government data, but has agreements for millions more, including for China's CanSino and the Russian Sputnik V. Mexico received the active ingredient for 2 million doses of the CanSino vaccine on Thursday.

Additionally, Mexico has secured enough vaccines to cover 20% of its population through the global COVAX facility, led by the GAVI vaccines alliance and the World Health Organization, though shipments have yet to begin.

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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Nigerian police beat and arrested demonstrators on Saturday as a small group protested over the reopening of the site where activists denouncing police brutality were shot last year in the commercial capital, Lagos.



Rights group Amnesty International and witnesses said soldiers opened fire on protesters on October 20, killing at least 12 people at a toll gate in the citys affluent Lekki district and another area.



The military has denied shooting live rounds and police have denied involvement.



There was a heavy presence of armed police officers on Saturday at the toll gate, where a group of about 15 protesters gathered despite calls by the government this week to scrap the demonstration, witnesses said.



At least six of the protesters were beaten with truncheons and arrested before being driven away in police vans.



They are already manhandling us, but were not going to be deterred. Were not going to step down, said one man, who did not provide his name and spoke to the Reuters news agency as he was being arrested.



Police bundled about 13 protesters into a black truck at the toll gate where security forces had deployed since Friday evening, an AFP news agency reporter at the scene said.



Lekki toll gate should be made a museum of resistance and not a monument for money-making, said Damilare Adebola, 24, who spoke from the police van where he was being held.



A Lagos police spokesman said in a text message he was unaware of the arrests but would look into accusations that activists had been manhandled.



On Friday, one of the two youth members of a Lagos state panel investigating the October shootings resigned, citing undue intimidation of peaceful protesters and the panels vote to reopen the toll gate  a source of revenue for the state government  before the probe had been finished.



Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from Lagos, said demonstrators were also angered by the failure of a commission of inquiry to submit its report into the killings.



For many of the protesters and protest organisers, this is sacred ground  so they cannot understand why the Lagos state government want to reopen the toll gate, he said.



The Lagos state government is looking at it from the revenue point of view. They are losing millions of dollars every week due to the non-collection of tolls here.

Source: aljazeera.com









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Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield has launched a new initiative to support students in recovery.

Boris Johnson has said he has formed a good relationship with new US president Joe Biden, saying they have had some fantastic conversations on climate change.

In an interview with the American CBS network, the Prime Minister said that UK and US thinking had been coming together on a range of issues in recent weeks.

Im very delighted, to have a good relationship with the White House, which is an important part of any UK prime ministers mission, he said.

Mr Johnson says the messages coming from President Biden are incredibly encouraging (Niall Carson/PA)

Ive had some good conversations already with President Biden  fantastic conversations about the way he sees things.

Theres been some important developments in the way the UK- US thinking has been coming together in the last few weeks, and particularly on issues like climate change, on Nato, on Iran, but above all, on the ways that the US and the UK are going to work together to deal with the environmental challenge that faces our planet.

I think some of the stuff were now hearing from the new American administration and from the new White House is incredibly encouraging and we want to work with the the president on that.

Mr Johnson, who hosts a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Friday, said that he also wanted to work with countries like the United States to ensure coronavirus vaccines were made available around the world.

Theres no point in great countries like the United States, the UK, vaccinating our own populations if we dont ensure that everybody gets a vaccine, he said.

The Prime Minister sought to play down Mr Bidens past description of him as a physical and emotional clone of Donald Trump and the former presidents acquittal by the Senate on impeachment charges.

I think the clear message that we get from the proceedings in America is that after all the toings and froings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong and the American Constitution is strong and robust, he said.

Mr Johnson sought to reassure Mr Biden  who is fiercely proud of his Irish roots  that he remained firmly committed to the Northern Ireland peace process.

This is fundamental for us, the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the peace agreement, the Good Friday process, the Belfast Agreement, these agreements are absolutely crucial, he said.

Pressed on his support for the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal agreement following the recent row with the EU over vaccines, he replied: We want to make sure that theres free movement, north-south, free movement east-west, and we guarantee the rights of the people of Northern Ireland, of course.
Australia's first 80,000 does of the Covid Pfizer vaccine are about to arrive in the country, with hospitals on standby to start delivering jabs next week.

Leading epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakey revealed to the Today Show on Monday morning he had heard the vaccine was on its way to Australian shores.

A delicate operation will be undertaken to transport the vaccine, with the doses arriving under tight security from Belgium.

Government sources told The Australian the doses would arrive in Australia within 48 hours from Sunday night - so on Monday or Tuesday.

Australia will reportedly received its first 80,000 doses of the Covid Pfizer vaccine within the next 48 hours. Pictured: Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks past vials of AstraZeneca vaccine during a visit to the CSL serum lab to inspect Covid-19 Immunoglobulin being produced in Parkville, Melbourne on Friday

Hospitals were told to prepare to start vaccinations next week, after the Therapeutic Goods Administration conducts batch testing on some of the first vials.

The vaccines will undergo that final stage of testing to ensure they are safe before being rolled out to vulnerable residents later this month.

'Commencement of vaccinations  subject to arrival, quality and temperature controls  will take place in the last week of February,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

Australia has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 10 million people.

The vaccines must be kept at minus-70 degrees Celsius to preserve the mRNA responsible for inducing coronavirus immunity.

Distribution firms with specialist experience in cold-logistics have been contracted to handle the doses, which will arrive in batches of 5000 per shipping container.

Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) said the doses would arrive from Belgium before undergoing their final staging of testing from the Therapeutic Good Administration

Australia has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 10 million people

The dry-ice filled boxes have been fitted with thermal sensors which will send messages to a central control tower if they drop below the required temperature.

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents.

Mr Hunt said the Morrison Government will not decide on an official date for the first round of jabs until the doses are in the country but hospitals have been told to be on standby to started delivering vaccinations

Other Australians over the age of 16 will be then be ranked by health risk to determine when they get the vaccination, with those more vulnerable prioritised.

The government expects the AstraZeneca vaccine to get approval soon so it will be available in early March.

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents

Health Department boss Brendan Murphy has said it is unlikely people will get to pick if they get the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, as it depends on their profile and category of risk.

The government wants the vaccine rollout to be complete by the end of October.

Hospitals will be able to store the vaccines in special low-temperature freezers, while aged care facilities will be able to keep them cool in their boxes for 15 days by regularly replacing the dry ice.

Mr Hunt said it is critical that communications around the vaccine program are also targeted for culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

'The government recognises that people from multicultural communities are a significant part of the health, aged care, child care and disability workforce and will be among the first people in Australia to receive vaccinations,' Mr Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.

Pictured: Packaging and fridges used to store Covid-19 vaccine at a DHL facility in Sydney, on Sunday February 14

Hospitals will be able to store the vaccines in special low-temperature freezers (one pictured at DHL facility in Sydney)

But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned that Australia is languishing in rolling out the program, which is creating uncertainty in communities and the economy more broadly.

He said some 90 countries have their vaccinations program under way.

'After the prime minister said we were at the front of the queue 160 million people have been vaccinated around the world, while zero Australians have been vaccinated,' Dr Chalmers told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.
Following mass rallies that saw thousands of detentions, supporters of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny have been using light from cell phones, flashlights, and candles as a new form of protest.

The February 14 protest action, called by Navalny's team under the motto "Love is stronger than fear," began in Russia's Far East, including in the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk.



Photos shared on social media showed small groups of people standing outdoors and holding flashlights or standing by candles arranged in the shape of a heart to mark the Valentine's Day protest.



In the Russian capital, more than 20 people could be seen at Moscow State University forming a heart while holding flashlights.



It was not possible to determine how many people participated in the nationwide action, during which no detentions were reported.



Navalny's team had called on people across Russia to switch on their mobile-phone flashlights for 15 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. local time and shine the light into the sky from their homes or the courtyards of their apartment buildings, or to arrange candles in the shape of a heart.

In the afternoon in Moscow, about 200 women took part in a so-called Chain Of Solidary And Love along Old Arbat Street in support of Russian women prosecuted for political reasons. A similar protest attracted about 70 people in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city.



Images shared on social media showed women holding a white ribbon, as well as red roses, balloons, and heart signs with the names of female political prisoners written on them. Demonstrators also sang, "Love is stronger than fear."



The organizers said on their Facebook page that the rallies were dedicated to the women who were "beaten and tortured by police during peaceful protests," as well as "to everyone who spends their days in courts, police buses, and special detention centers."

The protests were also dedicated to Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, lawyer Lyubov Sobol, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, municipal deputy Lucy Shtein, Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh, and Alliance of Doctors head Anastasia Vasilyeva. They all face criminal charges for calling on supporters to rally for Navalny's release last month.



Navalnaya flew to Germany on February 10. Although no explanation was given for her departure, Navalnaya had recently been detained for taking part in unsanctioned rallies in support of her husband.

In the Urals city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, police detained nine people after an approved rally against political repression that was organized by the opposition parties Yabloko and PARNAS, as well as the Left Front movement, according to the independent monitoring group OVD-Info.



Six of the activists were later released while the other three were charged with violating the law on rallies. They are accused of using a slogan that was not on the stated agenda of the demonstration.



More than 500 people participated in the rally, which was authorized for only 200 people.



The candlelit protest across Russia was designed to make it difficult for the police to take action. The Kremlin had signaled its contempt for the event.

Russia's federal media regulator ordered media outlets on February 12 , including RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, to delete all reports about the planned protest. RFE/RL did not comply.



The official order from Roskomnadzor said Russian authorities would consider any reporting about the flashlight protest to be a call for people to take part in an unsanctioned public demonstration and mass disorder.



Navalny's team in Tomsk said they were also warned by the city prosecutor's office on February 12 that they could be held liable for staging an unsanctioned protest action.

Leonid Volkov, director of Navalny's network of teams across Russia, has announced a moratorium on street protests in response to police crackdowns against mass demonstrations that have led to tens of thousands of arrests across Russia.



Volkov called the protest using light a nonviolent way for Russians to show the extent of outrage over Navalny's treatment without subjecting themselves to arrests and police abuse.

Navalny, 44, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had been treated for a nerve-agent poisoning he says was ordered by Putin. The Kremlin denies it had any role in the attack.



Navalny's detention sparked outrage across the country and much of the West, with tens of thousands of Russians taking part in street rallies on January 23 and 31.



Police cracked down harshly on the demonstrations, putting many of Navalny's political allies behind bars and detaining thousands more -- sometimes violently -- as they gathered on the streets. The crackdown led Volkov to call for a pause in the street demonstrations until the spring.

A Russian court on February 2 ruled that Navalny was guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The judge ruled that he violated parole conditions while recovering from the near-fatal poisoning in Germany.



The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said Navalny must serve another two years and eight months behind bars.



Law enforcement officers on February 13 conducted another search of one of Navalny's offices, activists said.

The search in Chelyabinsk took place while nobody was present in the office, the activists said on Twitter.



"We came to the headquarters and found this," the activists tweeted together with several pictures of the ransacked office. "The premises were raided while we were working remotely," the activists said.

With reporting by Dozhd TV, The Moscow Times, Reuters, dpa, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service
Representative image: Reuters

The Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom have called on the government to stamp out Chinese and Russian investment in the defence supply chain.

After a warning, a parliamentary inquiry into foreign involvement in the UK defence supply chain was conducted, which concluded that tougher measures were needed to protect companies from hostile foreign ownership, reported The Financial Times.

The move is argued to be urgent as the COVID-19 pandemic has already weakened many small and medium-sized businesses, potentially making them vulnerable to takeover, said the report, citing findings of the inquiry.

According to conservative MP and chair of the House of Commons defence subcommittee, Richard Drax, Investment in the defence supply chain from all countries that fall outside of an approved list, including Russia and China, must be barred.

No British company should be left with the choice of either going under or accepting hostile foreign investment, Drax was quoted as saying.

The inquiry pointed out that Chinese investors acquired six UK companies listing defence as a key business area over the past decade, the report said.

It also expressed dismay at a decision to acquire two second-hand Chinese 737 airliners to convert into E-7 Wedgetail aircraft carrying the UKs airborne early warning and control capacity, the report stated.

The ministry of defence should urgently assess the implications of Chinese ownership of the companies listed within this report, the report quoted MPs as saying.

Pressure is mounting on the UK government to take a more assertive stance on potential threats posed by Beijing and Moscow in the forthcoming defence and foreign policy review, said the report.
Editor's note: Stephen Cockburn is head of economic and social justice at Amnesty International. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own.

(CNN)  Just over a year ago, the world looked on in shock as the Chinese city of Wuhan imposed the first coronavirus lockdown. Since then, people around the world have made extraordinary sacrifices and have shown great solidarity in containing the spread of the virus.

Yet, when it comes to rolling out vaccines, the world's political leaders seem to have forgotten that we are all in it together.

The European Union has in recent weeks been engaged in a dispute with vaccine makers after AstraZeneca admitted it was expecting a major shortfall in production, and has been accused of prioritizing deliveries to the UK. In response, European officials have introduced temporary export restrictions on vaccines produced in its territories, giving member states the option of limiting exports outside the EU to countries like the UK, the United States and even South Africa.

On the surface, this may look like a fight over contractual commitments gone awry, but it reveals a much uglier truth: Wealthy countries are locked in a self-defeating and ultimately avoidable zero-sum game over vaccine supplies. And it is a game that poorer countries will inevitably lose -- to the cost of us all.

Rich countries have ordered enough doses to vaccinate their populations three times over, while 9 in 10 people in nearly 70 poorer countries are unlikely to be vaccinated at all this year. This is according to analysis in December 2020 by the People's Vaccine Alliance, a group of organizations including Amnesty International campaigning for free and fair distribution of vaccines.

We know that when it comes to Covid infection and prevalence, nobody is safe until we are all safe. But the efforts of almost every rich country to snatch up vaccines reminds us of wealthy travelers paying for speedy boarding at the airport. They might be seated first, but the plane will only take off to its Covid-free destination once all the passengers -- both rich and poor -- are on board.

While Europeans are right to be concerned about what this dispute might mean for their access to a vaccine, we need to remember that this is a concern shared by everyone across the world.

The situation in South Africa underscores exactly why the world can't afford to engage in this everyone-for-themselves approach. As new variants of Covid-19 emerge, including a new strain identified by South African scientists that appears to be more contagious than the original strain, the stakes have become even higher for ensuring rapid and equitable delivery of vaccines.

"The European Union has pre-financed the development of the vaccine and the production and wants to see the return," say EU officials, with the bloc having invested 2.7 billion (about $3.3 billion) into research and development of several vaccines. However, many South Africans have also contributed by participating in trials to test the vaccines precisely because they thought this might be their only chance of receiving one.

Mtshaba Mzwamadoda, who is from a township in the south of Cape Town, told the New York Times that he was signing up to be in Johnson & Johnson's clinical trials because he believed this was his only chance. "The people at the top, they're going to get the vaccine, the people who have power."

Getting the vaccine to the world's poorest will require an approach based on solidarity rather than competition, with governments and companies working together to boost global supply rather than fight over it.

There are some glimmers of hope: The recent news that companies including Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK and Curevac have struck deals with each other to produce more vaccines shows that progress can be made together. But these deals are just a drop in the bucket. Meeting the scale of the global challenge will mean taking such collaboration to a whole new level.

The EU can start by dropping its opposition to measures proposed by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization, which would waive intellectual property protections for life-saving products used to tackle Covid-19. The proposal would facilitate technology transfers so that Covid-19 medical products, including vaccines, could be produced more quickly and affordably by manufacturers around the world.

With both rich and poor countries alike now struggling for supply, these proposals are a no-brainer for rapidly scaling up vaccine production so that everyone can benefit.

Pharmaceutical companies must fulfil their human rights responsibilities too, which is why Amnesty International is campaigning for companies, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, to share their knowledge and technology so that everyone in the world will have a fair shot at a vaccine.

So far, neither governments nor companies have been willing to truly work together on the scale that we need. But if we want to come out of this global crisis together, sooner and with our consciences intact, then that must change.

This story was first published on CNN.com "To stop the global pandemic, rich countries need to stop hoarding vaccines".
Sri Lanka's foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena has said that ties between his country and India will not be impacted despite its decision to pull out of the trilateral East Container Terminal Port project on the Colombo port with India and Japan.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News 18, Gunawardena said, The India-Sri Lanka relation is vast. It is not only one project, it is many projects - trade, investment, commerce, understanding on international affairs, historical bonds, long-standing cultural relations and sharing of the Indian Ocean.

He also denied allegations that China tried to scuttle the deal by orchestrating the trade union protests that forced Sri Lanka to pull out. When questioned about why Chinese projects are conducted smoothly in the country but others face hurdles, he said, Our port authorities for such projects have been giving joint cooperation to the Chinese. Even in the Colombo port so many projects have been developed with the Chinese. There has always been criticism by trade unions...When port by port was being given to various private sectors or foreign partnerships, the same issues came up. So, this is not the first time. China has also seen tremendous protest when it engaged in the Hambantota project.

The minister also confirmed that he had a long meeting on Friday evening with Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay in which he communicated the Indian governments message on all the recent issues that have cropped up. The minister called it a friendly and fruitful discussion", adding that Sri Lanka will continue the dialogue regarding the issues involved.

Meanwhile, he also revealed that there is an offer of a western terminal -- one of the largest terminals on Colombo port -- for development with India. He added, however, that that a discussion on the same has not begun yet.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, while reacting to the ECT project development, had said, We sincerely believe that the development of infrastructure in Sri Lanka, in areas such as ports and energy, with foreign investment from India and Japan, will be a mutually beneficial proposition. Our High Commissioner in Colombo is in discussion with the Government of Sri Lanka, including on the importance of adhering to international commitments.

Meanwhile, experts like Sathiya Moorthy, head of ORFs Chennai Initiative told News18.com that more than the ECT project, India should be concerned about the three energy projects awarded by Colombo to China. These projects are strategically located in Jaffna, barely 50 kms from the Tamil Nadu coast. Chinas Sinosoar company will install hybrid renewable energy systems in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu, all located in the Palk Bay.

When asked whether India had raised concerns over the project and Sri Lankas response, Gunawardena said that alternative energy projects have been in the pipeline. He said that while security of our two countries will always be considered in any project, and added that it is not the only aspect under consideration when projects are awarded. Interestingly, he cited the example of the Sethusamudaram project, which he said has been abandoned by India. He added that maritime lanes "will not be obstructed" and be open for all maritime traffic.

The minister refused to comment on the issue of media reports that Colombo is blaming India for the April 2019 terror attack. Dinesh Gunawardena said, The Presidential commission of inquiry report is not finalized. It is to be released. I cant comment till the report comes out. He labelled reports blaming India as general comments being made.

He also reiterated that both the government at that time and opposition appreciated that India had provided intelligence inputs in advance suggesting that the situation is becoming bad.
DEATH Youre the son of kung fu instructors. Does that mean you dont fear death?

[Laughs] Sometimes I feel like growing up the son of kung fu instructors makes you wish for death. How so? The sweet release of death would have been so much better than the Shaolin training we had to go through as kids. My parents used to run these intense training camps, where you trained as the sun rose. They were made for university students, but I was like 10, trying to keep up. What was the most excruciating aspect? Theres this exercise called yow soon: rowing the boat in Cantonese. Youre in a very low stance, doing this circular motion, rocking back and forth. It burns your legs and glutes within 15 or 20 seconds. We had to do it for 40 minutes. Definitely the most painful thing Ive done. Some of us are taught that after we die, we go to heaven. What about you? I was definitely told that. I was introduced to death quite early on, because my great-grandmother died when I was young, and she lived with us. My parents are very religious, so it was always the Christian idea of heaven  that well see them again in the future.

Is that what you believe now? Yeah, I believe that death is not the end. I would like to think that people are looking down and watching us, that we can be reunited again. Loading Who have you most recently grieved over? My cousin passed away the year before last. I was very, very close to her. Im so sorry to hear that. Tell me about your cousin. She was very cool; the one who taught me sarcasm. She was my favourite person to visit on holidays in Sydney. She had a very aggressive form of cancer that went downhill. I was in Melbourne on a photo shoot and supposed to fly back to LA when she was getting her results back. I changed my flights and got to see her just for an hour with a layover. We didnt talk about what was going on at all  just hung out, as we always had. Then she was gone a few weeks after. What helped to cope with the grief? Remembering the good times. When Im gone, I dont want people grieving, but to celebrate my life.

Youre back in Los Angeles now, where coronavirus is rampant. Do you fear catching it? Im being very careful. I have asthma, so I would be affected if I did catch it. But I havent been worried because Ive been safe. There was a very scary moment when the US election was happening, though. LA was completely boarded up, everywhere you went. It didnt feel like a modern, functioning, First World country. Did it feel like the death of America? I moved here in 2013. In America, we have known the state of the country for a long time. Now the rest of the world has caught up. Loading SEX Crazy Rich Asians turned you into a global sex symbol. Whats the horniest fan mail you received? When it was first released, I got an influx of social-media activity on my accounts, including my first bare-chested picture from a female fan. There was no accompanying message or text, just a very aggressive, in-your-face picture. I really appreciated it  so  I screen-shot it  not knowing that Instagram tells the other user its been screen-shot.
(Alliance News) - Neil Woodford, the star City fund manager who fell from grace when his Woodford Equity Income Fund was wound up, has apologised for his actions as he announced he will be setting up a new firm.

The billion-pound fund was gated in June 2019 after a run of poor results led to an investor exodus.

But as Woodford and his team had bought stakes in so many unlisted companies, selling the assets was extremely difficult.

It was later wound up and Link Fund Solutions, which has sold off assets from the fund to return cash to investors, started paying out last January.

Now, Woodford has broken his silence and told the Sunday Telegraph he did not want events in 2019 to be "the epitaph of my career".

His new venture, Woodford Capital Management Partners, is preparing for launch and Woodford said he would not be putting ordinary investors' cash into illiquid start-ups. The Jersey-based fund focused on biotech companies will only raise money from professional investors.

He told the paper: "If you're going to run retail money these days you can't have an investment strategy that tilts a portfolio too far away from a very liquid, very FTSE mid-250 portfolio.

"If I was running retail funds in future I wouldn't mingle unquoted assets in a retail fund."

Equity income funds are normally bought into by amateurs who ask a fund manager to invest in different businesses for them.

But, from reportedly being worth GBP10.2 billion in May 2017, the fund struggled to plug holes as investors pulled out around GBP10 million every day.

By the time it was suspended, the Woodford fund was only worth GBP3.7 billion.

Woodford said he warned Link Fund Solutions against closing the fund and said had investors stuck with him they would be "enjoying the fruits of that faith".

Saying he was "very sorry for what I did wrong", he added: "I can't be sorry for the things I didn't do. I didn't make the decision to suspend the fund, I didn't make the decision to liquidate the fund. As history will now show, those decisions were incredibly damaging to investors and they were not mine."

By Alexander Britton, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The Prince of Wales has expressed concern about the variable uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine in some ethnic minority communities.

Charles, who along with the Duchess of Cornwall has had his first coronavirus jab, described the 100,000 death toll in the UK  passed last month  as a most sobering milestone.

The comments from the heir to the throne are in a keynote address he is making this week at the British Asian Trusts Webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine  Facts for the BAME Community.

Charles, royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), will say: In view of my concern about the health and welfare of our ethnic minority communities, I am so glad to be able to introduce this crucially important discussion on vaccination Everyone present today represents the collective effort we have made as a society to combat this relentless pandemic.

Over the past year, we have all been inspired by innumerable accounts of dedication to duty not only from those working tirelessly in our marvellous National Health Service, or in social care, but also in all forms of public service, as well as  of course  in business, industry, commerce and the voluntary sector.

We have needed every last reserve of their selfless service and commitment to help defeat this pernicious threat.

In the address, to be delivered via video message on Thursday, he will add: Recently, I fear we have reached a most sobering milestone in this seemingly interminable campaign as we marked the tragic loss of a hundred thousand souls.

It is clear that the virus has affected all parts of the country, and all sections of society  but it is also clear that there are particular challenges faced in particular sections of our society, especially in some ethnic minority communities.

What saddens me even further is to hear that those challenges are being made even worse by the variable uptake of the vaccines which finally offer us a way out of the suffering of the past year.

Clarence House confirmed during the week that Charles, 72, and Camilla, 73, have had their first Covid-19 vaccinations.

Camilla has also had her first vaccination (Chris Jackson/PA)

As over 70-year-olds, the couple are in the fourth priority group for the rollout of the jabs.

The confirmation comes after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were given the injection last month, announced in an unusual move by Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on the private health matters of the 94-year-old head of state and her consort, 99.

Charles had previously said he would absolutely get the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to him.

He and his eldest son, the Duke of Cambridge, both contracted coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic.

Charles was described as having mild symptoms and lost his sense of taste and smell for a period, while it was reported William was hit pretty hard by the virus.

There has been concern in Government at the rate of vaccine uptake among some communities  including some ethnic minorities.

Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, told the PA news agency that he urges everyone who gets a letter to get the vaccine without hesitation.

He said officials have been working with faith groups and local community leaders to encourage everybody to come forward.

Dont hesitate at all. These vaccines are safe, theyre effective against Covid, theyll protect you, theyll protect your loved ones, and of course theyll help get society back to normal again, he said.

The Government has been urged to prioritise vaccinating ethnic minority groups after research showed that people of South Asian background have continued to experience disproportionately high Covid-19 death rates.

Research published recently showed that Bangladeshi and Pakistani people have experienced an alarming higher risk of dying with coronavirus throughout both waves of the pandemic, compared to British white people.

The authors said people from South Asian groups are more likely to live in deprived areas and in large, multigenerational households.

A higher proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men work as taxi drivers, shopkeepers and proprietors than any other ethnic background  occupations with a higher risk of exposure to coronavirus.
F

rom having panic alarms installed to encountering vitriolic abuse on social media on a daily basis, it is no secret female MPs see their political careers plagued by harassment both online and in person.

Nadia Whittome, the youngest MP in Westminster, may have only been a parliamentarian for just over a year but she already has firsthand experience of how this abuse plays out.

The 24-year-old, who is the Labour MP for Nottingham East, tells The Independent of how she has been forced to go to the police over death threats and is regularly subjected to hate mail and racist abuse on social media.

She says she no longer looks at her own social media comments and her staff have to spend their time trawling through hate mail and racist abuse.

Ive had death threats, Ms Whittome says. I dont look at my social media comments. It is a bit irritating so much time from my staff team has to go into archiving hate mail and abuse.

She adds: It is probably in a sense not so bad for me as I dont look at it. But my staff do and they are already doing a very difficult job. My team and I serve a constituency that has been hit very hard since 2010 with high levels of deprivation. Some of the cases we deal with are harrowing, so they dont need to see racist abuse in their inbox as well. With death threats, we go to the police.

Research has found black and minority ethnic female MPs are subjected to far more abuse online than their white peers  with a previous study by Amnesty International discovering black female MPs and journalists were 84 per cent more likely to be mentioned in abusive tweets than white women.

Ms Whittomes Labour colleagues have also suffered abuse. While Diane Abbott has endured daily rape and death threats, Dawn Butler was forced to shut her constituency office after racist threats against her intensified.

Racist harassment of women MPs escalated further last summer  with The Independent reporting on the deluge of abuse and death threats black women MPs suffered after voicing support for Black Lives Matter protests.

Ms Whittome, who is of Punjabi descent and the first ethnic minority MP to be elected in Nottingham, also hit out at the divisive politics employed by the Conservative Party as she warned the women and equalities minister Liz Truss was seeking to pit people against each other.

Ms Truss, who also serves as the international trade secretary, recently announced the government would be moving the UKs equalities agenda away from so-called fashionable issues of race and gender. The Conservative minister criticised the left, identity politics, virtue signalling and the idea of lived experience in a speech in December.

It just makes me so angry, Ms Whittome says of the speech. I think how dare she  when she is part of a government which has inflicted such pain and misery and poverty on our communities. How dare she try to pit us against each other.

For Liz Truss, issues of racism, trans rights, homophobia and misogyny might feel like a sideshow but for people I represent and for people all over the country, when the police stops and searches you regularly for no reason other than youve been profiled. Or when you cant get a job despite doing everything you could to get the qualifications you needed.

Or when you are regularly abused in the street. Or youre a young LGBTQ person and you have been kicked out of your home and your homeless and there is nowhere for you to go because support services have been cut. That is not a fashionable issue. That is your real life.

Ms Whittome called for the Labour Party to tackle the so-called culture war head-on and argue that it is not your migrant neighbour or colleague who is responsible for the UKs fall in living standards, but it is instead landlords and bosses and a government which enables them.

Whether you are a retired miner from Mansfield or a young Deliveroo rider in Nottingham or a Bulgarian mum cleaning the houses of parliament, we have more in common with each other than we ever will have with those people who are trying to divide us, she adds.

The politician, who previously worked as a hate crime worker and a carer, went on to argue the Covid crisis has disproportionately affected women as they are more likely to work in sectors which have seen major job losses. They are also more likely to carry out frontline roles in care work, the NHS, supermarkets and education, where they are at risk of contracting coronavirus due to having face-to-face contact with the public, she says.

A spokesperson for the Equalities Office said it is examining how the government can open up opportunities to all in a bid to address unfairness within society.

To everyone, no matter their class, ethnicity or background, this is not a case of choosing one group over another, the representative added. We want equality for everyone, everywhere.

It is important that we also consider and remove the barriers some face due to geography, community and socioeconomic backgrounds alongside our existing commitments. This new approach will broaden the drive for equality and empower individuals in this country.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
The role of Indian pharmaceutical and compounding facilities in the world is vital. As per the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), this sector alone attracted a foreign direct investments (FDI) worth over US$ 960 million between April 2000 and May 2012. As a result of which, the pharmaceutical market in India is one of the fastest growing sectors, next to information technology.

It is expected to touch US $74 billion in sales by 2020 (PricewaterhouseCoopers report). According to Barclays Capital Equity research report on India, healthcare & pharmaceuticals projected a compound annual growth of 15.3% between years 2011-12 to 2013-14. Pharmaceutical Exports Council of India (Pharmexcil) reported 27% growth in Indias exports to drugs, pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals which cost about US $10.85 billion for the year, which ended March 2012.

The primary responsibility of this industry is to provide consumers the formulation which is prescribed by a medical practitioner in a safe and appropriate way. This enables optimal therapeutic outcomes in response to the use of medications, devices, and other pharmacy related products. In pharmaceutical and other compounding facilities, where drugs and related products are manufactured for public consumption must be maintained appropriately to prevent contaminants in the final products. It is essential to practice sterile techniques for compounding, dispensing, and other pharmacy-related services to reduce the potential risk of infections.

Overlooking the above discussed facts may have dire consequences. For example, in October 2012, a compounding pharmacy located in the New England area was linked to the fungal meningitis that has infected 424 people and caused 31 deaths so far. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and state health departments estimate that approximately 14,000 patients may have received injections with medication from the three implicated lots of methylprednisolone and nearly 97% have now been contacted for further follow-up. The CDCs lab has identified a fungus known as Exserohilium rostratum from the clinical specimen obtained from most of the infected patients. However, Aspergillus fumigatous and Cladosporium are also identified from some infected individuals. Interestingly, these two fungi are common in indoor environments, but previously unlinked to this type of infection.

The goal of the pharmaceutical industry is to maintain a high level of quality control and good manufacturing practices (GMP) in order to maximize therapeutic benefits. Ultimately, it is related to the public well-being and improving the quality of life for an individual suffering with health related issues. Improper handling and bad hygiene in pharmaceutical facilities is a common factor for adversely affecting health and environments. Therefore, it is expected that pharmaceutical manufacturers must have the essential knowledge of the industrys good practices in order to minimize the potential risk of heath and environment related problems. Most manufacturers or companies think that the only way to effectively reduce potential hazards requires substantial investment. However, a structured training program, a potential source of contaminant awareness, environmental monitoring, microbiological surveillance, sterility testing, remedial action and, more importantly, regular compliance oversight is helpful in maintaining pharmacies and other compounding facilities in order to serve the health care needs of society sensibly.

After all good manufacturing practices in Pharmaceutical industry prevent unwanted episodes of health and environment related problems.

Dr. Rajiv R. Sahay is a Certified Indoor Air Quality Professional (CIAQP) and Laboratory Director at the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) at Pure Air Control Services Inc. in Clearwater, Florida, USA.
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A commuter wears a face mask as he sits in a bus shelter with NHS signage promoting "Stay Home, Save Lives" in the Chinatown section of London on Jan. 8, 2021. (Tolga Akmen /AFP via Getty Images)

UK Conservatives Demand Lifting of All CCP Virus Restrictions by May

A group of backbench Conservative party lawmakers in the British Parliament have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding that he lift all CCP virus restrictions by the end of April.

The COVID Recovery Group (CRG), a group of Tory MPs who are sceptical about lockdown measures, said on Saturday that they welcomed the tremendous pace of the vaccination rollout and that the restrictions will no longer be justified once the high-risk groups have been protected by COVID-19 vaccines.

Covid is a serious disease and we must control it. However, just like Covid, lockdowns and restrictions cause immense social and health damage and have a huge impact on peoples livelihoods, said the letter organised by CRG Chair Mark Harper and Deputy Chair Steve Baker, and signed by 63 Conservative MPs.

63 Conservative MPs sign our letter to the PM   Vaccine = immunity from lockdowns & restrictions  All pupils back in school 8 March  Hospitality open by Easter  No legislative restrictions after top 9 vulnerable groups protected #Road2Recovery starts here  pic.twitter.com/ae2IfXAS19  Mark Harper (@Mark_J_Harper) February 13, 2021

The vaccine gives us immunity from Covid but it must also give us permanent immunity from Covid-related lockdowns and restrictions, they said.

By March 8, the governments top four risk groups, accounting for 88 percent of deaths and 55 percent of hospitalisations, will have been protected by vaccines, the letter said.

All restrictions remaining after March 8 should be proportionate to the ever-increasing number of people we have protected, said the lawmakers.

The burden is on ministers to demonstrate the evidence of effectiveness and proportionality with a cost-benefit analysis for each restriction, and a roadmap for when they will be removed.

The lawmakers said there is no justification for any legislative restrictions to remain by the end of April, when all nine priority groups accounting for 99 percent of deaths and about 80 percent of hospitalisations have been protected.

They said that the emergence of new variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus should not delay the easing of lockdowns because, as vaccinologists have made clear and ministers have agreed, the vaccine protects against death and hospitalisation even from the new strains.

Johnson said on Saturday he was optimistic he could announce the easing of some lockdown measures soon as the government nears its target of offering vaccines to 15 million people in priority groups, but also said we have to be cautious.

He said reopening schools remains a priority, with the hope they can return by March 8.

But the CRG letter demanded that the reopening of all schools to all pupils must be achieved by March 8.

Every hour of classroom learning lost harms the nations children and the schools shutdown is having a huge impact on childrens health and welfare, they said.

But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab rejected the lawmakers call for a firm date of reopening.

The government is being cautious and careful because you cant get ahead of the evidence of the impact of the vaccine on the transmission, he told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

Reuters contributed to this report.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In a celebration of Black History Month, the Young Leaders of Staten Island (YLSI) hosted an event highlighting Sandy Ground Historical Society and the impact it has had on Black Staten Islanders.

The event, which was co-hosted by Peace Action of Staten Island, took place on Saturday afternoon on Zoom, bringing together approximately 100 Staten Islanders.

The focus of the event was to enlighten the community about the rich history of Sandy Ground -- founded in 1827 as an farming village, originally called Harrisville, in Rossville by people who were freed from enslavement -- and other history of people of African descent on Staten Island.

It also served as a kick-off for a GoFundMe fundraiser to support the historical site.

Were here to tell the history, said Julie Moody-Lewis, Sandy Ground descendant and board president of the Sandy Ground Historical Society. Sandy Ground was a very important part of Black history, of American history.... This is the time for this history to be promoted even more.

Moody-Lewis launched into the history of Sandy Ground, which was founded after ferry boat operator Capt. John Jackson, became the first person of African descent to own property on Staten Island.

She stressed the importance of the history of Sandy Ground and how that history continues to influence efforts for racial equality today.

Im thankful for the [YLSI] and all of you on [this call], because you understand the importance of what is right here on Staten Island, and the impact this community had on our country, she explained. [The founders] were hard-working; they embraced each other... They were able to take that and multiply it so that the community benefitted, even in the hardest of times.

Michael Animodi shows two pieces of artwork that were donated to the Young Leaders of Staten Island for Black History Month.

After Moody-Lewis lesson, YLSI member Michael Animodi showed off artwork that was donated by Staten Islanders to celebrate Black History Month.

Animodi announced that the artwork that was donated will be turned into a calendar that will be sold to benefit the Sandy Ground Historical Society.

Cabral-McShine presents her take on the famous 'Join, or Die' political cartoon.

Capriel Cabral-McShine, also a member of YLSI, joined the call to present her own work, titled Dismantle, or Die.

The piece reflects a well-known political cartoon, credited to founding father Benajmin Franklin, picturing a separated snake above the words Join, or Die in an attempt to get the U.S. colonies to unite.

Cabral-McShine designed the cartoon as a direct juxtaposition to Franklins original piece, with the snake upside down and words to explain the impact of the oppressive history of the United States on people of color.

American history fights to preserve the white, male ego to the point that it erases the existence of anyone who conflicts with its positive image, Cabral-McShine said. Join, or Die or Dismantle, or Die: To me they are the two different sides of the same machine -- the America that tells me that anyone could obtain this amazing dream and the America that takes the shortest month of the year to teach us an overly simplified, watered-down version of our history.

Other event speakers included Yolanda Scott from the S.I. Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. and Renee Marhong, a Rosebank mother who is petitioning for Sandy Ground to be included in NYC curriculum. Assemblyman Michael Reilly plans to pursue legislation that would mandate the curriculum inclusion.

Overall, the message was clear: Staten Islanders want to see Sandy Ground represented and supported by New York City and beyond.

Everyone thats on this line, you are part of history -- living history -- and youre ensuring that our history, this American history, is told and taught, said Moody-Lewis in the closing remarks.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 87F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 55F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.

One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021

People receive doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine during country's mass vaccination for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 12. Reuters




The Kent-based owner of a massive Kenyan avocado farm which supplied British supermarkets until last year has settled claims of human rights abuses with 85 alleged victims for up to 4.6million.

Armed security guards working at Kakuzi, a 54-square mile farm north of Nairobi, are accused of committing abuses between 2009 and January 2020.

The allegations include that farm guards beat a 28-year-old man accused of stealing avocados to death, raped 10 women and committed dozens of brutal attacks on people in nearby villages.

Camellia, which is valued at 180million and has a majority stake in Kakuzi, will spend up to 4.6million on the settlement, including compensation, legal costs and funding schemes for the community.

The original claim, lodged in the High Court in London by British law firm Leigh Day, was for 79 alleged victims of human rights abuses. However, Camellia expanded the payout to include those who came forward after the initial lawsuit, including a man maimed by guards.

One of the barristers instructed in the case was Amal Clooney, the wife of Hollywood actor George Clooney.

Leigh Day believe that guards intentionally and systematically mistreated members of the surrounding communities and physically punished local community members for crossing Kakuzi property.

Armed security guards at Kakuzi, a farm north of Nairobi which is the size of Manchester, are accused of committing human rights abuses between 2009 and January 2020

Camellia, which is valued at 180million and has a majority stake in Kakuzi, will spend up to 4.6million on the settlement, including compensation, legal costs and funding schemes for the community. Pictured, workers on the farm north of Nairobi

Alleged cases of human rights abuses on Kenyan avocado farm Leigh Day brought a claim alleging human rights abuses committed by Kakuzi, including: Ten women allegedly raped by Kakuzi's security guards, including a 16-17 year-old girl after being caught collecting firewood on the company's land.

Another was allegedly violently raped after being caught collecting wood, by two guards.

Some became pregnant and contracted HIV as a result of the alleged sex crime;

A young man was allegedly beaten to death by Kakuzi's security guards in May 2018 for allegedly stealing avocados;

Men and women were allegedly beaten, injured or unlawfully detained by Kakuzi's security guards, including a man who sustained serious long-term injuries after being allegedly kicked in the head by a guard wearing heavy boots;

Thirty-four men and women involved in a protest on September 2, 2014 were allegedly violently attacked by Kakuzi's security guards, including with a rungu (wooden club);

A journalist and cameraman reporting on a protest led by children at Gitutu Secondary School in September 2016 were allegedly violently assaulted by Kakuzi's security guards. Advertisement

The agriculture and engineering firm opened talks with Leigh Day after British supermarkets stopped selling Kakuzi's avocados following an investigation by the Sunday Times.

Swaleth Githinji, who runs human rights organisation Ndula Resource Centre, told the paper: 'For the victims of human rights abuses this is a big win.'

But he added: 'The lack of a public apology shows that Camellia and Kakuzi are not committed to the long-term resolution of these issues.'

Daniel Leader, a partner at Leigh Day, told MailOnline: 'The settlement the parties have reached provides individual compensation for the claimants, who have claimed damages as victims of human rights abuses, but also guarantees a substantial package of additional measures which will help the numerous communities which surround the Kakuzi farm.

'Most importantly, Kakuzi has agreed to construct three new roads which will significantly improve the ability of local residents to access local public services and amenities.

'Kakuzi has also agreed to put in place a comprehensive grievance mechanism which will deal with any other human rights complaints in the future and will be subject to independent oversight.

'The Claimants hope and anticipate that this settlement will lay the foundation for an improved dialogue and relationship between Kakuzi and their communities in the future.'

Camellia pointed to a statement made by Kakuzi last year where it said it was apologising 'to all the stakeholders about the current circumstances'.

A spokesperson told MailOnline that Kakuzi guards are armed with sticks, not guns - as original reports said. They also said that security guards in that part of Africa are frequently killed as they go about their job.

The company added that Leigh Day has agreed 'not to begin or support' any other claims over Camellia's Kenya operations 'for a substantial period'.

In a statement, Camellia said: 'The settlement is intended not only to resolve the claims themselves, but also to help Kakuzi to strengthen its relations with the local communities and to continue to support the thousands of smallholder farmers who rely on Kakuzi to get their avocados to market.

'In particular, Kakuzi's Operational-level Grievance Mechanism ('OGM') (which was announced in October 2020) will be developed and implemented, with wide-ranging stakeholder consultation.

'The companies have reached this resolution because it is the best way of supporting Kakuzi in continuing its long-standing and important work with the communities on and around the Kakuzi farm, which includes comprehensive outreach, CSR and engagement initiatives such as maintaining and supporting local schools, and providing medical facilities for employees and their families, and medical outreach programmes to the local communities.'

One of the barristers instructed in the case was Amal Clooney, George Clooney's wife

The agriculture and engineering firm opened talks with Leigh Day after British supermarkets stopped selling Kakuzi's avocados following an investigation. It is not suggested that the people pictured are accused of any wrongdoing

The Kakuzi farm occupies land acquired during the colonisation of Kenya by Britain in the early 20th century.

It also includes land seized from local communities during the Kenya Emergency (1952-1960) and land sold by European farmers who left Kenya after independence in 1963.

Leigh Day said many local communities live on or next to land registered to Kakuzi, with their water sources, paths, roads, and schools are on land registered to the Camellia subsidiary.

Although their access to basic services depend on access to roads through Kakuzi land, the claimants have suffered the abuse by security guards employed to protect Kakuzi land.

Camellia has also settled a parallel case brought by Leigh Day in Malawi, where 36 women were compensated after they allegedly suffered sexual violence including rape while employed by on tea plantations run by its indirect subsidiary, Eastern Produce Malawi.

It will pay more than 2.3million over three years in compensation, legal fees and on support projects, a Leigh Day spokesperson told MailOnline.


New Delhi: As many as 40 soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost their lives in a deadly strike by a suicide bomber in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 exactly two years ago. India observes the second anniversary of the deadly terror attack today and remembers the sacrifice of the brave men.

A 22-year-old suicide attacker, identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, drove a Maruti Eeco through one of the alleyways onto the highway and rammed the IED-laden car into the CRPF convoy. The bus blew up reducing to a mangled heap of metal and as many as 40 troopers were killed. It was the bloodiest attack the Valley had seen in its 30-year-old insurgency period.

Around 78 buses carrying 2,500 personnel was moving from Jammu towards Srinagar.

Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack despite repeated denials from Pakistan.

The explosives used in the attack were found to be ammonium nitrate, nitroglycerin and RDX after a forensic investigation. The investigation also confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber through DNA matching with that of his father.

Following the attack, India carried out air strikes in Pakistan's Balakot 12 days after the February 14 attack to bomb out the Jaish camp in the woods.

A memorial with names of all 40 jawans killed in the Pulwama attack was inaugurated on February 14, 2020 at CRPF's Training Centre at Lethpora camp in Pulwama. The memorial is inscribed with the names of all the 40 troopers along with their photographs and the motto of the CRPF -- "Seva and Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty).

Live TV
New Delhi, Feb 14 : In a bid to improve the financial condition of the state-run general insurance companies, the Finance Ministry will put in additional Rs 3,000 crore into them in the ongoing quarter (January-March).

The Union Cabinet had last year cleared the proposal to infuse capital into National Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance.

The government recently sought the Parliament's approval for gross additional expenditure of Rs 6.28 lakh crore for 2020-21 as part of second and final batch of supplementary demands for grants, which includes Rs 3,000 crore for the recapitalisation of the general insurers.

The supplementary grants are required for "providing additional funds towards recapitalisation of Insurance companies (Rs 3,000 crore)", said the second supplementary demands for grants for 2020-21.

The infusion will be done after the supplementary demands for grants is passed by parliament which will reconvene on March 8.

Further, in the Union Budget for 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced that the government will privatise a general insurance company in the upcoming financial year.
Campus Front of India leader Rauf Shareef is being brought from Kerala by plane after a court here issued a production warrant in connection with a case of funding and stirring up unrest following the assault and death of a woman in Hathras, his counsel said on Saturday. Shareef was lodged in Ernakulam Jail after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in December in a money laundering case.

"Shareef was taken out of Ernakulam jail on Saturday about 4.30 pm for his onward journey to Mathura," his counsel Madhuban Datt Chaturvedi said. He is likely to be presented before Additional District and Sessions Judge (first) Anil Kumar Pandey on Sunday and then may be sent for judicial custody for his appearance in the court on February 16, Chaturvedi said.

On the request of the Uttar Pradesh STF, a 'B warrant' was issued by the additional district and sessions Judge for the production of the fifth accused, Shareef, in the court on February 16. On January 16, a similar warrant was issued by Sessions Judge Anil Kumar Pandey for the appearance of Shareef in the court on February 1 but he did not turn up.

If a person is in jail for more than one offence, B warrant is issued for him and the accused is presented before court by jail authorities and not by police. On the request of the STF, the warrant was issued for the third time on February 1 making it obligatory for Ernakulam jail authorities to present him before the court on February 16. In a remand report submitted in court in Kerala, the ED had alleged that Shareef, who was the leader of Popular Front of India's students' wing, had funded the trip of Sidhique Kappan, a Delhi-based Kerala journalist, and three other alleged PFI activists to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, where a Dalit woman died after being allegedly gang-raped.

Kappan and the three others were arrested by the UP police in October while they were on their way to Hathras. It was alleged they had "ulterior motives of disturbing social harmony and inciting communal riots" and were charged with serious offences including sedition.

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The DC Circuit has ruled that the CIA is under no obligation to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests pertaining to its involvement with insurgent militias in Syria, overturning a lower courts previous ruling in favor of a Buzzfeed News reporter seeking such documents.

As Sputniks Morgan Artyukhina clearly outlines, this ruling comes despite the fact that mainstream news outlets have been reporting on the Central Intelligence Agencys activities in Syria for years, and despite a US president having openly tweeted about those activities.

In other words, the CIA will not be required to admit to actions it is widely reported as having done, much less divulge documents about them to the press for even greater scrutiny, Artyukhina writes, calling to mind the Julian Assange quote The overwhelming majority of information is classified to protect political security, not national security.

The CIAs brazen collaboration with dangerous extremist factions seeking to topple Damascus, and its equally brazen refusal to provide the public with any information about the extent of its involvement in Syria from the earliest stages of the violence in that nation onwards, will necessarily provide fodder for conspiracy theories.

It is public knowledge that the CIA was involved in the Syrian war to some extent, it is public knowledge that the CIA has a well-documented history of doing extremely evil things, and it is public knowledge that the US government has long sought control over Syria. Due to the agencys refusal to be transparent about the exact nature of its involvement in that nation, people are left to fill in the knowledge gaps with their own speculation.

Of course they will do this. Why wouldnt they? Why would anyone give the lying, torturing, propagandizing, drug trafficking, coup-staging, warmongering, psychopathic Central Intelligence Agency the benefit of the doubt and assume their actions in Syria have been benevolent just because the hard facts have been hidden behind a wall of government secrecy?

Yet they will be expected to. Anyone with a sufficient degree of influence who comes right out and says the CIA knowingly armed violent jihadists with the goal of orchestrating regime change in Syria will be attacked as a crazy conspiracy theorist by the narrative managers of the establishment media. If their words are really disruptive to establishment narratives, there will be calls to deplatform, unemploy, and ban them from social media.

And really such is the case with all the melodramatic garment rending about the dangers of conspiracy theories today. All the fixation on the way unregulated speech on the internet has contributed to the circulation of conspiracy theories conveniently ignores the real cause of those theories: government secrecy.

If the most powerful government in the world were not hiding a massive amount of its behavior behind increasingly opaque walls of secrecy, people would not need to fill in the gaps with theories about whats happening, because there would be no gaps; they would simply see whats happening.

But Caitlin! one might object. How could America engage in all its military operations around the world if it didnt keep information about its behaviors a secret?

Exactly, my smooth-brained friend. Exactly.

Government secrecy is indeed necessary for winning wars. Government secrecy is also necessary for starting those wars in the first place. US government agencies have an extensive history of using false pretenses to initiate military conflicts; if they could not hide the facts behind a veil of government opacity, the public would never engage in them. The American people would never have allowed their sons to go to Vietnam if theyd known the Gulf of Tonkin incident was a lie. Theyd never have sent their sons and daughters to invade Iraq if theyd known weapons of mass destruction were a lie. They would lose the support of the public, and the international community would refuse to back them.

Protecting the lives of foreign military and intelligence personnel is the primary argument against government transparency in the United States, a premise which takes it for granted that there need to be foreign military and intelligence personnel at all. The only reason the lives of troops and intelligence officers would be endangered without massive walls of government secrecy is because those personnel are out there facilitating imperialist acts of mass murder and tyranny. The argument is essentially Well we cant tell you the truth about whats happening in our government, because it would mean wed have to stop doing extremely evil things.

The argument that the internet needs strict censorship to eliminate dangerous conspiracy theories takes it as a given that simply eliminating government secrecy is impossible, which in turn takes it as a given that the US government cannot simply stop inflicting grave evils around the world. Our ability to share information with each other online is therefore ultimately being increasingly choked off by monopolistic Silicon Valley megacorporations because no one in charge can fathom the idea of the United States government ceasing to butcher human beings around the world.

That is the real underlying argument over internet censorship today. Should people have free access to information about what their own government is doing, or should their government be permitted to do evil things in secret while people who form theories about what theyre doing are shoved further and further away from audibility? Thats the real debate here.

The powerful should not be permitted to keep secrets from the public. They should not be permitted to jail journalists who try to reveal those secrets to the public, and they should not be permitted to collaborate with monopolistic corporations to censor people who form theories about those secrets. The amount of secrecy you are entitled to should be directly inverse to the amount of power that you have.

The US government has powerful agencies whose literal job is to conspire. The fact that people are punished and condemned for forming theories about how that conspiring might take place, even while those agencies are completely lacking in transparency, is abusive.

If the government was not doing evil things in secret, then it wouldnt need secrecy. If the government didnt have secrecy, there would be no conspiracy theories. Stop pointing your attacks at powerless people who are just trying to figure out whats going on in the world amidst a sea of government secrecy and propaganda, and point your attacks instead at the power structures that are actually responsible for the existence of conspiracy theories in the first place.

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Thanks for reading! The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my new book Poems For Rebels (you can also download a PDF for five bucks) or my old book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge.

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Leaders of several foreign countries have extended their greetings in the Vietnamese language on the occasion of the 2021 Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Tet greetings from Korean President Moon Jae-in (Screenshot photo)

On February 12, or the first day of the Year of the Buffalo, President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in cabled his wishes in Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and English on his personal social network sites.

Best wishes to all our neighbors who celebrate the Lunar New Year! May 2021 bring good health and peace to everyone. We look forward to the day we meet without masks!, he wrote.

The post hits dozens of thousands Likes on Facebook alone.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron extended his greetings on social media in three languages, namely Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese, in which he wished people good health, success and happiness.

His greetings in Vietnamese saw a high interaction rate. As of February 13 (the second day of the lunar year), it had documented 47 million Likes, 3.9 million comments and 2.8 million Shares on Facebook.

US President Joe Biden also sent his wishes on his Twitter account on February 13. He and his spouse appeared in a video clip together, wishing happiness, health and prosperity to those who celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Tet, the largest and most celebrated festival of Vietnam, falls on February 10-17 this year./.VNA
West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari lashed out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the brutal attack on his fellow party member Babu Master in Kolkata on Saturday night. Adhikari paid a visit to the hospital where Master was admitted in critical condition and alleged that criminal elements from the ruling party were involved in the attack.

The former TMC leader took to Twitter to share pictures from his visit to the hospital and said such incidents only reflect the desperation and fear of the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

READ | BJP Leader's Convoy Enroute Kolkata Attacked; Bombs Hurled, Shots Fired By Local Goons

Earlier this evening, visited my friend Babu Master in the Hospital. He was mercilessly attacked by criminal elements from the @AITCofficial; I am sure you have already seen the pictures from the dastardly attack.



Stay strong! This only reflects the desperation of @AITCofficial. pic.twitter.com/HyJS32DEvh  Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) February 13, 2021

In yet another incident of political violence in poll-bound West Bengal, BJP leader Babu Master nearly lost his life in a brutal attack on his convoy at around 9 pm on Saturday.

READ | BJP, TMC Clash In West Bengal's Birbhum; 5 People Injured Due To Violence

BJP leader under ICU observation

The former TMC leader who recently joined the BJP was on his way to Kolkata from his meeting in Basirhat when bombs and were hurled and bullets were fired at his convoy. Master sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the ICU.

In a Republic Bangla's exclusive newsbreak, visuals accessed show that the BJP leader's car was completely wrecked with its glasses shattered into pieces due to the heinous attack. The attack came on the same day as a massive clash broke out between the BJP and TMC workers in the Birbhum district reflecting the deteriorating law & order situation in West Bengal.

While the Opposition BJP alleged that they were attacked by TMC workers on their way returning from the Paribartan Yatra on Friday night, the TMC alleged that BJP workers attacked women and senior citizens. Reportedly, five people have been injured due to the violent clash.

READ | BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' Blocked In Poll-bound Bengal; Dilip Ghosh Alleges 'appeasement'

READ | PIL Filed In HC Seeks Suspension Of BJP's Parivartan Yatras In Poll-bound WB Due To COVID
His parents are both stars of Australian reality TV programs.

And on Saturday, Boston Dally got a birthday party fit for a little prince as he celebrated turning one.

Married At First Sight star Cyrell Paule and Love Island star Eden Dally pulled out all the stops for their only child's big milestone in Sydney.

Celebrity pals, stacked grazing tables, and a two-tier blue bear cake: See inside the lavish birthday party of Cyrell Paule and Eden Dally's one-year-old son Boston at their Sydney home

There appeared to be no expense spared for the couple as they showered their young son with all the trimmings of an A-list party.

Celebrity guests including MAFS stars Billy Vincent, Elizabeth Sobinoff, and Nasser Sultan were in attendance, as well as My Kitchen Rules contestant Romel Kouyan.

Despite their usual on-screen antics, the couple's celeb guests all appeared to be getting along with each other on the day.

Remarkably Nasser looked cosy with Cyrell on the day, despite coming to blows with the mother at the recent MAFS all-star reunion.

She had even called him out for allegedly trolling her, Eden and their child over the past year.

Pals: Eden and Cyrell were joined with a mix of their celebrity pals and family for the lavish event, which took place at their home in Sydney's inner west

Celeb city! Eden and Cyrell's family mingled with her celebrity friends including Billy Vincent, Elizabeth Sobinoff and YouTube personality Carla from Bankstown (right)

The couple organised an elaborate photo wall for the youngster with a number of blue, white and silver balloons set up.

A sign was also present that read: 'Happy 1st birthday Boston.'

In addition to a white marquee, they also arranged a number of tasting plates with delicious Lebanese cuisine.

Delicious: In addition to a white marquee they also arranged a number of tasting plates with mouth-watering Lebanese cuisine from The Hills On Wheels including spiced cauliflower

Oh my! Cyrell took a moment to admire the incredible grazing table which was set up for guests which included fruit, breads and cured meats arranged on a beautiful way

Lovely: The grazing table had all manner of light snacks arranged on it

Grazing table: The table was also decorated with a stunning flower arrangement

The food for guests to nibble on included plates of hummus, spiced cauliflower, curry puffs, falafel and tabbouleh supplied by The Hills on Wheels.

There was also a stunning blue bear cake for the birthday boy, along with a spread of sweets, including biscuits which read 'Boston is one'.

A stunning multi-level grazing table offering breads, fruits and cured meats was also set up under the couple's backyard marquee.

Big bear: The youngster's two-tier cake had a blue bear on top of it along with the writing: 'Boston' and his birthday: 'Feb 9, 2020'

Sugar heaven: The couple had a range of sweet treats for their guests to munch on including mousse and elegantly-decorated cupcakes

Sweet tooth: The couple organised biscuits for little Boston which had emblazoned on them: 'Boston is one'

Cyrell kept it glam for the occasion wearing a black shirt dress which clung to her slender figure. She completed the outfit with a pair of dark leather sandals.

She wore her cropped black hair around her shoulder and opted for a glossy makeup palette for the day.

Meanwhile, father Eden showed off his muscular build in a white and blue stripped short sleeve shirt. He paired it with tight black jeans.

Pals: Despite coming under fire at the reunion, Nasser looked in good spirits as he laughed and joked with fellow reality star, Romel

Quick, slow down: Nasser looked to be deep in conversation as he spoke alongside My Kitchen Rules star Romel at the glossy event

The Love Island star finished his outfit with a pair of tan lace-up shoes.

On Boston's actual birthday, Cyrell wrote a loving tribute to her only son: 'Happy first birthday. Mummy and daddy love you so much.'

She then posted footage of the family dining at a restaurant and singing Happy Birthday to the youngster.

Uncle Nass! Married At First Sight star Nasser Sultan even appeared to show a softer side as he wished little Boston a happy birthday

Pals: Nasser was in fine form as he cuddled-up to Cyrell during the birthday party. The reality groom even managed to get a kiss on the cheek

Over on Eden's Instagram, he shared a gushing tribute to his son.

'Happy 1st birthday, my handsome little man!' he began.

'Best thing to ever happen to me I love you more than anything in this world.'

Ready set, pose! My Kitchen Rules star Romel took happy snaps with Elizabeth Sobinoff and a pal as they stood out in the backyard

He then showed Boston biting into a cupcake while playing with a learning tablet he'd received for his birthday.

Last week, Cyrell shared footage on Instagram from the birth of her son a year ago.

The video showed doctors and nurses attending to the reality star, who had her legs raised to facilitate the birth.

Delicious! Eden and Cyrell were every inch the glowing parents as they gathered round the birthday cake in the afternoon

Look who's one! Eden enjoyed a helping of a biscuit while at the dessert tables for their young son who looked puzzled by the excitement

Joyous! Eden and Cyrell laughed and joked as their son looked around in excitement

While her face could not be seen, Cyrell let out a piercing scream from behind the camera as she pushed.

She wrote in her caption: 'No pain can compare. But the magic that comes at the end. Makes it all worth it. The female body is phenomenal.'

Cyrell added the hashtags #almosthisfirstbirthday and #themagicofpregnancy.
Member for Hughes Craig Kelly and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek argue in the Media Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Australian MP Under Fire for Sharing Information on Hydroxychloroquine

Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly has endured heavy backlash from political opponents for his wary stance of the governments immediate COVID-19 vaccination plans and his sharing information on potential vaccine supplements.

The outspoken Liberal member of Parliament for Hughes said that he is not an anti-vaxxer but he prefers a wait to see approach to learn from other vaccination trials before throwing his support behind the governments move to vaccinate as many Australians as possible.

I want to expand coronavirus treatments, not limit them, he told The Australian. On getting a vaccine, Im going to tell people to make up their own mind. The government has not made it mandatory.

In an interview with The Guardian Australia, Kelly said he would be one of the last people on the list to receive the vaccine as Australia currently has low infection rates compared to other nations.

That gives us the option to sit back and see if there are any issues that crop up with the vaccines, he said.

But following a private meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Kelly agreed to support the governments A$6 billion vaccine strategy.

I agreed to support the governments vaccine rollout which has been endorsed by medical experts, Kelly said in a statement. I believe that the spread of misinformation can damage the success of our public health response during the pandemic.

A pharmacy tech pours out pills of Hydroxychloroquine at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 20, 2020. (George Frey/AFP via Getty Images)

On his Facebook page, which has over 90,000 followers, the MP has shared articles and studies about drugs like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and ivermectin, which are currently not recommended by governing health bodies outside of randomised trials with appropriate ethical approval.

In his latest post, Kelly shared a Herald Sun report that said some of Melbournes top doctors had suggested the two drugs have been effective treatments against coronavirus when taken in the early stages of the disease.

Screenshot of Craig Kellys Facebook post on Feb. 13, 2021.

The Liberal MP also posted a screenshot of a COVID-19 study, which found that out of 38 studies, 82 percent found positive results from HCQ use.

Screenshot of Craig Kellys Facebook post on Feb. 13, 2021.

Backlash from Left-Leaning Voices

The Australian Labor Party proposed a motion in Parliament on Feb. 2, calling on the prime minister to denounce Kellys Facebook posts as dangerous and irresponsible.

Were spending $24 million on a campaign to tell people to get vaccinated and weve got a taxpayer-funded nong running around telling people not to, Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek said.

She engaged in a heated discussion with Kelly in the corridors of Parliament on Feb. 3 over the matter, while branding his ideas as crazy conspiracy theories.

Member for Hughes Craig Kelly and Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek argue in the Media Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

The following day, The Guardian Australias editorial team has labelled Kelly conspiracy Craig and called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to slap down the independently-minded politician.

And ABC Media Watch said that Kelly should not be encouraged to spout his maverick views on COVID-19, like with his views on climate change, saying it would smear the government.

Kelly also came under fire for accusing the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce for not being across the latest studies. The government body had said that HCQ use against COVID-19 is potentially harmful.

Catch up with the evidence. Yes, you looked at three studies. Go and look at the other 32 studies and come back, Kelly told reporters.

Medical Expert Points to Political Noise Surrounding Trump

Despite government health bodies and Labor downplaying the effectiveness of both drugs, some medical professionals have voiced their support for HCQ, echoing the information shared by Kelly to his constituents, saying the drug is an effective and inexpensive treatment against COVID-19.

Immunologist and Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy from the University of Newcastle told 6PR, I have never met Craig Kelly, I dont know Craig Kelly, and a lot of his views I dont understand  The data is crystal clear  ivermectin and HCQ are of significant benefit when used early in the disease.

He also told ABC radio, I base my comments on science.

In an opinion piece in Sydney Morning Herald, Clancy said ivermectin and HCQ were a safe, cheap, available and effective treatments that should be paired with vaccines.

He said the two medications have been used as antimicrobials for half a century with impeccable safety records but were overlooked by authorities due to political noise.

The anti-malarial medication received heavy scrutiny after former U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been taking them as COVID-19 treatments.

A pharmacist displaying a box of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets in his store in Hyderabad on April 28, 2020. (Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images)

Both drugs are used extensively in many countries, with dramatic reductions in COVID-19 deaths, Clancy wrote.

The opinion piece ended with a disclaimer by the Sydney Morning Herald saying that the Task Force strongly opposed patients using the drugs.

But another group of senior Australian physicians, the COVID Medical Network who are concerned about the impact of lockdown measures to contain the virus, have also challenged the government Task Forces recommendations about the drugs.

The National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Task Force cites only a hand full of HCQ Studies as references to its decision to recommend a blanket recommendation that HCQ not be used in the treatment of COVID-19, according to a report by the network.

The physicians challenged the logic that HCQ is only unsafe when it is prescribed for COVID-19.

One newspaper, The Courier Mail, backed Kelly decision to share the information he had learned with the Australian public. The Courier Mail argued that all views must be heard and there should be more transparency in the COVID-19 vaccination debate.

Kelly is doing what every backbencher should be doingoffering and challenging ideas to keep honest the government, of which he is a member, the article said.

New York, Feb. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whether you climbed out of bed or spent several hours on an airplane, you could experience a familiar stretch along your neck. Neck pain usually occurs when you keep your neck at a specific position for a long period. For instance, your pillow can feel very comfortable when you climb into bed, but that can change at some point of the night, and you should change its position to avoid possible neck pain during the day. It could be a daily and chronic neck problem you have been battling with for years.

Too fluffy or flat pillows usually change your neck's angle to rest on your body, which will cause stress emanating from zero mobility. The Neck Hammock was created for neck pain relief. Some people choose to visit a licensed physical therapist who is expensive living many at home, hoping that the neck and shoulder pain from the pinched nerves disappear. Many reviews share a view that Neck Hammock is good and simple to use. Instead of visiting a physical therapist each day for a whole year or having to take drugs daily, it would be better for you to get this portable device at your home or office so you can make use of it every day.

In this Neck Hammock review, we look at how this portable device works, what you should expect from it, where you can buy it, and how it relieves any neck stress problem. Also, we tell you to need to use this device every day to get the required results within a specified time.

What Is The Neck Hammock?

The Neck Hammock is a cervical traction device designed for anyone experiencing mobility problems, neck pain, and tension. It has brought immediate relief to millions of users experiencing neck pain, as shown in the reviews section of its official website. At first, you may think that the product is complicated, but nothing could be far from the truth. It is simple and easy to use; as long as you have a spot to attach it to a wall, anyone can easily use it in the comfort of their home.

Neck Hammock's idea is to help the user relax as it eases the tension that causes pain in the neck within a specified time. Most of Hammock's reviews and Facebook users share the view that the product is easy to use, and the best part about it takes only a few minutes to set up.

Apart from the random twinges, you might feel after a rough night; Neck Hammock helps people that struggle with any chronic pain problem. Physical therapists often refer to pains that last more than six months as chronic. Neck Hammock uses gravity and support from the resistance band to ease neck pain using a process named by the product's creator as cervical traction. If you have experienced neck pain before, you should have realized that any sudden movement worsens the feeling. With a hammock, you will get your neck in the required position, and you should not move it until the pain from the pinched nerves disappears. (Any/all of the links on this post are affiliate links of which the author receives a small commission from sales of this product/service, but the price is the same to you.) Visit the official website here to find a discounted price!

What Causes Neck Pain?

Almost everyone has experienced neck pain, so it's important to understand some of the causes of neck pain. Some of them include:

Worn joints

Muscle strains

Compressed nerve

Certain diseases

Whiplash

While the other four causes can occur at anyone any time, Whiplash commonly occurs after a car accident; the head moves forward and then quickly snaps back, similarly to when someone knocks your muscles from behind. When you visit a physical therapist, they are likely to recommend a prescription or physical therapy, depending on your pain level. Such sessions can be expensive, and not everyone can afford them, so Neck Hammock is a great alternative.

Who is this cervical traction for?

Have you ever woken up in the morning or just returned from work after a long day and found your neck hurting? Neck Hammock is a great product for professionals who work for long hours and experience a lot of stress as a result. Although this cervical traction cannot be said to end your stress entirely, it will certainly make you feel better. We recommend you use this product at the end of every day to experience less neck pain.

People who want to relax at home or while on a vacation

Anyone recovering from neck or back injuries

People struggling to find sleep due to stress

People experiencing stress at home or school

Neck Hammock can also provide much-needed neck pain relief for people diagnosed with a chronic condition that causes neck pain. A chronic condition is that which you have been battling with for years. We recommend seeking a doctor's opinion before using this cervical traction device if you are under any medication.

The portable Neck Hammock cervical traction works to stretch the neck muscles and joints to relieve stress, pressure, mobility problems, tension headaches, and expand intervertebral space in your spine. Aside from being affordable and easy, and simple to use, the product can give all the benefits you would have gotten from visiting a therapist without an extra cost. As mentioned earlier, you wrap around a railing or door handle, let it stretch, and slowly pull your neck muscle.

--- Buy this product now with a special discount! ---

How The Cervical Traction Device Works

The main reason you are reading this Neck Hammock review is to find out how this product works and whether you need it for your neck pain relief. If you have been to physical therapy due to neck pain, Hammock works more or less the same way. The neck hammock was created to lift your head off the ground and gently separate it from your neck. Through that process, your neck muscles will stretch gently and relieve some of your tension and also help to stretch your back and shoulders.

Although you might not see the results immediately, you will find that Neck Hammock gently pulls the main muscle group from the back. This process helps to oxygenate and enhance mobility, which means more nutrients will reach the affected part of your neck. With regular use, you should experience a huge relief within 10 minutes or less.

How Can You Use The Neck Hammock?

Another thing you will like about hammock is that it is easy to use and is not time-consuming. Go through the instruction that comes with this product or short videos to find out how this device can stretch your neck to enhance mobility and relieve your neck or head pain. Here is a simple process to can help you set up and use this product without much effort:

Unpack the Hammock

Wrap the ends of the traction device around the door of your house

Shut the door

Lay down and position your neck in the hammock

Once you find a comfortable position, remain there until you are ready to get up

Apart from your door, you can use any other part of your home; what is important is to keep the product secure. The best position to use is a place you feel most comfortable. You can go ahead and try a few positions to find the position you like most. Further info and a discount can be found here on the official website!

Tips For Setting Up And Using The Neck Pain Relief

The secret to finding the best position is not sticking to one door; you might dislike this portable Neck Hammock device just because you picked the wrong position. Find a sturdy surface to support your upper body's weight to find the most suitable position to find suitable pain relief.

Change height: By adjusting the way Hammock attaches to your door, it stands two to four inches up the ground. You may want to adjust the height to see your most comfortable position. However, as you pull your neck, you do not want to stretch your neck muscles too much.

Make use of the eye mask: Using the cervical traction without the eye mask can prevent you from getting the relaxed frame for quick pain relief. The mask will help stop worrying about those pesky thoughts that can otherwise prevent you from getting positive results. Most Neck Hammock users have found that using the mask made them comfortable to the point that they fell asleep while on the floor.

Important Features

This portable cervical traction device is made with high precision to help relieve neck pain and shoulder pain within 10 minutes while expanding the intervertebral space of your spine. Here are important features that should convince you to purchase this stretch neck traction device.

Highly Efficient And Convenient

It's no secret that you can use this cervical traction device anywhere to get neck pain relief. You can take one for your home, office, or even gym center to ensure you utilize it daily. The traction device is also highly efficient as many users have attested to it, relieving daily pain within 10 minutes or less.

Portable

Neck Hammock can fit into the smallest space, and so you do not have to worry even if you have limited space in your home. It can fit into your drawer, suitcase, or even a travel bag if you are a person who travels a lot.

Comfortable Design

Neck Hammock is made from soft materials that cannot cause any irritation on your neck or head. Furthermore, the manufacturer has incorporated high-grade padding, which helps to oxygenate the neck with maximum comfort.

Highly Flexible

Neck Hammock is highly flexible and can be used by anyone with neck pains. It can be applied in various places; you can attach it to your door, pole rail, or any other suitable position. You lie down on your couch, floor, on the bed, or even while standing.

Where To Buy

If you are convinced that you need The Neck Hammock, don't hesitate to go to the products official website and make your order. Even though the market price of Neck Hammock is $79.99, you can get the product for as low as $49.99 plus the shipping fee through the special offered regularly by the manufacturer. The product comes with a sign showing that you are using this device to prevent people from rushing to your room and disrupt you.

Instead of purchasing just one of these products, we suggest you shop for a Neck Hammock bundle, where you buy two and get one free. That way, you will save up to $140.

--- Visit the official website here! ---

Money Back-Guarantee

If you have any doubts about Neck Hammock's credentials, you dont have to worry since the manufacturer has placed this product's strong money-back guarantee that lasts for 30 days after your purchase. Upon verifying that the device is in original shape with all its materials returned, you will get your refund within a day or two. The procedure to get a refund include;

You need to locate your order number from the email sent by the manufacturing company.

Write an email with the order number as to why you are requesting a refund.

Check your email to find your order number.

Compose an email that includes that number and why you want a refund

Send your mail to the manufacturers customer care department.

Ship package back to the manufacturer with all the information laid out on the email

Your refund will take a day or two to process.

You can follow up your email by contacting customer service through the mobile number indicated on the Neck Hammock's official website. Remember that you will still be required to read out the order number when you call.

Neck Hammock Review - Final Verdict

For sure, you wont find many cervical traction devices easier to use and more effective as Neck Hammock. Furthermore, it does not consume too much of your time; you only require 10 minutes a day. Most related products are delicate and have inflatable designs that can easily puncture when touched by anything sharp. Unlike Neck Hammock that is compact and can be moved from one place to another with ease, other components require permanent installation at home.

Neck Hammock is highly rated because it helps with many conditions, including neck muscles, tension headaches, and even frequent migraines. Many users like the fact that the Neck Hammock gives them immediate relief from daily stressors. Neck Hammock is a handy neck traction device that can be used anywhere in your home as long as you can attach it to a stable surface. Click here to discover the current discount!

Contact

The GiddyUp Group, LLC

20 N. Oak St.

Ventura, CA 93001

USA

Homepage: https://tryneckhammock.io

E-Mail: support@giddyup.io

About

Mike Vaughn is a blogger from a bigger enthusiastic team which loves to review products based on personal research. His contact E-Mail is mvaughn-revs@gmail.com. Feel free to contact him every time you like.

Disclosure by content creator

This post is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy.

Any purchase done from this story is done on your own risk. Consult an expert advisor / health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase done from this link is subject to final terms and conditions of the website that is selling the product. The content on this release does not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. Contact the vendor of the product directly.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning, the author recommends products and service he or she has used or knows well and may receive commission if you purchase them too (at no additional cost for you).

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Humanitarian Aid Agency, GOAL, is appealing to Longford primary school teachers to virtually inspire students to become active global citizens through its Changemakers Programme.

GOAL launched the innovative programme - aimed at primary school students - last year.

Also read: Swift action of Longford business woman saves baby girl's life

But with lockdown it has adapted so teachers can connect with their pupils virtually to inspire them on action they can take to create a more sustainable and fairer world.

The GOAL Changemakers Programme invites pupils to learn about the 17 UN Global Goals agreed by world leaders to end poverty, fight inequality, stop climate change and protect our oceans, flora and fauna by 2030.

The adapted zoom workshops, facilitated by GOAL staff, use drama activities and audio-visual materials to create a fun and engaging experience.

They will continue until schools return.

The workshops are 45 minutes long, but can be longer or shorter depending on the class.

Also read: Longford dairy farmer Mike Magan the catalyst for raising 190,000 for Irish Red Cross for Yemen Appeal

GOAL Staff are facilitating the workshops through drama and interactive audio-visual materials to inspire young changemakers all around the country.

The lessons are fun, curriculum-linked and designed to get young people thinking about how we can all play our part in making the world a more fair, sustainable and safer place for all.

All classes that participate in the programme will receive a beautiful Philips educational world map co-produced with Folens publishers for display in their classroom to recognise Changemakers, and to encourage classes to continue learning about the world around them.

Third class teacher Paula Frances Galvin, at Our Lady Queen Of The Apostles, Clondalkin, who participated in last years programme, said: The GOAL Changemakers Programme is a great way to engage classes in a real-life project which can encompass many curricular areas, as well as being based on values of human rights, global justice, sustainability and equality.

GOAL Global Citizenship Manager, Nina Sachau, said there is huge interest so far from teachers around Ireland, including Longford, on delivering Changemakers virtually.

She said: With the world facing one of the biggest global crisis of our times, taking action to build a more fair and sustainable future has never been more important.

"This programme will give Longford students the information and motivation they need to become changemakers

She added: People around the world are currently living through the COVID-19 pandemic which is adding to the challenges of climate change, poverty and global injustice.

"Children can be overwhelmed, and we have to ensure they are resilient and active actors in the shaping of their future.

"It is heartening that this generation of incredibly conscientious and active young people and educators are taking so many actions to bring about a fair and sustainable world.

All support materials for teachers are available on the GOAL website.

So even if teachers are not doing live classes with their students, there are a number of videos and ready-made lesson plans available on our website to be used right away: Changemakers Resources - GOAL Global

For more information on the Changemakers Programme visit https://www.goalglobal.org/ changemakers/.

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A student of Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, Disha is among the notable climate activists in India.

The police claim she is an editor of the Google document, which was a guide sheet to stoke economic, cultural, social and regional tensions in India.

The toolkit , at the centre of the controversy, was tweeted by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg while voicing support for the farmers protesting in India.

According to the police, Greta shared the toolkit with Disha. Later, she (Disha) asked Greta to remove the main Doc after its incriminating details accidentally got into the public domain, the Delhi Police tweeted.

Who is Disha Ravi?

A student of the Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru, Disha is among the notable climate activists in India. She had, in 2019, started Fridays for Future (FFF) India - an initiative linked to Gretas Fridays for Future movement.

Climate strikes or marches are peaceful, non-violent ways to let our national and state governments know about our demand to address the ongoing climate crisis and ecological breakdown, the website of the Disha-headed FFF states.

Disha, akin to Greta, has been instrumental in organising coordinated strikes against the alleged lack of governmental action to combat climate change.

She was inspired to launch the movement against climate change by her grandparents, who, as farmers, were among the worst-affected by the changing weather pattern, Disha said in an interview to Auto Report Africa.

In September last year, Disha was featured by The Guardian for her frequent protests in Bengaluru against the alleged lack of regulations to curb environmental degradation. We are not just fighting for our future, we are fighting for our present, she had told the newspaper.

This is not the first time Disha is coming under the radar. In July 2020, the FFF India website was blocked , and a notice was sent by the Delhi Police to the domain hosts for the depiction of "contents and unlawful activities or terrorist act, which are dangerous for peace, tranquility and sovereignty".

The Delhi Police had invoked the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, but later withdrew the notice.

The police had also sent another notice to FFF India, under the Information Technology Act, for allegedly attempting to spam Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar's inbox over the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification. This notice was also, however, withdrawn.

Dishas involvement in the toolkit row

Greta had shared a toolkit, which was deleted and replaced by another, that allegedly called for disruptive protests against the Indian government over the farm reform laws.

The stated aim of the toolkit was to enable anyone unfamiliar with the ongoing farmers protests in India to better understand the situation and make decisions on how to support the farmers".

However, the government referred to certain incriminating content in the now-deleted toolkit to file a case of sedition against unknown persons on February 4. Disha is the first person to be arrested in the case.

On being produced before the court, the student-activist broke down and told the judge that she edited only two lines of the document, news agency ANI reported.

The Delhi Police, citing its findings so far, refuted the claim. She is an editor of the Toolkit Google Doc and a key conspirator in the document's formulation and dissemination. She started a WhatsApp Group and collaborated to make the Toolkit doc. She worked closely with them to draft the Doc," the police said in a statement.
Dr. Richard Dang, right, an assistant professor at the USC School of Pharmacy, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to Ashley Van Dyke during the mass vaccination of healthcare workers at Dodger Stadium. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County's daily number of coronavirus cases continued to decline Sunday, bolstering hopes that the number of new cases will wane as spring approaches and vaccinations ramp up.

The county reported 1,936 new coronavirus cases and 82 related deaths, comparatively low numbers that may in part reflect weekend reporting delays, according to the county Public Health Department. More than 1.1 million cases have been reported countywide and 19,000 deaths since the pandemic began, officials.

Still, the daily case counts over the last week  an average of fewer than 3,500 new infections a day  shows a dramatic decline since the peak of the pandemic in early January, when the average number of new daily cases reached 15,100.

The daily number of new infections, while trending downward, remained higher than they were in October, when the county reportedfewer than 1,000 new cases per day, according to the health department. The number of infections and related deaths spiked over the last three months, which officials attribute in large part to back-to-back holidays.

While the peak of the outbreak may have passed, L.A. city officials have struggled recently to secure enough vaccine supplies to keep vaccination sites open.

Five vaccination sites that were scheduled to close Friday due to supply shortages instead closed Thursday. The sites included Dodger Stadium, Crenshaw Christian Center and other outlets in San Fernando, Lincoln Park and Hansen Dam.

The regular delivery of vaccine doses dropped to 16,000 last week, a sharp drop from the 90,000 doses received the previous week, officials said. The lack of vaccine supplies has frustrated local officials who say they have the organization and personnel in place to vaccinate many more people.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has said the sites will reopen once the city receives more supplies, but probably not until after the Presidents Day holiday. Garcetti said last week that the vaccine shortages are an enormous hurdle in our race" to inoculate local residents.

Were vaccinating people faster than new vials are arriving here in Los Angeles," the mayor said, "and Im very concerned right now."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 13:45:41|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2021 shows artists rehearsing for "The Sound of Spring", an online concert for the Chinese New Year, at Bard College Conservatory of Music in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States. The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music on Feb. 13 staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year. (Photo by Hsiao-Fang Lin/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music here on Saturday evening staged its second annual concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The concert, titled "The Sound of Spring," featured a new performance at the Fisher Center at Bard by the conservatory's pre-professional orchestra and master's degree program The Orchestra Now, and was joined by special guests from the Central Conservatory of Music Chinese Chamber Orchestra, the China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

The event, live-streamed for free, began with Chinese artist Tan Dun's Internet Symphony "Eroica" to honor the numerous heroes worldwide who are working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It also offered a sampling of traditional and contemporary Chinese symphonic, chamber, solo and theatrical music, showcasing different regional folk traditions, as well as blending Chinese and Western instruments and musical forms.

"The Lunar New Year is celebrated by people all around the world. This is the Year of the Ox, which symbolizes strength and determination," said Cai Jindong, director of the institute.

"We created this year's program to give people some feelings of hope and of looking forward to the future. We hope through music we can give you inspiration," said Cai, also conductor of the concert.

The U.S.-China Music Institute was founded in 2018 by Cai and Robert Martin, founding director of the conservatory, with a mission to promote the study, performance, and appreciation of music from contemporary China and to support musical exchanges between the United States and China. Enditem
The NSW government spent more than $90 million last year outsourcing work to the private sector  almost $10 million more than was paid to consultants before the state posted a record deficit.

NSW Labor analysis shows the government poured almost $93 million into the big four consultancies  KPMG, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says consultants are needed for the size, scale and complexity of some work undertaken in NSW. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The consultancy work includes $7.5 million awarded to KPMG to help Transport for NSW with organisational design and $1.2 million to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to buy buses.

KPMG also was given a $5.5 million six-month contract to work on a policy to overhaul stamp duty.
Louth parents fighting for the right for their children to be educated through Irish have said they've received a significant boost after the disappointment of the November refusal by LMETB to assist with providing a premises.

The proposed school patron, An Foras Patrunachta (AFP), sent out an update letter to parents that indicated a formal proposal from the Dept. of Education requiring Ministerial approval was likely to be imminent.

A proposal initiated by the Departments Forward Planning Section has not met any obstacles to date. It is thought that approval from the Minister will be swiftly forthcoming when presented.

AFP have agreed with Muirhevnamor Community Centre, subject to Dept. approval, to use the Centre facilities as a school on a temporary basis. Once approved, it will enable them to source permanent facilities in the Dundalk area.

Parents are anxiously awaiting formal Departmental approval, to enable a potential enrolment process to start in order to determine numbers.

Currently all 6th class pupils have places booked in English medium schools starting in Sept. 2021 and traditionally assessment tests and final confirmation of school places would take place in January / February.

There is significant concern that if a decision is not made swiftly that it will not be logistically feasible to open a new Dundalk gaelcholaiste in September 2021.

If Ministerial approval is swiftly forthcoming, it means that there will be places available for 2530 children in Dundalk.

Parents say this will be critical for Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan 6th class pupils as the Co Dublin gaelcholaiste, (Glor na Mara, Balbriggan) currently attended by Dundalk children, reports that it is fully subscribed for 2021 with no space available for Dundalk children next year.
A group of Indian diaspora organisations launched a rose campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day on Sunday in support of the farmers protesting against the new farm laws in India.

The Global Indian Progressive Diaspora (GIPD) launched the social media campaign on Valentine's Day, which is observed globally on February 14.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal three farm laws and provide them legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have not been able to resolve the deadlock.

Tweet or Send a Rose to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi asking to repeal farm laws or Send a Rose to the Indian Embassy/General Counsel in your respective region to express your solidarity with farmers in India. #Rose2Repeal #LoveToFarmers #OneAppealRepeal, GIPD said in a post on social media.

The organisation also released a letter addressed to Indian Consulates as part of its Love Conquers Hate Campaign.

The international community of progressive Indians, from over 12 diaspora organisations spread across the globe, extend their support to the farmers and their rightful demand to be heard and call for the repeal of farm laws and ask for shared governance in reformulating such laws, a media statement said.

In pursuit of that goal, a broad coalition of partner organisations invites our media partners and fellow human rights organisations to help us amplify voices of support to the farmers and a universal call for peace, unity and harmony in India, it said.

India has emphasised that the protests by farmers must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity and the Ministry of External Affairs said that some vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against the country.

In a statement earlier this month, the ministry, in a statement highlighted that the Parliament of India had passed the "reformist legislation" for the agricultural sector, which "a very small section of farmers" have some reservations about and therefore the laws have been kept on hold while talks are held.

"Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken," the MEA statement of February 3 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.)
Sen. Lindsey Graham said former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial set such a bad precedent that House Republicans, if they retake the majority, will go after Vice President Kamala Harris for her Black Lives Matter support.

'If you use this model, I don't know how Kamala Harris doesn't get impeached if the Republicans take over the House, because she actually bailed out rioters and one of the rioters went back to the streets and broke somebody's head open,' Graham told Chris Wallace on 'Fox News Sunday.'

Graham, a top Trump ally in the Senate, called the ex-president the 'most potent force' in the Republican Party and suggested Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump would likely win the 2022 North Carolina GOP Senate primary after retiring incumbent Sen. Richard Burr voted in favor of Trump's conviction.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that he believed President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial set such a bad precedent that if Republicans win back the House they'll try to impeach Vice President Kamala Harris for her Black Lives Matter support

'Democrats have sat on the sidelines and watched the country be burned down for a year and a half and hadnt said a damn word and most Republicans are tired of the hypocrisy,' Graham said, after suggesting Harris (pictured) could be impeached over backing a bail-out fund for BLM protesters

The twice acquitted Trump was spotted golfing Sunday at his West Palm Beach, Florida Trump International Golf Course. Graham said on 'Fox News Sunday' he planned to travel to Florida to visit with the ex-president soon

Graham said he objected to the speed in which the House of Representatives, which is controlled by the Democrats, impeached Trump on the heels of the January 6 insurrection.

'He is the first president to ever be impeached without a lawyer, without a witness, without an ability to confront those against him and the trial record was a complete joke, hearsay upon hearsay and we've opened Pandora's box to future presidents,' Graham said.

Graham said Democrats did this 'because they hate his guts.'

'This thing is turning into a nightmare for the presidency,' the South Carolina Republican offered.

He pointed to Harris as someone equally impeachable because on June 1, the then U.S. senator asked Americans to help protesters reacting to the Memorial Day death of George Floyd to donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

Since then, a number of reports have come out that said the Minnesota Freedom Fund helped release rape and murder subjects from jail while they were awaiting trial.

The organization's aim is to release those awaiting trial 'as we seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing.'

'Democrats have sat on the sidelines and watched the country be burned down for a year and a half and hadnt said a damn word and most Republicans are tired of the hypocrisy,' Graham argued.

Graham was echoing the whataboutism on display Sunday by Trump's defense lawyer Michael van der Veen, who went as far to say that MAGA rioters were actually inspired by the summer's Black Lives Matter protests when they attacked the Capitol Building.

'Many of the people who infiltrated the Capitol took pictures of themselves and posted them on social media,' van der Veen pointed out. 'To some, it seems, they thought it was all a game. They apparently believe that violent mobs, destruction of property, rioting, assaulting police and vandalizing historic treasures was somehow now acceptable in the United States.'

Graham (right) made the comments on 'Fox News Sunday' with Chris Wallace (left), where he also called Trump the 'most potent force' in the Republican Party and said Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, would likely win the 2022 North Carolina GOP Senate primary

The former president is seen on his West Palm Beach golf course Sunday, as Graham referred to him as 'the most vibrant member of the Republican Party' as well as the 'most potent member'

'Where might they have gotten that idea?' the Trump lawyer mused. 'I would suggest to you that it was not from Mr. Trump.'

'I submit to you that it was month after month of political leaders and media personalities, bloodthirsty for ratings, glorifying civil unrest and condemning the reasonable law enforcement measures that are required to quell violent mobs,' van der Veen said.

Democratic House impeachment managers were trying to convince senators that Trump was directly responsible for inciting the insurrection on January 6.

They came 10 Republican votes shy of conviction.

Wallace asked Graham if he thought Trump beared any responsibility for the MAGA riot.

'No, in terms of law, no,' the senator said. 'He bears responsibility of pushing narratives about the election that I think are not sound and not true, but this was politically protected speech.'

Graham also wasn't swayed by the last bit of evidence the House Democratic impeachment managers got added to the record - a statement by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler that detailed a call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

In the call, Trump resists calling off the mob, and initially doesn't believe it's his supporters responsible for the attack.

'It doesn't tell me a whole lot, because it's all hearsay,' Graham said.

The South Carolina senator then expressed that he believed Trump needed to stay central to the Republican Party.

Graham said he planned to go visit the ex-president in Florida soon.

On Sunday, Trump, who's been living at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, was spotted golfing at nearby course.

'Donald Trump is the most vibrant member of the Republican Party. The Trump movement is alive and well. People believe he brought change to Washington. Policy wise it was long overdue,' he said.

'All I can say is that the most potent force in the Republican Party is President Trump. We need Trump-plus and at the end of the day, Ive been involved in politics for over 25 years, the president is a handful and what happened on January 6th was terrible for the country, but he's not singularly to blame,' Graham continued.

Graham said that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was wrong to say that the party should walk away from Trump.

'North Carolina, the biggest winner I think of this whole impeachment trial is Lara Trump,' he added. 'My dear friend Richard Burr who I like and have been friends to a long time just made Lara Trump almost a certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him.'

Burr was one of seven Republican senators who voted Saturday for Trump's conviction. He previously announced his retirement from the Senate after the current term.

Lara Trump hasn't said if she'll pursue the Senate seat yet.

'If she runs - and Ill certainly would be behind her because I think she represents the future of the Republican Party,' Graham said.
There were no casualties in the past day.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported two violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Saturday, February 13.

"In the past day, February 13, two 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 14, 2021.

Read alsoZelensky: Enemy seeks to disrupt ceasefireIn particular, the Russian occupation troops fired under-barrel grenade launchers towards the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Vodiane and Starohnativka in the Azov Sea littoral in the Skhid (East) sector.

The Joint Forces fired back, the report says.

The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) on the ceasefire and stabilization in Donbas.

There were no casualties in the past day.

Since midnight, enemy forces have not attacked Ukrainian troops.

Ukrainian military say the situation is under full control.

Donbas ceasefire: Background

Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday, July 27, 2020.

On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has reported more such violations over the latest period.

Reporting by UNIAN
For the last several decades ambitious political leaders have sought to create fiercely loyal battalions of bureaucratic palace guards who, if they pass the loyalty test, are exempted from every other. The idea of the neutrality of civil service has long since been jettisoned in practice and the civil servant and political masters often show the internal cohesion of predatory gangs.

Occasionally civil servants reveal themselves to have been secret party moles by seeking elections at an appropriate juncture on party ticket or being nominated to legislative bodies. Governments, regardless of political persuasion, are now ruthless even palpably unjust and vindictive in their approach when it comes to dealing with those who do not have the talent to please or have nothing but their professionalism and commitment to fall back upon. The perils of independence are unacceptable, the rewards of collaboration unimaginable.

The very best of civil servants - assuming that those who reach the top are the best -acquire a 'palimpsest identity composed of a series of snap shots painted one over the other.' It comes in handy in passing the loyalty test of mutually hostile regimes and speeds up their upward journey. By reaching the top they become doubly blessed. The ripe old age of 60 opens for them the opportunities for the various sine cure assignments, carrying huge responsibilities and countervailing powers, privileges and immunities. In some measure on their efficient and impartial functioning depends the strength of our democracy.

Montaigne who died at the relatively young age of 59 felt that, "aging diminishes us each day in a way that, when death finally arrives, it takes away only a quarter or half the man." At sixty the ravages of time and the effects of fighting many a succession battles reduces the successful civil servant to one quarter of a man and three quarters of moral vacuum. His outward appearance however is closer to Levi Strauss's description who felt like a 'shattered hologram' that had lost its unity but still retained an image of the whole self. The image of the whole self of the civil servant also hides the evolutionary miracle of his regression to the stage of invertebrates. Rendered intellectually supple and morally maneuverable, he is a handful of putty in the hands of governments who appoints them.

The political class is in a win-win situation. On paper they can boast of the most progressive and forward looking oversight agencies. Central Vigilance Commission, Information Commission etc which are tools of empowerment for the people, but one supplicating incumbent heading such a body actually works to dis-empower the people. Just one instance of the scandal relating to the recent appointment of a CVC will jog the public memory about the general malaise. There were credible allegations against a particular Chief Information Commissioner of Bihar, a compulsive post retirement office grabber, of having killed the RTI. The political class laughs all the way because by placing one reliable pawn it can checkmate the institution. And should someone like the present CAG, who heeds to the call of his conscience and does what his charter commands him to do, a general murmur of disappointment and betrayal is heard all around in the corridors of power!

By the way has anyone ever wondered that despite an overwhelmingly large population of young men and women why do we end up having a whole geriatric community, comprising of decrepit civil servants, presiding over the crucial institutions on whose performance the health and hygiene of our democracy depends? Would a young and conscientious lawyer make a worse CVC than, say a retired telecom secretary? What special skill does the civil servant bring to a job that a young and politically uncommitted lawyer cannot? Is a social activist or a teacher less suitable than a cabinet secretary who may have engineered several palace coups to head the Election Commission? This is where the civil service comes in handy.

Making of rules is a typically bureaucratic industry; unmaking it or finding a suitable exception to suit every contingency is an art form of which they are the greatest exponents. The inbred system resists injection of fresh blood and stifles creative possibilities.

The appointment of even class four employees is strictly regulated but the governments have arrogated to themselves huge powers to appoint such functionaries many of which do not require any parliamentary oversight or consultation. This is an ideal situation for breeding political and bureaucratic corruption and the likes of Anna Hazare would be equally well occupied in ensuring that what is given to the people by the right hand of various progressive legislation etc is not taken away by the left hand of the government.

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.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

J. Hillis Miller, a literary critic who, by applying the wickedly difficult analytic method known as deconstruction to a broad range of British and American prose and poetry, helped revolutionize the study of literature, died on Feb. 7 at his home in Sedgwick, Me. He was 92.

His daughter Robin confirmed the death.

Though his career spanned nearly 70 years at three universities, Professor Miller was most closely associated with the so-called Yale School, a band of scholars in the 1970s and 80s that included Paul de Man, Jacques Derrida, Geoffrey H. Hartman and, for a time, Harold Bloom.

Scattered across the English, French and comparative literature departments at Yale, they were united by their interest in deconstruction, the theory that words and texts have meaning only in relation to other words and texts  an idea first propounded by Mr. de Man and Mr. Derrida, imposing intellects who brought the approach with them from Europe.

Professor Miller, the son of a part-time Baptist preacher from Virginia, became their American prophet and proselytizer. While his colleagues work could seem intentionally abstruse, he wrote in crisp and clear  if still dense  prose that he churned out with machine-like efficiency, producing some 35 books and scores of journal articles.
Many feel theyre paying the price not of the pandemic, but of the measures taken against the pandemic, said Dr Nicolas Franck, the head of a psychiatric network in Lyon, France. In a survey of 30,000 people that he conducted last spring, young people ranked the lowest in psychological wellbeing, he said. A lone student at the Sarbonne in Paris. Credit:Andrea Mantovani/The New York Times In Italy and in the Netherlands, some youth psychiatry wards have filled to record capacity. In France, where the pandemics toll on mental health has made headlines, professionals have urged authorities to consider reopening schools to fight loneliness. And in Britain, some therapists said that they had counselled patients to break lockdown guidelines to cope. In the United States, a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds said they had seriously considered suicide, one report said. In Latin America and the Caribbean, a survey conducted by UNICEF of 8000 young people found that more than a quarter had experienced anxiety and 15 per cent depression.

And a study conducted last year by the International Labor Organisation in 112 countries found that two-thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds could be subject to anxiety and depression. Loading The lasting effects on suicide rates, depression and anxiety are still being measured, but in interviews, a dozen mental health experts in Europe painted a grim picture of a crisis that they say should be treated as seriously as containing the virus. We are in the midst of a mental health pandemic, and I dont think its treated with near enough respect, said Arkadius Kyllendahl, a psychotherapist in London who has seen the number of younger clients double in recent months. A sense of limbo

Many European countries went into northern autumn with the illusion that they had curbed virus outbreaks, only to face an even larger wave of infections this winter. That led to mistaken expectations, young people said, that harsh restrictions would soon end. Lockdowns have offered some a respite from the stresses of school or work, which have made them more resilient, psychologists say. But for others, especially those who already struggled with mental health conditions or limited access to care, their fragility has been exacerbated. Skaters ride on the first day of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown in Barcelona in March 2020. Credit:New York Times Not being in control of something like this is anxiety inducing, said Dalia Al-Dujaili, 21, a student at the University of Edinburgh. As the pandemic has dragged on, so has the sense of limbo, she said, and she tried online therapy for the first time last year.

What am I doing? Why am I getting a degree, if theres not going to be any jobs? she asked. One blessing, she said, is that younger people are more open to discussing their struggles. Everybody talks about their therapists and their meds, she noted. Trafalgar Square in London. With the pandemic lockdowns set to drag on, mental health professionals are growing increasingly alarmed about the deteriorating mental state of young people. Credit:Andrew Testa/The New York Times That has not stopped some from feeling guilty, though, given that the pandemic has affected everyone.

There are people with bigger struggles: people who have lost their jobs, or a relative to the disease, said Marcelo Andreguetti, a Brazilian graphic designer who studies in Cologne, Germany. He said he began taking antidepressants after he was told he had depression and obsessive compulsive disorder this year. Loneliness brings them into despair Winter has worsened the situation, according to therapists and psychiatrists, who say they have seen young people manifesting more severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addictions. In the Netherlands, Dr Robert Vermeiren, a professor of child psychiatry at Leiden University Medical Centre, said the acute ward he manages has been full for weeks  something he had never experienced.

The situation was so serious, he said, that his team did not send children home for Christmas, as it usually would. Isolation has also disrupted the usual teenage transition, when young people move from belonging to their family to belonging to their peers, Vermeiren added. Loading They feel empty, lonely, and that loneliness brings them into despair, he said. In Italy, calls doubled last year to the main hotline for young people who have considered or attempted harming themselves. Beds in a child neuropsychiatry unit at the Bambino Gesu Childrens Hospital in Rome have been full since October, said Dr Stefano Vicari, director of the unit. Hospitalisations of young Italians who harmed themselves or attempted suicide have increased 30 per cent in the second wave of cases, he added.

To those who say that, after all, these are challenges young people have to go through, that they will come out stronger, this is only true for some, those who have more resources, Vicari said. Catherine Seymour, head of research at the Mental Health Foundation, a Britain-based charity, said that young people living in poorer households were more likely to experience anxiety and depression, according to a study conducted among nearly 2400 teenagers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video It may be that those in poorer households are more likely to lack enough space and internet access to help with schoolwork and communication with their friends, Seymour said. They may also be affected by their parents financial worries and stress. Studies from the first lockdowns suggest that they may have already left an indelible mark.

In France, a survey of nearly 70,000 students found that 10 per cent had experienced suicidal thoughts during the first months of the pandemic, and more than a quarter had suffered from depression. In Spain, one of the worlds toughest lockdowns last spring had a profound impact, especially for young girls, who were more likely to experience stress, anxiety and depression, according to a survey of 523 people by the University of Valencia. Konstanze Schoeps, one of the studys authors, said, They were developing their own freedom and space, and during lockdown they lost what they had just started to experience. It amounted to a process of grieving, she added. A search for remedies

The situation has become so dire that students and mental health advocates have asked authorities to moderate some measures, including by reopening schools and universities, even as officials worry that a premature easing of regulations will worsen the spread of new variants. Loading Building social relationships is at the centre of our lives, and that is gone, said Heidi Soupault, 19, who urged President Emmanuel Macron of France to reopen universities in an open letter that spread quickly on the internet last month. Starting this month, students in France can return to universities one day a week. They can also get three free therapy sessions. In Britain, where mental health organisations and experts have urged the government to divert funding to help address the issue in schools, officials have said that they will consider mental health support as part of plans to lift restrictions. In the Netherlands, the central government has pressed regional authorities to invest more in youth mental health.

Dr Silvia Schneider, a child and adolescent psychologist in Bochum, Germany, said that governments should share clear messages on television and social media. Loading We need to give very easy accessible information on how to handle the feeling that they are not alone with these challenges, Schneider said about young people. And that there are some things that can help them. To combat symptoms of anxiety and depression, some therapists, like Kyllendahl in London, are telling their clients to go outside as much possible  even if it involves breaking restrictions. Still, some young people see a silver lining.
Highlights Picture-in-picture feature comes in handy for multitasking people.

The feature was available on Android for quite some time, and has now been introduced to iOS.

Google denies trying to avoid Apples new privacy labels.

Google has provided a bug fix to its iOS YouTube app, the first update to a major Google iOS app since December, 9to5Googlereports. Although there's been speculation that the reason for the lack of updates to iOS versions of Gmail, Docs, Search, and Photos is an attempt to avoid Apple's new privacy labels, Google has explicitly denied that was the case.

The company said in a January 12th blog post it would add the labels to its apps when updates were available saying, "As Google's iOS apps are updated with new features or to fix bugs, you'll see updates to our app page listings that include the new App Privacy Details. These labels represent the maximum categories of data that could be collectedmeaning if you use every available feature and service in the app. The data you provide to Google products delivers helpful services to you, and you can always control your privacy settings by visiting your Google Account or going directly to the Google products you use on iOS."

Apple's iOS 14 allows users to watch YouTube videos as well as use or host other sites Web / applications in a small format, a floating or movable window, simply by pressing the small icon at the top left of the screen. After a month, he's back. It has been reported that the recent change in Apple's system code has suppressed the procedure used by YouTube to remove the picture-in-picture function.

Apple requires companies to apply the privacy labels, which it launched on December 14th, before they can update existing iOS apps. Some of Google's other apps Stadia, Authenticator, Translate, and Classroom, for example have received iOS updates already.
The social audio app Clubhouse on a mobile phone, in an illustration picture taken on Feb. 8, 2021. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

Beijing Could Potentially Eavesdrop on Clubhouse Chinese Users Conversations: Report

The regime in Beijing might have access to raw audio data from mainland Chinese users of the U.S.-based audio app Clubhouse, according to a recent analysis by researchers at the Stanford Internet Observatory.

The Stanford researchers speculated that the regime could potentially punish Clubhouse users in China for their speech on the app, given the regimes history.

Many inside China began using the invite-only app for uncensored discussions, before Beijing blocked it last week. The app says that it doesnt record conversations, thus giving users a certain degree of privacy.

Chinese users took to the platform for discussions considered taboo by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), such as the suppression of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region and Hong Kongs freedoms and democracy.

Stanford Internet Observatory is a disinformation research group based at Stanford University. The researchers found that Agora Inc., a Shanghai-based software tool provider with a U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley, provides back-end infrastructure to Clubhouse. Their analysis showed that the apps outgoing web traffic was directed to servers operated by the Chinese firm.

That infrastructure is a real-time voice and video engagement platform that Agora sells to clients, including Clubhouse.

If an app operates on Agoras infrastructure, the end-user might have no idea, the researchers stated.

After analyzing Agoras technical documents, the researchers concluded that the firm would likely have access to Clubhouses raw audio traffic, and that the audio could be intercepted, transcribed, and otherwise stored by Agora.

The researchers found that the ID numbers of Clubhouse users and chatrooms were being transmitted in plaintext over the internet, meaning that any third-party with access to a users network traffic can access them. User IDs arent usernames but unique serial numbers.

Any observer of internet traffic could easily match IDs on shared chatrooms to see who is talking to whom. For mainland Chinese users, this is troubling, the researchers wrote on Twitter about their findings.

In June 2017, China implemented a new cybersecurity law, sparking concern about data protection and privacy violations. Under the law, network operators and technology companies operating in China must store data within Chinese borders. Also, they must submit their data to Beijing for security checks if called upon.

Agoras filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020 stated that it would be required to provide assistance and support in accordance to the Chinese authorities under the cybersecurity law.

If the Chinese government determined that an audio message jeopardized national security, Agora would be legally required to assist the government in locating and storing, according to the Stanford researchers.

But Beijing might not need to go through Agora at all. Stanford researchers saw Clubhouse chatroom metadata being relayed to servers they believed to be hosted in China. Thus, the Chinese regime could collect data without accessing Agoras networks, the researchers said. Moreover, audio data were also being relayed to servers managed by Chinese entities and distributed around the world.

Any unencrypted data that is transmitted via servers in the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] would likely be accessible to the Chinese government, the research stated in its analysis.

The report contained a statement from Clubhouse, which acknowledged that conversations by Chinese users could be transmitted via Chinese servers prior to the app being blocked by Chinese authorities.

The app said it would make changes to strengthen its data protection. Over the next 72 hours, we are rolling out changes to add additional encryption and blocks to prevent Clubhouse clients from ever transmitting pings to Chinese servers, Clubhouse said in the statement.

We also plan to engage an external data security firm to review and validate these changes.

In an email to Reuters, an Agora spokesman said the company had no comment on any relationship with Clubhouse. The spokesman added that the company doesnt have access to or store users personal data, and does not route through China voice or video traffic generated from users outside China, including U.S. users.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A bill aimed at creating an independent oversight office and increasing transparency for the New Mexico Corrections Department is moving forward at the Roundhouse.

New Mexico, a state with one of the highest numbers of privatized prisons, is also one of the few states without a Corrections Department oversight mechanism, said the bills sponsor, Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque.

Maestas is sponsoring the Corrections Ombudsman Act along with Reps. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Mesilla, and Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque.

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The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday via a 10-1 vote, with House Minority Leader James Townsend, R-Artesia, voting against it. It now heads to the House Appropriations Committee, which could scrutinize its estimated $250,000 recurring financial impact.

Any prison or jail around the world, if left unattended, will house corruption, attorney Matthew Coyte testified during the hearing. And if you shine light on that, your corrupt system, your corruption is minimized, you can never eradicate it entirely.

Groups such as the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico spoke in favor of the bill, along with former Corrections Department employees.

However, the bill didnt come without criticism from the Corrections Department, as agency Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero said she opposes the bill in its current form.

Tafoya Lucero said the bill doesnt match correction ombudsman laws in other states, which she said is an objective party that investigates concerns and works to resolve them.

In its current form, the bill creates an office housed within the Legislative Finance Committee that would determine the Corrections Departments funding and she said this is a conflict that would negate its objectivity.

The ombudsman would be better housed in the State Auditors Office or the Attorney Generals Office, she said, and the Corrections Department would likely need its own office to manage the information the ombudsman would require.

I believe this bill as written will create an extensive burden, essentially requiring the continuous production of discovery in perpetuity, Tafoya Lucero said.

Rep. Greg Nibert, R-Roswell, said he supports providing more legislative oversight to the Corrections Department because its also the agency that poses the most risk to the state in terms of lawsuits. He said he would like bill sponsors to sit down with Tafoya Lucero to address some of the concerns about the legislation.

I think we need to be careful that we dont create a position where the corrections department now has two bosses, Nibert said.
WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - It's no secret the pandemic has had an impact on businesses and tourism especially during the holiday season.

That includes Valentine's Day.

News 10 spoke with a former director of the Indiana office of tourism who now works as an assistant professor.

She says it's important to support local business during this time, whether it's dining in or getting carry out.

She says every purchase helps.

"Due to the pandemic 20 percent of restaurants in Indiana have closed and we all really rely on restaurants as part of our culture," says Amy Vaughan.

She says people need to find a balance between staying safe and still supporting the local businesses in their community.

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to do that by visiting local restaurants and buying gifts and local stores and flower shops.



A total of seven Republicans joined Democrats to vote to convict President Trump of incitement of insurrection  including members of a more centrist bloc that has sometimes been willing to challenge Trump as well as some surprises.

The lawmakers, some who will face voters and some who will not, spelled out their own reasons.

Cassidy, who also voted that the trial was constitutional, comes from a conservative state with a large MAGA base. He issued a concise statement, a day after being pictured holding typed text that appeared to make the case for an acquittal.

'Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,' he said Saturday.

'Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,' said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

Murkowski is the only one to face voters in 2022.

It's not about me and my life and my job. This is this is really about what we stand for. And if I can't say what I believe that our president should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me? she said.

The group included Sen. Richard Burr, who is retiring and who previously chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Russia probe, and who voted 'guilty.'

He explained that while he voted the proceeding wasnt constitutional, once the Senate voted that it was, he was obliged to consider the case that was made.

The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors," he said in the statement. "Therefore, I have voted to convict."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., walks in the Capitol as the Senate proceeds in a rare weekend session for final arguments in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) voted for Raskin's witness motion, then got in a clash with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

Lisa Murkowski faces Alaska voters in 2022

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was just reelected in November

Ben Sasse of Nebraska released a lengthy statement with his reasons for voting to convict

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania is retiring

Also voting 'guilty' were Republicans Mitt Romney, who was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump on an article during his first impeachment. He came up during the trial when managers shared security footage of him being warned by hero Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman that he was walking towards the mob. He quickly turns around and hustles the other direction.

Republican senators voting to convict former President Trump of incitement of insurrection Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) Bill Cassidy (La.) Mitt Romney (Utah) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Susan Collins (Maine) Ben Sasse (Neb.) Pat Toomey (Pa.) Advertisement

Sens. Susan Collins, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey, who is retiring, also voted to convict.

Said Sasse: 'An impeachment trial is a public declaration of what a presidents oath of office means and what behavior that oath demands of presidents in the future. But heres the sad reality: If we were talking about a Democratic president, most Republicans and most Democrats would simply swap sides. Tribalism is a hell of a drug, but our oath to the Constitution means were constrained to the facts.'

Then he continued in a statement: 'First, President Trump lied that he won the election by a landslide. He lied about widespread voter fraud, spreading conspiracy theories despite losing 60 straight court challenges, many of his losses handed down by great judges he nominated ... The president repeated these lies when summoning his crowd  parts of which were widely known to be violent  to Capitol Hill to intimidate Vice President Pence and Congress into not fulfilling our constitutional duties. Those lies had consequences, endangering the life of the vice president and bringing us dangerously close to a bloody constitutional crisis. Each of these actions are violations of a presidents oath of office.'

The Seven Republicans voted Saturday to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection was easily the largest number of lawmakers to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty at impeachment proceedings.

While lawmakers voted 57-43 to find Trump guilty, the evenly divided Senate fell well short of the two-thirds majority required to convict an impeached president.

But by joining all 50 Democrats who voted against Trump, the seven GOP senators created a clear majority against him and provided a bipartisan chorus of condemnation of the former president. Trump was acquitted of inciting an insurrection for riling up a crowd of his supporters before they attacked the U.S. Capitol last month.

Voting to find Trump guilty were GOP Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Most of the defecting Republicans had clashed with Trump over the years. Burr and Toomey have said they will retire and not seek reelection when their terms expire next year.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted to acquit but then gave a blistering speech denouncing Trump's conduct  drawing furious pushback from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

'They stormed the Senate floor. They tried to hunt down the speaker of the House,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after the chamber had voted. 'They built a gallows and chanted about murdering the vice president. They did this because theyd been fed wild, falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth because he was angry he lost an election. Former President Trumps actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty,' said McConnell  although he himself voted to acquit Trump of the charge, citing technical grounds.

'The mob was assaulting the Capitol in his name. These criminals were carrying his banners. Hanging his flags. And screaming their loyalty to him,' said McConnell.

'I dont know whether it was for donors or what but whatever it was it was a very disingenuous speech,' Pelosi fumed.
Presidents Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February - this year on Feb. 15.

For many its just become another day on the calendar or a chance to take advantage of special sales of everything from bed sheets to cars. And for those who work in many federal and state offices, banks, and the U.S. Post Office its a day off.

But the day has had a long history.

Presidents Day was originally created by Congress in 1885 to recognize the nations first president, George Washington, and the holiday became popularly known as Presidents Day, according to History.com. It later became an official federal holiday as part of 1971s Uniform Monday Holiday Act - an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nations workers.

While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others, Presidents Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

The story of Presidents Day actually began much earlier than the official recognition. After the death of George Washington in 1799, his birthday on Feb. 22 became a day of remembrance. At the time, Washington was admired as the most important figure in American history, and events like the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1832 and the start of construction of the Washington Monument in 1848 were causes for national celebrations, according to History.com.

Before the holiday was declared as a day to celebrate all the presidents of the United States, portraits of George Washington would grace the front pages of newspapers every Feb. 22., according to Calendarlabs.com.

Calendarlabs.com says that while Washingtons Birthday was an unofficial observance for most of the 1800s, it was not until the late 1870s that it became a federal holiday for those in Washington D.C. Senator Stephen Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas was the first to propose the measure, and in 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law. While the holiday initially only applied to the District of Columbia, in 1885 it was expanded to the whole country.
Boston Metal, an MIT spin-off working to commercialize molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) for emissions-free metals and alloys production, announced that Vale and Energy Impact Partners have joined its Series B fundraising, closely following a $50M close announced in January. MOE is an electrometallurgical technique that enables the direct production of metal in the liquid state from oxide feedstock.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and present on five continents, Vale is one of the largest metals and mining companies in the world based on market capitalization and one of the worlds largest producers of iron ore and nickel. It also produces iron ore pellets, manganese ore, ferroalloys, metallurgical and thermal coal, copper, platinum group metals (PGMs), gold, silver and cobalt.

Boston Metals mission is to deliver emissions-free steel at global scal. Iron ore and clean electricity are the primary inputs into the MOE process and will heavily influence the design of our technology and our strategy. We are thrilled to add Vale and BHP, two of the largest iron ore companies, and Energy Impact Partners, a leading energy transition investor, to our world-class syndicate of investors and partners. Tadeu Carneiro, Chairman and CEO of Boston Metal

The companys Series B also includes new investors BHP Ventures, Piva Capital, and Devonshire Investors, the private investment firm affiliated with FMR LLC, the parent company of Fidelity Investments, alongside existing investors Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Prelude Ventures, OGCI Climate Investments, and The Engine.

The Series B will allow Boston Metal to validate its patented inert anode technology at industrial-scale, further expand its team, and deploy its molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) process with customers, starting with high-value ferroalloy production as it advances toward steel applications.





Background. With support from NASA, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the Deshpande Center at MIT, MIT Professor Donald R. Sadoways laboratory demonstrated that molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) could reliably and efficiently produce a broad platform of metals at the laboratory-scale.

To commercialize these innovations, Professor Antoine Allanore, Dr. Jim Yurko and Donald R. Sadoway founded Boston Electrometallurgical Corporation in 2012. In a 2013 paper in the journal Nature, Antoine Allanore, Lan Yin, and Donald R. Sadoway demonstrated that MOE could produce emissions-free steel with the publication of laboratory results using a cost-effective inert anode. (Earlier post.) In that same year, Ingo Wender was the first investor to fund the company and operations moved into offices in Woburn, Massachusetts. The first semi-industrial MOE cell was commissioned shortly thereafter in 2014.

With additional funding from the DoD Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation the company, now known as Boston Metal, has continued to innovate and is now bringing the MOE technology to market for ferro-alloys, steel, and a variety of other metals.

Boston Metal has produced more than 1,000 kg of metal alloys since commissioning its first reactor. Boston Metal has efficiently increased the operating temperature for electrolysis enabling the technology to address high-melting-temperature metals.

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The Queen led the royal family tonight in congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the couple announced they were expecting their second child.

The monarch, 94, shared her joy along with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and 'the entire family' after the the couple announced they were preparing to welcome a brother or sister for their young son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the entire family are delighted and wish them well.'

It is understood the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the royal family in advance of making the news public.

Earlier tonight the couple shared their announcement by posting a candid black and white image of Prince Harry resting his hand on Meghan's head as she lay in his lap cradling her bump underneath a tree.

The Queen led the royal family in congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after couple announced they were expecting their second child later this year

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex posted a candid black and white image of Harry resting his hand on Meghan's head

A spokesperson for Meghan and Harry said: 'We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.'

'The photograph of the Duke and Duchess was was taken by the couple's longtime friend Misan Harriman. What wonderful news for the Sussexes!!'

Misan Harriman, a friend of the couple and the photographer who took the image, tweeted: 'Meg, I was there at your wedding to witness this love story begin, and my friend, I am honoured to capture it grow. Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on this joyous news!'

Baby Sussex will be the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's 10th or 11th great-grandchild depending on whether he or she arrives before or after Zara Tindall's baby, which is also due in 2021.

He or she will still be eighth-in-line to the throne - and the most senior royal in the current line of succession to be born overseas.

The sex of the baby, as well as the due date, remain unclear.

The announcement came on the 37th anniversary of when Princess Diana, announced that she was pregnant with Prince Harry on Valentine's Day in 1984.

The front cover of the Daily Mail from the time shared a photograph of a beaming Princess Diana as she arrived at a ballet in Oslo.

Palace officials made an announcement 37 years ago which read: 'Both Prince Charles and Princess Diana are delighted by the news - as are the queen, Prince Philip and all the members of both families.'

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the 'entire family' were 'delighted'

It is understood the royal family were told before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the announcement. Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

The couple, who are currently residing at their home in Los Angeles, said they were preparing to welcome a brother or sister for their young son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

The announcement also came just five days after the royal family celebrated the arrival of Princess Eugenie's first child - a baby boy.

Last year baby loss charities applauded Meghan Markle for providing a 'vital step in breaking down that stigma and shame' around miscarriage after she revealed the 'unbearable grief' she suffered after losing her second baby.

In an article written for the New York Times, the Duchess of Sussex said she lost her second child after feeling a 'sharp cramp' while changing her son Archie's nappy in July at her Los Angeles home.

In her piece, called 'The Losses We Share', Meghan described herself tearfully watching her husband's 'heart break as he tried to hold the shattered pieces of mine' while grieving for their unborn baby.

She wrote: 'After changing his [Archie's] diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right'.

'I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second'.

She went on to describe how she was taken to hospital and tried to imagine 'how we'd heal'.

The couple quit their roles as senior working royals in March 2020 in a quest for personal and financial freedom

She added: 'Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband's hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we'd heal'.

The Duchess of Sussex said she wrote the article about her own loss to encourage others to talk about it.

She continued: 'This year has brought so many of us to our breaking points,' Meghan writes. 'So, this Thanksgiving, 'let us commit to asking others, ''Are you OK?''

In 2019, Prince Harry announced the arrival of their firstborn Archie to a press pool, and then later held his newborn son in his arms, with Meghan at his side, for his public debut at Windsor Castle.

The couple quit their roles as senior working royals in March 2020 in a quest for personal and financial freedom, and now live in an 11 million house in Montecito in California.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  From an early age, Anthony Gorgia dreamed of becoming a priest.

And the 2011 valedictorian of his St. Joseph by-the-Sea class seemed well on his way to achieving that goal just a few years ago.

In 2017, Cardinal Timothy Dolan nominated Gorgia, then a seminarian, to attend the prestigious Pontifical North American College (NAC) in Rome to continue his preparation for the priesthood and his ordination.

But just over a year later it all came crashing down on the 27-year-old Huguenot resident, alleges a blockbuster $125 million lawsuit against Dolan, the Archdiocese of New York, NAC and others.

Gorgia, a heterosexual, was drummed out of the seminary because he had seen the Rev. Adam Park, the vice rector at NAC, inappropriately touching another seminarian, alleges the civil complaint.

Gorgia later learned of the homosexual proclivities of the Rev. Peter Harman, NACs rector, the complaint alleges.

Gorgia was discriminated against by defendants because of his heterosexual orientation, by defendants putting forth outrageous falsehoods against Gorgia or in failing to hear and correct the false allegations against him because of a preconceived intent to protect Park, Harman, (the Rev. John Geary) McDonald and the NAC by driving Gorgia out of the priestly formation, alleges the complaint.

The defendants feared Gorgias knowledge of what was happening could expose the breadth of homosexual activity at the NAC and in some defendants lives and dioceses, alleges the complaint.

Had Gorgia been homosexual, there would have been no false allegations lodged against him nor any punitive actions taken against him to drive him out of the seminary, the complaint contends.

We have more than adequate factual basis to vindicate our claims, said Raymond W. Belair, Gorgias Manhattan-based lawyer. This will become evident as the case moves forward.

Gorgia suffered mental anguish, humiliation and economic loss, the complaint contends.

He alleges sexual harassment, hostile work environment, Human Rights Law violations, fraud and deceit, infliction of emotional distress, wrongful discharge, and slander by Dolan and Harman.

An Archdiocese spokesman reacted swiftly to the suit.

The claims in this case against the Archdiocese of New York and Cardinal Dolan are absurd and have no basis in fact or law, said Joseph Zwilling, the spokesman. We are prepared to defend against it and will seek its dismissal in court.

A lawyer for Park, Harman, McDonald and NAC did not immediately respond to multiple emails seeking comment.

OVERCAME OBSTACLES

Gorgia has battled adversity from birth.

As an infant, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, and doctors thought he might be brain-damaged, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

He was also diagnosed with painful scoliosis of the spine, and osteoporosis.

But Gorgia, who initially seemed fated for a life of disabilities, overcame his challenges.

He rose to the top of his class at Sea, as well as at St. Johns University, said the complaint.

He entered the seminary in 2015, and within two years Dolan nominated him for NAC, which is reserved for the cream of the crop.

At first, things went well at NAC.

Gorgia continued to maintain top grades in his studies, prompting Park to praise him in a performance evaluation in March 2018, said the complaint.

In fact, several months later in November 2018, Dolan commended Gorgia for his strong academic performance in the 2017-2018 year, according to a copy of a letter attached to the court file.

However, near the beginning of his second academic year, prior to receiving Dolans note, Gorgia had seen Park acting inappropriately, the complaint alleges.

The vice rector approached another seminarian from behind and initiated uninvited physical contact by rubbing the younger mans back, alleges the complaint.

From his seminary training, Gorgia understood Parks actions to be a grooming activity used by sexual predators, the complaint alleges.

Gorgia didnt say anything.

But Park looked at Gorgias face and saw him witnessing this behavior in a disapproving manner, alleges the complaint.

Shortly afterward, the other seminarian told Gorgia that Park had given him similar back rubs before and he found them to be offensive, the complaint alleges.

In addition, another seminarian told Gorgia that Park had initiated repeated uninvited physical contact, alleges the complaint.

When that seminarian objected, Park taunted him, and the seminarian left within six months, the complaint said.

However, Gorgia did not report Parks actions to anyone while at NAC.

2018 SURGERY

Even so, the winds blew against him, he alleges.

In late 2018, Gorgia needed to return to New York for urgent spinal surgery, said the complaint.

The operation and convalescence required him to leave NAC for an extended period.

Gorgia obtained Dolans approval for the absence, and he arranged to keep up with his studies while recuperating, said the complaint.

However, shortly after Christmas of that year, Dolan wrote Gorgia and said Harman, the NAC vicar, had raised concerns and objected to his returning to NAC.

Harman contended Gorgias lengthy surgical leave would compromise the integrity of the first semester of his second academic year, the complaint said.

Harman also said Gorgia hadnt obtained the appropriate permission from NAC for his absence, the filing alleges.

In addition, Harman said McDonald, Gorgias advisor at NAC, expressed concern about his slow progress  in (his) human formation.

According to Harman, McDonald said Gorgia didnt like to try new things and presented himself as an old man, said the complaint.

Gorgia has scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine.

In short, Harman and others at NAC maintained Gorgia didnt want to hear about, and resisted acting upon, his purported shortcomings and the need for improvement, the complaint alleges.

Such claims against him were categorically false and entirely fabricated, alleges the complaint. Especially since McDonald never expressed any of those concerns to him, contends the complaint.

In his December 2018 letter, Dolan told Gorgia he couldnt return to NAC that year and would be reassigned in the Archdiocese from January through August 2019.

Dolan said Gorgia would be re-evaluated at the end of the assignment for re-admission to NAC to repeat his second year. Based on that review, he also potentially faced dismissal as a seminarian both at NAC and in the Archdiocese, said the complaint.

Even a positive evaluation by a psychologist at the Cathedral Seminary House of Formation in Douglaston, Queens, couldnt help Gorgia, the complaint said.

Gorgia had completed his minor seminary studies in Douglaston before going to Rome.

Dr. Robert Palumbo described Gorgias character as excellent, calling him a young man of great honesty and humility, according to a document attached to the court file.

The allegation that he relates like an old man, or his affect is that of an old man is completely inaccurate, wrote Palumbo. Anthonys affective maturity is totally appropriate.

Gorgia tried on five occasions to speak to Dolan to straighten out the matter, but was refused, said the complaint.

At that point, Gorgia believed returning to the seminary in New York wasnt a viable option.

The defendants claims against him would be made known there, irretrievably poisoning the well against him, alleges the complaint.

RESIGNS UNDER DURESS

In a January 2019 letter to Dolan, Gorgia resigned under duress, the complaint said.

Gorgia considered it intolerable in conscience to consent to baseless claims against himself and to thereby become complicit therein, said the complaint. Gorgia also stated that an environment in which a seminarian is maligned by his superiors and not given the chance to bring the truth to transparency is harmful to his preparation toward the priesthood.

Dolan accepted his resignation.

But the Cardinal knew or should have known the allegations against Gorgia were bogus and prevented them from being spread, the complaint alleges.

At the time Gorgia wasnt aware of what lay behind the defendants motives to discriminate against him, alleges the complaint.

It was only later, after other people had told him of Park and Harmans homosexual activities, as well as Dolans purported pattern of cover-up of clerical misconduct that he figured it out, the complaint alleges.

It finally became clear to Gorgia that he was perceived as a threat to having defendants secrets revealed, alleges the complaint.

Making such information public could possibly result in the defendants dismissal or result in their being laicized, the complaint maintains.

Had Gorgia been a homosexual, there is no reason to believe the defendants would have colluded against him, alleges the complaint.


Dame Esther Rantzen has called on Parliament to create a new bank holiday so Britons can remember those killed by Covid-19.

The 80-year-old presenter says she thinks people will need the day off in the future to reflect on those they lost to the pandemic.

It comes as yesterday's daily number of 621 deaths brought the UK's total to 116,908, with 2.3million worldwide.

Dame Esther said in the Times: 'It would be helpful to create a day during which everybody remembers the people we have lost.'

Dame Esther Rantzen, who got her first jab in December, says people will need time to reflect on those lost to the pandemic

The veteran campaigner has also urged the Department of Health to set up a phone number for those who lost loved ones to the virus.

Several ideas have been put forward for permanent memorials once the crisis has passed.

Last year a petition was launched calling on the Government to honour the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic with an annual day of remembrance and a memorial.

And the Prince of Wales spearheaded a virtual memorial for those whose lives in the pandemic.

Remember Me is an online book of remembrance started by St Paul's Cathedral, in London.

Dame Esther received her first Covid vaccine in December at the Milford War Memorial Hospital in Lymington, near her New Forest home in Hampshire.

She had spent the last 10 months in isolation away from her family, including her five grandchildren Benji, seven, Xander and Teddy five, and Florence and Romilly, two.

She told the Express when she got her jab: ''I was thrilled when my GP's surgery rang and I was summoned for my jab.

'We eighty-year-olds are so privileged to receive the best, the only effective protection against Covid.'

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 also voted to convict Mr. Trump.

In the closing arguments, Mr. Trumps defense team denounced the deadly violence on Jan. 6 and maintained that the former president was maligned by a biased news media and was the victim of a protracted vendetta by his political opponents.

Representative Joe Neguse of Colorado, one of the impeachment managers, raised the prospect of more politically motivated attacks in the future should Mr. Trump not be held accountable.

Senators, this cannot be the beginning. It cant be the new normal, Mr. Neguse said on Saturday. It has to be the end. That decision is in your hands.

But even as the trial spared Mr. Trump a conviction, the criminal cases against his supporters for their roles in the riot are building. Already, more than 200 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the attack, and investigators are only getting started.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension and laid the foundation stone for several others in different sectors, including railways, in Tamil Nadu. At a grand event at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here, he flagged off the 9.01 km service from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar in North Chennai, completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore.

Modi dedicated to the nation the Chennai Beach-Attipattu fourth line and the Railway electrification of Villupuram Cuddalore-Mayiladuturai Thanjavur-Mayiladuturai-Tiruvarur Single Line Sections. He also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras, which will be built at nearby Thaiyur at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase over an area of 2 lakh sqm and the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and other cabinet members, senior leaders of ruling AIADMK M Thambidurai, K P Munusamy and leaders from alliance parties participated in the event. The venue, the sprawling Nehru Stadium premises, and the entire Periamet neighbourhood in the heart of the city came under a three-layered security blanket.

Traffic diversions and heavy deployment of police personnel were made as part of security measures for the Prime Minister's brief visit. Several youngsters at the venue sported T-shirts hailing the chief minister and many from the audience raised slogans praising Modi and Palaniswami.

Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the airport here, and then flew in a chopper to INS Adyar from where he drove to the function venue. All along the way, a good number of supporters and the public turned up to greet the Prime Minister as artistes played traditional musical instruments to welcome him.

Modi waved at the people who waited on the kerb to have a glimpse of the leader. At the event, Modi, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam paid floral tributes to the portraits of late chief ministers M G Ramachandran (AIADMK founder) and J Jayalalithaa.

Also read: PM Modi to launch key infra projects in Tamil Nadu, Kerala today

Also read: PM Narendra Modi hands over indigenous Arjun tank to Indian Army
Quarantine rules changed for vaccinated people

People who have been vaccinated against coronavirus may not have to go into quarantine if they are exposed to the virus, federal health officials say.

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for people who may have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the Yakima Health District announced.

Under the guidelines, people who have been vaccinated do not have to quarantine if they meet all of the following guidelines:

They have been fully vaccinated, meaning it has been more than two weeks since they received either the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or one shot of a single-dose vaccine.

They are within three months following the last the last dose in their vaccine series.

Have remained without symptoms since the coronavirus exposure.

People who do not meet the criteria are to follow the current quarantine guidelines, which are to isolate for 14 days, the health district said.

Also, people who have been vaccinated should continue to wear masks, stay 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and wash their hands often, the district said.
Washington: Donald Trump will be able to run for the White House again in 2024 after the US Senate acquitted the former president of inciting the deadly January 6 riot at the Capitol.

The final vote followed a chaotic morning in which the Democratic impeachment managers backed down on an unexpected plan to extend the trial by calling for witnesses to testify before the Senate.

Most Republicans voted not to convict Donald Trump of inciting the January 6 riot on the Capitol. Credit:AP

The Senate voted 57-43 to convict Trump, with seven Republicans joining all 50 Democratic senators in declaring Trump guilty of inciting insurrection.

Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Toomey, Ben Sasse, Bill Cassidy and Richard Burr were the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump. At Trumps previous impeachment trial last year just one Republican senator, Romney, voted for conviction.
Half of Britons fear freedom of speech is 'under threat' in the UK as rampant 'cancel culture' scares people out of speaking their minds, a poll has found.

Almost 50 per cent of Britons feel it is harder to share their honest thoughts on controversial topics such as immigration or transgender rights now than it was five years ago.

Meanwhile, just 12 per cent of those surveyed, or one in eight, disagreed, according to the poll commissioned by Laurence Fox's Reclaim Party.

On immigration issues specifically, four in ten of those surveyed - a massive 43 per cent - said they are too scared to share their real beliefs. Just 28 per cent said they could talk openly about the topic.

Some 42 per cent said they didn't want to openly discuss transgender rights for fear of backlash, with just 15 per cent saying they can comfortably speak out.

The survey results follow a year of wide-spread 'cancelling' of celebrities and public figures with un-woke views.

Half of Britons fear freedom of speech is 'under threat' in the UK as rampant 'cancel culture' scares people out of speaking their minds, a poll has found. Actor Laurence Fox said the survey results are 'alarming'

In June, Harry Potter author JK Rowling took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate' sparking enormous backlash - including from actors starring in the movie adaptations of her novels, such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson

Rowling was hit by what she described as 'relentless attacks' after she took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate'

In June, Harry Potter author JK Rowling took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate' sparking enormous backlash - including from actors starring in the movie adaptations of her novels, such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.

Rowling wrote: 'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

She then likened hormone therapy and surgery for transgender young people to 'a new kind of conversion therapy' - leading to transgender model and activist Munroe Bergdorf to slam her as 'dangerous' and a 'threat to LGBT people'.

Meanwhile actor Fox was dropped by his acting agent after being embroiled in bitter Twitter spats with a number of people who called him a 'racist'.

Fox had accused Sainsbury's of 'promoting racial segregation and discrimination' and promised to boycott the supermarket chain after it promoted Black History Month.

He replied making unsubstantiated claims that they were 'paedophiles'. He later deleted the tweets.

Fox accused Sainsbury's of 'promoting racial segregation and discrimination' and promised to boycott the supermarket chain after it promoted Black History Month

Two people who Fox accused - deputy chair of LGBT charity Stonewall Simon Blake and Drag Race UK star Crystal - then announced they would sue him for defamation.

One month earlier, Fox launched The Reclaim Party  to fight for freedom of speech, 'reclaim British values' and challenge what he regards as a 'culture war' taking place in Britain.

Fox told The Sunday Telegraph that the results of the survey - which saw Savanta ComRes interview 2,119 British adults between February 5 and 7 - are 'alarming'.

He said 'woke' beliefs sought to 'tear down our statues, rewrite our proud history [and] stand in opposition to the tolerant, fair and free society our ancestors gave their lives for'.

Rowling later likened hormone therapy and surgery for transgender young people to 'a new kind of conversion therapy'

The Black Lives Matter movement rapidly spread across the globe this year following the killing of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in the US.

Protesters tore down a statue of Edward Colston on Sunday, June 7, on the same day a memorial to Winston Churchill in London was defaced with the words 'was a racist' written on a plinth underneath.

It prompted a wave of statues being targeted with graffiti or being attacked during protests, culminating in some statues, including ones of Nelson Mandela and Mr Churchill, being covered up to protect them from vandals.

The Topple the Racists campaign launched a comprehensive list of statues it wanted to see removed as it believed the names behind the monuments held racist beliefs.

The list - compiled by the Stop Trump Coalition - pinpoints the locations of 125 under-fire landmarks featured on a map.

The Churchill monument in Parliament Square was defaced with the words 'was a racist' last June

Outrage over statues led to Oriel College at Oxford University voting to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a colonialist politician in southern Africa in the 19th century.

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 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.

Tower Hamlets Council removed a statue of slave trader Robert Milligan after it was covered and displayed the message 'Black Lives Matter' during last month's protests

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.

Boris Johnson wrote last year: 'We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations.

'They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults.

'To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come.'

A newly unearthed letter from Admiral Horatio Nelson to his mistress Lady Emma Hamilton has revealed how he urged her to give their infant daughter the recently developed smallpox vaccine

The 1801 letter, discovered in the archives at the National Maritime Museum, makes no mention of a dangerous mission to France Nelson was due to make, but instead focuses on the health of his daughter, Horatia.

It was written just three years after Edward Jenner discovered milkmaids who developed cowpox through working close to the animals seemed to be protected from smallpox, the human form of the disease.

In a letter to Lady Hamilton, Admiral Nelson wrote: 'The child is only feverish for two days; and only a slight inflammation of the arm takes place, instead of being all over scabs.'

A letter from 1801 shows Admiral Horatio Nelson urging his then-mistress to have their daughter vaccinated against smallpox, at a time when people were sceptical about innoculation

At the time many were sceptical about the use of vaccines - after one attempt to innoculate children by deliberately infecting them with smallpox led to the death of King George III's son Octavius at the age of four.

Rob Blythe, senior curator at the National Maritime Museum, shared the letter with The Guardian, revealing a passage where he professes his love for his lover, Lady Hamilton.

Though both were married, neither had a legitimate child.

People were sceptical about vaccinations in the 19th century, after King George III's son died in an early, later-abandoned treatment for smallpox. Today vaccinations are helping to fight Covid-19. Pictured: A woman in Thamesmead receiving her jab today

Following his death in 1805, Nelson's father took in Horatia and raised her among his family.

He said: 'Nelson is a man who acutely understands what risks mean. He is dealing with risk every day at sea, whether it's life or death or injury from shots, cannonballs, splinters... I think he can probably, as a naval man, make a risk assessment about the vaccination better than others could at the time.'

Mr Blythe expects Nelson may have heard about Jenner's vaccine while at the captain's table.

Nelson urged his mistress, Lady Hamilton to innoculate their daughter, Horatia, against the smallpox virus

He told The Guardian: 'Doubtless the ship's physician would have been kept relatively up-to-date with the latest medical developments, and when the conversation lagged into another retelling of the Battle of the Nile, the ship's physician may well have said, "Have you heard about inoculation?" just to try to move everyone on to a different subject'.

The letter was one of of more than 2,000 acquired by the National Maritime Museum in 1946.

A transcript of the heroic admiral's correspondence was published in 1814, but this letter had until then gone unnoticed.
(Newser)  Republican senators who voted to convict former President Trump in his impeachment trial are hearing about it from party officials back home. Sen. Bill Cassidy was promptly censured by Louisiana party leaders, the Hill reports. The state party condemned Cassidy's vote in a tweet, adding, "Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted." North Carolina Republicans ripped Sen. Richard Burr's vote, per the New York Times, with some backing censure. "Wrong vote, Sen. Burr," tweeted Mark Walker. "I am running to replace Richard Burr because North Carolina needs a true conservative champion as their next senator." Ten GOP House members had voted to send the article of impeachment to the Senate, and Rep. Liz Cheney faced down calls to resign.

story continues below

The chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party expressed disappointment with Sen. Pat Toomey's vote to convict. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is the only one of the seven who expects to run for reelection in 2022, but she might be less worried about the party's influence after winning a write-in campaign last time. She said after voting that Trump "failed to uphold" his oath of office. The other GOP votes to convict were cast by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska, per CNBC. Collins said Trump's actions involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol were an abuse of power. Romney said Trump incited the insurrection and violated his oath. Sasse cited his own oath to the Constitution in explaining his vote, while Toomey said Trump betrayed the Constitution. Cassidy defended his vote by saying: "I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty." (Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
The Finance Minister's speech in the Union Budget 2021-22 acknowledged the role of frontline workers in battling the pandemic throughout last year and expressed gratitude for their efforts. It is important to note that almost all of these frontline workers are women and budget announcements have an important impact on the lives of women.

Gender-responsive budgeting in India was adopted in 2005 and since then there have been steady budgetary allocations to different programmes specific to women and in womenrelated programmes, which are usually part of the gender budget statement of the Annual budget documents. This year has also not been an exception. However, it will be important to note that the pandemic year witnessed hardships for women in terms of securing food and nutrition security, a crisis of employment and livelihood opportunities, increased burden of unpaid work for women and also increased incidence of violence. It is in this backdrop we look at the provisions made for women in this budget.

Two significant announcements that directly impact womens labour force participation were made by the Finance Minister in her speech.

The first was to universalise water supply facilities through the Jal Jeevan Mission in both rural and urban areas and allocating a massive Rs. 50,000 crores to the programme.

This allocation needs to translate into the reality of providing clean drinking water facilities across households in the remotest parts of the country. This is a welcome step that has the potential to reduce womens time spent on collecting water. The recent time use survey 2019 shows that women spend on an average up to 55 minutes daily to fetch water for the household. Having provided a steady source of water supply has immense potential to reduce this time and cater to the urgent need to improve household infrastructure for women.

The second announcement pertained to extending the coverage of social security benefits for gig and platform workers. It is important in the current context as these are emerging avenues of womens employment in urban India. The IWWAGE report shows how attractive these opportunities are for women and extending the social security coverage makes the sector even better.

The budget allocations under the social security schemes for workers show an increased allocation of Rs. 3100 crores under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana  a programme launched as a new scheme to encourage new employment in post lockdown period by providing a fixed share of wages into the EPF funds. While this may be important, the budget does not provide extra allocations for social security of gig and platform workers separately.

In the wake of the pandemic and its unequal impact on women, an analysis of the GB however reveals certain underwhelming trends. The gender budget (GB) stands at Rs. 153,326 crore for 2021-22 BE. Last years allocation was Rs. 143,461 crore (BE). As a proportion of total expenditure, the current allocation has fallen to 4.4%, from 4.7% last year.

In the same vein, the allocations to women-specific programmes, reported in the part A of the GB statement Rs. 28,568 crores last year to Rs. 25,261 crores  a decline of almost 12%. Similarly, allocations to the Ministry of Women and Child Development also show a decline of 18.5% since last year.

While the quantum of allocations to most important programmes for women reported in the budget 2021-22 show a status quo or a decline, few accounting changes and a couple of interesting allocations towards women could be located. The announcement of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 clubs the erstwhile umbrella ICDS, Poshan Abhiyan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, and National Creche Scheme and allocates only Rs. 20,105 crores, the Mission Shakti SAMARTHYA clubs smaller programmes including Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The detailed breakups and comparisons are provided in Figure 1 and 2. below:

Figure 1. (all scheme heads taken from pg. 351 of the Statement of Budget Estimates)

Figure 2. (all scheme heads taken from pg. 351 of the Statement of Budget Estimates)

The numbers show that allocations to crucial programmes catering to nutrition, creches, and womens safety and protection have at best stayed the same if not reduced. The allocation to the umbrella ICDS schemes that are under the new SAKSHAM head clearly shows a 23% decline of Rs. 5952 crores. We also do not see separate allocations for One Stop Centres, women helpline, Swadhar Greh, Ujjawala and so on which were overwhelmingly used during the pandemic, with heightened reports of violence against women. Instead, those have been clubbed under Mission Shakti SAMBAL (See Figure 3 below).

Figure 3. (all scheme heads taken from pg. 351 of the Statement of Budget Estimates)

Both MGNREGA and NRLM show increments in budgets since last year. However, the increase in the MGNREGA budget by Rs. 11,500 crores will also need to cater to the increased demand for jobs under the programme. In fact, the GB reports an allocation of only 33% of the total NREGA allocations for women while the Economic Survey itself highlights that almost 50% of all NREGA employment are held by women. These figures itself reveal the need for greater allocation even without expanding the number of days of employment generated under the programme.

The NRLM budget also shows an increase of almost Rs. 4000 crores from the previous year on account of the programme component. However, the allocations do not make it clear whether the increment is on account of increased expenditure on DDU-GKY, or on account of interest subventions to SHGs or the loan moratoriums.

Despite these dampers, an interesting allocation in the GB geared towards closing the gendered digital divide is also spotted. According to the NSS-MoSPI data from 2017-18, only 38% of women own mobile phones and 12.8% use computers compared to the respective male figures of 71% and 20%. Given the need to be digitally included, the GB includes Rs. 120 crores (or almost 40%) of the allocations to Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan - digital literacy programme for rural areas. Albeit small yet in the last few years, this is the first time that GB has included part of the PMGDISHA in its statement. This may have the potential for improving womens access to opportunities created through digital platforms.

So while there have been some small announcements for women in the budget, womens core concerns over food and nutrition, employment and livelihoods and prevention of violence and safety after a year of unprecedented hardship need a further boost. These concerns assumed importance in all pre-budget discussions and also made space into the Economic Survey.

While announcements in the budget indicate acknowledgement of these issues, which is a significant first step, budgetary allocations to support them would be truly transformative for half of India's population.

Sona Mitra is the Principal Economist at Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) an initiative of LEAD at Krea University. Sonakshi Chaudhry is a Senior Analyst at The Quantum Hub (TQH), a policy research and communications firm.
Princess Cruises has announced a new 2023 cruise that includes such destinations as Australia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Israel, Greece, Italy and Spain among others.

The Island Princess will depart from Ft. Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2023 for a 111-day itinerary and from Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2023 (for a 97-day voyage).

Tickets are now on sale starting at $19,199 per person. If you book before Aug. 31, 2021 you will receive early booking perks, such as free drinks, unlimited WiFi and gratuities.

The 111-day itinerary include a maiden port call to Gythion, Greece, known as the port for ancient Sparta, as well as overnight visits to Dubai and Venice.

For more information, click here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to the CRPF jawans who were killed in the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir in February, 2019.

"No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations," he said at a function here.

He said the country's armed forces had shown time and again they were fully capable of protecting "our motherland". Forty CRPF personnel were killed in the terrorist attack carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama on February 14, 2019.

Also read: PM Narendra Modi hands over indigenous Arjun tank to Indian Army

Also read: Pulwama attack anniversary: Netizens pay tribute to CRPF soldiers



Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) let businesses apply for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Through forgiveness of PPP loans, these businesses could have portions of the loan proceeds used toward eligible costs forgiven in full.

While the applications for PPP loans closed in August 2020, some recent revisions in its provisions allow businesses to apply for a new PPP loan. But applicants wanting to apply for the new loan must do so by March 31.

For existing loans, the program also allows borrowers to apply for loan forgiveness. More than five million loans were issued under the PPP. However, businesses were able to request forgiveness since August.

Related: New Legislation Would Grant Automatic Forgiveness of PPP Loans Under $150,000

Loan forgiveness under PPP

Borrowers can apply for loan forgiveness once they use all loan proceeds for which they are requesting forgiveness. The SBA allows them to apply for forgiveness any time up to the loan's maturity date. However, if borrowers do not avail of it within 10 months after the last date of the covered period, then the loan payments will not be deferred. They will need to start making loan payments to their PPP lender.

Depending on the businesss circumstances, it can apply for loan forgiveness using one of the three loan forgiveness applications. These circumstances include the type of the business, the loan amount, and the reduction in staffing, salary or wages.

Firstly, there is the 3508EZ Form, which is available for self-employed individuals with no employees or those who kept their employees count, and salaries and wages at a specified level.

The second form is Form 3508S for loans of $50,000 or less. Form 3508S makes the process less complicated for eligible applicants and is designed for any businesses that don't qualify in the above categories.

Businesses can get their first draw and second draw PPP loans forgiven. However, during the eight-to-24-week covered period following the loan disbursement, they need to have:

Maintained employee and compensation levels.

Spent the loan proceeds on payroll costs and other eligible expenses.

Spent at least 60% of the proceeds on payroll costs.

For second draw PPP loan forgiveness, they must also ensure that they have maintained employee and compensation levels similar to the requirement for the first draw PPP loan.

Related: How to Obtain an SBA Coronavirus PPP Loan and Have It Forgiven

Applying for loan forgiveness

Businesses must contact their PPP lender and complete the correct form to get their PPP loan forgiven. As mentioned, they can use one of the three forms to do so. They must also compile their documentation that goes with the forgiveness application. These documents can either relate to payroll or non-payroll expenses.

For payroll expenses, the documentation required includes the following:

Bank account statements or other third-party payroll service provider reports. These statements or reports should document the amount of cash compensation paid to employees.

These statements or reports should document the amount of cash compensation paid to employees. Tax forms overlapping with the covered period. These include payroll tax filings reported to the IRS and state quarterly business and individual employee wage reporting and unemployment-insurance tax filings.

These include payroll tax filings reported to the IRS and state quarterly business and individual employee wage reporting and unemployment-insurance tax filings. Payment receipts, canceled checks or account statements. These will document the amount of any employer contributions to employee health insurance and retirement plans included in the forgiveness amount.

For non-payroll expenses, businesses must provide the following documentation:

Copy of lender amortization schedule and receipts or lender account statements for business mortgage payments.

Copy of current lease agreement and receipts or canceled checks for business rent or lease payments.

Copies of invoices and receipts, canceled checks or account statements for business utility payments.

After compiling the required documents, businesses must submit their forgiveness form and documentation to their PPP lender. The lender may request additional documentation, which they must also provide.

The SBA may take some time to approve the forgiveness application. During this time, businesses need to stay in contact with their PPP lender, who notifies the borrower when the SBA takes a review of their loan and the decision it reaches. Businesses also have an option to appeal certain SBA loan review decisions.

Best of luck to everyone trying to keep their company afloat in this extraordinary time.

Related:

What to Know When Applying for a New PPP Loan By March 31

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Your PPP Loan?

How Does the New Stimulus Package Affect You?



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PARIS (Reuters) - France's Health Ministry has asked regional health agencies and hospitals to enter "crisis organisation" to prepare for a possible surge in coronavirus cases as a result of highly contagious variants, Le Journal Du Dimanche reported.

The move, which would echo measures taken in March and November when France went into lockdown, involves increasing the number of hospital beds available, delaying non-urgent surgery and mobilising all medical staff resources.

"This crisis organisation must be implemented in each region, regardless of the level of hospital stress and must be operational from Thursday Feb. 18," the DGS health authority said in a memo cited by the newspaper on Sunday.

The DGS said in an emailed response to Reuters that the memo reflected an "anticipatory approach" in view of ongoing pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Its goal is to mobilise all health players in the country in case there is a flare-up in the epidemic, which can happen as virus variants circulate," it said.

Reuters was not able to independently confirm the contents of the memo cited by Le Journal Du Dimanche.

France reported 21,231 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, slightly up from 20,701 on Friday, taking the total cumulative number in France to 3,448,617, the sixth-highest in the world.

In contrast with some of its neighbours who are struggling to control more contagious variants, France has resisted a new lockdown, hoping a national curfew in place since Dec. 15 will contain the pandemic.

Some scientists, however, believe President Emmanuel Macron took a gamble in deciding against a new lockdown.

At the same time, France trails behind several other European countries, such as Britain, in rolling out vaccinations.

Health Minister Olivier Veran, who noted the variant first detected in Britain accounted for 25% of confirmed new infections in France, said on Thursday the government would decide in the coming weeks whether tougher national restrictions were necessary.

Arnaud Fontanet, a member of the scientific council that advises the government on COVID-19 policy, told Europe 1 radio on Saturday he feared this variant could account for the majority of cases in March.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Jean-Stephane Brosse; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Alexander Smith)
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Unknown gunmen on Sunday killed a police officer in a church in Ughelli, Delta State.

The police spokesperson in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the killing to reporters on Sunday.

Yes, he (police officer) followed his principal to the church, Ms Onovwakpoyeya, a deputy superintendent of police, said, without disclosing any information about the principal

The gunmen stormed a Pentecostal church located in Oviri-Ogor Road, Ughelli, during church service on Sunday and shot the victim three times, according to a witness.

The deceased, a police inspector, was serving with the police mobile force at Ogwashi-Uku and was on escort duty at the time of the incident.

ALSO READ: Gunmen kill three at town hall meeting in Anambra

The service was abruptly stopped at about 11.15 a.m. as worshippers scampered for safety when the gunmen gunshots opened fire inside the church.

It was after the gunmen escaped that some youths summoned up the courage to come out only to discover the police officer in a pool of his blood, the witness said.

The officer was confirmed dead at the Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he was rushed to.

(NAN)

Attorney Lin Wood, member of President Donald Trump's legal team, gestures while speaking during a rally on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Alpharetta, Ga. Ben Margot/Associated Press

The Georgia State Bar filed a 1,600-page complaint against pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood.

Wood complained about the agency and implored his Telegram followers to investigate Bar members.

Wood became known for spreading conspiracy theories and filing lawsuits related to the 2020 election.

Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

The State Bar of Georgia is working to take disciplinary action against pro-Trump lawyer and conspiracy theorist Lin Wood, he announced on social media Saturday, bemoaning the action and imploring his followers to investigate members of the Bar.

"The State Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Georgia has received information concerning the above-named attorney that suggests that said attorney may have violated one or more of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct," the grievance, dated February 5 and uploaded by Wood to Dropbox reads.

The State Bar of Georgia did not immediately return Insider's request for comment Sunday.

Wood, who previously tweeted calling for the arrest and execution of former Vice President Mike Pence ahead of the riot at the US Capitol, shared news of the complaint on his Telegram account Saturday. Wood was been permanently banned from using Twitter after he violated a temporary suspension enacted by the company for inciting violence, as BuzzFeed News reported.

Read more: 'Unity' doesn't just come from what Biden does. It comes from what he doesn't do.

Wood was one of several lawyers working on behalf of former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The February 5 complaint noted his espousal of conspiracy theories and his "Frivolous Filings."

Wood's sharing of the complaint, which was marked as confidential, was first reported on Twitter by journalist Steven Fowler. Wood uploaded a link to the more than 1,600-page complaint.

In a subsequent post, Wood told his Telegram followers he had the right to challenge the "competency, qualifications, or objectivity of any member of the State Disciplinary Board" within 10 days.

Story continues

"I could use the help of an Army of Patriots due to the time limitation," Wood said, sharing a list of the members he said were provided to him by the Georgia Bar.

"The GA State Bar has thrown the kitchen sink at me," he said.

Wood asked his followers to investigate the members, including directing them to comb through their social media accounts and examine their political affiliations. Wood also asked his followers to investigate who the members have represented as lawyers, probing his followers to see if any members had connections to Dominion Voting Systems, the company Trump allies have targeted with baseless conspiracy theories.

Wood on Friday had said on Telegram he was representing former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell in Dominion's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against her, as Forbes reported.

In January, Wood said he would refuse to take a mental health test as requested by the Georgia State Bar to determine his mental competency to continue to serve as an attorney.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Australia's first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine will be distributed in top secret by global logistics firm DHL once it touches down from Belgium next week.

Thousands of doses of the long-awaited vaccine that must be stored below -70C will be warehoused in a top secret location in Sydney before being distributed to 200 cold storage facilities around the country, DHL has revealed.

The ultra-cold temperature requirement makes transporting and storing it difficult.

Pictured: the row of fridges that will be used to store the ultra-cold Pfizer vaccine at a secret DHL warehouse in Sydney on Sunday, February 14

Pfizer says after storage for up to 30 days in their thermal shipper, their vaccine can be stored for an additional five days at 2C to 8C. It cannot be re-frozen or stored frozen, the Pfizer website says.

DHL Supply Chain chief executive for Australia and New Zealand Saul Resnick said the location had to be kept secret because the vaccine is so precious.

'(The secrecy is) to ensure that throughout the life-cycle up until the Australian population gets vaccinated, the product is cared for as if it were the most highly sought-after commodity,' he told Nine News on Sunday.

The special packing boxes that will be filled with dry ice to ship the vaccines to 200 locations

In what has been described as the 'largest logistic program' for DHL in Australia's history, the logistics giant will store hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccine in special refrigerators in a secret location at a covert warehouse to make sure they stay at the right temperature.

There are 15 special freezers for the vaccine in Australia, with 11 kept in Sydney and the rest in Adelaide and Perth.

Each freezer can hold 140,000 Pfizer vaccine doses.

DHL Supply Chain chief executive for Australia and New Zealand Saul Resnick said the location had to be kept secret as the vaccine is so precious

The special low-temperature freezers pictured at a secret DHL warehouse in Sydney

The fragile vaccine must be kept below -70C. Once it is thawed to between 2C and 8C it must be used within five days.

For comparison, solid carbon dioxide, commonly called 'dry ice' turns into a gas at -78.5C, just 8.5C cooler than the vaccine must be kept.

The vaccine will be shipped inside special cold boxes packed with dry ice for distribution.

The dry ice boxes have been fitted with thermal sensors which will send messages to a central control tower if they drop below the required temperature.

Australia is expected to receive its first 80,000 doses of the Covid Pfizer vaccine by the end of next week, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has said.

Everything Aussies need to know about the vaccine roll out * What about Australians under the age of 16? The Pfizer vaccination approval does not cover people under the age of 16, but it has no upper age limit. The medical regulator says the benefits of the vaccination for people over the age of 85, or those who are frail, should be weighed against potential risk of even a mild response. Age limits for the AstraZeneca vaccination will be outlined in the Therapeutic Goods Administration's approval. * How many do we get? Both vaccines are two doses - so Australians will get two at least 21 days apart. They will need to be from the same company. * Where will they be administered? General practitioners and pharmacies have put their hand up to be involved, and there's expected to be pop-up clinics at current COVID-19 testing centres and hospitals. * How can Australians prove they've been vaccinated? Jabs will be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. Certificates proving vaccinations will then be available either digitally or in hard copy. The government says this might be needed for interstate and overseas travel. * How many vaccines has Australia ordered? Australia has secured more than 150 million doses of various vaccines, including almost 54 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the vast majority to be manufactured in Melbourne. As well as more than 51 million from Novavax. WHICH VACCINES AUSTRALIA HAS SECURED: Pfizer: 20 million doses - enough to vaccinate 10 million Australians Novavax: Australia has ordered 51 million doses but it is still in the trial phase University of Oxford: 53.8 million doses COVAX Facility The Australian Government has joined the COVAX Facility as part of a global effort to support rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This participation enables us to purchase vaccine doses for Australia as they become available This includes the Moderna vaccine, CureVac, Inovio and others University of Queensland: Australia had ordered 51 million doses. However, the deal has been scrapped after trial participants returned false positive results for HIV Advertisement

The Health Minister said the doses would arrive under tight security from Belgium.

The vaccines will then undergo their final stage of testing from the Therapeutic Good Administration to ensure they are safe before being rolled out to vulnerable residents later this month.

'I've spoken to the country head of Pfizer and have confirmed that the vaccines are on track for arrival by the end of the week,' Mr Hunt told The Australian.

'Commencement of vaccinations - subject to arrival, quality and temperature controls - will take place in the last week of February.'

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents

Australia has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 10 million people.

The Pfizer vaccine will arrive in batches of 5000.

First in line to receive the jab are the elderly, vulnerable, frontline health workers, hotel quarantine staff, as well as aged and disability workers and residents.

Mr Hunt said the Morrison Government will not decide on an official date for the first round of jabs until the doses are in the country.

Other Australians over the age of 16 will be then be ranked by health risk to determine when they get the vaccination, with those more vulnerable prioritised.

The government expects the AstraZeneca vaccine to get approval soon so it will be available in early March.

Health Department boss Brendan Murphy has said it's unlikely people will get to pick if they get the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, as it depends on their profile and category of risk.

The Federal Government's official vaccine roll-out strategy in five stages

Pictured: the Pfizer vaccine about to be administered in Lebanon on Sunday

The government wants the vaccine rollout to be complete by the end of October.

Hospitals will be able to store the vaccines in special low-temperature freezers, while aged care facilities will be able to keep them cool in their boxes for 15 days by regularly replacing the dry ice.

Mr Hunt said it is critical that communications around the vaccine program are also targeted for culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

WHEN WILL YOU GET JABBED? The Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants workers from its member industries in manufacturing, education and tourism to be classed as 'critical workers' so they get innoculated in Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout. This is the official rollout plan as of January 16: Phase 1a: to cover 678,000 of the most vulnerable and exposed people including quarantine and border workers, frontline health workers, aged care staff, disability workers and the elderly. 1.4 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with the government hoping for approval by the end of January. Phase 1b: to cover 6.14 million Australians including anyone over 70 years old, other healthcare workers, those with an underlgying condition and high-risk workers like emergency services and meat processors. It will also include indigenous people aged over 55. Up to 14.8 million doses. Phase 2a: to cover 6.57 million people including Australians over 50, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are between 18-54, and critical high-risk workers. Up to 15.8 million doses Phase 2b: to cover 6.64 million people - the rest of the adult population, plus anyone who missed out. Up to 16 million doses. Phase 3: to cover 5.7 million children if recommended with up to 13.6 million doses set aside. Source: Australian Government website COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy Advertisement

'The government recognises that people from multicultural communities are a significant part of the health, aged care, child care and disability workforce and will be among the first people in Australia to receive vaccinations,' Mr Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.

But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned that Australia is languishing in rolling out the program, which is creating uncertainty in communities and the economy more broadly.

He said some 90 countries have their vaccinations program under way.

'After the prime minister said we were at the front of the queue 160 million people have been vaccinated around the world, while zero Australians have been vaccinated,' Dr Chalmers told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.
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(Newser)  Police in North Carolina say that a 12-year-old boy shot and killed an intruder Saturday during a home invasion robbery, ABC reports. A 73-year-old resident of the apartment where the attempted robbery occurred was shot by one of the suspects, the Goldsboro Police Department said in a statement, and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators say that two masked people forced their way into the apartment around 1am, demanded money, and shot the resident, a woman, in the leg, per WTVD. The robbers fled after the 12-year-old boy shot at them in self-defense.

story continues below

Responding officers located Khalil Herring, 19, nearby. Herring had a gunshot wound and is believed to be one of the robbers. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. They came in the houseI open the door, I open it, and they came in there. One guy had a gun, Randolph Bunn, the son of the injured woman and great uncle of the 12-year-old, tells WTVD. If the boy hadnt acted, Bunn says, the armed intruder would have shot him too. He would have shot me too. He would have killed us all. An investigation is ongoing, police said, but charges against the boy are not expected. (Read more home invasion stories.)
Estuarine fisher folk appeal for jetty By K.L. Richard Walter Perera View(s): View(s):

Fishermen say a new jetty should be built at the Maha Oya estuary at Poruthota, so they can continue their activities without obstruction being caused by natures forces.

Sand that accumulates blocks the estuary, impeding the Maha Oya from flowing into the sea. The river forces its way into the sea through the left bank close to the existing jetty.

Fisherman, Niroshan Rodrigo, 37, a father of three, showed the Sunday Times a mound of sand created by rough sea waves, blocking the river from flowing into the sea. He notes how the river then forces its way through the river bank into the sea along the jetty.

He suggested that another jetty be built to the right to prevent the sea from rolling ashore, creating a huge mound of sand and pushing the river towards the land.

He said this would allow fishermen to take their boats out to sea and back to the Hamilton Canal where they usually anchor their boats.

Once the estuary is blocked, it means our livelihood is also deprived. We may soon lose this river bank and small stretch of beach also at any time. Our demand is for another jetty to be built on the right side, he said.

There are about 500 fishing families living in Kammalthota and Poruthota. We go out to sea through this estuary. So, there should be an easy passage for us.

When the sand piles up, it creates a shallow bed called Nallalla a few yards from it. Some people who do not realise the danger, step onto it to catch fish and lose their lives, he said.

This is our livelihoood. Some have their own boats. Some do not. They work on the boats owned by mudalalis. We sometimes spend about Rs 2,800 a day for kerosene. But some times we come back empty handed and if that happens for two or three days, then we will have to borrow. We can get loans from our village fishing society ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, or Rs.20,000, on condition that the earlier loans are paid.

Another fisherman, John Sawari Coorera Pulle, 61, a father of three, said: We have made our requests to ministers and higher authorities, but still no solution. This is a death trap. When the rough sea waves come ashore it creates a shallow bed like quicksand that sucks everything that falls into it.

If we build another jetty about 200 metres long on the right, it could control the monstrous sea waves, and save lives, and we also could do our fishing activities safely.

There are regular reports of youths drowning in the shallow waters, where the sandy bed is deceptively dangerous.

Two signs erected by the Negombo Municipal Council and the Negombo Divisional Secretariat warn people they face fines for breaking environmental laws, but there is no such warning for bathers.
Texas Army National Guard Spc. Matthew Bernal has spent nearly a year helping his fellow Texans survive COVID-19, but the combat medic isn't worn down yet.

The mission is personal for him.

"I personally lost my grandpa last year to COVID-19, and I have talked to a lot of other soldiers who also have experienced loss in their family," Bernal told reporters Thursday during a Zoom roundtable. "A lot of the counties that we have gone to, the majority of the populations have been the elderly, and I can say with great certainty that they have been extremely grateful to have the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

"It gives them a lot of hope, and I am glad that we can provide that," he added.

Read Next: Army's Revamped ACFT Would Create 'Gender-Specific' Promotion Evaluation Categories

Currently, more than 25,000 Guard members in 32 states are on the front lines of the pandemic mission to distribute vaccines to the civilian population.

Army Col. Peter Coldwell, the Texas Military Department's state surgeon, told reporters that, in some ways, the pandemic mission has a lot more unknowns to face than the two combat missions he served in during his 40 years in the Army.

"When you go to combat, it's pretty well defined," Coldwell said. "I began this mission in late March with no knowledge of what the pandemic was going to put out, and I can say that I have been incredibly impressed with our flexibility and our initiative and our ingenuity in responding to this.

"And really, with the punches that COVID has given us, everybody has done an amazing job," he said.

West Virginia Guard Army Maj. Caroline Muriama said the pandemic support mission "is very different from being deployed overseas, where you at least have one thing to focus on, which is your mission."

"We have noticed that it has been very challenging being on the home front ... so there is always a fine balance for us as leaders to balance that mission aspect and know that, when those soldiers go home at the end of the day, they still have their lives and their families to take care of," said Muriama, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Battalion executive officer for the Army Interagency Training Education Center.

The COVID-19 response has had a strong Guard presence, but active-duty troops are still playing a role in the effort. U.S. Army North announced Wednesday that 222 soldiers from Fort Carson, Colorado, would deploy to Los Angeles at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a new release.

The team of vaccinators, registered nurses and other medical personnel will support the state-run, federally supported COVID-19 vaccination center there, according to the release.

Army Lt. Col. Jim Adkins, deputy commander of administration at the West Virginia Guard's Medical Detachment, said he is deeply proud to have played a role in what will surely be a uniquely historic effort.

"It's been a very humbling experience to be able to help our citizens with this once-in-a-lifetime challenge that we have been faced with," Adkins said.

Senior Airman Joseph Holloway, with the West Virginia Guard, who has also been in the pandemic response mission for nearly a year, said he started off working the pre-screening effort and recently began supporting the vaccine effort.

"I've been boots on the ground since March," Holloway said. "It's been really busy."

Bernal agreed with his fellow Guard member.

"It's been pretty busy, but nothing we are not used to," he said. "I really enjoy being able to help other Texans, so there is no other place I would rather be."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: National Guard Now Helping with COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in 26 States
Any sensible person would welcome the opportunity to reassure doubters that everything is fine. Governments, alas, march to a different beat, asserting that a person's eyes are lying to him.

Try reporting a UFO sighting, for example. At least Project Blue Book went through the motions of investigation. Or consider the JFK assassination. There was a huge investigation, the results of which didn't satisfy anyone, but the report was lengthy and showed that the government would treat people with the appearance of respect. Conspiracy theories about "what really happened" persist to this day, but no one seems to be canceled because he believes and speaks out about the alleged suppression of the truth.

Somehow, the assertion of significant or even overwhelming election fraud is being viewed by the government as tantamount to sedition. The response has been not to seriously audit the ballots, the machines, or the process. Instead, it has been more of a "he said, she said" situation, with the caveat that one side is actually showing the artifacts on which it bases its opinion. How can an opinion be seditious? Rather than alienate half the voters, wouldn't it be more rational to go through each point and attempt to explain it away? After all, not all data are evidence. If the data don't support a conclusion, then they're just data. But any theory of what happened has to account for all the data, and "shut up, liar" isn't an explanation at all.

The FBI and other agencies sit on data and evidence and do nothing. The DOJ declines to prosecute. The SCOTUS declines to hear cases. There are 74 million people who at least have some questions about the election process  too many to reprogram or intimidate. There are plenty of people in other countries who would be willing to replace them, and the Democrats love open borders. The military is being transformed into a social engineering sandbox, and funding to keep the equipment working is being diminished. The Democrat fondness for foreign wars will result in the military losing members due to casualties as well as to disgust at how they are treated. Is it all part of a plan? Or just another conspiracy theory?

A claim of election fraud is not a lie, but an opinion. And it isn't sedition to have an inconvenient opinion, especially when the perpetrators of the deed laid out their grand conspiracy as a matter of public record in Time magazine.

We have been abused and insulted and have dealt with mobs calling for our destruction. Democrats have done nothing to alleviate the stresses, provided no explanations, showed no respect for our being rational actors. We obstruct their path, and if they can find a way to turn the military on us, breaking our emotional bond with them, they will do it. Pelosi requested machine guns when the National Guard was called to D.C. I'm sure Biden can write an E.O. to "clarify" the Posse Comitatus Act.

If leftists are confident that they would win, and if they see this as a quick path to their idea of utopia, there is nothing to stop them from continuing what they are doing and even to ramp it up. It isn't a question of whether it will get them what they want, but of whether they think it will. It's their opinion. I think they're wrong, but that's also just an opinion. And I think they want civil war as a faster way to destroy America. They have run out of patience and see the end in sight. Our end? Their end? Maybe both.

Image: Mobilus In Mobili via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Saira Khan has revealed she 'didn't expect' to receive 'extreme hate' after publicly announcing she's no longer a practising Muslim.

The former Loose Women star, 50, had previously spoken about her decision to renounce Islam last week, and since revealed she's been forced to report death threats to the police.

Writing in her column for The Mirror, Saira said she's been faced with 'daily vitriol' in the wake of her decision to step away from her faith, following years of feeling 'guilty, caged and unhappy.'

Speaking up: Saira Khan has revealed she 'didn't expect' to receive 'extreme hate' after publicly announcing she's no longer a practising Muslim

She also stated that she was 'taken aback' by how it had been reported in the media in Pakistan, where her parents are originally from.

Saira wrote: 'I have since received vitriol on a daily basis. I could understand it if I were selling drugs, abusing, grooming, being blasphemous or Islamaphobic, bullying, stealing, being violent or aggressive, but I've done none of those things - so why?'

The TV personality then suggested that the reason she received such hatred is not because of her decision to become a non-practising Muslim, but rather because she 'made her declaration as a woman'.

She went on: 'Whether we like it or not, some cultures, like the South Asian one from where my parents originate, is based on the patriarchy.

Hatred: The presenter suggested that the reason she received such hate is not because of her decision to become a non-practising Muslim, but as she 'made her declaration as a woman'

'And many of those countries are populated by Muslims, so it's easy to see why religion and culture are so entwined.'

Saira explained that in Pakistan, the woman is expected to remain at home as a mother and wife, while the man goes to work and becomes a 'breadwinner'.

She stated that the idea of gender inequality 'is an accepted norm for many Pakistanis', and if a woman decides she is not okay with her way of living, then 'the whole system is under threat'.

After sharing horrific messages she had received from trolls, Saira told her followers on Tuesday she had reported the matter - regarded as hate crime - to the police.

Wrong: On Tuesday, after sharing horrific messages she had received from trolls, Saira told her followers she had reported the matter to the police

She wrote: 'Due to the abuse and threats I have received. I have reported this matter to the police as it is regarded as hate crime.

'I am utterly saddened that my decision to live my life how I choose should resort to others wanting to cause me harm.

'How does my life choice impact theirs?'

Saira later posed for shots in her underwear as she revealed she was focusing on the positives amid the turbulent time in her life.

She said: 'It's a new day to smile. To love. To be grateful. I cannot control other people's actions, or emotions towards me.

But I can control my response to them. I choose to smile. Be kind. Be in control of what I can.

'There is no point in worrying about what could or might happen if you choose to live your truth.

Brave: The star later took to Instagram to share inspirational quotes from Prophet Muhammad and Mahatma Ghandi

Optimistic: Saira then posed up in her underwear and loungewear as she focused on the positives

'A day worrying, is a day wasted. I don't have days to waste. Everyday counts in a life you only live once. Happy thoughts everyone.'

During an Instagram Live on Monday, the star 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: During an Instagram Live on Monday, star 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.

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 star 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.'

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.'
House impeachment manager, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, continued to defend Democrats' turnaround on witnesses, which created several hours of drama during Saturday's conclusion of President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

'We didn't need more witnesses. We needed more senators with spines,' Plaskett told Jake Tapper Sunday on 'State of the Union.'

Tapper aggressively pushed Plaskett on why the Democratic House managers seemingly caved after the Senate voted 55-45, approving their last-minute witness request.

Impeachment manager, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday that 'We didn't need more witnesses. We needed more senators with spines'

CNN's Jake Tapper (left) pressed Rep. Stacey Plaskett (right) on why the House Democratic impeachment managers caved on witnesses, noting, 'there were unanswered questions' about former President Donald Trump's role in the January 6 insurrection

Head impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, threw the impeachment trial into chaos when he said that the Democrats now wanted testimony and notes from Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler

On Saturday morning, lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin threw the impeachment trial into chaos when he said that the Democrats now wanted testimony and notes from Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who had information about a phone call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, which indicated the now ex-president refused to call off his MAGA mob.

Trump's legal team countered by saying they could call more than 300 witnesses.

On the Senate floor his lawyer, Michael van der Veen, said, 'Nancy Pelosi's deposition needs to be taken. Vice President Harris' deposition, absolutely, needs to be taken. And not my Zoom. None of these depositions should be done by Zoom. We didn't do this hearing by Zoom.'

'These depositions should be done in person in my office in Philadelphia,' he said.

His comments were so over-the-top that they prompted laughter from the Senate audience.

After more than an hour of uncertainty, both sides agreed to let Herrera Beutler's statement about the phone call entered into evidence and moved on to closing statements.

'I think we didn't back down,' Plaskett explained. 'I think what we did was we got what we wanted, which was her statement, which was what she said, and had it put into the record, and being able to say it on the record out loud so others would hear.'

Tapper pressed again, pointing out 'there were unanswered questions.'

The CNN anchor asked, 'were you being pressured by Senate Democrats because they wanted to get on with confirmations and the Covid relief bill?'

Plaskett didn't directly answer that question.

President Joe Biden has expressed that he wants his 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill passed as soon as possible and a swath of his cabinet nominees still need to be confirmed.

On Saturday, Raskin denied the White House had exerted any pressure.

'None of them no. And I made the call. So if you want to blame somebody, you know,' he said, motioning to himself.

On Sunday, Plaskett said they moved on because 'we had sufficient evidence to prove the president did what we said he did.'

She also acknowledged that House Democratic team had heard they might lose some of their Republican votes, including North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr, if they kept the trial going for additional weeks.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the House's lead impeachment manager, said Democrats were right in not calling any witnesses after the Senate voted allowing them to do so

Rep. Stacey Plaskett (center), said if Democrats had gone for a witness, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, they wouldn't have know if he'd have helped their case

'We heard that,' Plaskett told Tapper, adding 'it's possible' they would have lose some of the seven Republican senators who voted alongside Democrats to convict had they spent weeks deposing witnesses.

'It's clear that these individuals were hardened,' she said of the Republicans who voted for Trump's acquittal.

'That they did not want to let the president be convicted or disqualified. They are afraid of his base. They are afraid of losing power, of losing their seats. They made a calculation that retaining power, remaining a senator was more important than their country,' Plaskett stated.

Plaskett echoed comments Raskin had made during a press conference Saturday, directly following the Senate vote that acquitted Trump.

'We could have had 500 witnesses and it would have not have overcome the kinds of arguments being made by Mitch McConnell and other Republicans who were hanging their hats on the claim that it was somehow unconstitutional,' the Maryland Democrat argued to reporters.

Plaskett spoke to CNN Saturday as well, and acknowledged that some Democrats were grumbling about the managers' about-face on witnesses.

'I know people are disappointed,' Plaskett told CNN's Dana Bash and Abby Phillip Saturday night. 'I understand nobody wants to lose. I wanted to win this case along with all of the impeachment managers.'

Plaskett argued that what impeachment managers garnered from the debate was a win.

'We came in this morning, made a motion for witness, that witness was heard, as you saw, and we wanted that statement on the record. We got that. Along with ... the counsel for the president saying he possibly wanted 100 witnesses. He didn't get that,' Plaskett said.

She also pointed out that additional witnesses could have damaged the Democrats' case.

The Democrats were able to get an unprecedented seven Republicans to vote in favor of Trump's conviction.

She said prosecutors generally don't want to call witnesses when they don't know what they'll say.

'I don't know what Mike Pence is going to say, although he told the president he was not going to follow his last instruction to obstruct the constitutional powers of duty that he had to certify the election, he went along with him for almost four years prior to that in all the despicable things that this president did,' Plaskett argued. 'So would he have told the truth? Who knows.'

The Senate audience was also growing weary.

'People want to get home for Valentine's Day,' offered Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, according to Politico.

Democrats ended up being 10 Republican votes shy of convicting Trump, with a number of lawmakers, including McConnell, saying they thought the ex-president was responsible for inciting the January 6 riot, but believed the trial was unconstitutional, since he was already out of office.
According to Hoang Ngoc Trung, deputy general director of PVEP, this move will contribute to offsetting the drop in oil and gas output at the corporation's existing fields. Although the selling price of oil is relatively low at $45 per barrel, impacting the corporations exploration and other investment activities, PVEP has still decided to pour $380 million in its core operations to ensure productivity in upcoming years.

Trung added that oil and gas exploration carries several risks, thus support of state authorities in dealing with difficulties, as well as investment and legal procedures, would help PVEP to accelerate investment and exploration at new fields located at deep sea areas and marginal oil fields.

PVEP is the upstream arm of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) with the core business of exploration and production.

It is currently operating over 53 petroleum projects, 42 of which are domestic and 11 overseas. Notably, the corporation independently operates several important projects in Vietnam such as Dai Hung field, Block 05-1, Song Doc field, and Block 46-02 while jointly operating dozens of others.

Besides, it has acquired production from Cendor, West Desaru, D30, and Dana in Malaysia, Dorado and Pirana in Peru, and especially the first independently operating field Bir Seba, Blocks 433a and 416b in Algeria. In 2007 -2015, PVEP produced 333 million barrels of oil equivalent (Mmboe), increasing its reserves by 2,441 Mmboe, announced 43 oil and gas discoveries, and put 21 fields into production. Appreciably, all its operations have been completed safely with no health, safety, or environmental incidents.

PVEP is a trusted partner to many big international and national oil companies as well as service contractors such as Gazprom, Rosneft, Petronas, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, BP, and

ENI.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday paid tribute to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into their convoy.

"I pay homage to those brave @crpfindia personnel who sacrificed their lives in 2019 Pulwama terror attack. India will never forget their service to the nation and their supreme sacrifice. We continue to stand with their families, who had to suffer due to this attack," tweeted Singh.

"Tribute to the immortal sacrifices of Pulwama attack who sacrificed their lives for our safe future. Their immortal sacrifice will always inspire us to fight against terrorism," CM Adityanath tweeted.

This year marks two years of the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for the dastardly terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Other senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress party also paid rich tribute to the soldiers.

BJP National President JP Nadda tweeted: "I pay respect to the brave sons of mother India who were martyred in the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. The nation will always be indebted to their indomitable courage and valour," Nadda tweeted (in roughly translated Hindi).

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said (in Hindi): "Tribute to the brave soldiers, who died in the Pulwama terror attack. A tribute to their families as the country owes you."

The attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, 2019.

A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

With agency inputs

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Luxembourg has no blood bank for animals, which means that in case of an emergency, it can be difficult to find an adequate donor in time.

There are multiple reasons for animals to be in need of blood transfusions, such as accidents or operations. They can also be required in cases of poisoning, infectious diseases, or chronic ones.

In order for pets to become donors, they need to be vaccinated as well as free of worms. Cats need to be aged between one and ten, and weigh at least four kilograms. Dogs should be between the age of one and eight and weigh at least 25 kilograms. They should never have received a transfusion themselves. Furthermore, if an animal has spent time in areas around the Mediterranean Sea, including the south of France, the north of Africa, or Turkey, they are no longer eligible.

Prior to giving blood, pets will be examined in great detail to make sure that they are healthy, and to determine their blood type. Dogs with type DEA 1.1 negative are best suited for donating blood, while positive ones can only transfer to some dogs. Then it depends on a dog's temper whether it will be sedated before the procedure or not. Blood is usually taken from the neck area. Dogs then receive food and are advised to rest for the remainder of the day.

Janine Kasper and her dog Luna, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, have already donated blood on several occasions. Luna is four years old and weighs around 40 kilograms, making her the perfect candidate. Her owner works in an animal clinic and therefore knows about the importance of blood transfusions.

 Janine Kasper

Veterinarian Veronique Weber explained to our colleagues from RTL.lu that the animal clinic in Bettembourg has established a databank, where people can register their pets to become donors. So far, the country has not yet created its own blood bank, as demand is not high enough and they were always able to find donors in time. Nevertheless, Dr Weber still hopes that more people register their pets in the future, as they will also benefit of a free consultation and examination.

For more information on the animal clinic in Bettembourg, visit their website via the following link:

Link: Blood donation page

The University of Georgia is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, as well as over 450 buildings. The large population gives the school potential to harm the environment on a large scale just from its day-to-day operations, making sustainable practices more important than ever.

Regina King recently made her feature directorial debut with One Night In Miami, earning her a Golden Globe nomination.

And the Academy Award winner is celebrating another first this weekend, after hosting Saturday Night Live.

She took legal action after styling her hair with Gorilla Glue in one hilarious skit, lampooning the viral Tessica Brown moment, as she made her SNL hosting debut with this weekend's episode.

Legal action: Regina King took legal action after styling her hair with Gorilla Glue in one hilarious skit, lampooning the viral Tessica Brown moment on Saturday Night Live

First timer: The Academy Award winner is celebrating a first this weekend, after making her SNL hosting debut

The 50-year-old appeared in a cheesy law commercial with Kenan Thompson, in which they sported some very '90s professional attire.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail, standing straight up, as Kenan said: 'We've all been there. You ran out of hair product, and you used Gorilla Glue instead.'

Regina added: 'Fact: Every day, as many as one people fall victim to using Gorilla Glue in place of a beauty product. And they deserve compensation.'

They included testimonials from cast members Ego Nwodim, who also used it in her hair, Chris Redd, who used it to keep his do-rag on during sex, and Punkie Johnson, who glued decorative body jewelry to her forehead.

'90s vibes: The 50-year-old appeared in a cheesy law commercial with Kenan Thompson, in which they sported some very '90s professional attire

Bad hair day: Her hair was tied in a ponytail, standing straight up, as Kenan said: 'We've all been there. You ran out of hair product, and you used Gorilla Glue instead'

Testimonials: They included testimonials from cast members Ego Nwodim, who also used it in her hair, Chris Redd, who used it to keep his do-rag on during sex, and Punkie Johnson, who glued decorative body jewelry to her forehead

Sharpie's next: 'And when we're done, we're coming for you too Sharpie,' Cecily Strong said, revealing her Sharpie eye brows, before showing her lumpy bottom, as she added: 'And silly putty, look what your putty did to my butt'

Not stupid: Kenan assured viewers that they're not stupid, as Regina said: 'We know it's gonna be hard taking a gorilla to court and suing him over his glue'

Class action: It turned out the testimonials were all from their family members, as Regina told Chris to get his hands out of his pants, but he couldn't because he Gorilla Glued them

'And when we're done, we're coming for you too Sharpie,' Cecily Strong said, revealing her Sharpie eye brows, before showing her lumpy bottom, as she added: 'And silly putty, look what your putty did to my butt.'

Kenan assured viewers that they're not stupid, as Regina said: 'We know it's gonna be hard taking a gorilla to court and suing him over his glue.'

It turned out the testimonials were all from their family members, as Regina told Chris to get his hands out of his pants, but he couldn't because he Gorilla Glued them.

Regina previously dazzled during her opening monologue, sporting a long-sleeve neon green mini dress with padded shoulders and a jeweled floral embroidery.

She joked: 'If you're Black, you probably know me from being in some of your favorite movies. If you're white, you probably know me from Watchmen... or this monologue right now.'

The Friday actress said she asked SNL creator Lorne Michaels for advice: 'He said, "Don't panic. When in doubt, play the race card." Then he did a little shoulder shimmy and moonwalked out of my dressing room.'

Kenan also came out onstage in a '90s chic Adidas tracksuit, and she asked him to stay for moral support.

He then aggressively served as her hype man with his own mic, exclaiming: 'Yea, yea, Regina King is in the house. Make some noise.'

The All That alum pulled out a bullhorn as she talked about her movie One Night In Miami, which recently earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director.

Regina became her own hype woman, as she asked for an 'owwww' from the ladies and a 'hoooooo' from the guys, before sending it to commercial break.

Neon dream: Regina previously dazzled during her opening monologue, sporting a l ong-sleeve neon green mini dress with padded shoulders and a jeweled floral embroidery

Fan favorite: She joked: 'If you're Black, you probably know me from being in some of your favorite movies. If you're white, you probably know me from Watchmen... or this monologue right now'

Moral support: Kenan also came out onstage in a '90s chic Adidas tracksuit, and she asked him to stay for moral support

Hype man: He then aggressively served as her hype man with his own mic, exclaiming: 'Yea, yea, Regina King is in the house. Make some noise'

Audience interaction: Regina became her own hype woman, as she asked for an 'owwww' from the ladies and a 'hoooooo' from the guys, before sending it to commercial break

On the market: Regina played a single woman looking for love in a skit, entitled What's Your Type?, a fake MTV dating show

Cringey white dudes: She explained her type: 'I'm looking for a sure thing, a man that will worship me. That's why I want a cringey white dude in his early 40s. Corny, awkward or douchey, this freak likes to binge on cringe'

Male feminist: Kyle Mooney played the first contestant, a male feminist who loves Kamala Harris and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, professing: 'I support strong women. And if you don't, shame on you. You should die!'

One hit wonder: Alex Moffat played the second contestant, who gave horrible performances of the Spin Doctors' Two Princes and Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

Super cringe: 'Happy Black History Month to you!' said Mikey Day as the third contestant, before spinning out into an awkward meltdown

Perfect match: It piqued Regina's interest, telling him: 'Do me right now!'

Regina played a single woman looking for love in a skit, entitled What's Your Type?, a fake MTV dating show.

She explained her type: 'I'm looking for a sure thing, a man that will worship me. That's why I want a cringey white dude in his early 40s. Corny, awkward or douchey, this freak likes to binge on cringe.'

Kyle Mooney played the first contestant, a male feminist who loves Kamala Harris and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, professing: 'I support strong women. And if you don't, shame on you. You should die!'

Regina's character was bizarrely attracted to the display, as she responded: 'That is some top shelf cringe right there. Mama likey.'

Alex Moffat played the second contestant, who gave horrible performances of the Spin Doctors' Two Princes and Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer.

'Happy Black History Month to you!' said Mikey Day as the third contestant, before spinning out into an awkward meltdown, which piqued Regina's interest, telling him: 'Do me right now!'

In another skit, Regina played one of five suburban moms who gathered to celebrate their friend Trish's (Aidy Bryant) birthday.

It quickly became apparent that they all gave her decorative wooden signs from a store called Home Stuff, as Chloe Fineman exclaimed: 'Home Stuff rules!'

'You girls know how much I love art,' Aidy said as she read through the signs, each with a common theme.

'Wine gets better with age. I get better with wine,' she laughed after reading, before pulling out another that read: 'Can you drunk how tell I am?'

Happy birthday! In another skit, Regina played one of five suburban moms who gathered to celebrate their friend Trish's (Aidy Bryant) birthday

Mom vibes: It quickly became apparent that they all gave her decorative wooden signs from a store called Home Stuff, as Chloe Fineman exclaimed: 'Home Stuff rules!'

Better with age: 'Wine gets better with age. I get better with wine,' she laughed after reading, before pulling out another that read: 'Can you drunk how tell I am?'

Not so subtle: 'I like you better when I'm effed up,' read one sign from Regina, as she pointed out a smaller one in the bag: 'Hey barkeep, I wanna die tonight'

Live, laugh, love: Her friends were confused as they thought signs were her thing, before she responded: 'They are when they're "live, laugh, love" not "my sponsor thinks I'm in bed"'

Home sweet home: Cecily assure her that she had one that wasn't about drinking: 'Home. Where the ho and me come together'

'I like you better when I'm effed up,' read one sign from Regina, as she pointed out a smaller one in the bag: 'Hey barkeep, I wanna die tonight.'

'I drink too much,' Aidy read from another sign, as she stopped finding them so funny, wondering if her friends were trying to tell her something.

Her friends were confused as they thought signs were her thing, before she responded: 'They are when they're "live, laugh, love" not "my sponsor thinks I'm in bed."'

Cecily assure her that she had one that wasn't about drinking: 'Home. Where the ho and me come together.'

Heidi Gardner also gave one with a similar theme: 'I'm sexually promiscuous and my house is dirty.'

For the next skit, Regina played a hostage negotiator, arriving on the scene of a rooftop hostage situation.

Before reaching out to the gunman (played by Mikey Day), she revealed to her fellow cop (Bowen Yang) that she just took some of his gummies, which were in an evidence bag.

It quickly became clear that the candy was drug-infused, as she started hallucinating the image of Pete Davidson as a life-sized gummy bear on the roof.

He started rapping: 'I'm a weed gummy / You should not have eaten me / I'm going to tell your family / I'm a weed gummy, and you'll be high forever.'

'There is a race of volcano people / They live underground and subsist on lava,' sings Aidy Bryant, dressed as another gummy, as Pete continues: 'We need to find them / They have the answers.'

Officer Regina: For the next skit, Regina played a hostage negotiator, arriving on the scene of a rooftop hostage situation

420 friendly: Before reaching out to the gunman (played by Mikey Day), she revealed to her fellow cop (Bowen Yang) that she just took some of his gummies, which were in an evidence bag

Bad trip: It quickly became clear that the candy was drug-infused, as she started hallucinating the image of Pete Davidson as a life-sized gummy bear on the roof

Volcano people: 'There is a race of volcano people / They live underground and subsist on lava,' sings Aidy Bryant, dressed as another gummy, as Pete continues: 'We need to find them / They have the answers'

Cartoon guest: 'Now say hello to Marge Simpson,' Aidy says, as Melissa Villasenor arrives in costume as The Simpsons matriarch

Greatest creation: 'Marge Simpson, you're not supposed to be up there,' Regina shouts, as Melissa gives a perfect (yet terrifying) Marge impression: 'I'm not Marge Simpson / I'm the devil / And you're my greatest creation'

All grown up: Beck Bennett then made an appearance in the sky as the Sun Baby from Teletubbies, all grown up

School assembly: In the episode's final skit, Mikey Day plays an elementary school staffer, leading an assembly for the students, where he introduces a feminist theater ensemble, who usually performs underground at 11pm

Age appropriate: After assuring they've come up with a more age appropriate show, Regina begins to give a poem, which is clearly about her vagina, but she replaced the word with 'elbow'

Doesn't make sense: Andrew Dismukes plays one of the students, who notices: 'They're talking about their elbows but pointing at their laps'

Double standard: When one of the poems makes no effort to substitute a word for 'dong,' Mikey notes: 'The parents actually had no problem with the penis content'

'Now say hello to Marge Simpson,' Aidy says, as Melissa Villasenor arrives in costume as The Simpsons matriarch.

'Marge Simpson, you're not supposed to be up there,' Regina shouts, as Melissa gives a perfect (yet terrifying) Marge impression: 'I'm not Marge Simpson / I'm the devil / And you're my greatest creation.'

Beck Bennett then made an appearance in the sky as the Sun Baby from Teletubbies, all grown up.

In the episode's final skit, Mikey Day plays an elementary school staffer, leading an assembly for the students.

He informed the kids that the magician couldn't make it, but they enlisted a feminist theater ensemble, who usually performs underground at 11pm.

Mikey introduces Femme Box, who he assures has come up with a more age appropriate show for the ocassion.

Regina begins to give a poem, which is clearly about her vagina, but she replaced the word with 'elbow.'

Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant recite their own poems, which are also clearly not about their elbows, despite the quick edit.

Andrew Dismukes plays one of the students, who notices: 'They're talking about their elbows but pointing at their laps.'

When one of the poems makes no effort to substitute a word for 'dong,' Mikey notes: 'The parents actually had no problem with the penis content.'

This week's musical guest was Nathaniel Rateliff, who performed his song Redemption, from the new Justin Timberlake film Palmer.

It was also announced that next weekend's Saturday Night Live will be hosted by Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page, with musical guest Bad Bunny.
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Heavy metal music is the soundtrack to Scott Kellers life.

Keller  elder brother of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller  has been influenced by the musical genre for the majority of his life.

The spark happened in 1982. Soon after, he picked up the guitar.

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Part of the appeal of heavy metal to me was that it was something my parents didnt listen to, Keller says. I remember listening to 94 Rock in 1982, and there was a clip from (Judas Priests) Youve Got Another Thing Coming on the radio. I was in my brothers room, and there is a moment where the drums hit. I felt the energy, and it changed my life.

Keller would see his first show  Iron Maiden  at Tingley Coliseum.

I had a chaperone, he says. That was my first concert, and Ive never looked back.

Keller, a business consultant, is one of four people chronicled in the documentary Rock Camp, available on demand beginning Tuesday.

The film chronicles the rise of Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp, founded by David Fishof in 1996.

The camp brings together musicians from all walks of life for an unforgettable experience with legendary rock stars. These musicians teach, inspire and jam with the campers over four days, concluding with a live performance at a famed venue.

Keller has been attending the camps for years.

His first camp was with Judas Priest  which fulfilled a childhood dream.

At one camp, he met Megadeths Dave Mustaine.

In the film, Dave plays my guitar, Keller says. What they didnt show is he started playing and we were rocking out to Peace Sells. Every experience has been life-changing for me.

Being the elder brother, Keller influenced his younger sibling.

Tim is known as the Metal Mayor, and I like to think I had a hand in that, Keller says. We were never in the same school at the same time. When Tim was in high school, he started to listen to heavy metal. We definitely began to bond more over that. He used to sneak into my room and listen to the metal albums while I wasnt there. I knew about it and never told him anything. I thought it was cool.

It wasnt until the brothers were adults that they attended concerts together  something they still try to do once a year.

We were at a Slayer concert in Las Vegas years ago, he recalls. Tim was already thinking about running for mayor. We were in the pit, thrashing around, and Tim turns to me and says, Im doing it. Im going for mayor. I was an eyewitness to this major moment in his life.

Keller, now living in Seal Beach, California, says the genre has brought him and his sons closer together.

The film chronicles how Keller has taken his sons, Lachlan and Jackson, to the camps.

I took Lachlan to his first when he was 12, and he was scared, Keller says. Our experience at rock camp was so bonding and exhilarating that we started a cover band.

Jackson was born with special needs, and Keller stepped away from music for some time to care for his son  even moving back to Albuquerque for seven years and living with his parents.

Jackson wasnt going to be part of the film, but the producers were around the day he told me he wanted to play bass, Keller says. Ive been able to play with both of them in camp. Now my youngest is interested in guitar, just like his dad.

On demand

Rock Camp chronicles the journey of Albuquerque native Scott Keller in music. It is available on-demand on Tuesday, Feb. 16, on digital platforms, Apple TV+, Google Play, Vudu
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
South Africa stopped the distribution of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine on Sunday, after researchers found that the vaccine "provides minimal protection" against infection from the new strain first identified in the country, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: A halted vaccine rollout is a huge setback for South Africa as it struggles to curb the spread of the virus and its variant and the country approaches 50,000 deaths.

The variant has concerned experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, since preliminary findings suggest the strain could interfere with monoclonal antibodies.

1 million doses arrived in the country last week, according to the New York Times.

What they found: Researchers from Oxford and the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa found that AztraZeneca's vaccine "provides minimal protection" against infection from the new variant, Oxford said in a press release on Sunday. The analysis of roughly 2,000 adults not yet been peer-reviewed.

What to watch: Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in an online briefing that the government would not proceed until scientists advised them on the best next steps, per Reuters.
They often post loved-up snaps together, and Love Island's Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott shared another sizzling snap to celebrate Valentine's Day on Sunday.

Luke, 25, shared the racy picture of the scantily-clad couple with his 1.1million Instagram followers.

The reality stars appeared smitten as Lucie, 22, stared at her beau wearing a sizzling red body suit.

Loved up: Love Island's Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott shared another sizzling snap with their Instagram followers to celebrate Valentine's Day on Sunday

The surfer and model, who has been with Luke for six months, showcased her incredibly toned figure as she posed for the camera.

She styled her golden tresses in loose waves and highlighted her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup.

Luke, who was a finalist on the ITV dating show in 2020, held her petite frame as he smouldered for the camera.

Gushing: Luke, 25, shared the racy picture of the scantily-clad couple with his 1.1million Instagram followers as he gushed over surfer girlfriend Lucie, 22

'I just love spending every minute with him!' The Love Island couple have been dating for six months and appear to be smitten

He showed off his heavily tattooed arm and chest as he posed topless in the steamy snap.

The Redcar native captioned the snap: 'Happy valentines to the most amazing woman ever, I love you loads  '.

On Wednesday, a social media post featuring Luke promoting clothes from Boohoo breached advertising rules, a watchdog has said.

He posted a video of himself on his TikTok account on November 4, 2020 wearing two outfits.

Oh dear! A social media post featuring Luke promoting clothes from Boohoo breached advertising rules, a watchdog has said

The caption alongside the video said 'Which look do you prefer' and 'Outfit from @boohooman #boohooman', the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said.

A complainant challenged whether the post was a marketing communication without being obviously identifiable as such.

The ASA upheld the complaint and told Boohoo.com UK Ltd and Luke to ensure that in future their ads were 'obviously identifiable as marketing communications', by including a clear and prominent identifier such as '#ad'.

Boohoo.com UK Ltd (Boohoo) said that BoohooMAN and Luke had a contractual agreement in place, which included an obligation to ensure all social media posts were obviously identifiable to consumers as an ad, the ASA said.

Upon notice of the complaint, the ASA said Boohoo contacted Lukes management to remind him of his contractual obligations.

They said that Luke agreed to amend the ad, to ensure that it was properly disclosed as such, and confirmed any future posts would be posted in accordance with their contractual agreement and the ASAs guidelines.

Luke, who has over one million Instagram followers, said that the absence of an appropriate label was an oversight and that they would make similar posts obviously identifiable in future, the watchdog said.

Despite this mishap in his professional life, Luke's love life appears to be going swimmingly as his girlfriend Lucie recently revealed her hopes that he'd propose this year.

She insisted he's 'The One' as she gushed about spending 'every minute' with the former engineer in a new! magazine interview.

When asked about if she believes her beau is set to pop the question, the model admitted: 'I hope so! Absolutely, he knows that!'
With the night in Myanmar came the terror.

In cities across the country on Sunday evening, armored vehicles moved in, along with trucks filled with soldiers in camouflage. Security forces fired rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas at a crowd. Troops surrounded the houses of government workers who had dared to join a nationwide civil disobedience campaign. Politicians, activists and journalists fled, turning off their phones as they disappeared into the shadows, hoping to outpace the men coming after them.

I suffered from the military dictatorship earlier in my life, said Ma Tharaphe, a government accountant who, like many other civil servants, boycotted work to demand that the countrys civilian leadership be allowed to return nearly two weeks after a military coup. But now I feel fear. Tonight will be a real nightmare.

While the generals staged a coup on Feb. 1, toppling an elected government and returning the country to army rule, they showed their full force on Sunday.

On Sunday night, ambassadors from multiple Western nations, including the United States, posted a statement warning the coup-makers to refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government.
Hungary goes all out on mass vaccination

With the economy devastated by the pandemic and a national election looming next year, Hungary has begun vaccinating its population with Russia's Sputnik V, a shot that has not been tested and approved by the European Union regulator. The country is betting big on the vaccinations to get the economy moving. A Chinese shot made by Sinopharm is also likely to be rolled out soon. Critics argue that by moving forward with vaccines that have not been approved in the European Union, Hungary's authorities are undermining the blocs joint vaccination programme which coordinates orders and distribution. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 108,545,364 Global deaths: 2,393,899 Nations with most cases: US (27,575,340), India (10,904,940), Brazil (9,809,754), United Kingdom (4,038,929), Russia (4,012,538). Source: John Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

Japan scrambles to find 11,000 physicians to administer vaccines

With Japan expected to approve the Pfizer vaccine against on Sunday, the country's authorities are scrambling to get some 11,000 physicians estimated to be needed for administering the shots. Inocluations may start as soon as Wednesday once the vaccine is approved and about 20,000 health and frontline workers will be prioritised. The vaccinations will be expanded in April to those aged 65 and older. Pfizer's vaccines are given in two doses three weeks apart, and the two-step vaccination of the elderly is due to be completed in a span of 12 weeks. Read here

New Zealand prime minister puts Auckland under three-day lockdown

Following the time and tested approach of "go hard early" New Zealand's prime minister has placed Auckland under a three-day lockdown after three infections were detected in the region. Restrictions have also been tightended across the country. The rest of the nation is moving to level-2 curbs during the same time period, with reviews held every 24 hours. There was not yet a complete picture of the spread of the virus, the prime minister said, and health officials were awaiting genome sequencing and serology results. Read here

China hits back after US voices concern over WHO report

The White House has expressed "deep concerns" about the way the findings of WHOs Covid-19 report were communicated, saying Beijing may have withheld some information from the investigators. Reacting to the allegations, China hit back at the US saying the US had already gravely damaged international cooperation on Covid-19 and was now pointing fingers at other countries that have been faithfully supporting the WHO and at the WHO itself. A 14-member team of experts probing the origins of in China's laboratories, disease-control centers and live-animal markets have suggested that the pathogen jumped to humans through an intermediary host species, indicating that more studies are required to come to a definite conclusion. The WHO findings have aided the Chinese theory that the virus might have spread to humans through shipments of frozen food. Read here

EDMONTON - Before Canadian Khalid Hashi and his team began their work in Somalia, the country of about 15 million people who mostly speak Somali and Arabic only had information about COVID-19 in one language.

Canadian Khalid Hashi, right, shows videos about COVID-19 in his app OGOW EMR in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, to front-line nurses and health-care workers in an undated handout photo. Before Hashi created the app, which contains information in Somali and Arabic about the novel coronavirus, Somalia only had public health messages about COVID-19 in English. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Khalid Hashi, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

EDMONTON - Before Canadian Khalid Hashi and his team began their work in Somalia, the country of about 15 million people who mostly speak Somali and Arabic only had information about COVID-19 in one language.

"It was all in English," says the Somali-Canadian, who was born in Ontario and raised in Edmonton.

The 29-year-old says he travelled to the Horn of Africa last spring to help kick-start a digital information campaign that would address concerns, misinformation and rumours about the novel coronavirus in a way communities and villages could understand.

"Initially, people were very hesitant to listen," says Hashi, who has since returned to his home in Edmonton.

"There's misinformation across every community. It was challenging and it still is challenging. But now there's more information every day on the virus, and people are starting to understand the seriousness of the virus."

Hashi says with the approval of Somalia's health ministry, he expanded an app he had created three years earlier to include videos and information about COVID-19 in the local languages. Front-line workers in Somalia went door-knocking to 45 villages and continue to show the videos on tablets.

"This content, (that is) really helping with prevention and risk mitigation, has scaled across four regions, has reached 60,000 (nomads) and there's about 100,000 impressions on social media," he says.

His team has since incorporated features on the app that send communities emergency health alerts about the pandemic.

Somalia has just over 5,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,000 that are active. About 144 people have died of the infection, said Abdihamid Warsame, a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Right now he's based in Somalia working on a research project on COVID-19.

"There's quite a lot of misinformation about the disease, that it doesn't really exist in Somalia, and it's a disease of foreigners. People don't really take the precautions that they should. And I think Khalid's work is doing a lot to try and overcome this challenge," Warsame said.

"There have been fewer and fewer cases as time has gone by. Khalid's expertise and his material and his distribution channels are definitely helping to contribute toward the COVID-19 response in Somalia."

Hashi says Somalia's health ministry reviews the app's content and makes sure it resonates with communities.

"We're not talking about a village. We're talking national distribution of this content."

Public health videos educate locals on symptoms they should be looking for and on where people can get tested.

"It really helps guide people for next steps on how to stay safe.

"We did our first video for a hospital that we were working with to help support our doctors. Doctors would show the video to their patients ... people saw value (in that) and now that content is going to rural communities."

Hashi says some of the videos he and his team have created in Arabic are being used in Yemen.

The idea for Hashi's original app came to him in 2017 when he was visiting his grandmother. He was taking her to a doctor appointment when he learned Somalia didn't have a good way to track medical records.

He ended up designing OGOW Electronic Medical Records to store patients' health details.

"OGOW means 'to know' in the Somali language," Hashi says. "I named it that because it's me getting to know my grandmother. It's a constant reminder of why I got into this work."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb 14, 2021

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship

Note to readers: This is a corrected story; a previous version said Hashi is 30.
Security in Northampton Countys district courts is better than it once was -- if your biggest worry is keeping the employees from getting COVID-19.

A large glass enclosure now greets visitors to District Judge Robert Webers court in Easton, for example.

But after a woman pulled out a knife on Thursday during preliminary hearing in District Judge Robert Hawkes court in Lehigh Township and stabbed herself twice because she allegedly didnt want to return to prison, county President Judge Michael Koury wanted to explain his solution to avoiding such violence.

The county court system plans to open Central Court on June 1, initially for preliminary hearings involving those currently incarcerated in the county prison, which is attached to the courthouse in Easton. After three to six months, the court plans to add preliminary hearings for those who are out on bail, as well, Koury said.

Anyone coming in off the street must walk through a metal detector at the courthouse at Seventh and Washington streets. Anyone brought to court from the prison is coming from an expected secure area.

Preliminary arraignments on night and weekend duty are handled by district judges through video from Central Booking in the prison, rather than in person.

And, during the judicial emergency during the pandemic, preliminary hearings can be handled in similar fashion, something that District Judge Alan Mege, president of the county district judges association, said is the safest and most cost-effective way to handle those proceedings.

In addition to the Central Booking location, the prison has three Skype stations that allow for preliminary hearings -- the final step in district court before a case can move to county court, Mege said. Software now can include ways for off-site attorneys to speak privately with their clients during the process, Mege added.

The video hearings, much like Central Court, save on the cost of transporting prisoners from Easton to district courts that can be as much as 45 minutes away, Mege said.

I think theres probably going to be a movement to expand it, he said of the video hearings. ... I think a lot of places find time savings and cost savings. ... The technology is there and is pretty cost effective for everyone.

But the state, during more normal times, doesnt allow preliminary hearings on video.

Rule 119 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure prohibits judges from conducting preliminary hearings by simultaneous audio/video communication applications such as Skype, Koury said. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court authorized the president judge of a county to declare a judicial emergency in the president judges county and during the judicial emergency the president judge was authorized to allow preliminary hearings to be conducted by simultaneous audio/video applications such as Skype.

I issued a declaration of a judicial emergency and an administrative order providing for preliminary hearings to be conducted by video. My most recent declaration of a judicial emergency is valid through June 30, 2021. As of now, I am able to extend this judicial emergency.

Unless the Pennsylvania Supreme Court amends Rule 119, my authority to provide for these hearings to be conducted by video will cease when my authority to declare judicial emergencies in my district ceases.

Thats when the value of Central Court comes to the fore.

District Judge Alan Mege.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Each weekday a different district judge would come to the courthouse and hear all the preliminary hearings scheduled for that day, no matter who the actual presiding district judge was supposed to be, Koury said. A different one of the 14 judges would do the next day, Koury added. It wouldnt change any judges overall workload, he said. When a judge is not in their court -- such as when on night duty -- some of their daily duties are picked up by agreement with nearby courts.

So it wouldnt be like night duty, where a single district judge handles all calls after 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 a.m. for five straight weekdays and both previous weekend days and nights, Koury said.

The president judge figures if all preliminary hearings were done this way -- and he still has to enact the order to require that -- it would save $1 million over five years in transportation costs from state constables, who are elected independent contractors. That would easily pay to retrofit a space in the courthouse -- possibly the jury assembly room -- to hold the hearing, he said.

Court administration would dedicate someone to handle the scheduling, he said.

But the added security would eliminate the convenience for defendants not in custody -- as well as witnesses, family members and others -- who could easily get to a neighborhood court but might struggle getting somewhere 30 or 45 minutes away -- and far longer if public transportation is even available, Mege said.

If they want to appear, they cant just go down the road, the district judge for Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township said. They have to go to Easton.

But Koury points out other efficiencies, such as the county district attorneys and public defenders offices being in the courthouse.

The real bottom line, Mege said, is that preliminary hearings are not the greatest safety risk to a district court.

If you want to see some real emotion, check out a landlord-tenant dispute. Or a civil hearing involving neighbors. Or non-traffic crime, he said.

They tend to get lot more heated than most criminal cases, which he said are a lower risk.

If that is done at county court with Central Court, that doesnt mean we have any increased security for the district court, Mege said, adding there has been a recent county security survey of those courts.

Koury saying that sheriff deputies and metal detectors keep the courthouse safe is correct, Mege said. If the district courts had metal detectors and assigned constables or sheriffs deputies, they could be rendered safer as well, he added.

For most court proceedings, there is not security personnel even present, he said.

Mege said he had little information on Central Court and could speak in more detail once he knows more.

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.

Boris Johnson will come under pressure today from a newly-formed action group demanding that international travel resumes from May 1.

It comes amid claims that the Government has in effect declared war on the travel industry with its advice that no one should book a holiday either in Britain or overseas.

The new group, called Save Our Summer (SOS), is made up of UK travel companies whose total annual revenues came to more than 11billion before the Covid crisis.

It is demanding that the Prime Minister and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announce a clear timeline for the opening up of travel.

The new group, called Save Our Summer (SOS), is made up of UK travel companies whose total annual revenues came to more than 11billion before the Covid crisis

They want this to reflect the Government's own projections that all the most vulnerable people in the UK should have received two doses of vaccine by early spring.

The group is supported by travel firms, which are guaranteeing that anyone booking through them will be entitled to either receive a refund or rebook their holiday if travel is cancelled or not possible due to Government Covid-19 restrictions.

They include Trailfinders, Easyjet Holidays, DialAFlight, Celebrity Cruises, Scott Dunn, Mr and Mrs Smith, Audley Travel, True Travel, Wild Frontiers, Elegant Resorts and Teletext Holidays. Henry Morley, chief executive of True Travel and co-founder of Save Our Summer, said: 'The travel industry stands on the edge of a precipice. A minister's job is to protect our industry, not destroy it.'

Mr Shapps was widely criticised after claiming last week that it was 'illegal' to book a holiday.

It is demanding that the Prime Minister and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announce a clear timeline for the opening up of travel

They want this to reflect the Government's own projections that all the most vulnerable people in the UK should have received two doses of vaccine by early spring

It came after Mr Johnson had earlier said he was 'optimistic' about summer holidays and Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted he had already booked his break in Cornwall.

Peter Stephens, founder and managing director of DialAFlight, said: 'I despair at the Government's lack of understanding of the travel industry. Most ministers have never run a business in their lives. They just talk for a living.'

More than one in ten jobs in the UK is in the travel sector, which accounts for approximately 10 per cent of Britain's GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

SOS is calling for a specific plan for travel from May 1 to boost consumer confidence and protect millions of jobs.

The group is supported by travel firms, which are guaranteeing that anyone booking through them will be entitled to either receive a refund or rebook their holiday if travel is cancelled or not possible due to Government Covid-19 restrictions

Whitehall sources have confirmed that coronavirus vaccine and testing certificates could be introduced when people are allowed to travel, and Spain has announced that it hopes to welcome holidaymakers from Britain this summer.

US President Joe Biden has also expressed his intention to lift the ban on visitors to America following news that more than 50million doses of vaccine have already been administered across the country.

Paul Charles, of the PC Agency and a co-founder of SOS, said: 'Give us all a break Boris. The industry is united in outrage. Senior government ministers have done a good job of torpedoing recovery in the travel sector and threatening jobs across travel and tourism. UK citizens should ignore their conflicting advice and book summer trips with confidence.'

Mr Shapps' advice last week for future travel was 'do nothing', a remark that incensed tour operators and was seen as a declaration of war because under consumer laws, anyone who books a package holiday and then has to cancel because of government restrictions must receive a full refund within 14 days.

They include Trailfinders, Easyjet Holidays, DialAFlight, Celebrity Cruises, Scott Dunn, Mr and Mrs Smith, Audley Travel, True Travel, Wild Frontiers, Elegant Resorts and Teletext Holidays

Mr Stephens said: 'A lot of our customers are over 50 and are desperate to travel. It gives them something to look forward to and helps companies survive. Ill-informed statements from government ministers are irresponsible and reckless  and exactly what we don't want at this time.'

In a separate development, Sean Doyle, chief executive of British Airways, has written to the Prime Minister saying that 'after a year of restrictions, during which the British people have made many personal sacrifices, denying them the chance of a summer holiday for a second year running is going to prolong their anguish'.

And Brittany Ferries has urged the Government to rethink travel corridors after hitting its target of giving 15million people their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Chief executive Christophe Mathieu said the progress of vaccination drives should allow reciprocal travel corridors to be opened up by summer between the UK, France and Spain.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is only visiting Chennai for three hours on Sunday, took out the time to meet spiritual guru Bangaru Adigal. As part of his jam-packed schedule, the Prime Minister handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank to the Indian Army here and inaugurated the Chennai Metrorail from Washermanpet to Wimco.

Adigal, who is 80 years old, is followed by devotees from almost all major political parties. A number of party leaders have visited him, including Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, several ministers as well as leaders of political parties.

Popularly addressed as 'Amma' by his followers before former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa became associated with the moniker, Adigal is the head of the Adiparasakthi Charitable Medical Educational and Cultural Trust. The Trust runs a medical and an engineering college among other educational institutions at Melmaruvathur, around 90 kms from Chennai on the national highway to Villupuram.

Adigal was a teacher in a rural school in Melmaruvathur village. He soon became famous for his spiritual powers in the area, and gradually in other parts of the state. In the 1980s, he became famous among ministers of then government headed by MG Ramachandran.

During that period, the Adiparasakthi Peedam used to hold a yagna every year on Marina beach in which thousands of people participated. In 1986, a big yagna was performed on the sands of the Marina and dedicated to the cause of World Peace. This practice of occupying the Marina for a few days in the name of yagna was later barred by the government.

The temple at Adigal's native Melmaruvathur village became famous, especially among women, as they were allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum. Even today, many walk several hundreds of kilometers to Melmaruvathur, which is located on the highway. Adigal, now famous mostly in the western region of the state, has named his son as his spiritual successor.

In 2010, Adigal's Trust was embroiled in controversy for violating rules while setting up the medical and engineering colleges. During the UPA regime, Income Tax searches were conducted across several areas associated with the guru. Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy had opposed the searches and wanted the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to return everything seized during the searches.

Following the controversies, Adigal lost some of his support among the people. But in 2019, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government honoured him with the Padma Shri, a move that led to criticism from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin and senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Pandian.

However, the present Telangana Governor and the then Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundarajan defended the award as he had opened the doors of the sanctum sanctorum of the Adhiparasakthi temple to women.

In the last few years, Adigal has not been in the news as much as he or his Trust were in the 1980s. It is only when political leaders or governors call on him that there is news about him.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Firefighters struggled for a second day Sunday to battle a massive fire that began when a fuel tanker exploded at a major crossing in Afghanistans western Herat province on the Iranian border, officials said.

At least 20 people were injured and many of the more than 500 trucks lined up at the Islam Qala crossing carrying natural gas and fuel were still ablaze, according to Afghan officials and Iranian state media.

Herat provincial Gov. Wahid Qatali said first responders were quickly overwhelmed Saturday by the huge, out-of-control fire. When each cylinder was exploding it was flying 100s of meters high, he told The Associated Press.

Two explosions at the border crossing were powerful enough to be spotted from space by NASA satellites. One blast erupted around 1:10 p.m. Afghan time (0840 GMT), the next around a half-hour later at 1:42 p.m. local (0912 GMT).

The United States allows Afghanistan to import fuel and oil from Iran as part of a special concession that exempts Kabul from U.S. sanctions against Iran. Satellite photos taken Saturday before the explosion showed dozens of tankers parked at the border crossing.

Qatali said officials were concerned that windy conditions Sunday could fan the flames and spread the fire to even more fuel-laden trucks in the area. He said the government was able to save more than 1,200 trucks.

Herat's chamber of commerce and industries chief Younus Qazizada said the explosion and fire started when provincial customs employees were inspecting a gas tanker. But an investigation into the cause of the fire continued Sunday.

If the government would have invested the income of a single day of customs (tariffs) in the firefighting department this chaos wouldn't have happened, Qazizada said.

Irans semi-official ISNA news agency reported an estimated $50 million loss of goods and consignments in the catastrophe. Qazizada estimated the losses were twice that much.

Story continues

Qatali, the provincial governor, said the investigative team will inspect video footage of the area but Wakel Ahmad Karokhi, a Herat provincial council member, said the customs facility was entirely consumed by the fire.

The fire spread Saturday to the Dogharoon customs facilities on the Iranian side of the border and first responders  including the fire department, the Iranian army and border forces  were assisting in extinguishing the blaze, according to Iranian state television. The Afghan side of the border crossing has its own fire department, but officials in Herat said they were never in control of the blaze.

Iran sent 15 firefighting units to the Afghanistan side to help.

The Islam Qala border crossing is around 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the city of Herat and is a major transit route between Afghanistan and Iran.

The Afghan government is working on an alternative to resume trade between the two countries, as Afghanistan is mostly dependent on imported goods from neighboring countries. Iran officials say that they will accelerate the custom process at other border crossings with Afghanistan.

The fire continued to burn Sunday and the explosions shut down the power grid between Iran and Afghanistan, leaving Herat in the dark, said Wahidullah Tawhidi, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Power Supply.

According to ISNA, Iranian authorities allowed 2,000 trucks to move into the Iranian side from Islam Qala to prevent further damage. Seven of the injured were transferred to hospitals inside Iran.

___

Tameem reported from Kabul. Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez in Kabul and Nassir Karimi in Tehran, Iran contributed.

Internet clampdowns in India have increased 27 times  from three in 2012 to 83 in 2020, according to the Tracker, maintained by Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), a legal services organization based in Delhi. Between 2012 and 2021, 468 incidents of internet shutdowns have taken place in the country.

On January 31, 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a temporary suspension of internet services in certain areas of the Capital Region, including Delhi's Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders, in light of the ongoing farmers' protests against the three new farm laws.

At 134, India saw the most number of internet shutdowns in 2018, followed by 106 in 2019 and 83 in 2020. Of the 385 internet shutdowns recorded between January 2012 and March 15, 2020, 62% were categorised as "preventive"in nature, wherein restrictions were imposed to prevent a law and order situation and 38% were categorised as "reactive"  restrictions imposed to contain an ongoing law and order issue, according to SFLC.





ALSO READ: Churn in the Jat community: Farmers' stir may upset the BJP apple cart

While most internet shutdowns lasted for less than 24 hours, 11% have lasted for over three days. Of the 385 reported incidents between 2012 and March 2020, almost 80% were targeted at mobile internet services alone.



In 2020, India was the most economically impacted country, according to data released by Top10VPN, a research organisation focused on internet privacy. Around 8,927 hours of internet blackouts and bandwidth throttling cost the Indian economy close to $3 billion and affected 10.3 million internet users. Around the world, over 27,000 hours of internet shutdowns were recorded, costing the global economy a total of $4.1 billion in 2020, data show.

Of 467 incidents of internet shutdowns since 2012, more than half was experienced by Jammu and Kashmir. At 69, the year 2020 saw the highest number internet cut offs in J&K.
Jamie Farr, Loretta Swit, David Ogden Stiers, Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell, Alan Alda, and William Christopher in publicity portrait for the television series M*A*S*H, Circa 1978 | 20th Century-Fox TV/Getty Images

Jamie Farr as Max Klinger on M*A*S*H dressed pretty flamboyantly and also said some outrageous things.

The actor himself shared in an interview the astonishing fact that his mother very nearly took the ill-fated trip on the Titanic in 1912.

Klinger as we know him almost never was.

Farr played Max Klinger on the TV series M*A*S*H

Jamie Farr in red dress and combat helmet as Max Klinger on M*A*S*H, 1974 | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Farr is one of the few surviving cast members from the classic war drama/comedy.

In addition to Farr, the other remaining principals from the cast are Alan Alda (Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce) who has kept busy with his podcast, Clear+Vivid; Loretta Swit (Margaret Hot Lips Houlihan) remains a strong animal rights advocate; Gary Burghoff (Walter Radar OReilly) has found his niche as a wildlife artist; and Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt) has turned his attention to social political activism.

Farr comes from a Lebanese-American family

As the actor would so often reference on the iconic series, his roots are in Lebanon, but hes an American through and through.

Born Jameel Farah in 1934, the actors parents arrived in the U.S. from Lebanon and made Iowa their home.

His olive-skinned appearance, Farr explained, enabled him to play a variety of characters and roles throughout his career.

Im certainly not going to play a Norwegian, or Swede, based on my features, but no, because when I got into the business, you could play Italians, Greeks, Jews, Arabs, Spaniards, whatever, he said.

He expanded on his feeling that actors should not be limited to a role based on their own cultural background.

Today because of the political correctness, unless you are whatever that nationality happens to be, then you gotta be that, he continued. But at that time everybody was an actor. Even in the days when they did Othello, you didnt necessarily have to be Black to play Othello. But were all so politically correct today that people cant play other parts and cant do things. Youve got to be whatever it is youre supposed to be. Sometimes I think that doesnt offer the challenge as an actor to portray something.



His mothers near-miss on the Titanic

Farrs mother around age 7 and her parents traveled to Europe to bring a young relative to America and at the time they journeyed, heard about the massive ship Titanic. They set about buying passage on the vessel and as the actor told the Television Academy Foundation in 2011, it was fortunately not meant to be.

My mother and grandmother and grandfather stopped in Marseille, France to pick up a cousin to bring back to America, he said. The cousin was late and my grandfather had a decision to make.

Farrs grandfather was intent on returning to the U.S. and soon. But thankfully, he was persuaded to wait for his family member.

Was he going to wait for the cousin or was he going to get back on the ship and go to America? The mother of the cousin pleaded with my grandfather, please you have to take my son to America. So my grandfather acquiesced. The ship that my mother, grandmother, and grandfather were supposed to be on was the Titanic. It went from Southampton to Marseille and then Marseille supposedly on to New York, Farr explained.

The actor, dependably humorous in his observations remarked, I want to thank a cousin I never met who saved my life before I was born.
Emilie Blanchards great grandmother, Emilie Theodore, was the second lady of South Carolina from 1986 to 1994 and captured hearts with the cookbooks she handed out on the campaign trail. She titled them Theodores Tasty Treats and named the recipes after her grandkids, and then her great grandkids.

Blanchard has followed in Theodores footsteps with a little less butter and sugar.

Last month, Blanchard expanded her plant-based, grab-and-go shop Tasty as Fit from Columbia, her hometown, to Greenville, where she moved when she was seven.

People still to this day will bring those cookbooks up to me, Blanchard said. She was famous for this blueberry casserole and gave me such fond memories around food.

Blanchards Greek heritage means that food has always been a big part of her family, she said. But when she moved to New York in 2012 with a dream of being a broadcast journalist, she never imagined she would end up with two restaurants and 35,000 Instagram followers interested in her healthy recipes that she says pack in nutrients without sacrificing taste.

Her first taste of New York was as an NBCs TODAY Show intern during her sophomore year at the University of Georgia, where she majored in journalism. She then worked in public relations at womens apparel company Jay Godfrey while doing an eight-week intensive program at New York Film Academy. But her favorite job in the Big Apple was as a fitness trainer at SLT  Strengthen, Lengthen, Tone  which taught classes using cardio, strength training and Pilates.

After marrying in 2017 and moving back to Columbia, she was determined to open a similar studio in her hometown and even looked at spaces to buy. While she waited, she decided to start an Instagram account called 'Tasty as Fit' to post her recipes.

I wanted the name to represent that, yes its healthy and plant-based food, but its also really good, she said.

Soon after, a working mom of four asked if she could pay Blanchard to drop off healthy meals on her doorstep once a week.

Blanchard agreed, not knowing it would be her portal to a new career.

The family friend shared her enthusiasm for the meals in an Instagram post. The next day, four or five more moms asked to be added to the list. By the end of the year, she had 15 clients and asked them to purchase glass containers to drop off on her porch for refills  something she now thinks was a mistake.

Wed come home to a pile of glassware on our porch, she said. But thats the thing is you cant think too much when starting something or you wont do it.

In 2018, she and her husband decided they either needed to go all in or back away from the project so they could reclaim their kitchen. They soon signed off on a space with a commercial kitchen where the meals could be prepped for pickup on Tuesdays.

Having it be a commercial kitchen helped me sleep at night because I knew if this didnt work out, it can be useful for someone else and not be too big of a loss, she said.

But her customers were soon asking for grab-and-go items so they could pick up food on other days. Blanchard listened, but would sell out of the grab-and-go items by noon and find herself apologizing to customers that came for lunch and left disappointed.

Every leap along the way came with a few weeks of figuring it out, she said.

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Her uncle was fascinated by the success of the Columbia store, coming by every day to observe. After months of learning the ins and outs of the store, he asked her if he could help her open a second store in Greenville. She agreed and handed the reins to her sister, who left her job as a nurse in Nashville. She also relies on a team of interns from the hospitality program at the University of South Carolina for both stores.

Restaurants are known for early start-times of 3 or 4 a.m. But that's not what Blanchard wanted for her staff. All items are made fresh daily, with cooking starting at 6 a.m. on Mondays and 7 a.m. the rest of the week.

Menu options at the Greenville store include a "chicken" salad made with chickpeas, "snicker bites" made with oat flour, dates and dark chocolate chips, as well as a Bolognese sauce made with walnuts and mushrooms. The store has a core group of recipes it uses but rotates what it offers each day.

The pandemic isnt the ideal time to open a store. But Blanchard felt confident after noting that Tasty as Fit in Columbia saw its sales skyrocket last March as people placed more focus on their health and immune system. The store was also already operating as grab-and-go so all they had to do to accommodate social distancing was set up an online ordering system.

We were one of the first in Columbia to operate in the pandemic, she said.

Vegan restaurants are still new to South Carolina. Happy Cow, which works like Yelp for vegan and vegetarian restaurants, lists only 11 exclusively vegan restaurants in the state. Greenville is listed as having 46 vegan- or vegetarian-friendly restaurants.

Blanchard thinks more dont try it because the food costs are higher when youre mass ordering quality ingredients such as coconut oil, Medjool dates and chia seeds. Sometimes she comes up with a recipe that would be too expensive for the consumer, so she nixes it. Blanchards dream is for everyone to have access to healthy foods.

We try so hard to get the best price for consumers, she said. We ask every supplier their price for each ingredient.

Instagram has been a key tool in Blanchards success, from the first order she received from her former babysitter to now helping her market her two stores with mouth-watering photos and eye-catching graphics. But Blanchard says the platform often doesnt show the difficulties of being a business owner.

With Instagram, so many can think its all glamorous, but Im telling you theres something different every day. A refrigerator breaks. A toilet overflows. And youre the one they call. But theres also something beautiful about it because its your baby.

Asked about plans for further expansion, Blanchard said she doesnt have an end goal.

A year ago, I would have said wed never open another store. So I dont know. I live day by day and if we figure out a way to expand where the quality stays great, maybe, but if not, Im so happy with these two.

Tasty as Fit is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3017 Augusta St.
So where is that Singapore? View(s):

For 50 years or so some Sri Lankan leaders fascinated by what Singapore had achieved as an independent nation hoped to emulate that city state. After all, they used to say, Sri Lanka had many more resources  natural and human, especially politicians.

Not that the architect of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew had much use for a plethora of politicians, particularly of the Sri Lankan breed, as he indicated to me during a conversation in Hong Kong where he was attending a major international conference and I was then working in the media.

Rather Mr Lee an astute, intelligent and a Cambridge and Harvard-Kennedy School-educated Singaporean lawyer had a certain admiration for Ceylon, a long time colony that the British tried to shape in its own fashion.

As Mr Lee would say, when Singapore parted from the alliance with Malaysia after the racial clashes in the early 1960 and Singapore wanted to be an independent state, Singapores leaders were in search of a model from which they could draw worthy parallels. The model Lee Kuan Yew picked was Ceylon.

That, of course, was then. By the mid-1960s Singapore was losing faith in Ceylons politics. When some of the South East Asian Nations were negotiating to establish ASEAN and Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman invited Premier Dudley Senanayake to join the grouping though Ceylon was outside the proposed region, Singapore Foreign Minister Sinnathamby Rajaratnam of Ceylonese origin objected reportedly saying there were Communists in the Colombo government though at the time there werent any.

When I eventually asked the time-pressed Prime Minister Lee why Singapore forged ahead from a Third World to a First World country and Sri Lanka which was keen to emulate the city state was still dragging itself virtually on its belly, Mr Lee now on his feet, looked at me almost sadly and said too much politics and left.

With all the attributes Prime Minister Lee first saw in Ceylon and some of which he transplanted in his new nation to make it one of the richest in the world with one of the highest per capita incomes.

While corporate tax in Hong Kong was just 16 percent Singapore charged 24 percent yet it attracted as much business as Hong Kong which had the vast Chinese hinterland.

A highly educated leader Lee Kuan Yew laid much emphasis on education, especially science, helped Singapore develop as a hub for multinationals. Sri Lanka provided free education and produced an educated and literate society though not with the same emphasis on the sciences and scientific professions as the city state.

The constant visits by Sri Lankans to Singapore seeking medical treatment and advice is proof of the reliance they place on the medical professionalism and the facilities available there.

So where did Sri Lanka fail so badly and is still struggling to get to its feet in the way Singapore has?

Admittedly not everybody, including some sections of Singapore society were happy and content with the way Mr Lee ran his country dealing quite sternly with political opponents though they posed no threat to him and there were only a few that challenged his party, PAP.

Dissenting voices were hardly heard, especially in public. The media were constantly under observation by the State watchdogs and foreign media based in the city adhered to the straight and narrow declared by the State unless they wanted to deviate and risk opprobrium.

When I first met Mr Lee he showed early enough that he knew what I had written about him. Laughingly he showed I had called him an authoritarian ruler, a dictator, intolerant of dissent and ready to prosecute critics.

Some Sri Lankan rulers would applaud that kind of ruler and were they to emulate Singapore as Singapore did try to emulate some of our features , this is the kind of governance our leaders would embrace to their chest with alacrity.

While Singapore would borrow the best from others, Sri Lankans do not seem to know the best or are quarrelling among each other over the worst or bite off chunks to fatten themselves instead of developing the country. That is probably why our roles have been reversed with progression on the one hand and retrogression on the other.

What brought these flashbacks and evoked reminiscences was an interview not only by one of Singapores multifaceted scholars but also recognised as a distinguished world scholar, professor of philosophy, veteran diplomat, author and too much more to mention.

It was a video clip of an interview given by Kishore Mahbubani, for 14 years Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in which he explains Singapores rise to world class status.

Although he talks of Singapores phenomenal success it also answers the question why Sri Lanka and other developing nations are stuck in the mud at the bottom of the pit.

Prof Mahbubanis lesson resting on three pillars would take too much space to regurgitate in full. Moreover it is not likely to convert the crooked and corrupt, the bad and ugly. But at least, if they can read they will understand who have pilfered their nations, who has robbed public assets and who have filled their family vaults by destroying the natural assets while preaching sermons on nationhood and nationalism as though just descended from the Himalayan heavens.

The first pillar is MERITOCRACY. Prof. Mahbubani says Singapore searches for the best people in the country to fill vacant positions. When it comes to selecting the countrys finance minister or economics minister, Singapore will not give the posts to their brothers, cousins, uncles, relatives. They will give it to the best.

This is not shouted from the rooftops to fool the citizens. This is practiced.

The second is PRAGMATISM. Chinas Deng Xiaoping said it does not matter if the cat is black or the cat is white, if it catches rats it is the best. So to Singapore it matters not whether it is a capitalist principle or a socialist principle. What matters is whether if it works well.

Prof Mahbubani finds the third pillar the hardest to achieve. That is HONESTY. When Mr Lee became prime minister he wanted to clean up corruption  not so much at the bottom of the rung but at the top. On one occasion when a deputy minister and his family were on holiday with a businessman, the politician was arrested on his return. What wrong had he done to be arrested, he had asked somewhat perplexed.

He was told he went on holiday with a businessman who paid all your expenses. That is corruption and he was jailed. Such resolute action against your ministers and officials scarces people and drives them to conduct themselves cleanly.

One of the biggest issues particularly in the Third World countries is corruption which keeps poor countries even poorer as politicians and their families, relatives and cronies steal from the people. These three pillars conscientiously practiced and the guilty-especially those at the top punished, helps to cleanse society.

Some countries will punish the guilty but only if they are from the opposing side. If they are from your side of the political or family fence why then they are released, promoted or given salary hikes to go out and play hookey. And people want to know why we cannot be like Singapore. Of course we can  if nobody insists on MERITOCRACY and HONESTY. The trouble Prof Kishore Mahbubani is that we are extremely short of both  like turmeric, tamarind and truth.
Televangelist Frederick KC Price, founder of Crenshaw Christian Center, dies from COVID-19 at 89

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Frederick K.C. Price, the founder of the 28,000-member Crenshaw Christian Center in California, has died weeks after contracting the coronavirus.

Our Husband, Father & your Apostle has gone to be w/ the Lord this evening, the Los Angeles-basedtelevangelists family announced Friday night.

We accept his decision to go as he got a glimpse of glory a few weeks ago. We are sad. Please allow us some time to process. He fought the good fight of faith & laid hold of eternal life.

Price and his wife, Betty, both tested positive for the coronavirus in early January.

Last week, Crenshaw Christian Center took to social media to state that Price continued to face health challenges posed by COVID-19. The ministry urged people to pray for the complete restoration of his lungs, heart and kidneys and any other parts of his body that were under attack as he spent weeks in the hospital.

To borrow a phrase from history, Apostle Price slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God, Minister Baltimore Scott, the staff administrator for the centers New York operations, wrote in a statement. We can all take comfort in knowing that Apostle Price is now in his place in glory that is beyond human description and beyond the peace that passes all understanding.

Kenneth Copeland, a fellow televangelist who leads the Texas-based Kenneth Copeland Ministries, had said two days earlier that he didnt believe the virus would kill his longtime friend.

For almost 50 years, Fred and Betty Price have been wonderful friends of our family. We have laughed together, cried together, and preached together. Weve stayed in each others homes and have watched each others children grow up! We have truly lived life together, he wrote on Facebook last Wednesday.

The first time I heard Fred Price in person was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Copeland added. He ran onto the platform and shouted, I am ready Freddy! What a man of God! What a man of faith and power! I dont believe this disease can kill him. We as a family, and ministry, are standing strong for Apostle Frederick Price!

On Saturday, Copeland explained on Facebook that he was contacted by Prices daughter and told of his passing.

The wonderful Apostle of God is looking his precious Savior face to face, Copeland said. Hes there with his spiritual fathers, Kenneth and Oretha Hagin, Oral and Evelyn Roberts and list goes on and on.

Gloria and I will certainly miss him, he added. Our love to Betty, the entire Price family and Crenshaw Christian Center.

Price is survived by his wife, four children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The Crenshaw Christian Church, also known as the FaithDome, was founded by Price in 1973. In 1989, the church opened its $9 million facility  a geodesic dome in South-Central Los Angeles  with a seating capacity of over 10,000.

Price, a proponent of the prosperity gospel, was also known for his Ever Increasing Faith Ministries television broadcast that started in 1978.

Price authored over 50 books touching on subjects like prosperity, healing and faith. Price founded the Frederick K.C. Price III Christian Schools, the Ministry Training Institute and the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy joined in with at least two Democrats who are calling for a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot  as he insisted Sunday Donald Trump 'wanted lawmakers to be intimated' by the mob.

'I think there should be a complete investigation about what happened on January 6,' Cassidy told ABC's 'This Week'. 'Why was there not more law enforcement, National Guard already mobilized, what was known, who knew it, and when they knew it, all that, because that builds the basis so this never happens again in the future.'

Cassidy was one of the seven Republican senators who voted Saturday with Democrat to convict Trump for the article of impeachment for 'incitement of insurrection'.

The Louisianan Republican told ABC News' George Stephanopoulous on Sunday that Trump's actions on that day fits in with the definition of incitement.

'I listened very carefully to all the arguments. But if you describe insurrection as I did, as an attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, we can see the president for two months after the election, promoting that the election was stolen,' Cassidy said.

'It was clear that he wished that lawmakers be intimidated,' he said of Trump. 'And even after he knew there was violence taking place, he continued to basically sanction the mob being there, and not until later that he actually asked him to leave.'

He concluded: 'All of that points to a motive, and a method. And that is wrong, he should be held accountable.'

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said Sunday he is in favor of creating an independent commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot

Democrats Sen. Chris Coons (left) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (right) said they are in favor of creating a 9/11-style commission to conduct a probe into the events that day

Cassidy was rebuked by GOP officials in his home state on Saturday after he voted to convict Trump.

The executive committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously voted on Saturday evening to censure Cassidy.

The group released a statement on Twitter which read: 'We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.'

Mike Bayham, the secretary of the LAGOP, told local newspaper The Advocate: 'Bill Cassidy is a senator without a party as of today.'

House impeachment manager Madeleine Dean and Senator Chris Coons, both Democrats, also interviewed with Stephenopoulos on Sunday and told him they would support the creation of a 9/11-style independent commission to investigate the attack last month.

THE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED 'GUILTY' ON DONALD TRUMP Bill Cassidy Louisiana Susan Collins Maine Richard Burr North Carolina Pat Toomey Pennsylvania Lisa Murkowski Alaska Ben Sasse Nebraska Mitt Romney Utah Advertisement

'Think about it,' said Dean, who helped argue House Democrats' case for convicting Trump. 'For the first time in however many years, we had an insurrection incited by the president of the United States.'

'The House was desecrated, the Capitol was desecrated,' the Pennsylvania representative continued in her ABC interview. 'People were terrorized. This was incited by the president of the United States.'

She insisted: 'Of course, there must be a full commission and impartial commission, not guided by politics, but filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their conviction, like Dr. Cassidy.'

Coon said: 'I think there's grounds for further proceedings, both civil and criminal against former President Trump.'

The Delaware Democrats made it clear, however, that he is ready to move on from focusing on the former president.

Seven Republican senators voted with the 50 Democrats in favor of convicting Trump for inciting the mob to storm the Capitol last month  about two weeks before he left office.

Despite earning the simple majority, Democrats were not able to reach the two-thirds threshold needed to convict the former president.

Cassidy was one of the Republicans who crossed the line.

After the vote, he declared: 'Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.'

The executive committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously voted on Saturday evening to censure Cassidy

The other Republicans who voted in favor were Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The seven have been blasted online by Trump supporters, and labelled 'RINOs' and 'traitors'. RINO is a term meaning 'Republicans In Name Only', and is often used by the right of the party to describe those they perceive as not real conservatives.

There have been calls for the senators to resign, or face being challenged by Trump loyalists in primaries before their next election.
Actress Gehana Vasisth, or Vandana Tiwari, has been reportedly charged with gangrape and wrongful confinement. This comes at a time when the actress has been arrested on allegations of shooting and uploading pornographic videos on her website.

The police have booked Gehana along with three men for rape, outraging modesty of women and obscene act under Indian Penal Code (IPC), as per a report in timesnownews.com. The fresh case has been applied after a 24-year-old model alleged that she was forced to engage in sexual acts with three men during a video shoot. Gehana's lawyers have denied the allegations saying that the actress has only shot erotic videos, the report added.

Gehana was recently arrested after she reportedly shot 87 pornographic videos, which she uploaded on her website. Following her arrest, Gehana's publicist Flynn Remedios issued a statement claiming that the videos produced and directed by Gehana's company GV Studios "at most can be classified or categorized as Erotica".

Miss Asia Bikini winner Gehana is known for featuring in the Alt Balaji web series Gandii Baat. Apart from this, she has also featured in a few Hindi and Telugu films and commercials.
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Actor Denis Leary, a Worcester native, showed support for the victims of a Friday night fatal fire on Sunday when he tweeted out a link to a fund to help the family.

Three family members all died after a five-alarm fire tore through a home at 13 Jaques Ave. Friday.

Lorraine and Woodrow Adams Jr. said Edna Mae Williams and Gerald Jerry Prince, Lorraines mother and brother, succumbed to flames on the first floor of the family home at 13 Jaques Ave.

Woodrow Adams Sr., 71, jumped from the third-story porch of the home during the fire and died on Saturday afternoon from his injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The fire broke out at both 13 and 11 Jaques Ave. around 7:30 p.m. Friday. The flames at 11 Jaques Ave. was quickly brought under control, but conditions worsened at 13 Jaques Ave.

Fire investigators believe the blaze started either in the basement or on the first floor of 13 Jaques Ave. and had been burning in concealed spaces for some time before it was discovered and reported. The fire remains under investigation but is not considered suspicious.

A total of 13 residents were displaced from the fire.

Woodrow Adams Jr. started a GoFundMe page to help the family rebuild.

On Sunday, Leary tweeted out a link to the GoFundMe.

A 5 alarm blaze fought by @WorcsterFD Friday night left this family devastated, the actor wrote. Please help if you can.

A 5 alarm blaze fought by @WorcesterFD Friday night left this family devastated. Please help if you can: Adams Family Fire Relief https://t.co/JpsSOlwSeS  Denis Leary (@denisleary) February 14, 2021

In 2000, Leary started the Leary Firefighters Foundation after he lost his cousin and childhood friend in the Dec. 3, 1999 Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire. Four other Worcester firefighters lost their lives in the blaze as well.

Among those firefighters who died were Jeremiah Lucey, Learys cousin, and Thomas Spencer, Learys childhood friend. The other four killed were Timothy Jackson Sr., James Lyons III, Paul Brotherton and Joseph McGuirk.

The foundation was created to fund improved training, purchase cutting-edge vehicles and supply fire departments across the country with modern technology and equipment.

A vigil for the three victims of Fridays fire is planned for 5 p.m. Sunday at 13 Jaques Ave.

10 Fatal fire at 13 Jaques Ave. in Worcester

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 19:36:58|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- With only a few hours left to Valentine's Day, delivery men in Kenya's capital moved briskly, delivering flowers amongst other sentimental gifts to their respective recipients.

Major busy streets have witnessed an outpouring of hawkers displaying both low-priced and costly Valentine's gifts.

The price of the merchandise ranges from 20 shillings (0.18 U.S. dollars) for candy to the more expensive gift assortment going for 22.83 dollars.

"In the last two days of operations, I have noted buyers are gravitating towards the less expensive items. Single roses and other miniature gifts are moving quite fast. I reckon the effects of the economy have something to do with this," Miriam Mdugu, a flower vendor told Xinhua on Saturday.

Valentine's Day which falls on Feb. 14 has largely been associated with lovers although some societies have expanded its significance to celebrate platonic friendships as well as family ties.

While not all countries in the world celebrate the day, in Kenya, it offers an apt opportunity for businesses to reap a fortune.

"We have been counting days leading up to Valentine's Day because we are assured of record-breaking sales. Last year the flower business was paralyzed if not dead, nobody was buying flowers, everyone was trying to satisfy their basic needs," said David Mureithi, a florist.

Mureithi runs his flower business in an expansive market famed for circulating flowers within Nairobi's central business district (CBD) and its environs.

At the time of the interview, Mureithi together with his assistance was hard at work curating packages for their clients and dispatching incoming orders.

"Securing orders from flower farms has been a daunting task; they are all decrying increased taxes and passing that down to us. While for some, the challenge of meeting demands looms large as they are yet to attain normal operating capacity," said Mureithi.

Official data put Kenya as Africa's top exporter of freshly cut flowers to the European market, the nation ranks fourth in the world with the Netherlands leading the pack.

Subsequently, the lucrative trade has provided direct and indirect employment to thousands of local citizens.

Nevertheless, during the peak months of the pandemic, some flower-rich farms in the greater Rift Valley region, were faced with the unenviable decision of disposing of healthy flowers due to a lack of market.

Also, several farms reduced their employees, choosing to operate with a skeleton staff to save on cost.

With the industry slowly rebounding, some farms are yet to return to full operation.

Despite the present challenges, Mureithi is optimistic that business will pick up more so because flowers remain a global favorite during Valentine's Day.

In line with the lover's themed day, some restaurants, mobile shops, banks, and beauty shops are offering discounted prices and a variety of enticing deals to prospective customers.

"Chocolates, teddy bears, customized cards, and expensive meals are appealing but red roses remain King. Every woman loves roses," Mureithi said.

Tim Owetta and his friend Steven Kaluki haggled with a sales lady not very far from Mureithi's stall. They are both in their late twenties and like their peers eager to experience all the adventure life has to offer- including picking gifts for their female companions.

"To my relief, my girlfriend communicated her desires for the day. It is less stressful this way," said Owetta.

Kaluki on the other hand said that Valentine's Day is the only one he spends sentimentally without feeling remorseful.

Conversely, Mathew Toet, a nurse in his late fifty lost sense of the day's significance citing his advanced age.

"For my wife and me, our expression of love is not limited to a single day. We do it every day in the simplest ways. Valentine's day is not a big deal to us," said Toet.

Toet instead is amplifying the government's call, urging Kenyans to turn up and replenish the country's empty blood banks.

"Maybe instead of buying each other flowers we can accompany each other to the nearest donation booth and show our love for each other," said Toet.

Kenya's Ministry of Health this week launched a nationwide blood donation drive to take place during the valentine's period. The move comes against a backdrop of a shortage of the vital fluid in major health facilities. Enditem
You cant use the same flowers for both occasions because thats cheating!

With Tet and Valentines Day celebrations falling within the same time slot, its the best chance flower sellers have had in a while to make some bucks. Its also a double reminder of the value of family and personal love during the tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnam is no exception.

Say Chuc mung nam moi and you know its Tet. Valentines Day is named Ngay Tinh Nhan or the feast of love or more simply Ngay Valentine. Traditionally, Tet has been the main occasion for expressions of love, fidelity, and bonds of affection. Valentines Day is less so as its only a recent addition to Vietnamese culture imported from the West; yet it is hugely popular with younger Vietnamese.

A very busy flower shop at Be La Market in Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Photo: Stivi Cooke

This year the emphasis on our ties to the people around us became never so more important when were faced with all the issues COVID-19 has exposed. Loneliness, job insecurity, and lack of physical contact with family and lovers ate away at our collective confidence. Fortunately, the strength of Vietnamese family values provides a good defense against some of these predicaments.

Life can be harsh in Vietnam for many, yet the Vietnamese are quite tough mentally and adapt to changing personal circumstances with flexibility that I wish the West would learn from. Locals might complain as much as expats on social media but therere more realistic and pragmatic attitudes. They show less denial about vaccines and the coronavirus while crucially moving fast to address their problems.

Theres still plenty of joy and happiness around. Folks in my area of Hoi An in central Vietnam were very busy buying stuff, cleaning houses, and having smaller but lively home parties leading up to Tet. And therere lots of plans for romantic stuff as Hoi An has been spared any lockdown at the moment. Ive always enjoyed and admired the locals habits of eating out instead of staying home; the sense of energy buzzing all around me is one of Vietnams greatest gifts.

No romance is on the table for me but I did manage to give a big, heavy basket of goodies to my Vietnamese best friend who Ive known for around eight years, helping me out of dozens of cultural and domestic hassles over the years. As friends, much of this Tets crossover with Valentines Day has a lot in common with both of us. Mutual respect, support, and a broad acceptance of the differences between our cultures are no barrier to getting along with each other. Well, thats one definition of love, isnt it?

Its nice to see the parallels between expat and local families too. Fancy clothes, celebratory lunches, and oodles of presents and a million selfies! It will be much the same for Valentines Day as couples show off their relationships. Certainly, some of the local traditional formalities have rubbed on the expats, have you ever noticed how everyone regardless of Tet or Valentines Day all poses rather stiffly and politely in photos? There isnt so much of the touchy  feely stuff on public display in Vietnam!

A souvenir shop selling Tet decorations in Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam. Photo: Stivi Cooke

In the years Ive lived here (up to my fifteenth in May!), Tet never really felt commercialized in the same way as Christmas and New Year in Western culture. Ive always been thankful for that  one of the things Ive loved about Vietnam is the natural appreciation for life; even if that is drilled into the citizenry from day one. And Valentines Day, at least this time, doesnt seem as glittery, glossy and over-glamorized  I hope its a sign of people getting back to some of the basic values of both events. Its the symbolism, not the materialism, that matters at the moment. Lets not give kids smartphones or lovers expensive gifts; how about a nice book or a day out in the sunshine? At least food is always in fashion! Forget the giant teddy bears, maybe hugs are better even if youre wearing a mask.

If Tet has reminded us of the value of family and friends in making it mentally through the stress of the pandemic, Valentines Day might be the somewhat painful recollection of how difficult it can sometimes be to find love and a great partner in life. Even though I have broken up with many lovers over the decades, Ive never forgotten what they gave me along the way so for me this entire holiday, festival, and celebratory atmosphere makes me remember fondly the good times and accept the bad times without any bitterness or wishing it to be something else than what it really was; its just life.

By the end of Tet, we can be very thankful for making around the sun another year while beginning new things in love, marriage, life, and plans for the future. As the expats often say in recent times, comparing life here to the rest of the mad, chaotic world, Im so glad Im in Vietnam.

Wishing all of you, wherever, a happy Tet and a fabulous start to 2021!
The chairs of the independent 9/11 commission want a similar blue-ribbon panel to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

In a letter released by the Bipartisan Policy Center, commission chair Tom Kean  the former Republican governor from New Jersey  and vice chair Lee Hamilton  a former Democratic U.S. representative from Indiana  suggested that the White House and Congress conduct an independent investigation of the insurrection and issue a public report with recommendations, including suggestions on how to strengthen the legislative branch of government.

Our country has been wounded, they wrote. A full accounting of the events of January 6th and the identification of measures to strengthen the Congress can help our country heal.

The letter was released before a majority of the U.S. Senate, including seven Republicans, voted to convict Trump of inciting the riot. But the 57-43 vote fell short of the two-thirds needed, thus acquitting the former president. It was the first time a president had faced a second impeachment trial.

Kean and Hamilton recommended the same course of action taken after the terrorist attacks launched by al Qaida on Sept. 11, 2001: A bipartisan commission with a professional staff and the power to subpoena witnesses, documents, videos and other materials to provide a full accounting of the event.

The shocking and tragic assault of January 6th on the U.S. Capitol requires thorough investigation, to ensure that the American people learn the truth of what happened that day, Kean and Hamilton wrote. An investigation should establish a single narrative and set of facts to identify how the Capitol was left vulnerable, as well as corrective actions to make the institution safe again.

One of the impeachment managers, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said Sunday that she supported the idea of an independent commission.

Think about it: For the first time in however many years, we had an insurrection incited by the president of the United States where five people died, Dean said on ABCs This Week. The Capitol was desecrated. People were terrorized. This was incited by the president of the United States.

Of course there must be a full commission, an impartial commission, not guided by politics but filled with people who would stand up to the courage of their convictions, she said.

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., agreed.

Theres still more evidence that the American people need and deserve to hear and a 9/11 commission is the way to make sure that we secure the Capitol going forward and that we lay bare the record of just how responsible and how abjectly violating of his constitutional oath President Trump really was, Coons said on ABC.

Support for such a commission crossed party lines.

We need a 9/11 commission to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again and I want to make sure that the Capitol footprint can be better defended next time, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on Fox News Sunday.

But the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, said House impeachment managers already established a full historical record.

We still have people, even at the trial, making claims that antifa was really behind it, not Trumps people, Durbin said on NBCs Meet the Press. Its been rejected by the clear evidence that was presented to us. I wanted to make sure that the Soviet-style revisionists on the Republican side who are trying to blame everybody but Donald Trump had a record in front of the American people that was clear.

So we have that record. And thats the important historic record to show this generation of doubters and any future generation.

The lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, called the vote a dramatic success in historical terms as more members of a presidents party supported convicting the chief executive than at any other time in American history.

I think that we successfully prosecuted him and convicted him in the court of public opinion and in the court of history, Raskin, D-Md., said on NBC. We left it totally out there on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and every senator knew exactly what happened.

Most Senate Republicans werent going to convict Trump despite the evidence, he said.

Theres no reasoning with people who basically are, you know, acting like members of a religious cult and when they leave office should be selling flowers at Dulles Airport, Raskin said.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
A Czech gunmaker announced an agreement to acquire the parent company of Colt's Manufacturing, the iconic brand based in West Hartford whose revolver "won the West" in American lore.

Ceska Zbrojovka Group SE indicated plans to pay $220 million in cash and 1.1 million shares of its stock for Colt Holding Company LLC, with possible additional shares depending on Colt's future profitability. The combined company would have $500 million in annual revenue and "presents a real small arms powerhouse," in the words of CZG's chairman Lubomir Kovarik in a company press release.

The deal would be subject to U.S. regulators.

"The acquisition of Colt, an iconic brand and a benchmark for the military, law enforcement and commercial markets globally, fits perfectly in our strategy to become the leader in the firearms manufacturing industry and a key partner for the armed forces," Kovarik was quoted saying. "We are proud to include Colt, which has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Army for over 175 years, in our portfolio."

Samuel Colt received his first revolver patent in 1836, with the company continuing to thrive under his successor Elisha Root after Colt's death in 1862.

Samuel Clemens would use Colt's Hartford factory as an inspiration for "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," published under his Mark Twain pen name. The story's protagonist travels back in time to the court of King Arthur and wins influence through engineering techniques learned at the plant.

Splitting into separate companies in 2002 with Colt Defense taking on military contracts  Colt was the original developer of the M16 assault rifle long used by the U.S. military  it would merge anew in 2013 only to file for bankruptcy two years later.

----

This article was written by Alexander Soule from The Hour, Norwalk, Conn., and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Police have arrested a third person over the fatal stabbing of a former Tory activist's son, who was killed in a 'completely unprovoked' attack as he went to buy a bagel.

Aspiring lawyer Sven Badzak, was stood outside a bagel shop with a friend in Kilburn, north-west London, last Saturday, when they were approached by six people.

The group chased by Sven and his friend, separating them, before he was stabbed to death at around 5.30pm.

Met Police arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of murder this morning.

Sven Badzak was stabbed to death in Kilburn, north-west London, last Saturday, after he was approached by six people. A 20-year-old man is the third person to be arrested on suspicion of his murder

He remains in custody, while a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old are on bail after being arrested earlier this week.

Sven's mother, former Conservative Party activist Jasna Badzak, has called on Boris Johnson's help to convict her son's killers, as she believes he was killed in a random attack.

The Prime Minister said 'absolutely everything' is being done to tackle violent crime after Ms Badzak, a consultant and financial analyst, called on him to help ensure her son's killers are caught.

Detectives do not think the victims knew their attackers and have no information to suggest it was a robbery.

Ms Badzak said her son, who was privately educated at Wetherby and Portland Place schools before attending Roehampton University, had gone to a shop to get orange juice and then to a bagel shop when he was attacked.

As he and his friend were chased at around 5.30pm, they became separated and Mr Badzak, from Maida Hill, west London, fell to the ground and was stabbed repeatedly.

The 16-year-old also suffered multiple stab injuries but managed to escape into a shop in Willesden Lane.

Sven's mother, a former Conservative activist has called on Boris Johnson (pictured left meeting Sven) to help bring his killers to justice

He is in a stable condition in hospital.

Ms Badzak said her son, who had a degree in sociology but wanted to become a lawyer, had met Boris Johnson and other well-known Conservative politicians when he was younger through her campaigning work with the party.

Anybody with information is urged to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5580/06FEB.

Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111
Gogoi, who is a former CJI, on Sunday was quoted as saying that the judiciary is in a 'ramshackle' state and expressed concern over the pendency of cases

Pune/Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday termed the reported remarks by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Rajya Sabha member Ranjan Gogoi about the judiciary as "shocking and "worrisome".

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said in Nashik that Gogoi's statement should be taken seriously, and added that the former CJI should have explained with "examples from his tenure" as to why he thinks so.

Gogoi was quoted as saying that the judiciary is in a "ramshackle" state and expressed concern over the pendency of cases.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Pune, Pawar said, "Last week, I read somewhere that Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) in one of the meetings of Supreme Court judges, stated that the standard of the Indian judiciary is very high. We all felt good.

"But the statement made by former Chief Justice of India, who has been now sent to Parliament, is a very shocking kind of a statement. I do not know if he tried to explain the truth of judiciary."

The NCP patriarch added that the remarks made by Gogoi are "worrisome" for all.

Pawar was speaking to reporters at the event ''Khayal Yagya'' organised to celebrate the birth centenary of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Talking to reporters in Nashik, Sanjay Raut said Gogoi was making the remarks after being a part of the judiciary for years.

"Gogoi's remarks should be taken seriously. There is a precedent that the judiciary shouldn't be criticised... Had Gogoi explained with examples during his tenure as to why he thinks so, the country would have been enlightened."

"But he is a Rajya Sabha member with BJP's blessings...You have been part of the judiciary for several years and after retirement, you say this," the Sena MP added.
South Carolina confirmed nearly 3,000 new coronavirus cases on Feb. 14.

More than 5.5 million tests for the virus have been conducted across the state. Over the past seven days, around nine percent of such tests were positive, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Over the course of the pandemic, almost 20,000 total hospitalizations have occurred that were related to a COVID-19 case.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 2,735 confirmed, 261 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 426,580 confirmed, 60,713 probable.

Percent positive: 11.4 percent.

New deaths reported: 76 confirmed, 11 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 7,149 confirmed, 849 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 75.9 percent.

How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people? 48th as of Feb. 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email

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Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville, Charleston and Spartanburg counties saw the highest totals.

What about the tri-county?

Charleston County had 242 new cases on Feb. 14, while Berkeley counted 73 and Dorchester saw 76.

Deaths

Fifteen of the new confirmed deaths reported were patients aged 35 to 64, while the remainder of the patients were aged 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 1,269 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Feb. 14, 313 were in the ICU and 184 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

The CDC encourages people to continue to wear a mask, avoid crowds, stay 6 feet from others and avoid poorly ventilated spaces. Dr. Linda Bell, DHEC's chief epidemiologist, said now is not the time to relax these prevention measures.

The CDC released guidance recommending that wearing two well-fitting masks on top of each other enhances their effectiveness.

People who are out and about in the community are recommended to be tested for COVID-19 once a month or sooner if they develop symptoms or have been around someone who has tested positive for the virus.
The circumstances of the incident are being clarified.

Three Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in a booby-trap blast near the village of Novoluhanske in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on February 14.

Read alsoDonbas war escalation: 13 enemy attacks, four wounded, two killed on Feb 6"Today, February 14, while advancing into position, three members of the Joint Forces were blown up on an unknown explosive device, near the village of Novoluhanske," the Operational Command Pivnich ("North") wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

The leadership of a military unit and military law enforcers are working on the scene. All the circumstances of the incident are being clarified, it said.

The Command expressed its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased servicemen.

Other related news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Enterprise Edition tablet has appeared on an official support page for the South Korean manufacturer. This adds more weight to the rumor that Samsung will release a Galaxy Tab S8 and likely a Tab S8+ for the consumer market this year. The apparently Snapdragon 888-powered slates should come in several communication variants.

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We reported about the likelihood of a Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series turning up this year a couple of times last month, with an alleged specs leak revealing that the change over the Tab S7 range would be minimal but at least there would be the presence of a Snapdragon 888. A slightly older report mentioned a Tab S8e, which may have just turned up in Samsungs own webpages as the Galaxy Tab S8 Enterprise Edition.

The tablet, which was spotted on Samsungs support pages for Ireland by the Romanian site androidu.ro, is listed as the Galaxy Tab S8 Enterprise Edition with up to 1 TB external memory, microSD memory type, and with nano SIM card compatibility. Samsungs Enterprise Edition models unsurprisingly offer greater support for businesses, such as four years of firmware updates, extended warranty, enhanced chip security, and remote configuration capabilities.

However, the mention of the Tab S8 Enterprise Edition here certainly suggests that iPad Pro-rivaling Tab S8 and Tab S8+ tablets will soon be winging their way onto the consumer market. The same tech leaker who provided a whole host of rumored specs for the Tab S8 has also recently stated that the device will come in a choice of communication options: Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 on Amazon
A nine-month jail term was imposed on a young man for breaking into two cars in the Bishopstown area three years ago.

Jonathan Daniels of Willowbank View, Fairhill, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Olann Kelleher at Cork District Court.

Detective Garda Dave OCallaghan said the cars were unlocked and the accused stole property from the vehicles back in January/February 2018 at Heatherfield and Elton Lawn.

The sentence will run concurrently with a longer term recently imposed on Daniels for a catalogue of offences including three burglaries, eleven thefts, three counts of possession of stolen property, seven counts of interfering with cars, one of stealing a car, three of causing criminal damage, one of having house-breaking equipment, one for having drugs for his own use and four counts of driving without insurance.

Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, said the defendant went to the UK where he got himself out of trouble and then returned to Cork in December, contacted Mr Burke and gave himself up to gardai.

Mr Burke said the 28-year-old got his life together in the UK.
It is said that movies represent the culture in which they are made. Assuming this is true, the contrast between what constitutes safe investments for the common investor in Western culture (as represented by Hollywood) and Indian culture (as represented by Bollywood) is there for all to see.

In many Hollywood movies like The Last Holiday or Trading Places, where the characters rustle up their lifelong savings for a particular twist in the plot, they always encash a cache built up in low-yield government securities (G-Secs) over a lifetime of hard work. Contrast this with Bollywood movies, ...
Neil Woodford, the star City fund manager who fell from grace when his Woodford Equity Income Fund was wound up, has apologised for his actions as he announced he will be setting up a new firm.

The billion-pound fund was gated in June 2019 after a run of poor results led to an investor exodus.

But as Mr Woodford and his team had bought stakes in so many unlisted companies, selling the assets was extremely difficult.

It was later wound up and Link Fund Solutions, which has sold off assets from the fund to return cash to investors, started paying out last January.

Now, Mr Woodford has broken his silence and told the Sunday Telegraph he did not want events in 2019 to be the epitaph of my career.

If I was running retail funds in future I wouldn't mingle unquoted assets in a retail fund Neil Woodford

His new venture, Woodford Capital Management Partners, is preparing for launch and Mr Woodford said he would not be putting ordinary investors cash into illiquid start-ups.

He told the paper: If youre going to run retail money these days you cant have an investment strategy that tilts a portfolio too far away from a very liquid, very FTSE mid-250 portfolio.

If I was running retail funds in future I wouldnt mingle unquoted assets in a retail fund.

Equity income funds are normally bought into by amateurs who ask a fund manager to invest in different businesses for them.

But, from reportedly being worth 10.2 billion in May 2017, the fund struggled to plug holes as investors pulled out around 10 million every day.

By the time it was suspended, the Woodford fund was only worth 3.7 billion.

Mr Woodford said he warned Link Fund Solutions against closing the fund and said had investors stuck with him they would be enjoying the fruits of that faith.

Saying he was very sorry for what I did wrong, he added: I cant be sorry for the things I didnt do. I didnt make the decision to suspend the fund, I didnt make the decision to liquidate the fund. As history will now show, those decisions were incredibly damaging to investors and they were not mine.
mfanukhona@times.co.sz

Mbabane  The continued violation of the countrys Constitution will make emaSwati assume that the supreme law was passed by mistake.

The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) say the attitude by the State and government towards the Constitution leaves a lot to be desired.

A Constitution is a collection of rules and principles which set out how a State will be governed.

It forms the framework for all decisions made by every government official and, particularly the Legislature (the law making body), Executive and the courts.

relationship

It also sets out the rights of everyone which must be respected by the State and therefore establishes the relationship between the government and the people. This is the definition extracted from the Myanmars Constitutional awareness booklet. Did we need a Constitution? Was the crafting and passing of the Constitution a genuine process? wondered Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, the Executive Director of CANGO. He said it looked like those in power were not ready for a Constitutional State.

As a result, Ndlangamandla said they had lost faith in the Constitution.

He said the blatant disregard of the supreme law made them to also lose confidence in the credibility of the countrys institutions.

He said the countrys institutions lacked the will to ensure compliance with the law which was supposed to be superior to all other legislations in the country.

He said there was no recourse in court against the violation of the Constitution.

He said there was no speedy trial for constitutional court cases. He made an example of a case in which a human rights activist challenged the decision to change the countrys name to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

commitment

Ndlangamandla mentioned that there was no political will and commitment to be ruled by the supreme law. He also pointed to the fact that there was no legal structure established to protect the integrity of the Constitution.

He described the Eswatini Constitution as an orphan as it did not have anybody who could protect it.

The CANGO chief said there was a general feeling or perception that the supreme law was only applicable to ordinary citizens while those in power were considered or perceived to be untouchable or not subject to the dictates of the Constitution. The general feeling is that the Constitution favours those who are in power, he said.

He said there would come a time when emaSwati, regardless of seniority or position, would need a functional rule of law, and the country would be in a difficult predicament to come out of a crisis. The violation of a Constitution comes back to haunt you. It catches up with those who violate it, he warned.

independent

Asked if it was ideal for the country to have an independent Constitutional Court, he said this institution was essential in bigger and advanced democracies. But, a small country like Eswatini can have a non-permanent Constitutional Court, said Ndlangamandla.

Judges can come as and when they are needed, he said.

He said the USA, for example, has strong institutions that could self-correct when a country has been in a crisis just as it has been for the past four years under Donald Trump.

Disadvantages of disregarding Constitution

Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of SNAT, said disregarding a Constitution taints the image of a country.

He said a supreme law espouses human rights in details and further assists institutions to relate to each other.

He said anybody in Eswatini who challenged government and State to adhere to the dictates of the Constitution is regarded as a dissident yet the intentional disregard of this law stalls a nations progress and development.

He said countries that violated their constitutions regressed, and many of them were in Africa.

When a government or State does not follow what the Constitution provides, it ends up not respecting legally established institutions, he said.

He said the violation of the Constitution also encouraged the habit of disregarding court judgments. He said human development of a country is based on its commitment to respecting laws, particularly the superior legislation (Constitution).

Investor confidence

A legal expert said a country which did not follow its Constitution cannot woo foreign direct investment. He said investors would be scared of coming to a country where the supreme law is just a useless piece of paper.

An investor wants to invest in a country where his business interests will be protected by the Constitution. Contemporary investors need an environment where they can challenge the Head of State and win or lose fairly.

They cannot come to a country where the government say is final, he said.

He said Parliament would never be autonomous if the Constitution was not an important document that guards the States functional organs, human behaviour, religion, human rights, culture, etc.

He said Eswatini was becoming a nation that is uncertain about the significance of the superior legislation.

Disputes arising from the Constitution

(Courtesy of the Freeman Online)

In society, conflicts may occur when a political party or individuals go on to violate the Constitution deliberately.

A constitutional conflict varies; it may happen when there is flouting of an unwritten constitution. It could also arise when there is an inability to provide answers to situations regarding the law;

Also, constitutional crises and disputes may arise when political leaders fail to live up to what the laws expect of them and a failure in handling significant situations based on the position of the law;

The endpoint of a constitutional dispute is in the paralysing of administrative systems and finally leads to a woeful fall of the government.
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Forecasters warned on Saturday that a strong storm system will blanket much of New Mexico with snow while pummeling the state with strong winds and plummeting temperatures.

The National Weather Service said several inches of snow were expected Saturday night through Sunday and that wind blowing through gaps in the central mountain chain will have gusts up to 60 mph in canyons.

According to forecasters, record-breaking low temperatures are likely, especially across eastern New Mexico.

They said dangerously cold wind chills are expected Sunday and Sunday night, and that road conditions are expected to quickly deteriorate as snow accumulates through Sunday.

The state Department of Health said COVID-19 restrictions on lodging capacity are suspended during extreme weather conditions and road closures.

Occupancy levels will be determined by what the local fire marshals or equivalent officials have previously determined, the department said.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

While people are encouraged to stay home or in their present shelter during extreme weather, lodging management should use their best judgment on when it is appropriate to open to travelers who are stranded or in peril.

Updates on road conditions can be found on the state Department of Transportations website, www.nmroads.com, or by calling 511 or 800-432-4269.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Chief of Public Security, Lt-General Tariq Al Hassan, has inaugurated a virtual workshop on the drafting of the second edition of the National Plan for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science. The event attracted 35 representatives of ministries, authorities and organisations, along with concerned Interior Ministry directorates. The second edition is a continuation of the first one that achieved 97% of its goals.

The Public Security Chief asserted the security accomplishments of unprecedented crime reduction. He said that Bahrain is on the right track, valuing the support and directives of Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, in enhancing security performance, professionalism and crime-fighting efforts.

He said that building on success leads to more successes and gives more hope for achieving the second edition of the plan. He said that drug-fighting is a community responsibility and a security work, therefore Bahrain has been known for working through an organised system, plans and mechanisms with integrated security, community, media and regional and international cooperation.

He said that Bahrain is the first Arab country that drafts and works within a comprehensive anti-drug national plan as highlighted by the United Nations Office Against Drug and Crimes.

The Public Security Chief explained that the previous plan included two main dimensions: the reduction of demand and support and strategic goals.

He said that to get ready for the second plan, there is a need to study the accomplishments and develop goals. He revealed that according to the classification of the United Nations, Bahrain is a transit point and isn't a production and consumption centre when compared with the spread of narcotics in the world.

He expressed appreciation for the efforts of all partners and hailed public awareness in addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science highlighted the phases and results of the first edition of the plan launched in 2015. He said that the second plan is being drafted by a Bahraini team of Interior Ministry affiliates.
Ramallah, Feb 14 : Palestinian factions have agreed to form a unity coalition government after the upcoming general elections, according to a senior official of the ruling Fatah party.

Jibril Rajoub, Secretary-General of the Fatah Central Committee, told reporters here on Saturday that the unity government will comprise representatives from all the Palestinian factions, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the intra-Palestinian national dialogue that ended in Egypt's capital Cairo on the evening of February 9, leaders of 14 factions, including the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah party, agreed to hold the elections.

In a decree issued in January, the President announced that the 2021 general election will include legislative elections on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug. 31.

"The agreement stipulates the legislative elections will culminate in the formation of a national coalition government that will implement the agreed mechanisms to end the internal division," Rajoub said.

He said the unity government will work on the path of unity of all the state institutions and agencies.

"It will draw up a unified policy that is based on justice and equality in all Palestinian districts," he added.

The last Palestinian presidential elections were held in March 2005 and the legislative elections in January 2006.

The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah.
At least 100 oil and gas tankers have been destroyed by an inferno at Afghanistan's biggest trade crossing with Iran, causing millions of dollars of losses, officials said Sunday.

The huge blaze, which broke out Saturday afternoon at Islam Qala port 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the western city of Herat, has largely been extinguished and an investigation has been launched to probe its cause.

"We were told that 100 or 200 tankers have been destroyed, but this number could be higher. We need more time to find out the extent of the damage," Jailani Farhad, the spokesman for the governor of Herat province said after visiting the scene.

Around 20 people injured in the fire have been taken to hospital, he added.

Videos posted on social media show towering flames and huge clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

The finance ministry said initial reports were that the fire started in a tanker before quickly spreading, causing "heavy financial losses", including of fuel, tankers and customs facilities.

A delegation has been dispatched from the capital Kabul to investigate the blaze, the ministry added.

Younus Qazi Zada, the head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday said initial estimates were of "millions of dollars of losses".

Large parts of Herat province were without power on Sunday.

Islam Qala is one of the major ports in Afghanistan, through which most official trade with Iran is conducted.

Afghanistan has received waivers from Washington allowing it to import oil and gas from Iran despite US sanctions.

Iran foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the border "was held open for trucks, cars and people running from the fire" towards Iran.

Afghan authorities called on Iran for help after saying it did not have the required resources to tackle the blaze alone.

Fire services from both countries were at the scene extinguishing small fires that still remain, Farhad said.

He added that Taliban insurgents attacked a nearby security post shortly after the blaze broke out.

Security forces have been deployed around the port to prevent any looting.

Afghanistan has been hit by a surge in violence despite peace talks that started in September between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough.

The rise in violence has led US President Joe Biden's administration to launch a review of a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban last year that paved the way for the withdrawal of all American troops in the coming months.
It is the responsibility of both the community and the school district to provide our children with quality programs in order to be able to be competitive in business and trades. If we as a community do not pressure our state officials and demand our fair share of state aid we are not doing our job for our students or you the taxpayer. We now need your help in letting Mr. Como know that his state aid formula which uses 25-year-old data is unfair to our students. Small city schools like Auburn are not receiving the funding they deserve and the students are not getting the programing and support they need to succeed. Due to the years of underfunding, tough decisions have been made that unfortunately hurt students. Class sizes have increased, art and music have been reduced, West Middle School has been closed, and fewer counselors are available to help students with their social and emotional well-being. Even though we are in the bottom 1% of spending per pupil in the state, Mr. Cuomos initial budget cuts our funding by nearly half a million dollars while other, better-funded districts in our area are receiving sizable increases!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, February 14, visited Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where he inaugurated several crores worth of projects. PM Modi first inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore. This 9.05 km long extension will link North Chennai with the airport and Central Railway Station.

He inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs 293.40 crores, traverses through Chennai and Thiruvallur Districts.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. The campus will be built in Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore in the first phase spread over an area of two lakh sqm.

The prime minister also paid tribute to the CRPF jawans who were killed in the terror attack in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir in February 2019.

"No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations," PM Modi said.

He added that the country's armed forces had shown time and again that they were fully capable of protecting "our motherland." The prime minister also handed over the homemade Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army. The tank is manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment. Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs, and several MSMEs were also involved in the project.

PM Modi also hailed the framers of Chennai for record food grain production. "I want to appreciate the farmers of Tamil Nadu for record food grain production and good use of water resources. We have to do whatever we can do to conserve water. Always remember the mantra of 'Per drop, more crop," he stated.

After Chennai visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate a slew of projects in Kochi. He will dedicate to nation the Bharat Petroleum's Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Complex at Kochi Refinery and Inland Waterways Authority's Roll-on/Roll-off vessels.

PM Modi will also inaugurate Cochin Port Trust's International Cruise Terminal, Cochin Shipyard's Vigyana Sagar, and campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh L Mandaviya will also attend the event.

Also read: Greta Thunberg toolkit case: Delhi Police arrests 21-year-old climate activist from Bengaluru

Also read: Mcap of 7 of top-10 companies jumps over Rs 1.40 lakh crore; RIL biggest gainer
A Newtown-based firearms association attributes a January spike in gun sales to the election of a president who pledged to aggressively pursue gun safety.

Its reasonable that the leader of Connecticuts largest gun owners group would point to a reflection of the last similar trend, which occurred in 2016, when Democrats were last in the White House and promoting a similar agenda.

Of course, the observation ignores that the sight of mobs rioting at the U.S. Capitol might also have inspired many Americans to bear arms.

The FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 4.3 million background checks last month, a 60 percent increase over the previous January.

Connecticuts numbers are not always in sync with the rest of the nation, in part because it has burnished a reputation for having some of the toughest gun safety standards since the tragedy of Dec. 14, 2012, when 26 students and staff were killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The 25,600 firearm background checks in Connecticut last month, however, represent a 63 percent year-to-year increase, more than the national average.

Activists in Connecticut arent wrong to try to shake Biden out of his honeymoon period and deliver on promises made along the campaign trail.

He spoke of the establishment of universal background checks and an assault weapons ban. Despite support from a majority of Americans, Congress has remained paralyzed to endorse such common sense acts.

Biden needs to recognize the path is clear to finally turn these into law. The Democrats have a majority in the House and Vice President Kamala Harris can break ties in the divided Senate.

He doesnt need to stop there, either. But while Connecticut acted swiftly in the wake of 12/14/12, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., remain bystanders as Americans collectively add to a stockpile of 393 million firearms, dwarfing the U.S. militarys 4.5 million.

It goes to show that Americans  and Connecticut residents are no different  believe in their right to keep and bear arms, Connecticut Citizens Defense League President Holly Sullivan said of the latest figures. And they want to exercise that right.

Ironically, many of those buying firearms and those lobbying for better restrictions share a common goal: Wanting to feel more safe.

The standoff has resulted in little progress. It wasnt a member of Congress, or a president, who summed up the problem most effectively.

The fact that (Sandy Hook) was eight years ago and still very little has changed is so unacceptable.

Those words came from 15-year-old Ashley of Newtown, who survived the shootings eight years ago.

Its not just the passage of time, but the subsequent shootings at churches, colleges and high schools that have yet to end the inertia in Congress.

If we continue to fight long enough and hard enough things will change, Ashley said.

They have already fought long enough and hard enough. President Biden shouldnt make them wait any longer.
A national day of remembrance, to be held when the Covid-19 pandemic eventually ends, should apply not only to victims who died with the virus, a grieving husband has said.

Author Philip Lecane, whose wife Kate died of cancer in November, said all families who lost loved ones during the pandemic had experienced similar difficulties in grieving under current restrictions.

The suffering of families unable to visit loved ones with the virus in hospital was the same as the suffering of those prevented from visiting patients with other serious illnesses, the Dublin-based writer said.

"When my wife Kate experienced stomach pains last May, it took a week-and-a-half to persuade her to get a hospital check-up as she was afraid in case she contracted Covid," Mr Lecane said.

"When she was admitted to hospital I couldn't visit her. It took five days before I got to speak to a doctor on the phone. Kate was diagnosed with cancer.

"I was not allowed to visit for most of the time. When she came home, her family and friends were not allowed to visit her.

"She died in hospital on November 27. As with all who die in these perilous times, Kate had a restricted church service and funeral where I was deprived of the comfort and support of many friends and neighbours."

He said his experiences mirrored those of many bereaved families.

Retired nurse and midwife Ms Lecane (65) was "kind, gentle and brave".

"Kate faced her illness with honesty, courage and dignity," her heartbroken husband said. "We spoke about the implications of the illness, our love for each other and the joy each had brought to the other. I miss Kate every day."

Mr Lecane, who has written books on Irish aspects of World War I, said he felt hurt by suggestions that a national day of remembrance after the pandemic should be only for those who died with Covid.

"A truly inclusive and healing" event would include all who had died during the pandemic, he added.

Father Donal Roche, the administrator of Wicklow town and Rathnew, said there had been 70 funerals in his parish since the latest lockdown began and up to 20 had died with Covid-19.

He said all bereaved families were deprived of the support and comfort common to Irish funerals in normal times. In the cases of large families, adults mourning parents were unable to have their spouses or children beside them in church because of the 10-person limit.

"Also, handshakes and hugs can be better than words at funerals, but these could not be allowed," Fr Roche said.

There was no distinguishing between the grief of families, and all who had suffered losses should be included in any future national commemoration.

It could include a televised address by President Michael D Higgins, a holiday could be declared, and each community could come together on that day, Fr Roche said.

A spokesman for President Higgins said he shared the wishes of people to put the Covid-19 experience behind them, and he would participate in any plan for a national day of remembrance.

A government spokesman referred to its Covid Plan, which states that when the time is right, "events will be developed to commemorate those we have lost, to celebrate all those who have helped us survive and endure and ensure there is support for all those who feel alone or lost".
Former President Donald was acquitted by the Senate Saturday on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol after an unprecedented second impeachment trial that exposed a Republican Party deeply divided over Trumps conduct and uneasy with his continued role in public life.

The vote was 57-43, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for a conviction but significantly with seven Republicans joining with Democrats and independents in finding guilty on the single impeachment count.

It was the most Senate support to convict a president since Andrew Johnsons impeachment trial in 1868. Although the impeachment and the events that precipitated it may have soured some voters on Trump, the acquittal leaves the door open to running for president again in 2024.

Few Senate Republicans have defended Trumps behavior, and even allies like John Cornyn of Texas called his remarks before the storming of the Capitol reckless. But in the end, most voted to acquit the president, who continues to have a fervent following among Republican voters.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had criticized Trumps attempt to overturn the election even before the riot, was among the not guilty votes. After the verdict, McConnell excoriated Trump, saying he is practically and morally responsible for sparking the riot.

Trump seemed determined to either overturn voters decision or torch our institutions on the way out, McConnell said on the Senate floor. But he said he concluded that because Trump already is out of office he could not be eligible for the punishment of impeachment.

The seven Republican votes represented a surprising break in the Republican solidarity that had largely held through four tumultuous years of Trumps presidency.





ALSO READ: Impeachment trial: Donald Trump's defense wraps up case in three hours

Only one GOP senator, Utahs Mitt Romney, voted to convict Trump on one impeachment article in his first impeachment trial a little over a year ago. This time Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania joined with Romney in voting to convict Trump.

Sasse, in a statement, cited Trumps lies about the election and his efforts to overturn the election.

Those lies had consequences, endangering the life of the vice president and bringing us dangerously close to a bloody constitutional crisis, Sasse said. Each of these actions are violations of a presidents oath of office.

Trump reaction

In his statement, Trump thanked his defense attorneys and members of Congress who backed him while decrying the impeachment.

This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country, Trump said in the statement. No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago.

The verdict came after three days of opening arguments from the House impeachment managers and the defense and questions from senators.

The proceedings were sidetracked on Saturday after a request for witness testimony from House impeachment managers.

The request took Senate Democrats by surprise. They were notified at 9:55 a.m. -- just five minutes before the Senate convened -- that the House managers planned to seek witnesses, according to a Democrat familiar with what occurred.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had earlier completed a call with all Democrats in the chamber and urged them to support whatever decision the managers made, and all Democrats voted for witnesses. But after that, it was clear the managers did not have a plan, the Democrat said.



ALSO READ: Donald Trump's lawyers decry impeachment case as political vengeance

After the Senate voted to hold a debate on witnesses House impeachment managers and Trumps defense struck a deal that allowed the prosecution to enter into the record a statement from Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler about her secondhand account of a phone call between Trump and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Herrera Beutler, one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in the House, said in the publicly released statement that McCarthy told her he asked Trump to call off his supporters. According to Herrera Beutlers account, Trump first claimed that the rioters were members of the leftist movement Antifa. When McCarthy responded that they were indeed his supporters, Trump told him, Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are, Herrera Beutler said in the statement.

A battle over witnesses -- Trumps attorney threatened to seek depositions from 100 or more -- risked dragging out the trial, potentially delaying work on President Joe Bidens agenda. An administration official said the White House wasnt involved in the discussions or finding the compromise.

With the issue settled, the two sides moved into closing arguments.

The evidence, the video, documentary, eyewitnesses have only grown stronger and stronger and more detailed right up until today  right up to 10 minutes ago  over the course of this Senate trial, lead impeachment manager Representative Jamie Raskin said in his closing argument.

During the trial, Senators mostly sat at their desks as the prosecution showed multiple videos of the Capitol overrun by a mob and police officers pummeled, sprayed with bear spray, crushed in doors or assaulted with flagpoles. The images were juxtaposed with videos of Trumps address to the crowd that day as well his past statements and images of tweets.

The presentation by House impeachment managers included many previously unseen clips showing just how close a violent crowd was to successfully hunting down Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other lawmakers who had rejected Trumps baseless claim that the presidential election had been stolen from him.

Democratic managers accused Trump of summoning the mob, telling them to fight like hell to overturn the election and then engaging in a dereliction of duty as he stood by without acting to protect the Capitol for hours.

Rep. David Cicilline lays out the timeline of Trumps tweets in correlation with the Capitol insurrection as the Senate begins closing arguments in Trump's 2nd impeachment trial pic.twitter.com/3coNVoyOgx

The defense arguments took barely three hours, in part reflecting confidence that there wouldnt be enough Republican votes for conviction.

Trumps lawyers said that the words used by the then-president in front of the crowd that eventually marched to the Capitol were common political rhetoric. They showed video montages of Democrats challenging the electoral vote count after Trumps election and using the word fight repeatedly in interviews and speeches.

Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen said the former presidents fiery speech before the attack on the Capitol was protected by the First Amendment, and punishing it with impeachment would set a dangerous precedent forever.

He and other members of the defense team argued that Trump had no control over the crowd and that the impeachment was a political act meant to stifle speech that the Democratic majority doesnt like.





ALSO READ: House Democrats say Donald Trump might incite violence again if acquitted

Several Republican senators praised the House impeachment managers for their skill in connecting Trumps months of claims the election would be stolen, followed by lies that Joe Bidens victory was fraudulent, to the incitement of the mob that day and to the violence that followed.

But many of them, like Roy Blunt of Missouri, the No. 4 Republican, had already taken a convenient off-ramp to avoid holding Trump to account: Since Trump was no longer president, they said, the trial wasnt constitutional.

The trial didnt occur while Trump was still president because McConnell announced Jan. 13 he would refuse to convene the Senate to hold a snap trial after the House vote to impeach him on a single article of incitement of insurrection.

Trumps lawyers  after a rocky start to the trial with a meandering, rambling opening by Bruce Castor  eventually hammered home what they considered their hole card: Trumps one line in his speech Jan. 6th where he called on his followers to peacefully march on the Capitol. They also played extensive tapes of Democrats urging their followers to fight, arguing that there was a double standard.

They contended Trump did not want a violent insurrection but instead a constitutionally protected protest.

Republicans now face a reckoning. Trump has already promised retribution in 2022 against Republicans who crossed him, and in 2024 should he decide to run again, polls show him damaged but still the front-runner among Republicans.

(With assistance from Laura Litvan and Mike Dorning.)
Charges have been dropped against two women who attempted to smuggle immigrants through Laredo Sector Border Patrol checkpoints.

The U.S. Attorneys Office dismissed without prejudice the cases against Becky Renee Landry and Tammy Ballard Cassels, according to court documents. Each was allegedly transporting four immigrants in the vehicles they were driving.

Requests for comment on the dismissal of charges went unanswered.

Cassels case unfolded at about 7:20 p.m. Feb. 6, when she arrived in a Ford F-150 towing a cargo box trailer at the checkpoint located 16 miles west of Freer. She stated she was on her way to Corpus Christi and added that she was moving out of Laredo, according to court documents.

A K-9 unit then allegedly alerted to possible contraband in the cargo box trailer. Cassels was then referred to secondary examination for further inspection.

(Agents) conducted a search of the interior box trailer and discovered four subjects concealed within several kitchen cabinets located inside the trailer, states the arrest affidavit.

Cassels invoked her right to an attorney following her arrest.

Landrys case unfolded at about 5:25 p.m. Feb. 7. Landry arrived in a white Toyota Camry at the checkpoint on Interstate 35. An agent noticed that Landry appeared to be extremely nervous, states the affidavit. She was allegedly fidgeting and appeared to be anxious to leave the primary inspection area.

The agent also noticed a lot of shopping bags inside the vehicle. Landry claimed she had just came down to do some shopping, states the affidavit.

She allegedly allowed the agent to look inside the trunk and looked for the trunk button with anxiety. Agents then discovered four immigrants inside the trunk. She invoked her right to an attorney after her arrest.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2021 ) :Britain said Saturday it will use the first leaders' meeting of its G7 presidency next week to seek more global cooperation on coronavirus vaccine distribution and post-pandemic recovery plans.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host G7 heads of state for a virtual meeting on Friday, their first gathering since April 2020 and US President Joe Biden's first major multilateral engagement since taking office last month.

They are meeting at a seaside retreat in Cornwall in southwestern England on June 11-13, after last year's gathering in the United States was shelved because of the pandemic.

Johnson is eager to boost Britain's post-Brexit profile and his own international standing, after criticism of his tactics during the country's fraught divorce from the European Union and his support for ex-US president Donald Trump.

He has vowed to focus his G7 presidency on better coordinating the international response to the pandemic, as well as climate change ahead of Britain hosting a UN conference on climate change, COP26, in November.

"The solutions to the challenges we face... lie in the discussions we have with our friends and partners around the world," Johnson said in a statement released late Saturday.

He added "quantum leaps in science" had helped produce the Covid-19 vaccines needed to end the pandemic, and that world governments now had a responsibility to work together to distribute them.

"I hope 2021 will be remembered as the year humanity worked together like never before to defeat a common foe," Johnson said.

Friday's virtual gathering will see him host the leaders of the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the EU Commission.

Later in February, he will also chair a virtual meeting of the UN Security Council on the link between climate change and conflict -- the first time a UK leader has chaired such a session since 1992.

The discussions at the meeting will inform crucial action ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit to be held November 1-12 in the Scottish city of Glasgow, his Downing Street Office said.
Lots of people hope for a picture-perfect romantic date on Valentine's Day, but sometimes it just doesn't go to plan.

People from around the world have revealed their most embarrassing stories from February 14 in anonymous posts on the confessions website Whisper.

The tales of woe include an unfortunate dater who wet themselves during a romantic liaison when they were 16, and another who threw up over her beloved after eating 'bad sushi'.

Here, FEMAIL shares a selection of the most cringe-worthy confessions...

Wish it was a joke: One person wet themselves on a date when they were 16 and the date was on Valentine's Day

Painful memory: Someone admitted they can't eat sushi anymore after they threw up all over their date and the table after eating it

Awkward: One person admitted that, after they went to surprise their girlfriend on Valentine's Day, they found another man there

Oops! Someone else admitted to a clumsy mistake of falling down the stairs at the movies, which ended up with their shoe hitting their date's face

'UGH': One person ended up sitting at an expensive restaurant for 45 minutes after their date stood them up

Lesson learned: Someone admitted to drinking too much champagne on Valentine's Day, which resulted in them vomiting on their boyfriend during sex

Change of heart: One person said they were waiting for their date at the restaurant, only for them to turn around and leave as soon as they saw their date

Found out: One wife found her partner was chatting to escorts after she was 'out of town on business on Valentine's Day' and sent the messages to her partner's mother

Messy end: Someone's date ended messily after trying to put her leftovers in a takeaway box but ended up dumping it all over their lap

High school embarrassment: Someone wrote their crush a Valentine's note, but he read it out in front of everyone at lunchtime

'Mortified': After leaving all their credit cards at home, someone's 'new girlfriend' ended up having to pay for their meal

Susan McKinney is the librarian at St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library. She received her masters in library science from the University of Illinois. She came here from Indiana for graduate school and fell in love with the area. She has lived here ever since. She is an avid reader and enjoys mystery, suspense, fantasy and action novels.
Donald Trump has now been saved twice by Republicans in the Senate (Getty Images)

For a short while, at least, it appeared anything was possible.

On Saturday morning, as Democrats prepared to make their closing statement in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, it seemed they had a joker up their collective sleeve.

Overnight, it had emerged that a Republican congresswoman from Washington state was prepared to testify about a chilling phone call Trump had with a top GOP official, even as rioters swept through the US Capitol on 6 January.

Jaime Herrera Beutler had told constituents, and then the media, that Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy revealed to her he had pleaded with Trump to call off the rioters, only to be told: Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.

Not only was she speaking out, but she was urging other Republicans to do so as well. Suddenly, the Senate voted 55-45 to allow witnesses, and there was heated speculation about deposing Herrera Beutler.

And if they deposed the Republican from Washingtons third congressional district, why not depose Mike Pence, and have him testify as to what was going through his mind on the the afternoon of 6 January, as his Secret Service detail was evacuating him to a safe location in the Capitol, even as Trump tweeted that he had failed to stand up for democracy?

Would enough Republicans decide their lives, and the lives of their Democratic colleagues, had been placed in such peril by Trump and the actions of his supporters, who he had urged to fight like hell, that they would from break from him, and vote to convict. And if they voted to convict, might they then also vote to block him from holding office again?

It was not to be. After a break of less than an hour, the hearing reconvened to hear that Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin would read Herrera Beutlers statement into the record for senators to consider, but that she would not be called to give evidence, and there was no plan to call any other witnesses.

Story continues

What had happened?

In short, Democrats knew that for all the evidence they had shown suggesting a convincing case that Trump had indeed incited an insurrection, an episode that left five people dead, including a police officer, they just did not have the numbers.

They also knew there was little enthusiasm in the White House for dragging this on for the sake of it. They were also aware of the threats of Republican senators to block all Joe Bidens agenda if they went ahead and called dozens of witnesses.

READ OUR IMPEACHMENT LIVE BLOG

Shortly afterwards, a vote was called. An astonishing seven Republicans voted with Democrats, 57-43, to convict Trump, but it was still 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority they required. For the second time in barely 12 months, the former president had been impeached by the House, but then not convicted by the Senate.

It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree, Trump claimed in a statement.

Many of those looking to heap blame turned to Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, who had let it be known he was voting to acquit Trump. He later spoke from the Senate floor, and delivered a damning condemnation of the former president, accusing him of a disgraceful dereliction of duty.

They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth. Because he was angry. He had lost an election. Former President Trumps actions preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty, McConnell said.

He added: Theres no question  none  that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.

When Nancy Pelosi then accused of McConnell of cowardice, many would have agreed. For four years, the Kentucky senator acted as Trumps enabler, despite apparently deeply disliking him and his style of politics.

Or was McConnell simply putting party over principle once again?

The Republican knows that while Trump may be a weakened force, he is far from finished. Whether or not he runs again in 2024 remains to be seen.

But McConnell is assessing that Republicans will need the votes of Trumps supporters, both in that election and in the 2022 midterms. It was another instance of his failure to break free of Trumps orbit, or at least the allure of Trumps base.

So, a historic day. Until Saturday, only one politician - Mitt Romney, last year - had voted to convict a leader of their own party in an impeachment case in the Senate. Now there are seven.

Yet for critics and opponents of Trump, a day that was insufficiently historic. Joe Neguse, one of the Democratic prosecutors, had urged Republicans there were moments that transcend party politics and that require us to put country above our party because the consequences of not doing so are just too great.

Not enough Republicans agreed with him. And Donald Trump has lived to fight another day.

Read More

Trump impeachment trial: The seven Republican senators who voted to convict ex-president

Trump acquitted of inciting deadly US Capitol riot after second impeachment trial

Is this America?: Impeachment managers close trial with warning that insurrectionists still listening


The second impeachment trial of ex-president Donald Trump ended with his acquittal, and Democrats are in shock. Allegedly the Democrats have not been forthright in their presentation of evidence, according to the Trump defense.

Attempts by the House Democrats have failed to convict Trump once again. The Trump defense played well and even commented that it was monumental waste of time.

Charges disproven by Trump lawyers

Last Saturday, the new impeachment with the claim of insurrection in the Senate failed. About 57 senators voted to have the ex-president convicted. Without a supermajority of 67 senators, it ended in acquittal and victory for one of the most popular presidents, reported the Epoch Times.

For the Democrat-led administration and House, the acquittal will impact the next four years. Getting cleared of incitement on January 6 opens the possibilities for the triumphant ex-president.

Republicans criticize the illegal trial

One of those freshmen representatives, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who expressed challenging the electoral college, stated having no due process and an unconstitutional case, he voted twice against the impeachment. However, he had to listen to all arguments and vote according to conscience. He voted to acquit Trump.

He firmly said after all the reasons to impeach was said, a no to convicting vote was decided. He criticized the Senate broke protocol in trying the ex-president.

Another GOP, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), voted against a DEMS sponsored impeachment, saying the House Impeachment Managers staged an "unconstitutional show trial" that targeted Trump and supporters. All it did was convince people that the Democrats don't want real unity but more division. American people are pained to see what a DEMS led government is doing, but they failed again in the second impeachment trial.

Also read: Trump Lawyer Says Video of Rep. Maxine Waters Inciting Violence to Be Used

Democrats are not happy with the acquittal

House Democrats alleged that Republicans were intent on acquitting the ex-president. The result did not surprise many, but the DEMS insisted Trump is guilty. One of the Democrats, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), told a reporter his dissatisfaction over Trump's victory. He echoes what fellow DEMS said that the Republicans are committed to acquitting the ex-president.

On January 13, the House of Representatives (DEMS) forwarded articles of impeachment that charged insurrection. They cited his video as critical evidence, saying Trump planned the Capitol's storming that he revered as the seat of law and government. Sponsoring the questionable move with DEMS as the impeachment managers and prosecutors wanted the Senate to convict Trump. From the start, they were warned and told by many how unlawful it was with flimsy evidence.

Democrats use arguments that failed

One of the lead impeachment managers, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), tried in vain to use the narrative that the ex-president was the one who caused the Capitol incident. They even alleged Trump did not want to concede.

They added that then-president Trump was "delighted" with what was ongoing and went against his oath. According to Bruce Castor, disproven videos that DEMS impeachment managers edited to manufacture a reason were a waste of the Senate's time.

Trump defense lawyers made a comparison of the video and said the DEMS lied with critical parts omitted. According to them, in the January 6 video, they took out "peacefully and patriotically." In the video. On the acquittal in the second impeachment trial, Trump said the Democrats are allowed to break the law, attack law enforcement, and even weaponize justice.

Related article: Defense Attorney David Schoen Says Democrats Cannot Tie Capitol Breach to Trump

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In a proactive move, India has made fresh overtures toward Iran, apparently sensing the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal is imminent. As Al-Monitor reports, last week, JP Singh, the joint secretary for Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, paid a visit to Tehran.

Laying the groundwork for closer ties, he held political consultations with top officials and obtained updates on the progress at Chabahar, where New Delhi is funding a project to develop the port on the Gulf of Oman. The main purpose of this visit was to regain Indias lost foothold in the Iranian port project.

Then Singh also touched base with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, one of the main people involved these days in negotiations regarding the revival of the nuclear deal that is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). New Delhi is seemingly awaiting the removal of sanctions on Iran before it engages in any large-scale projects or business activity in the country.

Indeed, there have been some positive indications in this direction from Washington. Encouragingly enough, Robert Malley, one of the main negotiators of the 2015 deal, has been appointed as envoy to Iran by the Biden administration. Likewise, the appointment of Wendy Sherman as deputy secretary of state also points toward a possible US-Iran rapprochement, as she had led the team that eventually clinch the deal.

Therefore, New Delhi is getting ready to formally resume involvement in the development of Chabahar port. Even though India was exempted from US sanctions for development work in Chabahar, it had held off purchasing equipment and slowed down supplies while financial arrangements to pay for the infrastructure projects at the port remained pending.

Consequently, after some time Tehran had dropped India from various projects, but the situation is changing very fast now. Indicating New Delhis steadfast commitment, the Indian delegation headed by Singh has now handed over two 140-tonne cranes to the Iranian government.

Sourced from Italy, these cranes were supplied under a previous bilateral contract between the two nations to equip and operationalize the port, and this delivery is the first part of a $25 million consignment of six Mobile Harbor Cranes.

According to the Indian Ministry of Shipping and Ports, providing these cranes highlights Indias commitment to the strategic connectivity of the Chabahar port project that will provide access to markets in Central Asia.

In the meantime, tweeting that recent international and regional developments attach particular importance to this round of general political dialogue, Iranian Foreign Ministry official Rasoul Mousavi also acknowledged the timely significance of these latest talks.

Then, just two days later, Indian delegates visited the port to discuss development strategies. The basic purpose of these consultations was to upgrade the port into a key gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia for New Delhi.

India and Iran also recently held their first trilateral talks with Uzbekistan to mull over ways to jointly use the port for trade. Ultimately, India would like to include Uzbekistan in the International North-South Transport Corridor project for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

Inviting Foreign Ministry officials from Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, the Indian Foreign Ministry will soon be holding a quadrilateral meeting in New Delhi. Plans to fast-track regional integration, transit trade opportunities and the creation of a joint mechanism to handle Chabahar are to be discussed, and it is possible that more Central Asian countries would be included as observers.

Directly after Singhs return from Tehran, New Delhi hosted Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami. On his first visit to the Indian capital, Hatami had talks with his counterpart, Rajnath Singh, then left for Bangalore where he participated in the Aero-India 2021 and met the Indian army chief.

Optimistic about Indo-Iranian relations, Hatami said, Tehran and New Delhi have cultural and historical commonalities, common approaches toward many regional and international issues and geographical capacities, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

He said there was great potential for expanding ties, particularly in the defense and military sectors. Attending the first conclave of defense ministers of the Indian Ocean region , Hatami also pointed out that Iran has an important strategic location while India has a long coastline, and that both are major countries in the region that have managed to maintain stable ties.

Saying the link between the Indian Ocean and the North-South Corridor and connection with the Central Asian states and the Caucasus are the grounds for which we need to pursue broadened relations, Hatami added, These capacities can play a significant role in expanding the two countries relations, particularly in the defense and military sectors.

Already having a defense cooperation agreement between them since 2002, this trip by Hatami could give a further boost to Indo-Iranian strategic relations.

Since any change of direction by Iran is bound to have a regional impact, here are some of the likely scenarios:

First, if the nuclear deal is salvaged, there is more of the likelihood that Iran will stop looking East and maybe even decrease its tilt toward China. Instead, it would try to re-establish business with Western countries, as this is exactly what it had done in 2015 when the JCPOA was first implemented.

Second, as Iran and India already have a defense pact between them, an upgraded strategic role could have a negative impact on Sino-Pakistani projects in the region. Ever since China and Pakistan announced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, India cannot help but feel encircled. Moving in next door in Chabahar would be the ideal setup for New Delhi to keep an eye on developments in the Gwadar port and on Pakistans coastline.

Third, trying to break Chinese influence in the region, India would want to redirect Afghanistan and Central Asia toward its own routes. Having a pivotal role in advancing New Delhis ambitions, the port of Chabahar is center stage.

In case Iran does go ahead with the widely discussed 25-year strategic partnership with China, it could complicate matters, as Beijings prospective $400 billion deal includes access to all of Irans ports. In a recent television interview, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the China-Iran 25-year deal will be finalized soon and that the two countries are not far from reaching an agreement.

Apparently, Iran continues to keep all its options open where regional alliances are concerned.

Finally, for a few years, spats between India and China have become a regular feature at their mutual border in the Himalayan region. As India gets closer to Iran, tensions between Beijing and New Delhi will start one more front.

Due to the constant maritime competition between regional powers, the Indian Ocean region has become a key geostrategic space as it connects the oil-rich Middle East with economic markets in Asia. Enhancing ties with Tehran can be quite useful for New Delhi, as Iran is one of the largest states in this region with an extended presence in the northern part of the Indian Ocean.

However, to some extent the success of Indias regional strategy will depend on the resumption of the JCPOA for now, as Irans reintegration into the world economy is dependent on the lifting of US sanctions.
Three Strokestown TY students restored a 1956 Ferguson 20 vintage tractor and raffled it off last month to raise just over 63,700 for Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland, a national charity providing vital play services for children with cancer.

The trio were also selected as Connacht winners of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Special Recognition Awards, in acknowledgment of their work for their community during Covid-19.

The vintage tractor, once it was returned to its former glory by the boys, was won by Mike Snype from Strokestown. They are thrilled that the Classic 4 kids cancer will remain in the locality.

The trio - Andrew Jordan, Jack Beirne and Mark Rogers  are TY students from Scoil Mhuire in Strokestown. They managed to sell a staggering 6,612 tickets all around the country, were featured on RTEs Nationwide in December, and received huge support locally.

The boys restored the tractor as part of their Transition Year enterprise project, which encourages TY students to develop their own business ideas  preparing business plans and creating products or running events with a view to making a profit.

In this case, the boys decided to donate any profits made to a charity that is special to them  Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland.

Jack is a childhood cancer survivor and has worked as an ambassador for the charity for a number of years.

He said, Making money is part of the enterprise project but helping other kids with cancer made it very easy for me and my friends to stay motivated to make this enterprise a success.

I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) when I was three and my family spent three and a half years going up and down to Crumlin for chemotherapy.
PARIS (Reuters) - A COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Sanofi and U.S. group Translate Bio "will not be ready this year," the French drugmaker's chief executive told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper.

Clinical trials of this vaccine, which will be based on a technology known as mRNA -- on which lean approved vaccines of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna --, are expected to start this quarter.

In December last year, Sanofi had said it was targeting "earliest potential approval" of the shot in the second half of 2021, following positive preclinical data.

"This vaccine will not be ready this year, but it could be of use at a later stage all the more if the fight against variants was to continue," Paul Hudson was quoted as saying.

The CEO gave no other details. Officials at Sanofi were not available for comment.

The news could mark another blow for Sanofi, already embattled with a delay for another COVID-19 vaccine candidate it hopes to bring to patients and for which the company has teamed up with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline.

The two groups stunned investors last year by warning their traditional, protein-based COVID-19 jab showed an insufficient immune response in older people, delaying its launch towards the end of 2021.

To appease critics, Sanofi said last month it had agreed to fill and pack millions of doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from July.

Some 108 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and more than 2.4 million have died since first cases were identified in China in December 2019, according to a Reuters tally.

Countries worldwide have since the beginning of the year embarked on mass vaccination programmes, with mixed results, and are now confronted with the emergence of several variant strains which forces them to move even more quickly.

(Reporting by Matthias Blamont; Editing by Dominique Vidalon)
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Shura Council Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh has lauded the strong relations and close cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and South Korea.

Al Saleh, speaking during a round of talks with Koreas National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug currently on an official visit to the kingdom, said the Shura was interested in enhancing the bonds between the two countries, including exchanging legislative expertise between their two parliaments.

He briefed Speaker Park on Bahrains progress and comprehensive development across all areas during the era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and on the significance of the National Action Charter initiated by HM the King and supported overwhelmingly by Bahrainis in a popular referendum.

The Kingdom yesterday celebrated the Charters 20th anniversary. Al Saleh hailed the South Korean Speakers visit, saying that it reflected the depth of relations between the two countries for over 45 years and stressed Bahrains keenness on intensifying exchanges and visits between them.

He referred to the visit by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to South Korea and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding in various areas.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  February celebrates Black History Month and one pathway to celebrate is reading books. Here is a short list of some of the many recent books that can give new insights and open doors to understanding more of the Black experience in North America, an experience that goes back more than 400 years.

A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom by Brittany K. Barnett.

The author was a law student when she heard about Sharanda Jones, a woman serving a life sentence without parole for a first-time federal drug offense. The book tells of Barnetts success in getting Jones released from prison. At the same time, Barnett found parallels in her own life. Both were daughters of the rural South. And Barnetts mother had a drug addiction and was imprisoned. In working on Jones case, Barnett also turned her attention to what she perceived as pervasive societal issues  mass incarceration, an ailing judicial system, and misguided calls for law and order. Jones was one of a number of clients imprisoned for federal drug offenses for whom Barnett has won freedom. The American Bar Association has named Barnett one of Americas Outstanding Young Lawyers.

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The Old Truck by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey. This charming childrens picture book tells of the durability of an old pickup truck on a farm as it ages, and the determination of a young girl who works hard on her own farm and keeps the old truck going. The book is the first collaboration for the Pumphrey brothers. They worked together on the art and the story. The brothers said that the character of the young girl was inspired by the women in their family, including their mother, who raised four boys and ran her husbands dental practice; their grandmothers who worked for the postal service in the segregated South; and a great-grandmother who picked cotton, saved her money and bought her own farm. Jarrett Pumphrey said he celebrated the completion of the books artwork by buying and restoring an old truck  a 1956 Ford F100.

Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter by Kerri K. Greenidge.

Trotters name may be not well-remembered today, but he was a prominent Black voice in advocacy journalism and a civil rights activist in Boston and in national politics in the first three decades of the 20th century. In other words, a full generation before Martin Luther King, Jr. The Harvard-educated Trotter edited and published the Guardian, a weekly newspaper promoting the idea of liberation to the Black working class. He was considered a radical in the sense that he  and his newspaper  sought nothing less than our full citizenship rights. At the same time, he decried Booker T. Washingtons gradualism, a concept that urged Black economic advancement while capitulating to white demands for segregation and disenfranchisement.

And for the first time, an African American political leader, Trotter, challenged a sitting president, Woodrow Wilson, to not neglect civil rights and the institutional white supremacy it inevitably produces, the book states. The biography won the Mark Lynton History Prize. Author Greenidge is Mellon Assistant Professor at Tufts Universitys Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism and Diaspora.

Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain.

This book examines the complicated history of the relationship between Black America and the fast food industry, primarily McDonalds. One chapter tackles in great detail the extended and confrontational boycott of several McDonalds restaurants in Cleveland in the late 1960s over a demand for black franchisees. A new preface to the paperback edition says that McDonalds has helped determine  for better and for worse  where we live, what we eat and how we fight for justice. The author is a professor of history and African American studies at Georgetown University.

How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays

by Kiese Laymon.

Youve got to pay attention when you read these essays. The author crisply shape-shifts ideas from one page to the next. That is seen clearly in the essay What I Pledge Allegiance To. First idea  the author, a Mississippi native, finds out the states magnolia flag was its flag of secession. It had a magnolia tree in the center. Next idea  the states flag that shows the Confederate battle emblem in a corner. And then on to a discussion of the American flag; Laymon says:

It reminds me of what we Black folk have survived and witnessed at the hands of white folk hiding behind the American flag for centuries. In the middle of the essay, he discusses family ties and reading William Faulkner. Laymon closes the essay with a lengthy, inventive, politically charged pledge of his own.

Last month Mississippi adopted its newest flag. It has a magnolia blossom in the center and no Confederate symbolism.
Mohanlal, the superstar is returning to the television screens with the Bigg Boss Malayalam 3, tonight. As per the reports, the complete actor has hiked his remuneration for Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 3. Mohanlal's salary for the new season of the show is the highest amount received by a celebrity in the history of Malayalam television.

Reportedly, the superstar had charged Rs. 12 Crore for the Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 2. But this time, Mohanlal is charging Rs. 18 Crore for the show, which is to be aired on the Asianet channel. If the reports are to be believed, the production banner Endemol Shine India readily agreed to increase the actor's remuneration, considering his massive popularity among the audiences.

In that case, Mohanlal has emerged as the highest-paid celebrity in both the Malayalam film and television industries. The complete actor, who has been considered as the biggest crowd-puller Malayalam cinema has ever seen, enjoys a massive fan following among both the Malyali and non-Malayali audiences.

As per the reports, Mohanlal's costumes for Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 will also undergo major changes. Unlike the last two seasons, where the superstar mostly appeared in the formal, this season's costumes will have the bohemian and Japanese fashion elements. Mohanlal's refreshing appearance in the Bigg Boss Malayalam promos was widely appreciated by the viewers.

The highly anticipated show is all set to get premiered at 7 PM today. Unlike the last two seasons, the contestants are expected to enter in batches this season. Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 might also witness the contestants of Season 2 entering the house as wildcard entries.

Also Read:

Bigg Boss Malayalam 3: Bhagyalakshmi To Boby Chemmannur; The Contestants' List Is Out [PICS]



Bigg Boss Malayalam 3 Grand Premiere: Date, Time, Where To Watch And Contestants Detail

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It will focus on biotech companies and will be funded by professional investors

He is now planning to create a new fund called Woodford Capital Management

Savers had been locked out of their investments as increasing numbers attempted to pull their money out

Disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford is planning a shock comeback 18 months after his previous solo venture imploded leaving investors with huge losses.

In his first interview since the collapse of Woodford Investment Management in October 2019, the fallen star of the fund management industry said he planned to launch a new Jersey-based fund focused on biotech companies.

'I didn't want what happened to me in 2019 to be the epitaph of my career, I didn't want it to be the full stop', he told the Sunday Telegraph.

It seems however that the fund will be targeted at professional and insitutional investors only - rather than the army of small investors who backed his previous ventures.

Disgraced fund manager Neil Woodford (pictured) has apologised for the collapse of his investment fund  but said he doesn't want to 'hide away and beat myself up' about it

The vehicle will be called Woodford Capital Management Partners but Woodford vowed not to repeat his mistake of using ordinary investors' money in start-ups that might take years to pay out.

Instead, the fund, which will focus on biotech companies, will only raise money from professional investors. He said it would focus on firms that will develop into 'the likes of Immunocore, Kymab, Synairgen, Nanopore'.

These were companies Woodford backed in his failed flagship fund, which thrived after the fund was closed by administrators.

Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at DIY investment platform AJ Bell, said: 'The potential new investment vehicle looks like it will be aimed at professional investors only with the investment approach once again focused on niche, higher risk, potentially illiquid investments that Woodford had such conviction in for his previous fund.

'While he may well be right that there are some great companies to invest in, his track record showed that it is very hard to identify them and many need years of funding before they become successful, with plenty falling by the wayside along the way.

'Ultimately, it looks as if Woodford is looking for vindication that his original investment strategy was correct all along.

'While he has acknowledged that a fund for retail investors would look very different today to the one he previously ran, by focusing on professional investors, he clearly hopes that much of the emotion and fury that he has faced over the past two years will disappear.'

Ultimately, it looks as if Woodford is looking for vindication that his original investment strategy was correct all along. Ryan Hughes, AJ Bell

Woodford also finally apologised for the collapse of his investment fund - but said he doesn't want to 'hide away and beat myself up' about it, despite the financial scars left on small investors.

Woodford, who has repeatedly declined the opportunity to say sorry to the investors who lost money in his flagship Equity Income fund, this weekend broke his silence as he said he planned to launch a new fund with his longtime partner Craig Newman.

Speaking publicly for the first time, he said he was 'very sorry for what I did wrong' and suggested two years was long enough to atone for the debacle.

He said: 'I don't want to, for the rest of my life, hide away and beat myself up about things from the best part of two years ago.'

Woodford's fund was closed after investors tried to withdraw cash and many were cut off from their own money for months.

He said he was 'furious' at the administrator of Woodford Investment Management, Link Fund Solutions, for some of the failures that led to the collapse.

During the interview, Mr Woodford 'broke into tears' as he defended the firm's culture and denied claims that 'machismo and yes men' damaged the fund.

In his first interview since the collapse of the fund in October 2019, the fallen star of the fund management industry said he is planning a new venture

'When people say that sort of stuff about the organisation, about the culture, about the lies that have been told about the business and the people in it, that really, really hurts, because it wasn't like that at all.

'It was an amazing place, with amazing people, who fought to the end. I'm very sorry for what I did wrong.

'What I was responsible for was two years of underperformance  I was the fund manager, the investment strategy was mine, I owned it, and it delivered a period of underperformance.'

He blamed Link Fund Solutions for the decision to close Woodford Investment Management and insisted the situation would have improved had it stayed open.

'I can't be sorry for the things I didn't do. I didn't make the decision to suspend the fund, I didn't make the decision to liquidate the fund. As history will now show, those decisions were incredibly damaging to investors, and they were not mine. They were Link's decisions.'

Out-of-pocket investors are now discussing the handling of the fund and its closure with the courts.

Sri Lankan cheese maker says supply insufficient to meet demand By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s):

The Muthurajawela wetland on the western outskirts of Colombo, parts of which have been reclaimed, has nothing to do with cheese. However it is ideal grazing land for dairy farming and cheese is a major component made out of cows milk.

Sunil Rodrigo, Chairman, Lili Cheese (Pvt) Ltd, born and bred in Muthurajawela in Mahawatte, Pamunugama, started dairy farming as far back as in the 1960s as a schoolboy maintaining six cows and he recalls in the early days there were 300-400 dairy farms in that area.

Now a versatile dairy technologist/industrial engineer, Mr. Rodrigo is one of the pioneering cheese makers in Sri Lanka. In 2005 he manufactured around 50 kg of cheese and now makes 4 metric tons of cheese per month. To find out about the successful Cheese Story of Lili Cheese, a Business Times (BT) team visited his Cheese Plant, last week. Lili Cheese Factory is built, in the heart of Muthurajawela in Delatura, Ja-Ela.

Cheese an energy packed delicacy very much liked by children is made out of fresh cows milk. There are many varieties of cheese and Mr. Rodrigo says pure cows milk cheese is different from processed cheese as the latter is blended with other additives with cows milk.

He said that another kind of processed cheese, which is tastier and called analogue could be harmful for human consumption as in some cases, it contains a certain amount of petroleum substances. Most people are ignorant of the blended cheese with other additives and it would be like adulterated coconut oil with palm oil. Analogue cheese doesnt contain any cows milk.

Analogue Cheese which is a replacement for cheese is made out of soya beans, rice, almonds and other ingredients which cannot be called real cheese.

Ambition

His ambition and first choice has been to become a dairy technologist and he achieved his target after an almost 40 year journey from 1973 to 2011, initially joining the National Milk Board (NMB) in 1973 at the Polonnaruwa condensed milk factory.

In 1979 he secured a Dairy Technology Diploma from South Asia Pacific Centre and was awarded another scholarship to Dairy University, Finland. With diplomas and other extensive training in dairy, he returned from Finland in 1983 and was posted as Dairy Manager, NMB. Again he underwent training in the dairy industry in Finland in 1984.

Mr. Rodrigo started the first NMB Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) cheese plant and worked there until 1987 and then joined the Mahaweli Authority, Dairy Development Programme and organised the small dairy farmer mobilization and empowerment.

He established mini dairy processing plants in Girandurukotte, Nirawiya, Thunkama and Kirindioya in Tissamaharama and in several other places within the Mahaweli region. In the beginning of 1990s Mr. Rodrigo joined the European Union rural development programme in Hodeida, North Yemen for two years and then joined Kotmale Dairy as plant manager and started ice cream and liquid milk plants.

He worked there until 1997 and that year joined the National Dairy Federation (NDF) as a Consultant and formed District Small Dairy Farmer Cooperative Societies throughout the country. They established several processing plants in Gal Oya, Rikillagaskada, Baddegama and Polonnaruwa Milk producer cooperatives.

New company

In 2011 with Ms. Samanthi Ratnayake, Managing Director, Lili Cheese, another dairy technologist, they floated their own cheese making facility Lili Cheese (Pvt) Ltd. The company has won several international awards as a social enterprise. Ms. Ratnayake was adjudged as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016. She has also won scholarships to receive training in cheese processing in the Netherlands.

While becoming the first runners-up in the International Business Development Competition held in the Netherlands in 2007, he also received a cash award of Euros 15,000 and subsequently obtained a loan of Rs. 10 million from the Peoples Bank and modernized and developed the factory with latest dairy technology.

Their range of cheese products under Lili brand available locally are: American Spice Cheese, Cream Cheese with natural spices, garlic butter. Apart from that their other cheese products in the market since 2007 are Mozzarella, Cheddar, Processed Cheese, and Paneer cheese.

An innovative company with a grant under the Technology Grant scheme of the National Science Foundation (NSF) they started a new product turned out from whey (the watery potion after curding the milk into cheese) protein an energy beverage mixed with natural fruit extracts and the product was launched recently at the NSF premises.

Mr. Rodrigo said that there are around 200 dairy farmers in the area supplying around 50,000 litres of milk but to meet their local demand they need at least another 30,000 litres of milk. He said exporting is secondary as they are still unable to meet the local demand.

One of the bottlenecks is the scarcity of fresh milk which means they are unable to increase production. There about three local cheese producers, while a large quantity is imported to the country. There is immense economic potential in cheese making and apart from being a good income earner, as a cottage industry it could generate employment with more and more small dairy farms, he said.

He said that the economic benefits for the country are massive if local milk production is substantially enhanced and could help reduce costly milk imports.

Like the whey protein energy beverage, Lili Cheese is inclined towards innovative products and they are on the verge of making Vegan Cheese which is low in cholesterol, environmental friendly and healthy and ideally suited for a country like Sri Lanka as it does not contain animal products. Mr. Rodrigo said that he hopes to introduce vegan cheese to the market by end of April.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/14/2021



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Jovi and Yara are still together and whether the couple had a baby.]

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

star Yara Zaya just told Jovi Dufren she's pregnant on Season 8 of the series, so what do spoilers reveal about if Jovi and Yara are still together now and if they had a baby?Jovi, a 29-year-old who works in underwater robotics from New Orleans, LA, met Yara, a 25-year-old makeup artist from Kiev, Ukraine, through a travel app.Jovi thought Yara was very beautiful and family-oriented, and he was attracted to how she likes going to the beach, scubadiving and traveling.After meeting in Budapest and having "really good sex," according to Jovi, they took vacations together all over the world, including a stop in Bali. Jovi also visited his girl in the Ukraine multiple times.Jovi revealed he got Yara pregnant six months into their relationship and that was a huge shock to him."I was dumbfounded, it was so unexpected. This is not what I'm ready for. I thought she was trying to trap me. I thought, 'This is her ticket to America,'" Jovi admitted. "But after the shock wore off, it actually pulled us pretty closer together."At that point, Jovi said he loved Yara, and so he decided to propose marriage to her during a trip to Cuba and then apply for a K-1 visa so they could marry and become a family.But then the couple received bad news that Yara had suffered a miscarriage.Jovi therefore came down with a case of cold feet because he realized there was no longer a rush to get married and settle down.But after more time passed, Jovi determined Yara was the person he wanted to be with and he felt good about having her in his life. And Yara was prepared to move to Louisiana in just a few days after her K-1 visa was approved.Jovi's friends and family didn't think he was ready to settle down since the free spirit was used to a partying lifestyle, and Jovi's mother Gwen warned her son that many Ukrainian women want to get to the United States and receive green cards.However, Jovi decided to change his ways for Yara and put his trust in her."If Yara and I don't work out, I'll be devastated," Jovi said, before the couple reunited at the airport.Once Yara arrived to America, she disappointed Jovi by wanting to sleep her first night in New Orleans instead of partying with his friends. Jovi began thinking that he and Yara were on different pages.During Yara's first full day in New Orleans, Jovi then gave Yara a tour of the city, including Bourbon Street, which Yara considered chaotic and crazy.Yara seemed overwhelmed by her environment and admitted she thought America was going to be "sweet dreams" but Ukraine was better -- although "more poor."Jovi then introduced Yara to his mother Gwen and hoped the women would get along, but Gwen was disappointed to hear Yara desired a quickie wedding in Las Vegas with no bridal party or big reception.Gwen wanted to be able to attend the wedding, along with Jovi's grandparents, but Yara insisted she wanted his big day to be an intimate affair.Gwen suggested that Yara was being a bit selfish, but Yara said she wasn't going to let Gwen control her."I will not get married in a trailer park," Yara said.Yara and Jovi later argued while picking out furniture for their apartment together. Yara accused Jovi of being "rude" and "mean" to her, and Jovi realized he needed to compromise more since Yara had sacrificed her whole life in the Ukraine to be with him.Yara wished she and Jovi could move somewhere else, like Los Angeles, so she told Jovi to make her happy by relocating, but Jovi pictured raising a family in New Orleans.Before Jovi left for a month to work on a boat, the couple discussed children while dining out, and Yara said she hated the idea of being left alone with the kids while Jovi worked a full month at a time away from home.Yara said she'd need help with their kids, but Jovi said his mother did a great job of raising him while his father was gone doing similar work.Jovi said he loved his upbringing and also thought it would be great to spend four weeks of interrupted time with his children once he returned home from work.Yara broke down into tears and recalled how Jovi had left her alone when she had an operation while pregnant with Jovi's child and so she no longer trusted him.Yara complained about Jovi leaving her when she had a miscarriage, adding that she might never be able to trust him again and would never want to be left alone with children again.Jovi recalled the turn of events differently and insisted he never meant to ditch Yara during her time of need. Jovi also said he never realized Yara was so resentful about him leaving her alone in Albania while she was pregnant with their child and lost the baby.Jovi said he didn't know at the time Yara would have follow-up doctor appointments and the procedure Yara had mentioned.Once Jovi left for work, Yara was a little scared, sad and homesick, and as some time passed, she found herself incredibly bored and lonely. Yara also complained about how people in the city got drunk really early in the day, which drove her crazy.Yara decided to meet up with Jovi's friend Sara at a nail salon, and Yara revealed she had no plans to have a baby in the near future and she'd like to open her own business, maybe a salon working as a makeup artist.Sara then appeared to spend most of the outing as an opportunity to bash Jovi.Sara warned Yara that Jovi used to be a regular at one of the local stripclubs, and Sara added, "He would sleep with them."Sara also revealed Jovi's ex got so drunk one night that she had pissed herself in bed in the middle of the night. Yara laughed and said that girl sounded "nasty," but Sara pointed out that's who Jovi was before he got involved with Yara.Yara told the cameras that she had gotten to know a totally different side of Jovi and if he partied hard all the time, she wouldn't want to be with him. Click here to read Jovi's denial about having slept with strippers, and click here to see his reaction to Sarah throwing him under the bus to Yara.Yara then went out for brunch with Gwen, who learned Yara had been engaged once before."It makes me curious as to what happened and why it ended. Without really knowing Yara, I know that Ukrainian women just want to get to America. We'll have to talk about that a little bit," Gwen told the cameras.Yara later found herself feeling nauseous and sick, so her friend questioned via FaceTime if Yara could be pregnant.Yara said she wasn't ready to have a child and hadn't been throwing up. She also hadn't been in the United States for a full month yet, and she said she and Jovi had been "careful.""I cannot even [think] about having a baby right now. I am not ready yet. I don't even know if I want to get married and live here," Yara complained.After feeling sick for several days, when Yara had 53 days left to wed, she decided to buy an at-home pregnancy test at the store.After Yara's miscarriage, doctors had told her it would be "so hard" for her to get pregnant again, so the Ukraine native apparently had a hard time thinking she could be expecting a baby.Yara was scared about potentially being pregnant, saying she wasn't necessarily ready to take care of a baby and all of the responsibilities that come with that given she was in a foreign country with no job or family or friends around.Yara also acknowledged she and Jovi had things to work out."I honestly don't even know if he wants to settle down with me and [stop] partying all the time," Yara explained. "It just makes me feel crazy. I don't think it's the time for me to get pregnant. It's not time yet."Yara then took the test behind a closed bathroom door, and fans were able to wait with Yara for her results, which ended up being positive!"I don't want to be pregnant. I wasn't planning to be pregnant," Yara lamented.Yara didn't want to sit home alone while Jovi went off to work for weeks at a time, and she said that wasn't her plan "for sure."Later on, Yara and Jovi reunited after a month apart. Yara was excited about seeing her man again, but Jovi was drinking whiskey at around 8AM, and Yara was angry and displeased.Yara accused Jovi of being a different man than the guy she had started dating and fallen in love with."He don't want to grow up and stop partying, and I need to tell him about the pregnancy. But now I don't even know if I do want to marry him or if I don't," Yara shared.While the pair was walking around New Orleans together, Yara finally said that she needed to tell him something."Tell me," Jovi said."I'm pregnant," Yara replied."No, you're not," Jovi said in disbelief."Yes, I am, really," Yara insisted.Jovi said if Yara was pregnant, she would have told him right away and she tends to get him all riled and worked up for fun or for no reason. But Yara insisted she was serious."It's no big deal... I can be happy if it's true," Jovi said, explaining that at least Yara was in the United States now instead of the Ukraine.Jovi acted like he didn't believe Yara, which made her a little bit upset. Jovi asked to see the evidence in a pregnancy test, and she couldn't believe Jovi was treating her that way.Yara apparently once teased Jovi that she was pregnant by showing him a picture of the test she had taken from her first pregnancy, which had ended in a miscarriage. Jovi said Yara kept the act up for a whole day, but Yara insisted she had told Jovi the truth after 10 minutes.Yara wished Jovi just trusted her, but she took another test for him as proof of her pregnancy.Yara's at-home pregnancy test only showed one line instead of two, so Jovi wasn't convinced. Jovi accused Yara of lying to him, but Yara said the test was not an accurate one."I don't know what's wrong with this test, but I know that I am pregnant," Yara told the cameras.Jovi asked Yara to take another test, but Yara kept repeating how she was not lying to him. Yara agreed to take another test, and the results showed that she was pregnant!Jovi apologized to Yara for not believing her to begin with, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek."F-ck your pregnant! Alright, well this changes things a lot, I guess," Jovi said in a confessional, adding that he felt "terrible" for doubting Yara when she had just moved to a new country for him.Jovi admitted he wasn't 100 percent ready but he would be 100 percent ready for Yara, who also wasn't ready."But what can I do? Nothing. It's in my stomach," Yara told her fiance.Based on a preview of what's to come, Yara and Jovi go through more struggles while Yara is pregnant. She apparently accuses Jovi of being an alcoholic and party animal."He needs to understand I [gave] up everything I have to be here," Yara says in a confessional.Yara later says she "deserves somebody better" after Jovi is shown joking with a friend how he wasn't married yet."I'm going to walk away," Jovi threatens his fiancee."You f-cking walk away," Yara dares him with tears in her eyes. "I'm just done with you."It appears Jovi and Yara got married within the 90-day period that Yara's K-1 visa allowed and they are still together.Yara and Jovi got married in a wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, NV, in February 2020, according to In Touch Weekly.Yara told Us Weekly in January 2021 she was "so happy" upon learning she was pregnant because she hoped her baby would look as "handsome" or "beautiful" as Jovi, whom she gushed about being in love with "so much."Jovi and Yara reportedly welcomed their first child together only a few months before Season 8 of premiered on TLC in December 2020, In Touch reported.It appears Yara delivered the couple's child in September 2020.Before viewers saw Yara take a positive pregnancy test on 's eighth season, pregnancy rumors began floating around on December 31 when Yara posted an Instagram photo that appeared to show two unique ornaments on a Christmas tree she was posing next to. (Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out the tree looked like it was in Jovi's New Orleans apartment).One of the ornaments was a baby and the other was a pink heart with the word "mom" written on it.Yara also reportedly created an Amazon baby registry last year under the name "Yara Dufren," which seemingly provided evidence she was expecting a child and the couple had tied the knot during her K-1 visa trip to the United States.The baby registry was posted on January 4, 2020, according to In Touch, and the items Yara listed were for a baby girl due in September 2020.The registry has since been removed from Amazon.There is also evidence on social media the couple's relationship is still in good standing. For example, Jovi's Instagram profile picture features Yara.And on Yara's Instagram, her description says, "38 country, traveling with my [love]." Jovi has a similar description on his own Instagram page, saying he's been to 57 countries and is "on an adventure to see the world!"In mid-December 2020, Yara posted a picture of herself touching her hair, and an Instagram user noticed an engagement ring and wedding ring on Yara's left hand.But when a fan commented, "Ooooooooo a wedding ring," Yara commented, "Not wedding, this is an ordinary ring, I wear it so that the engagement ring does not get lost, because it is big for me."The fan wrote back that Jovi needs to size the ring for Yara, and she replied, "Hahahahah, i was thinking about that, but I newer have time."And when one fan wrote on Yara's Instagram last year, "I can't wait to see more of you and jovi you two are so cute together," Yara replied, "Thank you."In early December, Yara posted a photo of herself filming behind-the-scenes and wrote alongside it, "I want Jovi to look at me with the same loving eyes as this woman looks at me in the first photo."Yara also uploaded a photo of herself drinking wine with a cityscape in the background, and Jovi commented with the following flirty response: "Dayummmm. Are you single??"The pair were definitely still together in early May 2020, when Yara captioned a selfie of the couple with three red heart emojis.One follower gushed "gorgeous couple," and then Yara responded, "Thanks."Yara also posted a throwback photo of Jovi proposing marriage down on one knee. She wrote "memories" alongside the photo with a red heart emoji.And in February 2020, Yara uploaded a few photos of herself in an ivory suite and pink shirt, and Jovi commented, "Like."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
The US' ties with China and India have major ramifications for the global geopolitical scenario

Joe Biden's phone calls to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping earlier this week have brought renewed focus on the US' ties with the two countries.

These ties are of growing importance to the global scenario, as the US seeks to counter China's influence in the South Asian region, India seeks to cement its stature as the US' ally and receive its help in defence against China, and Beijing seeks to repair bilateral ties with the US for economic gains.

However, Global Times editor Hu Xijin, in a video segment on Wednesday, claimed that India had no reason to celebrate Biden's call to Modi and said that basing the development of India-US ties on "common democratic values is hypocritical". He argued that Washington DC views India as "weak and looks down on it".

He also said that the US was only favouring India to "encourage more conflict" between New Delhi and Beijing, to serve its own interests.

"If India doesn't handle its relationship with China properly, it will be useless to develop any kind of alliances. The friendly co-existence between India and China is the foundation for India to pursue more national interests in the international arena. Only in this way would it gain any strategic initiative in its relations with the US," he said.

However, Xijin's analysis fails to consider the repeated statements made by US officials on its support to India, particularly in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken was recently quoted as saying that "India and US face a common challenge in the form of an increasingly assertive China, and that New Delhi has to be a key partner in engaging with Beijing from a position of strength."

Further, Biden has supported India on many occasions before becoming the US president. As a senator, Biden was an important advocate of the 2008 civil nuclear deal between the countries.

The 2008 nuclear accord paved the way for the supply of US high-tech equipment that India wanted along with the technology, an AP report noted. The accord ended Indias isolation after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998 and refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The United States is also supporting Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a move that has been blocked by China.

In diplomatic parlance, the bilateral relations between the worlds two largest democracies are a rare bipartisan success. A strong political affinity and a tactical convergence of interests to counter China drive the relationship, The Associated Press has quoted experts as saying.

In his call to Modi, Biden "emphasised on building a stronger regional architecture through the Quad (US, Japan, Australia, and India)".

However, despite notes of positivity ringing out after the Modi-Biden call, India will be watching for and assessing changes in the Biden administration's foreign policy agenda.

"That Indian and US interests coincide regarding the need to contain Chinese aggression is obvious, but there are uncertainties about the precise direction that the incoming Biden administration will adopt vis-a-vis China, Vivek Katju, a former diplomat, was quoted as saying by AP.

"There is a compelling need for the Modi government to have an honest interaction with the Biden administration on China, though ultimately, India has to rely on its own capabilities to meet the Chinese threat," he added.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is also facing a growing Chinese influence not only in the immediate Asian region but also in Africa and Latin America.

With inputs from agencies
POTTSVILLE  Tax collectors in Schuylkill County will receive more money, as the commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution to keep salaries the same but add a $200 stipend that can be used for expenses.

We know the great job the tax collectors do, Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said in approving the extra money, which will start on Jan. 1, 2022, and last through 2025.

Commissioner Gary J. Hess agreed.

I strongly felt they should get something, he said. They provide a needed service.

Treasurer Linda L. Marchalk also believes the new policy is a good one, and that it needed to be done this year.

We were able to give them something recognizing on a day-to-day basis how much they work with taxpayers, she said.

The commissioners also authorized Marchalks office to collect real estate and per capita taxes for municipalities that do not have a tax collector. The county will receive a 5% commission on all taxes so collected, plus a $10 certification fee per real estate parcel.

The commissioners also heard Acting Controller Sharyn Yackenchick describe the measures her office is taking to control the spread of the coronavirus.

We now have the county offices scan the timecards to our payroll specialist to limit the handling between offices, she said.

Yackenchick also said the county is now paying jurors exclusively by mail, and has updated its vendor list and is working with M&T Bank to guard against financial losses.

Additionally, she said, her office will come out to the parking lot to serve customers who do not wish to enter the courthouse.

I think Sharyn has been very forward thinking, County Administrator Gary R. Bender said. The controller has been a pleasure to do business with.

Also on Wednesday, the commissioners approved the anti-harassment and nondiscrimination policy. The policy is substantially similar to the 2013 one it supersedes.

It bars unwelcome sexual advances, making acceptance or rejection of them the basis for employment decisions and creation of an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. It also requires the county to report and investigate all actions and complaints raised.

Policy violations can result in discipline up to and including dismissal.

Last year, the county investigated allegations of sexual harassment by Halcovage and found them credible. However, since Halcovage is an elected official, he cannot be dismissed.

Clerk of Courts Maria T. Casey attended the meeting to ask the county to reverse COVID-19 leave policy. The policy, which came into effect Jan. 1, requires that employees use sick, personal and vacation days for any such leave.

You should at least take care of your employees, she said. Treat your employees with the utmost respect.

Bender said all three commissioners support the policy, which took effect after the federal CARES Act ended on Dec. 31, 2020.

The only reason people were being reimbursed was because of the federal law, he said.

Casey also asked the commissioners to administer equitably the money it receives from Act 1, which is designed to provide relief for the hospitality industry from the ravages of the coronavirus.

Bender estimated the county will receive about $1.4 million of the states $145 million share of the money. The county will contract with an outside agency, as it is legally required to do, to administer its share, he said.

We are responsible for that money, Bender said.

In other business, the commissioners:

 On behalf of the Mental Health/Developmental Services Program, reduced the purchase of service agreement with Service Access & Management Inc. by $148,779, to $6,632,630.

 Approved the purchase of a police interceptor vehicle for the Adult Probation and Parole Office. The vehicle, which is being bought from Sands Ford, Pottsville, will costs $37,351.31.

Thats for when they go visit people on probation or parole, Bender said. They put a lot of travel time in.

 Approved a one-year contract with Psychological Associates of Schuylkill County LLC for counseling services. Rates will be $350 for a psychosexual assessment, $400 for polygraph testing, $90 for individual counseling and $35 for group counseling.

 Approved a three-year lease-purchase agreement with Shadow Technologies for a new UCS serve and two new wireless access points for the MIS Department. The total cost will be $18,846.65.

 On behalf of Children & Youth, approved purchase of service agreements with Chor Youth and Family Services Inc., Reading, for foster care, Childrens Resource Center, Harrisburg, for child consulting and interview services, and Bair Foundation of Pennsylvania, Wilmington, for classes and foster care.

 Approved 12 repository bids for property sales.

 Approved budget adjustments of $27,850 for the district attorneys office and $1,800 for MATP Transportation.

 Approved supplemental budget appropriation of $23,100 and $20,000 for the prothonotarys office.

Bender said the first is for replacing computers and updating software, while the second is for the file conversion project. The money in each case will come from the offices automation capital account, he said.

 Authorized Bender and Director of Finance Paul E. Buber to approve budget adjustments not to exceed $1,000.

All these will come before the (commissioners) for final approval, Bender said. The policy is in line with the one authorizing approvals of contracts that do not exceed the amount requiring public bidding, he said.

Bender also said the measure does not authorize approval of adjustments requiring transfers from the county contingency fund.

 Approved a contract with Avertest LLC, Richmond, Virginia, on behalf of the Adult Probation and Parole Office to provide drug testing.
Bexar County Sheriffs deputies and a local wildlife shelter rescued a tiger Saturday that was being held in a makeshift cage in Southwest Bexar County.

Deputies found the tiger outside a home in the 18200 block of Primo Street around 5:41 p.m. after a neighbor reported that they were hearing what sounded like a crying tiger, Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

The tiger had been declawed and was wearing a harness inside the small cage, he said. Temperatures Saturday evening were below freezing with blistering windchill.

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It goes without saying that possessing an exotic animal like that is dangerous in and of itself, but then further exposing that animal to freezing temperatures, thats just as inhumane as it gets, Salazar said at news conference Sunday.

Whether your animal is a dog, a cat, a rabbit, or a tiger in this case, they need to be cared for properly, and as we saw it, that tiger was not being cared for properly, he added.

Salazar said there are state and county ordinances that prohibit possession of large exotic animals like tigers. Deputies arrested the owner of the tiger, who was charged with a Class C misdemeanor. The owner could also be charged for animal cruelty, Salazar said.

The tiger, which appeared to be no more than 2 years old, was picked up by a wildlife shelter. It is not clear how the owner got the tiger, Salazar said.

Last week, Animal Care Services was investigating a report of a tiger cub in San Antonio. Salazar said the tiger rescued Saturday appeared to be larger than the cub and did not think it was the same one.

This was a pretty decent-sized cat, Salazar said. An animal like that just doesnt belong in a neighborhood or in a makeshift cage somebody made in their backyard.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon

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Empowering Women

According to Decree No.135/2020/ND-CP on the retirement age of workers and employees issued by the government at the end of 2020 and officially enacted from the beginning of 2021, the retirement age of female workers and employees is 55 years and four months, which is increased by four months till 60 years of age by reaching 2035.

This new regulation has created equal conditions for women, whether they are employees or business owners, who have good health and the capacity to contribute to society. This not only demonstrates Vietnams efforts in the process of implementing gender equality over the past years, but also recognises, appreciates, and creates a favourable environment for women to develop and increase their influence in work environment, coupled with their special roles in family.

The future is female

At the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Forum held late last year, Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that although the pandemic has gravely wounded the global economy, women-owned businesses employing female workers have overcome their difficulties and made important contributions to controlling the pandemic while maintaining economic growth. Therefore, women are important contributors in determining the future of the economy.

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, head representative of United Nations Women in Vietnam said, Women account for half of the population. An economy that underutilises womens talents is missing out half of the available human resources. Making use of the full potential of womens economic participation reflects not only social and corporate responsibilities but also smart economics.

In Vietnam, women and particularly female entrepreneurs have gradually demonstrated their strength and resilience since the late 1970s as they successfully steered their businesses over the challenges in economic crises. By 2020, despite facing a severe pandemic, Vietnam has still more than 200,000 women-owned businesses, accounting for a quarter of the total nationwide. Notably, 30 per cent of micro and small-sized businesses are owned by women, while 50 per cent of women are currently owning household businesses.

In some large enterprises or multinational corporations with offices in Vietnam, women in key positions account for a significant proportion of 36 per cent listed in Women in Business report 2019 by Grant Thornton International. The first generation of Vietnamese businesswomen since doi moi, such as Nguyen Thi Nga, chairwoman of BRG Group; Thai Huong, founder of TH Group; and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, CEO of Vietjet; as well as the next generation of businesswomen like Le Thi Hoang Yen, general director of Muong Thanh Hospitality, or Nguyen Ngoc My, general director of Alphanam Real Estate JSC, show their influence in the business arena.

Sharing about Vietjets astonishing recovery from the pandemic, a Vietjet representative reaffirmed that the secret behind this recovery lies in the flexible and appropriate decisions from female leaders. Although the aviation industry suffered the heaviest damage and has the lowest proportion of female leaders (only about 3 per cent), Vietjet is now one of the rare airlines with the head of the Board of Directors and general director being female. They have inspired, spread enthusiasm, and helped Vietjet to quickly overcome the consequences of COVID-19.

Several other companies, such as Nestle Vietnam, also reported that they have been fostering womens empowerment for many years, with 55 per cent of women holding positions in the Board of Directors. At other management levels, women holding management positions also account for approximately 50 per cent.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, chairwoman of the Vietnam Woman Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) said, The economy will not be able to promote sustainable development without womens active, responsible, and creative participation.

Influencing other areas

In addition to leading businesses and taking care of the lives of workers, many Vietnamese businesswomen actively participate in community activities, spreading and sharing positive energy through meaningful work. They are the bridge connecting businesses with disadvantaged groups, creating a positive influence on society, thereby enhancing the role and position of Vietnamese businesswomen.

According to Ha Thi Nga, president of the Vietnam Womens Union, women are present in most jobs and hold many important positions. The proportion of women in the Vietnamese National Assembly has reached 27.1 per cent, higher than the worlds and Asias average at 23.4 per cent and 18.6 per cent, respectively.

In education, training, and healthcare, female cadres make up a large proportion, many with high qualifications. The proportion of female scientists has also increased year by year, with 44.2 per cent masters degree holders and 28 per cent of PhDs being female.

In addition to the economic sector, more and more women are becoming popular politicians, scientists, and social activists. It is not uncommon to hear about emotional stories about women who have devoted all their time and money to building great charity funds, contributing to narrowing social gaps and supporting many other people in difficult circumstances.
Sydnie and Bailey in 2016 and 2019. Courtesy of Sydnie and Bailey Haag

High school sweethearts don't always stay together forever. But some couples stick it out, weathering challenges beyond classrooms and corsages to build lives together.

Insider asked 12 married couples who have been together since high school to share their prom-to-wedding transformations - and their secrets for a lasting relationship. Here's how they do it.

Samantha and Cory went to prom together in 2007 and got married in 2018.

Samantha and Cory in 2007 and 2018. @samgrahamsmith/Twitter

"Communication is key! I cannot stress that enough," Samantha told Insider. "We are not afraid to talk about anything."

Kelsey and Alexander were prom dates in 2013 and got married in 2018.

Kelsey and Alexander in 2013 and 2018. Courtesy of Kelsey and Alexander

"We have similar interests so most of our days are spent doing activities together that we both really enjoy," Kelsey said. "But we also have our own separate hobbies and careers that we give each other space for and support each other in. I'm not sure that we have a secret to a long relationship, all we really know is that we are soul mates. Being able to grow up by each other's side has been the most amazing life experience."

Darby and Aaron went to prom together in 2015 and tied the knot in 2018.

Darby and Aaron in 2015 and 2018. Courtesy of Darby Sullivan Aaron Hobgood

"I think the secret for making a relationship last is ensuring that you are best friends first," Darby said.

Taylor and Rob went to prom together in 2012 and wed in 2018.

Taylor and Rob in 2012 and 2018. Courtesy of Taylor and Rob Dougherty

Taylor's relationship advice is to "keep each other laughing and don't brush anything under the rug."

Tashley and Chad went to prom in 2009 and said "I do" in 2018.

Tashley and Chad in 2009 and 2018. Courtesy of Tashley and Chad Malgas

"Respect goes a long way," Tashley said of their secret to making a relationship last. "And always support each other in public, correct each other in private! Date nights are a must and keep the fun going."

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Ginelli and John posed for prom photos in 2009 and wedding photos in 2019.

Ginelli and John in prom 2009 and wedding 2019. @ginellidesu/Twitter

"Communication and willingness to address problems together are important," Ginelli said. "If you have that, you can overcome anything together."

Melissa and Randy were prom dates in 1995 and married in 2002.

Melissa and Randy in 1995 and 2002. Courtesy of Melissa and Randy Boose

"Make sure you are friends in addition to partners," Melissa said. "Life is a lot easier when you are married to your closest friend."

Sydnie and Bailey went to prom together in 2016 and walked down the aisle in 2019.

Sydnie and Bailey in 2016 and 2019. Courtesy of Sydnie and Bailey Haag

"Our secret for a long-lasting relationship is putting God first, lots of communication, and not sharing everything with the whole world!" Sydnie said.

Alaina and Bruce were prom dates in 2015 and became husband and wife in 2018.

Alaina and Bruce in 2015 and 2018. Courtesy of Alaina and Bruce

Alaina says that when it comes to making a relationship last, "communication is key, and always remind each other of the things you love about each other."

Lauren and Joel went to prom together in 2010 and tied the knot in 2019.

Lauren and Joel in 2010 and 2019. Courtesy of Lauren and Joel Medina

"The secret is realizing your spouse is your friend, your best friend, and communication and faith in a long distance relationship are key," Lauren said.

Michelle and Kurtis were prom dates in 2010 and got married in 2018.

Michelle and Kurtis in 2010 and 2018. Courtesy of Michelle and Kurtis

Michelle's advice for a long-lasting relationship is, "Be honest with each other, always communicate any issues, support each other's goals, and do romantic things here and there."

Chelsea and Brayden posed for hilarious prom photos in 2013 and equally hilarious wedding photos in 2017.

Chelsea and Brayden in 2013 and 2017. Courtesy of Chelsea and Brayden

"Our secret is that we were best friends first, so we were just a team going into marriage," Chelsea said.

Read the original article on Insider
Indian connectivity benefiting from the Belt & Road Initiative

China now playing the India trade rather than confrontational card

Just a few days after India and China reached an agreement to de-escalate border tensions in Ladakh, New Delhi has clarified that it did not impose any specific rules against China that inhibit foreign direct investment (FDI) into India. Both countries retreated from positions that could have led to similar violent engagements in late 2020, with a distance now of about 20km between them.

Som Parkash, Indias Minister for Commerce and Industry, issued a statement on Friday during parliament Q&A in the upper house of the Rajya Sabha that said FDI from all members of the WTO, including China, continues to be permitted and the measures are fully compliant with its commitments under the WTO. Moreover, India has one of the most open FDI regimes in the world.

Beijing has repeatedly urged India to ensure impartial enforcement of its FDI law rather than make it difficult for companies from specific countries. China also raised this issue during meetings of the Council for Trade in Services under the WTO last December. The concern emerged after India tweaked its FDI policy last year, mandating that an entity of a country that shares a land border with India, can only invest after approval from the government. The political and business view was that this was principally aimed at China, although India subsequently faced issues with the border with Myanmar. Last week, we recommended India as a potential alternative for foreign investors in Myanmar to consider, a list that also included China.

Chinas cumulative investment in India had exceeded US$8 billion by December 2019, far more than investment from its other neighbors. Since April 2020, India has effectively restricted imports of electronic goods (such as televisions) from China, imposed tariffs on agriculture tillers, and extended an anti-dumping duty on certain varieties of steel. A ban on Chinese apps, restrictions on FDI, and an imposition of increased customs duty on 89 items (such as footwear, toys, furniture, and pressure vessels) followed, while Indian tax authorities also investigated Chinese businesses operating in India.

Soms statement appears to clarify that for now, the trade situation with China could normalize. India has been taking a new line in 2021 as concerns trade, explained by Dezan Shira & Associates Chris Devonshire-Ellis and Rohit Kapur in their respective editorials on Asia Briefing today. As Devonshire-Ellis points out, India is currently negotiating enhanced Free Trade or Preferential Trade Agreements with a whopping 38 different countries, including China, with agreements to enhance trade with ASEAN and the UK already confirmed this year. India may never publicly endorse Chinas Belt & Road Initiative because part of the China-Pakistan CPEC project involves territories disputed by India. But, as we pointed out in the article India Becomes A Transportation Centre For Chinas Belt & Road Initiative, India is in fact very much connected to the BRI.

Related Reading
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

As federal authorities crack down on the far right after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the movements leaders have found new sources of suspicion: each other.

In the Trumpist America First movement and the far-right paramilitary group the Proud Boys, alliances are fracturing as extremists brand each other as potential informants. Now racist live-streamers are accusing their former comrades of attempting to turn over followers to law enforcement, while Proud Boys chapters are splintering from the national organization over similar fears.

Proud Boys Dealt Another Blow as Feds Crack Down

Until the FBI started closing in, white nationalists Nick Fuentes and Patrick Casey were the two most prominent figures in the racist America First movement.

The pair built up shared audiences on live-streaming platforms, and cheered as their fans, nicknamed groypers after an obese version of the cartoon Pepe the Frog, heckled more moderate Trump allies at conservative events.

But the federal heat is on after Fuentes received roughly $250,000 in a much-scrutinized bitcoin transfer, then appeared outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. The FBI is reportedly investigating the bitcoin transfer, though Fuentes has not faced charges over the money or the riot.

Nick Fuentes, the leader of a Christian based extremist white nationalist group speaks to his followers, 'the Groypers.' in Washington D.C. on November 14, 2020 Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty

On Thursday, Casey distanced himself from Fuentes and America First in a live-streamed video, slamming Fuentes decision to gather his followers in Orlando later this month for a conference right as other America First supporters face charges over the riot.

Some people who were at the Capitol are going to flip, Casey said in his video.

Declaring the aftermath of the Capitol riot a million times worse for the far right than the crackdown that followed the fatal white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, Casey claimed, without offering evidence, that Fuentes bank accounts have been frozen by federal authorities. He also accused Fuentes of planning to drive cross-country, rather than fly, to the Florida conference because he suspected he was on the federal no-fly list, then concealing that possibility from his followers.

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Worst of all, Casey argued, Fuentes planned to gather all of his supporters in Orlando, where they could be easily recorded by federal investigators or informants. He went on to suggest America Firsts members would see the conference for what he thinks it could be: an FBI trap.

He wants you to give him your real name, to show up to his event where your face will be visible, where your cellphone data will be in close proximity to his, Casey said.

Fuentes didnt respond to a request for comment.

Accusations that one-time allies have become federal informants arent uncommon in the extreme right, which has built up an entire lexicon of terms to describe the varieties of real or suspected federal infiltrators. But that paranoia has been ratcheted up in the aftermath of the riot, with the Proud Boysa group that has seen a slew of members indictedsplintering under accusations that leaders have become informants or otherwise been compromised by the FBI.

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested in Washington, D.C., two days before the riot, and now faces felony charges over the possession of illicit firearm magazines. But a Reuters report on Tarrios history as a federal informant cast members suspicions on their own leader, even as Proud Boys who allegedly participated in the riot face federal conspiracy charges.

Proud Boys chapters in three U.S. statesincluding four local chapters in Indiananow claim to have broken with the national organization over Tarrios work as a federal informant. (Tarrio did not return a request for comment.)

We reject and disavow the proven federal informant, Enrique Tarrio, and any and all chapters that choose to associate with him, read a statement shared by the Indiana groups state-level Telegram channel and on the Alabama groups website, previously reported by USA Today. We do not recognize the assumed authority of any national Proud Boy leadership including the Chairman, the Elders, or any subsequent governing body that is formed to replace them until such a time we may choose to consent to join those bodies of government.

Proud Boys in Oklahoma also broke from Tarrios leadership, issuing a statement on messaging app Telegram in which they accused him and other national elders of failure to take disciplinary measures [which] have jeopardized our brothers safety and the integrity of our brotherhood.

Tarrio responded to the Oklahoma chapters departure with a series of memes accusing Oklahomans of being rednecks, or having sex with relatives. Anti-Tarrio Proud Boys responded with their own memes accusing their former leader of ratting out members of the group, photoshopping his face on rapper and government witness Tekashi69. Another meme played on the menacing Proud Boys motto Fuck Around and Find Out, claiming that Tarrio would instead Snitch Around and Rat Out.

But dont expect Proud Boy splinter groups to morph into peaceful book clubs. The Indiana Proud Boys, for example, are led by Brien James, a longtime member of white supremacist groups with a history of violent brawls. Other white supremacists have previously slammed James as a law enforcement risk (someone you want to keep away from you because you know hes going to do something to bring the cops over, one previously noted). Nevertheless, James took to Telegram this week to blame Tarrio and Ethan Rufio Panman Nordean, a prominent Proud Boy who was arrested on Feb. 3 over his own alleged role in the riot, of being untrustworthy.

Now we have another war boy and elder who is trying to snitch on the president? For something he knows damn well the president didnt do? You made your own choices Rufio, James wrote, adding that if you are a Proud Boy I would recommend having your chapter declare full autonomy from the national structure at the very least. (A public defender listed as representing Nordean did not respond to a request for comment.)

The Capitol riots have been followed by still more rifts internationally.

Anti-fascist activists in Manitoba, Canada, also claim their provinces Proud Boys chapter has dissolved. The CBC reported that, while the chapter had been largely inactive for the past year, the group was confirmed dead this month, when the Canadian government designated Proud Boys as a terrorist organization.

Inside the Alt-Right Meltdown After Failed Capitol Putsch

Meanwhile, Jason Lee Van Dyke, who registered the groups trademark and briefly led the Proud Boys in 2018, filed this week to surrender the trademark to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, legal documents show. Van Dyke previously told The Daily Beast he revoked Tarrios license to use the name after a Black church in Washington, D.C., sued the Proud Boys for allegedly burning their flag in a rally weeks before the Capitol attack.

I dont want any recourse or anyone thinking I have any control over this group, that I have anything to do with this group, or that I am going to have anything to do with this group in the future, Van Dyke said in a separate interview this week. He claimed hed tried to transfer the trademark to another Proud Boy, who got spooked after Canada slapped the group with a terrorist label.

There was one individual who contacted me about having the trademark transferred to him, Van Dyke told The Daily Beast. After the Canadian government made a determination of the Proud Boys as a terrorist group for whatever reason they did that, that individual told me he was out and he would not be taking over the trademark. My response to that individual and those who had been working with him on acquiring the trademark was that they had seven days to get back to me regarding who was going to take it over, or I was going to surrender it.

I did not hear back from anybody and the trademark is surrendered.

As for the America First movement, Caseys criticism of Fuentes has riled the groypers, who have been forced to choose between their two leaders. Fuentes appeared to respond to Casey on Thursday night by tweeting a video of Donald Trump talking about disloyalty.

Nick Fuentes, Alex Jones, Ali Alexander during a 'Stop the Steal,' Far-Right Rallies leaders, broadcaster rally at the Governor's Mansion in Georgia November 19th, 2020 as the state finishes the recount in the Presidential election - calling on Governor Kemp to help President Trump. Zach Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty

But Fuentes supporters and allies have good reason to believe federal law enforcement is focusing on their group. Anthime Gionet, a Fuentes ally who goes by the alias Baked Alaska, was arrested in January after filming himself entering the Capitol. Riot suspect Riley June Williams, who wore an Im With Groyper shirt to the Capitol, allegedly stole a laptop computer from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Casey urged his followers to consider how they would react to Fuentes conference if any other far-right leader had been behind it.

You would be like, Wow, federal honeypot, federal honeypot event, Casey said. You would probably accuse the guy of being a fed.

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EgyptAir handed out on Sunday souvenirs and greeting cards fto travellers at Cairo International Airport on the occasion of Valentine's Day.

Under the motto "Spread the Love," the national flagship carrier also offered a 50 percent discount on airline tickets for more than the 40 available international destinations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The offers are valid for 14, 15 and 16 February.

Other special packages are also available for domestic trips.

Short link:



In fact, Jan has to be so careful, she could no longer bring health care workers into their home. So she took over all the nursing duties for her husband. And that requires round-the-clock care as Mark cant breathe on his own or move any parts of his body except for his eyes and mouth, which from time to time, she told me, can muster a small smile.
We simply cannot wish away mafia. There are so many of them, active in areas which affect each one of us deeply. The resource mafia, illegally exploiting coal, timber and other forest produce wild life or, sand, depredate our environment. Or the development mafia bagging contracts for roads, bridges, railway lines and other projects takes away from us the fruits of planned growth. Or the land mafia, or the education mafia or the health mafia, the electricity mafia, or the co operative mafia. One could go on and on. And we live with them all the year round, relegating their activities to the basement of our brains.

As a token of our appreciation we sometimes elect the Mafiosi to the various legislative bodies, sometimes several times in succession. One wonders whether we could do without them.

A legion of decentralized dictatorships, these neighborhood mafias mediate a host of functions of the state. We do not find anything unnatural about it. Because we have come to accept the political culture wherein a politician is expected to provide avenues for his caste men and cronies for looting the resources of the state. At ground zero of politics there is a consensus that this is an absolutely democratic method of rewarding political support. We do not seem to protest.

They are not the antiheroic outlaws hounded by police, marked by the enemys bullet, as popularized by movies. The one surefire formula of political patronage earns our Mafia the homage of the law enforcement officials. Their control of the institutional environment allows them to enjoy the fruits of their crime and die in bed of old age. But some day things do slip and go out of hand.

Regrettable though it may be, sometimes it becomes necessary to remove a Yashwant Sonawane by the simple expedient of pouring some kerosene oil and igniting him. Or bludgeon the nosey activist Sister Valsa John for agitating against the peacefully profit making enterprise of illegal coal-mining in Jharkhand. Swami Nigmanand was similarly removed from the scene by a combination of intrigue and heartlessness. Shehla Masood the RTI activist, Arup Kalita the Assam environment activist, Satyendra Dubey the engineer in the Golden quadrangle project, Manju Nath the Indian Oil officer, Ajay Kumar Singh SP of Lohardagga, the divisional forest officer Sanjay Singh of Kaimur, journalist Dey to name a few, allegedly lost their lives because they refused to peacefully co-exist. Then the dirt comes to the surface.

These deeds "reveal" the perpetrators to us, and us to our own selves, compelling us to stage a mass ceremony of innocence, make a communitarian plea of alibi. That is why we are revolted by the bomb and gun variety because his deeds disturb the even tenor of life. If the outrage were in support of the cause championed by the martyred enforcement official, the community would regularly rally behind those many harassed and victimized officers and activists who are trying to rein in these self same elements. Towards them, while they are alive, their attitude is of the audience watching a daring stunt. Will they not carry it off? Before they fall victim to the assassins bullet they may have knocked at the door of their superiors, may have sought for the amplification of their voices in the media. But all in vain. Their deaths are like the deaths foretold.

Why are we reaping such a bountiful harvest of mafias? The answer must lead us to the nature of our politics which has now completely rid itself of its ideological baggage. Even the rhetorical tenors of its emancipatory pronouncements barely hide its annoyance at being forced to pay lip service to all those high ideals. In the absence of passion in the field of politics the pursuit of political power is less about mobilization and more about managerial enterprise. Governance is about providing the middle class the security to visit malls and cinemas and poor some doles  endlessly. The rest is easy. A deft coordination of interests, a hard bargaining skill for the spoils and a keen eye for keeping things at sub crisis level is all that it is about. In an environment where the political tenure is short and uncertain, brutish and nasty Mafia is the obvious mode of entrepreneurship. After all, has it not been said that Mafia is illegal capitalism, capitalism legal Mafia?

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.

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By Thomas O. Falk

European Union flags at Berlaymont building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. /Getty

Editor's note: Thomas O. Falk is a London-based political analyst and commentator. He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and specializes in U.S. affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

It did not come as a surprise, but Moscow and Brussels' relations have further deteriorated since Josep Borrell's visit the previous week. After Germany, Poland and Sweden responded in kind, and each expelled a Russian diplomat. Sergei Lavrov is now openly contemplating the Kremlin's readiness to cease contact with the European Union entirely.

But instead of playing hardball, Brussels and Moscow ought to finally think about the advantages a new partnership has to offer. Frequently different views notwithstanding, various common interests continue to exist. Initiating or improving cooperation in these common areas of interest could lower the temperature and help both sides return to a place where a coherent dialogue is once again conceivable.

Let's be frank, while the media has a proclivity for exaggerating conflicts, the status quo is highly unpleasant  perhaps as unpleasant as it had not been since the 1980s, during the Cold War, when NATO deployed new nuclear warheads in Europe and the Soviet Union not only suspended INF negotiations in Geneva but reciprocated by announcing the deployment of further nuclear missiles in East Germany and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. What followed was an intense period of silence between both sides.

Yes, the Cold War is a thing of the past, but so is the bipolar world order, which was significantly more predictable and less complicated than today's challenges.

Compressor complexes at the Gazprom PJSC Slavyanskaya compressor station, the starting point of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, in Ust-Luga, Russia, January 28, 2021. /Getty

To mitigate the current crisis and to tackle current challenges more effectively, Europe should first and foremost send a clear signal to Russia, namely ending the discussion  as a bloc, not as individual nations  about a possible construction freeze on Nord Stream 2. The latter would only not only exacerbate the situation further and jeopardize Europe's energy supply for future generations but also rob both sides of an obvious benefit from mutual dependency that could increase relations rather swiftly.

Once this has occurred, both sides ought to focus on their shared economic interests such as raw material supplies, technology export and foreign exchange. To this day, the EU remains Russia's first trading partner and the largest foreign direct investment source. Moreover, there is the possibility of cooperation in combating COVID-19. Due to its own fault, Europe desperately needs vaccines, which Russia will be happy to supply. The two sides also share an agreement on the need to combat climate change. Here, too, closer cooperation is not only desirable but essential if one sought to celebrate successes as soon as possible.

Last but not least, various geopolitical crises would also benefit from a better understanding and joint efforts by the EU and Russia, such as the nuclear agreement with Iran, which is still a core element of the global architecture for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the situations in Syria or in Libya, where a sustained end to the conflict is a must for the EU and the ongoing influx of refugees.

Sure, it would be easy for Europe to merely react to the latest events via its default position and impose further sanctions, which would keep the ongoing cycle that has led to nowhere alive. But it is simply not the answer, and it evidently never was. With Moscow neither having anything to fear nor expect from the EU, the Kremlin will at best shrug its shoulders over additional sanctions and further escalations.

Therefore, despite all disappointments, the EU needs to work towards selective cooperation with Russia and engage in realism over reactionism and cooperation over coercion. It would not only mark a paradigm shift but offer the opportunity for reconciliation.
A member of the Ashanti Region wing of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned the Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin to refrain from contesting former John Mahama during the partys congress ahead of the 2024 elections.



This caution to the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament was spearheaded by former Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore Mampong Nurudeen Hamidan.



Speaking on Akoma FMs weekend political show Wonsom, the former MCE dared: Let anyone decide to contest John Mahama in our upcoming congress, not even the Speaker of Parliament, he shouldnt dare else some of us will fight them head-on.



He also indicated that if he has been privileged to be elected as Speaker of Parliament, he should concentrate in Parliament and leave the presidential race to the former president to take NDC to the Promised Land in 2024.



The former MCE, who was a member of the NDCs regional campaign team for last years elections, further added that the former president has been able to brand the NDC into attractive entity and he has been the most popular personality in the party so it will be in the interest of the NDC for John Mahama to unopposedly go through the congress and once again lead the NDC into victory come 2024 but we will fight Alban Bagbin if he dares contest John Mahama.



According to Nurudeen Hamidan, his argument is based on intelligence circulating that some key members of the party have harboured the conviction to contest John Mahama ahead of 2024.



Although the NDC is contesting the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results, the 2024 flagbearer race has already been heated as most of the grass-roots and key leadership of NDC in Ashanti Region have been praying for John Mahama to go through unopposed.

Source: 3news









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
CJ CheilJedang's corporate logo / Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang



By Kim Jae-heun



CJ CheilJedang had a banner year in 2020, achieving a record-high operating profit of over 1 trillion. What is more surprising is that the stellar earnings came only a year after parent company CJ Group initiated emergency management measures due to its heavy debt load.



The group is still continuing efforts to improve its finances, but earnings at the food division have recovered enough for it to consider new investments.



All eyes are now on where the company plans to conduct these to fuel future growth.



CJ CheilJedang emphasized that it plans to strategically utilize its assets, while staying clear of risky ventures. Instead of investing in new production lines or acquiring rivals, the company said it plans to focus on brainstorming new products or establishing new retail channels.



The company's financial status has now recovered to levels seen before the costly acquisition of American frozen food manufacturer Schwan's Company in 2018. CJ CheilJedang spent 1.5 trillion won for that acquisition aimed at expanding its presence in the U.S. market. But the move placed a huge financial burden not only on the food subsidiary, but on the entire conglomerate. CJ Group saw its debt load increase to more than 11.2 trillion won in the first half of 2019.



This forced CJ Cheiljedang to get rid of unprofitable businesses and focus on its mainstay operations, while selling off real estate assets, including factory sites in Gayang-dong and Guro-dong, both in Seoul. The company also stopped investing.



In 2020, CJ Cheiljedang's annual sales reached 14.16 trillion won, with an operating profit of 1.04 trillion won, excluding earnings at affiliate CJ Logistics. CJ CheilJedang's borrowings also decreased by 600 billion won to 4.22 trillion won.



"Nothing has been decided in terms of specific investments, but we will only spend money in essential areas," a company official said.



In the food business, CJ Cheiljedang plans to focus on building new retail channels, come up with new products and forge more business-to-business supply contracts.



In the bio-industry, the food firm is taking steps to manufacture an eco-friendly plastic material called polyhydroxyl alkanoate.



Kim Tae-hyun, a researcher at IBK Securities, said the outlook for CJ CheilJedang's business this year is positive considering its flourishing food sales in the United States and China.



"The company's consolidated sales and operating profit are expected to reach 25.44 trillion won and 1.43 trillion won, respectively," Kim said.


A large image that has an X mark on the face of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing lies on the road as anti-coup protesters gather in Yangon, Myanmar (AP)

Vast numbers of people all over Myanmar have flouted orders against demonstrations to march again in protest against the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Large demonstrations were held in the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw, as well as in far-flung areas dominated by ethnic minorities.

Resistance also took place in cyberspace, as a group calling itself BrotherHood of Myanmar Hackers defaced the governments Myanmar Digital News website, replacing content on its home page with words and pictures against the military takeover.

Protesters in Yangon again rallied outside the Chinese and US embassies. They accuse Beijing of propping up the military regime and applaud Washingtons actions of sanctioning the military.

Expand Close Anti-coup protesters hold posters with CDM, initials that stand for civil disobedience movement, in Yangon, Myanmar (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Anti-coup protesters hold posters with CDM, initials that stand for civil disobedience movement, in Yangon, Myanmar (AP)

The civil disobedience movement and demonstrations show that the people of Myanmar want democracy. We stand with them, said a statement on the US embassys Twitter account.

Other protesters carried signs urging people to boycott businesses linked to the military.

Sundays protests took place after the ruling junta issued a new order suspending several basic civil liberties.

The order, issued late Saturday and published on Sunday in state newspapers, suspends provisions in an existing law on security and privacy protection, allowing the authorities to carry out searches and make arrests without court warrants.

It also allows the interception of electronic and other communications without a warrant and permits the detention of detainees for more than 24 hours without court permission.

Expand Close Protests have continued in Mynamar (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protests have continued in Mynamar (AP)

Civil servants have been very active in the protests, and social media postings on Sunday indicated that state railway workers have joined them, with some unconfirmed claims that they have gone on strike.

The military seized power on February 1, detaining Ms Suu Kyi and members of her government and preventing recently elected politicians from opening a new session of parliament.

The junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said it was forced to step in because the government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last years election, which Ms Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. The state election commission refuted that contention, saying there is no evidence to support it.

Eight days of street demonstrations are estimated to have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the streets despite the threat of six months imprisonment for violating an order banning gatherings of five or more people. The same order imposes an 8pm to 4am curfew.

Protesters also have reason to fear for their personal safety, as police have used rubber bullets to try to break up some demonstrations. A 19-year-old woman who was shot in the head with what experts said was live ammunition at a protest in Naypyitaw was on life support in a hospital and was not expected to recover.

Public concern is also rising at what many charge is the militarys manipulation of criminals released from prison to carry out violence and instil panic.

Expand Close Myanmar people living in Japan and supporters march with placards featuring images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Myanmar people living in Japan and supporters march with placards featuring images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

The government last week declared an amnesty that led to the release of more than 23,000 convicts. There are many claims on social media that some have been recruited by the authorities to carry out violent activities at night in residential areas to spread panic, especially by setting fires. Some areas have set up their own neighbourhood watch groups in response.

The truth of the allegations about government-directed thugs is difficult to verify, even with videos claiming to show their activities. There is historical precedent, as the military released convicts to carry out violence and cause chaos in 1988 during a failed popular uprising against a military dictatorship.

The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 384 people have been detained since the coup, with 360 still being held.

Ms Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, but a remand order holding her on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies expires on Monday.
Lions with their four-inch long canines and a deadly bite are designed to kill. But sometimes even these apex predators surrender to the natural, impenetrable armor of the pangolin, a creature that weighs no more than 10 pounds but has a network of overlapping keratinous scales covering its whole body. When threatened, the pangolin curls up into a tight ball with the exposed scales deterring the predators. Unfortunately, however, this defense mechanism of pangolins is the cause of their demise in the hands of humans, making pangolins the world's most trafficked mammals.

The World Pangolin Day observed on the third Saturday of February each year (this year on February 20) is a reminder of the sad plight of these creatures and the urgent need to speed up conservation efforts to protect them.

Lion cubs inspecting a rolled-up pangolin.

All Pangolin Species Are Threatened

There are 8 extant pangolin species with four each distributed in Asia and Africa. All species are globally threatened.

1. Pangolins In Asia

Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) - Endangered

Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) - Critically Endangered

Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) - Critically Endangered

Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) - Critically Endangered

2. Pangolins In Africa

Giant Ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) - Vulnerable

Temminck's Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) - Endangered

Black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) - Vulnerable

White-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) - Endangered

The World's Most Trafficked Mammal

Pangolins and their body parts are in great demand in parts of Asia, especially China and Vietnam. These animals are poached and illegally trafficked for their scales, meat, and skin. Scales are used for traditional Asian medicine preparations while their meat is considered a delicacy and sells at a high price. Pangolin skin is also used in manufacturing luxury fashion products. Adding to the threat of poaching is the wanton destruction and deterioration of pangolin habitat in most parts of their range in both Asia and Africa. Pangolins are now nearly extinct in China and parts of Southeast Asia while populations in Africa are steadily plummeting due to illegal trafficking by organized transnational criminal groups.

Despite Protections, Illegal Trade In Pangolins Continue

A total of 101 smuggled pangolins are secured at the Natural Resources Conservation Center Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia. Image credit: Editorial credit: Arief Budi Kusuma / Shutterstock.com

By 2016, the pangolin numbers had fallen so drastically, that international commercial trade in pangolins was banned and all pangolin species were placed in Appendix I of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, a shocking report in 2019 revealed that the ban alone was hardly effective. Law-enforcement seizures of pangolin scales and meat were at an all-time high at 128 tons globally in 2019, a 200% hike from 5 years earlier.

The prediction of pangolin experts also turned true. With the Asian species nearly driven to extinction, the traffickers now focussed their attention on the African species with West and Central Africa becoming major hubs of illegal trade in pangolins.

Pangolins In 2020 And The Covid-19 Pandemic

Species that were once hardly a matter of concern for the masses were suddenly brought to the limelight in 2020 when pangolins were suspected as one of the reservoirs of the coronavirus that killed millions across the globe. On several occasions, scientific studies discovered links between coronaviruses living in pangolins and the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As recently as February 2021, a scientific study published in Nature Communications became the only study to provide serological and molecular evidence that pangolins harbor SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses. Whether pangolins were eventually the direct or indirect source of the novel coronavirus that triggered the pandemic is yet to be known. However, the pandemic did bring to notice the plight of these animals at a global level and also taught a lesson about the need for humans to maintain a respectable distance from wildlife and wild spaces. The association of traded pangolins and other wildlife with the pandemic also prompted the Chinese government to take action. On February 24, 2020, China announced an immediate ban on trading and eating wild animals. Wild animal markets were shut down across the country giving new hope to pangolin conservationists about the future survival of the species.

A later report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), however, dashed all such hopes. It revealed that online sales platforms continued to advertise pangolin products while some major pharmaceutical companies in China offered to sell similar items directly on their websites. The report cautioned that such loopholes need to be immediately closed by China to protect the pangolins.

News Is Both Good And Bad

An Indian pangolin.

Pangolin trafficking continues to occur with reports of seizures surfacing on a frequent basis since the beginning of 2021. In January, Nigeria Customs Service intercepted pangolin scales weighing 8,800kg heading for Haiphong, Vietnam. Recently, forest officials recovered a pangolin and its pup from traffickers in the Mumbai-Goa highway in western India while 4 kg of pangolin scales were confiscated from smugglers in West Bengal in the eastern part of the country. These events bear proof of the fact that pangolin trafficking continues unabated even after the world suffered such a lethal pandemic.

Not all news is bad, however. Pangolin conservation success stories are also widespread. India is taking stern actions to protect the pangolins in the country. On February 14, 2020, in a joint effort, the forest department of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh state and the Wildlife Conservation Trust, an NGO working in the field of wildlife conservation in the country, radio-tagged two Indian pangolins for the first time. It would help them study the ecology of the species and devise future conservation plans to save it. India also managed to crack down on pangolin poaching in several instances and an Indian female officer, Sasmita Lanka, received the United Nation's Asia Environmental Enforcement Award for her exceptional work in busting pangolin smuggling rackets.

In December 2020, a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation gave new hope to pangolin conservationists. The Philippine pangolins believed to be almost extinct were spotted in 17 of the 24 municipalities in Palawan, the Philippine island province that is the only known home to the species in the world. The discovery suggested that there was still time to save the species.

Conservation activities in Africa are also giving new life to the continent's pangolins. For example, local conservationists in South Africas KwaZulu-Natal province have helped reintroduce the Temmincks pangolin in the province decades after its local extinction from the area.

The pandemic has also forced governments and policymakers previously ignorant towards pangolins and other wildlife to take action to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

In the end, experts agree that it is the demand for pangolin products that fuel the killing of these animals and must cease to exist to ensure a secure future for the pangolins.
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for stricter Covid-19 border controls, noting that another wave of the pandemic may be on the way in the country.

"More attention must be paid to foreign entries, especially from countries infected with new variants of the virus," he said in a meeting of the national anti-Covid-19 headquarters in Tehran on Saturday.

Rouhani stressed the need that all local officials and members of the Basij, a volunteer force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, engage in the monitoring of individuals coming from abroad, who must stay in quarantine when necessary according to Iran's protocols, reports Xinhua news agency.

The President called on a general effort to prevent a new wave of the outbreak before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, given the social and economic importance of the yearly celebrations.

Also on Saturday, the southwestern province of Khuzestan declared a red alert over the spread of the virus, after several weeks without any province on the highest warning.

Even if vaccination against Covid-19 is successful, Rouhani further said, people should still be careful and maintain the current lifestyle for at least a year.

The spokesman for the headquarters, Alireza Raisi, said that the number of daily deaths is decreasing in Iran, but warned about the increase in cases in Khuzestan and northwestern province of West Azerbaijan, state TV reported.

The spokeswoman for Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Sima Sadat Lari, said that 74 new deaths related to the were registered in the country between Friday and Saturday, pushing the death toll to 58,883.

The total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed so far in is 1,510,873, after 7,120 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours, she added.

The Health Ministry started the Covid-19 vaccination on February 9 using Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

--IANS

ksk/

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

The Berejiklian government has been warned against a dead of night demolition of the historic villa that is to make way for the new Parramatta Powerhouse.

The NSW branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) vowed to bring in affiliated workers from nearby construction sites in Parramatta to enforce a green ban to protect the 19th-century riverside mansion known as Willow Grove.

Destined for dismantling and relocation. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

Final planning approval was announced on Friday, green lighting the $840 million project with Parramatta City Council lord mayor and the Powerhouses board of trustees welcoming the decision as a once in a lifetime opportunity for western Sydney.

The Department of Planning concluded that retaining Willow Grove would severely compromise the development of the site and delivery of public benefits.


Pressure is growing on Priti Patel after she branded the anti-racism protest movement Black Lives Matter dreadful and criticised the practice of taking a knee.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, said his counterparts comments were unacceptable and that the Black Lives Matter movement was a powerful call for change from across society.

Ms Patel had said she opposed the civil rights protests as not the right way at all and also that she opposed the peaceful symbolic gesture of taking the knee.

Last summer was quite a moment with all the protests that we saw taking place, she had told LBC radio.

We saw policing as well coming under a great deal of pressure through some of the protest.

I don't support protest and I also did not support the protests that were associated.

Asked whether she would take a knee, she said: No, I would not. I would not have at the time either.

Ms Patel said there were "other ways in which people can express their opinions, but did not elaborate on those she believed were acceptable.

On Friday night, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: The Black Lives Matter movements powerful call for change from across society saw so many black people in our country share powerful testimony on the impact of systemic racism.

To be dismissed like this by the home secretary is unacceptable.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 29 March 2021 An aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the Mersey Bowman Lawn Tennis Club in Liverpool northwest England on March 29, 2021, as England's third Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - People in England rushed outside Monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 28 March 2021 A walrus sleeps on the slipway of Tenby Lifeboat station at Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 27 March 2021 Demonstrators attend a protest against a new proposed policing bill in Manchester Reuters UK news in pictures 26 March 2021 Gallery technicians display Andy Warhol screenprints Queen Elizabeth II, from: Reigning Queens screenprint in colours, 1985, left, and Queen Elizabeth II, from: Reigning Queens (Royal Edition) screenprint in colours with diamond dust, 1985, right, at Christies auction rooms in London AP UK news in pictures 25 March 2021 A member of staff, in the pool, cleans the bottom of the pool during pre-opening preparation and cleaning of Charlton Lido, south London, following its closure due to lockdown PA UK news in pictures 24 March 2021 Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater on the local election campaign trail in Edinburgh. PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2021 Care home staff at Westbourne House care home in Sheffield hold a minute's silence during the National Reflection day, The first anniversary of the first UK lockdown Tom Maddick / SWNS UK news in pictures 22 March 2021 The sun rises over "The Couple" by artist Sean Henry, which sits off the coast at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 21 March 2021 A man driving with his family in Jersey captured the moment a meteor streaked across the sky on his cars dash cam SWNS UK news in pictures 20 March 2021 Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against the lockdown in London Reuters UK news in pictures 19 March 2021 A parakeet eats a cherry blossom in St. James's Park, London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 18 March 2021 Highland cattle lock horns at the National Trusts Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire PA

Ms Patel is the latest Tory to come out against the protests. Last year, the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, claimed that taking a knee was a symbol of subjugation and subordination.

The pose is based on one struck by Martin Luther King. Since 2016 it has been adopted as a general symbolic protest against racism.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, accused the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, of loony left-wing wheezes after Mr Khan announced the creation of a commission to improve diversity in the capitals public places.
Humanitarian Aid Agency, GOAL, is appealing to Louth Primary School teachers to virtually inspire students to become active global citizens through its Changemakers Programme.

GOAL launched the innovative programme - aimed at primary school students - last year.

But with lockdown it has adapted so teachers can connect with their pupils virtually to inspire them on action they can take to create a more sustainable and fairer world.

The GOAL Changemakers Programme invites pupils to learn about the 17 UN Global Goals agreed by world leaders to end poverty, fight inequality, stop climate change and protect our oceans, flora and fauna by 2030.

The adapted zoom workshops, facilitated by GOAL staff, use drama activities and audio-visual materials to create a fun and engaging experience.

They will continue until schools return.

The workshops are 45 minutes long, but can be longer or shorter depending on the class.

GOAL Staff are facilitating the workshops through drama and interactive audio-visual materials to inspire young changemakers all around the country.

The lessons are fun, curriculum-linked and designed to get young people thinking about how we can all play our part in making the world a more fair, sustainable and safer place for all.

All classes that participate in the programme will receive a beautiful Philips educational world map co-produced with Folens publishers for display in their classroom to recognise Changemakers, and to encourage classes to continue learning about the world around them.

Third class teacher Paula Frances Galvin, at Our Lady Queen Of The Apostles, Clondalkin, who participated in last years programme, said: The GOAL Changemakers Programme is a great way to engage classes in a real-life project which can encompass many curricular areas, as well as being based on values of human rights, global justice, sustainability and equality.

GOAL Global Citizenship Manager, Nina Sachau, said there is huge interest so far from teachers around Ireland, including Louth, on delivering Changemakers virtually.

She said: With the world facing one of the biggest global crisis of our times, taking action to build a more fair and sustainable future has never been more important.

"This programme will give Louth students the information and motivation they need to become changemakers

She added: People around the world are currently living through the COVID-19 pandemic which is adding to the challenges of climate change, poverty and global injustice.

"Children can be overwhelmed, and we have to ensure they are resilient and active actors in the shaping of their future.

"It is heartening that this generation of incredibly conscientious and active young people and educators are taking so many actions to bring about a fair and sustainable world.

All support materials for teachers are available on the GOAL website.

So even if teachers are not doing live classes with their students, there are a number of videos and ready-made lesson plans available on our website to be used right away: Changemakers Resources - GOAL Global

For more information on the Changemakers Programme visit https://www.goalglobal.org/ changemakers/.
A man who played a key role in a computer malware scam has been sentenced to two years in prison, federal prosecutors say.

Manish Kumar, 32, directed telephone calls to call centres in India as part of a scheme to mislead individuals into believing that their computers were infected by malware. The callers were then persuaded to buy technical support services that were never provided, according to a statement Friday from the U.S. attorney's office in Rhode Island.

The victims were then targeted by the scammers again, authorities said. They were told they had been sent excessive refunds and asked to return the overage. But because no refunds had actually been sent to the victims, they were just parting with more of their own money, prosecutors said.

Kumar, a native of India, admitted to providing money routing services for the scheme and making fraudulent charges on 37 credit cards that were not his, prosecutors said.

Kumar, who was arrested in the U.S. in 2019, pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
As the most onerous restrictions ever imposed on travellers to the UK take effect, senior figures are pleading for the government to provide some hope of restarting holiday sales.

From Monday travellers arriving from 33 red list countries to England will be required to quarantine for 11 nights in a hotel close to one of four airports  Heathrow, Gatwick, London City or Birmingham  or the business jet hub of Farnborough in Hampshire.

All international arrivals to Scotland must quarantine at hotels near Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

At the same time, the testing regime for anyone arriving in the UK has been stepped up. All travellers must provide evidence of a negative test in the 72 hours before departure to Britain, then book tests on days two and eight.

Ministers say the tighter rules are necessary to reduce the risk of importing South African and Brazilian variants of coronavirus. The red list comprises Portugal, the UAE, all of South America and many southern African nations.

The government is continuing a social media campaign warning that holidays are illegal. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has urged prospective travellers not to book for the summer  to the despair of the travel industry.

In response, a Save Our Summer campaign will be launched on Monday by a group of UK travel companies that had pre-Covid annual revenues of over 11bn.

The firms, including Trailfinders and Celebrity Cruises, say they are united in outrage at Mr Shappss warning against booking travel.

They say 2.4 million travel and tourism jobs in the UK are under threat, and call on the prime minister to open up domestic and overseas trips from 1 May.

Henry Morley, chief executive of True Travel, said: The travel industry stands on the edge of a precipice. A ministers job is to protect our industry, not destroy it.

There must now be a clear roadmap set out from 1 May onwards specifically for travel.

The chief executive of Abta, the travel association, said: Another summer season lost to the pandemic would be disastrous for the sector.

Writing in Business Travel News, Mark Tanzer insisted: The travel industry cant wait for the full roll-out of the vaccine programme before people start to travel again.

The leading cross-Channel line, Brittany Ferries, has called for reciprocal travel agreements with the UKs most popular overseas destinations, France and Spain.

Christophe Mathieu, the chief executive, said: Vaccines are the way out of this dreadful crisis.

By spring we think there will be a clear case for the adoption of vaccination-led travel corridors  or in our case sea lanes  that allow holidays to go ahead this summer and for hope to return.

Lockdown Britons should look forward to holidays with growing confidence.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 28 May 2021 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his dog Peanut welcomes European Council President Charles Michel at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece REUTERS World news in pictures 27 May 2021 A man waits to receive a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, in the rooms of the Claudia Comte exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli near Turin AFP/Getty World news in pictures 26 May 2021 A girl, with her face painted with the colours of the opposition flag, looks on during a demonstration against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and presidential elections, in the opposition-held Idlib, Syria Reuters World news in pictures 25 May 2021 A Buddhist monk climbs atop a giant statue of Buddha, to wash and decorate on the eve of Buddha Purnima, a holiday traditionally celebrated for Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, in Bhopal AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 May 2021 Lava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo cuts through Buhene north of Goma, Congo AP World news in pictures 23 May 2021 Cyclists at the start of the 15th stage of the Giro dItalia, a 147km race between Grado and Gorizia AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 May 2021 Swiss Guards take their position prior to the arrival of the European Commission President at San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican for a private audience with the Pope AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease, screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr in action during a F1 practice session at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo Reuters World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty

Meanwhile, last-minute discussions are taking place between the government, unions, airports and hoteliers about the hotel quarantine operation.

Heathrow airport, the main arrival point for the UK, said it may be necessary to cancel some flights so the UK Border Force is unable to cope.

A spokesperson said: Queues at the border in recent days of almost five hours are totally unacceptable.

Ministers need to ensure there is adequate resource and effective processes at the border to avoid compromising the safety of passengers and those working at the airport, which could necessitate the suspension of some arriving flights.

A government spokesperson said: We are working closely with airports and hotels to manage any issues that arise and ensure the new process runs as smoothly as possible.

Trades unions have called for protection for UK Border Force staff, hotel employees and security personnel.

There are also concerns about the high cost that passengers must pay. An individual traveller is obliged to pay 1,750, or 159 per night, for accommodation and three meals.

But industry sources said hotels will receive less than half this sum, with the remainder going on security, transportation and the two necessary Covid tests.
Posted Sunday, February 14, 2021 9:03 am

Three sisters are suing two independent Baptist churches in Washington, alleging they failed to protect them from a pastor they say sexually abused them.

The two churches are Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Tenino and Calvary Baptist Church in Prosser. The lawsuit was filed in Thurston County Superior Court on Feb. 4 on behalf of Jessica Evans Dudley, Ashleigh Evans Burchard and Shannon Evans, all of Idaho.

The suit alleges David Bosley, who served as pastor at both churches, manipulated the women into his custody, groomed them and sexually abused them while they were children. The abuse allegedly started while Bosley worked at First Bible Baptist Church in Lacey, which was renamed and relocated to Tenino.

The three women are seeking damages for their medical expenses, emotional pain, physical injury and more.

"I decided to come forward, because Bosley is still out there running children's programs," Dudley said in a news release. "He needs to be stopped."

A larger web of issues surround Bosley

Bosley reportedly now operates two youth ranches in Missouri, Master's Ranch Christian Academy which has a location for older boys in Couch and a location for younger boys in Myrtle, as well as the Master's Ranch Girl's Academy in Thayer, which opened in September.

He also operated Master's Ranch West in Prescott, Washington, but that ranch closed in May following child abuse allegations. Walla Walla County Sheriff's deputies had been called to the site seven times over a 13-day period in May, including in response to reports of 30 angry students armed with shovels and brooms.

A Walla Walla County Superior Court judge later issued a permanent injunction against Master's Ranch West to prevent it from continuing, the Tri-City Herald reported Wednesday.

In October, Bosley posted a video on Facebook where he said he was shutting down his Washington ministry because "Washington state is full of Nazis who don't believe parents have any rights to their kids."

The locations in Missouri are unlicensed and are not required to adhere to safety codes, conduct background checks on employees or even notify the state of their existence. Reports of abuse and neglect have prompted scrutiny of such facilities in Missouri, the Kansas City Star reported.

The story begins in 1996

The three women met Bosley in 1996 when they were 10, 12 and 14 years old. At the time, Bosley worked as a pastor at First Bible Baptist church in Lacey, which the three girls and their family attended, according to the complaint.

The church moved to Tumwater in 1997, the complaint reads. In addition to serving as pastor, Bosley was elected as the church board president and he ran the church's school which he founded in its basement in 1997.

During this time, Bosley allegedly insinuated himself into the girls' lives and sent church members to "wrestle" the girls away from their mother, according to the complaint.

The alleged manipulation eventually culminated in the pastor and his wife winning non-parental custody of the three girls in 1998 while he was still employed at the church, the complaint read. From there, the suit alleges Bosley sexually abused the three girls with increasing intensity over several years and physically hurt them by whipping them with a belt.

Officials at the church eventually confronted Bosley and discharged him, prompting him to relocate to the Prosser church in 1999, according to the complaint. There he worked as a pastor and president of the board from 1999 to 2000. All the while, he allegedly continued to abuse the three girls while denigrating their birth parents, the complaint read.

The suit alleges that Bosley had been accused of abuse prior to his employment at First Bible Baptist. The suit also alleges neither church reported the pastor to law enforcement or welfare officials regarding their suspicions about Bosley's relationship with the girls.

"Each Defendant protected Bosley from being exposed for pedophilia, ephebophilia, and other wrongful conduct with plaintiffs, including failing to report each plaintiff's child abuse to the proper authorities," the suit says, "and enabling the perpetrator to continue to sexually harm plaintiffs."

After Bosley left the church, new management relocated the church to Tenino and renamed it Prairie Baptist Church in 1999 and then Blessed Hope Baptist Church in 2001, according to the complaint.

Coming forward now

Melanie Ballie, the attorney representing the women, called them brave for speaking up about a tragic situation from their past.

"It's tragic when institutions fail to report suspected child abusers in their organizations," Ballie said. "Failure to report enables abusers to continue to violate."

Baillie told The Olympian the three women chose to file the lawsuit now partly because they had come to realize how the alleged abuse is linked to issues they have today. She added it's common for victims of sexual abuse to take a long time to step forward.

"Most of the time, it takes a very long time, even to be able to address it to yourself, let alone speak up," Ballie said. "For some people, it takes a lifetime. I've represented people who weren't even able to say it out loud until 30 or 40 years past."

Baillie said she is not aware if her clients will pursue any legal action against Bosley himself. Whether the same church members who allegedly enabled Bosley's abuse are still present at the churches today is not relevant, she said.

"The churches are the churches," Ballie said. "Incidentally there are people that are still there (at the churches), but we're not suing individuals, we are suing the churches."

Bosley said in a Facebook message he disagreed with 99% of the complaint but declined to comment further.

The Tenino church responds

Dawn Carrillo, wife of pastor Norman Carrillo at the Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Tenino, told The Olympian she was shocked and upset when she learned about the lawsuit. She said she and her husband took over the church 21 years ago after Bosley had left.

"We've never heard anything like this, we've never heard any of these allegations," Carrillo said. "We're pretty shocked to be having a lawsuit brought against us where we could stand to lose what we've worked for all these years."

Carrillo said she and her husband were told the previous pastor left of his own accord because the church could not afford to continue paying him. Additionally, Carrillo told the Kansas City Star Bosley had left the church with debt, forcing her husband to take on a full-time job just to pay it off.

She said she does not understand how her church can be held accountable for something that started nearly two decades ago and did not involve them.

"I'm not saying that what (the three women) went through, whatever it was, was not true," Carrillo said. "I just don't know anything about it and my husband didn't either, nor did our church members that we have now. So it's really hard to kind of reconcile how we can be held accountable."

Carrillo said the church has been reorganized and renamed since then and only one elderly woman remains from Bosley's time at the church. She said she's afraid this lawsuit could tarnish the reputation of the church she and her husband have built.

"We've worked really hard to have a good standing with the community and to help the community," Carrillo said. "To see that destroyed overnight, or could be destroyed potentially overnight, is heartbreaking."

Calvary Baptist Church did not respond to requests for comment from The Olympian. However, Noel Little, senior pastor at the Prosser church told the Kansas City Star he was shocked to read the allegations and denied knowing about them or anyone involved.

"This is completely all new stuff to me," Little told The Star. "When I started reading this, I told my wife it's like reading a sexual novel. It's kind of a shock to me. I know nothing about any of these accusations or anybody involved with it."

___

(c)2021 The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)

Visit The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.) at www.theolympian.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South has advised Minister-designate for Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to be watchful of his "mood and temperament".



You dont need to comment on this, it is a personal advice to you. My mother said that each morning I should pray for my tongue. So I will leave it there, learn to pray for your tongue and learn to manage your mood and temperament because there is some potential ahead of you as a young person......So, pray for your tongue. I just think that you should be able to manage it, you didnt need to be provoked, he urged.



This was after the Minority leader monitored the posture of the former Education Minister while answering some questions put to him during his vetting in Parliament on Friday, February 12.



when the Honourable Ablakwa and Suhuyini were questioning you, I was not particularly happy with your mood. Mood because scrutiny of this nature as observed by one congresswoman is to look at knowledge of subject matter, IQ, temperament and service to the Ghanaian people.



What they sought to do was that in the past, maybe call it exuberance, you probably before assuming office must have had your own view about who you succeeded. But I noticed that you were not particularly happy and you were finding it difficult to retract even when it was necessary" Haruna Iddrisu told Mathew Opoku Prempeh.



In response, Napo as the Minister-designate is popularly called said: Thank you Minority leader, I take the advice for all of us.

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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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.
Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The daily column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events.

Following the World Health Organization's research into the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan, the Western mainstream media has twisted and manipulated the findings. By questioning the authenticity of China's data and discrediting the mission, they hyped up the anti-China narrative in the international discourse.

In an article published in the New York Times on February 13, it claimed "On W.H.O. Trip, China Refused to Hand Over Important Data," attempting to pour doubt on the revelation that the virus did not in fact originate in the city or, perhaps more important to them, "extremely unlikely" to have been leaked from a lab in Wuhan. And where the media was attracted to, the politics followed. The Biden administration jumped on the bandwagon, accusing the WHO's findings of lacking transparency.

However, scientists from the organization have rejected the claims by the NYT as deliberately misleading. Peter Daszak, a member on the WHO-China joint research team, stated in a tweet: "This was NOT my experience on the WHO mission. As lead of animal/environment working group I found trust & openness with my China counterparts. We DID get access to critical new data throughout. We DID increase our understanding of likely spillover pathways." Another participating scientist, Thea K Fischer, accused the media of intentionally twisting the experts' quotes and "casting shadows over important scientific work."

The pattern is very much clear. The "Pompeo-lite" approach to China lives on within U.S.' media and political discourse. From beginning to end, Western media and politicians have repeatedly politicized COVD-19 and spread misinformation in a bid to advance geopolitical confrontation against China, as well as distracting the public from their own catastrophic mismanagement of the pandemic.

A screenshot of Thea K Fischer's tweet about NYT's coverage.

They have repeatedly accused Beijing of a "cover up," underplaying the true extent of the illness and were fast to dismiss any scientific information or findings that contravenes the "conventional wisdom" that China is responsible for the pandemic. The "post-truth politics," whereby emotion, identity and falsehoods take precedence over reason, truth and wisdom, has outlived the Trump presidency and permeated into the corners of U.S. politics and media strategy.

In conjunction with this preference for narrative, the World Health Organization has also been repeatedly discredited, demeaned and degraded by successive administrations in Washington D.C. and the press at large. The Biden administration sought to re-join the WHO, trying to claim a difference from Trump's approach. Yet in practice, can anyone actually say there is any real difference in what they are doing?

Politicization of the virus seems to remain the first and foremost priority. Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the WHO should be held to the highest standard. But by insinuating that the organization wasn't up to its job, the administration undermines global health cooperation. It is taking a unilateral approach towards it that put geopolitical grievances first, irrespective of the facts.

It seems that in no scenario or in no circumstances can Western elites truly come to terms with the reality that their deepest held prejudices and resentments over COVID-19 were in fact wrong. To do so would be to directly critique the West's own inflated sense of ideological supremacy. This ought to shine a light on just how truly bad faith and agenda-driven reporting and commentary on this issue has been. The Western public has been deceived and manipulated by the media and politicians for the past year. Their inability to take the disease seriously has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and tanked their countries' economies despite there are proven effective ways to avoid both.

This must be understood: China has sought to approach the COVID-19 pandemic with transparency, openness, cooperation and science. And this is why China overcame the pandemic quickly while some are still suffering from it.
Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. High 77F. Winds light and variable.
As the UK government prepares to bring in the most onerous travel restrictions ever known, there are mounting concerns about whether hotel quarantine will work smoothly.

Forensic analysis of the Australian system, introduced in March 2020, reveals many concerns  from bio-security breaches due to fresh-air breaks to the mental wellbeing of quarantining travellers.

From Monday 15 February, all passengers arriving in the UK from red list countries are required to pay for 11 nights in an airport hotel. The price for the stay and three meals a day is 1,750 for individual travellers.

The measure was first promoted by ministers four weeks ago, and officially announced by the prime minister on 27 January.

Less than 48 hours before the system is due to start, the main UK airport involved, London Heathrow, warned some significant gaps remain and we are yet to receive the necessary reassurances.

A spokesperson for the airport said: Ministers must ensure there is adequate resource and appropriate protocols in place for each step of the full end-to-end process from aircraft to hotel to avoid compromising the safety of passengers and those working at the airport.

On Friday, the home secretary said: This is not a scheme that can come into force overnight.

The logistics are quite something, actually.

Speaking on LBC Radio, Priti Patel said: This isnt a case of We announce it, and it comes into force the next day.

Yet in Australia, exactly such a scheme was brought in overnight on 27-28 March 2020. Seven months later the Australian government conducted a comprehensive review of the system  which by then had processed 130,000 arrivals.

Of these, 851 travellers were diagnosed with Covid-19. That corresponds to one case for every 153 arrivals, or two-thirds of one per cent.

Officials identified key areas that make the difference between success and failure.

Hotel quarantine is difficult to endure, particularly for vulnerable people, the report says.

It is an expensive resource and requires a highly specialised workforce to support the system including clinical, welfare and security services.

Infection prevention and control processes need to be tightly managed.

In Australia, flights are boarded by biosecurity staff and Border Force officials, who deliver on-board briefings about quarantine requirements, immigration, customs and biosecurity clearances.

The next step is health screening, with symptomatic cases taken to hospital.

Buses to hotels are operated at half-capacity, with police escorts to hotels.

One British traveller who experienced quarantine in Sydney told The Independent he was taken to a hotel room by a soldier.

Gordon Ronald said: There is so much to enforcing a quarantine system with so many other agencies needing to be involved: border control, police, army, plus a medical team based in the hotel.

Even when quarantinees are installed, problems may only be beginning. The state of Victoria experienced such severe problems that it commissioned a judicial review of its own.

The chair of the Board of Inquiry, Justice Jennifer Coate, said that between the start of hotel quarantine on 28 March and May 2020, the number of active coronavirus cases in Victoria had fallen from 541 to 57.

But, she writes: In the wake of breaches of containment in the Hotel Quarantine Program operating in Victoria at the time, a second wave descended upon us with devastating consequences. Hundreds of lives were lost bringing suffering, sadness and grief to so many.

Ninety-nine per cent of cases in the second wave came stemmed from returned travellers infecting staff and security guards at two Melbourne hotels: the Rydges Carlton and the Stamford Plaza.

The report makes no mention of allegations of sex between guards and guests. But it is critical of the way that fresh-air breaks were handled: increasing the potential for direct contact between security guards and quarantined guests, and allowing guests to move through common areas, increasing the risk of infection through the contamination of those common areas.

The Australia-wide review makes clear the human cost on arriving travellers, noting the pressures on mental health and wellbeing during hotel quarantine. It says: Even those who have not previously experienced mental ill health may find the experience taxing.

Mr Ronald, who was placed in a room in the Sheraton in Sydney, said he found meals unappealing: Hot food is delivered in a small plastic takeaway container. Certainly not Sheraton quality.

Once its delivered they knock on the door three times and you are instructed to allow 10 seconds before opening your door. 

Overall, he found quarantine very tough.

Australias review commends quarantine hotels that offered guest-specific Facebook pages/groups, providing exercise; quizzes and other activities; age-specific activities; and delivery of a structured day.

The overall conclusion is that hotel quarantine impacts guests financially, emotionally and physically.



PORTLAND, Ore.  Severe winter weather conditions have blown through the Portland metro area, Columbia River Gorge, Willamette Valley and Southwest Washington this week. As with any significant storm, there have been power outages reported throughout the region.

RELATED: GOVERNOR BROWN DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN WILLAMETTE VALLEY

A deluge of ice and snow fueled by arctic cold and unrelenting winds is causing power outages throughout the northern Willamette Valley, Portland and coastal areas.

Pacific Power crews and contractors are out in force with more than 230 staff now assessing damage and beginning repairs even as the storm continues to cause new outages.

As of 1 p.m. Saturday, 33,000 customers are in the process of being restored. Most customers are expected to have service restored by late Sunday, Feb. 14 with some of the hardest hit areas remaining without service into Monday, Feb. 15. The communities with the largest remaining outages include:

Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, 9,000

Dallas, Independence, 11,000

Stayton , Mill City, 8,000

Astoria, 3,400

Our crews are out in the field assessing damage and restoring power as quickly and as safely as possible, said Allen Berreth, vice president of operations. We appreciate the patience that customers have shown during this outage and we want to remind everyone to stay clear of any down lines you may see. Doing repair work in these conditions is very challenging. Many roads are blocked and lines are still being brought down by ice and snow snapping tree branches. We are often restoring one set of customers only to have another nearby neighborhood go down.

Pacific Power encourages customers to report outages by calling 1-877-508-5088 or text OUT to 722797. Text STAT to 722797 to check the status of your outage.

Freezing rain left roads, power lines and trees coated in ice in the Portland region. By Saturday morning, more than 1,200 power lines were down, leaving 270,000 people without power.

As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Portland General Electric was reporting about 200,000 customers were without power, and Pacific Power was reporting another 25,000 without power.
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Remembering Darwin incorporates everyone but the famed naturalist and founder of the theory of evolution by natural selection.

The Vortex Theatre will present Brian Hansens play online beginning on Friday, Feb. 19.

Charles Darwin was a loner, an iconoclast whose brilliance was eclipsed by his shyness. The geologist and biologist published his theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species.

Long fascinated by the founder of evolutionary theory, playwright and retired University of New Mexico theater professor Hansen decided to present the scientist through the eyes of those around him.

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The people in Darwins life  from his grandfather to his wife, his daughter, his scientific rivals and even the captain of the HMS Beagle (a fundamentalist Christian) tell his story from their own individual perspectives. All had wildly different emotional responses to Darwin and his ideas.

He was extremely shy, self-effacing and concerned about conflict with other human beings, Hansen said. He was surrounded by a group of people who looked out for his interests; all the leading biologists of the time.

Darwins wife Emma (she was also his second cousin) was quite religious, Hansen said.

His daughter Annie speaks to him from the grave.

She was dying of what we would call scarlet fever, Hansen said. She reports that, of course her father believed in God. But he believed in a God that didnt interfere in the workings of the world.

The scientists, priests and philosophers who discussed his theories during the 1860 Oxford debate also appear.

It ended in almost a riot, Hansen said, everybody was shouting and screaming.

Capt. Robert FitzRoy recruited the 22-year-old Darwin for the global voyage of the HMS Beagle because he wanted an educated dinner companion.

Darwin had just gotten his degree at Cambridge, Hansen said. FitzRoy was a staunchly conservative Christian who eventually turned against his young friend.

When they returned, FitzRoy began to criticize Darwin, Hansen added. He believed Darwin was an agent of Satan.

The play is about resistance and the ferocity of ideas, he added.

Were going to convert this into a file, Hansen said. Itll be available in perpetuity. Im hoping for a certain amount of selective success.

The cast of Remembering Darwin includes Philip J. Shortell, Shangreaux LaGrave, Harry Zimmerman, Linda Williams, Abby Van Gerpen, Tyler Strand, Joel Miller, Neil Faulconbridge, Tim Crofton and Brian Hansen.

If you go

WHAT: Remembering Darwin by Brian Hansen

WHERE: Online at the Vortex Theatre at vortexabq.org

WHEN: Feb. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27,and 28. Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

HOW MUCH: Free; make reservations at vortexabq.org.
Mistrust between India-China at all time high: US official

On India-China border row, Army Chief says legacy issues to be resolved through mutual consent

Forced to buckle under PM Modi: Anurag Thakur on standoff with China

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 14: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has strengthened its defence sector and even "forced" China to buckle down.

Addressing women entrepreneurs at a Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha event, the Union Minister of State for Finance also claimed that the Congress did not do much for the defence sector during its 10-year rule.

"Congress says what has been done for the defence sector. They (Congress) could not buy a single bulletproof jacket in their 10-year rule while the Modi government provided 2 lakh jackets to the soldiers. They could not buy a fighter jet while we provided 36 Rafale jets.

"That China was forced to buckle down and India showed its might, it happened under Modi's leadership. Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai (everything is possible as Modi is there)," Thakur said.

This is power and the strong leadership that enhances pride and prestige of the country, he said.

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as the two sides continued military and diplomatic talks.

Disengagement process at Pangong Tso to be complete by Friday

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament on Thursday that India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh that mandates both sides to "cease" forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordinated and verifiable" manner.

Thakur said in this year's Budget, an increase of more than 18.8 per cent has been done for purchases like fighter jets, tanks and ammunition.

Referring to the new farm laws, the minister alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been "spreading lies".

"I asked Congress MPs in the Parliament to name the provisions in the new law that scraps Mandis or MSP but they failed to do so. I have blasted Rahul Gandhi's lies in a manner that he will not forget in his entire life," Thakur claimed.

Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the government over the new farm laws, border stand-off with China among other issues.

A Congress MP in Rajya Sabha submitted that there was no clause in the new laws that scrapped Mandis, he claimed further.

"On one hand a Congress MP (Rahul Gandhi), who is the former Congress president, says Mandis will be scrapped and on the other hand another MP of Congress says it will not. Congress is moving in two directions. If things remain like this, Congress will split while moving in two streams."

Thakur claimed that Rahul Gandhi "cannot tell the difference between wheat and barley" like his father Rajiv Gandhi also was unable to the "differentiate between red and green chilies."

"What should I ask from such a leader. They come and tell lies," he said.

Terming Gandhi as a "novice" in politics, Thakur claimed that he brought down Congress's strength from 400 seats in Lok Sabha to 40, claiming that was an outcome of "dynasty politics".

The minister asserted that the Budget was aimed at turning India into an economic and manufacturing powerhouse and it served the interests of all sections of the society including women.

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Story first published: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:00 [IST]
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Valentines Day is the day to express love, gratitude and be romantic. It is celebrated on February 14, mostly by couples, to express their devotion to each other. For years, the day is mainly celebrated by couples who express their feelings towards each other and mark a romantic journey together. However, the legend behind the Valentine's Day celebration has not been about love and couples since time immemorial.

As we celebrate the day, here is looking at an interesting history behind the day.

1. Many a Valentine:Most believe that there lived one Saint Valentine, who was executed by the Romans and wrote one last letter to his beloved from prison. In reality, there were many martyred saints named Valentine. Two among them, namely Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni are celebrated on February 14. Bollandist Society, however, as noted by The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, considers them to be the same person.

As per the Catholic Encyclopaedia, there was also a third Saint Valentine, who was martyred in a Rome occupied African colony. Not much is known about him.

2. Martyrdom:As per a legend, Saint Valentine of Rome secretly performed weddings for Roman soldiers under Claudius II, who were forbidden to marry. He was imprisoned and executed on February 14 in the year 270 A.D. While in prison, Valentine restored the eyesight of his jailor Asteriuss daughter Julia. He supposedly wrote a farewell letter to her and signed it off with the words, from your Valentine".

3. Birds:February is the month in which the winter gives way to spring. Male birds begin singing to find mates for life. Among human beings, the act of courting a potential life partner is equated to this avian activity and Saint Valentines martyrdom celebrations got associated with finding mates on February 14.

4. Geoffrey Chaucer:Scholars believe that Geoffrey Chaucers late 14th-century poem, The Parliament of Fowls, which had a line about birds choosing their mates on St. Valentines Day, led to the creation of Valentines Day in its modern form.

5. Lupercalia:Starting in pre-Roman times, a pastoral celebration was held from February 13 through 15, in honour of the fertility deity Lupercus. Animals were sacrificed and women were whipped with animal skins in the belief that it would help in childbirth. After Christianity replaced pagan religions, Valentines Day replaced Lupercalia.
There are dueling protests at The Battery every Sunday  Confederate flag guys on one side of the street, Black Lives Matter and antifa on the other.

The police department assigns officers to be there regularly because (surprise, surprise) trouble breaks out frequently.

When a black man ominously showed up there with a semiautomatic rifle in July, residents worried, and the heritage gang threatened to start packing, too. The place where Charleston watched the Civil War begin has become a microcosm of the countrys political polarization.

And some state lawmakers ridiculously argue South Carolina would be safer if all these protesters were armed to the teeth.

Like clockwork, the General Assembly is again considering an open-carry law that would allow a lot of people to walk around strapped like extras in "Gunsmoke." Its political pandering at its peak, and Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds told lawmakers last week it was flat-out dangerous.

You want these flaggers and BLM people carrying guns down there? Reynolds says. Maybe this works in some areas, maybe it works in the Upstate, but a lot of urban areas have a problem with it  and there are no exceptions in this bill. Look at the protests weve had. Suppose a rose kid makes someone mad and they pull a gun in the Market. Who are they going to hit, that kid or five innocent people?

Good point because, as Reynolds points out, the training required by this legislation is a joke: One day of instruction, part of it in a classroom, maybe shooting a box of shells or two on a range.

Yet some lawmakers want to see a broader constitutional carry that would require no training. As Reynolds says, a simple open-carry law isn't going to satisfy those folks.

Before Reynolds spoke Wednesday, a half-dozen open-carry proponents argued 45 other states have some form of this law. One guy from Pennsylvania said he always carried his gun openly before he moved here.

What these folks ignore is most states have other laws that work in concert with open carry. In Pennsylvania, for instance, you cant open carry in Philadelphia. But South Carolina law makes it nearly impossible to grant exceptions for Charleston, or anyplace else.

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Still, these folks waxed on about their Second Amendment rights, and claimed only cops oppose this because it cuts into their business. Which suggests they have visions of vigilantism dancing in their heads.

Heres the trouble with that. A week ago, I spent Friday night with code enforcement and police officers patrolling King Street. We were a block away from that shooting at the Public House  heard the gunshots clearly. The officers immediately took off running toward the sound of the shots.

Now, what do you think would have happened if they came upon three or four cowboys with guns in their hands? Answer: Two in the head, one in the chest  which is how police are trained to take out potentially dangerous armed assailants.

That very scenario played out in Alabama not too long ago. A good guy with a gun was trying to stop a shooter at a mall, and an officer shot him in the back. Because when everyone's packing, everyone's a suspect.

Reynolds says South Carolina usually shows a lot of deference to law enforcement, and SLED director Mark Keel has made it clear this is a bad idea. It will only make the police officers' jobs harder and more dangerous.

But lawmakers are moving forward anyway. Which is pretty hypocritical from a bunch who shut down the Statehouse last month because they were afraid of armed election protesters showing up  and who have metal detectors at every door to ensure no one carries around them.

This also would cost the state a lot of money. Tourism officials fear fewer people will come to Charleston if its the Wild West. Reynolds says people have told him they won't go anywhere near downtown if scores of people are packing.

Reynolds says his officers also will be inundated with calls when people spot somebody walking around with a gun on their hip. Bottom line, this doesn't help the police make the community safer.

And here's the other thing these Upstate guys haven't considered: They're doing this for the good ol' boys ... yet it applies to everyone.

Hope they have fun explaining why they armed antifa.
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Maybe its just me, but I am starting to come to the conclusion that Nancy Pelosi just doesnt like former President Donald Trump. She seems to have been the driving force behind Trump Impeachment II.

Jeff Charles of Red State calls it: the Democrats new production of An Impeachment Story Part II: Maybe Itll Work This Time.

Impeachment is a Constitutional provision to potentially remove a sitting president. But, of course, now Trump is a private citizen. Where is the Chief Justice? He is supposed to preside over a legitimate impeachment hearing. But Chief Roberts will have nothing to do with this farce.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says, The Constitution says two things about impeachment  it is a tool to remove the officeholder, and it must be presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Instead, notes Paul, this is an act by hyper-partisan Democrats, who have a deranged hatred against the former president. He adds that they are wasting the nations time.

Did the president receive due process during the House trial against him a couple of weeks ago? No, says John Eidsmoe, constitutional attorney and prolific author.

Eidsmoe wrote an open letter to the Senate: As an attorney and law professor who has practiced and taught Constitutional Law for many decades, I strongly oppose the proposal to impeach and convict President Donald J. Trump and bar him from holding public office.

Eidsmoes reasons include that the charges are factually baseless. For example, Trump is being accused of causing an insurrection because he held a rally in D.C. on January 6th, outlining once again why he thought the election was stolen.

The former president told his supporters at the rally: We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." [Emphasis added]

It is important to note that the breach of the Capitol had already begun before Trump even told his followers to peacefully go over there (about a 25-minute walk away). He didnt say anything about violence, vandalism, or mayhem. He wasnt leading an Antifa rally or the like.

What is happening in our country is a nightmare our first president warned about factionalism taking over.

The father of our country, George Washington, issued some parting wisdom in his Farewell Address, printed in newspapers beginning September 19, 1796. The U. S. Senate Historical Office has posted the Farewell Address.

They note: He believed that the stability of the Republic was threatened by the forces of geographical sectionalism, political factionalism, and interference by foreign powers in the nations domestic affairs. He urged Americans to subordinate sectional jealousies to common national interests. Writing at a time before political parties had become accepted as vital extraconstitutional, opinion-focusing agencies, Washington feared that they carried the seeds of the nations destruction through petty factionalism. [Emphasis added].

In his day, there were not the fully developed political parties as weve seen in America since. If you had to categorize him party-wise, he would have been a Federalist, in contrast with the Democrat Party (initially the Republican Democrat Party, just to confuse things) that arose with Thomas Jefferson and New Yorker Aaron Burr, later a traitor to America.

Heres what Washington said in the Farewell Address, regarding putting party-loyalty above country-loyalty: The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.

Public liberty today is at risk because of the rise of the petty factionalists. Gary Bauer points out that in recent times both Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are on record potentially inciting violence  far more than Trumps remarks to peacefully and patriotically make your voice heard. For example, Pelosi said, I just dont even know why there arent uprisings all over the country against Trump.

Meanwhile, Trumps legal team wrote a letter, explaining why he was not going to appear to testify in person at this weeks sham impeachment hearing. Their February 4, 2021 letter closes: The use of our Constitution to bring a purported impeachment proceeding is much too serious to try to play these games. I think George Washington would agree.
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.

WESTPORT  The tantalizing emotions and ever-engaging attraction of lamoreas well as its wondrous way of spanning magic across generationsconstitutes the veritable heart of a new project created by one Westport woman.

Whats New in the Romance Department? is a multi-media blog that seeks to celebrate and record the many sides of this age-old subject, with writers of all backgrounds, ages, experiences and histories invited to share their unique stories.

Im getting a fantastic response, said Susan Wexler, a longtime resident who came up with the idea just a month ago.

Its a happy subject and it makes people feel good, she said, emphasizing that true stories can be much more identifiable, whatever the age or circumstance. I think its the real stories that affirm for us that love is real  and gives us hope and confidence that it could happen, that if its not in someones life now it could still happen.

No matter the outcome for each couple, the blog still strives to be positive.

Not every story has the happiest ending, she said. Its not all about arriving at the altar, but our goal still is to be heart-warming and inspirational.

Wexler, a Queens, N.Y. native who has lived in town for more than 40 years, spontaneously came up with the idea in remembering something her mother often said.

My mother lived to the age of 103 and she was always a romantic, but particularly so in her later years, she said.

Each time Wexler or other relatives would pay her a visit, she would ask the question: Whats new in the romance department?

Id give her the latest news and I just watched her transform, Wexler remembered. Her spirits just soared on angels wings. I was completely sold on the transformative powers of romantic story telling.

A longtime attendee at The Writers Workshop at the Westport Center for Senior Activities, Wexler approached her good friend and fellow attendee of the group, Jacqueline Alvarez, about becoming her co-editor.

Many of her stories in class were romantic stories, noted Alvarez, a 21-year Westport resident who grew up on Long Island.

Writing is very, very therapeutic (and) I think everybody has some sort of a romantic story, she said, even if they havent shared it.

She said writing and reading romance-based nonfiction can reawaken something in people.

It has for me, Alvarez said.

Wexler noted that everyone is experiencing particularly tough times right now, which she said calls for an opportunity to draw connections and share some real-life emotional experiences.

This is not a blog for older people reminiscing about their stories, she said. Of course we include that, but this is for all generations.

She said they want members of the LGBTQ community to contribute too.

I think its incredibly thrilling and exciting, said Jan Bassin, who teaches the workshop that helped inspire the blog.

I think theyre going to make something really special happen, she said, Their goals are to uplift people, provide hope and inspire voices of all generations.

She said romance provides a spark and praised both women for what she described as their own good, kind hearts.

I think romance is about hope, Bassin said, We all love a good love story, and thats been from the beginning of time.

Wexler said shes proud of of the multimedia aspects of the blog, which incorporates video, art, music and general information as it relates to posts and their content.

Wexlers son, David, is serving in the capacity of webmaster and copywriter. Poppy Livingstone, a Staples High School senior and editor-in-chief of Inklings, has taken on the role of art director and video producer.

Id love to expand it and take it nationally, but one step at a time, Wexler said.

By sharing their stories, she said, people contribute to what can be a transformative experience and reminiscing about their own love story keeps it alive.

I think love is so integral to our needs and what were all searching and hoping for, and embrace if were lucky enough to have it in our lives, Wexler said.

Visit Whats New in the Romance Department at www.whatsnewinromance.com.
Eco-Spindles recycled polyester yarn facility to double polyester yarn production View(s):

Eco-Spindles (Pvt.) Ltd, the pioneering Sri Lankan plastic bottle recycler and manufacturer of polyester yarn and monofilaments, commenced Phase 2 of its expansion strategy to add 20,000 sq.ft of production space at its state-of-the-art facility in Horana last week.

Already one of only two such facilities in the entire world, once completed, the expanded facility will double polyester yarn production capacity at Eco-Spindles.

The foundation stone was laid by Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe together with Central Environmental Authority Director General P.B. Hemantha Jayasinghe, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Horana Export Processing Zone Senior Deputy Director Sujeewa Thilakumara, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Environmental Pollution Control and Chemical Management Division Director S.M. Werahera, BPPL Holdings Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anush Amarasinghe and Eco-Spindles (Pvt.) Ltd Deputy General Manager Manoj Udawatte, in the presence of other senior representatives from Eco-Spindles at a special ceremony held on Monday.

We are excited to be laying the foundation for the continued growth of Eco-Spindles, and the greater sustainability of our nation. All over the world, people are waking up to the urgent need to create and enter a circular economy. The expansion of our Horana facility is another vital step in this direction, BPPL Holdings Managing Director and CEO Dr. Anush Amarasinghe said in a media release issued by the company.
Experts say it's likely that some version of the disease will linger for years. But what it will look like in the future is less clear.

Will the coronavirus, which has already killed more than 2 million people worldwide, eventually be eliminated by a global vaccination campaign, like smallpox? Will dangerous new variants evade vaccines? Or will the virus stick around for a long time, transforming into a mild annoyance, like the common cold?

Eventually, the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 will become yet another animal in the zoo," joining the many other infectious diseases that humanity has learned to live with, predicted Dr. T. Jacob John, who studies viruses and was at the helm of Indias efforts to tackle polio and HIV/AIDS.

But no one knows for sure. The virus is evolving rapidly, and new variants are popping up in different countries. The risk of these new variants was underscored when Novavax Inc. found that the company's vaccine did not work as well against mutated versions circulating in Britain and South Africa. The more the virus spreads, experts say, the more likely it is that a new variant will become capable of eluding current tests, treatments and vaccines.

For now, scientists agree on the immediate priority: Vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. The next step is less certain and depends largely on the strength of the immunity offered by vaccines and natural infections and how long it lasts.

Are people going to be frequently subject to repeat infections? We dont have enough data yet to know," said Jeffrey Shaman, who studies viruses at Columbia University. Like many researchers, he believes chances are slim that vaccines will confer lifelong immunity.

If humans must learn to live with COVID-19, the nature of that coexistence depends not just on how long immunity lasts, but also how the virus evolves. Will it mutate significantly each year, requiring annual shots, like the flu? Or will it pop up every few years?

This question of what happens next attracted Jennie Lavine, a virologist at Emory University, who is co-author of a recent paper in Science that projected a relatively optimistic scenario: After most people have been exposed to the virus  either through vaccination or surviving infections  the pathogen will continue to circulate, but will mostly cause only mild illness," like a routine cold.

While immunity acquired from other coronaviruses  like those that cause the common cold or SARS or MERS  wanes over time, symptoms upon reinfection tend to be milder than the first illness, said Ottar Bjornstad, a co-author of the Science paper who studies viruses at Pennsylvania State University.

Adults tend not to get very bad symptoms if they've already been exposed," he said.

The prediction in the Science paper is based on an analysis of how other coronaviruses have behaved over time and assumes that SAR-CoV-2 continues to evolve, but not quickly or radically.

The 1918 flu pandemic could offer clues about the course of COVID-19. That pathogen was an H1N1 virus with genes that originated in birds, not a coronavirus. At the time, no vaccines were available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a third of the world's population became infected. Eventually, after infected people either died or developed immunity, the virus stopped spreading quickly. It later mutated into a less virulent form, which experts say continues to circulate seasonally.

Very commonly the descendants of flu pandemics become the milder seasonal flu viruses we experience for many years," said Stephen Morse, who studies viruses at Columbia University.

It's not clear yet how future mutations in SARS-CoV-2 will shape the trajectory of the current disease.

As new variants emerge  some more contagious, some more virulent and some possibly less responsive to vaccines  scientists are reminded how much they don't yet know about the future of the virus, said Mark Jit, who studies viruses at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

We've only known about this virus for about a year, so we don't yet have data to show its behavior over five years or 10 years," he said.

Of the more than 12 billion coronavirus vaccine shots being made in 2021, rich countries have bought about 9 billion, and many have options to buy more. This inequity is a threat since it will result in poorer countries having to wait longer for the vaccine, during which time the disease will continue to spread and kill people, said Ian MacKay, who studies viruses at the University of Queensland.

That some vaccines seem less effective against the new strains is worrisome, but since the shots provide some protection, vaccines could still be used to slow or stop the virus from spreading, said Ashley St. John, who studies immune systems at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an infectious diseases expert at Christian Medical College at Vellore in southern India, said the evolution of the virus raises new questions: At what stage does the virus become a new strain? Will countries need to re-vaccinate from scratch? Or could a booster dose be given?

These are questions that you will have to address in the future," Kang said.

The future of the coronavirus may contrast with other highly contagious diseases that have been largely beaten by vaccines that provide lifelong immunity  such as measles. The spread of measles drops off after many people have been vaccinated.

But the dynamic changes over time with new births, so outbreaks tend to come in cycles, explained Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil, who studies epidemics and advises India on virus surveillance.

Unlike measles, kids infected with COVID-19 don't always exhibit clear symptoms and could still transmit the disease to vulnerable adults. That means countries cannot let their guard down, he said.

Another unknown is the long-term impact of COVID-19 on patients who survive but are incapacitated for months, Kang said.

The quantification of this damage"  how many people cant do manual labor or are so exhausted that they cant concentrate  is key to understanding the full consequences of the disease.

We havent had a lot of diseases that have affected people on a scale like this," she said.

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Miami International Holdings (MIH), the parent holding company of MIAX, and MidChains, an upcoming virtual asset trading platform, has completed a follow-on equity investment in MidChains' parent holding company, MEEG Holdings.



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 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."



Gallagher added: "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."



John Smollen, Executive Vice President and Head of Exchange Traded Products and Strategic Relations at MIH, said: "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."  TradeArabia News Service
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has created a Candidature Unit to ensure that more Ghanaians are appointed to regional bodies such as ECOWAS and African Union (AU).



The Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who disclosed this last Thursday, said the unit would scan all international agencies to find out the positions available and who the country could put forward for those vacancies.



Ghana spends a lot of money on ECOWAS, AU and all the international organisations that we belong to and yet we do not have many people serving with those organisations. One of the reasons, I found out, is that Ghanaians dont have a second language so they do apply and when it comes to the shortlisting, they are left out.



If you give me the nod, I will make an impact in that area to ensure that Ghanaians and women get positions in international organisations, she said.

Ms Botchwey was answering questions at the Appointments Committee of Parliament as part of his vetting for the ministerial appointment.



Revenue challenge



Ms Botchwey noted that the revenues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been dealt a huge blow, following the suspension of some services across all the countrys embassies and consulates across the world due to COVID-19.





She said for a year now, the ministry had been struggling with revenue mobilisation due to the suspension of some consular services such as visa and passport applications.



The Minister-designate stated that in some consulates, they had to reduce the number of hours that the staff work.



Ms Botchwey said the decision was arrived at because it became unsafe for its staff to work and also because most of the countries went into lock down for long periods.

She said the embassies and consulates, however, offered the services on emergency basis.



When it comes to passport and visas, they are in direct contact with the people so unless it is absolutely necessary we have ceased these services. Unless the applicant can assure us and show proof that the service that is needed is an emergency service, she stated.



Closing of accounts



Ms Botchwey also said the decision of ING Bank to close the accounts of the Ghana Embassy in Brussels was a decision that came as a surprise to the ministry and till now the bank had not given any reasons for the action.



The account of embassies, usually, apart from the inflows of compensations and goods and services and in cases where they have accounts that receive visa and passport fees, nothing else goes through them. So it came as a surprise to us.



At some point, we even wanted a joint mission of parliament and the ministry to go to Brussels to find out, but unfortunately because of COVID-19, we could not embark on that mission. But the bank has come back to us to say that it has the right to disengage from the customer and they have no responsibility to give reasons to the customer, the Minister-designate said.



Ms Botchwey, who occupied the same ministry in the previous government, said to satisfy herself, she asked for the bank statement for all the accounts that were run by the mission, going back three years.



We have painstakingly gone through every transaction and there is absolutely nothing untoward, so I am wondering what could have been their reason, she explained.



Uneconomic rent payments



Answering a question on a report from the Auditor General which pointed out that the ministry was engaged in what it described as uneconomic rent payments, she said, the country had 58 embassies and nine consulates around the world, making it impossible to buy all its office buildings.



The Auditor General in its report indicated that between September 2017 and September 2018, about $5.2 million, 1.9 million and 129 million CFA were disbursed as rent for residences, chanceries and residential accommodations of home based officers of 33 missions.



Ms Botchwey admitted that for many of the countries, Ghanas embassies would remain there for a very long time to come and it was important that the country found permanent ways of ensuring that cost effective operations.



It is for this reason that when I took over as minister in 2017, I was very happy to find GH50 million from Societe Generale that was to be used for purchases, construction and also for rehabilitation of our missions abroad.



Properties are very expensive and, therefore, the GH50 million is almost exhausted and yet we still have a lot of embassies that are renting their chanceries as well as residences not just for the ambassadors but also for staff.



My first way of dealing with it will be to find some more money to outrightly purchase all our properties abroad and renovate them to make sure that they are fit for purpose, Ms Botchwey stated.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Washington: American tech giants Microsoft, Google, and Qualcomm have reportedly raised concerns to regulators in the US, EU, UK, and China, over Nvidia's acquisition of Arm.

According to The Verge, the companies have approached regulators with concerns that Nvidia could change how Arm licenses out its chipmaking technology. Nvidia has pledged that it would not be using its control over the company to change how it interacts with other businesses.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement that he could "unequivocally state that Nvidia will maintain Arm`s open licensing model. We have no intention to 'throttle' or 'deny' Arm's supply to any customer.

"However, the rivals of Nvidia put up the argument that keeping Arm neutral and not using its tech to Nvidia's own gains is not what the company would be incentivised to do after paying USD 40 billion for it. The restrictions on licensing would hurt other companies that benefit from having the ability to license Arm's technology.

Nvidia has argued that this acquisition is about driving the company's AI capabilities forward, which is an area Nvidia has focused on heavily, from its machine learning-powered upscaling on its graphics cards to its work in self-driving cars. Arm's low-power technology could help Nvidia spread AI into more places.

Meanwhile, UK and EU officials have promised to "thoroughly investigate" the deal. As per The Verge, it`s very likely that they will hear many objections, not just from Google, Microsoft, and Qualcomm, but from others in the chipmaking industry who are concerned about their open-licensing agreement with Arm being affected by the merger.

Live TV

The world continues to battle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed millions of lives globally and affected the health systems of many countries.

The virus, which was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has spread to over 200 countries. More than 100 million people have been infected with over 2.4 million deaths recorded globally, data from worldometers shows.

Some countries are also reporting new COVID-19 variants leading to increase in infection cases and deaths. While some countries are already administering the COVID-19 vaccines on citizens, many others have yet to do so.

Nigeria, which has recorded over 140,000 COVID-19 cases, will receive 16 million doses of the Oxford- AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines before the end of February, an official said.

Here is a round-up of some of the health stories which made headlines last week.

COVID-19 In Africa: WHO urges vaccination as death toll rises

Deaths from COVID-19 across Africa have increased by 40 per cent in the last 28 days compared to the previous 28 days, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa also said Thursday that over 3.7 million COVID-19 cases have been reported on the continent in the past one year.

The Regional Director of the WHO, Matshidiso Moeti, while speaking at a press briefing marking one year of COVID-19 in Africa, said countries in the continent have risen to the challenge of the pandemic but at huge cost to national economies, livelihoods and development.

COVID-19 vaccines split Nigerias private sector as BUA tackles CACOVID

The purchase of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines has split leaders of Nigerias private sector with allegations of falsehood and insincerity being branded by top players.

Top industrial firm, BUA Group, has accused the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which it is part of, of mischief and spreading false information.

BUA was reacting to a statement by CACOVID, disowning its (BUA) payment through CACOVID for one million AstraZeneca doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria via the AFREXIM bank.

Nigeria to receive additional 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines  Minister

Nigerias 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.

Mr Ehanire, while speaking at a briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said the 42 million doses will be delivered to the country through the African Union, African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

Depression, anxiety may become common as COVID-19 enters second year

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters the second year, mental health experts say the pandemic is already fueling a surge in cases of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.

They also warn that except proactive measures are taken, there could be more cases of mental health issues long after the pandemic might have subsided.

Nigeria needs 564 million additional condoms for adequate coverage  Report

A new report has shown that additional 564 million condoms are needed annually if Nigeria is to cover 90 per cent of its adult population.

The report, based on a survey, is titled Condom accessibility and use in Nigeria and produced by NOIpolls, in partnership with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF).

The report was released to mark the International Condom Day (ICD), which is observed annually on February 13 through Valentines Day, February 14, to promote safer sex awareness, by encouraging people to use condoms.

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World Toothache Day: 10 important facts about oral health

For many Nigerians, the regular brushing of the teeth in the morning and sometimes at night is a daily ritual to avoid cavities, discolouration, and or bad breath.

But for dentists, there is more to brushing once or twice a day. Bad dental hygiene can cause decay, dental abscesses, periodontitis, gingivitis, and other diseases that may attack your teeth and gums.

Turkmenistan yet to report any COVID-19 case

Over a year after the coronavirus pandemic broke out, Turkmenistan, a Central Asian country, is yet to officially report a case of the infection which has claimed millions of lives globally.

The virus, which was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has spread to over 200 countries. More than 100 million people have been infected with over two million deaths recorded globally.

South Africa suspends AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine for being ineffective against COVID-19 variant

Barely a week after over a million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine arrived in South Africa, the countrys government said it has suspended the rollout of the jabs for failing to protect clinical trial volunteers from mild or moderate illness.

Authorities said preliminary investigations showed the vaccines did not protect volunteers from the more contagious variant of the disease known as B.1.351.

Nigeria spends over N500bn on tobacco related illness annually  Researcher

The Center for the Study of Economies of Africa and the Amaka Chiwuike Uba Foundation, on Thursday, said that Nigeria spends about N526.4 billion on tobacco-related illness annually.

This was made known during a one-day stakeholders report dissemination workshop with a theme; Health burden and economic cost of smoking in Nigeria held at Best Western Hotel, Independence Layout, Enugu.

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Its no secret the media has lots of ways to gaslight you. One of those is failing to report significant happenings. Another is booking and quoting people whose views they want to advance because they target those they dislike. Yet another is spreading outright lies, like the contrafactual assertions that Antifa-BLM riots around the country for the past four years were mostly peaceful or that President Trump wanted people to inject bleach to kill the spreading virus. This week, despite their best efforts, a lot of those lies and liars have been unmasked.

Book Em: A Short History

Remember Michael Avenatti? When he was making wild charges against President Trump he was a media darling. From March 7 through May 10, 2018 news bookers pumped more gas in him than the Hindenburg. Every rolodex of every media booker must have worn thin the page with Avenattis contact information.

The 47-year-old attorney has also appeared on broadcast network programs, including NBC's Megyn Kelly Today and Today, ABC's The View and Good Morning America, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher and CBS's Late Night Show." Avenatti has not appeared frequently on Fox News, but was interviewed by anchor Shannon Bream on Fox News at Night on March 20. He was slated to appear on The Story with Martha MacCallum on April 23, but cancelled due to what he described at the time as a commitment to a legal case.

Hes now facing substantial jail time on a variety of felony charges. But until he was criminally charged viewers were led to believe even his most implausible accounts against the President were to be credited.

The Republican Lincoln Project

Much the same was the liberal front Lincoln Project, a gaggle of self-described Republicans opposed to the very President responsible for more conservative policies and programs than Republicans could have hoped for. Apart from personal animus, nothing better to do (since Trump didnt and wouldnt hire them, probably because John McCain, who had hired two of them -- John Weaver and Steve Schmidt --- and John Kasich, for whom Weaver had worked, both lost), and ego, it was a way to really line their pockets.

Cable news bookers and the New York Times loved them and got out the old air pump for them, too. This week the Lincoln Project seems to have grounded its flight and locked its doors over substantial claims that one of its founders, John Weaver, engaged in abusive homosexual activities with young men, including some who were working there. The project is -- or was -- a SuperPac, financed to the tune of $90 million (mostly liberal) dollars -- and, therefore, freed from detailed public disclosure of their transactions. A lot of the funds ended up in their own pockets. The best account of the dubious financial accounting of the operation and its atrocious personnel policies is to be found here, the result of interviews with a number of those who worked there.

The interviews depict an organization that grew quickly, with little planning at its inception, and then began to spiral out of control as its founders quarreled over the organizations direction, finances, tactics and even who would own the donor data that the project would eventually amass. Some of the co-founders had an informal management agreement that excluded the others, without their knowledge. Several had private firms to which the Lincoln Project channeled tens of millions of dollars that are then not subject to disclosure, while others were paid relatively modest amounts directly or nothing at all. There were clashes over ego and resentments over podcasts and television contracts.

I have little doubt that many, if not all, of the media who promoted these fakers knew full well what Weaver had been up to. Karl Rove did in 2004 and was attacked by the Atlantic for homophobia when he raised it.

If he knew it so early on, I believe it was no secret.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo

You could hardly pick up a newspaper or turn on television news without seeing Andrew Cuomo depicted as someone who bravely locked down his state to prevent a rapidly spreading COVID-19 from killing off more of its citizens. The President got a hospital ship there in record time and provided every assistance, including a substantial number of respirators Cuomo begged for and didnt use.

In truth, no one was more responsible for the deaths of 15,000 elderly in New York nursing homes than he. Refusing to use the emergency facilities provided him, he forced nursing homes to house COVID-19 patients removed from hospitals, and, to add to his shame, he withheld the nursing home death count, because, as his top aide Melissa deRosa admitted this week in a conference call, we froze out of fear federal prosecutors would use the truth against them. Anyone who spent a moment looking into the nursing home deaths knew precisely what a disaster Cuomo had inflicted on New Yorks elderly. But he was the Left's shining star. Like Avenatti, someone they saw as a future presidential contender.

We all suffer from this duplicity, as James Freeman explains:

New Yorks failure to publicly acknowledge its nursing home death toll and prioritize the protection of the elderly -- the state instead inflicted broad, destructive lockdowns on the general population -- had consequences far beyond New York. The state was an early virus hot spot and its false data presented a misleading picture of Covid impact as scientists and policy makers sought to understand the new health threat.

Legislators are now, tardily, moving to censure him and strip him of his emergency powers.

Not all the press wore blindfolds about the corruption in New York, Janice Dean of Fox News covered it as well as she could in the face of the state officials deception, but even as late as Friday, neither CNN, which treated Cuomo like a major hero and celebrity, nor MSNBC covered the unraveling of the nursing home death coverup.

Cuomo was not the only COVID-19 rock star. There was, of course, public health partisan weathervane Dr. Anthony Fauci, who along with the CDC and WHO should be treated as liars, not a sources of sound advice on the virus. You do recall his effusive praise of Cuomo on PBS, dont you?

Weve got to do things that are very clear we need to do to turn this around. Remember, we can do it. We know you can do it properly, you bring down those cases. weve done it. Weve done it in New York. New York got hit worse than any place in the world and they did it correctly by doing the things youre talking about.

The Democratic Impeachment Follies

Not only are the impeachment managers lying and flailing about with a losing case, but, as Scott Adams wisely observes, the provocation for the events of January 6 in the Capitol are directly tied to the medias loss of credibility.

The weakness of the case against Trump is revealed -- there is no evidence of the Presidents inciting the riot; he asked the crowd to peacefully demonstrate for transparency and fair elections. So, by innuendo and implication they are attempting to make their case.

Against what Adams calls this tapestry approach seized upon in the absence of direct evidence, Trumps lawyers played video clips of Democrats using the same words they accused him of using with which to incite the crowd -- "fight and fight back. In the same vein, Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit links to a number of media and Democratic claims of election machine fraud.

At the same time, the Democrats accuse Trump of inciting a riot by claiming election fraud and wanting a full audit of the results. They have advanced in their arguments damnable lies, among them that he called racists and Neo-Nazis fine people, that a Trump supporter called for the cavalry, when she had called for the calvary -- her prayer group -- to meet, and they cut from their quote of his speech his call for them to demonstrate peacefully for transparent, free elections. Just as contrafactual is the claim that this was an armed rebellion. No guns were found on any of the protestors at the Capitol. The murder of Ashli Babbitt by a Capitol Hill police officer would have sparked demonstrations around the country and further calls for defunding the police if only she had been an announced Antifa or BLM thug.

Adams tweets:

Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays Please stop asking me to form an opinion around your hallucination that someone "incited an insurrection." That only happened in your imagination and was created by the Fake News Industry. I don't form policy opinions around the hallucinations of strangers

In a subsequent podcast he explains that people believe the election was not fair. The media repeatedly saying no evidence of the cheating has been found doesnt persuade them that it didnt exist. That the press keeps insisting we must believe that it was fair isnt enough to erase this belief because the system as it was run in 2020 was not transparent and was run by liars who had huge reasons to lie. In sum, because of its ridiculous behavior over the past four years, voters had no reason to believe the medias claim that the election was fair. Nor, he argues, with strong reason, should we buy into the media claim that this was a coup attempt, an effort to overthrow the government. In fact, the crowd, like Senator Ted Cruz, wanted to fortify the system, make it more transparent by allowing audits of the disputed states to protect the system.

On Friday, the Senate seemed to vote (they were all quite confused as to what they were voting on, or so it appeared) to allow witnesses. Trumps counsel then subpoenaed Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser. I suggest this was to confirm that Trump had offered in advance to place 10,000 National Guard personnel there and they refused his assistance.

I was looking forward to the Democrats further beclowning themselves and tying up the Senate for months more, but sometime on Saturday morning a couple of neurons must have created a synapse and they decided against allowing any witnesses. Saturday afternoon the vote was called and Trump was acquitted. So the show trial for their base ended with a whimper, just as did Impeachment One.
Prime Minister on Sunday handed over to the the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A), which is indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisations Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment.

Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs, and several micro, small and medium enterprises also helped in making of the tank, which has 71 new features.

The tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used to protect northern borders. This is another testimony of the Atmanirbhar Bharat, going in full force in the defence sector showcasing Bharat Ekta Darshan, the PM said.

Orders for 118 tanks worth around Rs 8,500 crore have been placed, which will support 200 industries and will create 8,000 jobs. Chennai is an auto hub, and it will become a hub for battle tanks, said Modi, adding that the defence corridor in Tamil Nadu had already attracted around Rs 8,100 crore investment. Today we witness the second anniversary of Pulwama Attack. We are proud of our security forces, said Modi. The Army, he said, has time and again shown that they are capable of protecting the motherland and Indias belief in peace. It has also shown that India will protect its sovereignty at all costs, he said.





ALSO READ: In pictures: PM Modi hands over battle tank Arjun Mark 1A to Army

The PM said this is going to be Indias decade. The government is committed to doing everything possible to support this search of aspiration and inspiration. We will continue working to make our armed forces one of the most modern forces in the world. At the same time, the focus on making India self-reliant in the defence sector moves with full speed, said Modi. He inaugurated various projects worth over Rs 4,487 crore and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 3,640 crore in the state.

Chennai Metro extension

The prime minister also inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, and dubbed it another testimony for Atmanirbhar Bharat. Despite the pandemic, the project was completed on time. Civil work and rolling stocks are completely indigenous.

BPCLs petrochem complex in Kerala inaugurated

The PM on Sunday dedicated to the nation a Rs 6,000-crore petrochemical complex of Bharat Petroleum in Kochi and Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways at Willingdon Islands, asserting these projects would energise Indias growth trajectory.
By Mark Peterson





The Korean press has been buzzing with reports of a Harvard Law School professor's academic journal article on Korean "comfort women" saying there were hired prostitutes. I've been dragged into the fray by many friends and some people I don't know who have asked that I respond since I, after all, have a PhD from Harvard. I've taken the bait and have prepared responses and criticisms for a Korean ministry article, a Korean TV station, I've made a video for my YouTube station, and I think more requests are coming.



I don't like the subject. I find it so distasteful and sad that I do not like dealing with it in a specific way  I only have a general understanding of the topic. But I've read the Harvard Law professor's article and as a professor of history, I can indeed critique it. I find it woefully inadequate, misleading, and not worthy of publication. In other words, the reviewers at the journal, peer reviewers?, should have flagged it as sophomoric and not worthy of publication.



Here's where the Harvard thing comes in? The reviewers may have given a free pass to the professor because he is a Harvard professor? Surely, a man of solid reputation would not submit an article that wasn't researched well! But therein lies another problem  the research looks like good law school research. On the surface.



Here is where the historian's eye comes in. As a historian, I see the article as poorly researched and misleading. As a piece of law school "research" I can see where it might be acceptable  in law school academic publishing. I suppose that law school prepares a lawyer to take any case, any side, without consideration of one's own position on an issue.



The "guilty" deserve a fair trial, and an "advocate" who will argue the case for them. Here, the "guilty" is the Japanese government, and the professor seems to be taking an advocacy position  it doesn't matter what the truth is, the lawyer is putting forward the best case for the defendant.



As such, the journal article is very interesting, if even in a sordid way. It describes the legal institution of prostitution in Japan in the early, mid twentieth century. By extension, since Japanese institutions were being planted in Korea, the laws and legality of prostitution were basically the same in Korea as in Japan. The article goes into great detail outlining the contractual, financial, and legal aspects of prostitution in Japan and in Korea, and argues that the same arrangements were in place for overseas deployments of battlefront "comfort stations."



There are so many flaws in the logic of the piece that it's hard to list them all. The author bedazzled the journal reviewers with a thorough outlining of the laws governing prostitution in Korea and Japan. But to assert that such nicey, nicey legal protections were available to the women in Manchuria, and China, and Burma is preposterous. A woman who would have a complaint would go to whom for protection? To scream, "But I've got a contract!", is silly on the surface of it in a battlefront situation. No policemen to go to. No local government authority to go to. No lawyer to hire. Absurd.



And the idea that mostly underprivileged, uneducated, illiterate women would even know what the contract said is ludicrous. But here is a Harvard Law professor outlining the legal protections provided to legal prostitutes, writing in 2021 America, looking at the law as if it were a real thing for a mid-twentieth century, overseas, wartime situation.



Yes the article is a good piece of legal scholarship if the principles all lived in a test tube.



There is no pretense of presenting the historical situation. The "comfort stations" of wartime Japan can only be understood if one knows of the Massacre of Nanjing (as it's called in Korean  in English it's the "Rape of Nanjing") where Japanese soldiers defeated the Chinese defending Nanjing at great cost, whereupon the Japanese soldiers took out their vengeance on the city with wanton killing of men, women and children and the raping of women.



Accused of war crimes by the world at large, the Japanese thought it best to channel the sexual energy of their soldiers into "legal" prostitution  and thus the "comfort stations" became the substituting of one war crime for another. They substituted one war crime for another war crime.



The greater problem with the Harvard Law School article, however, is the echoing of its sentiment by Japanese officials. Prime ministers, consul generals (Atlanta), and others have said, "Well, they were prostitutes weren't they?" As if that made it okay?



NO!, most were not prostitutes. But we know from witnesses that most were kidnapped (like sex trafficking today), swindled, tricked,  promised good jobs and dumped into the sex trafficking network of the Japanese battlefront.



Harvard's Korean student organizations and the East Asian faculty are writing a counter critique of the piece from an academic perspective in hopes that that journal will reconsider the worth of publishing the piece in hardcopy  it has only been on line so far. Maybe there will be some small measure of justice.





Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah.


As the farmers' protest at the borders of the national capital enters 81st day on Sunday, Buddhist monks lend support to the agitation against Centre's farm laws. At Ghazipur border, where farmers from UP have been camping as a protest demanding repulsion of the laws, Buddhist monks have stationed a tent in solidarity.

While some maroon-robed monks, who claim to be apolitical with strong roots in the farming community, arrived early December before the government crackdowns escalated, some have arrived now after the culmination of their festival, Losar. It is a new year's festival, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar.

ANI

The barricades, ditches, concertina wires, shutdowns, and round-the-clock police surveillance following the January 26 violence, have strengthened their resolve to bolster the movement. While Hindu seers, akhada religious leaders and representatives of Christian trusts have shown their solidarity by moving in and out of the protest sites, the Buddhists have remained robustly stationed.





Farming has no religion, they say

In their spacious tent where devotees trickle in to seek the monks blessings, the reticent monastics hold a peculiar, rather different belief. They say the protests are shorn of any caste, religious or linguistic affiliations. While its largely a farmers protest they say, religious groups and independents can galvanize collective public action for the common good.

To them, Buddhism has extolled non-violence but not non-resistance. If they are clear in showing their devotion at the altar, they must on the streets, too.

Religion has taught us not to be mute spectators to social injustices, said an elderly monastic in Ghazipur. Farming has no religion, and we are only agitating for the right to life and livelihood.

ANI

Monks deliver powerful message

Despite not being active campaigners on the streets and public squares, the monks have delivered a powerful message: Non-violent protest is as critical to Buddhist training as is the training of the mind and body. Simply by showing up, its possible to spark change at the grassroots level.

Earlier in January 2021, a group of Buddhist monks from Lucknow lent their support to farmers.

Buddhist Monks Take Part in the Protest and Rain Damages Make Shift Farmer Tentshttps://t.co/OAaxQOv6Nl #WorldSupportIndianFarmers pic.twitter.com/RI1xRG85gd  StandWithFarmers  (@StandUp4Farmers) January 6, 2021

"We have left our temples in Lucknow to join the farmers in their protest against the three laws. We have taken an oath not to leave till the farmers get what they are fighting for - the repeal of the three black laws," one of the monks had told ANI.



Wage hike to incur Rs.15 billion more losses to RPCs By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

The 125 year-old tea industry has been dealt a severe blow following the recent wage hike that is set to contribute to further losses to the plantations and at least Rs. 15 billion annually to the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) which are now readying to protest against the unfairness of this methodology.

As against obtaining a pay based on productivity, trade unions had demanded that workers be paid Rs.1000 that should be included in the basic pay. As RPCs continued to insist that the workers can earn even more through a new model of an out grower system, the unions resisted and finally last Monday amidst objections from the RPCs, the government appointed members had voted in favour of the trade unions at the Wages Board committee. This ensures estate workers with daily wages of Rs.900 plus Rs.100 supplement budgetary allowance and EPF/ETF contribution of Rs.150.

The wage hike under the Wages Board model will create an additional hit of Rs.15 billion per year to the RPCs on top of the losses already incurred as the tea industry faced a Rs.6 billion loss and rubber Rs.2 billion in 2019, former Planters Association (PA) Chairman and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai told the Business Times.

He noted that in 2020 the annual high grown average prices of tea was Rs.580 although cost of production was higher at Rs.615. In this respect, losses are estimated for 2020 at Rs.2.5 billion.

Dr. Rajadurai pointed out that the PA had offered trade unions a relevant, modern and appropriate working mechanism but this had been rejected.

At the last Collective Agreement meeting between the plantation companies, the trade unions and the Labour Minister, the RPCs had reached agreement with the minister to pay estate workers Rs. 725 including Price Share Supplement of Rs.50 and another Rs.225 as Attendance Incentive and Productivity Incentive that amounted to Rs.1000 according to the current model they were working on.

He noted that this new set up is good for the colonial times and today people prefer to become entrepreneurs with least supervision and this is the modern trend and this is a job they know so well.

Having offered workers the opportunity to be independent they continue to take to the undignified daily wage earner model, he said.

Plantation workers brought down specifically to cultivate tea bushes in Sri Lanka by the British to this day continue to reside on the estates that their fore fathers toiled on but now they are moving out to other jobs while ensuring that their sustenance is met by returning to the estates that they continue to call their home.

As RPCs retain a workforce of 125,000 on the estates that provides space for one million lives that will enjoy a higher basic wage but new conditions of reporting to work on time and with no inducements for productivity the RPCs fear the quality will fall and with a surplus of teas on the global market Sri Lanka will stand to lose further this year as demand will drop.

Asked how the RPCs intend on carrying out their operations he pointed out, We will manage and cut the coat according to the cloth, and if we cannot fertilize we wont and if we cannot upkeep we cannot, adding that eventually a vast majority of people will suffer.

As the cost of production on the estates soar and as prices continue to slip despite improved rates last year the December prices were at Rs.580 but cost of production will increase under the present circumstances to around Rs.848 per kilo that would result in further losses to the RPCs, Dr. Rajadurai explained.

He highlighted that already in 2019 a number of companies had exited the plantation sector like John Keells, Watawala and Hatton Plantations.

In this respect, the PA together with the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) will lodge a protest and insist that wages should be proportionate to revenue earned.

We are only contesting the unfairness of this methodology, he said pointing out that this will eventually become the minimum wage.

Past Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Factory Owners Association Harith Ranasinghe told the Business Times that they too will protest against the wage hike and proposing that the basic should be increased by 10-15 per cent and the balance based on productivity basis.

He noted that they will incur an increased cost on the basic wage by 85 per cent if they are to pay Rs.1000 to workers at their factories.

Factories have been shutting down in the recent past or operating on an ad hoc basis as they were unable to bear the cost, Mr. Ranasinghe said adding that this new wage increase will have a huge impact and we might become an unprofitable organisation.

He queried how wages could be static when the revenues are accrued by the fluctuating prices determined at the auctions.

Mid-sized private tea estates will also face a crisis as they point out that they are compelled to purchase everything for the estate at a price and in this respect, a further increase in wages was not conducive.

Galle Kalutara Estate Owners founding Secretary Ushantha Samarasinghe speaking with the Business Times on Thursday said that they have an issue on the productivity of these workers adding that pay should be based on productivity. He is part of the mid-sized private tea estates that own lands in extent of 5-100 acres.

Under the given circumstances he pointed out that they will be compelled to move out of the tea business and engage in cinnamon as this is less labour intensive.

He further explained whether authorities wanted to pay the workers by destroying the companies that pay them and that in this kind of set up wondered if investors would be agreeable to run these plantations.

If we are not heard then we need to go to cinnamon and tourism, Mr. Samarasinghe said.

Federation of Tea Smallholders Associations President Kehel Gunaratna told the Business Times that they too will be compelled to increase their wages by at least 20 per cent but that they will be able to manage this situation.

At present they pay Rs.30 per kilo and is linked to productivity and so this will not become a problem since they already pay workers this amount, Mr. Gunaratna explained.

He pointed out that since they engage workers as partners and share one-third of the revenue with the workers they will not be affected much.

However, they too will have to increase prices since now the RPCs will pay a wage higher than theirs under the new wage model and in this respect they will have to increase rates to attract workers to their estates.

Smallholders that also includes the mid-sized plantations contributes to 75 per cent of the total production of Ceylon tea with the RPCs making up for the rest of the 25 per cent.

But if the companies fail, the tea industry worries whether this could spell the downfall of the tea plantations in a country that has already made a name for producing one of the best quality teas that is akin to killing the golden goose that laid the golden egg!

Rege-Jean Page is set to guest host Saturday Night Live on February 20.

The NBC sketch show has confirmed the Bridgerton star, 31, will headline the show for the first time while Bad Bunny will be the musical guest.

Fans will undoubtedly be expecting him to parody the Shondaland series during his hosting stint on Saturday.

Big deal: Rege-Jean Page is set to guest host Saturday Night Live on February 20

The actor has seen his star rise since he took on the role of Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings in the Netflix romantic drama.

He is currently nominated for a SAG Award and a NAACP Image Award while he has also been speculated as a future James Bond.

Rege-Jean made his first TV appearance in 2004, but has only in recent years hit the big time  first in the US mini-series Roots, then in the American legal drama For The People.

It comes after Bridgerton was officially renewed by Netflix for series 2 after weeks of speculation.

Performance: Rapper Bad Bunny will serve as the episode's musical guest

Show: The NBC sketch show has confirmed the Bridgerton star, 31, will headline the show for the first time

The second season will focus on Anthony Bridgerton's (Jonathan Bailey) quest to find a wife after his turbulent love life was played out in the first series.

Bridgerton follows the self-titled family and how their lives are turned upside-down by the revelations of the illusive and anonymous Lady Whistledown in London.

Netflix confirmed the news in a tongue-in-cheek statement penned as mysterious show lead Lady Whistledown.

They also shared the news on Twitter and YouTube with a montage of best clips from series one.

Success: The actor has seen his star rise since he took on the role of Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings in the Netflix romantic drama (pictured in May 2018)

The statement read: 'The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honour to impart to you: Bridgerton shall officially return for a second season. I do hope you have stored a bottle of ratafia for this most delightful occasion.

'This author has been reliably informed that Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season. I will have my pen to report on any and all of his romantic activities.

'However, gentle reader, before you set the comments section alight with requests for more sordid details, know that I am disinclined to report on the particulars at this time. Patience, after all, is a virtue. Yours Truly, Lady Whistledown.'

It is believed that the second season will begin production in spring, Netflix have yet to confirm which characters will be officially returning for series 2 or further details.
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
Security forces in Myanmar opened fire to disperse protesters at a power plant on Sunday and armoured vehicles rolled into major cities as the army rulers faced a ninth day of anti-coup demonstrations that saw hundreds of thousands on the streets.

The government also imposed an internet shutdown.

Soldiers were deployed to power plants in the northern state of Kachin, leading to a confrontation with demonstrators, some of who said they believed the army intended to cut off the electricity.

The army in Yangon on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

The security forces fired to disperse protesters outside one plant in Kachins state capital Myitkyina, footage broadcast live on Facebook showed, although it was not clear if they were using rubber bullets or live fire.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Thai Huong

TH Group, famous far and wide for its brand TH true MILK, was given birth to naturally and almost by accident. Its founder, labour heroine Thai Huong, has driven the group forward over the past decade and more.

In 2008 the Chinese government announced a recall of infant milk powder that was tainted by melamine, a chemical usually used in plastics. Consumption of melamine caused infants to develop kidney stones which, if left untreated, could cause renal failure and death.

The milk crisis had negative impacts on the Vietnamese milk market, causing risks to the health of Vietnamese consumers. Wishing to bring fresh and safe milk products with competitive prices, Huong, also the leader of BAC A BANK, decided to dive into the Vietnamese milk market, and then TH Group was born.

Weathering difficulties

At that time, the world was also suffering from a heavy economic crisis hurting the Vietnamese economy. TH lacked capital for its $1.2 billion concentrated large-scale dairy cow production project located in Nghia Dan district of Nghe An province. Many banks also refused to provide loans for the project, dashing hopes to create a fresh milk revolution in Vietnam.

When facing the most difficulties, Huong even thought about selling part of the projects land to a foreign partner and establish a joint venture and reduce pressure in investment capital. However, she did not give up. Bearing a strong heart full of patriotism, the labour heroine held that Vietnamese people must create assets on their own land.

Weathering the initial issues in experience, technology, and capital, and with her strong determination and responsibility, Huong has gradually driven TH Group forward, with sturdy solutions involving the combination of Vietnams natural resources and brainpower with the worlds state-of-the-art technologies and governance methods in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Steadfast in the road ahead, she sent a petition to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and then held discussions with stakeholders. Seeing the prospects, effectiveness, and the humanity of the project, the SBV provided timely support for TH Group to speed up the implementation of the project.

In the world, no-one could develop such a gigantic fresh milk production project in such a very short time. While it would take up to 10 years for many similar projects in the world to complete, it took only three years for Huong and TH Group to implement this project, said a big Israeli partner of the company.

Over the past more than 10 years, Huong has been taking the group to success with a focus laid on the core value of harmony of benefits, meaning not seeking benefits at all costs, but harmonising the benefits of the group, the community, and people. It stands ready to accept a longer time to recoup investment capital in exchange for sustainable development based on modern technology, ensuring social security in close link with environmental protection.

In 2015, TH Groups project in Nghe An was recognised as the most concentrated large-scale high-tech dairy cow production project in Asia by the Asian Book of Records. The project boasts 45,000 dairy cows, with a total designed processing capacity of 500,000 tonnes of milk per year. Since 2010, the groups products have reaped various high-profile awards at international events such as World Food Moscow, Gulfood Dubai 2016, and the Stevie Awards 2018.

These successes have helped TH Group to continue contributing to the governments plans in developing dairy cow areas and achieving growth targets for fresh milk  one billion litres in 2020 and 1.4 billion litres by 2025  and in the protection of the domestic agricultural sector, and limitation of powdered milk imports from foreign markets. Previously, despite being an agricultural nation, Vietnam still had to spend billions of US dollars importing powdered milk annually to process fresh milk  one of the key reasons behind the countrys high trade surplus at the time.

Currently, the group is also building projects at home and abroad, with farms developed in the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Ha Giang, and Phu Yen. In the time to come, it will likely commence a number of other projects in Kon Tum, An Giang, and Cao Bang provinces.

Expanding investment overseas

Over the past decade, Vietnamese leaders have been continuously praising Huongs energy and exploits at home and abroad to buoy up Vietnams milk industry. In addition to large-scale dairy cow production facilities in Nghe An, TH Group has also been developing similar ventures producing safe farm produce in many localities nationwide.

Thai Huong has made extraordinary efforts. She is an enterprising woman with strong determination to take the local milk industry overseas, said Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly, when she visited TH Groups $2.7-billion concentrated large-scale dairy cow production initiative in Russia.

Shortly after receiving the investment certificate for this project in 2016, TH Group began the construction of a dairy farm in Moscow and another in the Kaluga region in the same year, located just under 100km south-west of Moscow.

Currently, the dairy farms in Moscow and Kaluga as well as in other areas are taking shape and coming into operation, with high-quality cows producing high productivity and high-quality milk.

In addition to these projects, TH Group is also constructing a similar project in Bashkortostan, the most populous republic in Russia. These projects are of special importance as they serve as a symbol for the agricultural economic cooperation between the two countries.

Huong has set a target that over the next 10 years, TH Group will make it onto the list of top 10 milk producers in Russia. Its projects in this nation will help supplement the milk shortages here but also boost milk exports from Russia to other foreign nations.

Most recently, with Huongs big aspiration to take her projects overseas, TH Group have invested $88.5 million in two major projects in Australia involving producing dairy cows, cotton, sunflowers, and maize, as well as producing and processing mango juice. TH Group also became the first Vietnamese enterprise to be allowed by China to export fresh milk products to the market.

With her great ambition as well as continuing will and determination, Huong plans to move forward with her business and investment strategies at home and abroad.

We will take Vietnams agricultural sector to the world with products meeting the most stringent international standards. To make a brand name last forever we need patience, a warm heart, and patriotism, as well as sturdy and correct strategies, she said.

With her unceasing efforts, Huong has won many high-profile awards at home and abroad. For example, in 2016, she was named Global Trade Ambassador of the Year by Women in International Trade Los Angeles, a California non-profit organisation by professional women involved in international trade to provide professional and personal enrichment to its members. In September 2019, within the World Knowledge Forum at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul, Huong was granted the Empowering Women award. Forbes Magazine also named her one of the most influential women in Asia two years in a row.
Loading Section 51 of the Australian constitution gives the Commonwealth quarantine powers, but it is not an exclusive power, meaning the states public health safeguards operate alongside it. While the Commonwealth could have taken over quarantine, it has not and states have not lobbied for it to. While Victorias third lockdown was caused by more leaks from hotel quarantine, Mr Andrews has repeatedly insisted the state has the countrys strongest hotel quarantine system. Professor Esterman said the Victorian hotel quarantine system was one of the best due to its strict testing regime and the ban on workers having second jobs. But he said poor ventilation continued to be an issue and this could be improved by rolling out air purifiers in every room. They would get rid of a huge amount of virus in the air, he said.

Mike Toole, an epidemiologist at the Burnet Institute, said in an ideal world, every Australian city would have access to a quarantine facility like the one in Howard Springs, near Darwin. It has single-storey cabins that are joined but there are no airconditioning ducts, he said. They have individual airconditioning units and verandas where you can sit out and get some fresh air. Its a 30-minute drive to the Royal Darwin hospital so it really fulfils everything youd love to have in a quarantine facility. The site has so far taken 3781 people arriving on repatriation flights. The former labour camp is co-funded by the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory government to provide up to 850 quarantine places a fortnight. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled plans to more than double Howard Springs capacity, but reiterated that hotel quarantine would remain the primary mode of dealing with returning travellers. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Mr Morrison said on Friday that moving hotel quarantine to regional areas would only create another set of risks. Youve got transfer risks. Youve got a workforce that you have to have in place in those situations. Youre further away from major, big hospitals. But Professor Toole said the federal government should consider building regional quarantine facilities, and Victorian locations could include Avalon Airport, Ballarat and Bendigo. He warned this would be a time-consuming and expensive exercise. Were not China, we cant build these things in three days, it takes months. In the meantime, he said, the priority should be on improving hotel quarantine. He urged authorities to engage with occupational hygienists and ventilation engineers to better understand how air moved in hotels, and said daily COVID-19 tests should also be considered for guests. Guests are currently tested on day three and day 11 of their 14-day stay. We should be treating all those cold hotels like they are hot hotels because guests can convert from negative to positive during that period and therefore become infectious, he said.

The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. Credit:Penny Stephens Benjamin Veness, a doctor and co-founder of advocacy group Health Care Workers Australia, said there was a good argument for moving quarantine facilities out of city centres. The argument that people needed to be close to city health facilities did not negate regional quarantine centres. Those who needed to be near CBD hospitals because they were in higher-risk categories could still be housed in better facilities  newer ones, ones with balconies, ones with windows that open, ones with airconditioning systems you can upgrade so theyre providing appropriate ventilation and not spreading COVID-19 potentially between rooms or into hallways. He said returned travellers heading to regional quarantine facilities could also be vaccinated before they flew into Australia. That would cut the chance of them bringing COVID-19 into Australia in the first place, and the reduced risk of severe illness would make regional quarantine safe for the vast majority of people.

Loading Together, these measures would have the problem pretty much solved, Dr Veness said. There is a lack of political will, not technical complexity, stopping us from finding a better solution due to state and federal governments being really stretched, he added. The federal government should be taking responsibility for quarantine, but it has turned out that the states have taken on that responsibility, and so youve got this argy-bargy playing out, he said. The feds particularly dont want to commit, because they know getting hotel quarantine perfect is a tricky exercise and I think Scott Morrison doesnt want to risk having outbreaks at a federally run facility that then impacts on his election chances later in the year.

Dr Veness said the NTs Howard Springs facility was working well. There is plenty of fresh air for residents, which is good not only from an infection perspective, but also its better from a mental health perspective, he said. Id prefer to go there than one of the high-rise towers with closed windows like we have in Melbourne. On Sunday, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said state leaders had to remember it was a vital part of our humanity to bring Australians home. [These are] mums and dads coming home to see their sons and daughters, children who have been studying overseas, families that have been separated, people coming home to say goodbye to loved ones, some themselves who may have terminal conditions, he said.



This is actually a claim that is being made often these days: the sciences in general, and math in particular, are racist. The latest comes from Oregon:

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) recently encouraged teachers to register for training that encourages ethnomathematics and argues, among other things, that White supremacy manifests itself in the focus on finding the right answer. An ODE newsletter sent last week advertises a Feb. 21 Pathway to Math Equity Micro-Course, which is designed for middle school teachers to make use of a toolkit for dismantling racism in mathematics.

How can mathematics possibly be racist?

Part of the toolkit includes a list of ways white supremacy culture allegedly infiltrates math classrooms. Those include the focus is on getting the right answer, students being required to show their work,' and other alleged manifestations. The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so, the document for the Equitable Math toolkit reads. Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict.

I think that failing to do ones homework and study for tests is racist. Of course, we all know what groups such attacks on objectivity and getting the right answer are intended to benefit:

ODE Communications Director Marc Siegel also defended the Equitable Math educational program, saying it helps educators learn key tools for engagement, develop strategies to improve equitable outcomes for Black, Latinx, and multilingual students, and join communities of practice.

Liberals believe that scientific and mathematical talent are distributed unequally among the races, with Asians being well-endowed in those areas, and blacks below average. Therefore, it is appropriate to discriminate against Asians and to lower standards for blackse.g., by pretending that it is unimportant to get the right answer to a math problem.

Are they right? I doubt it. Shelby Steele made the opposite case in an interview in yesterdays Wall Street Journal:

[Steele] points to affirmative action and diversitythe whole movement designed to compensate for the fact that blacks were behindand says that blacks today have worse indices relative to whites in education, income levels, marriage and divorce, or any socioeconomic measure that you want to look at than they did 60 years ago. Its inconceivable, says Mr. Steele, that blacks are competitive in universities today. In the 1950s, by contrast, they matriculated with slightly lower grade-point averages than whites and graduated with GPAs slightly higher than whites. Nobody gave them anything, Mr. Steele affirms. They didnt want them in universities then. We would never put our race on an application, because it would be used against us. The minute we started to get all these handouts from guilty America in the civil-rights era, we entered this uninterrupted decline.

I suppose it would be possible to come up with a better plan to destroy black academic performance than by telling black students not to worry about getting the right answer to a math problem, but I cant think what it would be.
As Australia emerges from the second wave of COVID-19, it is easy to forget that in many parts of the world it is still unfolding in devastating fashion. The pandemic has set back progress on childrens education worldwide, especially girls education, perhaps by more than a whole generation.

In many places, girls already face systemic disadvantage including endemic poverty, gender-based violence, forced marriage and fewer opportunities to complete their education. COVID-19 has deepened systemic disadvantage across the world.

A recent Gates Foundation report found that 25 years of progress has been lost since COVID hit  that is a devastating blow. In 2020, the scale of global school closures was unprecedented. It is estimated up to 20 million secondary school-aged girls were pushed out of school as a result.

The vaccines are starting to roll out, but COVID-19 has already deepened systemic disadvantage across the world. Credit:Bloomberg

However, Australias aid budget remains on a downward trajectory, falling to just over $4 billion for the 2019-20 financial year. That means Australia is spending about 20 in foreign aid for every $100 the nation earns, which is a historic low, down from peaking at 33 in 2013-14.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 16:47:38|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT. Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Located along the Silk Road and with plenty of cultural heritage and historical monuments, Uzbekistan has long depended on tourism as a pillar industry for economic growth.

The country this week introduced 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.

To be eligible, travelers from these countries and regions should provide a return air ticket or ticket to a third country.

Uzbekistan has also planned to open its largest gold-mining fields to foreign tourists, in a bid to develop geo-tourism in the resource-rich Central Asian nation.

Kholida Ablaeva, a tour guide with 20 years of experience from the ancient city of Samarkand, has been waiting for the reopening of borders to allow foreign tourists to return to her hometown as they did before COVID-19.

Ablaeva said that the country's tourism industry developed rapidly in 2019. At that time, her working day would begin at 5 a.m. and end after midnight. Money was good and the pace fast.

Over the past four years, the Uzbek government has taken a series of measures to boost tourism, with a goal of receiving more than 9 million foreign tourists by 2025, boosting the share of the tourism industry to 5 percent of gross domestic product, up from 2.3 percent in 2017, according to the Uzbek State Tourism Committee.

But the outbreak of COVID-19 has obstructed the plan, Uzbekistan announced lockdown restrictions beginning in March last year, forcing domestic travel agencies, hotels and transport companies to close.

Uncertainty remains. Those employed in tourism had little choice but to seek out other income alternatives and may not return to the travel industry, Ablaeva said.

In an effort to support the tourism sector during the pandemic, the government has allowed tourism within the country and granted tax privileges to tourist companies.

"This year, Uzbekistan plans to attract 1.7 million foreign tourists and 7.5 million local tourists. We look forward to foreign tourists returning to Uzbekistan after the epidemic," said Tursunali Kuziev, a professor at Uzbek University of Journalism and Mass Communications.

"In order to enable foreign tourists to better experience the culture here, the Uzbekistan government is increasing the training of tour guides, and improving accommodation and tourist service facilities," the professor said.

Tourism largely depended on foreign visitors, Ablaeva said, adding that there were a lot of Chinese, Germans and Russians travelling to Samarkand before the pandemic.

To earn money, some guides have gone digital, conducting their excursions online, which Ablaeva believed is an interim solution.

"You have to see history with your own eyes. If there is a professional guide nearby, you can always look at familiar sights from a new angle, expand your knowledge and be inspired by architectural monuments and nature," she said.

Ablaeva and her colleagues continue to work despite their reduced earnings, yet she remains hopeful given her knowledge of five languages.

She has even worked free of charge as a guide to stay in tune and because she loves her work. "I really miss tourists and I believe that the tourism industry will be in full swing again in the near future." Enditem

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Young people are particularly affected by the measures taken to stop the spread of the pandemic, but they have largely accepted them, according to a poll.

Sociologist Robin Samuel of the University of Luxembourg has teamed up with Young People and Covid-19 (YAC), a study, to see how young people are coping with the fallout of the pandemic.

Most respondents were coping well with the first wave

A survey conducted between July and September was comprised of 5,000 Luxembourgish participants aged 12 to 29. Samuel and his team aimed to find out whether young people are worried because of Covid-19, whether they feel well informed, whether they comply with public health guidelines and to what extent their everyday life has been impacted by these measures.

Preliminary results are complex, according to Samuel. A majority approved of the restrictions and was content with the information available to them. Most also complied with the restrictions however, there are significant gender and socio-economic differences.

Young people with immigrant backgrounds are more worried

The poll shows that 54% of respondents say they are quite worried or very worried because of Covid-19. This mirrors results from studies undertaken abroad (Gotz, 2020 und Huber, 2020).

However, concerns are particularly acute among youngsters with an immigration background, with 60% of such respondents answering in the affirmative. For respondents without an immigration background that figure stands at 44%. Samuel says this could be due to socio-economic disparities between the two groups.

Another finding is that boys and young men feel less affected than female respondents. This echoes the results of a similar British study. Samuel says it could be that women tend to be more introspective and could be more sensitive than men. The sociologist did say that there are significant outliers, so it is difficult to explain these differences definitively.

Second poll planned

Samuel believes that socio-economic disparities will become larger and that the pandemic will worse social inequalities. This means it becomes even more important to keep track of how young people feel. Such polls are also invaluable as they point to areas of improvement that politicians can tackle accordingly. As the first poll was held during the summer, after measures were lifted after the first wave, so it is likely that many young people have changed opinions.

Another poll is planned for May to July 2021. 90% of respondents agreed to take part in this census. Samuel says it would be very useful to survey the same sample as this enables the best possible comparison to the first poll.

More time

Another interesting finding is that 31% viewed restrictions negatively while 24% also said they could take some positives. People said restrictions gave them more time for sleep, leisure activities and family. Some said they used the first lockdown as a period of reflection.

Samuel says that some say they devoted more time to think about the environment and to spend more time in nature. How one copes with the pandemic also depends on someones family situation. A stable environment usually translates into coping better with the fallout of the pandemic.

Auhtor: Uwe Hentschel

Editor: Michele Weber (FNR)
People jog past a social distancing sign on the first day of New Zealand's new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) safety measure that mandates wearing of a mask on public transport, in Auckland, New Zealand, on Aug. 31, 2020. (Fiona Goodall/ Reuters)

New Zealand Reports 3 New Local COVID-19 Cases, First Since January

In a significant setback to New Zealands efforts to keep the coronavirus from spreading in the community, health officials reported on Sunday three new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, the countrys first since late January.

New Zealands minister for COVID-19 response, Chris Hipkins, said the three cases were a couple and their daughter in Auckland, and that genomic testing was being conducted to see if the familys infection was linked to any highly infectious variants.

Health authorities are still working to find out how the family contracted the virus and whether COVID-19 could be out there in the community  or whether this is the start of what could be a chain of transmission, he said.

As a precaution, the high school of the girl in the family will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, with COVID-19 testing facilities to be set up there, officials said.

Airlines have also been contacted, as the woman in the infected family works for an airline catering company, LSG Sky Chefs, where she mostly works in the laundry facilities, they said.

The new cases, the first since Jan. 24, forced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to return to the capital Wellington, skipping an Ending HIV Big Gay Out event in Auckland that she was due to attend on Sunday afternoon.

Our system has swung into action, Hipkins told a hastily called media conference. We are gathering all of the facts as quickly as we can. And the system thats served us so well in the past is really gearing up to do so again.

New Zealandwhich had gone more than two months without infection before the January caseis to start inoculating its 5 million people against the new coronavirus on Feb. 20, after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier than anticipated.

The country remains on alert level 1 for COVID-19, its lowest level, with no restrictions.

No further consideration of change to alert levels has been taken at this point. We will collect more information before we would make any such decision, Hipkins said.

New Zealand, with a population of 5 million, has reported a total of just over 2,300 cases and 25 deaths since the pandemic started.

By Sonali Paul. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador welcomed the decision by his US counterpart to cancel the construction of a border wall separating the two countries, calling it a "good" decision.

Lopez Obrador also welcomed Biden's proposal to set up a visa system for Mexican and Central American migrants. Both measures are among Biden's first actions since taking office in January, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

"It is an issue that we celebrate because the wall has been under construction for some time ... so it is a historical step," Lopez Obrador told reporters during his usually daily press conference at the National Palace in City.

Instead of building walls, said Lopez Obrador, the United States should join his government's initiative of "cooperation for development," which seeks to curb migration by attacking the poverty that drives would-be migrants to seek a better life abroad.

He also proposed that the United States establish a channel for the legal entry of migrants, because "the workforce of and Central America is required" in the United States.

In recent months, the flow of mostly undocumented migrants travelling to the US border returned to pre-pandemic levels, after border closures in Central America to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease served to reduce immigration between April and June of last year.

According to analysts, immigration issues will be a challenge for the bilateral relationship between and the United States, following the hostile anti-immigrant policies of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.

--IANS

int/

(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.)
Mr Godfred Dame, the Minister-designate for Justice and Attorney General, has said the former Attorney General, Ms Gloria Akuffo, did not oppose the Agyapa Royalties deal.



He said records available indicated that Ms Akuffo was never opposed to the transaction and it was clear in all the documents.



I stand in all respect with what Madam Gloria Akuffo did in respect of the Agyapa Royalties transaction. I am indicating for the records that the former Attorney General was never opposed to the transaction and that is clear in all the documents available to me, he said.



Mr Dame, former Deputy Attorney General, said this when he appeared before Parliaments Appointment Committee for vetting on his nomination as the substantive Minister for Justice and Attorney General.



The Government, through the Minerals Income Investment Fund, had set up the Agyapa Royalties Limited to securitize Ghanas gold royalties.



The company had planned to raise between 500 to 750 million dollars for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges to invest in developmental projects.



Parliament, on August 14, 2020, approved the Agyapa Mineral Royalty Limited agreement with the Government of Ghana.



However, Ms Gloria Akuffo, who headed the Attorney Generals Office, had described the deal, in an opinion, as burdensome and not in the interest of Ghana.



The Attorney Generals office had explained that the benefits Ghana was expected to derive from the agreement were limited, given the strict obligations and sanctions attached to the deal.



Mr Dame, in a spirited defence, insisted that Ms Akuffo was not opposed to the transaction and that all advice from the Attorney Generals Office had been incorporated into the deal.

Source: GNA









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Insider trading happens when people who have access to confidential information about a company use that to profit off its stock. These insiders include folks like the corporate officers and members of the board of directors.

Historically, there have been countless cases of unscrupulous insiders benefitting at the expense of unsuspecting shareholders. For example, suppose an insider knows that some news is about to come out that will cause a companys stock price to fall. They could go into the market and sell their shares to someone who doesnt know about the news. Likewise, if theres news coming out that will drive the price higher, they could buy stock from an unsuspecting shareholder.

In order to prevent this type of activity, the government has developed numerous regulations and laws. One requires that, when a company insider decides to buy or sell shares in their companys stock, they must publicly disclose it to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That gives outside investors a chance to profit, too.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Right now, the market is making all-time new highs. Some analysts believe that this recent insanity with GameStop (NYSE:GME) and the cryptocurrency markets are signs that we are in a bubble. Many companies have seen their stock prices soar for no apparent logical or fundamental reasons.

But within this wildness, there has also been insider trading in the following seven companies. The insiders have decided to take advantage of the rallies and sell some of their shares. That could mean they believe these stocks are over or fairly valued and will eventually trade lower.

aTyr Pharma (NASDAQ: LIFE )

ANGI Homeservices (NASDAQ: ANGI )

Anaplan (NYSE: PLAN )

Tradeweb Markets (NASDAQ: TW )

SVMK (NASDAQ: SVMK )

Smartsheet (NYSE: SMAR )

Twitter (NYSE:TWTR)

Insider Traded Stocks to Sell: aTyr Pharma (LIFE)

Chart by TradingView

A biotherapeutics company, aTyr Pharma was founded in 2005, is based in California and is the first name in this article on insider trading.

Story continues

As you can see in the chart above, shares of LIFE stock doubled in just three days. On Feb. 4, the stock opened at $3.90 per share. Then on Feb. 8  just two trading days later  shares reached $8.33. There was no news, so the stock was probably taken up by the day traders.

However, two company insiders decided to sell some of their shares. President and CEO Sanjay Shukla sold 778 shares at $7.66, while CFO Jill Broadfoot sold 390 shares at $7.66 as well. These were small sales and both insiders continue to hold larger positions. But this could also mean they believe the shares got ahead of themselves in the recent market frenzy.

The three analysts on Wall Street that follow this company think aTyrs long-term prospects are great. According to Tipranks, they all have strong buy ratings on the stock, with an average price target of $13.33. That is about two times higher than where LIFE stock is now.

ANGI Homeservices (ANGI)

Chart by TradingView

ANGI Homeservices operates a digital marketplace that  you guessed it  connects consumers with home service professionals.

This is another stock that has ripped higher in the recent market chaos. As you can see on the above chart, the share price appreciated by more than 50% in less than a month. Between Jan. 15 and Feb. 8, ANGI stock rose from around $12 to a close of $18 per share.

Allison Lowrie is the CMO of ANGI. She decided to raise some cash and take advantage of the recent move. Based on a SEC Form 4 (which reports insider trading), Lowrie sold 76,903 shares at $17.74 per share. Thats worth close to $1.4 million.

Wall Street seems to agree with Lowrie that this is a fair valuation for the company. On Tipranks, nine analysts follow ANGI and have an average target price of $17.38. That is somewhat close to the current price of just under $16.

Anaplan (PLAN)

Chart by TradingView

Anaplan is a company that provides a cloud-based planning platform to connect people and organizations. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

On Jan. 28, shares of PLAN stock opened at around $62.50. By Feb. 8, they had reached a high of over $83. That represents a gain of more than 30%.

Sandesh Kaveripatnam is a director for Anaplan. In terms of insider trading, Kaveripatnam decided to take advantage of the recent price appreciation and raise some cash. One Feb. 5, he sold 11,991 shares at prices between $78 and $81. That made for a sale amounting well over $900,000.

Wall Street thinks that shares are fairly valued at current levels. Moreover, they probably think that Kaveripatnam has made a smart move. On Tipranks, five analysts follow Anaplan. The average target price is $79.59  relatively in-line with where PLAN stock is currently trading.

Tradeweb Markets (TW)

Chart by TradingView

Next on this insider trading stocks list, Tradeweb Markets builds and operates electronic marketplaces. According to its website, the company offers institutional, wholesale and retail market participants unparalleled liquidity, advanced technology and a broad range of data solutions. Moreover, Tradeweb operates in both the United States and internationally. It was founded in 1996.

As you can see on the above chart, TW stock is trading at a resistance level.

Resistance means there is a large concentration of sellers gathered around the same price. When stocks reach resistance levels, they have a tendency to sell off. That has happened with Tradeweb. It hit resistance in both June and December. Now it has reached that level once more.

Enrico Bruni is a managing director for the company. Probably believing shares would sell off again, Bruni reportedly sold 142,861 shares at a price of $67.66 on Feb 9.

Like ANGI and PLAN, the Street thinks TW stock is fairly valued, too. On Tipranks, the seven analysts following the company give this name an average share price of $69.83  close to current prices.

SVMK (SVMK)

Chart by TradingView

Formerly known as SurveyMonkey, SVMK provides clients with survey software solutions. The companys products allow other companies to engage with their customers and employees. SVMK was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California.

At the beginning of December, shares of SVMK stock were trading around the $21 level. Since then, they have trended higher. Trading at a high of $28.12 on Feb. 11, the stock currently changes hands closer to $25.

Like with other insider trading names on this list, CEO Alexander Lurie just made a significant sale on the stock. Between Feb. 5 and Feb. 8, Lurie sold a total of 16,595 shares at an average price of $28. This is about $460,000 worth of stock.

Three analysts follow SVMK stock on Tipranks and they probably agree with Luries decision to sell. Each believes shares are trading at a fair price. The average target is $29. This is only slightly higher than the range that the stock traded at over the past several days  and close to the price that the CEO sold at.

Smartsheet (SMAR)

Chart by TradingView

Smartsheet provides a cloud-based platform for the efficient execution of work. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Washington state.

As you can see in the above chart, between late November and now, shares have rallied from $52 to todays levels of over $80. With SMAR stock trading at about $84 (and rising), this represents a gain of over 60% in less than three months.

At least one insider is using this move to lighten up their position. In terms of insider trading, CMO Anna Griffin sold 5,500 shares between $75 and $76 on Feb. 5. That made for a gain of more than $400,000. Other insiders have reported selling shares as well.

This company is widely followed by Wall Street. Nine analysts cover the stock on Tipranks. They give it an average target price of $80.89. This is only a few dollars below where it trades today.

Twitter (TWTR)

Chart by TradingView

Last on this list of insider trading stocks, Twitter is a social media company that operates as a platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time  in both the United States and internationally. It was founded in 2006 and has headquarters in San Francisco, California.

Like other companies in this article, Twitter has rallied and the insiders are selling. In just the past month, the price of TWTR stock has gone from $46 to $60 and above. The stock trades at around $72 today.

On Tipranks, 32 analysts give a price target of $62.86 on Twitter. This is about $10 below the current price.

Whats more, Robert Kaiden is the chief accounting officer of the company and sold shares recently. On Feb. 9, Kaiden reported selling 12,032 shares at prices between $55 and $57 a piece.

At the time of this publication, Mark Putrino did not have any positions (either directly or indirectly) in any of the aforementioned securities.

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The post 7 Stocks With Important Insider Trading Signals That Say Sell appeared first on InvestorPlace.
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Cherries Wild: Not only is this another game show, it comes to us from Fox and Pepsi, and is, as Variety reported, meant to evoke thoughts of Pepsi Wild Cherry, a soda the beverage giant aims at young consumers. Jason Biggs will host, and the contestants will compete in a trivia contest. (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox)

American Idol: Pandemic or not, the singing competition continues, and comes back for Season 4 on ABC. (8 p.m. Sunday, ABC)

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham: Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish go on a trip through Sotland, with stops for food, drink and historic sites. (8 p.m. Sunday, Starz)

The Great North: Yet another animated comedy, this one is set in Alaska, and is about a single father, Beef Tobin (voiced by Nick Offerman), whos raising his kids. Voice actors also include Jenny Slate, Will Forte, Aparna Nancherla and, in a recurring role, Megan Mullally, who also happens to be married to Offerman. (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox)

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy: The gifted actor and Internet-breaking Negroni-maker is also traveling, exploring the food and drink of Italy. (9 p.m. Sunday, CNN)

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver: The host returns for Season 8. (11 p.m. Sunday, HBO)

Young Rock: A comedy inspired by the younger days of Dwayne The Rock Johnson, who also appears as himself, well, a version of himself, whos running for president in 2032. (8 p.m. Tuesday, NBC)

Related: Dwayne Johnson calls Young Rock a love letter to professional wrestling; SNL vet Kenan Thompson on Kenan: Virtual TV press tour

Queen Sugar: The family drama returns for Season 5. (8 p.m. Tuesday, OWN)

Kenan: Kenan Thompson, of Saturday Night Live fame, comes to primetime as the star of his own sitcom, playing a widowed father raising two daughters. Fellow SNL castmate Chris Redd costars, along with Don Johnson. (8:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBC)

The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song: Henry Louis Gates Jr. hosts a documentary looks at more than 400 years of history of the Black church in America. (9 p.m. Tuesday, PBS)

Related: Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the impact of The Black Church in absorbing PBS documentary

Good Trouble: The series returns for Season 3. (10 p.m. Wednesday, Freeform)

Saturday Night Live: Rege-Jean Page, who plays the sexy Duke of Hastings in the entertaining Netflix series, Bridgerton, is host. Bad Bunny is musical guest. (8:29 p.m. Saturday, NBC)

Related: Bridgerton: A deliciously gifted, diverse cast delivers a smart, sexy period drama (review)

Already streaming

Nadiya Bakes: Nadiya Hussain, one of the most popular winners of The Great British Baking Show, hosts her own baking show. (Streaming, Netflix)

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-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday as he heads to the second day of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat

PM Modi hands over 'Made-In-India' Arjun battle tank to Army in Chennai

India

oi-Deepika S

Chennai, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over the homemade Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Army Chief General MM Naravane in Chennai.

At a function, he also accepted a salute by the state-of-the-art tank, indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment here.

Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs were also involved in the project.

The Defence Ministry had recently cleared the induction of 118 Arjun Mark 1A tanks into the Indian Army, costing around Rs 8,400 crore.

"Today I am proud to dedicate to the country one more warrior to protect our frontiers. I am proud to hand over the indigenously designed and manufactured Arjun MK-1A."

"It also uses indigenous ammunition. Tamil Nadu is already the leading auto manufacturing hub of India. Now I see Tamil Nadu evolving as a tank manufacturing hub of India," he said.

"A tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used in our northern border to keep our nation safe. This showcases India's united spirit--Bharat's ekta darshan," Modi added.

According to reports, the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi here, has been placed with a Rs 8,500 crore order for manufacturing 118 of these tanks.

Arjun MK 1 Alpha is a "contemporary tank in the world with battle winning efficacy," officials said.

PM Modi launches projects in Kerala, focusses on tourism

It is 'infused' with 71 new features and would ensure effortless mobility in all terrains, besides precise target engagement during day and night.

The production order opens up a large avenue in defence manufacturing for over 200 Indian companies and scores of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with employment opportunities to 8,000 people, they said.

The tank is a "shining example" of the Centre's much touted "atmanirbhar bharat," a concept of attaining self- reliance in various sectors including the defence.

Quoting from revolutionary Tamil poet and freedom fighter Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi, Modi said that inspired by the former's vision, "India has taken a massive effort to become self-reliant in the defence sector."

Of the two defence corridors in the country, the one in Tamil Nadu has already received investment commitments of over Rs 8,100 crore, Modi said.

"We will continue working to make our armed forces one of the most modern forces in the world. At the same time the focus on making India Atmanirbhar in the defence sector moves with full speed," he said.

Later, in a tweet, he said it was "a special day in our journey to become Aatmanirbhar in the defence sector," referring to Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A).

Fifteen academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs were also involved in the Arjun MK 1A.
Kizzees family alleges that the department failed to adequately train their deputies

The family of Dijon Kizzee, a 29-year-old Black man who was fatally shot 16 times last August by Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies, has filed a $35 million claim.

CNN reports that the familys claim alleges that the departments failure to adequately train their deputies involved in the shooting and accuses them of using excess deadly force.

Dijon Kizzee (Courtesy of Dijon Kizzee Family)

The claim accuses the deputies on duty of negligently, carelessly, and mistakenly investigated the presence of Mr. Kizzee who continued riding his bicycle away from them, and negligently concluded that Mr. Kizzee posed a serious threat to their safety, necessitating the use of deadly force against him.

Kizzees father, Edwin Kizzee, is asking for $25 million for severe and substantial damages while $10 million would go to his estate for stemming from the intentional and/or negligent infliction of harm on Mr. Kizzee until the moment that he took his last breath, the filing read.

Read More: Insecure fans shocked to find out showrunners mother is Britney Spears conservatorship judge

Family attorney Carl Douglas expects the claim to be rejected. Douglas previously said Kizzee was riding while Black.

Dijon Kizzee did not deserve to be executed like this in cold blood as he was running away, Douglas said in September during a press conference.

Since the killing, which sparked days of protest outside of the South Los Angeles sheriffs station, the department has yet to publicly identified the deputies involved.

A filing is usually the first step before a lawsuit is a precursor to a lawsuit. Kizzees estate and his father Edwin will file one this summer.

I dont care what color he was. He was human. He was my nephew and I love him very much, Fletcher Fair, Kizzees aunt, said.

Douglas believes the lawsuit will lead the department to release the names of the deputies involved.

Read More: New polls rank Obama as best all-time US President, Trump ranked as worst

Story continues

Kizzee was killed in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, 2020, for riding a bicycle on the wrong side of the road and splitting traffic, said LA Sheriffs Department Homicide Bureau Capt. Kent Wegener at the time of the death.

(Credit: Dijon Kizzee family)

Investigators said Kizzee picked up a gun he dropped before two officers fired 19 rounds while video footage shows Kizzee running away from officers, according to a family attorney.

Kizzee suffered rapidly life-threatening wounds as some of the wounds were to the head, torso, and back, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiners autopsy report.

Justice, truth, and light cry out for identifying the names of the deputies that were involved, Douglas said. With the filing of this $35 million claim, we intend to bring a bright light on the virus that is raging in South Los Angeles and the vaccine for that virus is truth.

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Inih Ebong, a Nigerian lecturer who became gravely ill after he was unjustly sacked from the University of Uyo almost two decades ago, said he would have died if not for the intervention from Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, and other Nigerians.

Diagnosed with cardiac failure and too broke to cater for his welfare and health, many Nigerians contributed money to the lecturer last year, after PREMIUM TIMES broke the story of his illness and a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, publicly appealed for financial support for him.

Mr Otedola is paying for MrEbongs medical treatment in Uyo.

Mr Ebong, was an associate professor in the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo, when his appointment was unlawfully terminated in 2002. Akpan Ekpo and Peter Effiong were the vice-chancellor and registrar of the institution respectively at the time.

Mr Ebong, before his sack, had a running battle with Messrs Ekpo and Effiong, who saw him as a thorn in their side for speaking up regularly against alleged maladministration and corruption in the school.

Three successive vice-chancellors refused to reinstate Mr Ebong, despite strings of legal victories.

Thank you, Otedola. Thank you, Nigerians

Mr Ebong, though yet to get back his job at the University of Uyo and still recuperating at home, took out time to thank Nigerians for helping him.

He said he was able to pay his medical bills, buy prescription drugs, and provide healthy food and fruits for himself and his family from the money Nigerians sent to him.

I wished I could reach out and contact you one-on-one, but this is impossible.

Permit then the use of this space and medium to get across to each and everyone of you and express my profound gratitude for the outpour of love you showered on me, and the generous donations you made that I might live, Mr Ebong said in an open letter to Mr Otedola and other Nigerians.

He personally handed a hard copy of the letter to PREMIUM TIMES at his Uyo residence, on Saturday.

You answered the clarion call with love at a time when I precariously stood on the precipice with no other volition than to plunge headlong, albeit unwillingly, into the waiting arms and bosom of the Great Beyond!

Your outpour of love, concern and care, made me recover from my long and protracted illness when all hopes were lost and for this, I remain eternally grateful to you and to God.

Apart from Mr Otedola, the lecturer thanked his former students from the University of Calabar, University of Uyo, and University of Jos. He thanked his physicians and their supporting staff at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, St. Athanasius Hospital, and Prime Consultants Hospital, all in Uyo.

He also thanked Nigerians in the Diasporas who sent help to him.

I am especially indebted to Inibehe Effiong, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, and to the management and staff of Premium Times. Both Barrister Effiong and Premium Times told my story to the world and elicited the spontaneous, overwhelming response from you.

Last but by no means the least are my dear wife and children. They bore all the troubles and anxiety with profound understanding, love and care. They were always there for me every hour of the day and night, in the hospital and at home.

Above all, my greatest thanks goes to the Almighty God who has made all these happen in my life, and found each and everyone of you as worthy vessels and channels of goodness and selfless love in restoring normal health to my body, Mr Ebong said.

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Mr Ebong, in the letter, said as part of his deteriorating health, he had insomnia, mental disturbances, and was bed-ridden for weeks.

He talked about the recovery process, and said he was no longer bed-ridden.

I now move about freely, unattended, and I do certain chores unaided  a big relief for my wife, he said.

When I began to recover from my ill-health, I realised, for example, that I had lost virtually all knowledge of how to operate and use my mobile phone. For months, my wife and children taught me the functions and how to operate and use my mobile phone again, and Im still learning from them.

As much as I would say that I am much healthier now, with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg as at the last check some two to three weeks ago, and that I am religiously taking my medications and keeping up with routine check-ups in the hospitals, I experience occasional swelling in the legs and instantaneous rapid heavy breathing, he said.

[Mr Ebong continues to need help. You can reach out to him through his wife, Uduak +2349046469446), or send him a donation (Inih Ebong, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) 0042760051]
The general election comes after a year in which the coronavirus pandemic has deepened social and economic crises in the former Serbian province, which declared independence 13 years ago.

Already one of Europes poorest economies, Kosovo is now struggling through a pandemic-triggered downturn, with vaccination yet to start for the population of 1.8 million.

Vetevendosje (Self-determination)  an anti-establishment protest movement turned political party  looks set to benefit from a growing hunger for change.

Polls place it in a comfortable first place, though potentially short of an absolute majority.

The party has been campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, accusing traditional elites of squandering Kosovos first years of independence with graft and mismanagement.

For most of the past decade, Kosovo has been run by the former rebel commanders who led the 1990s rebellion of ethnic Albanian guerillas against Serb forces.

But their camp is now missing its top leaders after a court in The Hague detained ex-president Hashim Thaci and others in November on charges of war crimes dating back to the conflict.

Analysts say this has helped open a path for Vetevendosje, whose calls for change may even win over some who do not align with the movements radical past, including sometimes violent protests, anti-West rhetoric and incidents in which MPs unleashed tear gas in parliament.

For many, Vetevendosje is being seen as the last resort which will either make or break the country, Donika Emini, executive director of CiviKos Platform, a umbrella group for NGOs, told AFP.

 New generation 

Polls opened under snowy skies and freezing temperatures at 0600 GMT, and will close 12 hours later with initial results expected in the late evening.

I am calling all citizens to respect all rules (in regard) to the pandemic, while they are exercising their right to vote, Election Commission Chairwoman Valdete Daka told reporters after casting her ballot in Pristina.

Vetevendosje, led by 45-year-old former political prisoner Albin Kurti, has finished first in the last two parliamentary polls.

But in both cases it was eventually outmanoeuvred by other parties who united to form majority coalitions.

After the 2019 election, Kurti was Prime Minister for a brief 50 days before his coalition crumbled.

This time he is confident he can translate his victory into a lasting government.

We are coming, they are leaving, he told supporters ahead of the poll.

Rivals have been attacking Kurti  who enjoys great devotion among fans  of preparing a dictatorship that could threaten Kosovos important alliance with the US.

They are also pledging to create jobs and raise salaries.

But the latest polls suggest their promises are ringing hollow for many, with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)  the party of ex-rebels  in second place with around 20 percent of the vote, followed by the outgoing Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

This time Kurti is also boosted by an alliance with acting President Vjosa Osmani, who recently joined his side after leaving the LDK.

I think it is about time that Kosovo is led by not only a new generation of politicians in terms of age, but especially in terms of mind-set, the 38-year-old told AFP.

 Brain drain 

Kurti is particularly popular among young people who feel betrayed by their current leadership.

Youth unemployment tops 50 percent in Kosovo, forcing many to go abroad in a growing brain drain crisis.

I dont have a hope that I will be employed here after I graduate university, or even after I get my masters degree, that is what concerns me, said Hanmije Lohaj, a 17-year-old at a Vetevendosje rally.

While Kurti himself cannot run as an MP  he is banned due to a 2018 court conviction for unleashing tear gas in parliament  his party could still appoint him as their Prime Minister.

There are also 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities in the 120-member assembly, half for the Serb community.

During this campaign, there has been little talk about the stalling negotiations to resolve Kosovos frozen conflict with Serbia, an issue with Kurti is expected to take a hardline stance on.

Belgrade still refuses to recognise Kosovos statehood, a source of major tension in the region and an obstacle for either side to some day join the European Union.

Kosovars went to the polls Sunday in an early election that could see a new generation of politicians take the lead after tapping into widespread frustration and fatigue with the political establishment.

The general election comes after a year in which the coronavirus pandemic has deepened social and economic crises in the former Serbian province, which declared independence 13 years ago.

Already one of Europes poorest economies, Kosovo is now struggling through a pandemic-triggered downturn, with vaccination yet to start for the population of 1.8 million.

Vetevendosje (Self-determination)  an anti-establishment protest movement turned political party  looks set to benefit from a growing hunger for change.

Polls place it in a comfortable first place, though potentially short of an absolute majority.

The party has been campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, accusing traditional elites of squandering Kosovos first years of independence with graft and mismanagement.

For most of the past decade, Kosovo has been run by the former rebel commanders who led the 1990s rebellion of ethnic Albanian guerillas against Serb forces.

But their camp is now missing its top leaders after a court in The Hague detained ex-president Hashim Thaci and others in November on charges of war crimes dating back to the conflict.

Analysts say this has helped open a path for Vetevendosje, whose calls for change may even win over some who do not align with the movements radical past, including sometimes violent protests, anti-West rhetoric and incidents in which MPs unleashed tear gas in parliament.

For many, Vetevendosje is being seen as the last resort which will either make or break the country, Donika Emini, executive director of CiviKos Platform, a umbrella group for NGOs, told AFP.

 New generation 

Polls opened under snowy skies and freezing temperatures at 0600 GMT, and will close 12 hours later with initial results expected in the late evening.

I am calling all citizens to respect all rules (in regard) to the pandemic, while they are exercising their right to vote, Election Commission Chairwoman Valdete Daka told reporters after casting her ballot in Pristina.

Vetevendosje, led by 45-year-old former political prisoner Albin Kurti, has finished first in the last two parliamentary polls.

But in both cases it was eventually outmanoeuvred by other parties who united to form majority coalitions.

After the 2019 election, Kurti was Prime Minister for a brief 50 days before his coalition crumbled.

This time he is confident he can translate his victory into a lasting government.

We are coming, they are leaving, he told supporters ahead of the poll.

Rivals have been attacking Kurti  who enjoys great devotion among fans  of preparing a dictatorship that could threaten Kosovos important alliance with the US.

They are also pledging to create jobs and raise salaries.

But the latest polls suggest their promises are ringing hollow for many, with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)  the party of ex-rebels  in second place with around 20 percent of the vote, followed by the outgoing Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

This time Kurti is also boosted by an alliance with acting President Vjosa Osmani, who recently joined his side after leaving the LDK.

I think it is about time that Kosovo is led by not only a new generation of politicians in terms of age, but especially in terms of mind-set, the 38-year-old told AFP.

 Brain drain 

Kurti is particularly popular among young people who feel betrayed by their current leadership.

Youth unemployment tops 50 percent in Kosovo, forcing many to go abroad in a growing brain drain crisis.

I dont have a hope that I will be employed here after I graduate university, or even after I get my masters degree, that is what concerns me, said Hanmije Lohaj, a 17-year-old at a Vetevendosje rally.

While Kurti himself cannot run as an MP  he is banned due to a 2018 court conviction for unleashing tear gas in parliament  his party could still appoint him as their Prime Minister.

There are also 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities in the 120-member assembly, half for the Serb community.

During this campaign, there has been little talk about the stalling negotiations to resolve Kosovos frozen conflict with Serbia, an issue with Kurti is expected to take a hardline stance on.

Belgrade still refuses to recognise Kosovos statehood, a source of major tension in the region and an obstacle for either side to some day join the European Union.

SOURCE: AFP
The Myanmar embassy in Singapore. (PHOTO: Google Street View screengrab)

SINGAPORE  Three men are under police investigation for allegedly staging a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Singapore last Wednesday (10 February).

Two Japanese men, aged 48 and 61, and one Indonesian man, aged 49, are believed to have carried out the protest to show support for the people of Myanmar, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Sunday.

SPF said it was alerted to the incident at around 3.45pm and that two placards, three mobile phones and a letter were seized from the men.

SPF also reminded the public that "organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act". It also noted that no permits for assemblies that "advocate political causes of other countries" would be granted.

"Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws," said SPF.

Myanmar's military seized control of the country on 1 February. The coup saw civilian leaders  including Aung San Suu Kyi  arrested and a one-year state of emergency imposed. Thousands have since taken to the streets to protest against the military's actions.

In a news release on 5 February, SPF issued a warning to those planning to stage protests here in relation to the ongoing political situation in Myanmar. It added that it was aware of online posts encouraging people to take part in such protests.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

Singapore's response to COVID-19 shows necessity of Total Defence: Ng Eng Hen

COVID-19: 14 new cases detected in Singapore, all imported
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi caught a fleeting view of the "interesting" second Test match being played between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.



Caught a fleeting view of an interesting test match in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/3fqWCgywhk

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2021

The Prime Minister tweeted an aerial image of the stadium that was captured from inside the flight, as he travelled from Chennai to Kochi on February 14.

It's the second day of the second test of the India vs England series which is being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Virat Kohli's men, who lost the first test by a massive margin of 227 runs, are in a commanding position in the ongoing test match as they bundled out England for 134 in their first innings. India had earlier posted 329 runs after opting to bat first.

The Prime Minister was in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to hand over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane and inaugurate several key projects at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.

He flagged off the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore, and commissioned the passenger services from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar.

Modi also inaugurated the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipatt and laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

After Chennai, his next stop is Kochi in Kerala where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several key projects.
As expected, the Cuban regime fired up its propaganda machine to force a second diplomatic thaw with the United States government. Its precarious financial situation, plus the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, have pushed the country towards the edge of an abyss. These are the main reasons for its desperate strategic maneuvering in search of any succor that will allow it to avert social unrest if the country's situation does not improve in the short term.

In the last three days, three events have occurred prompting and shaping a new strategy to force possible rapprochement with the Biden Administration:

1. A feigned lifting of the internal blockade on citizens: The elimination of the list of "self-employment activities" to allow the private exercise of more than 2,000, included on Cuba's National Classifier of Economic Activities. This, however, lacked any details about taxes, or the right to legally register businesses; and did not clarify whether direct foreign investments could be received, exported and imported; or if there will be wholesale markets. Also not disclosed were the limits to which entrepreneurs will be subject under the future SMEs law that was drafted more than nine months ago and that the Cuban Government has kept strictly confidential. Nobody is going to back down before seeing whether the others will settle for the first crumb conceded.

2. A purported renewal of cooperation in the fight against terrorism: The communique from the Government of Cuba to the Government of Colombia, on Monday afternoon, about a possible attack planned by the National Liberation Army (ELN).

3. Alleged demands voiced by the Cuban people to lift the sanctions and the embargo: the complaints and accusations against the United States for all the ills that the population is suffering - omitting all reference to those who provoked them in Cuba - filled a letter published by La Joven Cuba signed by a disparate group, including spies, influential agents, opportunists, and naive individuals acting in good faith. There are also a few academics who, after taking courageous positions, were attacked by the Taliban's new repressive wave, and who would have been sullied as pro-American if they had refused to sign it. In the letter there is not a single word about all those who, for several years, sabotaged Obama's policy towards Cuba. And now they are asking to restore it? This requires us to first face the truth and say it out loud, without sugarcoating or distorting it. The main cause of the social and economic crisis that citizens are enduring today, including many of the signatories of that letter, was not the work of the United States, but rather of the mafia in power that they chose not to mention. It is curious that they were able to deliver the letter to the United States Embassy in Cuba and to the White House (!) without incident, before, during or afterwards. Can those who signed that letter imagine what would have happened if the San Isidro or 27N movements, or Cuban peasants, had tried to do the same kind of thing? The commotion, the violence, and the legal proceedings?

A feigned lifting of the internal blockade on citizens

When the Granma newspaper announced, on February 6, through the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feito Cabrera, that the list containing the 127 activities currently approved for self-employment was to be eliminated, and that the exercise of self-employment would be allowed in more than 2,000 activities included on Cuba's National Classifier of Economic Activities, with the exception of a list of 124, several press agencies covered the news as something significant for its novelty. In fact, some supposed experts in Cuban economics described the announcement as something truly promising.

In reality, it is nothing more than that: an announcement to spark illusory hopes. It should suffice to recall that in 2008, when the dictator Raul Castro permitted stays in hotels, the purchase of computers and DVDs, and other appliances until then prohibited to Cubans, plus access to cell phone services, he was not implementing a structural reform of the economy, but rather allowing Cubans to access services that were widespread and normal all over the world. Was there anything novel about that? Absolutely not. Cubans were simply regaining some citizens' rights that had been denied them for many years.

Is allowing self-employment in more than 2,000 activities included on the National Classifier of Economic Activities, then, a groundbreaking act by the Cuban government? Absolutely not.

This is a measure devised and executed to send the message to the White House that they are ready to open up the economy. This measure does not constitute systemic reform, nor does it rescind the policy of barring wealth creation, rather than reducing poverty. It has nothing to do with creating a market economy, as, by definition, it is a state regulation of economic activity.

The debate on rapprochement with the Cuban government and the lifting of the embargo is a false dilemma. The Cuban conflict is internal between an oppressive regime, and a people who reject it, not between Cuba and the United States. Cuba's powerholding elite was responsible for internationalizing this internal conflict, by allying itself with the USSR, then Russia, and then China and Venezuela.

What keeps Cuban civil society from prospering is not the sanctions imposed by the United States on the Cuban State, but rather the elite's strangling of civil society's freedoms (political and economic), which prevents the country from flourishing. Civil society's independent economic activity is not precluded by the Helms Burton Law, but rather by the Cuban State.

Alleged cooperation in the fight against terrorism

Is the Cuban Embassy's gesture of assistance to the Government of Colombia, advising it of an alleged attack, an act of good faith? Absolutely not.

In reality, it is a calculated ploy to begin its lobbying in Washington to get Cuba off the list of countries that support terrorism. Being on that list largely hamstrings the Biden Administration when it comes to lifting some of the restrictions imposed by the previous one.

Havana has been reluctant to extradite 10 leaders of the National Liberation Army who may have been involved in the January 2019 attack on the General Santander Police Academy, in which 22 cadets lost their lives and more than 90 were injured. They have justified their refusal by pointing to peace agreements they have signed on the island preventing them from doing so. Do these signed agreements really grant impunity to those who, from Havana, planned or were apprised of this terrorist action that massacred innocent people?

A few days ago, the Colombian magazine Semana published a secret dossier on Cuba's strategy of improper interference in Colombia. The document warns that Cuba harbors plans to interfere in the 2022 elections and destabilize the country. This would suggest that Havana's sudden cozying up to the Government of Colombia to report an impending attack is pure window dressing. In reality, nothing has changed.

Proof of this is that the meddling by Cuba's intelligence services in Venezuela continues. It has prevented the fall of Nicolas Maduro and bolstered a narco-dictatorship responsible for the greatest humanitarian crisis ever seen in South America, with around five million Venezuelans displaced, even as it works together towards regional destabilization, to weaken democracy in Latin America and to strengthen anti-US governments in other countries in the region.

All of these factors are aspects that the Biden Administration must carefully consider before taking any steps toward a new relationship with Cuba's military higher-ups.

Alleged demands voiced by the Cuban people to lift the sanctions and the embargo

The letter published on the La Joven Cuba website omits everything that happened from 2015 to the present and the events during this period that damaged relations between the two governments and led to the end of rapprochement.

To be clear: the Cuban government did not take advantage of Barack Obama's amicable overtures, demonstrating that its mentality was still mired in the Cold War. The octogenarians in power demonstrated that they were unprepared for change. As soon as Obama boarded Air Force One bound for the US after his historic visit to Havana, the regime froze reform, lashed out in the press against the US president's policy towards Cuba, renewed its economic and police harassment of self-employed workers, put an end to the approval of new non-agricultural cooperatives, began to demonize entrepreneurs in the press, ratcheted up repression against opponents and dissidents, and initiated "sonic attacks" on US and Canadian diplomats.

Abruptly, unilaterally, after the embassies were reopened, the regime initiated an accelerated regression in relations with Washington. Nor did it honor its commitments to creditors who, thanks to President Obama's new policy, had canceled and restructured their debts. The current president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, actually stated that Obama's approach was a "Trojan Horse" to destroy the Revolution.

If the White House and the State Department assumed that Cuban leaders would be glad to see waves of US businessmen and US officials visiting the island as a result of rapprochement, they were wrong. An audio recording from a meeting in the middle of the thaw, leaked years later to the press in Florida, revealed this. In the recording an official is clearly heard indicating that the country's leadership was alarmed by the massive presence of Americans, and instructing senior officials of multiple economic, academic and political institutions to ask for permission before welcoming any visitors. No one was to allow them access to Cuban institutions, or meet with any of them without first reporting these requests and receiving express authorization to do so.

For both the General Intelligence Directorate (DGI) and the National Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCI), the important thing was not the economic development and well-being that these visits might bring to Cuba, but rather controlling the circumstances of those exchanges or preventing them altogether. The criteria and procedures of the secret police - not only those of the administrative bureaucracy - explain the limitations on the exchanges, as well as the protracted process involved for the evaluation and approval of visitors' business proposals.

It is also a curious coincidence that it was right after this expression, by officials and police, of anxiety and discomfort at the large number of diplomats accredited at the recently opened United States Embassy, that "sonic attacks" were initiated against the personnel there. The impact on their health eventually forced the evacuation of more than two 20 diplomats and their families. Under the Trump presidency, which began with a statement that it did not want to sever bilateral relations, but rather to renegotiate their terms, the attacks escalated, leading to the indefinite interruption of the operations of that diplomatic facility in Havana, and precipitating an open confrontation between the two governments.

As a commercial assessment of the "thaw", after receiving thousands of visitors and business proposals, the Government of Cuba approved less than 100. Not many of them did very well, either.

The opportunities squandered during the diplomatic thaw demonstrated that the Cuban Government had no interest in implementing reform that would benefit the people. The objective was for the United States to urge all the countries with which Havana had debts to cancel them, to invest in the island, and to promote American tourism so that the military who control that sector would obtain fat profits off the rise in travel to Cuba. Part of the scheme was the regime's assumption that the United States would relax restrictions on sending remittances, which were to be one of its main lines of financing, at the expense of the Cuban diaspora. Part of the resources obtained from the rapprochement process and the creditors were used to reinforce Cuba's internal repression apparatus.

Why don't the signatories of that letter send one addressed to Raul Castro and Diaz-Canel, asking them to unconditionally lift the internal blockade, and allow citizens to generate wealth in a society enjoying a free market and unregulated prices? Why don't the signatories of that letter send one addressed to Raul Castro and Diaz Canel demanding freedom of expression, human rights, and free association? Why don't they hold him accountable for ignoring the red carpet that Obama laid out for them long before Trump was elected?

The war that exists today is the one waged by the state against its own citizens and their civil and economic initiatives. The reconciliation that is really required, urgently, is between the Cuban State and the Cuban people. The blockade that needs to be lifted is the internal one, of the government against the private sector and citizens.

The elite in power, if they are really interested in improving the bilateral relationship with the United States, must put an end, on paper and in reality, to the suppression of basic civil liberties, and unconditionally lift its internal blockade on the country's citizens and productive forces.
A subway stabber who killed two homeless people and slashed two others during a violent 14-hour spree has been caught, and was splattered in blood when he was arrested, police say.

The man, who has not yet been named, was in still in possession of the knife and had blood on his sneakers, cops told the New York Post.

The man was wearing layers of clothes and a winter coat with high-top sneakers, sources told the New York Daily News.

The suspect was reportedly arrested in Upper Manhattan, just blocks from where the bloody rampage began and he is in custody at the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights.

The fatal stabbings took place on opposite ends of the A subway line, which connects the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan with Rockaway, Queens.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Saturday that a 'surge' of 500 additional cops for the department's Transit Bureau would be immediately deployed across the city.

The wounded victims were reportedly helping police identify the assailant earlier on Saturday.

Officers with the NYPD subway patrol the Atlantic Avenue / Barclay's Subway station in Brooklyn

Police patrol the A line subway train bound to Inwood on Saturday, after NYPD deployed an additional 500 officers into the subway system

Police are seen on the A line subway train bound to Inwood on Saturday looking for the subway slasher

A man was found stabbed to death before midnight on Friday at the Mott Avenue Beach subway station in the Far Rockaway section of Queens - the southernmost tip of the A subway line. The station was closed as police investigate

During a news conference on Saturday, police told reporters that the violent stabbing spree started at around 11:20am on Friday.

That's when a 67-year-old man was stabbed by an assailant at the 181st Street A-line subway station.

The victim is expected to survive, according to police.

He told cops that his attacker had shouted 'I am going to kill you', before he was stabbed in the right knee and left buttock, New York Post reported.

The next attack took place before midnight, when authorities found a man stabbed to death in his seat on the A train at the Mott Avenue station in Far Rockaway, Queens.

The victim died of stab wounds to his neck and torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just two hours later, a 44-year-old was found unconscious after she was stabbed while riding the A train at the 207th Street Station in Upper Manhattan.

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Just a few minutes later, a 43-year-old man was randomly stabbed at the A subway station on West 181st Street in Manhattan.

The man was rushed to hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Officers with the NYPD patrol the Jay Street Metro Tech station in Brooklyn on Saturday, looking for the suspected subway slasher

Police officer's patrol the Barclays Center subway station after 500 additional cops were sent to look for a suspected subway slasher

Cops were seen looking for a subway slasher at the Atlantic Avenue / Barclay's Subway station after two were killed in a bloody rampage

The slashing spree sparked a massive manhunt and an outcry for safer subways.

Officers were seen patrolling subway stations across the city looking for the alleged suspect before the man was arrested. The NYPD plans to deploy an additional 865 officers to patrol the subway system on Monday.

Officials said had said earlier on Saturday they believed the attacker to be possibly a Hispanic male standing at a height of 5ft tall and wearing a face mask.

'Three of these incidents appear to be connected and the Detective Bureau is looking into the possibility that all four could have been committed by one individual,' Transit Chief Kathleen O'Reilly told reporters.

'We will work tirelessly to bring the individual or individuals to justice.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the New York Police Department for further comment.

The image above is an undated stock photo of the 207th Street A line subway station in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan, where a 44-year-old woman was found unconscious after being stabbed in the early morning hours of Saturday. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an uptick in violent incidents inside the largely desolate subway stations as ridership has plummeted due to fears of getting infected.

Transit workers have been demanding that the 24-hour subway schedule be resumed after several reported being assaulted during the overnight hours when trains are shut down for COVID-19 cleanings.

The union representing Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers who operate the city's public buses and subways are assaulted, harassed, spit upon, and in severe cases nearly killed by assailants in largely empty stations.

In November, the New York Police Department said that it would add around 200 cops on its patrols of subway stations after a series of disturbing incidents.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea addresses the media in regard to recent crimes within the subway system at NYPD headquarters in New York on Saturday

Noel Quintana, 61, was on a Manhattan subway that was taking him to work in Harlem last Wednesday when an unknown attacker kicked his bag and then whipped out a box cutter and slashed him across the face from ear to ear.

Last Thursday morning, another woman was pushed in front of a train at Union Station in Lower Manhattan.

The woman, in her 40s, miraculously survived by rolling between the tracks as the train passed over her.

A suspect, Aditya Vemulapati, was held at the scene by transit workers and is charged with attempted murder, felony assault, and reckless endangerment. His last known address is in Michigan and he is believed to be homeless.

According to the NYPD, there were 16 subway pushing incidents in all of 2019. So far this year, there have been just as many.

On Christmas Eve, Narinder Kumar, 70, an MTA station agent, was pushed onto the subway tracks at the Nassau Avenue G subway stop in Brooklyn at around 3am.

Kumar was lucky to be alive though he suffered a fractured spine and head injuries. Fortunately, he missed the electrified third rail.

The alleged assailant, Jhonathan Martinez, 27, was trying to get onto one of the trains, which are only available for first responders and transit workers during the overnight hours.

MTA worker Reggie Frazier (left), 61, is seen above with his daughters Shalae, 16, and Shaleah, 7, who is holding a photo of their sister, Shaimeek, 21, who passed away in April of COVID-19.

On August 5, Frazier tore a tendon in his right knee and was beaten by an assailant with a milk crate as he was sweeping up at the Dyckman Street subway station in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan at around 2:15am

Martinez was charged with assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.

On August 5, Reggie Frazier, a father of three who lost his 21-year-old daughter last year to COVID-19, was sweeping up at the Dyckman Street subway stop in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan at around 2:15am - more than an hour after the last trains stopped running for the day.

'Yo, man, no trains after 1am,' Frazier, 61, told a man who wandered into the station, according to THE CITY.

According to Frazier, the man responded: 'Shut the f*** up, I'll punch you in the face.'

'I said, 'I don't want to fight you, man, I'm at work',' Frazier told THE CITY.

'But he grabbed a crate and started swinging.'

The man attacked Frazier with a milk crate. As Frazier tried to escape, he tore a tendon in his right knee. Since that day, he has not returned to work.

'I wasn't sworn into this job to take beatdowns,' he said.

The man identified as Frazier's assailant, 36-year-old Ramon Garrido, was arrested and charged.

Alexander Jaiserie, a 23-year-old MTA train operator, told THE CITY that he and a conductor were assaulted in the early morning hours of July 10 after their empty No. 7 train pulled into the Flushing-Main Street station in Queens.

Noel Quintana, 61, was on his way to work in Harlem last Wednesday when an unknown attacker kicked his bag and then whipped out a box cutter and slashed him across the face on a Manhattan subway

The NYPD is seeking the attacker, who was wearing a Louis Vuitton face mask and fled the L Train at the 1st Avenue stop on 14th Street

'Leaving Willets Point, we heard of a disturbed person causing problems at Flushing Main and a request for police to come to the station,' he said.

'So we knew there was somebody causing issues and to be aware of that.'

According to Jaiserie, a man on the platform blocked him and the conduct from leaving the train's first car.

As they tried to walk between subway cars, the man pounced. He then lunged once again at the two transit workers as they emerged onto the platform.

The man fled and no one has been charged.

Subway crimes are down more than 50 percent so far in 2021 from the same period last year - but ridership is down roughly 70 percent in the pandemic, suggesting the crime rate per passenger may have actually increased.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced a three-day lockdown in the countrys biggest city Auckland, after three new local COVID-19 cases were reported.

Ardern said the level 3 restrictions, which require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping and essential work, repeated the super cautious approach the country had taken over the past year in stamping out the pandemic.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield speaking with the media on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

She said cabinet had decided to take a cautious approach until they found out more about the outbreak, including whether the infections were the more contagious variants.

The rest of New Zealand would also be placed under heightened restrictions but would not go into lockdown, Ardern said.
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - More than 600 students are celebrating college graduation this weekend!

Indiana State University offered a virtual winter commencement ceremony this afternoon.

New graduates could hear their names read during the virtual winter commencement ceremony.

The university president, other school leaders, and students took part in the ceremony through recorded speeches.

Former Indiana superintendent of public instruction, Jennifer McCormick also spoke during the ceremony.

646 students graduated Saturday!
Seven GOP senators on Saturday joined 50 Democrats in voting to convict former President Donald Trump on an article of impeachment, though the vote fell short and Trump was acquitted.

Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) voted to convict Trump in a charge of incitement of insurrection.

I listened to the arguments on both sides I thought the arguments in favor of conviction were much stronger, Toomey told reporters after the vote.

Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty, Cassidy, who has been censured by his party for his anti-Trump votes, added in a video statement.

Romney, a longtime Trump critic, said he carefully considered arguments from the House impeachment managers and Trumps legal team before concluding the former president was guilty.

President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on January 6th and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes. He did this despite the obvious and well known threats of violence that day, he said.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate minority whip, told reporters that he wasnt surprised by the number of Republicans who voted to convict. I think most people staked out their positions earlier. So it was, I think kind of what most people expected, he said.

Eight other Republicans had indicated they were open to convicting Trump or had not ruled it out, but ultimately voted to acquit.

Nine Democrats had said they would wait until hearing presentations from both sides before deciding how to vote, while Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) had resisted attempts to clarify her stance. All 10 ended up voting to convict.

Trump incited a violent insurrection against his own government because he did not like the outcome of a free and fair election, Sinema said in a statement.

A conviction would have required a 67 vote supermajority.

The chamber is divided evenly between 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans after the Democrats won both Georgia runoff elections in January.

Republicans who voted to acquit highlighted their stance that the trial was unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. Some defended Trump against the incitement accusations.

It remains true that Congress simply does not have the constitutional authority to impeach a former president. And rather than take its take time to hold hearings and assess all evidence, the House had a rushed impeachment process that denied President Trump due process, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) said.

The House brought only one charge before the Senate: incitement. Donald Trump used heated language, but he did not urge anyone to commit acts of violence. The legal standard for incitement is very high and it is clear by the results of this vote that the House Managers failed to present a coherent standard for incitement, added Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

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Faced with long school closures because of the coronavirus pandemic, many US parents have taken to homeschooling to ensure their children's education continues despite the massive disruptions of the past year.

"It's all me: I make the lesson plan, execute the lesson plan, then do it again the next week," said Catherine Strokes, whose daughter's school shut last year because of the pandemic.

Homeschooling "exploded" when the virus caused school closures across the country in March 2020, according to the National Home School Association, based in Colorado.

The number of children being taught at home in the United States rose from between four and five million in 2019 to almost 10 million last year, the NHSA estimates.

Nearly 51 million students, from kindergarteners to 12th graders, were supposed to have gone to public schools after the summer of 2020, but most schools opted for online instruction instead.

Strokes, 37, who works part-time, made her decision in July, when school officials in Fredericksburg, Virginia were still undecided on how to start classes the following month.

More than fear of Covid-19, it was this uncertainty that pushed her into homeschooling.

"Like most people with a part-time job, I had to know what day my kids would go to school, but they kept canceling school at the last minute, lengthening break or going all virtual, it was this instability for me and my daughter," she told AFP.

Isabelle, aged seven and in second grade, therefore joined her big brother Aidan, 10 and in the fifth grade, who had already been studying at home for more than a year with his mother, a member of the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers.

Many parents do not want their children to spend the day staring at a screen, believing it is bad for their health, or find it too difficult to supervise online courses, Andrea Cubelo-McKay, president of Virginia Homeschoolers, told AFP.

Some religious communities also educate their children at home.

This type of instruction affords a certain "flexibility," said Strokes.

"I decide when school starts, when our day is done, I decide when we take a break," she said.

She takes on all subjects on the curriculum -- reading, writing, science and math -- so that Isabelle doesn't fall behind her in-school classmates, but she does concentrate on what she considers most important.

- A 'challenge' -

But NHSA President J. Allen Weston said the transition can be "a challenge" for children used to traditional school.

There is a "huge difference" between home instruction and virtual lessons, he told AFP.

It is also difficult for parents who must juggle their job and their role as teacher, while lacking benchmarks for performance, said Cubelo-McKay.

"Every day is different and challenging," said Strokes. "One will have a good day while the other... may or may not be cooperative, some subjects are harder to teach than others."

A massive campaign to vaccinate teachers is underway in the United States, which should make it possible to safely reopen schools.

The cities of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with the three largest school districts in the country, have plans to gradually reopen, but some parents are reluctant to put their children back in school next year.

"For next year I really don't know, it will depend on how the school handles the fall, the sanitary measures, and how they make up for lost learning for virtual students," said Amber Lancaster, the mother of a third-grader who has been homeschooling in Richmond, Virginia, since September.

She said her son gives her a "nine out of 10" for this year, even though he misses class discussions with his friends.

Currently unemployed, Lancaster is ready to carry on homeschooling for another year. "I'm not opposed to one more year of homeschooling, it will be third grade, not too complicated," she said.

According to the Urban Institute think tank, local authorities fear a drop in the number of students, believing that homeschooling is not a substitute for classroom education.

This youthful brain drain from schools could also affect the funding allocated to school districts, which is calculated each year in part based on enrollment numbers.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 08:21:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Net inflows to global gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) amounted to 13.8 tonnes in January, data from the World Gold Council (WGC) showed.

The figure brought total global holdings of gold ETFs to 3,765 tonnes (equivalent to around 226 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of last month, according to the WGC.

Holdings of gold ETFs listed in Europe saw an increase of 17.5 tonnes in January, while those listed in North America decreased by 6.3 tonnes.

Since their debut in 2003, gold ETFs and similar products have accounted for a significant part of the gold market, with growing acceptance among both institutional and individual investors.

Demand for gold investment through gold ETFs remains strong, according to analysts. Enditem
The Stamford Fire Department is celebrating the life of a retired firefighter who recently died.

Captain Donald Corrigan, 70, served the Stamford department for 38 years and retired in 2016. Corrigan died in his home on Feb.9.

Corrigan  a Stamford native  is survived by his wife, Ester, his stepchildren and son-in-law.

Captain Philip Hayes wrote about Corrigans impact in a post on the departments website. He said Corrigan touched countless lives and will forever be remembered for his compassion and relentless drive to make a difference for others.

His infectious personality and tireless work ethic quickly made him a favorite among his peers, Hayes said.

Fellow firefighters knew Corrigan for his loyalty to his family and the community, according to Hayes. Corrigans integrity and motivation inspired others in his love of firefighting, the post said.

Hayes said despite the risks accompanying the firefighter role, Corrigan loved helping people and could not see himself doing anything else.

Deputy Chief Matt Palmer worked with Corrigan for 21 years. Palmer described Corrigan as a base of institutional knowledge from who he learned a lot from in the 21 years he spent working alongside him.

He was a really decent human being, Palmer said.

Members of the department are hosting a private gathering to commemorate Corrigans life at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, Corrigans family said donations can be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in his name.
Axios

At least two were killed, and 20 to 25 others injured, when three people got out of an SUV carrying assault rifles and handguns and started "shooting indiscriminately into the crowd" outside a concert in Miami early Sunday, according to a police statement and the Miami Herald. Why it matters: It's the second shooting during Memorial Day Weekend in Miami this year  seven people were shot, with one of them dying, in the city on Friday night. The killings come as the country has experienced a spate of mass gun violence during 2021. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Details: Investigators with the police's homicide bureau are looking for the perpetrators in the Sunday morning shooting. Police say they got back into the SUV  a white Nissan Pathfinder  and fled the scene. Eight of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward. Twelve other victims "were self transported" to hospitals in the area, per the statement. One of the victims was in critical condition.What he's saying: This type of gun violence has to stop, said Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, per the Herald. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted, this is definitely not random.I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Editor's note: This post is being updated as further details are revealed.More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free
Each time I step away from my laptop after watching a video showing a Black person assaulting or robbing an elderly Asian person, Im left with a sense of dread.

The reality is horrifying. More than 30 violent crimes have befallen Bay Area residents of Asian descent this year. This is a community that has long felt unseen and ignored. A handful of these terrible incidents have turned into viral videos, all with Black aggressors.

As a Black man in America, Im familiar with how easy it is to have a narrative twisted against me based on a few anecdotes and scant data. I know that other communities of color are, too. The illegal Mexican immigrant. The model Asian trope. The marauding Black criminal. These are the stereotypes that reduce, discredit and pit marginalized communities against each other when we should be lifting each other up.

I dont want this to happen in the Bay Area. Not now, not after all our communities accomplished during last years reckoning on race and justice. But, as much as I want to shoehorn this dialogue to its evolved conclusion, I know the timing isnt right. Not yet. Now is the time to simply hear the pain.

I was reminded of this in my conversation with Clarence Kwan, who writes the anti-racist zine Chinese Protest Recipes and is a longtime ally of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the same way that, in Black Lives Matter, we were told to listen to Black people, listen to Black leaders, listen to Black women, in our fit of rage right now, the best thing people can do is listen to us, Kwan told me. If were willing to listen to each other, then thats the best way we can figure this moment out and how to move forward.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2020

Letting our Asian neighbors figure out their moment will lead where we need to go: to a nuanced dialogue about anti-Asian racism that isnt anti-Black. Or so hopes state Assembly member Alex Lee, D-San Jose, who, at 25, is Californias youngest Asian American lawmaker.

There are people who jump to the conclusion that because a Black person did (the crime), then all Black people must hate Asian people. Thats such a slippery slope that I just dont condone, he said. It is completely valid for people to feel upset ... to feel afraid and that is OK. But I believe from what Ive seen that whats happening are symptoms of larger issues.

Some of these larger issues involve the increased pressures that communities of color are under during the pandemic, but also the parallel trials that they endured fighting for rights in this nation of ours.

Black people understood the pain Asian Americans endured as immigrant laborers in the 19th century, and the racial violence they were subjected to through the racist Yellow Peril lens. Frederick Douglass denounced the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. A century later, Asian and Black folks marched together during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, including on the UC Berkeley campus. It was two UC Berkeley students  Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee  who, inspired by the Black Power movement, coined the term Asian American.

This kinship permeated the childhood of Margaretta Lin, executive director of the Just Cities/Dellums Institute, a social justice group in Oakland. I came to this country in 1968 after the Chinese Exclusion Act was lifted and the vestiges were finally removed, she told me. Growing up in Philadelphia, we experienced a lot of hate crimes and racial bullying. But the people who came to my to rescue as a 4-year-old were my Black neighbors.  I saw my Black neighbors as people who were safe, the people I could turn to when I was in trouble.

In that same spirit of solidarity, Black community leaders started a fundraiser this month for the Asian residents who were victims of violent crimes. The fundraisers goal was $3,000. In only a few days, it raised more than $15,000. The money will be divided among several organizations, including the Asian Health Center in Oakland and the Vietnamese Health Center in San Francisco, according to the fundraisers organizers.

The Bay Area knows how to have this conversation. It knows what to do next.

But the dread is still there. It flickers with every email that asks me to explain why all Black people are targeting all Asian people, or claiming that the region is only dangerous because of the crimes committed by people who look like me.

I wrestle with that dread, even as I trust my Asian neighbors and allies to steer us away from it. And so Im listening  and waiting to hear how I can help.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Chandigarh: In a controversial remark over farmers' death at various protest sites, Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal on Saturday said they would have died even if they had stayed back home.

Dalal made the remark in Bhiwani in response to a reporter's query over the death of 200 farmers. Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also, Dalal said.

Listen to me, out of one to two lakh, do not 200 people die in six months? he asked in response.

Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill, he added.

Several Punjab and Haryana farmers, participating in farmers' agitation against the Centre's three farm laws at various Delhi border points, have died of different reasons including cardiac arrest.

Hours after making the statement, the Haryana agriculture minister said he has seen twisted statements, attributed to him, on social media.

He said wrong meaning was given to his statements.

If anybody is hurt by it, I tender my apology, he said, adding he would continue to work for farmers' welfare.

He said it is painful if anyone dies.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala attacked Dalal over his remarks and said such a statement can only be made by an insensitive person.

These words can only be used by an insensitive man for agitating 'annadatas', said Surjewala in a tweet.

Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja too slammed Dalal for his statement.

This reaction and laughter of the Haryana agriculture minister on the sacrifice of our farmer brothers are very sad, she said in a tweet.

Punjab Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka also demanded Dalal's ouster from the Haryana Cabinet over huis insensitive remarks.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have been expressing fear that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporate houses.

The Centre, however, has been insisting that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Sunday (February 14, 2021) to lay the foundation stone of several projects in the state.

The Prime Ministers Office on Saturday morning revealed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several key projects and hand over the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Army, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

The Prime Minister will hand over the state-of-the-art Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the army. The Arjun battle tank has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by CVRDE, DRDO along with 15 academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs. According to information, 118 Arjun tanks are to join the army.

The Defence Ministry has approved the induction of all the 118 Arjun tanks, priced at Rs 8400 crore.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, a 9.05 km long extension that will link North Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station and was completed at a cost of Rs 3770 crore.

PM Modi will also inaugurate the fourth Railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu, 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of Rs.293.40 crore. This project connects Chennai Port and Ennore Port.

Followed by inauguration of the Railway Electrification of single line section in Villupuram - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthurai - Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur, 228 km route completed at a cost of Rs. 423 crore.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System and Discovery Campus of IIT Madras, which were completed at a cost of Rs 2,640 and Rs. 1000 crore respectively.

After Tamil Nadu, the PM Modi will visit Kochi to lay the foundation stone and dedicate various projects to the nation, including International Cruise Terminal Sagarika at Cochin Port, Ro-Ro Vessels at Willingdon Islands and Marine Engineering Training Institute in Vigyana Sagar.

"These projects will add crucial momentum to the growth trajectory of these states and help hasten the pace of realizing full development potential," said PMO.

Live TV

About one in three brumbies trapped as part of the Berejiklian governments plan to cut feral horse numbers in the Kosciuszko National Park is being released rather than rehomed because of animal welfare issues.

The data, supplied by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, comes as the government prepares a new horse plan for comment. NSWs economy could be $50 million better off annually if numbers dropped, a report commissioned by the Invasive Species Council says.

A mob of brumbies near Kiandra, one of the sensitive regions in the high plains of the Kosciuszko National Park. Credit:Nick Moir

The NPWS figures show trapping and removal of horses during 2020-21 were already the most in six years, with 382 animals trapped since July. However, another 192 horses were released.

Heavily pregnant mares and mares with foals at foot are released from the trap yards and are not transported off-site, a NPWS spokesman said.
In a major development, a dreaded terror plot has been averted in the Kashmir valley. As India remembers 40 martyred Bravehearts on the second anniversary of Pulwama attack, Jammu & Kashmir police have found 7 kgs of IED (Improvised Explosive Device) near a bus stand in Jammu.

J&K police forces have managed to recover 7 kgs of explosives from the general bus stand area of Jammu. Also, in the last 7 days, two terrorists have been arrested by the various agencies including Anantnag police, which carried out two intel operations in which Hidayatullah Malik & Zahoor Ahmad Rather were arrested. After their arrest and now the recovery of 7kg explosive, it is thought that a major terrorist attack was being planned to coincide with the second Pulwama anniversary.

The security forces and J&K police have increased the security in the valley and issued an alert. Major search operations have been launched to nab the accused who plotted the explosives in a highly-populated area.

READ | J&K Police Nab Wanted Terrorist Zahoor Ahmad In Samba; DGP Calls Op 'Big Success'

J&K Police Nabs 2 terrorist

On February 6, the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) arrested the chief of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Mustafa which is a front organisation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Kashmir valley. Hidayatullah Malik, the terrorist, was arrested from Kunjwani area in Jammu as the forces traced the car he was travelling in. The Kunjwani area is said to be a busy area. The terrorist was nabbed by forces after he tried to attack the Jammu and Kashmir SHO.

J&K police arrested Zahoor Ahmad Rather a terrorist affiliated with TRF (The Resistance Force) from Samba on Friday night. As per sources, top Intelligence officials were on his target. He is accused of killing one Police personnel in Furrah, Kulgam and three BJP workers Fida Hussain Yatoo, Umer Rashid Beigh and Umer Ramzan Hajam, at YK Pora in Kulgam last year.

READ | J&K Police Nabs JeM Terrorist Hidayatullah Malik, Multiple Raids To Follow After Probe

Pulwama Terror Attack: A black day for India

Two years ago on February 14, 2019, 40 Indian soldiers were martyred in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. After the deadly attack, a Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had claimed responsibility for this terror attack. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The attack, which was reported near Awantipora at nearly 3:15 pm resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans, while many others were left injured.

READ | US Intends To Revoke Terrorist Designation Of Yemen's Houthis

READ | Top Ministers Pay Tribute To Pulwama Martyrs On Second Anniversary Of Terrorist Attack
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. said he found Donald Trump guilty in the impeachment trial because the former presidents actions in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol demanded conviction.

Casey, a Democrat from Scranton, issued a statement Saturday night explaining his vote and said Trumps intentions to disrupt the election of President Joe Biden were clear. Casey and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., both voted to convict Trump.

In his statement, Casey said Trump summoned his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 for one more attack on American democracy.

He invited them. He incited them. And he directed them to the Capitol to prevent Congress from conducting its constitutional obligation to count the presidential electoral votes, Casey said in his statement.

The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump but a majority of senators voted 57-43 to convict the former president for insurrection in the deadly invasion of the U.S. Capitol. A guilty verdict requires the vote of two-thirds of the Senate. Toomey was one of seven Republican senators to find Trump guilty.

Despite the acquittal of Trump, Casey hailed it as the most bipartisan presidential impeachment proceedings in our nations history.

Casey, Pennsylvanias senior senator, had been expected to vote to convict Trump. Earlier Saturday, he put a video on Twitter explaining that he didnt think the argument from Trumps defense lawyers was particularly effective or focused on the facts of the Capitol riot.

As we enter the final stages of the trial, my thoughts on the defenses argument, fight song, and the most chilling evidence Ive seen: pic.twitter.com/Yf06qKcl2x  Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 13, 2021

In his statement, Casey argued that House mangers presented a compelling case for Trumps conviction.

Casey said Trump acted deliberately by firing up his supporters in his Jan. 6 rally in front of the White House and repeating false claims about the election being rigged. House managers, including U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Montgomery County Democrat, argued Trump ignored warnings that some were coming to Washington that day with weapons and intentions of violence.

There is no way that a reasonable person could dispute that the former President knew exactly what he was doing, Casey said in his statement.

Casey argued Trump bears responsibility for an attack that led to at least five deaths in the Capitol and injuries to nearly 140 members of law enforcement. The senator said Trump endangered the lives of former Vice President Mike Pence, members of Congress and legislative staffers.

He put a target on the back of his own Vice President and his Vice Presidents family, Casey said in his statement. And he has shown no remorse for any of it.

Trumps defense attorneys argued that it was inappropriate for Congress to proceed with an impeachment proceeding against Trump now that he is no longer president.

Michael van der Veen, one of the attorneys defending Trump, said in his closing arguments Saturday the impeachment process has been driven by an overwhelming desire to attack the former president. He said the impeachment trial represents simply the latest in a series of attacks from Democrats who opposed his presidency.

This impeachment has been a charade from beginning to end, he said.

In a news conference Saturday afternoon, Toomey said it is clear that Congress has the constitutional authority to impeach and try a former president. As a result of President Trumps actions, for the first time in American history, the transfer of presidential power was not peaceful, Toomey said.

His betrayal of the constitution and his oath of office requires conviction, Toomey said Saturday.

Casey has said the impeachment trial wasnt about punishing Trump but about protecting the republic.

The former President attacked the foundational principles of our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power, Casey said in his statement. He violated his oath of office and he committed a high crime against our Constitution.
Sean Carroll first made headlines in March last year, when he announced his decision to sue the DMV over a recall of his vanity plate  the same plate the DMV had signed off on more than half a year earlier and that read FKGAS. All of a sudden, DMV Rhode Island wanted the plate recalled, after one complaint lodged against it.You wouldnt be wrong to assume the recall was for hinting at an all too-common F-word used in heavy traffic. Still, Carroll insisted that, while he welcomed the comparison, the plate actually stood for something else: it was a joke between himself and his daughter, who said electric vehicles, such as their new Model 3 , ran on fake gas. The vanity plate was their way of telling the world that the future was electric.Carroll challenged the DMV decision in court and, in October last year, was granted a preliminary injunction . A judge has ruled now that he will get to keep the vanity plate, as banning it would have been a violation of his freedom of speech, The Providence Journal reports.In trying to ban it, the DMV had invoked a state law that gives it authority to deny plates that might carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency. The intention behind FKGAS might have been a noble one, but it lent itself to an obscene interpretation.Attorneys for Carroll argued that no one should be held accountable for other peoples interpretations. At the same time, they highlighted how arbitrarily the DMV applied the state law, banning CHUBBY vanity plates but allowing FATTY, or denying DRUNK and ok-ing TIPSY.In the end, Carroll and his attorney declared themselves satisfied with the ruling, which also grants Carroll attorney fees. His Model 3 will continue with the same vanity plate it has had for the past year and a half, getting smiles, nods and waves from drivers in traffic  and the occasional evil eye for those easier to offend.FKGAS is a winner and a freedom champion, after all.
They're the Byron Bay golden couple who tied the knot back in 2010.

And Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are clearly still as loved-up as ever over a decade on, as the Thor star paid tribute to his beautiful wife to celebrate Valentine's Day on Sunday.

The 37-year-old shared a goofy unseen snap of the duo to mark the occasion, with Elsa seen cheekily sticking her tongue out while blue-eyed Chris beamed beside her.

So cute: On Sunday, Chris Hemsworth shared a sweet Valentine's Day tribute to his wife Elsa Pataky, with an unseen image of the pair

The hunky actor simply captioned the photo with two love-heart emojis.

Chris has been busy filming scenes for Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney in recent weeks, but in December he celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the Spanish model by sharing an adorable photo montage of the pair.

Among the gallery were images of the couple's early days together, and some of the holidays they've enjoyed around the world.

Loved-up more than ever! Chris said he's 'looking forward' to 'a couple hundred more' anniversaries with his wife in a sweet Instagram post in December. The celebrity power couple were celebrating 10 years of marriage

One throwback photo showed the Madrid-born actress, 44, beaming as she carried their three young children - India Rose, now eight, and their six-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan.

The Marvel Universe titan wrote alongside the images: '10 years together! 'Looking forward to the advancements of modern medicine and science and enjoying a couple hundred more!'

Elsa also shared an Instagram post to celebrate the couple's momentous occasion.

In one image, Elsa showed herself surrounded by pictures of the couple together, scattered around her living room floor.

Babies on board: One throwback photo showed the Madrid-born actress beaming as she carried their three young children - India Rose, now eight, and their six-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan [all pictured]

Travel buddies: Among the gallery were images of the couple's early days together, and some of the holidays they've enjoyed around the world

The Fast and Furious star wrote in the caption of her post: 'Going through ten years of photographs was almost as fun as the real thing!

'Here's to many more years of wonderful times, love you always and forever @chrishemsworth,' she added, as she thanked Frida's Field restaurant for their anniversary dinner.

Chris and Elsa met in early 2010 and married shortly after in December that year.

They welcomed daughter India Rose in 2012 and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, later in 2014.
Nigerians on social media are calling for an end to killings and civil disturbances, following reports of another inter-ethnic violence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Ibadan crisis began on Thursday when a cart pusher stabbed a cobbler with a knife, following a misunderstanding between the two.

Fight broke out between cart pushers and cobblers after the victim was confirmed dead in a hospital on Friday morning, as the cobblers vowed to avenge the death of their colleague.

Shops and houses were burnt in the ensuing disturbance which degenerated into an inter-ethnic clash with reports of hoodlums attacking themselves along ethnic lines.

According to reports, at least three persons were feared dead and seven trucks burnt in the clashes.

Governor Seyi Makinde ordered the closure of the market and declared a 6 p.m. to 7 a.m curfew in the area.

His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area.

The governor has also approved the imposition of (a) curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.

Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law, the statement issued by his spokesperson read.

#StopKillingNortherners

The latest inter-ethnic violence drew reactions from Nigerians on social media.

This made the hashtag, #StopKillingNortherners, trend on Twitter with over 90,000 tweets as of Sunday morning.

Most of the tweets were from people preaching peace among the Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups.

Some others also called on the authorities to be proactive, warning that the incident in Oyo can ignite violence in other parts of the country.

@Waspapping: Yoruba people need to call their people in Oyo state to order. Ethnic cleansing of Hausa people in that state does no one good. Call them to order before it escalates further #StopKillingNortherners

Yoruba people need to call their people in Oyo state to order. Ethnic cleansing of Hausa people in that state does no one good. Call them to order before it escalates further #StopKillingNortherners  Sarki. (@Waspapping_) February 13, 2021

@al_shekarau: The moment Northerners start retaliating about the ongoing killings, burning of properties and chasing Hausas peoples from their houses that Yorubas are currently doing in Oyo state Nigeria will be destroyed, but they dont want that, theyve chosen peace #StopKillingNortherners

The moment Northerners start retaliating about the ongoing killings, burning of properties and chasing Hausas peoples from their houses that Yorubas are currently doing in Oyo state Nigeria will be destroyed, but they don't want that, they've chosen peace #StopKillingNortherners  Hustler (@al_shekarau_) February 13, 2021

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@Mareeyarhh: Dont say you gonna retaliate and destroy Yorubas property cus of what happened in Oyo state ,the northerners greatest virtue is humility and humanity, bad governance affects us all #EndSARS and pls #StopKillingNortherners 

We should all advocate peace and not tribalism

Don't say you gonna retaliate and destroy Yorubas property cus of what happened in Oyo state ,the northerners greatest virtue is humility and humanity, bad governance affects us all #EndSARS and pls #StopKillingNortherners  We should all advocate peace and not tribalism  QUEEN IN THE NORTHHH (@Mareeyarhh) February 13, 2021

@Al_ameen_Yabo: Dear my Hausa people.

Remember that our religion didnt encourage retaliation on people that know nothing or has nothing to do with what happened somewhere, dont engage in destroying yorubas properties and businesses, our religion didnt encourage that.

#StopKillingNortherners

Dear my Hausa people. Remember that our religion didnt encourage retaliation on people that know nothing or has nothing to do with what happened somewhere, dont engage in destroying yorubas properties and businesses, our religion didnt encourage that.#StopKillingNortherners  Al'ameen (@Al_ameen_Yabo) February 13, 2021

@MFaarees_: Dear Northern governors, this is the right time to meet and call on Buhari and Oyo State governor to stop the killings of innocent Hausa people in Ibadan, its time to take actions, dont let them push us to where we all dont want to be. #StopKillingNortherners

Dear Northern governors, this is the right time to meet and call on Buhari and Oyo State governor to stop the killings of innocent Hausa people in Ibadan, it's time to take actions, don't let them push us to where we all don't want to be. #StopKillingNortherners  F A A R E E S   (@MFaarees_) February 13, 2021

@Adaugetsoo: We just want a Nigeria where every citizen will live in whichever part of it he wills without having fear of being attacked or killed. #StopKillingNortherners in the southern part of Nigeria.

We just want a Nigeria where every citizen will live in whichever part of it he wills without having fear of being attacked or killed. #StopKillingNortherners in the southern part of Nigeria.   GTS (@Adaugetsoo) February 13, 2021

@moderate_ustaz: Killing the hausas in oyo will bring nothing but hate for the yorubas in north, and if the hausas are to start retaliating?believe me the safety of the entire country will be at risk, we dont take laws at our hands, but we are force to do so? Shi kenan 

#StopKillingNortherners

Killing the hausas in oyo will bring nothing but hate for the yorubas in north, and if the hausas are to start retaliating?believe me the safety of the entire country will be at risk, we don't take laws at our hands, but we are force to do so? Shi kenan #StopKillingNortherners  Moderate Ustaz (@moderate_ustaz) February 13, 2021

@Shariif_mahmud: We have to come to our right senses, some people are still wallowing in the drastic damage cased by the previous protest, Im of the view that some people are fueling this protest with political ambition underground. #StopKillingNortherners

We have to come to our right senses, some people are still wallowing in the drastic damage cased by the previous protest, I'm of the view that some people are fueling this protest with political ambition underground. #StopKillingNortherners  Agwai (@Shariif_mahmud) February 13, 2021

@hajjahaauwa: Do you know that Northerners in Oyo and other parts of this country are being denied their right to property, right to freedom from discrimination, right to freedom of movement, right to dignity of human person and even their right to life???#StopKillingNortherners

Do you know that Northerners in Oyo and other parts of this country are being denied their right to property, right to freedom from discrimination, right to freedom of movement, right to dignity of human person and even their right to life???#StopKillingNortherners  Aunty Hauwa (@hajjahaauwa) February 13, 2021

@Ladyposhhhhh: Every tribe has a place they call home and every tribe is in other tribes domain. #StopKillingNortherners

Every tribe has a place they call home and every tribe is in other tribes domain. #StopKillingNortherners  Ummita (@Ladyposhhhhh) February 13, 2021
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam addresses the meeting (Photo: VGP)

He said at an online meeting between the committee and leaders of HCM City, Hai Duong, Hanoi and Quang Ninh on February 13.







Reviewing COVID-19 prevention and control in 13 localities reporting community cases of COVID-19, he affirmed they have controlled the situation. All new COVID-19 cases were recorded in quarantine facilities, posing no risk of community transmission, he said, while urging people to stay vigilant, according to the Vietnam News Agency.





The Health Ministry urges people to strictly follow the 5K principle to stop the spread of the pandemic, particularly during the ongoing Lunar New Year festival, the most important festival in a year for Vietnamese. The 5K principle means Khau trang (Facemask)  Khu khuan (Disinfection)  Khoang cach (Keeping distance)  Khong tap trung dong nguoi (No gathering)  Khai bao y te (Medical declaration)./.
Police set up a checkpoint on Putney Bridge in west London to target Covid rule breakers as well as motorists driving without tax or insurance.

Hundreds of cars were stopped during the exercise in the capital today, which saw officers pulling over cars for questioning.

The police checkpoint was also set up to catch those driving with no insurance or committing other motoring offences as well as spotting potential lockdown flouters.

Hundreds of cars were pulled over during the Metropolitan Police operation today on Putney Bridge, west London (pictured)

Officers asked cars to pull over into the coned-off area and asked them a series of questions through the passenger-side window (pictured)

Several officers were seen stopping cars and other vehicles making their way over the bridge towards Chelsea, asking them to pull into a coned-off area.

The group of around 25 police officers used ANPR during the routine exercise, pulling cars over and speaking to drivers through the window.

During the operation, which started at around 9am and continued into the afternoon, the police questioned who people were travelling with to assess whether they were breaching coronavirus restrictions.

As a result of the operation, three uninsured cars were seized from drivers and nine traffic tickets were issued.

As a result of the routine exercise (pictured), which targeted motoring offences, police issued nine traffic tickets and seized three cars

During the exercise (pictured) police also issued one Fixed Penalty Notice for a Covid-19 lockdown breach, but details of the rule break have not been released

One unlucky driver lost a vehicle registered on the Isle of Man for what is suspected to have no insurance.

One Fixed Penalty Notice was also issued by officers relating to a breach of coronavirus lockdown laws.

Details regarding this breach have not been released.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers from the Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary conducted an ANPR operation on Sunday, 14 February in Putney SW6.

'Vehicles were stopped under Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act.

'Three uninsured vehicles were seized. Nine Traffic Offence Reports (TOR) and one Fixed Penalty Notice was issued.'
Highlights Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 source code were stolen in a ransomware attack.

When CD Projekt Red refused to pay the ransom the hackers auctioned the source code files on the dark web.

It is still unclear who the buyer is or what they intend to do with the files.

The auction was held on a popular hacking forum on the dark web, and the bidding started at $1 million, according to Vx-underground. The auction concluded shortly after, once hackers received a satisfying bid, per KELA Research.

CD Projekt Red the developer behind the much-touted game Cyberpunk 2077 was speciously hacked and massive sensitive data were stolen. This after a catastrophic release of the continuously delayed Cyberpunk 2077 earlier. Hacked data include the source code for games like Cyberpunk and it's another popular franchise, The Witcher.

One of the threats from hackers was that if CD Projekt Red did not give them money, they would make public the information they had stolen, including the source codes of their current games. This means that many people could start creating games that are identical to Cyberpunk 2077 to try to scam the Internet.

The company immediately made it known that they had no intention of negotiating with the people who attacked them and in response to this, the hackers decided to sell the source codes of the aforementioned titles on the black market, that is, the Dark Web.

The Dark Web Monitoring Organization KELA reports that an auction set up to sell the files has now closed after a "successful bid" was made from outside the forum it was being held on. That offer reportedly stipulates that the code will no longer be distributed or sold. The cybersecurity account vx-underground also reported that they had heard that the sale was completed.

Just in: #CDProjektRed AUCTION IS CLOSED. #Hackers auctioned off stolen source code for the #RedEngine and #CDPR game releases, and have just announced that a satisfying offer from outside the forum was received, with the condition of no further distribution or selling. pic.twitter.com/4Z2zoZlkV6  KELA (@Intel_by_KELA) February 11, 2021

Speaking to IGN, Victoria Kivilevich, KELA's Threat Intelligence Analyst, explained that it appears that all the stolen files, which include the source code for Cyberpunk 2077, multiple versions of The Witcher 3, and Gwent, were sold in one package. It is still unclear who the buyer is or what they intend to do with the files as of this writing.

While not yet confirmed, several cybersecurity experts have pointed out that the ransomware attack came from a group called HelloKitty, based on the title and content of the ransom note released by CD Projekt after the attack.
I thought my interview with Pinnacles National Parks condor program manager, Alacia Welch, was going to be about how the critically endangered birds have coped after Big Surs Dolan Fire. And we did talk about that. But then condor breeding season  which is now  came up, and I asked whether condors mate for life. Welchs answer was, um, surprising.

Not necessarily, she said. They do form long-term bonds where the pair will stick together, but we have seen divorce happen. We find a lot of parallels with human relationships  certain condors break up and we dont know why. Others are unsuccessful at raising chicks but they stick together. There are also some trios and things like that.

Trios? What! I am aware that the animal kingdom is promiscuous and that bonobos are swingers and all of that, but condor threesomes? That seemed new. And according to wildlife biologist Joe Burnett, it is.

In terms of science, were on a new frontier, says Burnett, who serves as the condor program manager with Ventana Wildlife Society. The society began releasing captive-bred condors in 1997 to restore the population along the Central California coast. In 2003, Pinnacles National Park created its condor recovery program, and the two units now work in conjunction to monitor the birds population growth, scavenging and success with nesting in the wild.

There wasnt much known about California condors  North Americas largest land birds  when they became extinct in the wild in the 1980s. Their entire population in captivity dropped to just 27. Prior to that, condors in the wild had not been marked, so researchers couldnt always tell which bird was which. Its quite possible there were trios before, says Welch, but no one really noticed. If you have two condors in a nest, and then you see a third, you wouldnt necessarily think it would be part of the nest. We presume theyd be nesting in pairs.

But by the late 2000s, as the breeding programs were becoming increasingly successful in California and every bird was tagged with a number, researchers began to notice that certain nests definitely contained three condors. The first condor trio was observed on the Big Sur coast, Burnett said.

Courtesy of Tim Huntington, Ventana Wildlife Society

We had a long-time pair, and the male was injured, he said. He had to go to captivity to recover. During that time, another male he had been battling with, 251, moved in on his female  222.

The researchers began referring to 251 as Crush, because the condor ladies definitely liked him, Burnett explains. And yes, this is exactly the kind of drama that Burnett and other researchers discuss for hours over beers. Keeping up with the condors is what Welch calls it.

Anyway, Crush, aka 251, didnt just move in on 222. He brought 306, another female, with him. After that, the three of them  306, 251 and 222  were regularly seen together. Biologists were baffled. Whats going on here? Is this unnatural? Is this other female disrupting the nesting effort? Burnett wondered at the time.

Because there were so few condors back then, the researchers were paranoid about anything that could hinder breeding efforts, he says. Plus, there was nothing in the literature about condors forming trios, he says. They decided to trap 306 and keep her away from the pair during the incubation period. Days went by, and they hoped shed give up what seemed like home-wrecking. Nope.

The minute we let her go, she went right back to the trio, they accepted her, and she helped raise the chicks, Burnett said.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The following year, the condor threesome remained together, and it was the younger female who produced an egg, which all three condors incubated, and all three helped raise the chick. Usually a condor pair nests just once every two years, but for this trio, there was a chick every year, which pleased the researchers.

There was a method to what we thought was madness, Burnett said. This is actually a pretty good formula.

Since then, another trio has formed on the coast. A male was injured and taken into captivity, and after he was released, he formed a throuple with his son and a female. Thats the funniest one to tell people, Burnett said. They go, what?

In fact, its been more common to see two male condors with a female than two females with a male, Welch explains. We think thats partly because if you have two females and one male, and both females lay eggs, the condors cant incubate both eggs successfully, she said. But with two males and one female, the trios can successfully share in the incubation, feeding and taking care of a chick.

Condor throuples arent just happening in Central California, Burnett said. Hes heard of trios in Arizona and Southern California. And although Californias condor populations have mixed periodically, it doesnt happen often, meaning that the formation of trios seems to be happening independently. Its something natural we didnt previously know about the species, he said.

Tim Huntington/Ventana Wildlife Society

At the moment, there are three known condor threesomes in Central California: 566 (male), 711 (male) and 725 (female) are together; 204 (male), 470 (male) and 646 (female) are a thing. And 692 (male), 726 (male) and 700 (female) share a nest.

Sadly, because so many condors have been dying of lead poisoning  by far the biggest threat to what would otherwise be a 50- or 60-year lifespan  its been difficult to observe trios over longer periods. Two of the condors in the original trio with Crush died of lead poisoning. Nine adults were also killed in the Dolan Fire, along with two chicks, which together made up about 10% of the regions condor population.

The condor programs continuously educate hunters and the public about the dangers of using lead bullets, which is illegal, and even give out free non-lead ammunition. But with ammunition in short supply because of the pandemic and transition of power, the biologists say, its been an uphill battle.

Its hard for the condor biologists each and every time a bird is lost, and the partner (or partners) must regroup and move on.

Ive known these condors since they were chicks; Ive seen them go through condor puberty to maturity to breeding, Burnett says. You cant help but think of them as your extended family.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Thunderstorms. High 63F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
BRIDGEPORT  Last summer Byron Bigelow and other protesters spent several days camped outside of police headquarters demanding public safety reforms.

Bigelow has gone from sitting in a tent to having a seat at the table as a member of a new public safety task force seeking practical ways of tackling what critics say is rampant racism and militarism within Bridgeports department, and of improving community relations.

Not every person is the same. Not everybody handles certain situations the same, Bigelow told his colleagues during a recent teleconference. But theres an extreme abuse of power when it comes to Bridgeport police. ... Ive experienced it myself. Ive witnessed people go through it. That badge and gun is like ... theyre unbeatable. They feel like theyre invincible.

Having been criticized for holding its initial handful of meetings in private last fall, the group, originally assembled by City Council President Aidee Nieves and Councilman Scott Burns, reconvened last week for its first public gathering.

In order to abide by state-required Freedom of Information Act transparency guidelines, the task force was recently formalized by Mayor Joe Ganim. And some new participants like Bigelow were added to address other concerns the original roster included too many government insiders.

Burns and Nieves had last year defended keeping the deliberations private because of the sensitive and controversial nature of their work. And on Thursday the pair asked participants to stay focused on collaborating and not take disagreements personally.

We cannot all see alike but we can all do good, Burns said. Lets work from the premise were here to do good and well make some progress.

Nieves cautioned, When we end these meetings its not to go on social media and blast each other. Its for us to have that hard conversation.

Besides the council, mayor's office and police department, some community organizations are represented, including ones that have been critical of policing in Bridgeport like the NAACP and the Generation Now civic group.

But perhaps more significant is the addition of Bigelow.

When Nieves and Burns first revealed the task forces work in December, one of the key organizers of last summers encampment, Justice for Jayson  founded after 15-year-old Jayson Negron was shot and killed by a Bridgeport cop in 2017  demanded to be included.

Nieves balked, arguing some of Negrons family had a pending federal lawsuit against the city over his death which could be a conflict of interest. She has also had a tense relationship with Justice for Jayson after members protested outside her home.

Bigelow, a young Black man in his late 20s whose online Facebook page identifies him as co-founder of Citizens Opposed to Police States, also had a prominent role in the days-long demonstration outside of police headquarters and was frequently quoted in local and statewide media coverage. And he told the task force that he is also a two-time felon.

Were trying to be inclusive, Burns said in an interview before Thursday's teleconference.

Bigelow drew praise from the police representative on the task force, Lt. Manny Cotto, for what Cotto described as Bigelows efforts to have real conversations with officers during the Bridgeport encampment and helping defuse some tense situations.

I wanted to publicly thank you for being a gentleman, Cotto said, adding: I wish we had more police officers who could sit down and have these conversations. But the reality is when you have 400 employees, youre going to have the gamut of everything.

Bigelow earlier in Thursdays discussion had said, Im a firm believer that all cops are not bad. But if you are complacent in not correcting the wrong around you, youre just as bad.

Daniel Cross is another young Black man introduced Thursday as a new task force participant. He is a member of Street Safe Bridgeport.

Its a group of mentors that have been through a lot of things in life and they try to help the young men in Bridgeport to make sure they dont make the same mistakes they did and also to get on track with their lives, Cross explained.

Later in the conversation Cross said more needs to be done in the city to build positive relationships between cops and residents: Theres no trust between the community and the police, and vice versa.

Nieves agreed, arguing that after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., policing across the nation became more militarized.

Besides the Negron shooting, the Bridgeport department has been buffeted by numerous scandals over the last few years involving excessive force, racism and internal strife. And last September then-Chief Armando Perez was arrested for cheating during the 2018 search that secured him that position and is awaiting sentencing.

Ganim as a result promoted Assistant Chief Rebeca Garcia to acting top cop.

Were working on cleaning up and trying to re-establish discipline in a place that may have ran rampant for a while, Cotto told the task force.

But, he added, Theres widespread and unfair belief all police officers are bad people and limited public awareness about police officers, what they face every day and how stressful the job is. Cotto said positive stories about the force are not highlighted (in the media) or communicated well.

The lieutenant also acknowledged the departments web page is terrible and said he is working to post more internal policies and crime statistics online: Our goal is to make it more citizen friendly. ... Were definitely behind the times.

The task force is also examining the amount of money spent on public safety in Bridgeport, and whether some of that could be shifted to other priorities such as education and counseling.

You wouldnt have a mailman come to do a police officers job, Cross said. I feel like officers shouldnt be doing things social workers are better prepared to do.

Burns, also co-chairman of the councils budget committee, said the police forces annual budget is too confusing, which leads to frustration and distrust. He noted how budget documents state the city spends over $100 million on public safety. Burns believes it is closer to $70 million, while Cotto Thursday insisted the more accurate number is $40 million.

I can tell you its gone down each year, probably going back the last three, four years, Cotto claimed.

If we dont have clarity on what were looking at, maybe we cant make the best decisions on how to best allocate our resources, Burns said.



If Donald Trumps team of Philadelphia lawyers thought theyd get a reputational bump from defending a former president on the biggest stage of their careers, it hasnt turned out that way.

They won his acquittal Saturday at his second impeachment trial. But the backlash could end up following them for years.

Members of the team described the five-day trial as a trying experience, from infighting between attorneys and second-guessing by Republican advisers in Washington, to derision hurled their way online and at their homes and offices.

Michael van der Veen hired 24-hour private security for his family after vandals smashed windows and spray-painted TRAITOR on the driveway of his suburban Philadelphia home Friday night. He told reporters Saturday he received more than 100 death threats.

And they acknowledged being caught off guard by the level of rancor from Trumps critics and supporters alike  even given the countrys fiercely divided politics and how other lawyers in his orbit have fared.

Ive been representing controversial clients for 30 years, and Ive never experienced this type of vitriol, said William J. Brennan, another local member of the team whose past clients include priests accused of sexual abuse and judges facing corruption charges. We had no political agenda here. We are not partisan warriors. We are criminal defense lawyers who represented a client.

Bruce L. Castor Jr., the former Montgomery County commissioner and district attorney, entered the week as the nominal leader of Trumps team  a high-profile job that had some back home wondering if it could bolster a future run for statewide office.

Instead, his rocky, rambling opening performance Tuesday drew his clients ire and turned him into an internet punchline.

Conservative TV hosts, like Fox News Laura Ingraham, called him terrible. Sean Hannity responded: Youre way too charitable.

Everything from his verbose delivery to his pin-striped suit became targets for social media mockery. Some used his performance to question the aptness of the term Philadelphia lawyer  a phrase inspired by Colonial-era attorney Andrew Hamilton that has long characterized an exceptionally shrewd attorney.

Van der Veen  the head of Castors law firm, who took over the defense presentation Friday after Castor was sidelined  fared little better.

He delivered a more combative, incendiary performance, attacking Democrats for hypocrisy and what he described as constitutional cancel culture. His style was reportedly more to his clients liking. But his testy, hectoring demeanor at the lectern turned him into a target, too.

On Saturday, a small group of protesters gathered outside his Center City law firm. They left VAN DER VEEN = LIAR scrawled in chalk on the street.

On Facebook, the firms page turned into a toxic stew of invective.

" Michael van der Veen is ranting on my television screen  the new shame of Philadelphia, one commenter wrote, as another added: This entire firm should be shut down and every single one of you should lose your license.

Even firms the attorneys left long ago werent spared. One of Castors old employers said his office was inundated with emails and phone calls for days from people around the country looking to roast Castor for either defending Trump in the first place  or for delivering a defense that Trump supporters deemed subpar.

The employer, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of further backlash, said he had to assure some clients that Castor is long gone to persuade them not to withdraw their business.

The overwhelming reaction might explain van der Veens puzzling comment on the Senate floor Friday night, when he bemoaned to a room full of lawmakers  who had been forced to flee for their lives from an angry mob on Jan. 6  that the trial had been the most miserable experience Ive had here down in Washington, D.C.

Or the ire with which he responded Saturday to debate over whether to call witnesses, demanding that if Democrats were going to depose key figures, he wanted to question at least 100 people  including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris  at his office in Philly-delphia.

That suggestion  along with his singular pronunciation of the city from which he hails  drew bipartisan guffaws.

I dont know why youre laughing, van der Veen shouted at senators. This is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it.

The belief that this case  which is as much a political proceeding as a legal one  should play out like a bigger version of the criminal and civil trials theyve handled in Philadelphia courtrooms for years may explain their apparent unpreparedness for the magnitude of the reaction.

None of them came to Trumps trial with significant political experience in Washington or a deep background in constitutional scholarship. Castor and van der Veens firm is primarily focused on personal injury and criminal defense cases.

In the courts where those cases are tried, clients come and go. Trial lawyers endorse positions often abandoned as soon as the final banging of the gavel.

Van der Veen, for instance, sued Trump on behalf of a client last year and argued he was seeking to suppress Democratic votes, before taking on the former presidents impeachment case.

We would have put the same effort into this trial whether the clients name was Donald Trump or Donald Duck, said Brennan. This was about constitutionally guaranteed representation for a defendant who has a right to counsel and nothing more.

But impeachment is not like any other trial. Trump was not just any other client. And this was not just any other case.

The question now facing his attorneys is will the rest of the world allow them to forget it?

Van der Veen appeared ready to push those thoughts off to the future as he basked in his victory Saturday while boarding a subway cart in the basement of the Capitol with the rest of the team.

He fist-bumped a colleague with a wide smile and quipped: Were going to Disney World!

Jennifer Dorsey is chief copy editor and Business section coordinator. She worked in Washington, D.C., and Chicago before moving to the Tetons.
An assistant garda commissioner is overseeing preliminary inquiries into a complaint over Tanaiste Leo Varadkar's leaking of confidential Government documents to a friend.

Assistant commissioner John O'Driscoll, who oversees special crime operations, has ordered an extensive review of the complaint.

The official complaint centres on Mr Varadkar's leaking of a confidential copy of the proposed new GP contract to Maitiu O Tuathail in April 2019.

Two well-placed sources in garda headquarters last night said the force had not launched a full investigation into the matter, but that the complaint was being examined at a preliminary stage.

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It is understood the complaint was initially sent to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, but it was not deemed suitable for this unit and was forwarded to the assistant commissioner, who heads the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Officers are looking into whether the leak could be investigated under a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

In a statement yesterday, garda headquarters said: "An Garda Siochana has received correspondence which is currently being assessed to determine what if any garda action is required.

"An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time."

Mr Varadkar apologised in the Dail last November after it emerged he provided a confidential copy of the proposed new GP contract to his friend Dr O Tuathail.

The document, which was marked confidential, had been agreed between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Government.

The Tanaiste's spokesman did not respond to multiple requests for comment yesterday on whether Mr Varadkar was aware the complaint was being examined by An Garda Siochana.

The Taoiseach's spokesman said last night: "The Government can't comment on matters currently being investigated by the Garda."
Giant-killer Jessica Pegula got in first, even before she knew for sure that fellow American Jennifer Brady would be her quarter-final opponent at the Australian Open.

"See u next rnd Jen B," the world No.61 scrawled on the lens of the courtside television camera after upsetting Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the fourth round at Melbourne Park on Monday.

Brady duly upheld her end of the bargain with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Croatian No.28 seed Donna Vekic.

"Bring it Jess," wrote Brady in response on the very same Rod Laver Arena camera.

Having made a breakthrough run to the semi-finals of last year's US Open, Brady's appearance in the final eight in Melbourne was not wholly unexpected - despite the 22nd seed's two-week stint in hard quarantine on arrival to Australia last month.

But the same could hardly be said for the late-blooming Pegula, whose career grand-slam win-loss mark before this tournament was a distinctly underwhelming 3-8.

That record is looking a lot healthier now.

Pegula's scalps at Melbourne Park this year include grand slam winners Victoria Azarenka and Samantha Stosur, and now Svitolina, who has often been saddled with the unofficial tag of' "best female player yet to win a major".

Now she gets to square off against her Fed Cup teammate Brady, who Pegula describes as "an awesome person".

"It would be super-fun to see," said the 26-year-old Pegula.

"We've all been pushing each other.

"Why not push each other into a quarter-final, then one of us be in the semis?

"That's what we're here to do.

"We're here to have fun and compete.

"If I can do it against somebody that I like, that I wouldn't mind if they beat me.

"Hopefully not. But if they did, why not?"

Brady is the only player among the group of 72 forced to endure a 14-day heavy lockdown on arrival in Melbourne to progress to the quarter-finals.

"A lot of people were complaining and I told myself I wasn't going to complain," she said.

"There are way worse things going on in the world than me being stuck in a hotel room for 14 days."

Vekic needed medical treatment on her heavily-strapped right knee early in the second set against Brady.

But she ploughed on and still gave Brady a few anxious moments before the big-serving American steadied to book her spot in the last eight and a date with Pegula.

"I'm super-excited for her making her first grand slam quarter-final," said the 25-year-old.

"The emotions that she's feeling; you feel like you're on cloud nine.

"We've played before and we know each other so well.

"I'm really looking forward to it and it will be a lot of fun.

"Everyone back home in America will be watching."
SRINAGAR : National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed that he and his family members, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

However, police said the movement of protected persons was "discouraged" on Sunday due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.

On February 14, 2019, 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama.

"This is the 'naya/new J&K' after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they've locked my sister & her kids in their home as well," Omar wrote on Twitter.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city.

The Centre on August 5 in 2019 had abrogated the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.

"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren't being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry & bitter," he said in another tweet.

Responding to Omar's tweets, police said the movement of protected persons and VIPs was "discouraged" due to adverse inputs on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack.

"Today is 2nd Anniversary of dreaded Lethpora Terror incident. There shall be NO ROP on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/ProtectedPersons has been discouraged and all concerned were informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today (sic)," the Srinagar Police said on its official Twitter handle.

However, Omar asked the police to "please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today?"

"You can advise me not to leave my house but you can't force me to stay in using security as an excuse," he said.

"Please share the written communication address to me & acknowledged by me (or my office) informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely this anniversary didn't come as a surprise to the administration," the National Conference (NC) leader said in another tweet.

The NC said it condemns the "arbitrary detention" of its leaders and their family members.

"JKNC condemns the arbitrary detention of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Vice President @OmarAbdullah and their family at their residence in Gupkar, Srinagar. The party demands immediate lifting of these uncalled for and unlawful measures," the party tweeted.

In a joint statement later, several leaders, including NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, denounced confinement of the party president and the vice president at their residence and termed the measures arbitrary and a gross intrusion of fundamental rights.

"Confining party leaders to their homes exposes the iron fist approach towards Jammu and Kashmir. The measure is the gross violation of human rights and is highly condemnable. Previously also at various instances, the leaders were debarred from moving out from their residences exclusive of any reason," the statement said.

The party leaders said the undue measure marks a new low in the curtailment of fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The measures reveal abnormal is the new normal in this part of the world. Such harsh and unwarranted measures would further alienate the people and delay restoration of normalcy in Kashmir, which has been reeling under fear psychosis and a sense of insecurity since August, 2019," they said.

Marking a new and dangerous low in the Centre's Kashmir policy, the leaders said the disdain with the political leaders who kept the political process alive in Kashmir braving all odds and threats was appalling.

"The amorality of the government's treatment towards mainstream leaders is certainly dispiriting, but dangerous as well on account of the political vacuum it will create. Having a sitting MP, former chief minister and former union minister Farooq Sahib's stature confined will prove a bad bet. Therefore, we impress upon the incumbent government to refrain from such bullish and high-handed measures," they said in their joint statement.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq -- one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.

Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic)," she had said on Twitter.

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Rescuers from the Syrian White Helmets hauled a little girl from a dry well in the eastern Aleppo region of Syria on Wednesday.

Four-year-old Basma fell into the abandoned water source in the small town of Bab, according to the White Helmets.

Dramatic, helmet camera footage showed the crying child being located in an underground tunnel and being brought up by the rescuers.

She was taken to hospital as a precaution but was reportedly uninjured.

The Syrian White Helmets, which has had more than 3,000 volunteers in opposition-held areas, says it has saved thousands of lives since 2013 and documented Syrian government attacks on civilians and other infrastructure.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Tel Aviv, Feb 14 : Israel's Ministry of Finance has announced a new program to support the disabled people amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The total amount of the program stands at half a billion new shekels ($154 million), Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying on Saturday.

The special grants in the program will be paid in two instalments, in March and June, for the first two quarters of the year.

Minister of Finance Israel Katz, said that "the disabled public is at top priority, I have a deep commitment to it".

"I will continue to work to ensure that all commitments to the disabled are carried out," Katz added.

The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Itzik Shmuli, said: "This is an important step in such a difficult economic period, as part of a policy that does not leave the weak behind." Israel has so far reported 721,846 confirmed coronavirus cases and 5,351 deaths.
Srinagar, Feb 14 : After former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah claimed on Sunday that he and his father Farooq Abdullah have been "locked" up at their residence here without any explanation by authorities, J&K Police maintained that VIP protectees were advised against moving out in view of "adverse inputs".

Omar posted on Twitter photos of security vehicles stationed outside his residence on the Gupkar Road and said that his sister and her children, who live next doors, have been locked up as well. The National Conference leader also asked under which law he had been "detained".

"This is the 'naya/new J&K' after August 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It's bad enough they've locked my father (a sitting MP) and me in our home; they've locked my sister and her kids in their home as well," Omar tweeted.

"Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation. But on top of that, the staff at the house aren't also not being allowed in and then you are surprised that I'm still angry and bitter." The two former Chief Ministers were said to be planning to travel out of Srinagar to address party workers.

The police claimed that due to adverse intelligence inputs, the movement of protected persons had been discouraged and all concerned were informed well in advance not to plan their tours on Sunday.

"Today is the 2nd anniversary of dreaded Lethpora terror incident. There shall be NO Road Opening Party on ground. Due to adverse inputs, movement of VIPs/Protected Persons has been discouraged and all concerned informed in advance NOT to plan a tour today," police tweeted.

Omar Abdullah later asked the police to share the written communication sent to him and acknowledged by him that called for restricting his movement on the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack of 2019.

In a series of tweets, Omar asked under which law the police had "detained" him at his home.

"I'm not even sure if this is actually a police Twitter handle since it's not verified. But assuming it is, please tell me under which law you have detained me in my home today? You can advise me not to leave my house but you can't force me to stay in using security as an excuse," the former CM tweeted.

"Please share the written communication addressed to me and acknowledged by me (or my office), informing us in advance of these restrictions. Surely, this anniversary didn't come as a surprise to the administration." On Saturday, another former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti alleged that she was prevented from moving out of her residence on the Gupkar Road to visit south Kashmir's Pulwama district to meet with the family of teenager Athar Mushtaq who was killed in an encounter on the Srinagar outskirts on December 30, 2020.
An immigrant assaulted a female U.S. Border Patrol agent as he tried to cross the border illegally in south Laredo, according to an arrest affidavit.

Francisco Cadeza-Moreno was arrested and charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal agent in the performance of her official duties.

U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a sensor activation at about 12:30 a.m. last Sunday near the inside of the Orphanage Creek and Taco Palenque on U.S. 83. An agent then encountered Cadeza-Moreno. She attempted to arrest Cadeza-Moreno, but a struggle ensued when he began to resist.

Cadeza-Moreno became combative and aggressively swung his arms, striking the agent on the right side of her face with his elbow, according to the affidavit. She attempted to subdue Cadeza-Moreno and punched him once in the left ear area. The agent did have a flashlight in her closed hand, according to court documents.

Cadeza-Moreno allegedly remained combative by refusing to give up his hands. He managed to get away but was apprehended shortly after. This time, Cadeza-Moreno complied with the arresting agents. He was taken to the Laredo South Station for further investigation.

An emergency medical technician responded to evaluate Cadeza-Moreno and the agent. Cadeza-Moreno refused further medical treatment while the agent was taken to Doctors Hospital Emergency Room South. She sustained injuries to the right side of her face, including contusions and abrasions, according to court documents.

Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents responded to take over the case. In a post-arrest interview, Cadeza-Moreno allegedly admitted to crossing the Rio Grande illegally.

Cadeza-Moreno admitted to possibly making physical contact with an identified white female law enforcement officer, wearing a green-brownish uniform to evade arrest, states the affidavit.

ISTANBUL: Militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have executed 13 kidnapped Turks, including military and police personnel, in a cave in northern Iraq, Turkish officials said on Sunday, amid a military operation against the group.

Forty eight PKK militants were killed during the military operation, while three Turkish soldiers were killed and three wounded, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement. Twelve of the kidnapped Turks had been shot in the head and one in the shoulder, he said.

Turkey launched the military operation against the PKK in northern Iraqs Gara region on Feb. 10 to secure its border and find citizens who had been kidnapped previously, he said.

The governor of Malatya province in southeast Turkey named six soldiers and two police officers, kidnapped in separate incidents more than five years ago, as being among those killed in the cave. Three of the dead have yet to be identified.

One senior security source told Reuters that Turkish intelligence personnel were among the dead.

According to initial information given by two terrorists captured alive, our citizens were martyred at the start of the operation by the terrorist responsible for the cave," Akar said at the operations control centre near the Iraq border.

A statement on a PKK website said some prisoners it was holding, including Turkish intelligence, police and military personnel, had died during clashes in the area. The group denied it had ever hurt prisoners.

COMPLICITY

Turkish officials vowed to continue the fight against the PKK, and presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin accused other countries of failing to speak out against the militants. He said the 13 abducted people had been civilians.

(The PKK) attacks Turkish and Iraqi security forces and civilians. It continues its terrorist attacks in northern Syria. The world is silent. This silence is a shameful act of complicity. But we will not remain silent," he wrote on Twitter.

In 2017, Turkeys foreign minister said Ankara was working to bring back citizens he said had been kidnapped by the PKK, after Turkish media reported two Turkish intelligence officers had been captured by the PKK in Iraq.

The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union, launched its armed insurgency in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey in 1984 and more than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

In the last two years Turkeys fight against the PKK has increasingly focused on northern Iraq, where the group has its stronghold in the Qandil mountains on the Iranian border.

(Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Michael Perry and Gareth Jones)

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
Antoinette Keegan at a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stardust Disco fire (PA)

Tributes have been paid to the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub fire on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.

A fresh inquiry into the events at the Artane nightclub on Valentines Day 1981 is to take place at Dublin Castle later this year, following years of campaigning by victims families.

More than 800 people attended the disco that night and, despite two inquiries into the disaster, nobody has ever been held responsible.

Expand Close Siobhan Dunne stands under her brother Liams picture at a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stardust Disco fire (Karen Morgan/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Siobhan Dunne stands under her brother Liams picture at a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stardust Disco fire (Karen Morgan/PA)

On Sunday, family members marked the anniversary with a vigil at the location where the Stardust once stood.

Antoinette Keegan was among those who survived, but she lost her two sisters, Mary and Martina.

We were pushed to the floor, and people were running over us, she told Newstalk.

All I could remember thinking was, Were never going to get out, please God, help us, help us.

But we couldnt breathe, the smoke was that thick and it was going into your throat and stopping you from breathing.

And then the heat and trying to hold your hand over your head because of the flames and stuff right on top of you.

It was like being in hell, thats what it was like, being in hell and Ill never forget it.

Forty years ago forty-eight young souls perished in the Stardust. The pain and hurt is felt to this day. Forty years later their families still wait for justice and truth #JFT48 pic.twitter.com/F04CdFuFdk  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) February 14, 2021

Tributes flooded in on Sunday for the 48 people who lost their lives, and the 214 others who were injured.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald tweeted: Forty years ago forty-eight young souls perished in the Stardust. The pain and hurt is felt to this day. Forty years later their families still wait for justice and truth #JFT48

In a statement on Twitter, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said: 40 years today since the Stardust fire. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims.

Expand Close Suzanne Keegan, Lorraine, Antoinette and Damien at a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stardust Disco fire disaster in Dublin (Karen Morgan/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Suzanne Keegan, Lorraine, Antoinette and Damien at a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stardust Disco fire disaster in Dublin (Karen Morgan/PA)

Many INMO members were on duty that night and well remember the terrible events. Pictured is the memorial to the victims in Beaumont Hospital.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade said: On this day in 1981, Ireland woke to the news of a devastating fire in a nightclub in Artane.

Let us take time to remember the 48 who never came home, their families, the injured and all those who responded on the night.

The Victorian government is under growing pressure to compensate businesses devastated by a snap lockdown on what was to be one of the busiest hospitality weekends of recent years.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the financial pain caused by the five-day lockdown would be well north of $500 million, and more likely edging towards $1 billion.

The usually bustling Chinatown was near deserted on Sunday, with Lunar New Year and Valentines Day celebrations cancelled. Credit:Scott McNaughton

Youve got a perfect storm this year because Valentines Day is falling on a Sunday, we were having the first crowds back in the day at the VRC [Victorian Racing Club] at Flemington on Saturday, the Australian Open for the first time in February, and of course its Chinese New Year as well, and then add to that the weddings that were delayed from last year to this year, he said.

I dont think we would have seen a bigger weekend for many, many, many years.
The OCMC's club house in the early 1920s. Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff





Lillian and the children's passport image in 1920 Rae and "Betty" Woodford in 1924 at the OCMC. Courtesy of the Lower Family Lois Marshall  date unknown. Wikipedia image

Life at the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company's [OCMC] gold mining camps in northern Korea could be extremely difficult  especially for families. It was an isolated region with little interaction with the outside world leaving the mining community no other option but to entertain itself.



As in any small community, there was an over-familiarity with one another that was perpetuated by busybodies and their petty  but sometimes lascivious  gossip, biases and jealousies. There were arguments, fist fights, cheating, broken marriages, suicides and even murders at the mines  likely caused by the boredom and depression of living in such a closed community.



The Woodfords were no different. They say that every story has at least two sides, but, unfortunately, this tale doesn't even really have one as we are forced to try and piece it together from stray bits of information in newspapers, documents and correspondences from other families. We know that sometime in late 1925 or very early 1926, Lillian left Korea and returned to the United States  possibly New York  abandoning Clair (her husband) and their daughters.



On April 5, 1926, Clair and the two girls arrived in San Francisco and returned to Indiana where the girls were able to celebrate their birthdays with their relatives, but we can assume that it was not a very joyous occasion as there was one person still missing  their mother. On May 15, Clair filed for divorce stating that he believed his wife was residing in New York City but apparently did not elaborate on why she had left him. Throughout the summer, Clair and the girls remained in Indiana awaiting the court's decision which was announced in October  it wasn't good.



The court granted Clair a divorce from Lillian stipulating that he would pay the court fees. Furthermore, it granted custody of Rae (9 years old) and Elizabeth (6 years old) to Lillian with the stipulation that he could "visit them at reasonable times." He was probably devastated but there was little he could do so he returned to Korea and working for the OCMC.



It is frustrating not to know more about the events surrounding Clair's divorce especially when we have this gem of gossip from a letter sent home by one of his fellow miners (also from Indiana) at the OCMC's Tabowie mining camp:



"Everyone has plenty of Korean servants to bring them the latest camp gossip  from petty affairs to real scandal, which sometimes happens. One event took place while I was in camp and my servant told me in the morning that a certain one of the men in camp and a school teacher had been given four hours and half to get out of camp and head for the railroad, fifty-five miles away."






New variant: Talks tomorrow on the need for islandwide lockdown View(s):

No decision has been taken on an island-wide lockdown amidst a rising number of COVID-19 cases due to the new variant but the issue will be discussed tomorrow when the National Operations Centre meets, according to officials.

No decision on a lockdown has been taken so far. The matter is due to be taken up tomorrow for discussion by the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, said Police Spokesman and Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana. The Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services I, Dr. Hemantha Herath said the Epidemiology Unit was studying the situation and would decide on the course of action which should be taken.

With Valentines Day today and a long weekend on the cards end-February, DIG Rohana said that as yet, the normal quarantine and disease control regulations would be applied.

Dr. Herath cautioned everyone to strictly adhere  more than 100%  to the health precautions of mask-wearing, social-distancing and hand-washing, while avoiding mass gatherings which could lead to a super-spreader event.

With regard to the UK variant (B.1.1.7), he said that though it spreads fast, it does not cause more severe infection than the strains that are circulating in the country already. This is why to break the disease transmission chain, adherence to the preventive measures is essential.

On Friday, Sri Jayewardenepura University researchers performed genetic sequencing on a large number of samples (92) collected from December 30 onwards and found the UK variant in several areas.

Our data show that this B.1.1.7 variant was in the community in Colombo as early as December 30. Therefore, it is most likely to have been introduced somewhere in early or mid-December, with the most likely source being a returnee from overseas, said Prof. Neelika Malavige, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences, of the university, adding that now we see this variant in many areas in Sri Lanka.

She said the rise in the number of cases, especially in the recent weeks, was likely to be due to the spread of this variant, as this was 50 percent more transmissible than the earlier variants. Therefore, we need to quickly assess the situation and take action accordingly. The currently approved vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna) are effective against the B.1.1.7 variant and that is quite reassuring, Prof. Malavige added.

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Ho Chi Minh City authorities demanded on Sunday that K-12 schools be shuttered and students study online until the end of February to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

All schools from kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, vocational training centers, to continuing education facilities will continue to be closed until the end of February 28, the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City said in a fiat on Sunday.

Ho Chi Minh City has over 1.7 million students studying at K-12 levels and vocational and continuing education facilities, along with 100,000 teachers and other staff.

In order for students not to lag behind their curriculum, schools will teach online during the time.

City K-12 students started taking the Lunar New Year holiday on February 6 and were slated to resume studies on February 17.

They had switched to virtual learning on February 2 following an order by the Peoples Committee one day earlier because of a new wave of local coronavirus infections.

During the remote learning, schools have to report the number of staff, teachers, students, and parents traveling to other provinces and cities outside of Ho Chi Minh City from February 2 to 16, those in direct and indirect contact with COVID-19 patients, and those living in areas isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports will be conducted from February 15 before 10:00 am daily.

The shutdown came in the wake of new coronavirus outbreaks in Vietnam on January 28, after the country had gone almost two months without any domestic transmission.

A total of 604 local infections have been recorded 13 provinces and cities since, including 430 in Hai Duong Province, 59 in Quang Ninh Province, 30 in Hanoi, and 36 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The majority of the domestically-transmitted cases were traced back to Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

Health officials have conducted aggressive contact tracing as well as targeted testing and lockdowns since the new wave blindsided the country.

The national patient tally has reached 2,195 cases, including 1,297 domestic infections, as of Sunday morning, with 1,531 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

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Welsh Parliament Bill allowing next Senedd election to go ahead during pandemic given approval

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Feb 14th, 2021

The Welsh Parliament has passed a Bill which gives the ability to delay Mays election by up to six months if the pandemic response requires it.

The Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill introduces a range of measures to make it easier for those affected by the pandemic to vote.

It addresses the risk of there being an extended period where the Senedd cannot meet that would arise if the Senedd dissolved as normal, on 7 April, and the election could not proceed on 6 May because of the pandemic.

The Welsh Government said it is clear that the election should go ahead on 6 May 2021 as intended. Everybody should prepare on that basis.





But the Bill makes it possible to delay polling day should the pandemic present such a serious threat to public health and the conduct of the election, that it is not safe to hold the election at that time.

Provisions in the Bill include:

An ability for a voter to apply for an emergency proxy vote where, in the period ahead of the poll, a voter or their already nominated proxy becomes unable to participate in person on the day of the poll because of a reason relating to coronavirus, such as the need to self-isolate

Allowing the Senedd to keep sitting for up to seven calendar days before the election (instead of it being dissolved 21 working days before the election as is usually the case). This will allow the Welsh Government and Members of the Senedd to continue to deal with legislation related to the covid pandemic and enable a postponement of the election should that prove necessary during the final month before the poll is held

Allowing for the postponing of the Senedd election for up to 6 months, to a date no later than 5th November 2021, if this is needed due to public health reasons. The postponement and the fixing of a new date for the election would be proposed by the Presiding Officer and would require the agreement of two-thirds of Members.

The Bill will apply only to the 2021 Senedd ordinary general election and not to any subsequent Senedd elections.

The Bill also enables local government by-elections to be postponed beyond 6 May 2021 if required, to a date no later than 5 November 2021.

The Bill will become law following Royal Assent by Her Majesty the Queen, which is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James said: Im pleased Members of the Senedd have given their approval for the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill to become law.

Given the unpredictable nature of the virus, there is significant uncertainty about what the public health situation will be like in May. Thats why weve acted now to respond to the potential risks to the election arising from the pandemic.

The Bill Members of the Senedd have approved today, by a large majority, will help ensure people can exercise their democratic right to vote in the election, but to do so in a safe and secure way.

The Welsh Government appreciates the huge efforts being made by the staff who run our elections to ensure it can be held safely on Thursday 6 May.

In this an. 24, 2021, file photo, people stand near a sign as they wait in line to receive the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 at a one-day vaccination clinic set up in an Amazon.com facility in Seattle and operated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

What if COVID-19 never goes away?

Experts say it's likely that some version of the disease will linger for years. But what it will look like in the future is less clear.

Will the coronavirus, which has already killed more than 2 million people worldwide, eventually be eliminated by a global vaccination campaign, like smallpox? Will dangerous new variants evade vaccines? Or will the virus stick around for a long time, transforming into a mild annoyance, like the common cold?

Eventually, the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 will become yet "another animal in the zoo," joining the many other infectious diseases that humanity has learned to live with, predicted Dr. T. Jacob John, who studies viruses and was at the helm of India's efforts to tackle polio and HIV/AIDS.

But no one knows for sure. The virus is evolving rapidly, and new variants are popping up in different countries. The risk of these new variants was underscored when Novavax Inc. found that the company's vaccine did not work as well against mutated versions circulating in Britain and South Africa. The more the virus spreads, experts say, the more likely it is that a new variant will become capable of eluding current tests, treatments and vaccines.

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. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP)

For now, scientists agree on the immediate priority: Vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. The next step is less certain and depends largely on the strength of the immunity offered by vaccines and natural infections and how long it lasts.

"Are people going to be frequently subject to repeat infections? We don't have enough data yet to know," said Jeffrey Shaman, who studies viruses at Columbia University. Like many researchers, he believes chances are slim that vaccines will confer lifelong immunity.

If humans must learn to live with COVID-19, the nature of that coexistence depends not just on how long immunity lasts, but also how the virus evolves. Will it mutate significantly each year, requiring annual shots, like the flu? Or will it pop up every few years?

This question of what happens next attracted Jennie Lavine, a virologist at Emory University, who is co-author of a recent paper in Science that projected a relatively optimistic scenario: After most people have been exposed to the viruseither through vaccination or surviving infectionsthe pathogen "will continue to circulate, but will mostly cause only mild illness," like a routine cold.

While immunity acquired from other coronaviruseslike those that cause the common cold or SARS or MERSwanes over time, symptoms upon reinfection tend to be milder than the first illness, said Ottar Bjornstad, a co-author of the Science paper who studies viruses at Pennsylvania State University.

In this Nov. 12, 2020, file photo, people walk in a market to shop ahead of the Diwalli festival in New Delhi, India. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

"Adults tend not to get very bad symptoms if they've already been exposed," he said.

The prediction in the Science paper is based on an analysis of how other coronaviruses have behaved over time and assumes that SAR-CoV-2 continues to evolve, but not quickly or radically.

The 1918 flu pandemic could offer clues about the course of COVID-19. That pathogen was an H1N1 virus with genes that originated in birds, not a coronavirus. At the time, no vaccines were available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a third of the world's population became infected. Eventually, after infected people either died or developed immunity, the virus stopped spreading quickly. It later mutated into a less virulent form, which experts say continues to circulate seasonally.

"Very commonly the descendants of flu pandemics become the milder seasonal flu viruses we experience for many years," said Stephen Morse, who studies viruses at Columbia University.

It's not clear yet how future mutations in SARS-CoV-2 will shape the trajectory of the current disease.

In this Jan. 16, 2021, file photo, a nurse holds up the syringe containing COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to a health worker at the District Hospital in Ukhrul, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur, File)

As new variants emergesome more contagious, some more virulent and some possibly less responsive to vaccinesscientists are reminded how much they don't yet know about the future of the virus, said Mark Jit, who studies viruses at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

"We've only known about this virus for about a year, so we don't yet have data to show its behavior over five years or 10 years," he said.

Of the more than 12 billion coronavirus vaccine shots being made in 2021, rich countries have bought about 9 billion, and many have options to buy more. This inequity is a threat since it will result in poorer countries having to wait longer for the vaccine, during which time the disease will continue to spread and kill people, said Ian MacKay, who studies viruses at the University of Queensland.

That some vaccines seem less effective against the new strains is worrisome, but since the shots provide some protection, vaccines could still be used to slow or stop the virus from spreading, said Ashley St. John, who studies immune systems at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.

Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an infectious diseases expert at Christian Medical College at Vellore in southern India, said the evolution of the virus raises new questions: At what stage does the virus become a new strain? Will countries need to re-vaccinate from scratch? Or could a booster dose be given?

In this Jan. 21, 2021, file photo, a person receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Mecca, Calif. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

"These are questions that you will have to address in the future," Kang said.

The future of the coronavirus may contrast with other highly contagious diseases that have been largely beaten by vaccines that provide lifelong immunitysuch as measles. The spread of measles drops off after many people have been vaccinated.

But the dynamic changes over time with new births, so outbreaks tend to come in cycles, explained Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil, who studies epidemics and advises India on virus surveillance.

Unlike measles, kids infected with COVID-19 don't always exhibit clear symptoms and could still transmit the disease to vulnerable adults. That means countries cannot let their guard down, he said.

Another unknown is the long-term impact of COVID-19 on patients who survive but are incapacitated for months, Kang said.

A couple walk along a boulevard in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. Scientists say it's still too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever go away entirely. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The "quantification of this damage"how many people can't do manual labor or are so exhausted that they can't concentrateis key to understanding the full consequences of the disease.

"We haven't had a lot of diseases that have affected people on a scale like this," she said.

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.
The Holyoke-based Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) effort recently received a $277,777 grant from Facebook as part of a $10 million Racial Justice grant initiative.

The grant will allow EforAll to expand its program for inclusive entrepreneurship in existing communities like Holyoke, particularly among Black and Latino Americans.

According to Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, executive director of EforAll in Holyoke, says the Facebook grant was awarded to the national EforAll organization, and Holyoke was selected out of 400 others for its dedication to racial justice and equity through inclusive entrepreneurship.

We believe that fostering entrepreneurship is one of the most empowering forms of social service because it transforms people in need of help into people capable of providing for their own needs, she said.

Now more than ever people are turning to entrepreneurship as a result of unanticipated COVID-19 hardships like unemployment or changes in income, according to Murphy-Romboletti.

This grant opportunity will support EforAlls organization-wide efforts to expand our Spanish language programming and serve more aspiring entrepreneurs and startups in and around Holyoke, as well as across the state, she said.

EforAll evolved from the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce SPARK program that began in 2015. As its three-year grant came to a close, SPARK joined forces with EforAll (Entrepreneurs for All), a nonprofit based in Lowell, in 2018.

EforAll launched its EparaTodos program to focus on supporting Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in Greater Holyoke last spring.

The free one-year business accelerator program helps under-resourced individuals successfully start and grow their businesses or nonprofits, across a wide range of industries including personal and professional services, food, manufacturing and online-traditional retail.

The program offers a combination of immersive business training, dedicated mentorship and access to a professional network. The organization typically offers its programs in-person but it is prepared to deliver classroom training and mentor sessions online if necessary.

Among the businesses started by EforAll participants, 75% are owned by women, 56% are owned by people of color, 54% are owned by immigrants and 56% are owned by people who were previously unemployed.

The program recently announced 18 area entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses from across all four counties of Western Massachusetts, have been accepted to participate in two winter cohorts. Eight of them are for the Epara Todos accelerator which will be held entirely in Spanish.

For more information about EforAll Holyoke, visit the website, eforall.org/ma/holyoke, or contact Murphy-Romboletti by email to tessa@eforall.org, or program manager Jayne Melendez by email to jayne@eforall.org, or call 833-336-7255, ext. 7205.

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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP)  A Texas man has been taken into custody after the disappearance of a 12-year-old Virginia girl, authorities said.

Kaleb Christopher Merritt, 21, was captured by police in Henderson, North Carolina, after a manhunt that began Friday, according to authorities in Virginia. The girl was found with him, unharmed.

The girl was reported missing from her home in Bassett, Virginia on Friday afternoon. Police said she and Merritt connected in December on Instagram and communicated through social media until Merritt traveled to Virginia earlier this month to meet her.

Merritt set up a camp in a wooded area behind the girls home and met with her on several occasions, investigators said. The two communicated via a messaging app before Merritt coerced her into leaving her home with him, police said.

State and federal authorities tracked Merritt to North Carolina, where he and the girl were found.

Authorities said the Southwestern Virginia Internet Crimes against Children Task Force first notified the sheriffs office in Henry County, Virginia, on Thursday that it had flagged Instagram messages.

Police later caught up with Merritt at a Planet Fitness in Martinsville and seized his cellphone. Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said police and a local prosecutor determined that the communication on Merritts cellphone was concerning, but not illegal.

The girl was reported missing the next day. Perry described her as a runaway and said investigators believe she left willingly with Merritt.

It's unclear what charges Merritt might face.
The news battle has been heating up in Adelaide recently, leading to new changes from Seven.

Seven News won the week at 104,000 / 94,000 to Nine News 90,000 / 87,000.

But Nine won on Saturday and Sunday (77,000 / 93,000) over Seven (73,000 / 74,000).

It follows a Made in Adelaide campaign by Nine last year which drew attention to 10s bulletin being presented from Melbourne, as well as Seven temporarily shifting the presentation of its 4pm bulletin to Melbourne, during COVID-19.

On the weekend Seven introduced Mike Smithson to now co-anchor weekend bulletins with Rosanna Mangiarelli. A new 30-minute bulletin begins today at 11:30am with Smithson and Mangiarelli to share hosting duties on alternate days.

Meanwhile Sevens restored local bulletin at 4pm goes up against Hot Seat, leaving The Chase against a 5pm bulletin on Nine and 10.

7NEWS Adelaide News Director, Chris Salter, said: Since television first started, 7NEWS has invested more and committed more to Adelaide than any other. This is just another step in affirming 7NEWS has consistently delivered to Adelaide more live and local news because some things will never change.

Related

Suspected runaway conwoman Melissa Caddick has left those she loved the most, her immediate family, in a terrible predicament.

Blood was always thicker than water for the missing Dover Heights woman, who counted her husband, brother and parents as her closest confidants.

But not only has Caddick, 49, been missing for three months, her alleged financial misappropriation could see her inner circle lose their homes.

A group of 13 investors has urged receivers to immediately sell Caddick's mortgaged properties: the $6.2million property where she, husband Anthony Koletti and her son lived; and the $2.55million Edgecliff parents her elderly parents and older brother call home.

That's even as the angry investors acknowledge her family, too, 'are also victims' of her alleged scamming.

So who's who in Caddick's family? And how are they dealing with a situation that none of them asked for?

The circle of trust: Suspected runaway conwoman Melissa Caddick (centre) with her husband, Anthony Koletti (right) and her brother, Adam Grimley (left), on holiday in Fiji

Ms Caddick, wearing a $250,000 Stefano Canturi necklace, with her husband Mr Koletti on her birthday this year. He is not suggested to have played any role in her disappearance. On right, Ms Caddick is seen during a helicopter ride

The husband: Anthony Koletti

Melissa Caddick's husband of seven years, Anthony Koletti

Melissa Caddick's husband, Anthony Koletti, has many feathers to his cap.

Super car enthusiast, DJ, Joh Bailey hairdresser, 'prawn farmer', step-dad, dog lover and deserted spouse.

Mr Koletti, 38, and Caddick, 49, have been married for seven years. She fell for him while he was doing her hair close to a decade ago.

'It was about the way he massaged her head,' a source familiar with the family claimed.

In the wake of Caddick's disappearance, Mr Koletti has somewhat cruelly been described as her 'toy boy'.

He is not suggested to have any involvement in his wife's disappearance or have any knowledge of her company's alleged financial misappropriation of investor funds.

However, there is little doubt he benefited from his wife's apparent wealth. He drove a $300,000 Audi R8 and they holidayed as a family each year in Aspen, Colorado.

Mr Koletti has been a DJ  producing a music video in 2015  and a stay-at-home husband for the past year.

He put down his scissors at a Bondi Junction salon when the pandemic hit last March.

Caddick's disappearance left him broke. In the weeks after his wife vanished, Mr Koletti told the Federal Court he had just $1.95 left in his only transaction account.

He's living off a court ordered allowance of $1700 per week which is paid from Caddick's frozen assets.

Caddick's disappearance has led Mr Koletti to have several conversations with police about his missing wife.

Last November, he publicly called for the 'communities of Australia' to come together, find Melissa and bring her home but has kept his counsel since.

'We just want her back', he said.

There has been some intrigue over why it took 30 hours for Mr Koletti to report his wife's disappearance to police.

But Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins told 60 Minutes that Mr Koletti was 'doing what he can to assist us when we ask for help.

'I think he's struggled to be what you would expect  to be proactive,' the police officer added.

Off to the races: The once happy couple attending an event together

As Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday, Mr Koletti has turned to his in-laws, Ted and Barbara, for support, rather than his immediate family.

Look what she did to the people she professed to love An investor in Caddick's company who spoke on the condition of anonymity

He was photographed meeting Caddick's parents for an 'animated' two hour discussion on Sunday.

Prior to that, he had been spending a considerable amount of time at their Edgecliff home  rather than the $6.2million mansion where he lives  sources said.

Mr Koletti's own family claim they only met Caddick a handful of times, his father previously slamming him as 'delusional' about her alleged activities.

'If Anthony is guilty of anything, it is for being in love with his wife, wanting her safely back at home, and being delusional about the truth of what she may have done,' tax agent dad Rodo Koletti said.

The brother: Adam Grimley

Caddick's brother, Adam Grimley, has been left to clean up the mess, as manager of her estate

Melissa's older brother had only recently returned to Australia for health reasons.

He was living in Singapore, where he worked as a governance consultant.

But a source familiar with the family said Adam was unable to return to the south east Asian metropolis due to Covid.

Since then, he has been lugged with a series of even bigger problems.

His little sister is missing, and he has been left managing her estate in her absence.

Mr Grimley wrote to the Federal Court last year and urged a judge to hike up the living allowance for Mr Koletti and Caddick's teenage son.

He succeeded - with the family granted $1700 a week in payments, rather than a previous $800.

But by mid-December, Mr Grimley had already incurred $55,000 in legal costs dealing with his sister's matter, which receivers may pay for.

Complicating matters further, Mr Grimley has a one per cent stake to Melissa's 99 per cent stake in her Dover Heights mansion.

Mr Grimley's lip quivered during his only press appearance last November, calling for his sibling to come home.

'Melissa, please let us know you are safe and sound,' he said. 'We love you,'

The parents: Ted and Barbara

Barbara and Edward Grimley, Melissa's parents

Ted and Barbara Grimley sold their house in Sydney's south and moved into an apartment in Edgecliff, in the city's inner east, in order to be closer to their daughter.

Caddick bought them the top-level unit. Now the retirees' $2million home is at risk of being sold from under them.

The couple are said to be desperately worried by their daughter's disappearance and the predicament they have been left in.

'They had explicit trust in her,' said a source who invested in Caddick's company and was acquainted with her family. 'And I think they're realising that they're as much victims to that trust as well.'

The investor noted Mr and Mrs Grimley faced possible eviction from their home to pay down Melissa's debts.

'Where are they going to go? They're 80 plus years old. They're not in good health.

'You've got Adam who has been left to clean up this mess - emotionally and technically.

'I kind of just sit there and go, we got done out of money. Look what she did to the people she professed to love.'

Receivers will report back to the Federal Court on Caddick's assets on Monday.
Property deeds

Regarding Racist restrictions, (A12, Feb. 11): In 2019, the Old Braeswood Property Owners Association decided to eliminate the racist language from the deed restrictions. Although we knew that such language was not enforceable, we strongly believed that it did not belong in our deed restrictions.

We spent a lot of time and effort to collect signatures from 75 percent of OBPOA owners and spent a good amount of money on legal representation and filing fees, but we succeeded in deleting such language from the restrictions.

Today, we wholeheartedly support the efforts of Oak Forest Association and others to delete such language from their deed restrictions. We also are happy to support the legislatures efforts to make it easier and with minimal cost to owners and homeowner associations to remove the racist language from their deed restrictions. We are looking forward to the day when such hateful language does not exist in any deed restrictions in America.

Samia Khalil, OBPOA president, Houston

Need more like Freireich

Regarding Doctor tested research barriers, (A1, Feb. 3): Thank you so much for the nice article about Dr. Emil Freireich on the front page. I would like to add what a great and wonderful doctor I always thought he was. I did administrative work for him and I saw a loyal, dedicated, kind-hearted man and doctor. He always had a big smile on his face and he had a great sense of humor. What I saw was a genius, and it was an honor for me to know him and to work for him.

If any of his students are around out there I hope you listened and learned from him because this world needs more doctors like him.

Carolyn Grealy, Bellaire

Voting rights

Regarding Abbotts priority, (A14, Feb. 3): I could not agree more with your assessment of voting rights in Texas. With scant evidence of any widespread voter fraud, the GOP here continues to propose solutions in search of a problem when it comes to voting restrictions, and its shameful.

David Kelly, Spring
News  International

Exports from six ASEAN countries drop only 2.2 pct despite pandemic: JETRO

A report was made to police that a device had been left in the Racecourse Road/Paddock Lane area of Londonderry.

Police in Londonderry have urged the public not to touch any suspicious objects they come across in the Ballyarnett area of the city.

The PSNI received a report that a device had been left in the Racecourse Road/Paddock Lane area.

Officers are currently making a number of enquiries into the report and would urge anyone who sees anything suspicious or out of the ordinary in the area contact police by calling 101.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-14 22:28:04|Editor: huaxia

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by Wang Aihua, Li Hanfang

MACAO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- No firework shows or float parades. Even the famed A-Ma Temple had rules controlling the number of incense-burning believers to be allowed inside.

In the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year this year was less bustling due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a city that has seen no locally transmitted cases for over 10 months, Macao had applied its epidemic control experiences in cautiously celebrating the Spring Festival, one of the most important festivals for the Chinese people, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

Encouraging local residents to stay for the holiday, Macao had rolled out New Year decorations throughout the city aiming to create a festive atmosphere just as in the past.

The Largo do Senado square, for example, were lit up by lanterns themed on the ox, symbolizing the new lunar Year of the Ox, attracting a number of photo-loving visitors. Other main streets, parks, shopping centers and hotels also featured ox-themed decorations.

A tourist from Shanghai named Shen Fuqing had captured the glittering beauties of festive Macao with his camera. Posting numerous photos on his social media account, Shen, who had visited Macao several times before, told Xinhua he had found the city an attractive destination. "I love shopping here."

The city's multiple museums and institutions also staged exhibitions on various subjects.

At the Municipal Affairs Bureau, an exhibition brings visitors back to old times with over 100 nostalgic items for the Spring Festival, such as red envelops for giving out money as New Year gifts, incenses and money-resembling paper that were burnt as an offering to the deceased, and lion head-shaped tools used in lion dancing performances.

Organizers of the exhibition said the details of the Macao residents celebrating the Spring Festival for generations were the best example of how the Chinese cultural traditions and customs had been carried on in this lively small city.

For Macao resident Ng Jung Wei, worshiping sea-goddess Mazu at the A-Ma Temple on Spring Festival had been a family tradition for years. "Besides praying for divine blessings, the trip is also a good time for family getting together and an inheritance of Chinese culture," he said.

A man surnamed Leung has been running a store in front of the temple for years. "It's much quieter here this year," he said. "In the past, there were temporary stalls selling pinwheels. The government stopped it this year for epidemic control."

Quickly decorating his pinwheels and handing them out to waiting children, Leung said people in Macao had been living a relatively peaceful life in the past year thanks to the government's timely response to the coronavirus epidemic.

"For many Chinese, the past Year of the Rat had been the most difficult one. I hope the new Year of the Ox will bring us bliss after all the misfortunes," Ng prayed piously. Enditem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Kochi where he spoke about how the new projects would further Kerala's journey to becoming 'Aatmanirbhar.' "Today, we're here to celebrate development. Development of Kerala and India. The works being inaugurated today cover a wide range of sectors and will energise the growth trajectory of India," said PM Modi.

While inaugurating the Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical complex of the Kochi refinery PM said, "This project will help our journey towards becoming Aatmanirbhar. With this complex, forex will be saved, a wide range of industries would gain, and employment opportunities will be generated."

PM boosts tourism in Kerala

Sharing how the new Sagarika - the International Cruise Terminal in Kochi would further tourism in the state, PM Modi said that a lot of tourists also came to Kochi as a transit point to go to other parts of Kerala. The inauguration of the Sagarika terminal would bring 'both comfort and convenience for tourists.' PM also encouraged the youth of Kerala to come up with innovative ideas for tourism-related projects.

"Sagarika Cruise Terminal will cater to over 1 lakh cruise guests. Local tourism has facilitated added livelihood to people in the local tourism industry and also connects our youth and culture stronger. I urge our young start-up friends to think about innovative tourism-related products. I also urge you all to use this time and travel to as many nearby areas as possible. You'd be happy to know that the tourism sector in India has grown well in the last five years. In the World Tourism Index, India's ranking has jumped from 65th to 34th. There's a lot more to be done and I'm confident we'll improve more," said PM Modi.

Read: Tamil Nadu's EPS & OPS Welcome Modi To Chennai: 'PM Always Helped Preserve Amma's Legacy'

Read: PM Modi Inaugurates Discovery Campus Of IIT-Madras To Meet Research Infrastructure Demands

PM lauds Indian diaspora in Gulf

Talking about the VIGYAN Sagar campus of the Cochin Shipyard, PM remarked that human resource development capital would be expanded through the initiative. "This campus is a reflection of the importance of skill development. It'd particularly help those wanting to study marine engineering. In the times to come, I see a prime place for this sector. Youngsters who have knowledge in this domain will have several opportunities," he said.

PM also highlighted how this year's budget devoted significant resources to the state and in particular the Kochi metro. "This metro network has come successfully and has set a good example of progressive work practices and professionalism," he said.

He also addressed the Indian diaspora in the Gulf sharing how the Centre had prioritised their safety and return amid the pandemic through the Vande Bharat mission. "India is proud of its diaspora in the Gulf. It has been an honor to be able to spend time with them during my previous visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain. I shared meals with them and interacted with them. Over 50 lakh Indians came back home under the Vande Bharat Mission. Many of them were from Kerala. It was our government's honour to serve them in such a sensitive time," said PM Modi.

Read: PM Modi Spots India-England Test Match From Chennai's Skies; Shares 'interesting' Picture

Read: PM Modi Visits Poll Bound Tamil Nadu, Assures Equality & Justice For Tamils In Sri Lanka
San Francisco, Feb 14 : US-based tech major Nvidia is set to release its most affordable GPU in the RTX 3000 series available at retailers beginning on February 25.

Designed to succeed the ageing GeForce GTX 1060 Pascal cards, the $329 mid-tier GPU RTX 3060 features 12GB of GDDR6 memory, reports The Verge.

The base 3060 is a spiritual successor to cards like the GTX 1060 and RTX 2060 and brings features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS to a sub-$350 Nvidia card for the first time.

Like the other products featured in the RTX 3000 series, the RTX 3060 will also support DLSS and Nvidia's suite of RTX applications.

In January, Nvidia said it anticipates supply for its GPUs to both consumers and partners "will likely remain lean through Q1," which doesn't end until late April.

To alleviate the short supply and sky-high prices, Nvidia confirmed that it plans to bring back its older RTX 2060 and GTX 1050 Ti graphics cards.

Unlike the RTX 3060 Ti and other higher-end boards, there won't be an official Founders Edition.

It's the slowest of the RTX 30 family to date with 'just' 3,584 CUDA cores, a 192-bit memory interface and a 1.32GHz base clock, Engadget reported. However, it also has the most memory of any mainstream Nvidia GPU, with 12GB RAM, it added.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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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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O God,

who before the passion of your only-begotten Son

revealed his glory upon the holy mountain:

Grant to us that we,

beholding by faith the light of his countenance,

may be strengthened to bear our cross,

and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God,

for ever and ever.

Amen.
Oregon turned 162 on Sunday, and after a year that included wildfires, a pandemic, a sharp economic downturn, a tumultuous year in local and national politics, and now a winter ice storm, this might be one birthday when the state is feeling its age.

On Feb. 14, 1859, President James Buchanan signed the paperwork that admitted Oregon to the Union as a state, two days after the notion received approval from Congress.

Oregons bid for statehood began in 1857, with voters in the Oregon Territory  on land that was home to Native Americans for more than 10,000 years, many of them pushed out by settlers in violation of law and treaty  approving by a wide majority a new state constitution to submit to the U.S. Congress. The proposed state constitution prohibited slavery, but like territorial laws before it, also excluded Black residents.

That exclusion clause was controversial in the U.S. House even for the time, in the years leading up to the Civil War. Federal lawmakers nonetheless gave their blessing on Feb. 12, 1859.

The anniversary might typically be marked with celebrations, typically including an event hosted by the Oregon Historical Society. The institution, like many others, is temporarily shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic  and if not that, the raging winter storm.

It offered instead a tweet to commemorate the day:

Happy 162nd birthday, Oregon! Since we cant celebrate Statehood Day in person this year, we instead offer you a slightly awkward photo from our digital collections of a group of children waiting to dive into a fabulous looking cake. https://t.co/3NNXmfYslP pic.twitter.com/zgnV0qq8Yp  Oregon Historical Society (@OrHist) February 14, 2021

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
A bullied teenager who performed in a choir alongside Ariana Grande after the Manchester Arena terror attack took her own life by jumping in front of a train, an inquest has heard.

Uma Gupta, 14, left a friend's party upset in March 2019 before heading to East Didsbury railway station, where she died.

An inquest has heard how the teenager kept a secret diary, that revealed she was being bullied and her experiences with suicidal thoughts.

Manchester Coroner's Court heard how a bully had threatened to stab Uma at Parrs Wood High School in Manchester.

Uma Gupta, 14, died at East Didsbury railway station in Manchester in March 2019. An inquest heard she had left a friend's party upset earlier that night

Manchester Coroner's Court heard how a school bully had previously threatened to stab Uma, who had also been left upset after a relative took their life in 2018

On the night of her death she left a party at a friend's house after becoming upset and saying she wanted 'kill herself'.

She told friends her mum was going to pick her up but instead she walked to East Didsbury station.

Uma, a pupil at Parrs Wood High School in East Didsbury, was hit by a train heading towards Manchester Piccadilly at about 10pm.

In the months before she was killed she made numerous diary entries expressing her unhappiness and desire to take her own life, the inquest heard.

One entry, from 10 October 2018, read: 'Don't be upset. I wasn't happy and things weren't going to change.

Uma was part of Parrs Wood Harmony Choir, which performed on stage with Ariana Grande at the One Love concert in 2017, after the Manchester Arena terror attack

In the months before she was killed she made numerous diary entries expressing her unhappiness and desire to take her own life, the inquest heard

'Just imagine I was never here. I love my family and friends. I planned this for ages.'

As she left left home on the night she died Uma's parents told her 'how beautiful she looked'.

They said: 'She seemed happy.'

But at the party Uma's mood changed, witnesses said.

She began sobbing in the kitchen and bathroom, saying: 'I don't want to be here, I want to kill myself.'

The inquest heard Uma, from Didsbury, was upset by the suicide of a distant relative in September 2018.

In the months after his death she researched suicide methods online.

In November 2018 Uma's family began to notice a change in her mood, saying she was often 'low and withdrawn'.

On December 21, that year, following a party at a friend's house, she was taken to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital by police after being found in the street banging her head against the floor saying she 'wanted to die'.

During the psychiatric assessment she revealed she was being bullied at school by a girl who had 'threatened to stab her'.

Paul Heron, head of learning at Parrs Wood, said the school had been aware of the bullying and had taken several steps to tackle it, including the exclusion of the bully.

Three months before her death, police had taken Uma to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital by police after being found in the street banging her head against the floor saying she 'wanted to die'

A court heard how Uma had researched suicide methods online, prior to her death at East Didsbury Railway Station in 2019

He said there had been no reports of any other incidents after mid-January 2019.

Mr Heron said: 'Nothing was reported. It didn't seem like anything was wrong.'

Uma was a member of Parrs Wood Harmony Choir, which performed onstage with Ariana Grande at the One Love concert following the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Parrs Wood headteacher, Mark McElwee, described Uma's death as 'very upsetting for the whole school community'.

He said a number of new measures had been introduced in school following her death.

They included a confidential bullying reporting line, the introduction of 'mental health champions', staff trained as mental health first aiders, and the introduction of an 'ask twice' policy regarding pupils' well-being.

Senior coroner Nigel Meadows recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Mr Meadows said: 'The reasons why any person wishes to harm themselves are many and complex.

Uma's family described her as the 'life and soul of the party'. They added that she 'will be missed by everyone'

'Some of them may never be understood. Many people never leave a note or message - there is simply no explanation as to their feelings.

'In respect of the issue which has been described as bullying there was a conflict in July 2018 and other contacts that Uma had with the young lady in question.

'There were allegations of bullying, I accept that is the case.

'But Uma's diary is consistent and clear about her mental health.

'I am satisfied that Uma is the only person who caused herself to leave the platform in front of that the train.

'I am satisfied she deliberately did that and all the available evidence is that's what she intended to do.'

In a statement, Uma's parents said: 'Uma was always the life and soul of the party and didn't struggle to make friends.

'She loved life and will be missed by everyone. She lit up a room whenever she walked in. The family home is not the same since she died. It's very quiet.'
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
Have a slurp of gumbo from Nice Guys Bar & Grill chef Darian D Fresh Williams and theres a lot more than sausage and chicken going on.

There are memories in that bowl  memories of Williams grandfather and the truck farm behind his familys house on the West Bank, where there was okra to be picked, eggs to be gathered and turtles to be fed. Williams mother died when he was 6 years old, so he spent a lot of time in Harvey, surrounded by his grandmother, aunts and his grandfather in the kitchen.

Hes the one who gave me my passion to cook, says Williams, 42. He was excellent, always using fresh ingredients and home-grown produce. I was there right by his side. He taught me his red beans and his white beans and one of the best gumbo recipes. Its still my go to.

Williams describes his gumbo as lighter than average, built on a peanut butter-colored roux that isnt as thick and mahogany-colored as many versions. But its loaded with smoked turkey, sausage, seafood, chicken and sometimes okra or file.

It has the whole kitchen sink in it, he says. You can just get lost in the sauce. Mine is almost brothy, the way he made it.

That gumbo is one of the home-style specialties Williams brings to the table at Nice Guys, the casual eatery Allison and Glenn Charles opened in a former Gert Town daiquiri bar in June. Williams went to school with Allison Charles and they reconnected in Houston, where he had been living since 2016, operating a New Orleans-centric food truck. When she proposed the idea of him manning the kitchen at the restaurant she and her husband were planning to open  just before the pandemic hit  he accepted the offer.

Although Nice Guys menu leans toward casual dining, with dishes like smothered fries, burgers and nachos, Williams brings fine dining experience to the mix. He worked at Emeril Lagasses flagship restaurant for nearly a decade, moving up to the position of sous chef, learning and working alongside chef de cuisine David Slater, executive sous chef Tyron Carmouche and Homebase culinary director Chris Wilson.

Working at Emerils was like going to school, Williams says. Id encourage any chef to work there for six months or a year to get a real foundation. I was paying $28,000 a year to go to the Art Institute in Atlanta for culinary; there I was getting paid to learn.

Hes especially proud of creating a dish for brunch  chicken and waffles  that was named for him: Darians chicken and waffles.

Those chefs taught me so much, he adds. How to work with flavor, how to think about the business side and give guests an experience they cant forget. Thats what Im trying to do now at Nice Guys.

Cordelia Heaney becomes director of the Crescent City Farmers Markets on their 25th anniversary Cordelia Heaney moved to New Orleans to take a job at Tulane University in 2004. After later attaining an MBA at Tulanes Freeman School of Bu

He puts his own signature on the menu in bold flavor combinations like drunken wings doused with boozy sauces. Flavors like tequila mango and Crown peach harmonize well with the cocktail menu he created for pairing.

I knew Allison wanted messy fries, he says. At first I kind of turned my nose up at the idea of a crazy pile of food on the plate. But I started playing around, and theyre one of our most popular items.

Hes talking about the Earhart Attack Fries, which are seasoned fried potatoes slathered in crawfish cheese sauce and topped with chunks of marinated chicken, hot and smoked sausage, bacon, jalapenos and a fried egg. Theres plenty to share.

A recent Saturday special featured surf and turf Chef D Freshs way. A 12-ounce grilled rib-eye was served with a lobster tail atop a loaded potato oozing seafood cream sauce. Priced at $39, its an entree built for comfort not for speed, and portioned for two.

Besides the regular menu, theres a daily special that ranges from gumbo on Fridays to red beans and fried chicken on Mondays, tacos on Tuesdays, hibachi-style hot boxes with fried rice and grilled seafood on Wednesdays and stuffed turkey legs on Thursdays. Brunch is served on weekends and diners can get Williams chicken and waffles. Char-grilled oysters are always available. Families are welcome and theres a kids menu.

Nice Guys has dining inside and under tents outdoors. The restaurant does a brisk takeout business and delivery is available.

Despite the pandemic, business has been good.

Im very thankful, Williams says. Were still growing and I still have a lot of ideas and dishes I want to try.

Nice Guys Bar & Grill

7910 Earhart Blvd., (504) 302-2404

Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat.

Dine-in, outdoor seating, takeout and delivery available
Ten doses of Covid-19 vaccine were discarded at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin because of leaking vials.

The vials were in the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that was shipped into the country on St Stephen's Day and were due to be administered to frontline healthcare staff on December 30.

Staff who were in the process of removing the vaccine from the batch detected leakages from two vials, according to a statement from the hospital. As a precautionary measure, they were not used, the hospital said.

"This was reported immediately by Beaumont Hospital to the Health Products Regulatory Authority which subsequently collected the affected vials from Beaumont Hospital and informed the manufacturer," the statement said. "No similar leakages have occurred since."

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At the time, vaccinators were required to extract five doses from each vial, which meant 10 doses were lost. Since then, vaccinators have been advised to extract six doses from each vial.

A source said health care workers who arrived for vaccinations at Beaumont Hospital had to have their appointments rescheduled.

Last month, 130 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were discarded after they were stored at an incorrect temperature at a nursing home in Meath.

The HSE confirmed that 22 vials of the Pfizer-Bio-NTech vaccine were "incorrectly stored and the appropriate cold chain was not in place", which meant the vials could not be used.

The HSE said in a statement this weekend that reducing the risk of wastage was a key factor in any vaccine roll-out strategy.

It is conducting an audit to ensure the vials delivered thus far are all accounted for and used.

Vaccination centres are required to submit returns to the HSE for every vial, including its date of use.

"Records of vaccine dose reconciliation are maintained at the vaccination site," the statement said. "The HSE is currently collating and validating the returned Covid-19 Vial Traceability Session Forms from local vaccination hubs."

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires specific storage conditions that have presented the health authorities with significant challenges as they prepare to roll it out in communities, starting with over-85s from tomorrow.

The HSE had planned to use the more user-friendly AstraZeneca vaccine, which requires no pre-mixing or special storage.

However, the Department of Health, advised by chief medical officer Tony Holohan, decided it should not be administered to the over-70s because of a lack of data about its efficacy in that age group.

The Pfizer vaccine will be shipped to 84 larger GP practices and vaccination centres in urban areas this week and will be extended to smaller GP practices from next week.

About 12,000 people over the age of 85 are expected to receive the first dose of vaccine over the next three weeks.

Also included in the roll-out from tomorrow are 25,000 frontline health workers and 42,500 people aged over 65 living in long-term residential care facilities.

Beaumont Hospital said it had administered 9,706 Covid-19 vaccines since the start of the vaccination programme on December 29, and had a further 2,131 vaccine doses which it would begin administering tomorrow.

The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -70 degrees centigrade in specialist ultra-cold freezers. Once defrosted, it has a shelf life of five days in a refrigerator.
"Is this is a dagger that I see before?"

That's the famous line in Shakespeare's violent play Macbeth which lends itself perfectly to this story about the sale of a late Bronze Age dagger discovered in 1903 which has been sold to the National Museum of Ireland by Sheppards Irish Auction House, Durrow, Co. Laois.

The dagger was found in south-west county Laois beside the Annagh bridge over the River Nore, and was located near the road leading from Coolrain to the Pike-of-Rushall. The finder was Jack Feehan, known locally as Jack the fisherman.

Auctioneer Philip Sheppard said it is thought that finds in the water suggest votive offerings to archaeologists since they would be awkward to retrieve.

"A common ritualistic practice in the later Bronze Age was the deposition of hoards in sacred places including river fords which formed part of the sacred landscape. The dagger, most likely a ritual offering, was in the possession of James Roe, a justice of the peace from Killavilla, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary until 1929 when it changed ownership," he said.

At 20 cm. long, the Jack Feehan dagger has a leaf-shaped blade with a mid-rib. The evolution of a mid-rib on metal daggers by the end of the Early Bronze Age, served to strengthen them for combat use. Many copper and copper-alloy dagger forms, are known from Europe in the late third to early second millennium BCE. As general-purpose tools they would have had many uses including, but not restricted to, fighting.

The earliest daggers in Ireland had quite flat cross-sections and ranged from pieces with blades a few centimetres long to examples with blades over 20 cm., constituting serviceable weapons. While little edge wear is visible on any daggers from this period (blade-on-blade impacts are unnecessary for dagger combat) and, because flesh and bone are not prone to causing damage, it can be difficult to measure their functions in combat.

The Bronze Age denotes the first period in which metal was used with metalwork being one of the defining features of the Age: in Ireland, it lasted from about 2000 - 800 BCE. Knowledge of how to make bronze, an alloy of tin and copper, came to Ireland from Europe.

The copper was mined in Ireland, chiefly in Co Kerry, while the tin was imported from Britain. The earliest copper mine in the country was at Ross Island, Killarney. Irish metalsmiths created large numbers of weapons, perhaps because society became more violent.

The commonest object forms produced were swords and spearheads, and daggers to a lesser degree making this new acquisition by the NMI from Sheppards auction house all the more significant.
A 47-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with burglary and abuse of corpse in the case of a dismembered body that was found inside a U-Haul truck in the citys Far Northeast section Thursday.

Taray Herring was arraigned Saturday morning on those charges as well as criminal trespass, theft, and tampering with evidence. He was ordered held without bail.

A spokesperson for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is representing Herring, said the office had no comment on the case.

Cpl. Jasmine Reilly, a police spokesperson, said Saturday that the Medical Examiners Office is still in the process of identifying the victim and that homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the death. The body parts recovered were consistent with an adult male, she said.

The victims torso was found about 9 a.m. Thursday after police officers responded to a call of an in-progress burglary on the 1000 block of Sanibel Street in Somerton, police said. Police followed a U-Haul that drove away from the property and after pulling the driver over a short distance away at the intersection of Kelvin Avenue and Foster Street, found the dismembered body inside a trash bag in the back of the truck.

Property records show that the owner of the house on Sanibel where the burglary was reported is Peter Gerold, whose 70th birthday was Monday. Gerold owned a massage therapy practice.

Reilly said that on Wednesday, someone from a different state had called police asking for them to conduct a well-being check on Gerold, whom the person had not heard from for some time. Police went to his home on that day, and the house appeared to be properly secured and there wasnt mail piled up, she said. There was nothing suspicious at the time, she said, and police did not enter the home.

We dont just kick peoples doors in, she said. There must be a reason why we go in there.

On Thursday, when the U-Haul truck was pulled over, the driver got out of the vehicle and told officers: I dont want anything to do with this, and theres a body in the back, Police Sgt. Eric Gripp previously told reporters.

Police previously said a weapon was also found in the back of the truck but have not said what it was.

The driver and another man in the truck were taken into custody. Herring was the passenger, Reilly said. She did not name the driver, and said he was not charged and was released. She said police were still trying to get to the bottom of what happened.

On Thursday night, after Herring talked to homicide investigators, police went out to search in dumpsters behind a nearby strip mall at Proctor Road and Kelvin Avenue, near the Sanibel house, and found black trash bags with a persons hands and feet  all of which were deep-fried, a law enforcement source said Saturday. A persons cut-up legs, not deep-fried, were also found in trash bags, the source said.

Herring, a registered sex offender on the Pennsylvania State Polices Megans Law website, had been arrested last May on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft, and related offenses, according to court records. His bail was changed to unsecured in June, and he was released. He still faces a preliminary hearing on those charges.

He pleaded guilty in 2019 to a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 18 months probation as part of a negotiated agreement, and was ordered to be supervised under the Adult Probation and Parole Department Mental Health Unit, court records indicate.

In 2015, he was convicted of indecent assault and harassment in a 2013 incident and was sentenced to nine to 18 months in jail on the assault charge, and was allowed to be immediately paroled. Although he was deemed not to be a sexually violent predator, he was ordered to register on the State Polices Megans Law website as a sexual offender. He was also ordered to be supervised by the probation and parole departments mental health unit and undergo sex-offender treatment, according to court records.

In 2012, Herring pleaded guilty to four counts each of harassment and simple assault regarding four separate incidents the prior year, and was sentenced to probation.

And in 2001, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, indecent assault, and possession of instruments of crime for an incident the prior year and was sentenced to at least five to 10 years in prison.

On Friday, investigators returned to the dumpsters behind the strip mall and collected more evidence, police said.

Investigators also returned to the Sanibel house Friday and continued to search a detached garage there. Employees of the SPCA and ACCT Philly were on scene removing birds in cages and other animals from inside the residence.

Sarah Barnett, a spokesperson for ACCT, said there were about 30 parrots inside the house, along with several bearded dragon lizards, tortoises, and koi fish and beehives in the backyard. Barnett said it appeared as if the homeowner was trying to breed and sell the birds, which she said were very highly sought-after and can be worth thousands of dollars each.
(CNN)  In the moments after former President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate for a second time in a little more than a year, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell rose to speak.

His message was clear: the former President could not be the future of the Republican Party. Even as McConnell voted that Trump was not guilty Saturday for inciting an insurrection  raising constitutional and specific legal objections  McConnell's words underscored the challenge for the Republican Party going forward. They are torn between two competing interests: sticking with Trump enough to woo supporters for themselves and erasing Trump's dangerous final days from the GOP's legacy.

"Former President Trump's actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty," McConnell said on the floor Saturday.

"Anyone who decries his awful behavior is accused of insulting millions of voters. That is an absurd deflection," McConnell added. "Seventy-four million Americans did not invade the Capitol. Hundreds of rioters did. Seventy-four million Americans did not engineer the campaign of disinformation and rage that provoked it. One person did. Just one. "

The task before Republicans now will be detangling the pieces of Trump's appeal to carry with them -- and how much of the former President's bombastic and conspiratorial tendencies they can truly leave behind. Republican senators' acquittal of Trump, they argue, should not be read as an all-out embrace of the former President or what he stood for or even practically as a promise they would back him in 2024 to lead their party in a race for the White House.

"Time is going to take care of that, some way or another," Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa who voted to acquit, said when asked if Trump should be the future of the party. "But remember in order to be a leader you've gotta have followers. So we're going to find out whoever leads, but everyone is going to be involved, we're a big tent."

The Democratic House impeachment managers may not have convinced 17 Republicans to convict Trump for inciting an insurrection, but Republican senators were clearly shaken watching videos of members  and Trump's own vice president  fleeing for safety as Trump did little to quell the rioters.

The House managers' case, showing the violent attack and how the danger could have been so much worse, was intended as much as to win a conviction as it was to win the public battle over Trump's conduct. The guilty votes from seven Republican senators was a significant rebuke, even if it didn't mean Trump would be formally barred from holding office again.

"I think he is probably not likely to ever be President of the United States again based on what is going on right here right now," said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican who voted to acquit Trump. "I think the impeachment process has been damaging because people have seen repeated images of how awful that night was and how inappropriate his response was. While it does not meet the standard in my view of inciting insurrection, it will have had that damaging effect."

'It's an uncomfortable vote'

Cramer has also said in recent days he would have a "harder" time supporting Trump if he ran for president in the future.

"It would be harder for me given what's happened, that has got to be part of what weighs on me," Cramer told CNN.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican moderate from Alaska who voted guilty, told reporters earlier in the week that she too never saw Trump wining another election for president.

"I don't see how after the American public sees the whole story laid out here  not just in one snippet on this day and another on that  but this whole scenario that has been laid out before us, I just, I don't see how Donald Trump could be reelected to the presidency and I just don't see that," Murkowski said.

Easily the biggest surprise among the Republicans to vote guilty was Sen. Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican who said long ago he would not run for reelection in 2022. After voting that the trial was unconstitutional earlier this week, he was the only Republican who chose to put that aside to vote to hold Trump accountable for his conduct.

"By what he did and by what he did not do, President Trump violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," Burr said in a statement explaining his vote. "My hope is that with today's vote America can begin to move forward and focus on the critical issues facing our country today."

While many Republicans dismissed a conviction on the basis they did not believe it was constitutional to convict an ex-President once he left office, there were few who believed that the events of January 6  the mob, the shattered windows, the panic, the deaths and injuries  had happened completely independent of Trump. Even many Senate Republicans who found Trump not guilty said the former President bore responsibility for the attack on the Capitol and the lack of effort once it began to stop it. They argued Trump had sought to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power and stop the congressional certification of the November election.

It was a stark contrast to Trump's first impeachment over efforts to convince Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, when no House Republicans voted to impeach Trump, and Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the sole Republican to find him guilty.

Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, looked pained in the final moments of the trial Saturday, telling reporters ultimately it was "an uncomfortable vote."

Asked if it was the right vote, the South Dakota Republican responded, "it's an uncomfortable vote and time will tell, but I don't think there was a good outcome there for anybody."

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, another Republican who voted guilty, argued Saturday that Trump's reputation has been badly damaged.

"It was a bipartisan vote. It was the biggest bipartisan vote there ever was," said Toomey, who is not running for reelection in 2022. "And a majority of senators believed that he was guilty. Not the two-thirds necessary to actually convict by our constitutional standards, but that is an extremely powerful rebuke. And that doesn't go away. And the American people are aware of what he did."

'A clear and convincing majority'

The drama over House Democrats' short-lived gambit Saturday to haul in a Republican congresswoman to testify at the trial underscored the political realities of the trial and Democrats' goal to convince the public Trump should not hold office again.

The House impeachment managers knew when they surprised senators of both parties Saturday morning  springing the request to depose Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington onto a shocked chamber  that the testimony would not change the outcome of the trial. There simply was no way for Democrats to change the minds of enough Republican senators who were dug into their position. But her testimony could have created a spectacle with a member of Trump's own party denouncing his conduct under the bright lights of a Senate impeachment trial.

The House managers ultimately backed down from their call for testimony Saturday, just three hours after they had thrown the trial into chaos, in part due to the concerns that it could turn the trial into a drawn-out political fight, with Trump's lawyers trying to haul in witnesses like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The other concern was that they could lose Republican guilty votes by dragging out the trial.

The blowback they got from their liberal base about giving up on witnesses paid off when the final vote was heard several hours later. Trump has now been impeached with the support of 10 House Republicans, and seven Senate Republicans voted with Democrats that Trump was guilty.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead impeachment manager, told reporters after the trial that most Republicans believed the managers had proven their case, even if they voted to acquit on constitutional grounds.

"We have a clear and convincing majority of members of Congress that the President actually incited violent insurrection against the union and against the Congress," Raskin said.

"Mitch McConnell clearly feels that Donald Trump remains a huge problem for the Republican Party, even if he has been disgraced in the eyes of the country. That is not my jurisdiction, and I really don't have anything to say about that. They will have to deal with the political dynamics within their own party."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Even after acquittal, GOP senators and Democratic managers hope rebuke of Trump has lasting impact."

COVID-19 vaccine: 18,000 doses discarded due to absurd stance By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s):

A decision to discard the last quantities in vials of the COVISHIELD AstraZeneca vaccine, amounting to an estimated 18,000 doses, under the current vaccination programme has raised serious concerns in the health sector.

At least 18,000 doses, which could have vaccinated 18,000 people, may have already been thrown out, even as the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and other experts urged that an extra dose could be extracted from each vial.

The NMRA has informed the Health Ministry that each vial, which is recommended for use in the country, contains at least 10 doses. However, it is normal for liquid to remain in the vial after withdrawing the 10th dose.

When low dead volume syringes and/or needles are used, the amount remaining in the vial may be sufficient for an additional dose or two and that can be used, the NMRA has said in a letter to the Health Ministry on February 6, even as many experts had met ministry officials to convince them about this matter the previous day (February 5).

While reiterating that care should be taken to ensure that each person being vaccinated gets 0.5 ml, as stipulated, the NMRA has said that where a full 0.5 ml cannot be extracted from the vial in the final stages, the remaining volume should be discarded. The vial should be used within six hours of withdrawal of the first dose (stored at 2C to 25C) and any unused amount should be discarded.

Both paediatricians and physicians have also gone into detail to explain the technicalities between the manufacturers instructions and the ability by skilled administrators of the jab to extract the last quantity available in a vaccine vial.

A clinician skilled at vaccinations told the Sunday Times that the whole issue lay with epidemiological officials who were attempting to stick strictly and absurdly to manufacturer recommendations, even though these extra doses could be utilised for medical students and private sector healthcare workers who are in the risk category, while also preventing higher doses being given to the first 10 who get their doses from the same vial.

There was confusion over drawing the liquid from the vial. The debate that the vaccine should be drawn into the syringe until there are clicks and giving the vaccine thereafter without expelling the air or the extra vaccine back into the vial shows the poor understanding of those setting the rules, another clinician added.

A team of experts is going round hospitals, looking into how the vaccinations are being administered to make a call on this issue, it is learnt, while there were howls of protests that this is causing further delays and more volumes of the vaccines would be discarded.

Reports from the United Kingdom indicate that the Head of Immunisation at Public Health England has stated that it is possible to get an extra dose out of vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine, while the Scottish government has informed its health sector that the UKs drug regulator held the same view. This is while the European Medicines Agency has also recommended how six doses may be extracted from a single vial.
WASHINGTON  After his impeachment acquittal, Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy warned that former President Donald J. Trump cannot get away with his actions leading up to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

No one wanted to hold another impeachment trial. No one wanted to relive the painful and traumatic events of January 6th. But we had to do so, Murphy said in a statement. Without accountability, we simply do not have a democracy.

Blumenthal said The quest for accountability will continue.

Although we did not reach a conviction, it does provide some measure of accountability - but much more must be done to stop a would-be Trump tyrant from similar attempts to mobilize or exploit the rage of violent extremists to subvert our democracy, Blumenthal said, noting the prosecutions of people who stormed the Capitol and criminal investigation into Trumps election efforts in Georgia.

He said Democrats could also consider steps like censure against Trump, but he wants to focus on more coronavirus relief legislation.

Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said Trumps words and actions inflamed individuals and likely sparked the attack, but accountability should have come from the justice system, if warranted, not lawmakers. He urged politicians to take the temperature down.

Holding somebody accountable for words and actions, I think is a really slippery slope because I think as was demonstrated in the hearing, there are just as many other public officials who have said some pretty horrible things and have incited similar type of violence, he said. To the extent that Democrats want to continue to go after Trump is going to be viewed as political opportunity as opposed to really seeking justice.

The Senate voted 57-43 Saturday for conviction, short of the 67 votes needed to convict Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Support from two-thirds of the Senate is needed to convict.

Blumenthal and Murphy voted with all Democrats in favor of conviction, as they did in Trumps previous impeachment trial in 2020, which also concluded with an acquittal. Republican Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Ben Sasse of Nebraska voted with Democrats in this trial to convict.

I wasnt completely surprised because I had talked with a number of them, Blumenthal said. They didnt tell me definitively what they were going to do... they were wrestling with this very challenging decision.

The House impeachment managers presented their closing arguments Saturday after deciding not to call any witnesses to testify. They argued Trump pushed a lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him, incited his supporters to attack the Capitol to stop its certification and failed to intervene to stop the mobbing of the building, forcing lawmakers into lock-down and resulting in five deaths.

Trumps defense team argued that Trumps speech was protected by the first amendment and suggested his words did not meet the legal standard of incitement. They said he was innocent of wrongdoing.

After his acquittal, Trump called the trial "another phase in the greatest witch hunt in American history."

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people," he said. "We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future."

Blumenthal said he was not worried by the possibility of a future Trump campaign.

I believe he has been so thoroughly disgraced and discredited by this evidence of fueling and inflaming mob violence that attempted to overthrow our democracy that the American people will see him for what he is, he said.

Candelora feared another Trump campaign would be all about his personality, not his policies.

I would hope that our president would reflect on the events over the last four years and think long and hard before he makes a decision like that, Candelora said. Regardless of whether people supported his policies or didnt support his policies, the debate revolved around his personality because he has a very strong personality the way he presents. If that doesnt change, I dont think thats helpful to the American people.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, blasted Trumps supporters and the Republicans who voted to acquit him.

That millions of Americans admire him is a sickness in the land, Himes said. The Republican senators and congressmen who defended him have poisoned their legacies.

Trump was defended by lawyers David Schoen, a criminal defense lawyer from Alabama, Bruce Castor, the former acting Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and Michael T. van der Veen, a criminal attorney from Pennsylvania. Van der Veen, who gave the defenses closing arguments, obtained his law degree from Quinnipiac Law School in 1988 and graduated in 1981 from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford.

One of the House managers prosecuting the case against Trump, U.S. Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., graduated from Choate just three years after Van Der Veen. Its not clear if they knew each other there.

Democrats U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse of Colorado, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, Eric Swalwell of California, Joaquin Castro of Texas and David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

While the historic trial  the first for a president who has left office and the first time a presidents has faced a second impeachment trial  is over, investigations into the events of Jan. 6 and leading up to it will continue.

Blumenthal said he plans to introduce legislation to establish a non-partisan commission to investigate the insurrection, similar to the one that probed the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, has been leading a congressional effort to examine law enforcements response to Jan. 6 through the House Appropriations Committee, which she chairs.

Like so many others, I will never forget that day. I struggled to put on my gas mask in the House Chamber to the sound of gunshots and calls for violence and huddled with my Republican and Democratic colleagues as we ran and hid from the insurrectionists, she said. And I will never forget, and history wont either, that the attack was the result of months of inspiration and a direct call for violence by the former President.

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

RUSTON, La. (AP)  Cobe Williams posted 16 points with five assists as Louisiana Tech narrowly defeated UAB 69-64 on Saturday. its sixth win in seven games.

Louisiana Tech swept the weekend series with UAB, knocking the Blazers out of first place in the Conference USA West Division. UAB and Louisiana Tech are now 2-3 in the standings behind North Texas.

Kenneth Lofton, Jr. had 13 points for Louisiana Tech (17-6, 10-4), which earned its fifth consecutive home victory.

Tavin Lovan had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Blazers (16-4, 9-3). Quan Jackson added 12 points. Trey Jemison had nine rebounds.

Louisiana Tech defeated UAB 70-58 on Friday.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com
Police in Cyprus used water cannon and stun grenades to disperse several hundred demonstrators during a protest in the capital Nicosia on Saturday.

The demonstrators were protesting at what they said was rampant corruption among government officials on the Mediterranean island.

Police said ten demonstrators were taken into custody, and six others were fined 300 euros ($363) for violating a coronavirus ban on public gatherings.

Protesters accused authorities of using the ban to try to silence legitimate opposition to corruption, and said police had deployed disproportionate force.

But police said the demonstrators had been warned in advance that their rally was illegal, adding that officers had resorted to force only after being pelted with rocks.

(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)
Reviving the proposed Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor and finding ways to increase bilateral trade, which is currently worth $10-11 billion, will be among the key points on the agenda when foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visits Russia this week.

The 17-18 February visit is also expected to see both sides discuss possible dates for the India-Russia annual summit to be hosted by India this year. The meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not take place in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, said Indian and Russian officials. Therefore, Shringlas visit is important as it keeps contacts at high levels of government on track", former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said.

Matters related to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit that New Delhi will host this year are also expected to be discussed.

Shringlas meetings with his Russian interlocutors would send a signal that Indias ties with Moscow are independent of its ties with the US and in Indias national interest, Sibal said. This is against the backdrop of the Joe Biden administration extending a nuclear arms pact with Russia but doubling down on pledges against Moscow following the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and fresh allegations of hacking by the Russian government.

Bilateral investments between India and Russia have touched $30 billion because of investments in oil and gas, but two-way trade has languished at just $10-11 billion, according to Indian government numbers. Analysts like Sibal have maintained that the primary reasons for stagnant trade is the lack of interest from the Indian private sector, the structure of the Russian economy, and lack of information on the potential of the two markets.

The long routes for trade, with the existing route from Mumbai to the Russian port of St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea coast takes about 40 days, and have only complicated matters, said industry insiders.

A shorter route through the Chabahar port is yet to fructify because of the sanctions on Iran.

With the Biden administration in place, Container Corporation of India (Concor) and Russian Railways are looking to begin commercial runs by end of February on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)-- a 7,200 km-long network of ship, rail and road routes covering 13 countries including India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia.

Operationalising the Chennai-Vladivostok route would supplement the INSTC and trade via this route would take 24-25 days. It was in 2019, that India and Russia announced their intent to connect Chennai and Vladivostok, during a visit to Russia by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi had then extended a $1 billion Line of Credit (LoC) for the Russian Far East  where strategic rival China has made inroads in recent years. The LoC would be a take off point for (Indias) Act Far East (policy)," Modi had said. The Russian Far East is said to comprise roughly a third of Russia and although rich in minerals, hydrocarbons, timber and fish, it is an economically underdeveloped region. News reports said Tata Power and KGK Diamond are among the companies that have invested in the region.

People familiar with the matter said feasibility studies on the Chennai-Vladivostok route were to begin soon and would act as a game-changer" in injecting much-needed momentum into economic ties. Ties in the energy sector were strong and efforts were on to broad base economic linkages, one of the people cited above said.

In the railways sector, Russia had shown interest in modernization of Indian Railways signaling systems as well as in the private operation of train services, the person said. Digital toll collection in the roads sector and inland waterways development were two other areas that Moscow was keen on, the person said.

The two countries would be holding their strategic economic dialogue in the next two months that could give a push to these projects, the person said.

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Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was among the top builders of modern India. He was also one of the most prominent Muslim personalities of twentieth century. An Islamic thinker of international repute, he possessed good qualities of the past but with modern outlook and believed in oneness of all human beings. He advocated for learning through liberal, modern and universal education combining the rationalism of western sciences.

Thoughtful and reflective, Maulana had studied in great depth the causes of the decline of Muslim Societies around the world. The main cause for the Fall of Ummah, according to Maulana Azad, was the involvement of Muslims in unproductive activities and ignoring the facts of the fast changing world. Through his speeches and writings, Maulana repeatedly reminded Muslims that their own irrational and un-Islamic attitude was responsible for their decline in practically in every walk of life. He, therefore, addressed Muslims in these words: "You have spent several nights of indifference (Urdu-ghaflat) and complacency (Urdu-sarshari). For Gods sake, get up now and see how much the sun has risen and how far your co-travelers (non-Muslims) have gone ahead of you." (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

Maulana felt that after 16th Century, the situation of knowledge in Muslim and European societies interchanged completely. Now Europe started to follow Muslims way of progressive thinking and enquiry whereas Muslims copied Europe way of life of Middle Ages (Dark Age) that was full of superstition, bigotry and retrograde thoughts. He says "Now (after 16th Century,) the contrast in qualities as during Crusades, became apparent. The place of Muslims (Progress) was taken over by Europe and that of Europe (Dark Ages) by Muslims." (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

According to Maulana Azad, the success story of Muslims during Middle Ages was entirely due to their dependence on "Ilm-O-danish" (Knowledge and Wisdom). Europe, at that time, depended on invocation and benediction for all the problems of life, even for wining Wars. Muslims used to fight with Arms of Iron and Fire. Europe depended only on the Help of God. Muslims depended on God as well as materialistic sources provided by Nature. One was the follower of only spiritualistic powers; the other was dependent on both spiritualism and materialism. One waited for Miracles to appear and the other waited for success of their sincere efforts. Miracles never appeared but the efforts provided success to Muslims (During Crusades). (Ghubar-e-Khatir- by Maulana Azad)

Maulana always believed that Duaein (Invocation) by Be Ilm (Ignorants) and Be 'amal (Men with no initiative) results in escapism. To prove his point, he described the incident of Bukhara. He wrote, During the early nineteenth century, Russian forces surrounded the city of Bukhara. Instead of confronting the enemy, Ruler of Bukhara issued instructions that in all the Mosques and Dargahs, Invocational Prayers (Khatm Khwajgan) be organized. On one side the guns were playing havoc and on the other loud calls of Invocatory Prayers were resounding. Guns versus Prayers. The obvious happened. Bukhara fell to Russian forces. Invocation does help but for those who have the courage to fight. For people without courage, Prayers become the source of escape from reality" (Ghubar-e-Khatir, by Maulana Azad).

In a similar incident, the ruler of Egypt, Murad, instead of defending against the forces of Napoleon during 1798, issued instructions to recite Bukhari Sharif (Religious Book- Collections of prophetic Traditions) in all the Mosques in order to quell the enemy. Again the obvious happened and before the recitation could be completed, the whole of Egypt was conquered by Napoleon forces.

In his various speeches (Khutbat Azad Addresses by Azad, Edited by Malik Ram, Sahitya Academy,Delhi, Fifth Edition, 1997), Maulana Azad has dealt in quite details about the Rise and Fall of Islamic Societies. In this connection, he has referred to an article written by an eminent traveler and historian Prof. Armin Wembrey, published in Budapest Herald (1901).

Prof. Wembrey, a national of Hungary, was a great friend of Turks. He lived with them for more than two decades and visited most of the Islamic world. After living all these years with Muslims, he was disillusioned with their behaviors and attitudes towards worldly affairs. He, therefore, left their company and went back to his native land where he adversely commented on Muslims. According to Maulana, Wembrey wrote "There is no point in supporting Muslims any more. They do not have any interest in worldly affairs and do not wish to contribute in development. They have no vision, no commitments and sense of responsibility. All that they know and do is Ibadat Guzari (prayers). They are not capable for working for the cause of humanity. The best thing for the West remains to annex their entire territories and share them amongst themselves."

Maulana Azad, pained by these comments, observed that "if such are the views of friends of Muslims, imagine what the enemies would be thinking of them. For instance, he quoted another European Scholar, Maxin Hardin who wrote (London Times - 1910) that "How long Muslims would be let free. Islam is a danger. Whatever area is captured of Muslim Land, it is the rightful property of Europe. Its return is madness. (Khutbat Azad)



Inspite of anti-Islamic stance of Europe, Maulana Azad was indeed great protagonist for international peace and unity but he knew that without acquiring might and fighting spirit, it was not possible to get respect and honour. He, therefore, vehemently advocated that "the hand is sacred which is holding a white flag, signifying peace, but only those can only survive who firmly hold in their hand a deadly sword because that is the only way for asking Justice and defending themselves from the perpetrators of tyranny." (Khutbat Azad)



Maulana Azad had the genuine feeling that spreading false propaganda against Muslim had started by the West as early as 16th century. In this connection he observed "Islam with all its values and qualities became a victim of false propaganda by the West. It was said that Islam lives on the booty of loot and arson. Sir Syed was probably the first sincere Muslim who confronted the Muslim haters and rejected all insinuations." (Khutbat Azad)



Maulana Azad was against separating religion from worldly knowledge. He advised Muslims to acquire modern knowledge and in this connection he appealed to them to contribute large sums for the establishment of Aligarh Muslim University which till then was a College only. He observed, "the day Muslim University will be established; it will be completion of the exhortation and message of our Prophet."

Maulana was an important Islamic scholar and had great respect for the Madarsahs. However, with the changing of times, he felt that the Madarsahs needed to make suitable changes in their approach of imparting knowledge. He, therefore, advised "If education is meant for human beings and purpose is its applicability in daily life, then teach them in such a manner that they are not frightened. But if the education is meant for angels, then you do what you like. The world has changed and in view of this fact we should have made changes in our education system hundred years back but if it was not done at that time, then atleast do it now. What we are teaching today in our Madarsahs in the name of Maqulat (Logic and Philosophy) is simply outdated and has no place in todays world. We should accept the ground realities and understand that in place of outdated philosophica subjects, we need to teach students the problems facing the Ummah. If you do not do it, that means you do not understand the basics of life and wish to fight with the unstoppable changing times. ---- History teaches us that in the clash between Qadamatparsti (Conservatism) and Modernism, the loser has always been Qadamatprasti. True, that Abul Fazal and Faizi were the products of Madarsahs and that they had done well with their administrative capabilities. But that was a long time back. That education can not work now. Times have changed. Now you are isolated because you remain at the same place (Madarsahs) where you entered five hundred years back. During all these years, world has seen vast development and changes. The subjects you are teaching today have no relevance to the need of present times. The result is obvious. There is big wall between you and the world. You lag behind in all walks of life. You are supposed to be Nikamme (worthless). We must accept that we have committed grave mistakes by not reconciling with the changing times." (Khutbat Azad)

Inspite of the Fall of Islamic Societies, Maulana Azad never compromised with spirit of Islam that stressed for unity and brotherhood. Throughout his life he stood for the unity of India and its composite culture as well as cordiality between Hindus and Muslims. Once he said  If our Prophet could advocate unity between Quraish and all the communities in and around Madina (as one nation), dont you think that it is not the religious duty to unite with the Hindus of Hindustan.  He repeatedly expressed his views that "As a true Muslim, I have inherited Islam's glorious traditions of the last fourteen hundred years. I am not prepared to loose even a small part of that legacy. I have another equally deep realization, not hindered by the Islamic spirit. that I am an Indian, and proud being an Indian. If the whole world is my country and is to be honored, the dust of India has the first place. If all mankind are my brothers, then the Indians have the first place."

At another occasion, he said "Today, if some Angel comes from a cloud and declared from Qutub Minar that - Swaraj can be granted within twenty four hours provided demand (wish) of Hindu-Muslim Unity is withdrawn, I will not accept the offer. If Swaraj is delayed, it is the loss of India but if efforts for Hindu Muslim unity are given up, it is the loss of humanity. (Khutbat Azad)
The British government needs to step up over its obligations to hold an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, the Irish premier said.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, speaking to the Sunday Times in a wide-ranging interview, said the Irish side had investigated terrorist killings where collusion with security forces was suspected, and reiterated calls for Britain to reciprocate.

Mr Finucane, 39, who represented republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the conflict, was shot dead in his family home in north Belfast in February 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state.

I think theres a vested interest among British security interests and Provisional IRA intelligence interests never to have the truth come out Micheal Martin

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis previously said he was not taking a public inquiry off the table, but said further examinations of the case by police and a police watchdog should conclude first.

Mr Martin told the paper: The Irish government fulfilled its obligations (under the Weston Park agreement), the British government hasnt fulfilled all its obligations in respect of the murder of Pat Finucane.

I think the British government needs to step up on that front as well, and I will work with (them) in relation to that.

The Smithwick Tribunal into the deaths of two Royal Ulster Constabulary officers  Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan  found that gardai leaked information to the IRA.

The pair were murdered in 1989 as they crossed the border following a meeting at a Garda station in Dundalk.

Separately, Mr Martin suggested there was a shared interest between the British intelligence services and IRA not to see the truth come out over association between the state and paramilitary organisations relating to murders during the Troubles.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin believes Sinn Fein must apologise for the Provisional IRA's role in the Troubles. (Julien Behal/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Taoiseach Micheal Martin believes Sinn Fein must apologise for the Provisional IRA's role in the Troubles. (Julien Behal/PA)

He told the paper: I think theres a vested interest among British security interests and Provisional IRA intelligence interests never to have the truth come out.

I think the Provos would just as well not want it to come out, so they procrastinate on an awful lot of issues and so (does) British intelligence.

Its very clear the Provisional IRA was heavily infiltrated in the end.

There are various inquiries still under way that weve never quite got to the bottom of in terms of the level of that penetration, and what it resulted in, in terms of people being killed and murdered, and the work of senior people within the Provisional IRA who turned out to be informers and who caused the deaths of others.
University of Oxford announced Saturday that it will conduct clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine on children as young as 6 years old up to 17 to test the vaccines efficacy in young people. Researchers will recruit at least 300 kid volunteers for the assessment of the level of immune response the jabs produce in children. The University of Oxford and its partners are expected to commence tests this weekend at Oxford University and its partner sites in London, Southampton, and Bristol. Thus far, the firm revealed that up to 240 kids expected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and reaming, meningitis inoculation. Pfizer and Moderna, meanwhile have also started enrolling kids aged 12 and above for clinical trials to determine if vaccines could provide children life-long immunity from COVID-19 disease.

Read: Scientists Seek To Develop All-in One-vaccine As COVID-19 Mutations Spread Rapidly

Read: Covid Vaccine Booster Shot: Second Round Of Inoculation To Start Across India Today

In a statement on Saturday, the University of Oxford said that it was now enrolling volunteers from the Thames Valley area for clinical trials on kids. The purpose of this study is to test a new vaccine against COVID-19 in children and young adults aged 6-17 years, it informed. Further, the university added, This study will enable us to assess if children can be protected from COVID-19 with this new vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. It will also give us valuable information on safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus, in children and young people. The researchers will randomly allocate participants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and will further monitor the health and perform blood tests, and will collect other information about any symptoms that occur after the vaccination procedure. Participants from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups are particularly welcomed to participate in this study, the university said.

We have a new COVID-19 study open for recruitment. If your child is aged 6-17 years and in good health they may be eligible to participate. Click on the link to find out more. https://t.co/4zbqIEI9LT #OxfordVaccineGroup #OxfordVaccine #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/4IFvVWWbj7  Oxford Vaccine Group (@OxfordVacGroup) February 13, 2021

Child must have ' no medical history'

According to the University of Oxfords release, any kid will be eligible to participate in the vaccine trial if they resided near one of the centers in Oxford, St Georges University Hospital, London, Southampton, or Bristol. It added, that the child must have  no significant medical history and must be aged between 6 years and 17 years and 8 months. we will recruit a total of 300 participants, of which up to 240 will be vaccinated with the candidate vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and up to 60 will be vaccinated with a control vaccine (MenB, Bexsero), Oxford said, adding that the participants will remain uniformed about their group. The data from this study may be used to support further larger scale trials in children, the results of which may be used by AstraZeneca to support approvals of this vaccine for use in children in the future, the release read.

Read: Angela Merkel Responds To Vaccine Roll-out Critics; Assures Full House At Centres By April

Read: France Recommends 'one-shot Vaccine'' For People Who Recovered From COVID-19

(Image Credit: Unsplash/Representative image)
Labors innovation spokesman Ed Husic has been asking himself the same question for five years, since he first visited Teslas California factory in 2016: why cant Australia build an electric car?

Mr Husic, who was elevated to the role of shadow industry and innovation minister last month, says he doesnt have a plan - yet - for how to make it happen.

Labor MP Ed Husic during Question Time at Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But in the two weeks since he took over his dream portfolio the western Sydney MP has visited tech start-ups and medical companies and held round tables in Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. Hes even been to a western Sydney exporter of high-end pet food which gets shipped to Japan.

Hes determined to kickstart a conversation about reviving car-making in Australia, even though major manufacturers quit Australia in the last decade despite $30 billion in government subsidies between 1997 and 2012.
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EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2021

War with Russia Threatened by Western War PartySanity Must Prevail

Feb. 13 , 2021 (EIRNS)The LaRouche Organization today sponsored a public roundtable forum with experts on Russia, including former CIA officer Ray McGovern, former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel, Edward Lozansky, Alex Krainer, and Schiller Institute leaders Harley Schlanger, Diane Sare, and Helga Zepp-LaRouche, under the title Worsening U.S.-Russian RelationsReverse Them with New Paradigm, or Face Nuclear War.

The timing is crucial. In the February issue of the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, Adm. Charles Richard, made the astonishing assertion that, The U.S. military must shift its principal assumption from nuclear employment is not possible to nuclear employment is a very real possibility,  This follows months of provocative military exercises along several of Russias border regions by nuclear capable bombers, ships and submarines, as well as the call by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for Ukraine to join NATO. The current international mobilization against Russia in regard to the escapades of dissident Alexey Navalny, a pathetic right-wing racist openly deployed by British and U.S. intelligence services, based on yet another fake analysis from Britains Porton Down chemical weapons lab accusing Russia of Navalnys novichok poisoning, must be recognized as an effort to impose a color revolution on Moscow while preparing for war.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was asked by journalist Vladimir Solovyov, regarding the threat of new EU sanctions over the Navalny case, Are we heading for a breach with the EU? Lavrov replied:

We believe we would be ready for this. We are neighbors. Speaking collectively, they are our largest trade and investment partner. Many EU companies operate here; there are hundreds or even thousands of joint ventures. When a business benefits both sides, we will continue. I am sure that we have become fully self-sufficient in the defense sphere. We must also attain the same position in the economy to be able to act accordingly if we see again (we have seen this more than once) that sanctions are imposed in a sphere where they can create risks for our economy, including in the most sensitive areas such as the supply of component parts. We dont want to be isolated from the world, but we must be prepared for this. If you want peace, prepare for war.

A parallel diabolical campaign against China, based on the lies peddled by disgraced former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is being carried forward by Bidens new State Department officials under Antony Blinken. As two U.S. aircraft carrier groups exercised in the South China Sea, a nuclear submarine passed through the Taiwan Strait, and Blinken expressed his agreement with Pompeo in the absurd declaration that China is committing genocide against the Uighurs. In fact the Uighur population in Xinjiang is increasing, all abject poverty has been eliminated among the Uighurs (as is true of all Chinese), and the economy is expanding rapidly.

Biden held a two-hour phone call with President Xi Jinping, seen as relatively positive by the Chinese. However, if one considers that Donald Trumps efforts to create friendly and productive relations with both Russia and China were squashed by the military-industrial complex, what is one to think of how things will go with the weak and increasingly senile President Biden?

In the U.S., the farcical second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump ended as everyone knew it would, as the anti-Trump gang fell short by ten votes to convict Trump. The unconstitutional show trial succeeded, however, in its intended effectto further polarize the nation into warring camps, as the City of London and Wall Street seize power over the U.S. economy from the nations elected representatives through the Green Finance scheme. This fascist operation is thoroughly exposed in the EIR Special Report released on Feb. 11, The Great Leap BackwardsLaRouche Exposes the Green New Deal. All followers of The LaRouche Organization should get the report for themselves, and purchase extra copies to distribute to friends and political representatives.
A sheet metal worker has been jailed for three years after gardai found over 75,000 worth of cannabis in his home.

Luke Cummins (24) of Kilcronan Green, Clondalkin, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home on February 2, 2019.

The court heard that on that date gardai acting on confidential information went to the house in Clondalkin with a search warrant. During a search of the premises they found cannabis herb stashed in a number of places.

The estimated street value of the total amount of drugs seized, weighed at around four kilogrammes, is 75,760, prosecutor Sinead McMullen BL told the court.

Cummins returned to the house while gardai were still there and he immediately told gardai that he was taking responsibility for all the drugs found.

He told gardai that he owed around 8,000 to drug dealers from his daily use of cannabis. He said that these people had threatened him and his family with guns and death.

Vincent Heneghan SC, defending, said that Cummins was in fear and that he held the drugs in his home for six to eight weeks.

He said his client had previously worked as a sheet metal worker with his father but became addicted to cannabis and racked up a large debt to his dealers.

He said that as a result of gardai seizing the drugs he was storing his father was forced to pay the drug dealers around 24,000. Counsel said that since this offence his client has sought treatment for his drug use.

Judge Martin Nolan said he accepted that Cummins' remorse was genuine and sincere and noted that his family have suffered serious consequences. He imposed a prison term of three years.
Burma Myanmar Vigilante Groups Formed to Handle Night Thugs

A vigilante group patrols in a Yangon neighborhood. / The Irrawaddy

Yangon-Residents of Myanmars major cities have organized night-time vigilante groups to deter thugs and mobs rumored to have been dispatched by the junta to create community disturbances at a time the whole country is reeling from a week-long anti-coup protest.

Myanmars military seized power on Feb 1, claiming that the general election last year was stolen. They have arrested the countrys democratically elected leaders the President U Win Myint and the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since Friday night, thuggish strangers have been spotted behaving suspiciously around curfew time in some neighborhoods in Yangon, Mandalay and other cities. Upon roundups by neighborhood residents, some were found with large amounts of cash or were under the influence of drugs. Most of them couldnt give proper reasons for their late night behavior.

Their sudden appearances also coincide with the military regimes pardon of more than 23,000 inmatesmostly criminalsand the circulation of rumors about arson and the poisoning of drinking water supplies.

Given the arrival of the thugs and rampant rumors, people feared that the junta was reviving an old, nasty tactic used by its predecessor 33 years ago during the popular democracy uprising in 1988 when provocateurs were dispatched to wreak havoc.

During that time, when suspected drugged thugs were arrested, people took justice into, their own hands, conducting public killings amid accusations of spying and arson.

When the situation worsened, the military used the instability as an excuse to step in with a bloody crackdown, claiming that the country was descending to anarchy. The military takeover just ended in 2011.

Discussing the recent arrests of strangers, U Than Soe, a private English language teacher in Yangons Hlaing Thaya Township, said people experienced this kind of scenario in 1988.

One thing sure is they (the regime) are provoking instability. Only when that happens, they could be able to justify their action, he said.

On Saturday night, residents manned improvised security posts in their neighborhoods after curfew hours began at 8 p.m. Some armed themselves with sticks big enough kill someone.

Unlike what happened in 1988, those arrested by the residents have not been mistreated. Mindful of the bitter consequences what they have experienced more than three decades ago, people held livestreamed public interrogations before handing the suspects over to the police instead.

Mandalay-based journalist Ko San Yu Kyaw said the current situation is instilling fear in the public.

They (the regime) are trying to push the situation to what happened in 1988. So, the leaders of vigilantes should be smart and visionary, he said.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Military Junta Suspends Laws Protecting Citizens Privacy to Crack Down on Opposition

At UNHRC, Russia and China Still Dismiss Myanmars Military Coup as an Internal Affair

Veteran Student Leaders, Rocker, Social Influencers on Myanmar Militarys Arrest Warrant
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.
A Freemansburg man is facing assault charges after allegedly attacking a woman and biting off a portion of her lip during a domestic dispute.

Edward Clark, 27, of the 600 block of Ramblewood Lane, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment in Saturdays crime.

Borough police were called to Clarks home at 11:38 p.m. following a 911 hangup call. Investigators knocking on the door could hear the female victim inside calling for help, police said. The woman was trying to open the door to officers but Clark kept blocking her attempts, according to police.

Officers eventually gained entry into the home and found the woman with bruising near her left eye, a portion of her lower lip severed and cuts to her hand. The victim reported to police that Clark allegedly came home intoxicated following a baby shower and a dispute ensued.

The victim grabbed a kitchen knife at one point to protect herself, which led to Clark punching her in the face and biting her lower lip until he severed a portion of it, police said. The victims hand also was cut by the knife during the altercation, according to police.

Clarks pants were found by investigators covered in blood, police said. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment, and police say the hospital confirmed the presence of alcohol in Clarks system. The victim was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township for treatment of her injuries.

Court records did not state the relationship between the pair or what led to the dispute.

Clark was arraigned before District Judge Alan Mege, who set bail at $25,000 with a 10% option if approved by Pretrial Services. In lieu of bail, Clark was taken to Northampton County Prison, where he remained Sunday.

Clark is due back in court before District Judge Nicholas Englesson, tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 26.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Chandigarh, Feb 14 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday expressed shock over the recent statements of senior BJP leaders, including the Union and Haryana Agriculture Ministers, on the deaths of protesting farmers, saying the party had lost the moral and ethical right to continue to rule at the Centre and in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre should step down in the interest of the nation, as should the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana, he said, slamming Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar's and state Agriculture Minister J.P. Dalal's statements on the deaths of farmers protesting against the farm laws at the borders of the national capital for more than two months now.

Punjab alone has paid compensation to families of 102 farmers who have died in these protests, said the Chief Minister, lashing out at Tomar over his "outrageous statement" citing Delhi Police information that only two farmers have died and one has committed suicide.

Even the media has released details of more than 200 farmers (from various states) who have lost their lives in this agitation, Amarinder Singh pointed out, while also lambasting Dalal over the latter's "insensitive remark" that farmers who have died in this agitation would have died sitting at homes anyway.

The Chief Minister also slammed Tomar over his statement that the Central government has no plans to provide financial assistance from the Kisan Kalyan Fund to the families of the deceased farmers.

"It was deplorable that a government that can spend Rs 8 crore on publicity campaign for the new farm laws cannot give compensation to the families of the farmers who have sacrificed their lives in fighting for their rights," he said.

"These statements of Tomar and Dalal reflect a shocking lack of concern on the part of the BJP leadership towards the farmers who have been braving the elements and the lathis of Delhi and Haryana Police in their fight for survival," he said.

Referring to Tomar's claim that the Centre has no count of the deceased farmers, Amarinder Singh said it was appalling that a government which claimed to be working in the interest of the farmers does not even know how many farmers had died in the protests against their farm laws, just as they had no idea, some months ago, on how many migrants had died in the country during the lockdown.

"What kind of government is this that has no data (or so it claims) of people dying on the streets in their own country," he asked.

"Either the Agriculture Minister deliberately lied on the floor of the House or simply does not care to even ascertain the facts and figures," he said, adding that this was not the first time a Central minister had made a false statement in Parliament on the issue of the farm laws or the farmers' agitation.

"Another minister had earlier stated falsely in the House that Punjab had been taken on board on the farm laws in its capacity as a member of the agricultural reforms committee, which was also a blatant lie," Amarinder Singh said, adding that not once were these legislations even mentioned in that committee, in which Punjab was included after one meeting had already taken place.
The Nepal Communist Party's splinter faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Sunday announced a fresh agitation programme against the dissolution of the House of Representatives by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 after Oli, in a surprise move, recommended dissolving the 275-member House, amidst a tussle for power with the chairman of the Nepal Communist Party's (NCP) splinter faction led by Prachanda'.

Acting on the prime minister's recommendation, President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House the same day and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10, sparking protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda', also a co-chair of the ruling party. The faction led by Prachanda' and Madhav Kumar Nepal announced fresh agitations against the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

During a press conference on Sunday, the struggle committee led by leader of the faction Narayan Kaji Shrestha said a human chain will be formed on February 19 around Tundikhel Open Ground in Kathmandu as a symbolic protest against the House dissolution and corruption. The protest rallies will be staged in various districts across the country including capital city Kathmandu from February 17 to 24. The party will also launch a campaign to collect signatures against the dissolution from February 19 to 27 at various public places.

The agitating faction had earlier staged protests from January 26 to February 10 under the third phase of protests against the dissolution of the House. Defending his move to dissolve Parliament, Oli recently said some leaders tried to obstruct the functioning of his government and he had no other alternative other than seeking a fresh mandate.

As some leaders tried to make Parliament defunct and obstruct the government's functioning, I was compelled to go for the fresh mandate. Such a situation was created in which the government was unable to move forward, which prompted us to go for elections, he said on February 5. Following the House dissolution, both the factions of the party, one led by Prachanda and the other by Oli have been staging public meetings and mass rallies across Nepal to show their strength.

Both Oli and the rival group claim to control the Nepal Communist Party and the issue is being disputed at the Election Commission. The rival faction even announced that it had ousted Oli from the party at a meeting last month. 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.
Meghan Markle's Valentine's Day announcement that she is pregnant comes exactly 37 years after front pages revealed Princess Diana was expecting Prince Harry.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are currently residing in California, are preparing to welcome a brother or sister for their young son Archie later this year.

A spokesperson for Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, said: 'We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother.

'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.'

It appears to be an intentional nod to Princess Diana who announced her own pregnancy with Harry on February 13 in 1984 to allow world-wide media to ready their newspaper covers for the following day.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex , who are currently residing in California , are preparing to welcome a brother or sister for their young son Archie later this year

It appears to be an intentional nod to Princess Diana who announced her own pregnancy with Harry on February 13 to allow world-wide media to ready their newspaper covers for the following day (newspaper cover from February 14)

Harry and Meghan made their announcement with a candid black and white image of Harry resting his hand on Meghan's head as she lay in his lap underneath a tree.

The sex of the baby, as well as the due date, remain unclear.

The couple's news echoes Princess Diana's announcement of her own second child - Prince Harry - which was printed in newspapers on Valentine's Day in 1984.

The front cover of the Daily Mail from the time shared a photograph of a beaming Princess Diana as she arrived at a ballet in Oslo before stating: 'This is the glowing smile that says it all.'

Palace officials made an announcement 37 years ago which read: 'Both Prince Charles and Princess Diana are delighted by the news - as are the queen, Prince Philip and all the members of both families.'

The couple's news echoes Princess Diana's own announcement of her pregnancy with Prince Harry on Valentine's Day in 1984 (pictured with their first child Archie who was born in May of 2019)

The couple's news echoes Princess Diana's own announcement of her pregnancy with Prince Harry on Valentine's Day in 1984 (pictured six months pregnant with Harry alongside Prince Charles and baby William)

Baby Sussex will be the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's 10th or 11th great-grandchild, depending on whether he or she arrives before or after Zara Tindall's baby, which is also due in 2021.

The baby will be eighth in line to the throne.

The couple's news comes just months after Meghan revealed that she lost her second child to a miscarriage in an article for the New York Times.
Charity urges people to think of devastating consequences of feeding horses and livestock that dont belong to them

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Feb 14th, 2021

A charity is urging people to think of the devastating consequences of feeding horses and livestock that do not belong to them.

Helen Lacey, of charity North Wales Horse Watch, is also warning people of the risks of not closing gates behind them when they are walking in the countryside.

Helen said: By giving animals they are not responsible for food, people risk making them sick or even killing them.





Unfortunately some walkers are leaving gates open allowing horses and livestock to get onto the highway.
Elon Musk. ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join him on Clubhouse.

"It would be a great honor to talk to you," said Musk on Twitter.

Musk has previously been active on Clubhouse and recently hosted an interview with Robinhood's CEO.

Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Saturday invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join him on Clubhouse, the invite-only audio chat app.

"@KremlinRussia_E would you like to join me for a conversation on Clubhouse?" Musk wrote on Twitter.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

In a follow-up tweet, Musk wrote: "      ." According to Google Translate, that means: "It would be a great honor to talk to you."

Read more: Clubhouse has only a dozen employees, and it's using some of the $100 million it just raised to hire more

It wasn't immediately clear from Musk's statement why he sought to connect with representatives from the Kremlin. The Twitter handle Musk tagged is the official account of the president of Russia, longtime leader Vladimir Putin.

Musk has been active on Clubhouse, a buzzy, invite-only app where users can join drop-in audio conversations. Other high-profile founders and executives have also logged onto Clubhouse for conversations, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Read more: Prominent VCs flocked to a 'Bachelor'-style Clubhouse room hosted by Gen Zers. 'We're making love happen,' hosts say.

Musk also has acted as an interviewer on Clubhouse, hosting a conversation with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. Last week, Musk said on Twitter he'd agreed to make a Clubhouse appearance with Kayne West, saying: "The most entertaining outcome is the most likely."

The Kremlin's Twitter account had not replied to Musk's message early Sunday morning. Insider reached out to the Kremlin for comment on Sunday.

Earlier this year, local reports said the Russian government may fine users of SpaceX's Starlink Internet. An analyst told Insider at the time he believed it was easier for Russia to fine citizens, rather than Starlink.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 15)  The country's COVID-19 task force is postponing its initial order to reopen movie theaters after pushback from Metro Manila mayors.

Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said the enforcement of their resolution can only happen once operational guidelines have been crafted by local government units. He added the earliest cinemas can reopen in Metro Manila is on March 1  if the plan pushes through.

"Ang status po ang pagbubukas ng sinehan, kung matutuloy po, ay Marso 1. Kinakailangan po ipagpatuloy ang consultations at kinakailangan bumuo ng guidelines ang lokal na pamahalaan bago magbukas ang sinehan," he said in a media briefing.

[Translation: Cinemas will open on March 1, if it pushes through. We need to continue the consultations and LGUs need to come up with guidelines before it can reopen.]

All 17 local chief executives in Metro Manila opposed the IATF resolution allowing cinemas, arcades, and other leisure businesses to reopen starting Monday in areas under general community quarantine. Metro Manila Council Chairman Edwin Olivarez said they will defer the reopening of cinemas since the airconditioned and enclosed space can lead to a spike of COVID-19 cases in the capital region, which remains as the epicenter of the virus in the country.

The Department of Health also said concerned government agencies will release guidelines on how to ventilate theaters to ensure proper air circulation. Health experts advised against staying in enclosed spaces for long periods of time after growing evidence that COVID-19 infection can occur from airborne exposure to the virus.

They consulted with an epidemiologist so that they can provide this ventilation requirements for ventilation, specifically in enclosed spaces para lang makapag-prevent ng infection [so they can prevent infections], Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a separate briefing.
NEW HAVEN  The search for a person of interest in the killing of a Yale graduate student remains focused on the area the man was last seen, a U.S. Marshal said Sunday.

Law enforcement agencies are continuing the manhunt for Qinxuan Pan, 29, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said last week that Pan was believed to have been in the area when Kevin Jiang was shot on Lawrence Street in the East Rock neighborhood on Feb. 6.

Pan, who is considered a person of interest in the investigation, was last reported seen in Georgia on Thursday, according to U.S. Marshal Matthew Duffy.

We are still concentrating our efforts there, Duffy said, adding that the cities of Duluth and Brookhaven were areas of interest for locating Pan.

Pan is described by police as 6-feet tall, weighing 170 pounds and having short, black hair.

Police said he was behind the wheel of a vehicle reported stolen by a Massachusetts police department. The car was towed in North Haven, police said.

Unfortunately, some of these investigations are lengthy at times, Duffy said of these types of manhunts.

Duffy said information obtained from interviews conducted with Pans family members have helped investigators. When asked about other possible persons of interest, Duffy was adamant in his assertion. My focus is on catching Mr. Pan, he said.

The marshals service has asked anyone with information to call 877-926-8332. There is a $5,000 reward offered for information that leads to Pans arrest, but officials have warned that he should be considered armed.
Congenital Hypothyroidism: A heel prick in time ensures a life that is fine By Asitha Jayawardena View(s): View(s):

Aravinda was frowning when Anupama came out of the bathroom and asked anxiously, What happened?

The call came from the hospital, he said. Our baby will need a second blood test.

Two days earlier, they had come home from the hospital, with Tharaka, their newborn. Prior to discharge from the hospital, the baby had been given a heel prick for a blood sample collected on to a special paper (called a dried blood spot) and the results had just arrived. The test was for thyrotrophin or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) assessment. If the TSH level is higher than expected, doctors have a suspicion regarding a condition called Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH).

Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)

Congenital means present at birth; hypothyroidism is a condition in which the person does not make enough thyroid hormone, says Professor Manjula Hettiarachchi from the Nuclear Medicine Unit (NMU) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna.

A normal thyroid gland receives TSH from the pituitary gland, and in turn produces the thyroxine hormone T4 and the triiodothyronine hormone T3, as shown in Figure 1. In a few cases (typically 1 in 1500 or so) this thyroid hormone production process is impaired. The reasons could be an absent or misplaced thyroid gland, a hereditary cause  maternal iodine deficiency or maternal thyroid condition. This causes a build-up of TSH, which is the indicator used to test for CH. If left untreated, CH may slow down a babys physical development and cause intellectual disability leading to mental retardation due to irreversible neural damage in the brain.

The good news however, is that if a health screening is carried out in the early days of a babys life, it can be treated fully with thyroxine replacement therapy, avoiding serious health conditions in the future, or significantly mitigating such conditions.

A babys TSH levels are invariably high in the first 24 hours (Figure 2). This makes it difficult to know whether high TSH levels are due to a (normal) thyroid surge or to an abnormally functioning thyroid gland. If the TSH level is checked on days 3 to 5, normal TSH level variation is less, and setting a critical cut-off value for it is easier. In Sri Lanka however, while almost all deliveries are performed in hospitals, a large number of newborns are discharged within 24 hours; hence over 70% of TSH samples are collected within 12-24 hours of life.

A research study at the University of Ruhuna involved a survey to establish some of the above parameters for a Sri Lankan population. A significant part of the early research was to establish the cut-off level of TSH that would account for the time variation of TSH shown in Figure 2. If the cut-off is set too high, a case of CH may be missed (i.e. a false negative result). If it is set too low, there will be many false positives, causing parental anxiety and additional testing burdens on the health system. Today however, the technology employed in the testing is able to compensate for the timing effect.

All babies get a heel prick

The Newborn Screening Programme for Congenital Hypothyroidism of the Nuclear Medicine Unit (NMU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, started on September 21, 2010 in the presence of Sri Lankas Minister of Health. This was the culmination of a series of studies carried out by the NMU since 2006 with the assistance from the Perinatal Society of Sri Lanka, Family Health Bureau & Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, and a research grant from the National Research Council (NRC). The newborn screening programme has been taken up by the Ministry of Health and now covers virtually all newborns. This kind of coverage is possible because of Sri Lankas universal health coverage, and also because virtually all births take place in hospitals where testing is possible, rather than in homes (as in some parts of the world).

The laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine at Galle performs what is called a time-resolved fluroimmunoassay, which involves the measurement of photons (or light) when the extracted blood from the paper is treated with reagents. This is why a Nuclear Medicine Unit is required for such screening. If the heel prick test reveals high thyrotrophin levels (i.e. screening positive), a second test, for serum thyrotrophin levels will be performed immediately, using a sample obtained from a vein. The parents are kept informed via telephone (or SMS) contact, or through the primary health care team comprising the Medical Officer in Maternal and Child Health (MO/MCH) in each district, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and the Public Health Midwives (PHM) who handled post-natal care at the field/family level.

The National Research Council of Sri Lanka supported this programme not only with initial funding for equipment in 2008, but also in 2011 to develop a health education programme based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on mothers participation. The proposed educational programme was very effective in changing certain aspects of mothers behaviour and several leaflets in Sinhala and Tamil language were prepared for distribution. Further, an online platform (http://www.nsisd.ruh.ac.lk) was created for dissemination of results and more information on newborn screening for CH in Sri Lanka (Figure 3).

The treatment for CH is simple but it should be started within four weeks of a babys birth. Until then, the baby is protected by its mothers thyroxine through breastfeeding. Replenishment of the babys thyroid hormone will start soon after a baby is diagnosed. The thyroxine tablets (which can be crushed and administered with a sip of water or dissolved in water) contain L-thyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, but with a chemical structure identical to that produced by the normal thyroid gland.

The costs and benefits

The National Research Council, together with Professor Hettiarachchi, has recently tried to calculate the benefit/cost ratio for the screening programme. This is a rare instance of research benefits being actually quantified. The heel prick test would cost a few hundred rupees per baby; while the costs for follow up and medication for those testing positive (but averaged over all babies tested), would double this. The benefits would be savings in health care for individuals who would otherwise have developed physical and mental impairment as a result of CH not being detected. The calculation is based on total costs to the programme in a given year with the projection of upcoming costs in the follow up for an assumed lifespan of 75 years. The details are included in a forthcoming scientific publication, but the benefits are such that every rupee the government is spending will yield a nearly four rupee benefit to society.

Given that there are around 300,000 births per year in Sri Lanka, the country would be saving a few hundred million rupees per year as a result of these heel pricks. The actual research costs themselves, essential for conducting the surveys and procuring equipment, would pale into insignificance in the light of these health sector savings.

This work, which has spanned many years, was commenced at the University of Ruhuna by Professor Manjula Hettiarachchi (manjulah@med.ruh.ac.lk; 0706325425), Emeritus Professor Chandrani Liyanage and Professor Sujeewa Amarasena, from whom more information can be obtained. The research was funded by the National Research Council under grants IDG 08-08 and IDG 11-160.

Asitha Jayawardena was commissioned to write this article as part of the science publicity programme of the National Academy of

Sciences of Sri Lanka.
(Newser)  The UK government said Sunday that it reached its goal of giving at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot to the most vulnerable people in the country, increasing pressure on ministers to clarify when they will ease a lockdown imposed in early January. More than 15 million people, or 22% of the UK population, have received their first shot, the AP reports. The figure includes most people in the government's top four priority groups, including everyone over 75, front-line health care workers and nursing home staff and residents. "15,000,000! Amazing team,'' Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, tweeted. "We will not rest till we offer the vaccine to the whole of phase 1 the 1-9 categories of the most vulnerable & all over 50s by end April and then all adults.''

story continues below

Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to unveil his plan for easing restrictions on Feb. 22 amid signs that infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths have fallen sharply since Englands third national lockdown began on Jan. 4. He said that in England, everyone in the four top priority groups had been offered the vaccine. He plans to release further details Monday. Britain has reported over 117,000 virus-related deaths, the highest pandemic toll in Europe. After administering its first AstraZeneca shot last month, the nation ranks behind only Israel, 71%, the Seychelles, 53%, and the United Arab Emirates, 50%, in the share of people who have received one dose, according to Oxford University. The US is fifth at 15%. While the vaccines currently authorized for use in the UK require two doses to ensure full protection against COVID-19, British authorities say one dose provides a significant level of protection.

(Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
SEC-CSE meeting with brokers ends in impasse Fresh meeting with CSE, brokers Tuesday View(s): View(s):

Thursdays meeting between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and CEOs of stockbroker firms on the current status of the stock market pretty much ended in an impasse ahead of the Delivery versus Payment (DvP) trial which runs tomorrow.

With the sharp drops in the CSE indices, certain stockbrokers arent too happy with the DvP, a settlement method that guarantees the transfer of stocks only happens after payment has been made. They say this will tend to drop CSEs liquidity some more. If the market declines further, the DvP will mop up the liquidity some more. It isnt the right time to launch it, a stockbroker told the Business Times.

But the proponents say this system is a big part of building trust with foreign clients which is important right now with many foreigners in a major sell off.

However what was merely talked about for over a decade must make its entrance at some point. But brokers havent still been told of the intended trial runs tomorrow with some wondering if itll actually happen.

The CSE board is yet to approve the relevant rules after which the SEC will sanction them.

In the aftermath of certain brokers getting letters from the SEC, the circulars on credit exposure came which was a double whammy for the brokers. This probably is why they had sought further clarification at Thursdays meeting from the SEC on the previous CSE circulars which saw brokers requesting the SEC to clarify CSE circulars in the past two weeks saying there were misperceptions in the market relating to extending credit on certain stocks. Candid views were expressed between the parties and the stockbrokers expressed their views with regard to the information that has been called for by the circular issued by the CSE. The stockbrokers expressed the view that there had been some misconception that this information was to be gathered in order to curtail the credit that has been extended by the stockbroker firms. SEC Chairman Viraj Dayaratne explained that such information was anyhow been collected on a fortnightly and monthly basis and considering the dynamic nature of the market some such information was required to be submitted on a weekly basis and that it was in no way meant to curtail credit granted by the stockbrokers, a SEC Media release issued on Thursday said. The release was a damage control document which was also prompted by certain high networth investors whining, according to those in the know.

The CSE was halted for the fourth time in five days with Thursday witnessing the circuit breaker kicking in twice.

In the milieu, SECs social media is requesting investors to check the fundamentals before investing.

The stock broking houses and their managements were casually told by the regulator that it is a business they run. It was implied that if they do things to harm the sanctity of the market, it is their business that will suffer, a source reiterated to the Business Times. (DEC)
Mr Wyatt has not flagged concerns about Mr Frys role in relation to the IBA. But in a series of stinging letters penned late last year, and seen by the Herald and the Age, Mr Wyatt raises serious concerns about the governance of the ILSC and Mr Frys role in particular. The correspondence culminated in Mr Wyatt informing Mr Fry on December 7 that I have lost confidence in your ability to lead the ILSC as chairperson and seeking reasons why I should not ask for your resignation. The minister cites numerous grounds for loss of confidence in the chair, including adverse findings and concerns outlined in a January 2020 report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, complaints from board members, motions of no-confidence, the significant amount of time the minister has spent trying to resolve governance issues and a review of the organisation by independent assessor Vivienne Thom who warned that the ILSCs long-term viability was at risk.

A defiant Mr Fry wrote back to the minister on December 18 defending his record and stating that he found the ministers loss of confidence in him demeaning and inexplicable. He claimed the ILSC had a remarkable turnaround under his leadership, and warned that any political and bureaucratic interference would run afoul of the paramount need for Indigenous Australians to break free of the yoke of government. Mr Fry also remained defiant in a statement to the Herald and the Age on Friday, insisting that I have no intention of resigning from the ILSC board. He said he was determined to play a key role in leading this organisation that now consistently meets or exceeds its performance targets. He said he believed the board remains functional and governs effectively. The legislation which governs the ILSC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Act, says directors can only be terminated if they are physically or mentally incapable or because of misbehaviour. However, it does not define what misbehaviour means.

Asked if he lacked the power under the act to remove Mr Fry, a spokesperson for Mr Wyatt said Ms Thom, a former inspector general of the intelligence services, made it clear in her independent review that Mr Frys conduct has apparently not reached the threshold to be considered misbehaviour. The minister does not have confidence in the current chairman and is acting within the powers available to him as minister to progress the best interests of the ILSC, the spokesperson said on Friday. Professor Ian Ramsay, the head of Melbourne Universitys Centre for Corporate Law and an expert on corporate governance said the general expectation would be that if a chair has two votes of no confidence against him and also the minister who appoints the board has stated that he does not have confidence in the chair, then the chair would be expected to resign. Behind closed doors the toxic board relations have been playing out for months, with factions repeatedly calling on Mr Wyatt to back a side. Tensions came to a head on May 7, when Mr Fry attempted to ram through changes to the governance of the organisation with less than 48 hours notice, including stopping ILSC directors sitting on subsidiary boards, arguing it was a conflict; a position at odds with the Corporations Act and Australian Institute of Company Directors guidelines on directors sitting on parent companies and subsidiaries.

Mr Fry had expected directors to endorse the changes and when they asked questions it descended into loud berating and bullying as well as a warning they were treading on fine ground, one director reported to Mr Wyatt. Some saw it as an attempt to sideline them while Mr Fry tightened his control as he worked on a strategy to transform the ILSC to create a second board that would diminish the role of the main board. The plan would reduce head count by 31 per cent. Of the then seven directors, the four who have clashed with Mr Fry are each significant figures in their own right. Dr Donna Odegaard is co-chair of the committee set up by Mr Wyatt to co-design an Indigenous voice to government. Roy Ah-See is a former chair of the Prime Ministers Indigenous Advisory Council. Patricia Crossin is a former Northern Territory senator. And Bruce Martin is also a former member of the Prime Ministers advisory council. On June 17, these four directors supported a motion of no confidence in Mr Fry and the ILSCs acting chief executive Leo Bator, who stepped down immediately. Dr Odegaard notified Mr Wyatt that the boards action was a culmination of Mr Frys failure over 12 months to provide leadership. She said her concerns included the impact of his behaviour on ILSCs subsidiaries, which included suspending funding without reason and attempting to shut them down, which she said made them unable to perform effectively and efficiently.

Dr Odegaard said she found the situation harrowing and her trust and loyalty to the chairperson has been broken by his actions and my hopes for the ILSC delivering greater benefits for our people compromised if this conduct continues. Mr Ah-See told Mr Wyatt in a letter of extremely poor governance and Mr Fry aggressively opposes any director who holds a different opinion to his own and attempts to bully these directors into acting according to his wishes. Ms Crossin also complained about Mr Frys failure to consult and failure to provide updates on a radical transformation plan.

Mr Martin generally echoed the complaints of the others, adding it was symptomatic of larger governance issues, while another director, Daniel Tucker backed Mr Fry, describing the May 7 board meeting as robust. On August 19, ahead of the release of Ms Thoms report, a second motion of no confidence was carried four votes to two. Ms Thoms report, commissioned by Mr Wyatt, concluded that Mr Frys conduct had not amounted to bullying but it would be open to the board to find it had breached the corporations code of conduct. More fundamentally, Ms Thom warned that there is a high risk that the board cannot currently fulfil the functions as set out in the ATSI [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] Act and its charter. Unless urgent action is taken this will also place at risk the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the ILSC as well as potentially its longer-term viability. The current level of conflict in the board also carries with it significant risks in terms of the morale, wellbeing and, ultimately, retention of ILSC management and staff, she warned.

Its not the first time the ISLC has been plagued with problems. Ten years ago, the board, under different leadership, purchased the Ayers Rock Resort for an inflated price of $300 million, saddling the organisation with massive debt, against the advice of the then Indigenous affairs minister. A former chair, Dr Dawn Casey, later pronounced the deal the largest single evaporation of public money in the Indigenous policy domain, ever. Mr Fry, in his defence, claims he has rescued the corporation from the brink of insolvency and the ILSC had out-performed under his leadership. He also denies claims of dysfunction or board tensions. The chairperson continues to serve as per ILSCs governing legislation and with the support of his fellow directors, he said.

Upheaval continues with Mr Tucker resigning last week, effective immediately, leaving five people including Mr Fry on the board. It means if any two people are absent from any board meeting there wont be a quorum. Directors were contacted for comment, including whether they supported Mr Fry. Ms Crossin declined to respond, saying the trove of documents that had become public speak for themselves. Other directors didnt respond. Mr Wyatt for his part, is playing a waiting game. Mr Frys second term ends in October. Given the circumstances that have now evolved, the minister is watching the actions and performance of the ILSC very closely and is considering the options that may be available to him to ensure this situation does not occur again, a spokesman Mr Wyatt said. In the meantime, the ISLC board remains in disarray.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Four people have been injured in the accident and the condition of two of them is stated to be serious, police said

Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh): Fourteen people, including eight women and a child, were killed and four others injured when a mini bus collided with a lorry in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh early on Sunday, police said.

The incident took place at around 4 am when a group of people hailing from Chittoor district of the state were travelling in the mini bus towards Hyderabad, a senior police official told PTI.

They were all on their way to Ajmer in Rajasthan, he added.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver of the bus lost control and the vehicle first crashed against the road median and then rolled to the other side of the road hitting a lorry, the official said.

The injured have been hospitalised and the condition of two is stated to be serious, police said.
A British trophy-hunting boss has encouraged clients to travel to South Africa during the Covid-19 crisis to shoot endangered animals he says are 'plentiful'.

Carl Knight, 46, from Epsom, Surrey, who runs Take Aim Safaris in Johannesburg and Zimbabwe, sent out an email newsletter to 3,000 clients across the globe encouraging them to travel to take part in the blood sport, reports Sunday People.

In the email, sent last weekend and seen by the Sunday People, Mr Knight wrote: 'Big elephant and trophy buffalo + hippo, croc are plentiful. The areas are well rested, the animal movement is fantastic.

'I have quota available on the big cats: leopard and lion plus elephant bulls at unbeatable prices.'

Carl Knight, 46, from Epsom, Surrey, (right) who runs Take Aim Safaris in Johannesburg and Zimbabwe, pictured with a dead leopard

Despite Mr Knight's claims the animals are 'plentiful' after being 'rested' during the Covid-19 pandemic, there are currently an estimated 415,000 African Elephants in the wild and the species is at risk of extinction.

There are only 20,000 African Lions left in the wild, with numbers plummeting by over 40 per cent in the last three generations due to hunting, according to the World Wildlife Foundation.

The email also contained photographs of hunters proudly posing with their kills.

Clients of the hunting firm are charged 10,000 to slay an elephant, and 14,500 to slaughter a lion, plus hunting fees, reports Sunday People.

Mr Knight pictured with his clients after shooting an elephant. Despite Mr Knight's claims the animals are 'plentiful' there are currently 415,000 African Elephants in the wild

Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, tweeted: 'Carl Knight is selling lucrative hunts in endangered animals to make money for himself and put a sick smile on the face of those who enjoy killing animals just for fun.'

On his website Mr Knight, who set up his 'big game' firm in 2008, writes: 'I am a British National that lives in Johannesburg South Africa and have done so almost all my life. I have hunted South Africa and Zimbabwe extensively over the last 38 years as I write this in July 2019 I am 45 years of age.

Mr Knight set up his 'big game' firm in 2008 (pictured with a slaughtered elephant)

'Take Aim Safaris is a safari industry market leader with a track record that spans over 11 years of full time work in the hunting industry having booked and/or conducted over 400 big game hunts to date.'

Mr Knight told the MailOnline: 'I am a licensed professional hunter, this is my work.

'This is Africa, I grew up here, this is what I know, hunting is my qualification.'

He added: 'In all my life I have only ever hunted with one British client. Sorry that you dont like my work.

'We eat what we hunt, we love and conserve animals. I have broken no laws.'

It is currently illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes. Direct travel from South Africa to the UK is banned and only British and Irish citizens are permitted entry into the UK via indirect routes from South Africa - they must then isolate for ten days.

Labour MP Rupa Huq told the publication: 'This is the height of irresponsibility during a pandemic and when a South African variant is being surge tested. It's wrong on so many levels.'

The news of Mr Knight's animal exploits comes five years after the killing of Cecil the lion by US dentist Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe in 2015 which sparked public backlash to the wild practice, with the UK government announcing its plans to ban the import of hunting souvenirs in September 2019. A ban is not yet in place.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated last year: 'We are reviewing our current controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to understand whether further action is required to address these concerns.'

MailOnline has contacted Carl Knight for comment.
A new report claims that Clubhouse, the popular social audio media app, has tightened its security measures after the companys founder discovered a potential backdoor to China. Changes will be pushed in the next 72-hours, claims Clubhouses CEO.

Clubhouse is an invite-only audio-based social media app thats been picking up lately. The app crashed after Teslas CEO Elon Musk, and Facebooks CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined the platform. Facebook is also known to be developing a similar Clubhouse-like audio-based feature for its app. If you want to know more about the app, about all the features, and why it is so popular, check out the amazing article written by our team.

Read: What Is Clubhouse? Why Is It So Popular?

Coming back to the report, The Stanford Internet Observatory has found that the infrastructure for the Clubhouse app is provided by Agora, a China-based provider. Since Agore is based out of China, it has to comply with Chinese cybersecurity laws that opens up a possibility for government surveillance. Even though Agora claims that it doesnt store any data on its server, the Chinese government can tap into Agoras networks at any given time, and record data from the traffic.

Its also been found that the unique Clubhouse character ID and the chatroom ID are transmitted via plaintext, which isnt encrypted. This makes the data traceable, not only to China but to the whole world. The report by Stanford Internet Observatory claims that these security issues are relatively easy to uncover.

To these claims, Clubhouse has said:

Were deeply committed to data protection and user privacy. Over the next 72 hours, we are rolling out changes to add additional encryption and blocks to prevent Clubhouse clients from ever transmitting pings to Chinese servers. We also plan to engage an external data security firm to review and validate these changes.

We Want to Hear From You

What are your thoughts on Clubhouses links to China? Have you used the app yet? What features do you like? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Seven Health Ministry employees were fined BD500 each for serious negligence in performing duties leading to a loss of BD12,000.

The failure of employees in performing their duties resulted in the loss of more than 170,000 narcotic tablets from the ministry drug stores, said the Minor Criminal Court in its verdict.

The Public Prosecution said it is studying the ruling to file an appeal to increase the penalty.
Twenty-one years ago this week, a young Carlow businesswoman was abducted, raped and almost murdered by Larry Murphy. The Wicklow carpenter served ten years in prison for the heinous crime.

While jailed, he emerged as a suspect for involvement in the disappearance of three other women who vanished in the Leinster area. Murphy was visited in jail several times by officers probing the missing women, all of whom are presumed murdered. But the carpenter steadfastly refused to co-operate.

Yet detectives persevered. And this day last year, Valentine's Day, officers investigating the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking charges against the Wicklow man, now the chief suspect in the teenager's disappearance, which was upgraded to murder in 2018.

Investigating officers await a direction "any day now" on whether Ireland's most infamous rapist should be held criminally culpable for the murder of the 18-year-old trainee teacher.

"We haven't forgotten about Larry Murphy. The DPP has been considering a case against our chief suspect for exactly one year," according to a senior source. "No news is good news. The longer the garda evidence is considered, the better a signal this is for investigators, as all aspects of the case are being fully considered."

The Wicklow carpenter is currently living in the UK. Gardai know exactly how to find him and extradite him back to Ireland, should the DPP direct charges. "Larry Murphy is a figure of fascination for the media," added the well-placed source. "But gardai deal in facts and evidence. At present, Larry Murphy been convicted of just one attack on a woman. As bad an attack as is imaginable."

On February 11th 2020 when Larry Murphy committed the crime that defined his life, while almost ending that of his victim.

After he was arrested his calmness in custody disturbed gardai. He maintained composure despite insurmountable evidence. He was charged and taken to prison on remand. At first, his wife Margaret visited him where he claimed he was innocent. But knowing he could not beat the charge, Murphy opted to plead guilty, effectively ending his marriage. Larry Murphy has never met his son, who his wife gave birth to a few months after her husband's arrest.

The method of the Carlow woman's rape, kidnap and attempted murder suggested to gardai that Murphy was a seasoned predator.

Operation Trace was set up by former Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne to investigate the disappearance of six women who all vanished from the Leinster area between 1993 and 1998. Its objective, aside from solving the cases, was to try and establish if a serial killer was involved.

The Wicklow carpenter has been ruled out of involvement in the cases of Ciara Breen, Fiona Pender and Fiona Sinnott. But Operation Trace concluded that there was commonality in the cases of Annie McCarrick, Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob. There is circumstantial evidence linking him to the disappearances of both Jo Jo Dullard and Annie McCarrick. He remains a suspect, sources confirm. But the evidence against him in relation to Deirdre Jacob is far stronger.

Deirdre disappeared in July 1998, as she made her way towards her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Murphy initially became a person of interest to detectives after it emerged he had visited the shop owned by Deirdre's grandmother.

As part of a 2017 review of the case, CCTV footage from the day of the disappearance was digitised, resulting in new witnesses. A prisoner who implicated Murphy in Deirdre's murder has also been re-interviewed. He maintains that Murphy confessed to the murder while they got drunk together behind bars.

On the 21st anniversary of her disappearance in 2019, Deirdre's family expressed confidence in the garda investigation. "We have always been positive, because you have to be," said her father Michael. "If you don't hold a positive outlook, the world collapses around you."
The new Hyundai Motor Santa Fe sport utility vehicles. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor



Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday four of its models recently received Autotrader Best New Cars awards for this year due to their advanced product quality and competitive prices.



Autotrader, a U.S.-based online market place for car purchases and sales, recently announced 12 best new cars for 2021 based on an analysis of technology, design, performance, and customer satisfaction.



The 12 models include Hyundai Motor Co.'s Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle, the GV80 SUV with Hyundai's independent brand Genesis badge, and Hyundai affiliate Kia Corp.'s K5 sedan and Sorento SUV, the group said.





Hyundai Motor's the G80. Korea Times file
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not recommending a Covid-19 testing requirement before domestic air travel, the CDC tells CNN.

Federal officials said this week that they had been considering a testing requirement.

"At this time, CDC is not recommending required point of departure testing for domestic travel," according to a CDC statement sent to CNN Friday night. "As part of our close monitoring of the pandemic, in particular the continued spread of variants, we will continue to review public health options for containing and mitigating spread of COVID-19 in the travel space."

The CDC added that it does not recommend that people travel at this time.

"If someone must travel, they should get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before the trip," the agency said. "After travel, getting tested with a viral test 3-5 days post-travel and staying home and self-quarantining for 7 days, even if test results are negative, is a recommended public health measure to reduce risk."

The guidance comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview Sunday with Axios on HBO that the Department of Transportation and the CDC were considering requiring a negative Covid-19 test for any passengers on domestic flights.

The White House met with airline executives on Friday amid industry uproar over the possibility of testing domestic travelers for the coronavirus, sources tell CNN.

The airlines have been financially crippled by the pandemic and are wary of new travel restrictions that could cause further difficulties.
Valentine's Day presents need not always be bought by another. If you want to treat yourself this weekend, see poet and author Yrsa Daley-Ward's collaboration with H&M.

The loungewear pieces, made from sustainably sourced fabrics, feature quotes from Daley-Ward's work celebrating the ideals of self-love and self-care. LH

See hm.com

Necessity: Thrilled to bits

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The latest thriller from Derry-based author and former journalist Claire Allan is exactly the thing to provide instant distraction from our current gruelling reality. Ask No Questions sees journalist Ingrid Devlin investigating a murder. LH 'Ask No Questions' by Claire Allan, HarperCollins, 12.99

Notion: Bend & stretch

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Who isn't experiencing this pandemic with a side order of neck, back and general body aches and pains? Some form of stretching daily has never been more necessary. Irish yoga brand Holder Eight, whose collections include water bottles and yoga mats, has just launched a new range of organic cotton sweatshirts. LH

Sweatshirt, 75, Holder Eight, see holdereight.com; arnotts.ie

Notion: Throwtastic

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We're at that time of year where it feels like winter should be over, but realistically there are at least two months of dreary weather left. Lean into it, we say. Given how much time will be spent on the couch in the next while, why not upgrade to one these new luxurious cashmere throws from Irish label KDK. Available in two prints: blue and orange, above; and grey and white. LH

'Lone Tree' cashmere and wool blend throw, 150cm x 220cm, 325, KDK, see kdk.ie

Necessity: Hot desk

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Get past thinking of WFH as a temporary measure and commit to creating a desk space that makes you happy. The beauty of WFH, of course, is that you choose the accoutrements, and we love this desk lamp, with its slightly old-school vibe. SC

Ayden Arch Arm desk lamp, 24, see oxendales.ie

Notion: Cold shot

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We all know that turmeric has great anti-inflammatory powers and health benefits, but have you ever tried juicing it? Say hello to a yellow tinge on all juicer elements that no amount of washing will fix - not to mention yellow hands, worktops and any other surface the turmeric touches! Instead, check out these turmeric shots from Discover Juice in Donegal. Keep them in the freezer. Take them as a shot or in a juice or heat one up for turmeric tea. Ingenious, and no mess. SC

Discover Juice Turmeric Root Shots, from 9.99, selected SuperValu stores, or see discover-juice.com

Mug shot

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This blush-pink mug from Loaf Pottery in Co Down would count as a discreet love token for those who don't care to go full-blown Valentine's schmaltz. Loaf, which also has a catering company and a (currently closed) cafe, supports people with learning difficulties and autism. Each mug is hand-turned, hand-glazed and available in five colours, with all profits being reinvested in this social enterprise. SC

Mug, 18, Loaf Pottery, see loafcatering.com (Products from the UK may be liable for extra charges)

Notion: Booked out

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Subscriptions, whether to booze clubs or book clubs, are giving some of us the home-delivery buzz these days, We like this one from The Book Resort, based in Waterford. Their subscription box includes a new book - you indicate genre preferences - a bar of chocolate and an Irish-made artisan gift. Bespoke boxes are also an option, as well as a kids' box. SC

The Book Resort subscription, from 23, with 50pc discount on the first month with code 'newyear', see thebookresort.ie
RTHK: Guinea sees first Ebola deaths since 2016

Four people have died of Ebola in Guinea in the first resurgence of the disease in five years, the country's health minister said on Saturday.

Remy Lamah said officials were "really concerned" about the deaths, the first since a 2013-2016 epidemic - which began in Guinea - left 11,300 dead across the region.

One of the latest victims in Guinea was a nurse who fell ill in late January and was buried on February 1, National Health Security Agency head Sakoba Keita told local media.

"Among those who took part in the burial, eight people showed symptoms: diarrhoea, vomiting and bleeding," he said.

"Three of them died and four others are in hospital."

The four deaths from Ebola hemorrhagic fever occurred in the southeast region of Nzerekore, he said.

Keita also told local media that one patient had "escaped" but had been found and hospitalised in the capital Conakry.

The World Health Organisation has eyed each new outbreak since 2016 with great concern, treating the most recent one in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an international health emergency.

Early on Sunday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that the UN health agency had been informed of two suspected cases of the deadly disease in Guinea.

"Confirmatory testing underway," the tweet said, adding that the WHO's regional and country offices were "supporting readiness and response efforts."

DR Congo has faced several outbreaks of the illness, with the WHO on Thursday confirming a resurgence three months after authorities declared the end of the country's latest outbreak.

The country had declared that the six-month epidemic over in November. It was the country's eleventh Ebola outbreak, claiming 55 lives out of 130 cases.

The widespread use of vaccinations, which were administered to more than 40,000 people, helped curb the disease.

The 2013-2016 outbreak sped up the development of a vaccine against Ebola, with a global emergency stockpile of 500,000 doses planned to respond quickly to future outbreaks, the vaccine alliance Gavi said in January. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-14. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
As of midnight, Saturday February 13, the HPSC has been notified of 788 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 209,582** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The number of new cases in Limerick was 28.

The 5-Day Moving Average of New Cases in Limerick is now 33, while the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population (to 13Feb2021) is 257.1.

The number of new Cases during last 14 days (to 13Feb2021) is at 501.

Of the cases notified today:

409 are men / 371 are women

71% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 31 years old

315 in Dublin, 61 in Galway, 59 in Meath, 42 in Louth, 33 in Kildare and the remaining 278 cases are spread across all other counties.***



As of 8am today, 899 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 160 are in ICU. 34 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 17 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

15 of these deaths occurred in February and 1 in December.*

The median age of those who died was 80 years and the age range was 50-92 years.

There has been a total of 3,948 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of 11th February, 261,073 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

 171,239 people have received their first dose

 89,834 people have received their second dose

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Irelands COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera receives the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac at a health center in Futrono, a city in the southern region of Los Rios, Chile, Feb. 12, 2021. (Chilean Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

While visiting a community healthcare center in the southern region of Los Rios, where the president spends his austral summer vacations, Pinera joined more than 1.5 million Chileans in receiving at least the first dose of the vaccine.

SANTIAGO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Friday received the first dose of the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac against the novel coronavirus disease, along with those aged 71 and over.

While visiting a community healthcare center in the southern region of Los Rios, where the president spends his austral summer vacations, Pinera joined more than 1.5 million Chileans in receiving at least the first dose of the vaccine.

The president took the opportunity to send a message of confidence to the public regarding the application of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine, the one most used as part of the national vaccination drive.

"I want to tell all my compatriots that this vaccine is safe, it is effective, and we have made an enormous effort to be able to vaccinate all Chileans," Pinera told reporters at a press conference after getting vaccinated.

The vaccination campaign, which was launched on Dec. 24, initially for hospital staff and later expanded to the general public, offers the "hope that we are going to recover our lives, we are going to be able to once again embrace our loved ones, we are going to be able to resume our life projects," said Pinera.

As of Thursday, 1,550,594 people had received the COVID-19 vaccine in Chile, part of the 5 million inhabitants in high-risk groups that are to be vaccinated in the first quarter of 2021.

The nationwide campaign began with the arrival in January of two shipments of vaccines from Sinovac, which will continue to ship doses to Chile over the coming weeks.

The government aims to vaccinate about 15 million people in the first six months of the year with about 35 million doses from various pharmaceutical companies.

Chile is dealing with a new wave of COVID-19 infections, mainly in the north and south of the country, and reported 764,307 confirmed cases and 19,262 deaths from the disease as of Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health.

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Feb, 2021) Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi (DoH), affirmed that childrens health and well-being is a fundamental pillar of all efforts and a priority in the healthcare ecosystem in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

"As the world observes International Childhood Cancer Day, here in Abu Dhabi we are reminded that maintaining childrens health and well-being is a fundamental pillar of all our efforts and a priority in our healthcare ecosystem. This embodies the vision of the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed that children are the nations builders of tomorrow and leaders of the future," Al Hamad stated ahead of the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD).

"Each year, approximately more than 300,000 children and adolescents from 0 to 19 years of age are diagnosed with cancer, making it the leading cause of deaths worldwide for children and adolescents.

However, we can protect our loved little ones from cancer by focussing on a prompt, correct diagnosis followed by effective, evidence-based therapy with tailored supportive care. To that end, we were determined to introduce the Primary care model, which provides comprehensive, personalised and patient-centric healthcare for all family members. The primary care model contributes to providing preventive programmes which focus mainly on diseases prevention and early detection," Al Hamed explained.

Observed on 15th February every year, the ICCD is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families. The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges impacting childhood cancer and the survivors. It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is encouraging everyone to stay calm following the announcement that there are three new community cases of COVID-19 in Auckland.

COVID-19 Response minister Chris Hipkins says there are three new cases of COVID-19 in the community, and one in a managed isolation facility.

Its understandable to be concerned about the announcement of three new cases of COVID-19 in the community, but I encourage everyone to stay calm and keep following the usual health precautions, writes Mayor Goff on Twitter.

The detection of these cases demonstrates that the system is working and is picking up potential transmission quickly. Its now up to everyone to keep scanning in with the NZ COVID Tracer app, stay home and get tested if you feel sick, and follow good hygiene practices.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is returning to Wellington this afternoon to be briefed on and make decisions relating to the community cases announced today. She will not be attending the Big Gay Out this afternoon.

The three new cases in the community are a father, mother and daughter who live in south Auckland. The mother works for LSG Skychefs, which services planes at the airport.

The three cases are new, active infections. The father's test result came in this morning, the mother's late last night. More testing is being done to ascertain what strain this is, and whether there's a match to any other case in New Zealand.

A close contact of the family has already tested negative.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says one of the cases, the mother, works at an airport laundry and catering facility. She undergoes regular negative surveillance testing, and last tested negative on January 18. She and her daughter began to feel symptoms and sought a further test.



She was last at work on the February 5, and is not expected to have been infectious then.

The source is unknown, and health officials remain open-minded, Bloomfield says.

The woman's main duties at SkyChefs is in the laundry department but she is involved in packing and preparing meal. LSG SkyChefs provides services to both international and domestic airlines, hwever, the woman hasn't been on any flights to collect food trays or laundry.

She was on a fortnightly mandatory cycle and tested negative on January 18 and then was on leave from February 5. The Director-General says because the woman works around the border it is a strong lead, but they can't rule anything out and dont want to close their minds to other possibilities.

The daughter is a student at Papatoetoe High School, which will be closed Monday and Tuesday as a precaution. She was last present at Papatoetoe High School on Wednesday.

"Work is underway to provide a testing facility at the school," says Bloomfield.

The father is self-employed as a tradesman, and a case interview is underway to determine who might need to isolate and be tested.

In addition to the high school the Pak n Save Manukau supermarket is a location of possible exposure. Two of the cases briefly visited the supermarket. Anyone who was there on Friday between 3.45pm and 5pm should isolate.

Two of the cases also visited New Plymouth over Waitangi weekend. There will be more information on locations of concern in the town to come.

The only close contacts identified of the new cases are all household contacts. Others who may have been exposed have been contacted.

People do not need to get tested unless they are have been at a location of interest, says Bloomfield. If someone has symptoms, stay at home and call Healthline.

"Our system has swung into action," says Hipkins. The system is gearing up again, he says.

"We do have a plan for when things like this happen."

Keep following the health guidelines, says Hipkins. He has not mentioned any need for an alert level shift.

"We need to stay vigilant and be prepared, says Hipkins.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff took to Twitter directly following the news of the new community cases in South Auckland.

Please dont get a test unless you were at a location of interest as announced by the Ministry of Health or youre showing symptoms. This will help ensure that the people who need to get a test can access one, says Goff in a Tweet.

We all know what to do now, and we know we can beat COVID-19 again if we have to. Please keep following the health guidelines including scanning the COVID Tracer app--this is the best way to keep everyone safe.

Hipkins says more information on the Covid-19 cases would be needed before a decision on Covid-19 alert levels might be made. He says the country remains at alert-level 1 and there's no decisions in regards to cancelling events like the Big Gay Out in Auckland today.

People shouldn't be attending large or small events around the country if they are unwell, says Bloomfield.

Hipkins says how the cases contracted COVID-19 is still a missing piece of a puzzle and they are working to find out whether it's at the start of transmission.

The results from the genome sequencing is expected tonight.

Hipkins says they are looking at whether there is any potential spread of coronavirus.

Bloomfield said there is a strong lead because the woman works close to the border, however he doesn't want to close anything off in case COVID-19 is in the community.

On Saturday, health officials confirmed a returnee, who had travelled from Zambia, died at North Shore Hospital in Auckland on Friday.

While in hospital, they returned a positive Covid-19 result.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the patient had spoken to their family every day via zoom or on the phone.

The ministry says COVID-19 infection and prevention protocols were in place and followed to ensure the safety of health care workers and the public.

There was no risk to the public, and the ministry advised that hospitals were still safe to visit.
(@FahadShabbir)

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2021 ) :Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf among global maritime experts participated the 9th International Maritime Conference (IMC) 2021.

The 9th International Maritime Conference (IMC) 2021 organized by National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), under the aegis of Pakistan Navy and being conducted in tandem with 7th Multinational Naval Exercise AMAN-21,was in progress at Karachi, said a Pakistan Navy press release.

The IMC was themed on 'Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment: A Shared Future for Western Indian Ocean Region'. The Second Day of the IMC featured eminent international and national scholars to elucidate variety of issues pertaining to maritime security, environment and relevant growth opportunities in the region.

The Second Day of the Conference was divided into three Sessions; Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security, Dr Moeed Yusuf graced the First Session as Chief Guest.

Intellectuals across the globe extended their views on 'Need of Maritime Security and Sustainable Growth  A Shared Vision for Western Indian Ocean Region'. During the session, Executive Director Institute of China America Studies, USA Dr. Nong Hong, delivered important keynote on BRI and its Implications on Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region and emphasized on keeping Indian Ocean stable in the wake of non-traditional security threats where interests of multiple stakeholders converge. Later, Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi, during his talk, enlightened the audience on Pakistan Navy's contributions for Maritime Security and Regional Stability in the Western Indian Ocean Region. The last speaker of the session was Rear Admiral (LH) Murat Dincman of Turkish Navy, who provided valuable insight on Turkish perspective on Maritime Security Challenges.

During the Second Session, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, graced the session as Chief Guest. Distinguished scholars presented their talks on 'Development of Pakistan's Maritime Sector and Blue Economy'.

CEO JS Global, Mr Kamran Nasir highlighted Maritime Potential of Pakistan and Opportunities for Capitalizing on Blue Economy whereas, Executive Director, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Mr. Khurram Mirza discussed Private Sector's Engagements in the Shipping Industry of Pakistan. Additionally, Head of Maritime education & Training World Maritime University, Sweden Dr. Michael Ekow Manuel emphasized on the importance of Maritime Research Training in Education. Later, Head of Marine and Aviation, Lloyd's Market Association, UK, Mr Neil Roberts presented paper on Marine Insurance Supporting the Blue Economy and the last speaker of the session was Dr Edmund Hughes from Green Marines Associates, UK underscored the Contemporary Shipping Trends and Regulatory Requirements for Safety Management and Environment.

In the third and last session of the day, Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed graced the event as Chief Guest. During the session Scholars discussed the contours of 'Contemporary Strategic Environment of Indian Ocean Region and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation'. Senator, Mushahid Hussain Syed was the first speaker to share his views on Significance of Building Strategic Partnership for Socio - Economic in Indian Ocean Region. Besides, Mayor Laut (P) Dedi Gunawan Widya tmoko from Indonesian Navy delivered talk on the roles of navies and Coast Guard in the South China Sea disputes and Take Aways for Western Indian Ocean Region. Besides, CT Ops Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ibikunle Taiwo Olaiya discussed Nigeria's Blue Economy Potentials and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea. The last speaker of the session was the Associate Dean, IBA Dr Huma Naz Baqai who presented the paper on the Tripolar Great Game, Competition, cooperation or Acute Confrontation.

The conference was attended by a large number of dignitaries from across the globe, Defence Forces officers from Pakistan and friendly countries, academia, media representatives and researchers from local and international think tanks. International Maritime Conference (IMC-21) is being held from 13th to 15th February 2021 covering the thoughts of distinguished International and National scholars.
As South Carolinas leaders pledge to end human trafficking and prosecute its perpetrators, a Lowcountry woman is pulling their focus to the survivors of such horrors.

Kat Wehunt, who survived years of sex trafficking as a teenager, knows shes lucky to have escaped. But she worries that her peers in the Palmetto State dont have a simple, thorough and accessible system to help them maintain a life free from abuse.

Her solution is The Formation Project, the states only survivor-led nonprofit dedicated to ending human trafficking. While law enforcement, legislators and faith leaders work to pull victims from their abusers, Wehunt focuses on the next step: connecting them with resources to make sure theyre able to thrive for the rest of their lives with the physical and emotional support they deserve.

Heaven-sent

A woman named Heaven drove her to do it.

Heaven, a mother of three whod pulled herself out of trafficking, was succeeding by every measure. Wehunt worked with her for about four years, she said, and watched as the woman saved her money, bought a car, took on a management role at her Orangeburg plant and regained custody of her children.

By every measure that Wehunts colleagues followed, Heaven was a success story. Shed stayed out of trafficking, pushed down a heroin addiction and started sharing her story with others. Even Wehunt figured she was safe.

But one day, when Wehunt had already moved to Charleston but not yet started The Formation Project, she got the kind of call for which shes always preparing and never prepared. Heaven had overdosed and died.

More Information To volunteer at or get resources from The Formation Project, call 843-375-6635.

The news shocked Wehunt. The pair had become good friends, she said, and Heaven never mentioned needing help.

Years before, Heaven had called Wehunt from a hotel room.

I need you to get here, she said. My trafficker is on his way and if you get here before him, then Ill go with you. But if he gets here before you then Im gone.

Wehunt raced to the hotel, speeding through her mental catalogue of which emergency shelters, rehabs and hospitals might have room for her friend. But Heaven had a different plan.

Take me to CVS and Ill get myself detoxed, Wehunt remembered Heaven telling her. Just drive me, I can take care of the rest.

So Wehunt was especially shocked when Heaven died without warning.

It almost made me leave the field, Wehunt said years later. Its so easy for organizations to get someone a job, or into rehab, and then check them off as a survivor. ... So shes been my driving force.

Sharing privilege

For every atrocity Wehunt has survived, she keeps a tally of the privileges that made it easier for her than many of the victims she serves. Shes White and grew up with good grades and a stable family income. An older man began trafficking her at 14, she says, but she was able to safely cut ties with him before her 18th birthday.

Wehunt knew she'd need help to heal from the sexual abuse, and the particular trauma of trust was betrayed by the man, whom she knew. But  perhaps in part because she said she'd always thought of sex trafficking as a crime committed by violent strangers  she didn't realize she'd survived it until learning the definition in a social work training clinic.

I was like, oh, Im in the wrong place, Wehunt said, gesturing to a cluster of survivors. I think Im supposed to be there.

Nearly 10 years later, she hasn't publicly identified her abuser but wants to share her story so that other victims can recognize the abuse.

Wehunt had never seen a trafficking survivor with her story. She knew of women whod been kidnapped by strangers, made desperate by addictions and denied education. Theyre overwhelmingly marginalized: transgender, undocumented, impoverished or women of color. They shared core experiences of abuse, but Wehunt stays conscious of her blind spots.

On the one hand, its exhausting, being the only survivor whos an organization leader here, and its really painful when people dont seem to listen, Wehunt told The Post and Courier. I think its about using your privilege to open doors and then bring (marginalized survivors) in and put them on the stage.

Wehunt said shes eager to share more stories of South Carolina survivors, but stopped short of pressuring them to join her. No public awareness or education is worth a persons wellbeing, she said  a lesson she learned the hard way.

Healing herself

How do you move forward from the worst part of your life while surrounding yourself with reminders of it?

Its something Wehunt has meditated on but never found an answer to. In her early days as a social worker, she used all her energy to help others, and it took a full burnout for her to realize shed need to prioritize her own happiness like she does other survivors.

It feels selfish to even take a lunch break, when the people youre trying to help dont even have food or health care or a job, she said. I still struggle with that.

Over the past couple years, Wehunt said, shes gotten better at taking care of her own needs. She turns off her phone after work and spends her evenings painting or playing music with her husband, uninterrupted.

Ive started taking a step back and remembering that if a survivor I was helping told me she worked 16 hours a day, Id see that as a major block to her healing, Wehunt said. That would be a failure.

So every time Wehunt starts feeling overwhelmed or demoralized, she reminds herself of the joy she feels when another survivor finds a therapist, lands a job or starts a healthy relationship. If theres hope for one of them, she said, theres a future for all.


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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  Nearly eight years since the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam first came to light and drew tens of thousands of protesters to the streets, the issue has not yet been laid to rest.

A number of cases remain pending in court, and in early February this year, principal suspect Janet Lim Napoles made headlines anew after she was handed down another guilty verdict in relation to the scam.

This is just among a number of charges and convictions slapped on Napoles and her cohorts, composed of both public officials and private individuals, who allegedly pocketed 10 billion in government money through misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, also known as a pork barrel fund.

The scandal sparked public outrage and triggered nationwide protests in August 2013. Later that year, the Supreme Court declared all congressional pork barrel laws as unconstitutional.

CNN Philippines breaks down what you need to know about one of the countrys largest corruption scandals.

What is a pork barrel?

Pork barrel funds are lump-sum, discretionary funds allocated to legislators for local pet projects. These projects can fall under various categories, such as education, health, livelihood, social services, and culture and arts, among others.

The funds earliest form in the Philippines can be traced back to the Public Works Act of 1922, before it took on new names over the decades, including the Countrywide Development Fund during President Corazon Aquino's administration, and finally the PDAF which began during President Joseph Ejercito Estradas administration.

The Department of Budget and Management said the noble intentions behind the pork barrel was to empower the legislators to identify key projects that local government units could not fund. Throughout the years, however, it did not only change faces, it also became subject to growing criticism.

For one, reports have alleged that the funds significant amounts are partly due to previous Presidents attempts to gain congressional support. In 1996, the Philippine Daily Inquirer also published a story exposing the kickbacks politicians received from government projects financed through the pork barrel.

Historically, the system had opened avenues for pillaging the national budget, the DBM said. And perhaps the biggest scandal to hit the government in relation to the infamous funds came in 2013, when the National Bureau of Investigation began probing allegations that the country had been defrauded of billions through the pork barrel system.

What is the PDAF scam?

Critics said pork funds were susceptible to abuse, and in July 2013, the extent of the corruption became more apparent.

This was after the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a six-part expose based on the NBIs ongoing investigation on an alleged 10-billion scam engineered by Napoles. The newspaper also independently interviewed whistleblowers.

The NBI probe was triggered by what was then believed to be a kidnapping case involving businesswoman Napoles and her employee-turned-whistleblower Benhur Luy.

Luy, also a second cousin of Napoles, was rescued by the NBI in March 2013 after reportedly being held by the businesswoman at her residence in Taguig City. The alleged reason, as cited by the bureau in its report, was to prevent Luy from exposing the scam.

Luy and succeeding whistleblowers bared how the alleged brains behind the PDAF scam swindled billions of government funds through systematic embezzlement over a decade. They said Napoles created no fewer than 20 dummy non-governmental organizations made to appear as recipients of the PDAF, when in truth, the funds were diverted to her private accounts. Documents were also allegedly falsified and signatures were forged.

They also uncovered a web of malpractices by public officials, whom Napoles reportedly connived with in funneling pork money to the fake NGOs for ghost projects. In other words, the supposed development funds produced no tangible outputs and instead ended up in the pockets of those playing the con game.

A month after the expose, the Commission on Audit published a special report on lawmakers PDAF which validated claims of fund misuse.

The report covered the years 2007 to 2009 and found that at least 6 billion in pork funds were released to dubious NGOs, 10 of which were linked to Napoles. Nearly 200 lawmakers were also tagged in the anomaly.

Napoles and other implicated individuals denied the allegations. Some government officials maintained their signatures were forged.

In the same month, an arrest warrant for Napoles and her brother Reynald "Jojo" Lim was issued for the serious illegal detention of Luy. After a two-week-long manhunt, Napoles surrendered to then-President Benigno Aquino III, who earlier announced a 10-million bounty for her arrest. Two years later, Napoles would be convicted and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison over the illegal detention case. Another two years after that, the Court of Appeals would reverse this ruling and clear Napoles. She would remain in jail, however, for the other charges filed against her in relation to the PDAF scam.

RELATED: Duterte backs SolGen's move on Napoles' illegal detention case

What steps have been taken since the expose?

Separate investigations into the matter were launched by the Department of Justice, the Ombudsman, and the Senate. Not long after the scam surfaced, the SC also ruled PDAF as unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, several public officers have been dismissed from service by the Ombudsman. Criminal complaints have also been filed against dozens of individuals accused of having amassed wealth through the anomalous deals, including lawmakers, other government officials and employees, heads of the dubious NGOs linked to Napoles, and private individuals.

Notably among those indicted together with Napoles were then-Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile, and Jinggoy Estrada, who all claimed innocence.

In September 2013, the Department of Justice filed plunder, graft and corrupt practices, malversation, and bribery charges against the three lawmakers, Napoles, and over 30 other people for their alleged involvement in the scam.

In June 2014, the Ombudsman also filed separate plunder charges against Napoles and the three senators. Arrest warrants were issued for Revilla, Enrile, and Estrada, who all surrendered to authorities thereafter.

Among these, the Revilla plunder case was the first to be resolved in December 2018. The senator  accused of having received the biggest kickback among the three at 224.5 million  was released due to lack of evidence. Napoles and Revilla's staff, Richard Cambe, were meanwhile found guilty and sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a maximum of 40 years in prison.

Revilla posted a 480,000 bail for his graft cases and has made a Senate comeback.

Enrile and Estrada, meanwhile, are also out on bail and are still awaiting verdict. Enriles bail application was granted by the high court in August 2015 due to his old age and frail health, while Estradas was approved by the Sandiganbayan in September 2017.

READ: 3 ex-Senators running in 2019 amid pork barrel scam case

What are the latest developments?

On Feb. 5, 2021, Napoles was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for graft and malversation of public funds along with former Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula. Jaraula said his signatures in documents relating to his PDAF were forged. According to Sandiganbayan, however, the supposed forged signatures are very similar, if not identical" to those he claims to be genuine.

Also declared guilty by the anti-graft court were Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana and Belina Concepcion, former officials of the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, and Mylene Encarnacion, the president of the non-government organization Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation.

Jaraula is separately convicted of direct bribery for receiving at least 2 million in kickbacks from Napoles.

Meanwhile, Napoles' camp accused the justices of having a predisposition to convict her without looking at the evidence and failing to consider the motion to reopen the case on the grounds that the evidence was illegally accessed. It cited Luy's admission that he hacked into the computer of Napoles' JLN Corporation.

Her lawyer said they are preparing to file charges against the three Sandiganbayan justices for their haphazard decision."
Something to warm our heart on this cold-ass night.

Read more and stop worrying/thinking about the former Prez for just a moment.

Check-it . . .


One equals one (1 = 1). Any competent mathematician can tell you that. But, like a lot of things, no one can prove it. (Ill wait while you try.)

Mathematicians will tell you that it cannot be done. The identity axiom says that any number equals itself, but axioms are inherently beyond proof.

Nevertheless, we believe that such axioms are true, for two reasons. First, they are obvious, and second, because if we ignore them, catastrophe results. For example, try balancing your checkbook based on the assumption that numbers do not equal themselves. More dangerously, try calculating your taxes that way.

There is no proof of Godat least, not by the rules of mathematics, nor by the rules of logic. In the realm of science, it has been said that there is no indisputable proof of anything at all; there is only the preponderance of evidence, but never a final proof.

Therefore, don't expect any scientific proof of God.

We can, however, accept Gods existence as axiomatic. We can take Him as obvious, which some will disputebut more than that, we can try living as if there were no God. In fact, to a large extent, society has already embarked upon that experiment. Unfolding events will prove or disprove the axiom.

It has been said by Voltaire, no less, that if there were no God, it would be necessary to invent Him.

Another way of saying this is that, what is important is not so much whether we believe in God, but more so, whether we live as if we believe He exists. What does that mean?

It means to live according to principles of right and wrong. It means to live as if one were accountable for his deeds, and even for his omissions. Accountability implies standards by which one may be judged, and that, of course, implies a judge, one who sets those standards. Living otherwise invites disaster.

Our Constitution is secular. It never mentions the Creator. Despite that, we should not confuse secular society with atheist societies. Secularization does not exclude God. Quite to the contrary, the Constitution asserts our freedom of religion. Secularization simply recognizes that there are honest differences of opinion regarding which particular sect should be believed. A secular society accepts the God axiom, and then does its imperfect best to work from there. An atheist society rejects God entirely, with all that that implies.

Without God, there is neither right nor wrong, unless one considers one's personal opinion of those things to be infallible. Absent God, there is neither good nor evil. Without God, there are no inalienable human rights. Without God, there is no empirical reason to regard humans as anything but objects, to be used when needed, discarded when not, and destroyed when they become a liability. Raw nature is the ultimate sociopath.

None of this, of course, proves the existence or nonexistence of God. It simply maps out for us our future course, depending on which path we choose to followfaith in God, or atheism. We have come to a fork in the road. One path will lead to the top of the mountain, the other, off the edge of a cliff.

Our Founders accepted the God axiom, and founded our nation on the basis of its self-evident truths. The nation then stumbled forward, never fully obedient to its founding principles, but however unsteadily, moving in the right direction.

Now, there are those who aver that we have never been a good nation, that we have always been on the wrong path. They offer a different way, one that rejects many of the Commandments, and would replace them with man-made principles that distort the structure of family, of truth, of justice. It is the path of no God, or worse yet, a false God, an impostor who demands worship.

We can never prove to the political Left that they are wrong, but as they bring about the ruin of our social order, and replace it with one that recognizes no eternal verities, denies absolute morality, and attacks respect for life, they will prove it for us.

Will we survive their proof? Have faith that we will.

Image: Pixabay (edited) / Pixabay License
The Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSFEPR), a civil society organisation, has called for the amendment of Transition Act 845, 2012, that would pave the way for the appointment of five substantive ministers of Finance, Health, Energy, Education and Agriculture within the first 21 days of a new Parliament.



That, according to the institute, could be done with the removal of Section 13 (5) of the Act to enable any new government to have leadership in key areas of the economy.



As it stands, Ghana incorporated will have nothing to show for in the first quarter of 2021. The private sector looks to the government for stability and the uncertainty created by the current situation does not benefit the country, the institute said.



Release



In a press release signed by the Executive Director of INSFEPR), Mr Kwadwo Poku, the energy think-tank bemoaned the fact that the sector, with its numerous problems did not yet have a substantive minister.



It explained that even though the Transition Act allowed the President to appoint a caretaker minister, Section 13 (5) of the Act did not allow the individual to make policy decisions.



The authorities, corporations and companies under the sector face the same problem of inaction and no policy direction since their boards were dissolved as per a letter from the Chief of Staff, dated January 12, 2021.



Power outages



The institute further observed that in recent weeks most parts of the country had experienced low voltage and power outages as a result of some challenges at Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) which needed immediate attention.



It said the problem was not only felt in the energy sector but across other areas, adding that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President should have had a cabinet and a substantive Health Minister by now to steer the country through such difficult times.



We have just mentioned a few problems occurring in the energy sector in the month of January and the institute believes the lack of leadership can make these challenges escalate, the statement added.







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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An armored vehicle drives pasto the Sule Pagoda, following days of mass protests against the military coup, in Yangon, Feb. 14, 2021.

UPDATED at 6:50 P.M. ET on 02-14-2021

Security forces fired guns to disperse protesters at a power plant in northern Myanmar on Sunday, as tanks and armored vehicles patrolled the streets of the countrys largest city and an overnight internet shutdown kicked in after days of nationwide mass protests against the two-week-old military junta.

The gunfire, livestreamed by protesters on Facebook, came after forces had turned a water cannon on hundreds of mostly young men who were chanting and beating oil drums outside a power plant in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina. The barrages lasted several minutes at a time, but it was not clear if the bullets were rubber or live ammunition or if any protesters were hurt.

A fire and power outage, as well as some shots fired by troops, were also reported in Thanlyin, a major port city near the commercial capital Yangon, by residents writing on Facebook. The accounts said army troops had surrounded a power station at Thanlyin, but that there were no clashes.

In recent days, peaceful demonstrations in the big cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and the capital Naypyidaw have topped six figures, and large crowds again turned out Sunday, the 14th day since the army arrested leader Aung San Suu Kyi, suspended parliament, and imposed a one-year period of emergency rule.

Signs emerged Sunday, however, that the junta is preparing a tougher crackdown on opponents of the Feb. 1 seizure of power by the army over claims that Aung San Suu Kyis ruling partys landslide win in last Novembers election was fraudulent.

Army tanks and armored vehicles were seen by RFA reporters Sunday night on the streets of Yangon, the countrys largest city.

After days of reports about a looming internet shutdown and continuing restrictions on access to Facebook and other social media, Myanmars telecoms firms on Sunday announced an eight-hour internet outage from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday

Ooredoo Myanmar informed mobile phone users that the junta had ordered an eight-hour internet clampdown, while Telenor Myanmar also announced that it was ordered to cut internet and data services.

A tank vehicle is deployed on a city street, following days of mass protests against the military coup, in Yangon, Feb. 14, 2021. Credit: AFP Junta changes laws

Accounts of the impending Internet cut-off and of a steady stream of arrests of civil servants who joined protests were spreading widely on social media among broad community of junta opponents who call themselves the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Another development that pointed to a crackdown was the armys reinstatement late on Saturday of a law requiring people to report overnight visitors to their homes, allowed security forces to detain suspects and search private property without court approval. The junta also ordered the arrest of well-known backers of mass protests.

The junta also released amendments to sections of the country's penal code to triple prison terms to 20 years for acts against the state or government, including seditious activities, calls for war against Myanmar, armed insurrection, collaboration with domestic and foreign actors to overthrow state institutions.

The amendments also added a new clause criminalizing incitement and agitation of a civil servant, charges that could be deployed against protest leaders who drew tens of thousands of government workers to join anti-coup marches. Doctors and government staff were arrested in police raids across the country of 54 million people on Friday.

Ambassadors to Myanmar from the EU, U.S., Britain, Canada and others on Sunday condemned the coup, the subsequent arrests, and the communications restrictions.

"We call on security forces to refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government, the envoys said in a joint statement.

Shelter in place

The U.S. Embassy in Yangon warned Americans in the country to stay at home during nightly curfew hours.

There are indications of military movements in Yangon and the possibility of telecommunications interruptions overnight between 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. U.S. citizens in Burma are advised to shelter-in-place during the 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew hours, it said on Twitter.

The civil disobedience movement and demonstrations show that the people of Myanmar want democracy. We stand with them.

After Sundays clash in Myitkyina, five Myanmar journalists were arrested by the army, including two who were broadcasting live coverage of the protests, the news outlets said. Two journalists from 74 Media, and one each from Mizzima News, the Eternal Peace Network and Eleven Media are in custody, they said.

Despite an overnight curfew, neighborhoods in major cities have been forming what local media called "vigilante groups" to guard against an influx of strangers behaving suspiciously, residents told RFA.

There is growing belief that the junta has deployed criminals released from prison to commit arson and other mischief to scare civilians. Several people seen as trespassers were detained in Mandalay and Yangon, the residents said.

"Upon roundups by neighborhood residents, some were found with large amounts of cash or were under the influence of drugs. Most of them couldnt give proper reasons for their late night behavior," the online Irrawaddy news outlet said Sunday.

"Given the arrival of the thugs and rampant rumors, people feared that the junta was reviving an old, nasty tactic used by its predecessor 33 years ago during the popular democracy uprising in 1988 when provocateurs were dispatched to wreak havoc," the news site wrote.

On Friday U.N. rights officials said they were tracking more than 350 politicians, state officials, activists, civil society members, journalists, monks, and students who have been taken into custody.

The Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Myanmar watchdog group, said Sunday that, as of Feb. 12, 400 people have been arrested, of whom 25 were released. But it said the detainees' location and condition, and the charges they faced were not known.

Sunday's gunfire came as supporters held a candlelight vigil near Yangon City Hall for a 20-year-old protester in the capital Naypyidaw who was shot in the head during protests on Feb. 9. The family of Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, who has been declared brain dead, agreed to have her taken off life support, though a doctor at the hospital where she is being treated said that physicians were told not to take her off the machine just yet.

Reported and translated by RFAs Myanmar Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
The Salvation Army in Conroe is bracing for a busy few days this week as a major winter storm blows in..

The center opened on Thursday afternoon for the cold weather and expects to remain open through Thursday.

Bonnie Artzenhoffer, Salvation Army community initiatives liaison and shelter coordinator, said has a large supply of of cots, extra blankets, and extra pillows and large hallways that it can line with cots. It also prepared to open its cafeteria for those in need of shelter.

We will determine further opening based on what the weather report is, Artzenhoffer said. We will not hesitate to keep it open as long as the temperatures are in the 30s. Most of our residents are here right now and back in their dorms and have been since Thursday at about 2 p.m. We have staff here, covering ever shift, making sure that we they have everything they need.

In March 2020, the 72-bed Wayne Bergstrom Center of Hope at 304 Avenue E capped its capacity to 40 people and 10 staff spots. It also implemented COVID-19 health and safety precautions, such as social distancing, hand sanitizing, and temperature checks.

On Saturday, Artzenhoffer confirmed that the center is prepared to change that to provide shelter to the homeless community from the arctic temperatures this week.

We do expect to have quite a bit more to come in as we get down to those colder temperatures, Artzenhoffer said. We have a lot of people in the homeless community who dont want shelter. They love living out in their tents and we only see them when it gets cold. Then we have others who have kind of made this home for a little while and are working a plan to get on their feet.

Last month, Artzenhoffer said the center served 48 clients, including 26 new, 13 single adult females, 26 single adult males, four seniors, and one family with two Adults and three Children for 675 nights of shelter.

The center served 3,209 meals in January, including 2,025 resident and 1184 community meals. The numbers for services provided also includes 204 phone calls, 53 referrals, 117 hygiene, two clothes orders, and 150 pair socks.

The nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless in Houston stated it expects an uptick homelessness due to the pandemic. The 2020 Point-In-Time Homeless Count & Survey found a total of 3,974 individuals experiencing homelessness with 2,318 (58.3% people living sheltered and 1,656 (41.7%) people living unsheltered - in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.

These results reflect a 53% decrease in overall homelessness since 2011, the information stated. The night of record for the 2020 Homeless Count was January 27, with the unsheltered portion conducted over a three-day period from January 28-30.

The 2020 count found about 60 sheltered and more than 1,550 unsheltered in Montgomery County.

The pandemic, unfortunately, will create more homelessness, Carl White with the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition said. Homelessness is a disease. We all we need to work together. Most of us are one paycheck away from being homeless. We all need to do what we can to help eradicate homelessness here in Montgomery County.

For those who choose not to seek sources or are unaware of sources such as the shelter, Artzenhoffer said she is concerned.

It hurts my heart to think that anybody would be out suffering in the cold, but we do have quite a few organizations that deal directly with the homeless and I think the word has gotten out very well. Not only do the organizations talk to their people when they come in, Ive already spoken with several other agencies from other homeless organizations, to hospitals, to some of our partners that help with vouchers for our residents  St. Vincent Paul, First Baptist Church, Community Assistance Center, Conroe House of Prayer, Community Passion Unitedwe are all working together.

Artzenhoffer said the organizations communicate about what services each are providing and then inform the residents about whats available to them.

A lot of them go to all of these places. Artzenhoffer said. They network very well. They can get the word out very quickly to other homeless people about what is going on and what is available to them.

If there is someone in Montgomery County that is sleeping on the street, I seriously doubt its from lack of knowledge, she continued. Its kind of more of a personal choice because there is a lot of attention for things that go on for the homeless around here.

Warming centers and shelters spent the weekend getting ready to help people in need throughout the greater Houston area, including the George R. Brown Convention center in downtown Houston.

The storm is expected to generate a half-inch to 2 inches of snow and freezing temperatures most of the week.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  Vice President Leni Robredo argues that President Rodrigo Duterte's new threat against ABS-CBN's franchise renewal may have only shed light on previous speculations on whether he really had a hand in its shutdown last year.

Robredo questioned Sunday Duterte's statement that he will not grant the media giant a permit to operate anew unless the Lopezes settled what he said were "unpaid taxes". This was an allegation already refuted before by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Security of Exchange Commission.

"Noong pinag-uusapan ito sa Congress, parang si Sec Roque ang nagsabi na hands off si Presidente," Robredo said in her radio show Biserbisyong Leni. "So ngayon parang baliktad. Parang baliktad na sinasabi na kahit bigyan, sisisuguraduhin na hindi makakapag-operate habang hindi pa binabayaran yung taxes."

[Translation: When this was discussed in Congress, it may have been Secretary Harry Roque who said that the President has his 'hands off' the issue. But now it's like the other way around, that even if they can be granted a fresh franchise, he wil ensure that they can't operate while they can't pay for their taxes.]

"Parang pinanindigan nila for a very long time na walang kinalaman si Presidente sa pagcancel ng prangkisa kasi Congress lang iyon," Robredo said. "Tapos ngayon baligtad yung sinasabi."

[Translation: They insisted for a very long time that the President is not involved in the cancellation of the franchise because it should only be covered by Congress. And now he's implying something different.]

She added: "Parang kino-confirm lang yung pagduda ng marami dati. 'Yung sinasabi ng spokesperson, iba sa sinasabi ng principal."

[Translation: It seems like they are just confirming what the others have been speculating on before. What the spokesperson says is different from what his principal is saying.]

Last year, the House of Representatives denied the media giant's bid for a new franchise due to supposed tax avoidance schemes, the dual citizenship of its chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, failure to regularize its employees, and biased reporting.

ABS-CBN repeatedly denied the accusations and maintained it has no outstanding tax liability, but the media network still had to go off the air in May 2020 after its franchise expired and was not renewed.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a Duterte ally, said last week that calls to renew the franchise of broadcasting giant ABS-CBN will take a backseat until the next set of lawmakers are elected in 2022. He reasoned that the chamber is focused on the passage of Bayanihan 3 and other priority measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malacanang had insisted in the past that Duterte remained neutral on any congressional decisions related to the network, despite him publicly threatening the network of a shutdown the past years for refusing to carry his 2016 campaign ads.

READ: 'Neutral President': Congress can vote on ABS-CBN franchise without fear, Duterte spox says

Last month, Batangas Sixth District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto filed a bill seeking to renew ABS-CBN's franchise. Senate President Vicente Sotto III also filed a similar bill in the upper chamber.


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The nations longest-serving juvenile inmate who was sentenced to life in prison has been freed after spending 68 years behind bars during which he refused to apply for parole because he says he never killed anyone.

Joseph Ligon, 83, was 15 years old when he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1953 for taking part in a string of robberies and assaults with a group of drunk teens in Philadelphia.

Two people died as a result of those crimes, though Ligon told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he didnt kill anyone.

Joseph Ligon, 83, was released from a state prison in Pennsylvania on Thursday after spending more than 68 years behind bars

Ligon, 83, was 15 years old when he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1953 for taking part in a string of robberies and assaults with a group of drunk teens in Philadelphia. Two people died during the crime spree, though Ligon denies that he killed them. The photo above shows Ligon in 1963

During his nearly seven decades behind bars, Ligon has refused to apply for parole, insisting that he be given an outright release

In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences imposed on juveniles constituted cruel and unusual punishment and were thus unconstitutional.

After the ruling, Pennsylvania was among several states that refused to reduce the life sentences.

Four years later, the court ordered states to retroactively reduce the sentences of those who were given life terms for crimes committed with they were juveniles.

In the wake of the rulings, the state of Pennsylvania resentenced Ligon and more than 500 other juvenile lifers to reduced prison terms that included lifetime parole.

In 2017, Ligon was resentenced to 35 years to life. Given the opportunity to apply for parole, however, he refused.

I like to be free, he said.

With parole, you got to see the parole people every so often. You cant leave the city without permission from parole. Thats part of freedom for me.

Bradley Bridge, a public defender who has represented Ligon as his attorney since 2006, went to federal court and asked for his client to be released.

The constitution requires that the entire sentence, both the minimum and maximum terms imposed on a juvenile, be individualized - and a one size fits all cannot pass constitutional muster, he wrote.

In November, the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office accepted Bridges motion and ordered Ligon either resentenced or released within 90 days.

Ligon was ordered released this past November after the Supreme Court ruled that life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders was 'cruel and unusual punishment' and thus unconstitutional'

Ligon was freed from the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County on Thursday.

That was no sad day for me, Ligon said.

Ligon was born in Alabama to a poor family. After moving to Philadelphia, he was enrolled in elementary school but he dropped out by the fourth grade and was illiterate.

When he was 15 years old, he was considered an outsider among his peers. Ligon believes he was scapegoated and made to take the fall for the crimes.

In prison, Ligon kept to himself. Most of the time, he worked as a janitor. He also learned to read and write.

In his spare time, Ligon also trained as a boxer and kept in good physical condition by enduring grueling workouts.

In the 1970s, hundreds of lifers in Pennsylvania were released as part of a clemency plan, but Ligon never applied to have his sentence commuted.

Im just a stubborn type of person, Ligon said.

I was born that way.

Bridge said his client's case is an illustration of the excesses of the criminal justice system.

'We waste peoples lives by over-incarcerating and we waste money by over-incarcerating,' he said.

'His case graphically demonstrates the absurdity of wasting each.'

Bridge added: Hopefully his release, and the release of the juvenile lifers in general, will cause a re-evaluation of the way we incarcerate people.